Re: [APML]: 300mm F2.8 lenses..which brand?

["Michael Stecker" <mstecker@earthlink.net>]

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-----Original Message-----
From: Philip Perkins <philip@astrocruise.com>
To: astro-photo@nightsky.com <astro-photo@nightsky.com>
Date: Friday, September 18, 1998 7:03 PM
Subject: Re: [APML]: 300mm F2.8 lenses..which brand?


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"...... It seems that I can cover the
range better by skipping 300mm and going with 200mm and 400mm.  There is
only one target I can think of that appears optimum for 300mm, and that is
the Antares - Rho Ophiuchi region, but I would cover that with 200mm."

Regards
--Philip

Philip Perkins  --  philip@astrocruise.com
51 27'N 1 36'W  --  Wiltshire, UK
43 54'N 5 32'E  --  Luberon, France
Astrocruise     --  http://www.astrocruise.com

Philip:
     I was not aware of the vignettimg problem with the Nikon 300 mm f/2.8,
but have seen it in their 300 mm f/4 ED as well as the Canon 300 mm f/4 "L"
lenses.  I agree that the Tamron 300 mm f/2.8 has very little vignetting but
does suffer from "color".  However, with a red filter and hypered Tech Pan
film the Tamron does a great job.  I do think that the 300 mm focal length
has many uses.  I have taken numerous photos with it.  Some years ago Chuck
Vaughn took a large series of published B&W photos with his 350 mm lens.
Also Bill Fletcher and others have taken many great photos with their 300 mm
focal length Schmidt cameras.  Likewise the 48-Schmidt cameras at Palomar
and Siding Springs have about the same field coverage as a 300 mm lens for
35 mm.  Among some of the objects I have used the 300 mm focal length for
are:  IC 1396, LDN 857, combined IC 1805 & IC 1848, M24 with M17, combined
North American and Pelican nebulae and many more.

                                   Michael Stecker