AKE0404AR From United States of America, joined May 2000, 2534 posts, RR: 50 Reply 6, posted (5 years 4 months 3 weeks 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 2144 times:
AKE0404AR From United States of America, joined May 2000, 2534 posts, RR: 50 Reply 8, posted (5 years 4 months 3 weeks 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 2102 times:
Quoting Beechcraft (Reply 7): i´m trying to....let´s see what 2008 has in mind....
Psyops From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (5 years 4 months 3 weeks 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 2099 times:
I have one and won't part with it.
Best lens I have for outdoor field sports like football, soccer, baseball. Lots of flexibility in focal length but also sharp. nto great for indoor sports like hockey, for that I switch to the 300 f/2.8.
For aviation it is a bit intimidating to use on a ladder in the back of my truck with a monopod, but you get used to it pretty fast.
BO__einG From Canada, joined Apr 2000, 2760 posts, RR: 20 Reply 10, posted (5 years 4 months 3 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 2085 times:
i just go to the camera store and get my hands on it whenever I can.
A good bit of workout if considering hand held shooting which tinkering with the zoom rings as you pan this thing, you're bound to get some stiff cramps at the end.
Here in canada it is $5500CA, too pricey for me.
You can also rent it for a day for $100 but need a $2500 deposit just incase the worst happens.
Expanding my global domination one spotter at a time..
Jawed From United States of America, joined Sep 2006, 482 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (5 years 4 months 3 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 1970 times:
Does this lens have a way to attach a filter to the fornt? If so, what is the filter diameter? I'm not sure, since the filter apparently slides into the back of the lens.
CalgaryBill From Canada, joined May 2006, 686 posts, RR: 6 Reply 12, posted (5 years 4 months 3 weeks ago) and read 1955 times:
First, a couple comments on his review:
- he said the focus limiter switch limits the zoom, then said it limits it to 6mm to infinity. No, it limits the focus range (not the zoom) to 6m to infinity. It does not even focus as close as 6mm - I think minimum focus distance is 7 feet.
- He completely lost it on the M/A vs M focus mode. He states the M/A mode lets you focus automatically or override it by pressing the buttons on front of the lens. Uh, no. You can manually override the autofocus on any Nikkor AF-S lens by simply rotating the focus ring. The buttons on the front of the lens are focus recall buttons. You can set them to a specific focus distance, then when needed just push any one of them to instantly take the focal distance to that point again. For instance, you're shooting a bike race by an exciting corner. Focus on the corner, set the focus preset. Now you can shoot all you like around the track, but every time a bike goes into that corner, just hit one of the focus preset buttons and you don't have to worry about the autofocus hunting back and forth.
Quoting Jawed (Thread starter): How many people on this forum own this lens?
Quoting Jawed (Reply 11): Does this lens have a way to attach a filter to the fornt? If so, what is the filter diameter?
No, filters such as polarizers go into the slip-in filter holder at the back. The polarizer comes in its own carrier with an external wheel so you can adjust polarization without removing the filter. You can use just about any 52mm filter in here, but generally it has to be a thin-mount version or it may not fit through the filter opening.
PS: I think the front element is about 124mm and I don't think it is threaded....
Quoting Jawed (Reply 11): If the lens does not accept a filter on the front, how is the glass at the front protected from scratches?
For the price, it's a safe bet that people are extra careful when swinging this lens around. But the lens comes with a protective front element called a meniscus lens. Basically it is a shaped element (not flat optical quality glass like most filters) but the lens can be used without it - there's even a storage pouch included. The filter ships already attached to the lens but it isn't obvious, so a lot of people phone Nikon support when they get home and state that they didn't receive one with their lens!
