New lens thanks to Olybirder

[gazza95]

Well thanks to Olybirder posting on here that a 90-250 was available in Warehouses Expresses bargain basement I made a decision to buy as the price reduced. I had been contemplating a new long lens for ages and have tried the 150mm f2 and the 300mm f2.8 both cracking lenses but a little inflexible for types of pictures I shoot.

Well after first outing I will say it is much nicer to use than my 50-200 but the the primes just have the edge on sharpness at long focal length. What suprised me is that way it seemed more stable than the 50-200 presumeably due to its weight.

Below are some samples from a first outing all shot using a monopod. By end of day got bad and I was shooting at 1/250 f2.8 and iso800. I did add IS 1 at this level and was surprised how well it worked.

Gary

[Olybirder]

Re: New lens thanks to Olybirder

I am always willing to help other people spend their money, Gary! Congratulations on your new purchase. Your first results look very good, especially given the tricky subject matter and poor conditions. I have to say I would miss the versatility of a zoom lens too, after the 50-200, and would probably choose the 90-250 over the 300 prime, despite the latter's possible superior sharpness. I hope you continue to enjoy your new lens for many years to come. What is the condition of the lens like and how was the purchasing experience from WE?

Ron

[Bikie John]

Re: New lens thanks to Olybirder

Nice shots. I'm surprised you got 1/250 at ISO 800 on Saturday, I was up to 1600 with about 20 mins to go. Mind you I prefer to keep the shutter speeds higher, partly because IS just doesn't seem to work for me and partly because there is a lot of subject movement.

Interesting also that you say the 90-250 is nicer to use than the 50-200. If it's light enough I prefer the 50-200 with EC-14. I use a shoulder pod/rifle grip and find it much easier to handle than the heavy monster, and even with the converter the SWD version it is noticeably more responsive. Image quality may even be a smidge better, although both are good if the operator gets it right. My opinion is probably coloured by having to cycle to the club, so not having to carry a 4.5Kg lens and a monopod certainly helps as there are hills to climb both going and coming home!

Who is your team? Oxford Harlequins? All being well I'll be up your way on Saturday with Salisbury, we are away at Witney.

Ciao ... John

[gazza95]

Re: New lens thanks to Olybirder

Service from Warehouse express as always was good. Lens arrived when they said it would and packed really well. Lens is in perfect condition and all acessories were still wrapped.

Only down side is that front element was dusty and had a finger print on ^&**(). So after a few swear words I took deep breath and very carefully wiped it off with cloth and all was fine.

One nice little bonus though is that Oly supply protective filter hidden away in the box. So that is now attached.

Gary

[gazza95]

Re: New lens thanks to Olybirder

John

Yes Oxford Harlequins was the most interesting local sport I could find, they were 22:0 down at one point. First half was in good sun shine but for second half a setting sun had dissapeared behind some thick cloud. As is was an experimenting day I was curious how low a shutter speed I could use.

My 50-200 is an old non SWD version and even after oly service the zoom is a little stiff and front element still wobbles somewhat. Fully open image quality has dropped of and vignetes quite badly. Still a bloody good lens if you stay away from fully extended and fully open.

Gary

[catkins]

Re: New lens thanks to Olybirder

Service from Warehouse express as always was good. Lens arrived when they said it would and packed really well. Lens is in perfect condition and all acessories were still wrapped.

Only down side is that front element was dusty and had a finger print on ^&**(). So after a few swear words I took deep breath and very carefully wiped it off with cloth and all was fine.

One nice little bonus though is that Oly supply protective filter hidden away in the box. So that is now attached.

Gary

Glad to hear that the purchase is meeting with your expectations (he says through gritted teeth ). I know from shooting days that sometimes weight can be a good thing, especially once on location - but obviously, with the range of good rucsacs that are available now, even the getting to location on foot can be made easier too.
The flexibility of the zoom over the prime fixed lens will be affected many factors, but where you are in one location with a subject that is constantly changing its position (wildlife, aircraft, sport, etc.) this lens will add flexibility in being able to capture the image that you want.
All the best

regards
Chris

[Topsyrm]

Re: New lens thanks to Olybirder

Nice shots. I'm surprised you got 1/250 at ISO 800 on Saturday, I was up to 1600 with about 20 mins to go. Mind you I prefer to keep the shutter speeds higher, partly because IS just doesn't seem to work for me and partly because there is a lot of subject movement.

Interesting also that you say the 90-250 is nicer to use than the 50-200. If it's light enough I prefer the 50-200 with EC-14. I use a shoulder pod/rifle grip and find it much easier to handle than the heavy monster, and even with the converter the SWD version it is noticeably more responsive. Image quality may even be a smidge better, although both are good if the operator gets it right. My opinion is probably coloured by having to cycle to the club, so not having to carry a 4.5Kg lens and a monopod certainly helps as there are hills to climb both going and coming home!

Who is your team? Oxford Harlequins? All being well I'll be up your way on Saturday with Salisbury, we are away at Witney.

Ciao ... John

Hi Bikie John, was just reading your post re the shoulder pod/rifle grip, I have been looking for something like that for ages, any chance you can give details? Cheers, Topsy. PS sorry to hijack the thread. I will say though that the pictures are impressive that 90-250 certainly is a top class lens.

[Bikie John]

Re: New lens thanks to Olybirder

Hi Topsy, Kaiser make one, they call it a shoulder pod. Designed for video with the extra locating pin in the base, but you can unscrew it and use it with still cameras no problem. It's a bit flimsy and lightweight but I find it good for the medium-sized lenses like the 50-200 or 150/2. And it doesn't interfere with mobility at all.

This is the link to it on Kaiser's website:

http://www.kaiser-fototechnik.de/en/produkte/2_1_produktanzeige.asp?nr=96008

I got it a couple of years ago through Fotospeed. If you go to their website and search for shoulder you should find it. They were very helpful when I ordered it, I suggest giving them a call.

I've never seen anyone else use one, but lots of other sports photogs have asked me about it. I would like it to be a little bit more solid, but it does the job OK and on the plus side it is very compact when collapsed.

Hope this helps ... John