100-300 APO

[Vidgamer]

After my sometimes disappointing experience with a 100-300xi, I got a 100-300 APO, which seems highly regarded. Some people recommend getting the D version, which I did not, because the price has really run up on that version. The non-D seems to be a pretty good bang for the buck -- not cheap, but a good alternative to other 300mm lenses. Sometimes the bokeh is impressive, sometimes not so much. I haven't quite figured out if it's a certain mm range or what.



I believe Olaf has said that the 100-300 APO was at its worse at 100mm, but I can't tell.

By the way, I think that panning works OK with SSS.



..and a 100% crop from above.



Definitely a move up for me. I guess you can always use more focal length, but after a while, it becomes harder to get a small lens that captures enough light cheaply, so I think this'll will keep me for quite a while. (I also tried a teleconverter, which didn't work out as well as I'd hoped for aircraft, but it might do better on stationary targets.)

I guess the lens doesn't have that super crisp sharpness of some lenses, but it seems to have a lot of detail to me. Or perhaps just enough. And I can use it at f5.6 without worrying about the loss of detail too much (although, better if you can step it down a bit, I think). Autofocus works pretty well -- not terribly fast, but seems accurate.

I need to use the lens some more, but I'm pleased with the results.

[Dr. Harout]

Looks very good from the shots.
Anyway, congratulations.

[aster]

Hi,

Actually I like the photos your new lens captured. I'm not familiar with the lens's weak points but I certainly like the details in the first photo, especially on the left half of the photo, the fact that the heat rising from the back of the aircraft is so visibly accurate is adding more credit to the image; either just landed or warming up for the flight... Nice background too, with the mountains and all.

The plane in flight looks very sharp, good capture during continous motion..

Thanks.. I hope you enjoy shooting many more and different subjects with this lens.

Yildiz

[tomalpha]

Good captures. My copy was not very sharp even though it looked new and I sold it . It's a great carry round lens being small and compact. You seem to have a good copy so enjoy!

tom

[Vidgamer]

Good captures. My copy was not very sharp even though it looked new and I sold it . It's a great carry round lens being small and compact. You seem to have a good copy so enjoy!

tom

My copy has "zoom creep", so it's not exactly pristine. Hopefully it is up to the standards of the reputation of the 100-300 APO.

Yeah, the best thing about it is how it is not big, and is easy to travel with. I don't know what I'd do with a 70-300G -- I can hardly close my camera bag as it is!

[Greg Beetham]

You do better than me on planes, I like the MiG 15 with the heat coming out the exhaust, and the F16 is very good as well, fast jets are difficult to get in sharp focus, I find anyway.
Here's an attempt of mine with the 100-300 APO, I keep forgetting too set fire on focus conf, and AFC etc. I think that would really help, but then when I hear a plane coming at work (a good one worth photographing) there isn't a second to loose, it's just grab the camera and run.
Greg

[Dr. Harout]

Beautifully captured, Greg. I like it.

[redsim74]

I've got the non-D version as well and have always had mixed feelings about it.

I like the size and weight of it but my copy is less than stellar at or around 300mm, coupled with an occassional tendency to back focus. I'm quite convinced that my SAL18-250 beats it wide open at the long end and I'm more inclined to use that despite the 50(75)mm focal difference and 1/3rd stop loss in speed.


Sim

[Greg Beetham]

Gee thanks Doc, I think that's the nicest thing anyone has ever said about one of my pics, usually it's just blank silence.
Greg

Sorry Sim, my one is a D...I just got lazy, doesn't mean anything much anyway if you don't use it with flash, I have done occasionally though, as when I wanted a shot of this Bowerbird at the birdbath in very poor light.

[Vidgamer]

Greg, your plane shot is fine. That's a big plane, and it should have been moving pretty slow with the flaps down -- should have been easy to follow!

Some of my targets at the airshow were fast, some slow. I'm really amazed at how many things were in focus. I just panned the shots, and left SSS on. Perhaps the most important setting was setting it to AF-C, as the focus is frequently changing as they move past. (AF-A is supposed to automatically switch to C when necessary, but I find that it does a poor job of it. Better to just pick AF-C if you know you need it.)

(With the teleconverter, it was really hit-or-miss -- mostly miss, but occasionally it could focus.)

I have only used the flash a few times with the 100-300 APO, and it seemed OK. I wonder how much better it would really be with the D version? Others have suggested that a D lens might even improve SSS capability (or something other than flash), as well. So, it's probably better to have the D if all else is equal, but I wasn't going to pay $100/40% more for it!

I was told that the red plane was a MiG 17, but it's extremely similar to the MiG 15.

[Greg Beetham]

Sorry Vidgamer, I wasn't talking about you specifically, just a general observation based on experience.

Ha! it's a MiG17 is it? I've forgotten how to tell the difference...I still like the shot whichever it was/is, has an aura of drama.....dang! it's been ages since we had a good air display here.

With regard to planes in approach, even on final, (it's probably, on my part at least, more a case of good luck rather than good management, I have more iffy ones than good ones) the plane can be moving towards you at 100 feet per second even though they look like they are moving fairly slowly, they can go out of focus really quickly, that's why I mentioned in my first post about AFC and shutter fire on focus conf.....settings I don't normally leave the camera set too, being more interested (usually) in closeups and macro type photography myself..but maybe I should reconsider the settings I habitually set, anyway the 100-300 is a good lens, in my experience it's more capable than I am.

Greg
ps I did wonder about the flags? on the side of the F16 behind the cockpit, maybe it's countries/air displays that it's been too..

[peterottaway]

It is a good shot of the MiG 17 giving a very nice feel to the aircraft. But I must admit that every time I look at the shot my fingers itch airbrush out the F/A 18 in the background.

Without turning this into a Boys Own commentary on the MiG design bureau, the easiest way to tell that it's a 17 not a 15 is that it has 3 strakes on the wing and not 2 as with the earlier design.

[redsim74]

Sorry Sim, my one is a D...I just got lazy, doesn't mean anything much anyway if you don't use it with flash, I have done occasionally though, as when I wanted a shot of this Bowerbird at the birdbath in very poor light.

Yeah, I don't doubt that there'd be little difference comparing two good copies. I think it's more the fact that mine is old and battered.

[alphaPDX]

I really would have liked a copy of this lens, but the price was too much (and I too impatient to save ). I just received a copy of the 'new' 75-300, which was the first successor to the Big Beercan (followed by II, D and now Sony's). From the sounds of those who tested this and the apo, the 'new' was close but not quite as sharp, but these can still be had for low prices. A few test shots (mostly in poor light) can be seen at http://picasaweb.google.com/alphaPDX/Min75300 -- tomorrow is supposed to be brighter so steadier shots may be coming soon (these are all iso400).

Your plane images are nice and crisp, well done with the panning!