Jawed From United States of America, joined Sep 2006, 482 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (5 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 1951 times:
Let me see if I understand this. Are you saying that the front-most element of the lens does act as a protective element, and if it should become scratched or damaged, it can easily be replaced? If I were to get this lens I want to make sure that (although I would be careful) if something WERE to scratch the front, I'm not down $5000
Quoting CalgaryBill (Reply 12): But the lens comes with a protective front element called a meniscus lens. Basically it is a shaped element (not flat optical quality glass like most filters) but the lens can be used without it
Jawed From United States of America, joined Sep 2006, 482 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (5 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 1950 times:
that it says "Protective, removable glass element included". That would be a very good thing to have.
By the way CalgaryBill, would you agree that it is reasonable to use this lens for handheld shots for a period of time (say 1 hour), if you are not a body builder?
Scbriml From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2003, 11429 posts, RR: 50 Reply 15, posted (5 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 1926 times:
Quoting Jawed (Reply 14): By the way CalgaryBill, would you agree that it is reasonable to use this lens for handheld shots for a period of time (say 1 hour), if you are not a body builder?
I know Canadians are all tough, outdoor types, but if I were hand-holding this lens for an extended period of time, it would make my arms ache. Try holding a 3.5kg weight at arm's length and see how long you can hold it.
I used this lens at RIAT last year, and I did find it tough trying to chase small, fast jets around the sky, but I'll be trying again this year! When using this lens for departure shots from Heathrow, I simply put the camera down between departures, I don't hold it all the time (and you'll get neck/back ache if you try keeping it round your neck, and it's too cumbersome to keep over your shoulder.)
So yes, you can hand-hold (I wouldn't want to go below 1/500th) and get great results. But it is big and heavy, not easy to swing around in a crowd.
Scbriml From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2003, 11429 posts, RR: 50 Reply 16, posted (5 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 1917 times:
Quoting CalgaryBill (Reply 12): For the price, it's a safe bet that people are extra careful when swinging this lens around. But the lens comes with a protective front element called a meniscus lens.
The lens hood is also quite substantial and offers a good degree of protection.
CalgaryBill From Canada, joined May 2006, 686 posts, RR: 6 Reply 17, posted (5 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 1904 times:
Quoting Jawed (Reply 14): By the way CalgaryBill, would you agree that it is reasonable to use this lens for handheld shots for a period of time (say 1 hour), if you are not a body builder?
Well, I'm about forty pounds overweight and I hand held it for the morning and afternoon rounds at Axalp (1.5 hours each, and that's after carrying the lens up the mountain) and the Abbotsford airshow (four hours with short breaks between performances). I probably walked like a caveman by the end of each day, but no, I didn't pull any muscles, didn't have to see a chiropractor, and didn't walk away swearing I needed a lighter lens.
I do use a monopod or Whimberley when shooting with this lens, but aircraft at events like Axalp and airshows are moving too fast for an old guy like me to keep up with a tripod or monopod in the way. The tri/monopod are great for stuff like approach shots and slower moving sports like football.
Quoting Jawed (Reply 13): Are you saying that the front-most element of the lens does act as a protective element, and if it should become scratched or damaged, it can easily be replaced?
As mentioned above, it's called a meniscus lens, it pulls off with no tools, and comes with a protective pouch in case you decide not to use it. It is easy to remove, but being a dedicated element to this lens, it's probably expensive to replace.
Quoting Scbriml (Reply 15): So yes, you can hand-hold (I wouldn't want to go below 1/500th) and get great results. But it is big and heavy, not easy to swing around in a crowd.
Jawed From United States of America, joined Sep 2006, 482 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (5 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 1875 times:
Is the Manfrotto 55 a good tripod for this lens? Which head would be best to use for this tripod and lens?
Jawed From United States of America, joined Sep 2006, 482 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (5 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 1841 times:
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Twenty four elements worth of good!
But the lens comes with a protective front element called a meniscus lens. Basically it is a shaped element (not flat optical quality glass like most filters) but the lens can be used without it - there's even a storage pouch included. The filter ships already attached to the lens but it isn't obvious, so a lot of people phone Nikon support when they get home and state that they didn't receive one with their lens!
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