michael_reichmann1 Posted April 17, 2002 Share Posted April 17, 2002 I have just published a test of the Pentax 67's 2X Extender vs. the 1.4X Extender. The test was done with the Pentax 400mm f/4 ED(IF) lens. What made the test interesting as well as problematic was the expected Pentax 67 problems of shutter vibration, and the need for approriate support when shooting with such very long lens combinations (800mm). <p> http://www.luminous-landscape.com/p-ext.htm <p> Michael <p> The Luminous Landscape Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter gooijer photography Posted April 20, 2002 Share Posted April 20, 2002 Michael, if you hadn't already made your site, you should be forced by law to do so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjtower Posted April 20, 2002 Share Posted April 20, 2002 Michael, Another EXCELLENT commentary. Thanks once again. You mention in your summary that you had used a similar/same combination in Yellowstone in the winter. If you don't mind me asking, and I don't mean this to sound in any way insulting, or stupid, but do you know how much all your usual field gear weighs? Also, and again if you don't mind saying so, do you transport it all yourself? Just curious. It sounds like it would require at least two fit people to get it to a remote location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bert_wiklund Posted April 21, 2002 Share Posted April 21, 2002 Michael, One question on your test; You are talking on heavy tripods and vibrations. To me it looks as if you are using the onepoint technique. The lens/camera are only fastened in one point - the tripods head. Using long lenses I do always try to get as much support as possible. Best support is simply laying the camera on ground. Landscapes like yours testsite I always try to get support from the tipod and an additional point (I love viewpoints with a sturdy banister) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_reichmann1 Posted April 21, 2002 Author Share Posted April 21, 2002 Carl, <p> My camera kit depends on the type of shooting I anticipate doing, and I have a few different packs to use based on whether I'm mostly shooting from a vehicle or doing extensive hiking. <p> For day hikes I try not to carry a camera backpack weighing more than about 20 lbs, excluding the tripod which is carried with a shoulder sling. This means something like a Lowepro Mini Trecker. I'm middle aged, but in reasonably good shape, and can hike for hours with such a setup. It means leaving something like the 400mm f/4 at home though. <p> The MiniTrecker is an airplane carry-on, and the tripod goes in a dufflebag with my clothes. <p> For my recent Yellowstone shoot ( http://www.luminous-landscape.com/yellowstone-winter.htm ) for example, where most of the shooting was from the vehicle, I use the Lowepro Roadrunner AW, a large rolling backpack style bag, which held everything I needed for a week-long shoot, including 2 MF bodies and 5 lenses, one of which was the Pentax 400mm f/4 ED(IF). <p> The bag weighed 55 lbs (I know because the airline weighed it). I could pack it for a few hundred yards, and did, but that's about it. It's sturdy enough to be checked as lugged and because it has wheels as well as a pack design, can be wheeled through airports rather than carried. <p> If I'm using this bag and need to hike I simply take what I need and put it in the pockets of my shooting vest. The camera and one lens goes over my shoulder with the tripod on its sling as always. <p> Hope this helps. <p> Bert, <p> You're quite right. But, if you go back and re-read the article you'll see that I did use, and also mentioned, the Manfrotto 359 Support Arm, which is a must for this type of photography. <p> http://www.luminous-landscape.com/359.htm <p> Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leping Posted April 23, 2002 Share Posted April 23, 2002 Many people tried the Pentax 67, and gave up, saying that the imageswere not sharp. I found it was true if I used a lesser tripod, say,a Bogen 3021 which I did try out. The shutter shock problem of the P67demands much heavier support, even with the mirror locked up,especially when shooting horizontals. The movement of the shutter masscreates an internal torque about the camera's mass center, so itactually twists during the shot. This is much less a problem forverticals, since ironically since we need to flip it to the side ofthe ball head the torque now has to fight with a much more rigidtripod axis. Try to twise your 3021 the both ways, and you'llunderstand what do I mean. It is by some means a handicapped system,on which one can't fire at 1/8 and 1/15, and for which a Grizo 1548 isabsolutely necessary, even it costs a fortune and offsets a very cheapMF system otherwise. However counting in the $1k for the 1548 thesystem is still inexpensive, cheaper than many of my friends 35mmoutfits. I also use a short aluminum center column with the setup, onwhich I drilled three holes across the center so that whenever I shootI stick through a philips screw driver I always carry, and hung my 25lb. (at least) Domke Outpack backpack to weight down the tripod. Itwill look funny, but as a physicist I found nothing substitutes thephysical weight in the role damping out the shutter vibration,especially when shooting horizontal, even the carbon fiber (or wood)legs do absorb the vibrations much better than the metal ones. TheDomke bag is of a "vertical" design so that I can access my gear whileit is on the center column, very convenient. I would feel unsecurewhenever my set up is not weighted down by the heavy bag, especiallyin windy days. The results? I routinely enlarge my 6x7cm chromes to24x30 on Lightjet, still with details to be seen inches away (manyviewers sware they are from 4x5 originals), and publications includingtwo covers last year. I have found my 200mm plue 2x images sharpenough for 16x20s with this set up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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