Tonights experiment to compare an image through a scope and an old 300mm f4.5 AIS lens.

This lens long discontinued, was never the sharpest pencil in Nikons box. In fact on a D2X sensor it is best described as soft. So I thought it would make a suitable candidate to try. Also it is the longest lens I have. I dont have a TC to put on the 80-200 or that would be a different story.

Compared to using the scope it was a delight to focus. The posted image is a full frame crop so not a huge magnification. Curves and conversion to B&W were used along with a fair amount of usm.

ISO200, 1/160sec @ f8.

Don

Hi Don, I see what you mean about the moon phase, the shadows are now appearing. This is my latest effort.
1/320, f/6.3, ISO100, curves and B&W little sharpening.

We're all at it tonight... tragic isn't it? ;)
I put the the 1.7x teleconverter on the 300mm tonight. And for anyone who is interested by the magnification difference a 1.7x is over a 1.4x on a 300mm lens... it's your lucky night ;)

May as well do it properly, with the bare 300mm as well. This is how large they are in the frame. And no, I won't be getting the 600 out tonight ;)

EDIT... found a 600+1.4x shot for comparison, so now added to the scale line-up. In the past, when-ever I've been upgrading focal length on lenses, I was always keen to see direct comparison to see how much difference it makes, so maybe this will help others decide the worth of more focal length.

I can't compete with that Andy. Superb job. Yours are a challenge for Foxy Bob.

After my earlier meagre offering I have had a rummage in the loft ( nothing better to do ) and found what I thought I had. An 1980's Teleplus 2X converter. Stuck this on the 300 and here is the result.

Don

Nick,

Good effort. My 2 from tonight were f8 and I reckon you could safely reduce shutter speed to get there.

I would suggest a slightly lighter touch on curves ( but that's personal ) and trust me you can add lots of usm. I used a radius of 0.4 and gave it loads. Then if you resize try a radius of 1.0 and give it a touch. ( This is bound to be contraversial among the no sharpness guys ) Keeping the ISO down as much as possible is a good plot and you bettered me there. Mine were ISO200 at 1/160 sec f8.


Don

So have I got to trade in my x1.4 for a x2 tomorrow ? :rolleyes:

Rob,

It was your gallery pic that made me do my trial tonight. I noticed the focal length.

I don't think we can compete with Andy and Foxy on the glass front.
You keep your 1.4 and I won't bin the teleplus. :)

I see you have well and truely joined us crazies here, 2 moon pics !! :D :D

Don

Hi Andy, It would be good to see all images the same size (cropped) to see how the TC effect the image quality, I guess it could be possible to get a better shot the same size without a TC? Or is magnification everything shooting moon shots?

Cheers

Nice set of examples Andy. Size really does make a difference.