Photosniper tair-3 Phs 300mm f/4.5

<p>I have recently purchased two copies of this lens. The one with a stock gun rifle arrived in the weekend. The user menu is quite interesting with a handsomely dressed guy in a suite playing with the photosniper in the field. I can fancy myself as an agent in reading that menu. It is perhaps how they attract sales with that user menu nicely done with very polished b&w photos. Some scan of the user menu to share</p>

 

<p align="center"><strong>Menu cover</strong></p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g192/hinioman/photosniper/cover1.png" alt="" width="724" height="526" /></p>

<p align="center"><br /> <strong>Dressed in suite</strong></p>

<p align="center"><br /> <img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g192/hinioman/photosniper/menu_1.png" alt="" width="724" height="526" /> <br /> <img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g192/hinioman/photosniper/menu_3.png" alt="" width="724" height="526" /> <br /> <br /> <img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g192/hinioman/photosniper/menu_2.png" alt="" width="724" height="526" /> <br /> <img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g192/hinioman/photosniper/menu_4.png" alt="" width="724" height="526" /></p>

<p align="center"> </p>

<p align="center"> </p>

<p>And here is another scan of the components</p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://www.commiecameras.com/sov/35mmsinglelensreflexcameras/cameras/photosniper/images/fs3p6man.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="585" /></p>

<p align="center">picture from this <a href="http://www.commiecameras.com/sov/35mmsinglelensreflexcameras/cameras/photosniper/manuals.htm">Zenit FS-3 user menu scan</a><br>

And my 1st copy is yet to arrive without the gun stock</p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3393/3430047866_79d48ae938.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></p>

<p align="center">My 2nd copy with gun stock</p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g192/hinioman/misc/Photosniper1.jpg" alt="" width="322" height="798" /></p>

<p align="center">picture from owner</p>

<p align="center"> </p>

<p align="center">And blades are all ciccular in all f-stops</p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3567/3430047938_65ba0df1df.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></p>

<p align="center"><strong>Very heavy lens</strong></p>

<p align="center">about 3lb 7oz/<strong>1.6 kg</strong></p>

<p align="center"> </p>

<p>Hin, I'm going to tell you again that this is really friggin' cool, and seeing the documentation that comes with it just makes it seem even more so. Thanks so much for scanning & posting. Hopefully you'll wow us with its output shortly.<br>

How does the trigger trip a camera shutter release?</p>

<p>Hin, I don't care if it takes crappy pictures, Don't ever sell this lens. It's far too cool in a 1950's sorta way. You could be the new Bond.</p>

<p>The name is Bond, Hin Bond.</p>

<p>But you <strong>absolutely </strong> have to have someone take a few snaps of you in a suit and tie out shooting. Please just don't go anywhere near a Federal building or military base. We don't have enough money to bail you out of Guantanamo.</p>

<p>Some test shots on hummingbirds with this lens wide open in f/4.5 in using the lens alone without the gun stock. This lens is the most difficult lens that I have used</p>

<ul>

<li>Due to blades in manual diaphragm, I can't confirm focus smaller than f/5.6. </li>

<li>The focusing knob is underneath the lens barrel. </li>

<li>The preset ring serves as a cocking mechanism for the lens. </li>

<li>Once cocked, the aperture is wide open, slighter wider than f/4.5, maybe f/4.0, and I can focus but the catch is having to rely on the gun trigger to stop down the lens </li>

<li>Without the gun stock, I can still stop down by tapping into the <strong>"#11 The diagram release bar" </strong> in the component picture above.</li>

</ul>

<p align="center"><strong>#1</strong> <br /> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/3437318708_afa6f61661.jpg" alt="" /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <strong>#2</strong> <br /> shadow and too dark to freeze the motion<br /> <br /> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3551/3437321660_88674d6f26.jpg" alt="" /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <strong>#3</strong> <br /> user focus error<br /> again a bit too dark<br /> <br /> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3605/3437327928_fe6d73be1a.jpg" alt="" /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <strong>#4</strong> <br /> <br /> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3610/3439466259_3315613bf8.jpg" alt="" /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <strong>#5</strong> <br /> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3340/3439473973_b1348ab6a5.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="332" /></p>

