oleksandr_holovachov

<p>The site was "migrating" to another hosting company. It is up and running now.</p>

<p>SonyStyle in USA stated that the autofocus will work on lenses with built-in motors. It was mentioned on the web-page with details about the adapter. But now that page is down.</p>

<p>There are three 14mm rectilinear wide angle lenses in Sony mount, a Tamron 14mm F/2.8, Sigma 14mm F/2.8 and Sigma 14mm F/3.5. The problem only - they are not very common.</p>

<p>Hello,<br>

I recently got the Noflexar 35mm lens and I can not find anywhere what kind of filter thread does it have. I have a note in my notebook that it is 40.5, but extensive search did not reveal any confirmation to this data. Does anyone can enlighten me on this subject?<br>

Thank You in advance, Alex</p>

<p>Photoshop Elements are doing pretty good job too, so I assume full version of Photoshop will do even better. Elements do it automatically using some sort of algorithm involving masks. It does make artefacts if the pictures were shot handheld or if the lens distortion is too pronounced. Try to make an overlaps bigger and take more pictures in this case.</p>

<p>I also know that some software, like GIMP of Corel Paint Shop Pro will not stitch anything automatically. You will have to align Your images as layers Yourself. For good results in this case You need almost perfect images, no distortion and shot with the tripod. Othervise, You may have some troubles.</p>

<p>I'm shure others will suggest more for You, so at the end You will have to look at the cost of the software or its compatibility with Your computer.</p>

<p>Alex</p>

<p>I agree with Andrew. If manual focusing is not a problem for You, the in-body image stabilization of Pentax will help You a lot with old lenses. I never used 500mm Takumars with my Sony alpha DSLR (yep, a Sony intruder here) but I'm using two other manual focus lenses, the Nikkor 400mm 5.6 ED-IF and Canon nFD 500mm 4.5 L. They are either with chipped adapter (Nikkor) or fully converted to Sony-Minolta mount (also with the chip). They both give great results on digital, outresolving my 10Mp. I do not remember if I ever used Nikkor on the tripod, while the big white Cannon I use mostly with some sort of support, unless I need to work fast. In-body IS (SSS) really helps in this case. Check out my pictures from New Zelanad in my gallery, they all were shot with Nikkor.</p>

<p>So technically, there are more options than just m42 Takumar, but they either involve more work (making adapters) or more work and expences (old 500mm FD/nFD Canons are usually a bit more expensive).</p>

<p>Alex</p>

<p>I own a nFD 200mm F4 macro that I use with glassless adapter on Sony DSLR-a100. I also own Tamron Ad2 90mm F2.8 (later model) and some other equipment for macro photography. To be honest, I did not compare both 200mm and 90mm lenses side by side, but they both are very sharp and I often have to look at the pictures at 100% magnification to see which one of the multiple shots is better.<br>

I did not use 200mm F4 that much since I purchased it recently, but I posted one of the best pictures made with it in my gallery: http://www.photo.net/photo/7958538 I used it handheld with flash set on the bracket. It is sharp and has nice (IMHO) bokeh. Using it on the tripod is not very effective. It is heavier than 50mm or 90/100mm macros but if You used to work with even heavier telephotos (like any of 300mm F2.8 and larger), the 200mm Canon will be fine. Weight should not be a criterion to judge the lens, only the quality. Unless You have to hike with it to the top of the Everest.<br>

Now, since I have two dedicated macro lenses, the lighter 90mm Tamron accompanies me on the distant trips (airflights), while 200mm Canon is for "local" use when I do not have to move alot or when extra working distance is necessary.<br>

Alex</p>

 

<p>Thanks Scott for Your explicit answer. I did check the Delta website myself and I'm glad You are confirming my findings.</p>

<p>But then, I've heard some ridiculous histories from passengers that had to check in a cardboard/plastic tube with the poster (cant remember the right word now) since it is supposedly "can be used as a weapon", etc. I was hoping to hear actual stories from peopes personal experience.</p>

<p>Anyway, thank You Scott, You made me feel a bit safer.</p>

"TSA and Delta are completely different entities" - I know that! The question is mainly about TSA rules. The only problem with Delta that I can forsee is the weight limit. I will contact TSA but I also want to know what king of experience did other people have recently flying within the US. Thanks

Hello,

 

Since the TSA rules and airline restrictions change almost daily, I would be interested to hear the recent

experience from peoples travelling with long lenses in their carry-on luggage on the plane. I'll be flying Delta

withing the US in a couple of weeks and want to bring my Canon nFD 500mm F4.5 lens along on my trip, together

with one SLR body and a couple of other lenses. However, since it is big and heavy, and I never took it on the

plane before, I'm somewhat concerned about the problems that I can possibly encounter with Transportation

Security Administration trying to get on the plane. The tripod will be shipped by UPS with some camping gear

before the trip.

