A week ago, my Sony 600mm GM dropped from the tripod onto the seat corner of a metal chair. I had remounted the lens but it somehow disengaged from the side-mount Jobu Jr gimbal brace (was tipped upwards as I was using a blower to clean the rear element). I used to sling the strap around the gimbal to prevent this occurrence but stopped months ago when I missed a buzzard that had flown by (took off the cam but was delayed due to the strap). There was a deep gash on the lens barrel and a large dark spot when I checked the viewfinder. Crestfallen, I checked more thoroughly and it turned out the spot was due to a large smudge on the 2x converter. It wiped off cleanly. Lens is still razor sharp, no glass elements anywhere near the ding, but a clear lesson to go back to slinging the strap around the gimbal. I found a way of slinging the strap with minimal disengagement delay. Very lucky but also the 600 seems like a tough lens.
askal wrote:
A week ago, my Sony 600mm GM dropped from the tripod onto the seat corner of a metal chair. I had remounted the lens but it somehow disengaged from the side-mount Jobu Jr gimbal brace (was tipped upwards as I was using a blower to clean the rear element). I used to sling the strap around the gimbal to prevent this occurrence but stopped months ago when I missed a buzzard that had flown by (took off the cam but was delayed due to the strap). There was a deep gash on the lens barrel and a large dark spot when I checked the viewfinder. Crestfallen, I checked more thoroughly and it turned out the spot was due to a large smudge on the 2x converter. It wiped off cleanly. Lens is still razor sharp, no glass elements anywhere near the ding, but a clear lesson to go back to slinging the strap around the gimbal. I found a way of slinging the strap with minimal disengagement delay. Very lucky but also the 600 seems like a tough lens. ...Show more →
Wow, what a scary experience! And I am glad that the lens still works fine. I am using the strap around my neck all the time while handling the lens. Until I know for sure that it is securely mounted on the tripod, if I am using it on the tripod, that is, then I remove the strap from my neck. I am sure that the side mount of the Jobu Jr can handle the weight of the lens/camera but I would feel more comfortable with the added security of the top mount.
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These 2 images are of the fox father of the fox family I have been following/photographing for a while now....
AGeoJO wrote:
Wow, what a scary experience! And I am glad that the lens still works fine. I am using the strap around my neck all the time while handling the lens. Until I know for sure that it is securely mounted on the tripod, if I am using it on the tripod, that is, then I remove the strap from my neck. I am sure that the side mount of the Jobu Jr can handle the weight of the lens/camera but I would feel more comfortable with the added security of the top mount.
Nice fox shots...wouldn't it be nice if there was a light that showed everything was meshed when mounting a lens.
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These 2 images are of the fox father of the fox family I have been following/photographing for a while now.......Show more →
Nothing rare about this target or its action but it is posted here to showcase the optical performance of the lens. I saw this guy while waiting for the falcon to display some actions. I put the focusing limiter on for the falcon and I couldn't focus on this guy since it was close, closer than with the limiter on. So, I had to switch the setting to "Full" before I could take this; I assume that it was at or close to MFD.
kimknapp wrote:
Geoff,
Is that last one a Scaup? Really great shot.
Kim
That is a Cinnamon Teal (male). Not very common around here but a small number have been hanging around the past few weeks. Unfortunately they rival their Green-winged Teal cousins in being some of the most skittish ducks around.
Yes I use copper pellets.