<p>Thanks,<br /> Hin</p>

<p>Andrew and Peter, thanks for the comment. I find the lens extremely difficult to use due to its weight and long barrel. I have not got myself used to carrying such a heavy lens in shooting birds. In close distance as in the hummingbirds, I can manage but in the field as in hiking in the morning, I find all birds are laughing at me as I can't get a single clear shot of them.</p>

<p>I tried using my tripod this morning and it is my 1st time experience that I start to like my tripod as it relives me as having a platform to work with the heavy lens. I have to compromise with this lens.</p>

<p>What interst me most about this lens so far are the following:</p>

<ul>

<li>It has 16 blades, I think 1 more than Jupiter 9 85mm f/2.0</li>

<li>All rounded diaphragm in all f-stops</li>

<li>The focusing knob is surprisingly good in focusing. I first thought the focusing knob will be the #1 hindrance to the use of this lens as it is located underneath the lens barrel. </li>

<li>Due t the lens design, I find myself panning bird movement easier as I tend to follow the birds as in shooting a target. I adjust the focusing knob as I pan</li>

<li>This preset ring can be a plus as I can focus wide open, but it is difficult to use without the gun stock</li>

<li>Color and bokeh seem good to outstanding to me</li>

<li>Sharpness is a touch soft wide open but usable and a lot of bad shots come from my part in focusing errors and timing</li>

<li>Interesting history bits with KGB rumor using the lens for surveillance, may be a sales pitch at the time</li>

</ul>

<p>Hin, that manual is priceless! The lens may be a challenge to work with but these samples look very promising.</p>

<p>yikes! well, to be honest it takes a decent photo and is unique - a it of a collecters piece, but if you enjoy shooting it then that's gotta be cool. I bet there is a way of rigging up the old-style trigger to a new cable release, if you had the Pentax AF TC and a jerry-rigged cable release, you could have AF on half-way press switched on and it could be a pretty snappy rig?</p>

<p>John, thanks for the comment.<br>

I have been thinking with the idea of getting the gun stock to work, here are two schemes but all still miss the AF confirmation with 1 click. Also once the gun stock is used, I can't use tripod on the lens.<br>

<br /> <br /> <strong>#1 Use wireless remote trigger</strong></p>

<ul>

<li>use adhesive to stick the wireless remote underneath the lens barrel with button facing down towards the original gun pistol pin. </li>

<li>adjust the thickness of the adhesive for the gun trigger to work effectively with the wireless remote</li>

<li>by default, SR is turned off when wireless remote is on, and I look over all custom option and I don't see one to turn it on</li>

</ul>

<p><br /> <br /> <strong>#2 Use shutter release cable</strong></p>

<ul>

<li>alter the gun pistol pin on gun stock to connect to the push thumb of a cable release that connects with the push pin end screwed in K body</li>

<li>I have problems in figuring how to attach the trigger release bar to a cable release securely</li>

</ul>

 

<p align="center"><br /> <img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g192/hinioman/photosniper/photosniper3.jpg" alt="" width="799" height="380" /> <br /> red knob is the preset aperture pin<br /> push up as in cocking for trigger<br /> bar underneath barrel is the diaphragm rlease bar<br>

<br /> Both methods still need to move hand from half-press to confirm focus to gun trigger for the final shutter release</p>

<ul>

<li>cock the aperture ring to wide open by pushing red knob to top</li>

<li>select aperture to stop down as in f/8.0 </li>

<li>due to the unique tair3 cocking type of preset ring, blades are wide open </li>

<li>focus as usual to obtain the confirmation with half press on shutter</li>

<li>move hand to pull gun trigger -- this is <strong>likely to move from original focusing point</strong> </li>

<li>trigger will stop-down to selected aperture f/8.0 -- <strong>a loud recoil action with shake</strong> </li>

