Re: [APML] Geminids 04: Something Really Different...

["Jim Vineyard" <deepskyphotos@hotmail.com>]

Hello Chris,
  Am I correct the "Super" in the 35mm Pentax "Super Takumar" meant they 
were multi-coated or did it denote a K-mount?

  It's my understanding Pentax pioneered the first 35mm multi-coatings in 
their screw-mount lenses and all the other makers followed their lead when 
they observed the effect to be gained.  Prior they'd all been simple 
mag-florite coated.

  I shot all Pentax in: a 28mm f/2.8 Takumar "non"-Super Multi Coated, a SMC 
50mm at both f/1.7 and  f/2.8, and a non-SMC 50mm f/2.0 on the 2001 Leonids. 
ONLY the SMC picked up meteors, and at both f ratios, and quite a lot at 
that!  I was VERY surprised at those results!
  Ever since I would always recommended that anyone picking up a nice used 
35mm Pentax lens always go for the Super Multi-Coated (SMC) varieties.  The 
light loss at each element's air to glass surface without the coatings seems 
to add up to a very real difference, at least for astrophotography.
  Your 50mm f/2.8 Pentax Super Taukumar seems to shoot very well indeed. 
I've heard some of the older variety, and screw mount non-excepted, were 
exceptional.  There's an old 300mm one I still would like to get a hold of, 
though I forget its f ratio without researching it.  If everything wasn't 
tending toward CCD I'd like to expand my collection since they can now be 
had for a relative steal on ebay.
  Anyone out there, just steer clear of the 135mm non-SMC plain Takumar. 
It, in particular, was not made in Japan (Tiawan I think) and can be pretty 
poor.
  Pretty much everything SMC seems pretty good but tends to be a little 
slower than some other major camera manufacturers, Nikon etc.  I used to 
have a bit of an inferior feeling about the 35mm Pentax line but don't 
really care a bit anymore after researching various lenses and their makers.
  The very expensive SMC 50mm f/1.4 is only as good as the inexpensive SMC 
f/1.7 though, since both need stopping to f/2.8 for acceptable 
astrophotography IMHO.
  BTW, my first ever astrophoto was on a whim with the 50mm f/1.7 
piggybacked, and (old) Fuji Super G800 plus pointed toward the Milkyway for 
from 8 to 12 mins.  THAT WAS THE HOOK!!!

Nice Job!

Jim Vineyard

P.S.  You would never know it, but a very long time ago while I used to 
listen in on the SBIG list, you had me that "" close to buying an ST-7.  But 
I opted for an STV with the $.  Wish I'd gone for the 7!



-----Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Schur" <cschur@therim.com>
To: "APML" <Astro-Photo@seds.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 18, 2004 9:49 AM
Subject: [APML] Geminids 04: Something Really Different...


> Hi All,
>
> I captured a whopping 4 meteors in 48 shots with the robotic camera during
> the peak Geminids, and rather than just post the images, which are 
> probably
> rather ordinary, I did a bit of analysis on them.  You can see my results
> here:
>
> http://www.psiaz.com/schur/astro/filmimagepages/geminids04.html
>
> You can still look at my full frames as well.
>
> Comments?
>
>
> Clear Skies,
>
> Chris Schur
> Astro: http://www.PSIAZ.com/Schur/astro
> Robotics: http://www.psiaz.com/schur/astro/roboticsmain.html
>
> ---
>
> _______________________________________________
> Astro-Photo mailing list
> Astro-Photo@seds.org
> http://seds.org/mailman/listinfo/astro-photo
> 
_______________________________________________
Astro-Photo mailing list
Astro-Photo@seds.org
http://seds.org/mailman/listinfo/astro-photo