Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/03/29

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Subject: Re: [Leica] shooting with long lenses
From: Ken Wilcox <wilcox@umcc.umich.edu>
Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 15:01:14 -0500

A 400 Telyt can be used with the Leica Universal Handgrip @ 1/500 and
sometimes @ 1/250 w/ Visoflex.

kw

>I am trying to find the maximum focal length one can shoot
>reasonable pictures. Some time ago I had a 500 mm f/8.
>It was a very cheap lens (equiv. $99) but the design was so
>primitive and it had extremely good results in a lens test (I
>think BAS). I found this lens near to useless, because even
>with a tripod, I could not avoid the whole thing to shake when
>the shutter was released (I used Canon SLR then). A little
>bit of wind or touching the release and you could see the
>image in the viewfinder shake.
>I think it is a mistake to believe what is written in teaching
>books about photography: You CAN use a shutter speed
>up to one over the focal length in mm. I noticed that pictures
>taken at shorter speeds are considerably more sharp.
>Most people that complain about the quality of their lenses
>only need a better tripod (or even just a tripod) than
>another lens.
>To improve my own pictures, I aquired a monopod recently.
>This weekend, I tried shooting a Meyer-Goerlitz 300mm f/4
>lens mounted to my Canon SLR with the monopod. If the
>results are convincing, I will go for converting the lens for
>Visoflex use.
>What is your experience with long teles? What focal length
>do you use for handheld shooting? Experiences with
>monopods? Are those gun- or pistol-grip gadgets of any use?
>What tripod to use for extreme teles? I can't imagine
>shooting a 800mm Telyt even with a good tripod!
>
>
>Gerd


- ----
Ken Wilcox                             Carolyn's Personal Touch Portraits
LHSA, MEA, LAW                      preferred---> <wilcox@umcc.umich.edu>
                                                     <kwilcox@gfn.org>