DOH! I've got a fingerprint on the back glass. Why do I somehow think that's the problem. Lemme go see if that fixes things ...

So, I was going to put this lens up for sale - but just prior I wanted to take a few shots through it to make sure I wasn't gonna be screwing anyone over. I just got a Siggy 18-50mm EX Macro f2.8 so I'm trying to trim down a touch.

Now, I really liked this lens, but after taking a few shots I'm not sure if there is something wrong with it - or if this is normal for a wide angle lens. When I stop down the aperture the image gets noticeable softer.

As I'm an honest bloke - I'd like you all to tell me if you think I should sell this, or if I should just keep it around for fun because of the weird dreamy effect of higher apertures? It's pretty nice @ f2.8 but much above f4.0 and it starts to loose a lil something. All shots just raw converted with 'auto/auto' in LR3B2

f2.8



f4.5



f9.5



f13



f22





With a Macro
f2.8



f4.0



f5.6




100% crops of the macro shots
f2.8



f4.0



f5.6

I've often wondered how the IQ on this lens compares to the other long siggies (150-500, 170-500, 50-500, etc). There's not much of a roundup on them.

Mirrors lenses are small, light, and really slow - f/8 normally, and f/11 if you use a TC. They're also temperamental lil things that don't like to be dropped but if you get a good one you'll be pleased with everything except the donut bokeh that shows up from time to time. They have 0 CA, but often need a contrast boost in PP - but as this isn't film it only takes a click and shots look great.

Cheap mirrors are bad - you'll want to find a Vivitar Series 1, Tamron 500mm SP 55BB (much better than the 55B variant), the Sigma 400mm or 600mm mirrors, and I think there is an old Pentax one that is stellar as well. All the rest aren't really worth the money.

I've got the Tamron 55BB with matched teleconverter. I got a great deal on the lens at 68GBP, the Tamron to PK adapter was 25GBP, and the matched TC was, I think, 30GBP. So for 123GBP I've got a pretty decent 1000mm lens.

As an example below, a 18mm shot versus my tamron with 2x TC on it. Taking shots @ 1000mm is interesting because you really have to make sure things are braced in order to take a 1000mm photo without blur. I found the 2s mirror lock up really helps. Also, the SR in the Pentax bodies only goes up to 800mm so you're out of luck if you want to use it hand-held with the TC on it. Both shots are resized from the original full frame, so you can see the difference you get. Mind you they're both not on a tripod, I resting them in my window as I shot across the river.

So it's pretty hot today with a bunch of humidity in the air. I just put a UV filter on a lens and the UV filter/front of the lens started to get fog on it. Is this normal? If I leave the filter on long enough will the fogging go away?

I just came across this on the bay. Now that would be a lovely birding lens if you happened to drive a jeep and have this thing mounted to a machine gun turret!

www.dropbox.com - free online 2gb storage which is really user friendly. I've got a copy of anything really important on there as my third backup.

Lol - watch them break out an HD camera and hoist it around outside on the monopod. That would have been an epic sight!

If you care to know, it was the Oxford branch They was no doubt in their mind that what I said was the only use for a monopod. They seemed like local university students so you may, or may not, be blessed with their plethora of knowledge when you go in.

Size is relative - it's larger than other 2.8 primes, but smaller than 2.8 zooms.

Left to right

50mm f2.8
55mm f1.2
siggy 30mm
Siggy 18-50mm f2.8
DA* 50-135mm f2.8