andybarton Posted October 29, 2006 Share #1 Posted October 29, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) Boy, does this beast take some getting used to. I need an arm-extension to slide the trombone focus... 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/8101-first-bird-shots-with-the-560/?do=findComment&comment=79955'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 29, 2006 Posted October 29, 2006 Hi andybarton, Take a look here First bird shots with the 560. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Guest maddin Posted October 29, 2006 Share #2 Posted October 29, 2006 Definitely worth the efforts! Nice Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted October 29, 2006 Share #3 Posted October 29, 2006 Which 560mm version are you using Andy ... the f5.6 or the f6.8? And which aperture was used here? And contrary to write-ups elsewhere the performance seems ok right across the frame. Cheers dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted October 29, 2006 Author Share #4 Posted October 29, 2006 Thanks, guys. This is a '71 vintage 6.8 (must have been one of the first ones - stop-down metering and all that stuff) If you can get the focus right (which isn't easy - there's a better shot than either of these that's out of focus), it seems to perform pretty well. Needs more practice, though. This was probably at f8 Don't forget the DMR crops out the corners... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted October 29, 2006 Share #5 Posted October 29, 2006 I've got the f5.6 version and was a bit of a handful at first ... but is less so now since starting to use it with the Manfrotto 393 'long lens bracket' which in effect supports and balances the lens/camera combination on a tripod at the exact centre of gravity ... and when tilted up/down the whole combination 'stays put' at any angle. dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted October 29, 2006 Share #6 Posted October 29, 2006 Andy, keep looking at what Doug Herr achieves with these lenses - then either be inspired or give up :-) Looks like there's a steep learning curve, but I think it will be worthwhile. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
elansprint72 Posted October 29, 2006 Share #7 Posted October 29, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) Andy, I'm not familiar with this lens- does it have a tripod socket half way along it? If so, I think I've still got a hand grip that I made for some monster lens years ago. You can have it if it is any use. It's like the front hand grip on an AK47! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinop Posted October 29, 2006 Share #8 Posted October 29, 2006 Crisp and clear. Like the details and DOF. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rubidium Posted October 29, 2006 Share #9 Posted October 29, 2006 So actually, with the DMR, you're wielding the equivalent of a 767mm focal length! Not surprising that focusing is such a challenge. However, these results are quite impressive, showing nice detail and color. I particularly like how you've captured the water droplets in mid air in #2. Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicar7 Posted October 31, 2006 Share #10 Posted October 31, 2006 Andy, Yes, it is a stretch of one's arm to handle the 560/6.8 compared to the much smaller 400/6.8, but it is still much easier to use and move than the modular 560s. Do you have the 400 lens head, too? I recommend it for your more portable work. I like your pix. For folks new to Leica R, the lens Andy is using is a vintage lens from the 1970s comprising an empty tube with camera mount to which can be attached either a small, light 400/6.8 lens head or the larger, longer 560/6.8 lens head. The glass in both lens heads was one group built from two cemented elements. That's it for optics. The aperture was stop down, but many of us shot most often at the full f/6.8 aperture. The 400/6.8 is useable handheld like that. Focusing was almost unique among lenses in that one moves the front of the lens head straight forward and backward in a fashion referred to as either "trombone" or, more commonly, "slip grip." These lenses were especially favored and highly regarded for years by Leica's early SL, SL2, and R users. The image results, while not up to today's stratospheric standards for long lenses, were very good; during the 1980s Kodak had a 20 ft x 30 ft back-lit image of impala in Kenya taken by Ernst Haas in Grand Central Station, New York for several years. Tell me it wasn't sharp enough! Most SL/SL2 users that I used to know had the 400 slip-grip. It was universally lauded, loved, and owned. Doug Herr uses it now. Many N users adapted the mount to work on their Fs, F2s, and F3s. The 400/6.8 was created for use at an Olympics back than. For years, it was a sports photographer's dream to use. David Douglas Duncan used one hand held on an SL indoors with TriX to photograph politicians at a single event and published a famous book of those shots. Given the handling characteristics and cost of the modular lenses, to say nothing of the probably very few sales, a few people are beginning to wonder if a new slip grip 400mm might be a good idea that would invigorate some sales at the long focal length end of R lenses. Such a lens with the handling characteristics of the slip-grip 400/6.8 would be very interesting to me. I don't do enough wild life work to justify investing in the modular lenses, and it was so portable that I carried it much more