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Re: [OM] 300mm & 400mm Zuiko

Subject: Re: [OM] 300mm & 400mm Zuiko
From: Chuck Norcutt <chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:31:54 -0500
You couldn't ask for better detail in the bird.  I can clearly see the 
chroma in the first image but it's much less prominent in the second. 
What's the difference?  Aperture?

Chuck Norcutt

C.H.Ling wrote:
> Ok, even I had some complain on the CA, the 300/4.5 is still an 
> indispensable lens for me, I support about Ken's opinion, here are two shots 
> taken with the lens early last year on an OM-40D body at F5.6.
> 
> This one shows the bokeh:
> 
> http://www.accura.com.hk/temp/IMG_1009.jpg
> 
> This one shows the details resolved:
> 
> http://www.accura.com.hk/temp/IMG_1017.jpg
> 
> Of course I expect it will work even better on a FF OM-5D II body :-)
> 
> C.H.Ling
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Ken Norton"
> 
>> I'm of two minds here:
>>
>> Mind #1:  The 300/4.5 is an incredible lens and produces exceptionally 
>> sharp
>> images with a most lovely Bokeh.  In fact, the Bokeh is almost to beat
>> somebody of the head and take their lens. For a 300mm, it is very compact
>> and relatively lightweight. The focusing is usually a bit stiff, but at
>> least it doesn't creep on you. As CH Ling points out, there is a very 
>> slight
>> bit of C/A, but in reality it is so slight as to not be an issue or even
>> visible to most of us pikers.  I haven't found any C/A in images from my
>> recent arrival.  Of course, the silvernosed versions are probably better.
>> :)  My only real gripe with the 300/4.5 is the blackening of the 
>> split-image
>> viewfinder.  As the 2-13 focus screen's "matte" image area is actually a
>> field of micro-micro-prisms, it's like the focus screen just suddenly 
>> loses
>> oomph and focusing is more difficult.  Still not as dark or difficult as a
>> 1-series screen, but there is a marked difference in the focus screen
>> between F4 and F4.5. On the E-1, this lens is easily handheld.
>>
>> Mind #2:  The Tokina AT-X 100-300/4 lens is a bargain when you can find
>> them.  I bought mine from a fellow list-member and feel like a bandit for
>> getting it so cheep--but the going price just is so low.  I have ONLY two
>> gripes with this lens.  First gripe is that it's a one-touch zoom.  I 
>> really
>> dislike one-touch zooms because any change in focal-length screws up your
>> focus and vice-versa.  The second gripe is that it is soft wide-open.
>> (actually, it's not necessarily "soft", it's just lacking contrast). 
>> Unlike
>> the Zuiko 300/4.5, this is not a lens to be shot below F5.6 for fine work.
>> However, at F5.6 to F16 the lens is exceptionally sharp, contrasty and
>> well-controlled. The lens is not nearly as well balanced as the 300/4.5 
>> and
>> much harder to handhold without vibration.  But, I must remind myself that
>> I'm trying to handhold on the E-1 the equivalent of 600mm!!!!   I suppose 
>> I
>> must "get real".
>>
>> The following is an article illustrated with images taken only with the
>> Tokina AT-X 100-300/4 on the E-1:
>>
>> http://zone-10.com/cmsm/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=335&Itemid=1
>>
>> My preferred method of shooting either of these lenses is on a monopod, 
>> but
>> for landscapy shots, I much rather be shooting the 300/4.5 on a tripod
>> mounted to the nose of an OM-2S, OM-3Ti or OM-4T.
>>
>> Tamron probably made the best 300/2.8 in OM mount. The Tamron 300/2.8 is 
>> one
>> of those lenses that will get you noticed!  Don't plan on handholding it,
>> though.  Tokina made a 300/2.8, but you never hear about them.  The Sigma
>> 300/2.8 was typical Sigma build quality.  (ugh).
>>
>> I've been rearranging my camera bags and my current "go kit" (used to 
>> cover
>> the typical grip-n-grin and generic shoot) contains the E-1 with 14-54,
>> OM-4T with 35-80 and the Tokina 100-300/4 Zoom.  A pair of 285HV flashes 
>> and
>> wireless remotes round out the bag.
>>
>> The second bag holds the OM-3Ti, 24/2.8, 35/2.8 and/or 35/shift, 50/3.5
>> macro, 100/2.8, 200/4 and 300/4.  Amazingly enough, all this fits in a 
>> small
>> LowePro Elite III shoulder bag.
>>
>> So, short answer:  Get the Zuiko 300/4.5 and enjoy!
>>
>> AG
> 
-- 
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