 

Share Your experience please, and not only about Delta airlines. Thank You in advance.

 

Alex

Thanks for all Your comments! Although I do not plan any "professional" photography, I would like to bring home some mice memories. I will definitely try one or two of Your recommended places in December. Alex

Thanks Juergen! But it is not a secret any more, after You put it on the Photo.net ;-) Alex

Can anyone advise me on the wintering grounds of the Sandhill Crane in Southern California and Florida. I've seen

this birds twice in Florida while driving on the freeway, but I would like to observe them more closely and

hopefully take some pictures. I observed Common cranes in Eastern Europe many times on breeding grounds and

during migration, but now when I'm in California (and will be visiting Florida in December), I'd like to get

closer ot Sandhill cranes in the wild. Thank You, Alex

Hello. I'm interested in hearing your fresh opinions on the quality of the print-on-demand web-based publishing

of photo books and portfolios. I would like to print a photobook or a portfolio to be able to share my pictures

with my family and friends who are far from me and/or unable to use computer. Searching through the photo.net

gave me some information, but since the printing technology is evolving as fast as anything else in the digital

era, I'm looking for some sort of update and fresh comments. I also have some straightforward questions, for

which I could not find clear answers.

 

I tried Lulu.com recently, but I find they printing quality is not exactly as high as I expect (lover than their

claimed 300-600dpi), and the ink dissolves when you use certain types of glues! Well, as everywhere - You get

what You pay for. I'm getting excellent prints with my Canon Pixma, but a "large scale" printing is too time

consuming and expensive with it. These are the options that I'm interested in:

 

1) bokk of 20-50 pages in size;

 

2) Letter or A4 size printing (or 8-9 in x 10-12 in range);

 

3) soft or hard cover;

 

4) better quality glossy paper;

 

5) full color printed with offset-quality printer;

 

6) possibility to print 1-20 books;

 

7) possibility to upload Your own book as a PDF;

 

8) possibility for non-professional photographers to print own pictures;

 

9) ISBN is an option;

 

10) ability to use color profiles;

 

11) price range for under 100$ per book.

 

 

Thank You in advance, Alex

P.S. for moderators - if I post my question in the wrong forum please move me to the right place.

I'am regularly using the Tamron SP2 500mm mirror lens although I have both 400mm and 500mm primes. Having a

plenty of light (which is not uncommon in southern California) I can get very sharp images handheld. The great

advantage of using digital SLR with mirror lens is that You can take dozens of shots in hope that few of them

will turn out sharp enough. And for hand-held shooting You need either 1/1000 and faster shutter speed or in-body

image stabilisation. At 50% zoom the pictures taken with the high quality mirror and the good prime can be

identical in sharpness (if Your long lens technique is good). It is not as sharp as the "refractive" prime lens

at 100%, but my Tamron was much-much sharper than my third-party zoom lens at the 500mm end. I'm currently using

Canon 500mm 4.5 FD lens modified to work with my Sony DSLR-A100 and I'm getting great results with it but it is

MUCH less handholdable than the Tamron mirror.

 

Because of the mirror lens bokeh, You can successfully use it only when you have uniform background - sky, water,

sand, or forest (far away). This thread shows good examples or pictures taken with mirror lenses:

http://www.photo.net/no-words-forum/00RKOE

 

Further threads discuss pros and cons of mirror lenses in detailes with more examples:

http://www.photo.net/filters-bags-tripods-accessories-forum/00DYFh

 

http://www.photo.net/pentax-camera-forum/00QO7I

 

http://www.photo.net/casual-conversations-forum/00Qgv4

 

http://www.photo.net/nature-photography-forum/00NulC

 

If I want to travell light or if I'm restricted in size regarding my equipment - I would take mirror lens. If I

have no restrictions and willing to drag over 10 pounds of lens+tripod equipment all the time - I will go for the

500mm prime. I will take the prime (but the 400mm one) if I'm limited in weight but will be taking pictures

somewhere where the mirror lens will make unpleasant bokeh, like in woods, reeds, bushes, etc.<div></div>

<div></div>

Do I understand correctly - it is not working with Autofocus lens in MF mode??? I just tried my MC Rokkor-X 50mm 1.4 fitted with chinese chipped adapter (programmed for 50mm 1.7 though) and the SSS works in both AF and MF modes (basically positions of the switch, focusing gearing of the camera is off anyway). The "SSS-indicator" in the viewfinder shows some activity and the resulting image (taken with 1/3-1/4 sec, handheld) in "stabilised", comparing to the image taken with the same setup when the SSS if off. Want to hear experience of other users too.

<div></div>

Debbie, it is a Hooded merganser, a species of a DUCK family, Anatidae, that also includes geese, brantas and swans. Alex

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????

Check this out: http://www.photo.net/member-status-icons

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>

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>

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>

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>