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Comment by Gedski posted on Birds in flight shots using K-50 and Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 lens. at 03/09/2016 - 11:59
I'm having difficulty posting as the site keeps showing the busy icon and the not responding message. It has taken me almost ten minutes to type this. What is wrong?
Comment by Gedski posted on Birds in flight shots using K-50 and Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 lens. at 02/09/2016 - 12:24
McGregNi wrote:
I'm sure there's no offense caused .... As the original poster I suppose I always try and refer to everyone's points, but its been a long thread, and of course you can be excused with the heart issues (and again I hope that goes well and helps you get back up to full speed with photography again).
Regarding the settings, then generally the fringing will reduce with smaller apertures ... But you don't have that leeway with BIF, and you don't want to go crazy with ISO either. It all adds to the reasons that I'm saying its best to move on from this lens for that type of shot. The lighting quality and angle plays a big part ... My example shots are in soft, side lighting ... That plays to the strengths of the lens.
But its hard to control that aspect when you've got birds darting around in the sky and contrast is often an issue. Whilst you're doing well against so many odds, I believe continuing with the Tamron for this purpose is a wasted effort and ' flogging a dead horse'.
McGregNi, I've managed to get near to your observations about trying to get rid of PF. I've come to terms with the problem of trying to get the aperture and ISO to work together so as I do not get the dreaded PF.I'm sure there's no offense caused .... As the original poster I suppose I always try and refer to everyone's points, but its been a long thread, and of course you can be excused with the heart issues (and again I hope that goes well and helps you get back up to full speed with photography again).
Regarding the settings, then generally the fringing will reduce with smaller apertures ... But you don't have that leeway with BIF, and you don't want to go crazy with ISO either. It all adds to the reasons that I'm saying its best to move on from this lens for that type of shot. The lighting quality and angle plays a big part ... My example shots are in soft, side lighting ... That plays to the strengths of the lens.
But its hard to control that aspect when you've got birds darting around in the sky and contrast is often an issue. Whilst you're doing well against so many odds, I believe continuing with the Tamron for this purpose is a wasted effort and ' flogging a dead horse'.
I'm also coming to the same conclusion as yourself regarding the suitability of the Tamron lens that I have. I shall of course persevere with current 'stuff' until I can manage a better lens. The 'used' f2.8 70-200mm lens that I had designs on has gone. So, back to square one, no worries.
Comment by Gedski posted on Birds in flight shots using K-50 and Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 lens. at 31/08/2016 - 17:14
McGregNi wrote:
.... Oh dear, you're speechless !
Don't mind my forthrightness, it's in a good cause. I just want to help identify aspects of the lenses performance that can be harnessed to get the most out of it.
McregNi. Something has gone wrong. I did post a response to your post but it seems to have gone missing. Ooer! If I can recall accurately it went something like this..... Oh dear, you're speechless !
Don't mind my forthrightness, it's in a good cause. I just want to help identify aspects of the lenses performance that can be harnessed to get the most out of it.
As I didn't respond to some earlier posts it would have been because of the following reasons.
1. I I didn't think that I needed to respond as they were informational only.
2. Due to my current health problems, I was probably feeling too tired to do anything. I seem to be permanently very tired of late. If I have caused anyone offence, I apologise profusely.
My last set of shots that appear above were to show that I had used settings suggested by the members of this forum. I'm wondering whether using the lens at 300mm and f5.6 depends upon the quality of light available. I'm trying different settings for each shot, if I remember. I am also finding that after only about ten minutes or so I am very tired and have to pack in. I'm due for open heart surgery in a fortnight, notwithstanding further doctor's strikes so I'm thinking that I maybe best forgetting photography until after that.
I shall make efforts to take some shot and will post accordingly. If I don't, you know why. As always, my grateful thankings for everyone's assistance.
Comment by Gedski posted on Birds in flight shots using K-50 and Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 lens. at 31/08/2016 - 11:14
McGregNi wrote:
That is absolutely rampant PF! I've said before, the lens has to be 'worked with', not against .... this type of shot is really 'against' and is wholly unsuited to the lens characteristics.
I get the feeling throughout this that you haven't wanted to hear what I was saying .... that you only wanted to hear what suited ..... (no unkindness, just an honest impression). You also didn't respond to the last four helpful posters, including myself and Peter who offered some new insights.
If you really can't get another lens, then fair enough .... but forget about these types of shots, especially in such light. Take another type of image that suits the lenses strengths .... here's a couple of mine where the lighting is such that the fringing does not occur, and I stopped down a little to F6.7 .... these conditions allow the great strength of the lens to come through, which is very good clarity and sharpness at the long end, even fairly wide open ....
McGregN, Please forgive my not responding to the earlier helpful posts. I hadn't realised that I needed to as I have taken note. Also, at the minute, I'm trying to take pictures and then literally have to take quite a bit if time to recover because of my heart condition.
I feel that once I've got this operation over and done with I'll be more able to concentrate on my photography. Muchly thankings.
I'm afraid that there is nothing to be done about the PF .... you might be able to reduce the colour but it has destroyed the outline of the subject with a haze. If you want to keep doing BIF in sunlight then you'll have to cough up and get another lens, as advised by the experienced people here. The autofocus performance of the Tamron also I feel will be relatively weak compared to some alternatives.
As has been said near the beginning of this thread, the Tamron AF70-300 is a poor choice for your intended BIF images.
That is absolutely rampant PF! I've said before, the lens has to be 'worked with', not against .... this type of shot is really 'against' and is wholly unsuited to the lens characteristics.
I get the feeling throughout this that you haven't wanted to hear what I was saying .... that you only wanted to hear what suited ..... (no unkindness, just an honest impression). You also didn't respond to the last four helpful posters, including myself and Peter who offered some new insights.
