Re: Long Glass Adventures
Nicely captured. A lot of nectar has disappeared from my feeders this week, but I managed only two quick glimpses of the shy critters. Dan Matyola http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/danieljmatyola On Sun, Sep 15, 2019 at 10:33 PM Dale H. Cook wrote: > I finally took an afternoon to have another try at hummingbird > photography with the Rokinon 650-1300mm. I swung the shepherd's crook > pole around, and that let me put the camera in the hall outside the > kitchen and change the zoom from 1100mm to 900mm. That gave me a > slightly wider field of view at the cost of a little less depth of > field. I only have juveniles left (the adults are headed south) but > there is still a fair amount of traffic. I still have a long way to go > in mastering the Rokinon but I expect to be shooting a number of other > subjects with it this fall to get in some more practice. > > https://plymouthcolony.net/photos/pages/hummers.html > -- > Dale H. Cook, decades as 35mm SLR photographer, now > Pentax K-70 w/ Pentax-DA 18-270mm walking-around lens > https://plymouthcolony.net/photos/index.html > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and > follow the directions. > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Long Glass Adventures
Very cool. We don't get hummers here. Sunbirds are the closest. Alan C On 16-Sep-19 04:32 AM, Dale H. Cook wrote: I finally took an afternoon to have another try at hummingbird photography with the Rokinon 650-1300mm. I swung the shepherd's crook pole around, and that let me put the camera in the hall outside the kitchen and change the zoom from 1100mm to 900mm. That gave me a slightly wider field of view at the cost of a little less depth of field. I only have juveniles left (the adults are headed south) but there is still a fair amount of traffic. I still have a long way to go in mastering the Rokinon but I expect to be shooting a number of other subjects with it this fall to get in some more practice. https://plymouthcolony.net/photos/pages/hummers.html -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Long Glass Adventures
Much better. Where are you? My Michigan hummers are gone. Paul > On Sep 15, 2019, at 10:32 PM, Dale H. Cook > wrote: > > I finally took an afternoon to have another try at hummingbird photography > with the Rokinon 650-1300mm. I swung the shepherd's crook pole around, and > that let me put the camera in the hall outside the kitchen and change the > zoom from 1100mm to 900mm. That gave me a slightly wider field of view at the > cost of a little less depth of field. I only have juveniles left (the adults > are headed south) but there is still a fair amount of traffic. I still have a > long way to go in mastering the Rokinon but I expect to be shooting a number > of other subjects with it this fall to get in some more practice. > > https://plymouthcolony.net/photos/pages/hummers.html > -- > Dale H. Cook, decades as 35mm SLR photographer, now > Pentax K-70 w/ Pentax-DA 18-270mm walking-around lens > https://plymouthcolony.net/photos/index.html > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Long Glass Adventures
I finally took an afternoon to have another try at hummingbird photography with the Rokinon 650-1300mm. I swung the shepherd's crook pole around, and that let me put the camera in the hall outside the kitchen and change the zoom from 1100mm to 900mm. That gave me a slightly wider field of view at the cost of a little less depth of field. I only have juveniles left (the adults are headed south) but there is still a fair amount of traffic. I still have a long way to go in mastering the Rokinon but I expect to be shooting a number of other subjects with it this fall to get in some more practice. https://plymouthcolony.net/photos/pages/hummers.html -- Dale H. Cook, decades as 35mm SLR photographer, now Pentax K-70 w/ Pentax-DA 18-270mm walking-around lens https://plymouthcolony.net/photos/index.html -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Long Glass Adventures
So what did the 600 set you back?
On September 10, 2019 8:21:46 AM PDT, John wrote:
>On 9/8/2019 20:42:09, Dale H. Cook wrote:
>> I have stolen only a little time to work with my long glass for
>shooting
>> hummingbirds. During the first try my old Focal tripod (don't laugh!
>- I have to
>> do this on the cheap) proved woefully inadequate to handle the load
>of so much
>> lens. Results from the first session were, not surprisingly, woeful.
>Today I had
>> another try, first with the old Focal, but that try ended when the
>tripod broke
>> while I was moving it - it really was overloaded. In the time since
>the first
>> try I found another old Focal tripod, but much beefier, at Goodwill,
>and it was
>> a significant improvement.
>>
>
>If there's a good independent camera store around, check with them &
>see if
>someone has traded in an old set of Gitzo or Manfrotto tripod legs. I
>got a
>great aluminum Gitzo CHEAP when someone traded it in for a carbon fiber
>model.
>
>
>OR ... KEH also sells tripods. A quick perusal turned up a set of
>Bogen/Manfrotto 3021 legs for $84 (and other stuff equally discounted).
