Spiratone F/8.0 mirror hummingbird
Jul 26, 2014 13:22:44 #
Had to break out my old Spiratone 500 mm Mirror lens and give it a shot on a hummingbird - got this little female this morning.
Shot thru the window screen from a tripod in the kitchen - a tad cloudy when taken, but for a $35.00 f/8 mirror off of EBAY, I think it did OK.
EXIF:
ISO 5000
1/800
F/8.0
500mm 35 mm equivalent 750mm
Noise reduction in Lightroom, it was a tad noisy at first look.
Shot thru the window screen from a tripod in the kitchen - a tad cloudy when taken, but for a $35.00 f/8 mirror off of EBAY, I think it did OK.
EXIF:
ISO 5000
1/800
F/8.0
500mm 35 mm equivalent 750mm
Noise reduction in Lightroom, it was a tad noisy at first look.
Jul 27, 2014 07:23:20 #
Looking at the download, it looks a little bit soft, but what would properly sort the picture is a lift to the shadows. The subject's just a bit too lost in the shadows.
I had to google "mirror lens", and now that I have, I can see that you successfully avoided the "strange donut-like effect on the out of focus highlights". Your bokeh is properly smooth.
Did the shutter speed have to be as fast (1/800) for a bird at rest? Or were you allowing for the possibility of catching them in-flight. My experience of high ISOs is that they can prevent a sharp focus being achieved, or contribute to whatever softness was there to begin with.
Mirror lenses sound like they'd be good for nature photographers that hike a lot, since they're small and light. Perhaps not for pro shooters, though.
I had to google "mirror lens", and now that I have, I can see that you successfully avoided the "strange donut-like effect on the out of focus highlights". Your bokeh is properly smooth.
Did the shutter speed have to be as fast (1/800) for a bird at rest? Or were you allowing for the possibility of catching them in-flight. My experience of high ISOs is that they can prevent a sharp focus being achieved, or contribute to whatever softness was there to begin with.
Mirror lenses sound like they'd be good for nature photographers that hike a lot, since they're small and light. Perhaps not for pro shooters, though.
Jul 27, 2014 08:09:22 #
R.G. wrote:
Looking at the download, it looks a little bit sof... (show quote)
I am sure that many of the problems start at shooting thru a screen as well, Thanks for your suggestions. I did go back and adjust the shadows a bit, but overall there was just too much softness for me as well. I know that old f/8.0 mirror does a good job out in bright light, but it is not going to match what can be done with normal lenses in failing or dim light.
Jul 27, 2014 10:20:38 #
Jul 27, 2014 10:37:03 #
twowindsbear wrote:
Can you open the window? or at the very least remove the screen?
Of course, but to do that would be just as easy to set up outside. I was just playing with an old mirror lens.
Snapped a few more, same location, thru the glass, thru the screen, but with a Sigma 170-500 lens...
Hope this does not make me a daylight snapshooter! :)
Jul 27, 2014 11:13:46 #
dlmorris
Loc: Loma Linda, Ca
Shooting through a screen isn't good! But a mirror lens will never be as sharp as a conventional lens, because of the large obstruction of the secondary mirror. That's probably why few people use them, including myself.
Jul 27, 2014 11:18:06 #
dlmorris wrote:
Shooting through a screen isn't good! But a mirror lens will never be as sharp as a conventional lens, because of the large obstruction of the secondary mirror. That's probably why few people use them, including myself.
Agreed.
I picked up the 500 mirror before getting the Sigma 170-500, before putting the mirror up on EBAY I figured I would give it another try.
Once the screen and window pane are out of the picture, the mirror actually is not bad, but as you say, never gonna be as sharp and crisp as a normal lens at the same length.
Nice to have AF on the Sigma where the mirror is a T-mount.
Thanks.
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