dann@wxlvax.UUCP (Dan Neiman) (03/18/85)
I've been thinking of getting a 500 to 600 cadiotropic lens for
my OM2. Does anyone have any recommendations as to who makes
decent long lenses? Any recommendations as to reputable mail
order houses to buy from?
Just glancing through the back pages of Popular Photography, I've
seen ads for Soligar, Sigma, and Olympus (Zuiko) lenses. The
Olympus lenses would almost certainly be the sharpest and most
expensive. I'm sure there are other manufacturers that I haven't
named.
Is it usually the case that neutral density filters are provided with
the lens, or must they be bought separately? Is this one of those
"options" that you have to be careful of when buying mail order?
Thanks for the information,
Dan Neiman
decvax!ittvax!wxlvax!dannklein@ucbcad.UUCP (03/19/85)
Although I haven't gone shopping for a catadioptric lens, I have heard good things about Celestron, in (I believe) Torrance, CA. They make catadioptric telescopes and camera lenses. -- -Mike Klein ...!ucbvax!ucbmerlin:klein (UUCP) klein%ucbmerlin@berkeley (ARPA)
cff@uvaee.UUCP (Chuck Ferrara) (03/19/85)
> > > I've been thinking of getting a 500 to 600 cadiotropic lens for > my OM2. Does anyone have any recommendations as to who makes > decent long lenses? Any recommendations as to reputable mail > order houses to buy from? > > Just glancing through the back pages of Popular Photography, I've > seen ads for Soligar, Sigma, and Olympus (Zuiko) lenses. The > Olympus lenses would almost certainly be the sharpest and most > expensive. I'm sure there are other manufacturers that I haven't > named. > > Is it usually the case that neutral density filters are provided with > the lens, or must they be bought separately? Is this one of those > "options" that you have to be careful of when buying mail order? > > > Thanks for the information, > > Dan Neiman > decvax!ittvax!wxlvax!dann I'd go with the camera maker's (Zuiko) lens, because the optics are generally better than the off brands. I own a Minolta 250/f5.6 cardiotropic lens and have been very pleased with the results. It comes with a 4x neutral density filter which I have never used. The reason is that in hand held sit- uations, I need a shutter speed of 1/250 or faster for a sharp picture, so I need all the light I can get. The lenses you're considering will probably need 1/500 due to the longer focal length and are usually f/8. This means that you'll be needing even more light than me and therefore would be less likely to want a neutral density filter. The only exceptions I can forsee are the use of a tripod and/or super high speed films.(I generally use ASA 25 & 64) My recommendation would be not to go out and buy the ND filters (assuming they don't come with the lens) until you've shot a roll or two. I originally thought that the fixed aperture was going to be restrictive, but it hasn't been too much of a problem. Being able to fit a 250 mm. lens in my camera case has been a luxury and a joy, which far outweighs any of the disadvantages. The following may be helpful to Minolta owners: As far as filters go with the Minolta 250 mm, I discovered (after I bought it) that it takes 62 mm. screw in filters. I'm not sure why Minolta doesn't publish this, especially since their selection of rear mounted filters is very limitted. They don't even have a skylight filter. Fortunately, the mail order salesman didn't know about the screw in filters. Otherwise he might have tried to sell me filters, lens hoods and electric toaster ovens to go with the lens. While we're on the mail order subject, this lens ALREADY comes with a screw in lens hood, a lens case and a rear mounted 4X ND filter (Not a bad deal for $75). Minolta has been very generous, so don't let anyone sell you these as extras. "He's not responsible for what he's doing, His mother made him what he is."