>
>https://www.keh.com/shop/tripods-bogen-manfrotto-3021-3-sec-chr-26-71-717276.html
>
>https://www.keh.com/shop/manfrotto-808rc4-3-way-tripod-head-231927.html
>
>https://www.keh.com/shop/manfrotto-229-3d-super-pro-head-231953.html
>
>... and up until about 5 minutes ago, they had a:
>
>Pentax 600mm F/4 SMC FA* ED IF K Mount Autofocus Lens {43 Drop-In}
>Built-In Hood
>
>EX condition With Caps, Case, 43mm Filter Set (Normal, Cloudy,
>Skylight, UV,
>O56, R60, Y48)
>
>
>Thank you for posting something that made me look at KEH's site at just
>the
>right time today.
>
>Anyone want to buy a Sigma BIGMA 50-500 in PKAF mount?
>
>--
>Science - Questions we may never find answers for.
>Religion - Answers we must never question.
>
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Re: Long Glass Adventures
On 9/8/2019 20:42:09, Dale H. Cook wrote:
I have stolen only a little time to work with my long glass for shooting
hummingbirds. During the first try my old Focal tripod (don't laugh! - I have to
do this on the cheap) proved woefully inadequate to handle the load of so much
lens. Results from the first session were, not surprisingly, woeful. Today I had
another try, first with the old Focal, but that try ended when the tripod broke
while I was moving it - it really was overloaded. In the time since the first
try I found another old Focal tripod, but much beefier, at Goodwill, and it was
a significant improvement.
If there's a good independent camera store around, check with them & see if
someone has traded in an old set of Gitzo or Manfrotto tripod legs. I got a
great aluminum Gitzo CHEAP when someone traded it in for a carbon fiber model.
OR ... KEH also sells tripods. A quick perusal turned up a set of
Bogen/Manfrotto 3021 legs for $84 (and other stuff equally discounted).
https://www.keh.com/shop/tripods-bogen-manfrotto-3021-3-sec-chr-26-71-717276.html
https://www.keh.com/shop/manfrotto-808rc4-3-way-tripod-head-231927.html
https://www.keh.com/shop/manfrotto-229-3d-super-pro-head-231953.html
... and up until about 5 minutes ago, they had a:
Pentax 600mm F/4 SMC FA* ED IF K Mount Autofocus Lens {43 Drop-In} Built-In Hood
EX condition With Caps, Case, 43mm Filter Set (Normal, Cloudy, Skylight, UV,
O56, R60, Y48)
Thank you for posting something that made me look at KEH's site at just the
right time today.
Anyone want to buy a Sigma BIGMA 50-500 in PKAF mount?
--
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Religion - Answers we must never question.
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Re: Long Glass Adventures
That is a type of paper wasp On Sun, Sep 8, 2019 at 7:42 PM Dale H. Cook wrote: > > I have stolen only a little time to work with my long glass for shooting > hummingbirds. During the first try my old Focal tripod (don't laugh! - I > have to do this on the cheap) proved woefully inadequate to handle the > load of so much lens. Results from the first session were, not > surprisingly, woeful. Today I had another try, first with the old Focal, > but that try ended when the tripod broke while I was moving it - it > really was overloaded. In the time since the first try I found another > old Focal tripod, but much beefier, at Goodwill, and it was a > significant improvement. > > Shooting the hummingbird with the Rokinon 650-1300mm was quite a > challenge. With a straight-on shot the camera was backed up against the > refrigerator, and the shortest focal length that would focus on the > feeder was 1100mm. That turned out to be too long a lens for a view as > wide as I wanted. > > My favorite visitor is my only adult male, who arrived while I was still > getting things framed, so I did not get a good shot. > > https://plymouthcolony.net/photos/images/IMGP0773.jpg > > After I got the shot set up I didn't get anybody on the two "flowers" > closest to the camera - everybody used the back "flowers". > > https://plymouthcolony.net/photos/images/IMGP0792.jpg > > The only subjects who I got good shots of were the insects. Does anyone > know what kind of wasp (or hornet) this is? > > https://plymouthcolony.net/photos/images/IMGP0799.jpg > > Focus on that long lens is touchy, and it has little depth of field due > to its focal-length-related fixed aperture. For the next try I will move > some of the kitchen furniture to allow a shorter zoom and a wider field > of view. Getting used to this glass is a lot more work than I expected. > I am also saving up for a much better tripod and head. > -- > Dale H. Cook, decades as 35mm SLR photographer, now > Pentax K-70 w/ Pentax-DA 18-270mm walking-around lens > https://plymouthcolony.net/photos/index.html > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- -- Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still. Dorothea Lange -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Long Glass Adventures
