JHAG Posted February 26, 2009 Share #1 Posted February 26, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) For a script I'm writing now, I need to know what is the maximum distance available for a photographer shooting with a very long focal - supposing he's an advanced amateur, for instance shooting birds. 500 meters ? Is more thinkable ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 26, 2009 Posted February 26, 2009 Hi JHAG, Take a look here Long distance. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
rubenkok Posted February 26, 2009 Share #2 Posted February 26, 2009 Hi Johan, How about the taking pictures of the moon? The average centre-to-centre distance from the Earth to the Moon is 384,403 km http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/nature-wildlife/38835-half-moon-rising.html http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/customer-forum/72047-2-000-000-apo-telyt-lens.html Any help ?? All the best Ruben Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHAG Posted February 26, 2009 Author Share #3 Posted February 26, 2009 Hi, ruben, Of course. But, as said, it has to be an amateur, so your second example is not worthwhile (even if the character here is a wealthy swiss…). Second, it has to be pics of faces, precisely distinguishable, and I cannot see any face close on your moon shot. So, I'll rephrase my question : supposing thus guy shoots from 800 m high, up a steep hill, towards a lake, and a garden on that lake, can he shoot faces at close range (so it has to be from a distance of about 1 km) and if so, which equipment will he need ? Could it be a Leica equipment ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giordano Posted February 26, 2009 Share #4 Posted February 26, 2009 Hummingbirds or ostriches? To fill the frame with a small bird, you're just a few metres away with a 400 or 600mm lens. To fill the frame with a flock of ostriches, maybe as much as 500m. But could your advanced amateur afford one of these (picture at Schmidt Marketing Asia Ltd): Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHAG Posted February 26, 2009 Author Share #5 Posted February 26, 2009 giordano I knew that lens and, as said, he would not spend that much. So I need to find a device allowing him to shoot faces with enough details from at least 500 or possible 800 meters. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted February 26, 2009 Share #6 Posted February 26, 2009 500 would be a hell of a stretch. For amatuer kit I'd think "across" a sports field would be way too far. Conditions, moisture, smog, heat haze, you cant get around them either, are likely to overcome good optics. You are talking about face detail, not making someone out in the crowd. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHAG Posted February 26, 2009 Author Share #7 Posted February 26, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Well, Rob, let's back down a little. Let's say I would need him to catch recognizable silhouettes from color of their hair, clothes, size, etc. Let's say no face detail, then, just a general "feel" of the person. Let's say an amateur paparazzo not caring if you dont recognize Britney Spears, as long as it's her silhouette beyond any doubt. Why Britney Spears ? Well, because she's pathetic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted February 26, 2009 Share #8 Posted February 26, 2009 Well you got me there. Rather than take you seriously, I was looking for the forum edit delete thread button rather than edit my response to "For heavens sake just go ask them what they use at Big Pictures" but you caught me. Tell your mate hes a wally if he has to ask you. Sounds like hes a wally anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHAG Posted February 26, 2009 Author Share #9 Posted February 26, 2009 Tell your mate hes a wally if he has to ask you. Sounds like hes a wally anyway. What mate, Rob ? Do you read questions or just make answers ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 26, 2009 Share #10 Posted February 26, 2009 Ther is no objective maximum distance. In fog it might be 1 meter, in very clear and still air many kilometers up to the horizon. For instance, I just posted a shot in the photoforum where there are windturbines on the horizon. Even on a low-res web conversion they are just visible, in a print crystal clear. And I used a 35-70 zoom lens.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 26, 2009 Share #11 Posted February 26, 2009 supposing thus guy shoots from 800 m high, up a steep hill, towards a lake, and a garden on that lake, can he shoot faces at close range (so it has to be from a distance of about 1 km) and if so, which equipment will he need ? Could it be a Leica equipment ? With Leica equipment one can get quite long lenses. 800 mm with stacked 1.4 and 2x converter = approx a 2200 mm, on 1.33 crop of the DMR that is nearly 3000 mm equivalent. That is 60x the magnification of a 50 mm lens. I'm too tired to figure it out, but I am sure that will be a recognizable face at 1 Km. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted February 26, 2009 Share #12 Posted February 26, 2009 What about the Leica Spotting Telescopes? There is a camera adapter for the D-Lux cameras, and some of the published pictures in LFI are pretty impressive, at least without my glasses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHAG Posted February 26, 2009 Author Share #13 Posted February 26, 2009 Indeed, Michael. Only that my character would rather shoot film. He's old school - and old himself (82). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stnami Posted February 26, 2009 Share #14 Posted February 26, 2009 Rob he's a imaginary mate who is the wally ...Raelene knows him by the size of his pecker hence the yearning for a big long lens .. every thong should be cool as long as Hel-Stampes is not writing a autobiography is third person removed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHAG Posted February 26, 2009 Author Share #15 Posted February 26, 2009 Rob he's a imaginary mate who is a wally ...Raelene knows him by the size of his pecker hence the yearning for a big long lens Digressive, my dear imants. Stick to the question like a magnet, mister. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/77912-long-distance/?do=findComment&comment=821819'>More sharing options...
rubenkok Posted February 26, 2009 Share #16 Posted February 26, 2009 Hi Johan, Here is a thought: Picture Examples Here's a picture example for thousandfold linear, enlarging at the border of physical limits. by Gigabitfilm® GmbH Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/77912-long-distance/?do=findComment&comment=821821'>More sharing options...
Guest stnami Posted February 27, 2009 Share #17 Posted February 27, 2009 Hel the guys a imposter, ....... we don't do magnets in Bullamakenka due to the iron ore mine and keep your wally mate out of our town!!!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giordano Posted February 27, 2009 Share #18 Posted February 27, 2009 giordanoI knew that lens and, as said, he would not spend that much. So I need to find a device allowing him to shoot faces with enough details from at least 500 or possible 800 meters. A (reasonably sharp) image about 50 pixels square is plenty for a recognisable face. With a M8 that means less than 0.5mm on the sensor representing say 250mm on the subject, a magnification of about 0.002. With a 800mm lens, magnification of 0.002 is achieved at about 400m. So have him use slow film (needn't be anything exotic), a good tripod, a clear day and a tiny bit of artistic licence. Did you ever see the film Blowup? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andit Posted February 27, 2009 Share #19 Posted February 27, 2009 Hi Johan, I think I know what you are getting at. You want your character to take an image of a person, which must still be recognizable - such as a private detective etc. Using normal equipment, that's available to virtually anyone, I would estimate max focal length would be something like 400 - 500mm. That means he could take a decent image of someone about two city blocks away, lets say realistically about 500 meters. That would be my suggestion. Andreas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
christer Posted February 27, 2009 Share #20 Posted February 27, 2009 For hands-on information please contact a former member of the then East German "Ministerium für Statssichderheit" a.k.a "Stasi". They did this all the time with their long lenses. The only problem would be that these guys have such short memories. And that they use rose coloured filters when they look back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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