If you really can't get another lens, then fair enough .... but forget about these types of shots, especially in such light. Take another type of image that suits the lenses strengths .... here's a couple of mine where the lighting is such that the fringing does not occur, and I stopped down a little to F6.7 .... these conditions allow the great strength of the lens to come through, which is very good clarity and sharpness at the long end, even fairly wide open ....
McGregN, Please forgive my not responding to the earlier helpful posts. I hadn't realised that I needed to as I have taken note. Also, at the minute, I'm trying to take pictures and then literally have to take quite a bit if time to recover because of my heart condition.
I feel that once I've got this operation over and done with I'll be more able to concentrate on my photography. Muchly thankings.
I'm afraid that there is nothing to be done about the PF .... you might be able to reduce the colour but it has destroyed the outline of the subject with a haze. If you want to keep doing BIF in sunlight then you'll have to cough up and get another lens, as advised by the experienced people here. The autofocus performance of the Tamron also I feel will be relatively weak compared to some alternatives.
As has been said near the beginning of this thread, the Tamron AF70-300 is a poor choice for your intended BIF images.
Comment by Gedski posted on Birds in flight shots using K-50 and Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 lens. at 30/08/2016 - 18:58
Good morning all. Hopefully, below, there should appear three of, not my best, pictures, taken earlier this morning.
ISO 800, f5.6, 1/4000, @240mm.
ISO 800, f5.6, 1/4000, @240mm.
ISO 800, f5.6, 1/1600, @ 240mm.
My point of these three not too good shots is the dreaded purple fringing. I reduced from 300mm to 240mm hoping that it would alleviate the problem but it didn't. Is it, again me, or is it one of the things that go with the lens. Finally, how do I get rid of the wretched fringing?
ISO 800, f5.6, 1/4000, @240mm.
ISO 800, f5.6, 1/4000, @240mm.
ISO 800, f5.6, 1/1600, @ 240mm.
My point of these three not too good shots is the dreaded purple fringing. I reduced from 300mm to 240mm hoping that it would alleviate the problem but it didn't. Is it, again me, or is it one of the things that go with the lens. Finally, how do I get rid of the wretched fringing?
Comment by Gedski posted on Birds in flight shots using K-50 and Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 lens. at 29/08/2016 - 12:07
Good morning to you all. I'm really intrigued about the various views of you all as to my best way forward and they are all muchly appreciated. I'm torn between the Pentax 55-300, not the newest one because I don't think it will work on the K-50, and possibly the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 SP AF Di LD (IF) macro lens. I would like to hear from anyone who has, or has had, experience of this lens in particular.
I should also add that any additional 'stuff' for my K-50 is going to be put on the back burner as I'm due to have open heart surgery next month. It sounds worse than I think it really is, I hope! Once I'm over that then I'll be seriously looking at a new, better, lens.
Finally, for this post, I would like anyone who might bethinking of the K-50 for BIF, don't be alarmed as BIF are certainly attainable. If I can manage them then anyone can. Pentax may not be as fast as my Canon 760D but with a little patience and assistance from this site it is possible. Now, I need some decent weather before I go into hospital to get out with the K-50, the 760D is easy, I need practise with my K-50.
I should also add that any additional 'stuff' for my K-50 is going to be put on the back burner as I'm due to have open heart surgery next month. It sounds worse than I think it really is, I hope! Once I'm over that then I'll be seriously looking at a new, better, lens.
Finally, for this post, I would like anyone who might bethinking of the K-50 for BIF, don't be alarmed as BIF are certainly attainable. If I can manage them then anyone can. Pentax may not be as fast as my Canon 760D but with a little patience and assistance from this site it is possible. Now, I need some decent weather before I go into hospital to get out with the K-50, the 760D is easy, I need practise with my K-50.
Comment by Gedski posted on Birds in flight shots using K-50 and Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 lens. at 20/08/2016 - 11:28
dcweather and AggieDad, your observations are duly noted. It seems that the Pentax 55-300DAL has some mixed receptions. I'll certainly look for the Sigma 18-300mm and the Pentax 60-250, I think that was it. However, it will be at least a couple of months before I can think of any more 'stuff' for my K-50.
Comment by Gedski posted on Birds in flight shots using K-50 and Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 lens. at 17/08/2016 - 16:56
A late addition. This moon shot was taken last evening, hand held. Not bad, for me that is.
Comment by Gedski posted on Birds in flight shots using K-50 and Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 lens. at 17/08/2016 - 10:38
Finally, another non flying bird. We didn't see one in the three hours we spent there. Then we found out that you really need to get to the ponds but not until October/November. Still. it was a lovely day and a very pleasant morning out in the fresh air.
I think that the K-50 is beginning to come to hand a bit more now but I really need to practise the BIF shots. I'm getting bored just doing seagulls all the time.
Comment by Gedski posted on Birds in flight shots using K-50 and Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 lens. at 16/08/2016 - 17:54
There will usually be problems in using the Pentax 55-300 and Tamron 70-300mm lenses with hunting, usually at around 300mm and sometimes with the purple fringing. However, these can be worked around and I've had a little success in this. I hope that I'm correct in assuming that the way forward is to invest in one of the more expensive lenses, I'm thinking in terms of the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 S PAF Di LD (macro) at around £475. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
For the present though. I'll continue with the Tamron 70-300mm lens, hopefully in good light. One final thing. I'm finding that I'm rather tired all of the time now so getting out for photography is a problem for me. If I am missing for some time it will only be for that reason, I'm not being bad mannered.
My grateful thanks go to all of you who have enabled me to obtain the required insight into the BIF problems that I've encountered. Muchly thankings.