Dangerous Lens

[jonathan_rush]

Whatever you do, do use this lens at a political rally, not unless you want to get the Secret Service on your case.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=260250706818

 

Why in the world would they make a lens look like that/

[michael_darnton1]

I know you might find this unbelievable, but there was once a time in this country when people could actually tell the difference between a camera and a gun, and made an effort to make the distinction before they panicked, started screaming that the sky was falling, and called the police.

[mountainvisions]

FYI, Secret Service panics when you pull out a tripod and a K10D.

 

However, this might definitely solicit sniper fire from the roof at the photographer.

 

No biggie, in a few months the second amendment will be a thing of the past and all we'll have is lenses that look like guns.

[carbon_dragon]

It didn't used to be a problem. A rifle is designed as it is because you can keep it steady. It's a good system. People used to use the same system for cameras. With police and security guards trained to over-react first and ask questions later (or maybe never), you'd probably be better off with high ISOs and image stabilization these days.

 

Try googling for the Leica Rifle.

[andrewg_ny]

I have been assuming that Canon & Pentax (at least they used to) had been painting pro telephotos white so that they are not easily mistaken for recoilless rifles.

[mountainvisions]

the lenses are actually painted white (so I am told) because of the heat.

 

a long lens like that with a lot of surface area can get quite hot in the mid day sun creating expansion in the lens and heating of the oils...the white/lighter colored lenses are supposed to help with this.

[stemked]

There no longer is an image on e**y. Do you mean this?

 

http://homepage3.nifty.com/PETER/album/noflexar.jpg

[andrewg_ny]

Justin, I'd read that too. I guess with DA* fashion triumphs--black goes with anything.

[jonathan_rush]

Its similar, but much shorter, here is a direct link to the eBay pic.

http://i5.ebayimg.com/06/i/000/f6/ce/3a3d_1.JPG

[jonathan_rush]

Novoflex NOFLEXAR 240mm f/4.5 for PENTAX CAMERA is the title.

[carbon_dragon]

You know the Noflexar was quite a clever system where you moved one grip back and forth to focus quickly. It used to be a pretty good system for maintaining focus on a fast moving subject. In one sense it might be too bad that era is done, but those old lenses weighed a ton. It really is nice to have lighter long lenses which have more lightweight materials in them, fast autofocus systems to keep the subjects in focus, image stabilization systems to raise the effective shutter speed, and high digital ISOs (supposedly 6400 in the D3! Wow!).

 

I love the idea of those old "rifle" cameras, but we really have it better these days -- except that every policeman and security guard wants to shoot us when we set up a tripod ;-)