often than I do the 280/2.8 (first version), which has been my longest lens for now many years. Many happy shots, Andy, Tom Campbell Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted October 31, 2006 Author Share #11 Posted October 31, 2006 Thanks for the post Tom. I am amazed that there isn't something similar still in the catalogue. They must be dead easy to make (and the profit margin must be significant...) I do have a pistol grip and shoulder stock for this, but as a left eye shooter, it's not very useful. Maybe I need to fiddle with it a bit more. With the DMR, and having to use the front button to use the shutter, it's all interesting to get to grips with - literally . You actually need three hands - one to hold it, one to focus it and one to operate the shutter. I was surprised how much focus adjustment is necessary, to be honest. I was expecting it to be "infinity and beyond" or nothing, but there is a lot of focus adjustment available. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddp Posted October 31, 2006 Share #12 Posted October 31, 2006 Andy, Number 2 is pretty impressive, especially the water drops and such. I'm looking forward to what you show us next with this lens....always great to see longer focal lengths and what you can do with compression and such. Highlights also look good in the whites there....not always an easy thing to control digitally. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted October 31, 2006 Author Share #13 Posted October 31, 2006 Thanks Dan - I am looking forward to some crisp, winter days... I often have the DMR set to -0.5 stops as the default as I find it helps with blowing out the highlights. Occasionally, I will go for a full stop under. I have to admit to being pretty pleased with these swans, though. They were having a right old barney about something. The shutter speed was 1/4000th. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zanydave Posted October 31, 2006 Share #14 Posted October 31, 2006 Great shots Andy. I have enough trouble trying to focus the 280/4 Telyt. BTW I seem to have the DMR set at a stop under 90% of the time. Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicanut2 Posted November 4, 2006 Share #15 Posted November 4, 2006 Makes me wana pull my big Viso lenses of ebay. Very nice. 560 is a very nice lens. Cheers Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicamann Posted November 4, 2006 Share #16 Posted November 4, 2006 Andy , Andy , Andy...the pistol grip and shoulder stock can be flipped to either side for whatever eye you use for shooting..also as I stated before..the "C" part that buts up against your shoulder has two bolts..where you can mount a custom piece of foam etc. Nice attempts..I am still saving up for the DMR..getting close...maybe Santa will help out:). Thanks for sharing Regards, Leicamann Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
imported_peter_m Posted November 4, 2006 Share #17 Posted November 4, 2006 Nice images Andy, Looks like you are doing pretty good getting the hand of the beast. You still can get a new version of the 400 and 560 from Novoflex with the Leica lens. Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert_parker Posted November 4, 2006 Share #18 Posted November 4, 2006 Andy Those are good strong shots given how difficult that slide focus is to master - love the suspended water drops in frame #2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Van der Herten Posted November 6, 2006 Share #19 Posted November 6, 2006 Both are lovely shots. I especially like #2 because of its light and colour combination. Best, Dirk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvaliquette Posted November 8, 2006 Share #20 Posted November 8, 2006 Andy: Nice images. If you have the Leitz pistol grip, John is right, it can be reversed for your left eye. Also, just replace the old mechanical cable release on the Leitz pistol grip with the electric release cable; it works with both the DMR and the Motor Drive. Activate the metering by pressing halfway also works fine. I just used the pistol grip with the electric cable in Tanzania with the 350mm Telyt with GREAT results.The pistol grip gives you a really steady platform. I posted this info on the old forum; did not bother to look it up just now. Rather, here is the e-mail I sent to B&H in New York, which holds all that was posted on the old forum: "Dear B&H: I just purchased a Leica Electric release switch for R8/R9 (Leica Cat. # 14 254 - Sales # 168612110) which I intend to use with the "old" Leitz Pistol Grip with shoulder rest (Leica Cat # 14 188). The sales person on the floor (in the tripods section, James, if I remember well) doubted that the two would work together. I am glad to report that they work perfectly well. It is simply a matter of loosening the locking screw on top of the pistol grip, slipping out the old mechanical cable release and slipping in the Electric release. The camera-end fitting slips through the opening in the pistol grip without any hitch and the diameter of the barrel of the electric release is the same as that of the mechanical cable release. Gently tighten the locking screw , connect the cable to the DMR or Motor Drive, and you're done. Please pass this information on to your sales person. I hope this will be helpful for another customer. Guy Valiquette" Go ahead and do it: You will pat yourself in the back! Guy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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