<li>shutter is release through remote control (SR disable) or cable release (SR can be ON/OFF subject to our own choosing).</li>

</ul>

 

<p>Hin, the best way to cut down on any shake with that rig is to wear a coat and tie while making the pictures. </p>

<p>Not exactly a good shot on the cat as I have it wide open in f/4.5 in iso 320, and I was paying attention to the hummingbird instead of the lovely cat. She came around to get my attention while I was scrambling to get a clear shot on the hummingbirds, I think the lens can do better than how I test it.</p>

 

<p align="center"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3551/3436498749_6722c5ea02.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>John, you may be right about the suite and tie</p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g192/hinioman/photosniper/menu_5.png" alt="" width="721" height="522" /><br>

And another picture to show the color and bokeh</p>

 

<p align="center"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3579/3433412876_90375986dc_b.jpg" alt="" width="745" height="1024" /></p>

I think I saw that guy on the grassy knoll.

<p><b>AWESOME!</b></p>

<p>I love the metal backpack briefcase.</p>

<p>Unless I missed the price, if you didn't pay much for these keep one regardless of the quality. Definitely a conversation starter.</p>

<p>Now Justin, imagine you had one of these and went with your tripod to a certain light-coloured house in D.C.... :-D</p>

<p>That thing's crazy. But I don't think I'd be going anywhere public with it if it were mine! I'd be sure some Homeland Security type would take it for a sawed off gernade launcher and start shooting those real bullets. Never trust anyone with a pistol strapped to their hip and too young to grow a proper beard!.</p>

<p>Never mind the suit and tie Hin, I want to see a shot of you with shoes and socks like the ones in the last picture. <strong><em>Awesome!</em></strong></p>

<p>It does take pretty fine photos, all in all. I look forward to more shots with it.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I was thinking that, but I'm keeping my mouth shut...</p>

<p>As Mis points out, keep that and that 800mm Sigma well away from the snipers with the .50 cal Barrets. Nothing like realizing you were cut in half while taking a photo from a half mile away.</p>

 

<p>Naw, Hin, when you take that out you have to wear a slim-cut dark blue suit, white shirt, narrow black tie and sunglasses.</p>

<p>Hin, that is about the funkiest piece of optics I have ever seen. I would definitely be careful where I brought it. I was once swoormed by the police for taking out my palm size camcorder in front of the Pa. Dept. of Transportation. </p>

<p>Thank you all for all the encouraging inputs. I won't dare to take out the gun stock but my mind has been toying ideas to get it working for panning birds in the shooting.</p>

<p>I brought in my <a href="http://techtheman.blogspot.com/2008/10/pentax-f-17x-af-tc-magical-mf-af-tc.html">Pentax F-1.7x AF TC</a> to work with the Photosniper. I also attempted to use my cheapo <a href="http://techtheman.blogspot.com/2008/07/dynatran-at-cf992-tripod-from-amvona.html">Dynatran AT CF992 from Amvona</a> . My tripod came with a tripod head that is supposed to hold the weight of the combo but it seems to move quite a bit due to the heavy weight.</p>

<p>First my set up, I use my camera bag to stabilize my tripod</p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3412/3444941713_87a861e03b.jpg" alt="" width="332" height="500" /></p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3333/3444926413_d029a8737d.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p align="center">Foil to get F-1.7x to work with M42</p>

<p align="center">Focus trap also kicks in</p>

<p align="center">I changed the T-mount to cover the contacts</p>

<p align="center">and K locking pin</p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3570/3445757682_8536f6d03c.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="332" /></p>

<p align="center">I can only use wide open</p>

<p align="center">due to focusing (explain later in detail)</p>

<p align="center">Red knob cocking the lens wider than f/4.5</p>

<p align="center">likely f/4.0</p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3650/3445754130_e6a8d46fd6.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="332" /></p>

<p align="center">Toilet Plunger lens hood</p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3364/3445758036_d07c2c2d34.jpg" alt="" width="332" height="500" /></p>

