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Re: [OM] Telephoto lens flamethrower

Subject: Re: [OM] Telephoto lens flamethrower
From: dreammoose <dreammoose@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2002 23:10:36 -0800
Tamron and Tokina make various levels of quality of lenses For a number of years, Tokina's top line was (still is?) 'AT-X' and Tamron's was 'SP'. This designation is a pretty reliable indicator of at least a good lens, and some are great lenses. The only one that immediately comes to mind as having a poorish reputation is the Tamron SP 24-48mm zoom. The SP 17mm gets mixed reviews.

As a couple of people have written, the Tamron SP 60-300mm is one of my favorite lenses. a couple of the finalists for my TOPE entry are taken with this lens. Another is taken with the Tamron SP 80-200mm/f2.8.

The Tokinas were made to fit specific cameras. The Tamrons use their Adaptall 2 system which uses adapters to let their lenses be used with a wide variety of camera brands. Although the Tokinas are comparable in performance and generally smaller and lighter for euivalent lenses, the Tamron flexibility resulted in more sales. It is rarer to find a specific Tokina for OM mount than the similar Tamron.

I think people have given widely differing advice about photographing sunsets because there are a lot of different ways to photograh of sunsets. Getting all the amazing clouds across a wide expanse of sky requires a normal to wide angle lens, while making images where the sun is large and other things are in silhouette around or in front of it requires a tele like you are looking at or longer. The advice to shoot with a normal lens and enlarge to get the close up image you like doesn't make money sense. film and developing aren't cheap and enlargements with custom cropping are even dearer. You would run past the cost of a telephoto very quickly that way.

The 'F stop' or 'F number' you refer to is a measurement used in the same way in all photographic contexts. It is a measure of the brightness the lens delivers to the film. In it's simplest form it is simply the ratio of the size of the opening of the lens to it's focal length. It comes up in 2 contexts, the maximum of the lens and the aperture to which it is set for a particular exposure.Picture a simple lens like a magnifying glass that is 1 in. in diameter and focuses the image of the sun 2 in. behind it. 2/1 = 2, so it is an f2.0 lens. Standard lenses for 35mm cameras are usually similar to that, 50mm focal length and near f1.8. In addition to consisting of several coated elements to make better images than a single lens, they have a set of metal blades that can adjsut the amount of light going through the lens below thw maximum avialable. The adjustment is done with the aperture ring on the lens, which is marked in f-stops, such as 2, 2.8,. 4, 5.6, etc.

A faster lens, i.e. lower numbered mamimum f-stop (usually marked on the front of the lens as a ratio like the 1:5.6 of the Vivitar), is capable of providing greater brightness on the film and allowing faster shutter speeds and/or slower film speed, etc. for any given shot.

You really should read a simple basic photography book to get some of this terminology straight. It's so much easier to 'get' with pictures and diagrams.

Moose

Kierstin wrote:

very rough ride eh...?

No, I am just joking... will all lenses list 'F' numbers, is this a system
that all manufacturers use?

you said any 'AT-X' lens, does this mean if the model number begins in
'AT-X' its a keeper (I mean if it is undamaged)?

I would so like to try my hand at sunsets, but I don't want to burn my money
in the glow.

I am also taken prior member advice by buying a tripod (22 hrs to go, the
suspense is killing me).  I am going to 'snipe' it (thank you Joshua), just
to be sure (reasonably sure) of success.

I still haven't received, much to my dismay, any  advice about taking
astrophotography (moon & stars) pictures.  Is this too soon in my love
affair to consider this? This type of photography I think could become my
soul mate, as I feel closer to God whenever I stare into the night sky.

I would really appreciate some experienced members to impart some night
knowledge to me, even if it is only to tell me to forget about it for now.

xoxoxoxo



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