All Forum Comments
Forgot to update - lens sold!
Comment by whelmed posted on Paragon 500mm f8 lens at 10/09/2010 - 10:41
My lens is in the classified section right now and it's going for £50 with shipping. Eastridge has first dibs on it though so I'll let you know if it falls through or not.
Comment by whelmed posted on Paragon 500mm f8 lens review at 08/09/2010 - 14:12
Just for the records / google searches in the future, just wanted to post a little review of the Paragon 500mm T2 mount lens which I'm selling (it's probably sold so don't get too excited).
The Good:
- Cost
- It's got a variable aperture on it which I've never seen on any other lens before. There are two aperture rings, one has stops at 8,11,16,22 and the other is just free adjustable which controls the actual aperture. When you are at F8 the second ring doesn't move. At F11 the second ring allows you to selectively choose between f8 and f11 at any interval - kind of like analogue versus digital. Go to F22 and the second ring goes from F8-F22 at any value you want (f19.5 for instance though there is no way of recording that). I've never seen a lens that has that before.
- Cost/IQ ratio is quite good
- It's very light
- Comes with a tripod mount
- No bokeh donuts AKA mirror lenses
The Bad:
- It's really really long. Not sure if other 500mm's are this long but it's probably about 2 feet.
- Because it's long, it NEEDS a monopod/tripod.
- Bokeh isn't quite up to par with more expensive lenses
- The IQ isn't up to par with more expensive lenses
- It's fully manual so you have to use the green button for metering
So the proof is in the pictures. Here are two shots with the lens to show resolving ability, and bokeh. They're shot with a K10d using a T2 to PK adapter in RAW. They were processed in LightRoom 3 with Auto WB and Auto Tone. Export sharpening was disabled. The camera was heavily braced to ensure no motion and the 2s shot timer was used to avoid mirror slap. While not an award winning lens, I'm impressed (just wish I framed the bloody aerial better). It took a bit of preparation / patience to get a good shot out of it, but with careful use it's not that bad of a lens.
Bokeh Test
Resolving test - a no smoking sign which is 150 feet away
Anyways, back to work!
The Good:
- Cost
- It's got a variable aperture on it which I've never seen on any other lens before. There are two aperture rings, one has stops at 8,11,16,22 and the other is just free adjustable which controls the actual aperture. When you are at F8 the second ring doesn't move. At F11 the second ring allows you to selectively choose between f8 and f11 at any interval - kind of like analogue versus digital. Go to F22 and the second ring goes from F8-F22 at any value you want (f19.5 for instance though there is no way of recording that). I've never seen a lens that has that before.
- Cost/IQ ratio is quite good
- It's very light
- Comes with a tripod mount
- No bokeh donuts AKA mirror lenses
The Bad:
- It's really really long. Not sure if other 500mm's are this long but it's probably about 2 feet.
- Because it's long, it NEEDS a monopod/tripod.
- Bokeh isn't quite up to par with more expensive lenses
- The IQ isn't up to par with more expensive lenses
- It's fully manual so you have to use the green button for metering
So the proof is in the pictures. Here are two shots with the lens to show resolving ability, and bokeh. They're shot with a K10d using a T2 to PK adapter in RAW. They were processed in LightRoom 3 with Auto WB and Auto Tone. Export sharpening was disabled. The camera was heavily braced to ensure no motion and the 2s shot timer was used to avoid mirror slap. While not an award winning lens, I'm impressed (just wish I framed the bloody aerial better). It took a bit of preparation / patience to get a good shot out of it, but with careful use it's not that bad of a lens.
Bokeh Test
Resolving test - a no smoking sign which is 150 feet away
Anyways, back to work!
Comment by whelmed posted on Paragon 500mm f8 lens review at 08/09/2010 - 10:55
The thing I hate about selling lenses is that everyone wants to see pics with them. I don't mind doing the pictures but it always makes me consider keeping the lens!
The one thing I found on this lens is that it needs to be treated seriously to get a good shot - i.e. if you put it on a tripod and use the tripod mount on it, you get good images.
Responding to PM now and emailing full-rez shots.
The one thing I found on this lens is that it needs to be treated seriously to get a good shot - i.e. if you put it on a tripod and use the tripod mount on it, you get good images.
Responding to PM now and emailing full-rez shots.
Comment by whelmed posted on Paragon 500mm f8 lens at 08/09/2010 - 10:20
Sold and sent
Comment by whelmed posted on 28mm Tamron Adaptall f2.5 at 08/09/2010 - 09:47
It performs better than I expected it would so long as you use a tripod and have a high shutter speed. I ran out to take a shot and there's nothing around that's too interesting - so I decided to be a bit of a stalker ... this shot is of a car 420 feet away (according to google earth). I'm off for a few days so will be able to take some daytime shots when I'm back on Wednesday.
It's comparable to the mirror lens I've got. Better contrast, no donuts, however it may not be quite as sharp when you nail the focus. It's also not a walkabout lens being over 2 feet long!
It's comparable to the mirror lens I've got. Better contrast, no donuts, however it may not be quite as sharp when you nail the focus. It's also not a walkabout lens being over 2 feet long!
Comment by whelmed posted on Paragon 500mm f8 lens at 05/09/2010 - 19:07
Nope, doesn't come with the adaptall mount.
Comment by whelmed posted on 28mm Tamron Adaptall f2.5 at 05/09/2010 - 17:54
I bought this lens from Mike a few months back ... I've had no time to use it and have less time now than when I bought it. Bought for 15GBP, looking to sell for 10GBP+Actual Shipping costs.
Lens in box, with manuals, and looks like it's never been used.
Lens in box, with manuals, and looks like it's never been used.
Comment by whelmed posted on 28mm Tamron Adaptall f2.5 at 05/09/2010 - 14:09
Hiya,
Got a T2 Paragon 500mm f8 lens with T2 to PK adapter on there for sale. Looking for £50 including shipping (which will be quite a bit because it's quite large). Find below some pics - there is no fungus, no marks on the glass, and the focus is silky smooth. Good fun long range lens for little cash.
[IMG]http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/5751/photo2hh.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/8920/photo3ei.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/7352/photo4le.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/3212/photo6dt.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/320/photo7w.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/162/photo8lf.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/2788/photo9hi.jpg[/IMG]
Got a T2 Paragon 500mm f8 lens with T2 to PK adapter on there for sale. Looking for £50 including shipping (which will be quite a bit because it's quite large). Find below some pics - there is no fungus, no marks on the glass, and the focus is silky smooth. Good fun long range lens for little cash.
[IMG]http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/5751/photo2hh.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/8920/photo3ei.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/7352/photo4le.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/3212/photo6dt.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/320/photo7w.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/162/photo8lf.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/2788/photo9hi.jpg[/IMG]
Comment by whelmed posted on Paragon 500mm f8 lens at 05/09/2010 - 13:42
I've got the latest firmware, but cleaning the contacts fixed it. How weird! Thanks guys - option 3 it was!
Man, with this new job I've got the time to take photos has really really shrunk. Hope I can find time in the next few weeks!
Man, with this new job I've got the time to take photos has really really shrunk. Hope I can find time in the next few weeks!
Comment by whelmed posted on Something expensive is broken... at 15/08/2010 - 22:40