<p>The magical AF mechanics from <a href="http://techtheman.blogspot.com/2008/10/pentax-f-17x-af-tc-magical-mf-af-tc.html">Pentax F-1.7x AF TC</a> works quite well in the set. Unfortunately, I can't stop down to f/8.0 or smaller as the AF from the TC will kick in again after stop down and I can't release shutter due to inability to obtain focus after stopping down</p>

<p>I will need to re-set half-press to be OFF for AF and use AF button and full press for next time. I will include few test shots after this.</p>

<p>First two are done on tripod with SR off and cropped in the middle, the bird is quite far away, I don't think my tripod head is very stable for the shot. Also the wide open shot and TC can degrade on detail as expected. All shots wide open.</p>

<p align="center"><strong>#1</strong></p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3301/3445000197_3c921a9fb6.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p align="center"><strong>#2</strong></p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3537/3445815884_b0534a6e0f.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>And next three are done hand-held, I manage to get closer to the bird without the tripod. All shots are cropped middle with some sharpening in iPhoto.</p>

<p align="center"><strong>#3</strong></p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3303/3445000519_1f15e64c81.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="500" /></p>

<p align="center"><strong>#4</strong></p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3655/3445000415_a56567a0ee.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p align="center"><strong>#5</strong></p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3400/3445755622_7d50579cbc.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="500" /></p>

<p> </p>

<p>There you go pointing that thing at airplanes! That's it, we're all heading for Guantanamo...just 'cause we know you!</p>

<p>That's quite the contraption you've got going on there. Do you still have problems with focusing if you use manual focus?</p>

<p>How close were you for birds #1 and #3? They're pretty clean shots, I'll have to say. And I do like the bokeh. Looks like you might have to get a heavy duty tripod. Maybe one of those used for the bigger telescopes?</p>

<p>Scot, thank you for the input. I used AF.S and AF.C for all shots today. I just need to manual focus to close proximity and let the AFA 1.7x to take over in AF. I did not bring my stock gun for all the known reasons and the idea is still forming on what method to use to connect the gun to shutter release</p>

<ol>

<li>Wireless Remote</li>

<li>Physical Cable Release</li>

</ol>

<p>Shot #1 and #2 were taken on tripod about 20 to 30 feet as the bird was right up on the top part of a tree. Shot #3 and #4 are hand-held in closer range as in 10 to 15 feet. The #5 are shot in AF.C in infinity focus.</p>

<p>Here is one idea on sticking the wireless remote facing the diaphragm release bar which get pushed up upon gun trigger</p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3585/3445755518_cf4e886f9c.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="332" /></p>

<p align="center"> </p>

<p align="center">My Rocket Launcher <br /> barely fits my bag</p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3340/3445752370_889f90c3c3.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="332" /></p>

<p>I hope I can learn to adapt to Justin/Mis way of AF on 'AF' button and don't have AF in half press. And the roughl idea:</p>

<ul>

<li>Set AF to be off in Wireless Remote</li>

<li>Set Wireless remote on in drive mode, SR is off by default and there seems no way to turn it on when I may need it</li>

<li>Cock preset ring wide open in f/4.0<br /> <br /> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3653/3445754736_5480f13537.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="332" /> </li>

<li>Choose aperture ring as in f/8.0 or something smaller</li>

<li>MF + AF button button to confirm focus, AFA will kick in for the auto-focusing to reach target with confirmation <br /> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3600/3444925427_fa608966c3.jpg" alt="" /> </li>

<li>Pull gun trigger </li>

<li>Diaphragm release bar will stop down to aperture chosen<br /> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3394/3444938817_a80d85d41d.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="332" /> </li>

<li>Diaphragm release bar hit the wireless remote, may need to open up the remote for effective contact </li>

<li>Wireless remote hopefully can release shutter without AF</li>

</ul>

<p>And for the cable release, I don't have the physical cable and I wonder why an old cable doesn't seem to fit. I need to look for a 6" to 10" release cable to try the other idea on modifying a cable release to the diaphragm release bar.</p>