Long Lens ... which one to dream about

[Fortkentdad]

While still dreaming of something longer I did get a vintage Tamron 200-400mm F/5.6 for Christmas (technically from my wife - but she did get more than a little help ordering it from KEH - cost all of $144). It "will do" for now as there is no way I've got an extra grand at the moment just to shoot some birds. It will be a training lens and I'll see how much I like bird hunting and if it grows on me, then maybe I go for something a wee bit more costly.

 

[oldsalt]

I bought one ... and it's luverly ... really sharp - BUT it is quite a handful if I try to hand hole it ... but I still love it.

 

[Fortkentdad]

Here are a few shots taken with my new-to-me vintage Tamron 200-400 F5.6

All hand held. Tripod would probably improve the image.

One was HDR'd - others minor touch-ups. Hope the EXIF comes through.




Had some HDR fun with this one. Original was at F/8 at 320mm


The deer where taken in a hurry out of my truck window as there was no safe place to pull over - and deer tend not to wait for you. There was no traffic so I was able to safely stop in the middle of the road for a few quick snaps.


This lens seems sharper at 200 than 400 but then again that may be my hand holding - the further it sticks out the harder to keep from jiggling eh?





This is a close up of that trashing machine HDR'd above.
Different photo, different angle not a crop from above photo

 

[Bunsen Honeydew]

I presume that lens does not have vibration reduction ? Having that would also be a big help. With no VR, a tripod would probably make a big difference.

 

[Fortkentdad]

The Tamron 200-400 F5.6 was discontinued in 2004. VR was just being introduced about then so it would not have been available when this lens was being developed some years prior to that.

Yes on a long lens VR is very desirable if you expect to hand hold. Even in the lens manual it recommends a tripod - and faster ISO. I should have used a higher ISO - these were at 400 - could have easily gone 1000 or a step or two higher than that without change to IQ - will have to test that theory and see how much faster the shutter would be at 1000 vs 400 in shots like this. Next experiment I guess.