snik75 Posted October 9, 2008 Share Posted October 9, 2008 My local thrift store had a "Photography event" this past weekend. I've found some good stuff there before, so even though I don't need any more gear I went to check it out. Yow! Six lenses later, I am still trying to smuggle stuff into my kit so my wife doesn't notice. And I got there in the afternoon, supposedly it was mobbed in the morning. What else could I have missed? :-) The "big ticket" item I bought was a PK Tokina 500mm mirror lens. (without filters or a hood, $60 was not a huge bargain, but cheaper than I've seen these elsewhere). I've never done much shooting with long lenses, wasn't sure how to begin testing it. and then remembered Javier's duck hunts, and the many wonderful shots you all have posted in response. It's a lot harder than it looks! Those ducks keep moving, the donut highlights are going crazy in the background, and then they are all coming for me wanting food, yikes! Anyway, here are my best efforts. Perhaps others would like to take their long lenses out and shoot some ducks? I think we're due for another "play time" post. Or you could just post old duck shots and any advice that comes to mind.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snik75 Posted October 9, 2008 Author Share Posted October 9, 2008 I can't remember if this was with the mirror lens, or a Tamron Adaptall 70-150mm I also bought ($12, that's more like it!)<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snik75 Posted October 9, 2008 Author Share Posted October 9, 2008 And the last, definitely with the Tamron. (Okay, almost all the mirror lens shots sucked. That bokeh is odd. But I'll keep practicing).<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markus maurer Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Hi Nick, the Tamron 70-150mm was a good buy, my SP F2.8 is excellent but heavy. I assume you got the lighter F 3.5 one? I'm not so sure about the mirror lens, usually it needs and is corrected for at least an UV filter in it's light path and a lens shade is important as well for more contrast. A monopod would help a lot with both lenses.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgredline Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Hmmm, hard to pass up a duck thread :) Here are some oldies. I have not been out shooting of late..''sigh'' <img src="http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp128/jgredline/Wildlife%20parks/DUCKS4.jpg"> - <img src="http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp128/jgredline/Wildlife%20parks/DUCKS.jpg"> - <img src="http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp128/jgredline/Wildlife%20parks/DUCKS3.jpg"> - <img src="http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp128/jgredline/Wildlife%20parks/DUCKS2.jpg"> - <img src="http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp128/jgredline/Wildlife%20parks/DUCKS1.jpg"> - <img src="http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp128/jgredline/Wildlife%20parks/DUCKS5.jpg"> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oleksandr_holovachov Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 If I may share some of my Sony-ian experience with You. This picture is of a commonest mallard that You always see everywhere where there is some water. However, this one was shot in the "wild", in one of the desert reserves in Arizona. The lens used - Tamron SP 300mm F2.8 LD (adaptall 2 lens with maxxum mount) coupled with Tamron 2X teleconverter and handheld. if I were using a tripod - I would not have time to shoot.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oleksandr_holovachov Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 The next one is a grey duck from the Brisbane botanical garden. It basically filled the frame of my camera. The lens - already mentioned today on the pages of Pentax forum - Tamron 70-300mm LD Di Macro set to 300mm.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewg_ny Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Yikes, that's some, uh, striking bokeh on that first shot with the mirror lens. I know some people call bokeh like that "interesting". (charitably?) Oleksandr, that grey duck is pretty striking. I don't think I've seen a duck with a blue bill before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_ferguson3 Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Ducks make wonderful pictures...<br><Br> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3291/2910085488_7aa07f6c90_b.jpg"> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oleksandr_holovachov Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Andrew, if You're talking about strangely coloured bills, than the Surf Scooter is worth mentioning too. Sorry for the quality of the image - it was taken with Lumix DMC-FZ 30 and seriously cropped. Alex<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oleksandr_holovachov Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 I like ducks (I'm an semi-professional ornithologist) also because they are one of the most colorful amoung larger birds, and sometimes show interesting color patterns, like this Paradise Shelduck of New Zealand. The male is dark (black, grey, brown) while female is multicoloured. This picture was taken with Nikkor 400mm 5.6 ED-AI mounted on Sony A100 with "glessless adapter". Also cropped considerably. This species is very shy.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snik75 Posted October 10, 2008 Author Share Posted October 10, 2008 Thanks Markus! Nice shot. The mirror's colors are a bit off, might be the missing UV filter, who knows. The had a table of odds and ends that may well have had the filters and hood on it, but when I read more about the lens and went back Monday it was all boxed up somewhere. They'll call me if they find it... yeah right. I may try a hood of black construction paper. Javier, you're an inspiration. Don't go over to the dark side! Love the second to last bird. Alex, that grey duck is a great shot. I agree that trying to shoot wildlife with a tripod seems daunting. One of the reasons I decided to go for the mirror over a standard big old lens. I've had little luck with a 80-200 M and a 2X TC handheld for birds - too blurry. Maybe the string and washer stabilizer would be worth a try? Andrew - it is odd. I didn't crop it just so y'all could see. Supposedly fixable in PP.... John - I agree. Everyone else - more ducks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oleksandr_holovachov Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Nick, my standard "wildlife" telephoto now is the abowe mentioned Nikkor 400mm F5.6 ED-IF with glassless adapter. It is very handholdable even though Sony's Super Steady Shot is not working with it. And amazingly sharp on 10Mp camera. I also use Tamron SP 500mm F8 mirror lens but only in places where I can "control" bokeh and have enough light - mainly on the beaches. Also handheld. I need to add chip to both lenses to make Sony's SSS work. The fast Tamron SP 300mm F2.8 LD is mostly used on the tripod and sometimes with TC in places where I do not have to move alot and can sit in one place and take large series of shots oriented to show birds behavior. PS. There were two recent threads about use of mirror lenses started by a member of Pentax community (Garry Ian Young). We discussed there some tips, adwantages and disadwantages of mirror lenses, accompanied with many pictures. We particularly discussed how to awoid "odd" background there. GARRY, if You are reading this- do You think it is time to start another "mirror" thread???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elnoralouisa Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 Here is a duck pic taken at the zoo.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elnoralouisa Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 Here is another picture, but I am not even sure this is a duck :) Is it a duck?<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oleksandr_holovachov Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 Debbie, it is a Hooded merganser, a species of a DUCK family, Anatidae, that also includes geese, brantas and swans. Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe_jackson4 Posted October 12, 2008 Share Posted October 12, 2008 This thread could have been so much more interesting if Nick's finger had "accidentally" slipped off to the right of the "D" key... :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe_jackson4 Posted October 12, 2008 Share Posted October 12, 2008 I think Debbie's "Duck at the zoo" pic is probably the most interesting one here, BTW... The softness really complements the pastel colours. Nice low angle, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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