Larry - Thanks for all of those suggestions - I don't mind DIY projects. Your suggestions on getting a good tripod and head for a reasonable price will inspire me to do additional tripod research. -- Dale H. Cook, decades as 35mm SLR photographer, now Pentax K-70 w/ Pentax-DA 18-270mm walking-around lens https://plymouthcolony.net/photos/index.html -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Long Glass Adventures
> On Sep 8, 2019, at 5:42 PM, Dale H. Cook wrote: > > > Focus on that long lens is touchy, and it has little depth of field due to > its focal-length-related fixed aperture. For the next try I will move some of > the kitchen furniture to allow a shorter zoom and a wider field of view. > Getting used to this glass is a lot more work than I expected. I am also > saving up for a much better tripod and head. If you’re the sort that enjoys home hacks an important detail to know is that tripod heads screw on to a 3/8-16 (3/8 NC) thread. That means that if you can get a bit of the appropriate thread sticking up out of something solid, then that will work as your tripod base. A bit over ten years ago in my search for an inexpensive sturdy tripod base I made one out of a pneumatic manifold (one in, three out) and some plumbing bits. I did have to cut, drill and tap a small chunk of aluminum to make it work. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ellarsee/albums/72157605385468949 https://www.flickr.com/photos/ellarsee/albums/72157619815658015 If you happen to have a metal ladder that is about the right height, you could do something so that you had the 3/8-16 threads sticking up out of the top step. Going a little lower tech you could do some hanger bolt into wood, 3/8-16 on one end and wood screw on the other. Use some 4x4 as your center column and figure out something clever as your base, and you’re good to go. I used something like these screwed into the end of dowels to make cheap ass monopods. https://www.boltdepot.com/Product-Details.aspx?product=12194=CjwKCAjwzdLrBRBiEiwAEHrAYmT5fLSZ6YGQi5UG1igB029X__mbEEm2g6axlOAmgaIeqX0Sg7fWmxoConwQAvD_BwE I’ve gone through the whole cycle of utter trash, to crappy manfrotto RC2, to slightly less crappy RC2 to finally switching to Arca-Swiss. I finally got the Induro BHD2 ballhead https://www.amazon.com/Induro-BHD2-Ballhead-39-6lb-Capacity/dp/B002SXMRWQ The RRS etc. 2” ball heads are probably sturdier, but their $200 ballheads probably aren’t. My theory was to trade brandname for size. It looks like Amazon has these on sale too. There are those who will sing the praises of name brand $600 tripod heads, but I swim in the shallower end of the financial pond and I’ve found that Benro/Induro gear is an excellent value. I spent something like $75 on their equivalent of a $200 manfrotto carbon fiber monopod which telescopes down short enough to carry in my camera bag. -- Larry Colen l...@red4est.com -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Long Glass Adventures
I have stolen only a little time to work with my long glass for shooting hummingbirds. During the first try my old Focal tripod (don't laugh! - I have to do this on the cheap) proved woefully inadequate to handle the load of so much lens. Results from the first session were, not surprisingly, woeful. Today I had another try, first with the old Focal, but that try ended when the tripod broke while I was moving it - it really was overloaded. In the time since the first try I found another old Focal tripod, but much beefier, at Goodwill, and it was a significant improvement. Shooting the hummingbird with the Rokinon 650-1300mm was quite a challenge. With a straight-on shot the camera was backed up against the refrigerator, and the shortest focal length that would focus on the feeder was 1100mm. That turned out to be too long a lens for a view as wide as I wanted. My favorite visitor is my only adult male, who arrived while I was still getting things framed, so I did not get a good shot. https://plymouthcolony.net/photos/images/IMGP0773.jpg After I got the shot set up I didn't get anybody on the two "flowers" closest to the camera - everybody used the back "flowers". https://plymouthcolony.net/photos/images/IMGP0792.jpg The only subjects who I got good shots of were the insects. Does anyone know what kind of wasp (or hornet) this is? https://plymouthcolony.net/photos/images/IMGP0799.jpg Focus on that long lens is touchy, and it has little depth of field due to its focal-length-related fixed aperture. For the next try I will move some of the kitchen furniture to allow a shorter zoom and a wider field of view. Getting used to this glass is a lot more work than I expected. I am also saving up for a much better tripod and head. -- Dale H. Cook, decades as 35mm SLR photographer, now Pentax K-70 w/ Pentax-DA 18-270mm walking-around lens https://plymouthcolony.net/photos/index.html -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
