Stand by your Tam'

by prsjnb

Still on a learning curve with getting the best out of an Adaptall II SP Tamron 500mm f/8. Dunnock was photographed with a tripod-mounted (Sirui PH-20 Gimbal Head) K-5 (ISO 3200) at a distance of approximately 15m.

Original .DNG (heavily cropped) developed in LR 5.0. NR courtesy of DxO PureRaw (currently on free-trial).

Whilst not the easiest lens in the world to master, practise and patience does, IMO, yield worthwhile results, but interested to learn what you think.
Liked by  pauljay drofmit Antony
Uploaded08/05/2021 - 19:27
CategoryWildlife / Nature
Shutter Speed1/2000
ApertureN/A
Lens0mm F0
ISO3200
Focal Length500mm

go4IT
Posted 09/05/2021 - 10:49 Link
Background colouration is dramatic, and the POV and the wood texture gives this little creature a bit of grandeur by making it appear to be sitting atop a mountain (or have I not had enough coffee yet this morning?). Can you please tell me more about this lens --- cost, operation, etc?
drofmit
Posted 10/05/2021 - 09:33 Link
Also on same learning curve.... but with the mirror version.
Never be afraid to talk about your techniques...
"Give a thousand photographers...
the same camera, lens and scene...
and you'll always get a thousand different takes!!"
Anon.
prsjnb
Posted 13/05/2021 - 20:28 Link
Actually, the image was taken with an Adaptall II Tamron SP 500mm mirror lens.

For those not in the know, and who are also of the masochistic photographic tendency, copies in great condition can be found for under a £100, including mount. Be prepared to use a good quality tripod, ideally with a gimbal head, a remote release and to crank up the ISO if the light is anything less than perfect. At a fixed f/8 the DOF with this lens is wafer thin and a passion for manual focus lenses is a distinct advantage if not prerequisite. An eyepiece magnifier (I use a 1.3x from KPS) is a great help. Shoot RAW and edit in Lightroom, Photoshop or similar to get the best from the images produced.
go4IT
Posted 18/06/2021 - 12:23 Link
Thank you for your info on deploying this lens. Mirror lenses seem to me to usually presage disastrous results, but in the right hands, as here, can sometimes come through with flying colours.

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