[Paul Corfield]

Using my standard Lightroom/Photoshop settings your photo came out like this. Obvious re-editing a jpeg isn't ideal but there's some detail in there that could be played with.

Paul.

[DanC.Licks]

You are right. I am using Lightroom 4.1 now, and I love it. I did not sharpen this shot though, so it is straight out of the can. What steps did you take in your edit?

[Paul Corfield]

In Lightroom I adjusted the details slider all the way up. Then in Photoshop I used smart sharpen at 30%. I prefer smart sharpen in Photoshop to the sharpening slider in Lightroom.

On a standard RAW file of my own I would normally just set the details slider in Lightroom at about 70% and then in Photoshop use 30% smart sharpen.

You could probably use the sharpen option in Lightroom instead but it might lose some sharpness in the conversion for posting to the web.

Paul.

[DanC.Licks]

Which version of LR are you using? I only have PS 7. I don't know how good it is at sharpening.
In LR4 the details slider is connected to the sharpening slider, or are you talking about something else?

[Paul Corfield]

I have Lightroom 2.5 and Photoshop CS2

Paul.

[Paul Corfield]

Originally Posted by DanC.Licks

In LR4 the details slider is connected to the sharpening slider, or are you talking about something else?

It's probably the same. In LR 2.5 in the sharpening section there is a slider for sharpening,radius,detail and masking. I leave them all at default apart from the details one. I just had a play with the sharpening slider and exported to Photoshop and it didn't look too bad, slightly noisier than my usual method but it still looked fairly sharp.

Paul.

[DanC.Licks]

If I were you would upgrade to 2.7 (free) as it has the same de-mosiacing engine that LR3 has, that is, it does a better job of converting the raw data. LR3 has better denoising built in, and LR4 still better, but real noise problems can be well dealt with in third party programs. I was not super impressed with LR3 and basically skipped over it. It couldn't do anything I was not able to do in 2.7, and I hate the newer import window. LR2 was sweet and simple, and I still use it for importing.
There was a big jump in picture quality from 2.6 to 2.7. Give it a thought.
Smartsharpen looks good. Just might have to upgrade sometime...
In LR2 (and later) the default sharpening is 25. So you leave it there and then push the detail slider, right? That is what I meant by it being coupled with the sharpening slider. If the sharpening slider is set to 0, the detail slider is deactivated. If it is set at 1, the detail slider is activated, but does very little.

You are certainly right about warm air! Even though where we go is nice and cool, it was a hot day. Want to see what a couple of kilometers of warm air will do?

[DanC.Licks]

I have managed to track down a Sunagor 100-200mm for 14.99 quid including postage from the UK. Doubt I will be able to do better. So with that and the Canon I should be able to put together one 1.5x and one 2+x. That should do me. I am really not happy with how the Oly TCs work on the scope so I am looking forward to the TNs.

[cango]

Originally Posted by DanC.Licks

I have managed to track down a Sunagor 100-200mm for 14.99 quid including postage from the UK. Doubt I will be able to do better. So with that and the Canon I should be able to put together one 1.5x and one 2+x. That should do me. I am really not happy with how the Oly TCs work on the scope so I am looking forward to the TNs.

Interested to see any comparison between the TNs and the Olys converters.

Have been wanting to get the 2x tc for my ZD 50-200mm (after I get it repaired, the focus wire is faulty)

[DanC.Licks]

One from yesterday, through a little bit of grass, 80/600 without any TC or TN.

[Tord]

Originally Posted by cango

Interested to see any comparison between the TNs and the Olys converters.

Have been wanting to get the 2x tc for my ZD 50-200mm (after I get it repaired, the focus wire is faulty)

Hi

My own experience is that the EC20 and the ZD 50-200 combo (a compact and attractive setup when e.g. travelling or hiking) can produce acceptable results, but I have seldom achieved anything that I would call great. Maybe my copies of EC20 and 50-200 are poorly matched? Also at F/7 the AF will have a hard time. I have however seen great pictures demonstrating the opposite, though.

If I were you I would try the EC20 before purchase.

(Sorry this is out of telescope context, I felt I ought to reply on this post).

/Tord

[DanC.Licks]

I have an E20 and an EC14. I have not been wild about the EC20 and will sell it if it in fact turns out that a home made (with a little help from Canon and /or Sunagor) TN works better on my 80/600. The 50-200+EC14 I find very good indeed, and I will for sure keep the EC14. That will cover up to 283mm, and I am looking for a Nikkor 400/5.6ED. Those will do me fine when I can't take the scope somewhere.

[Tord]

A small collection of pictures from the past weekend. Skywatcher 80mm/600mm + Olympus EC14, E620 @ISO 500
/Tord

[DanC.Licks]

Nice, Tord. So Kingfishers do in fact find their way to Sweden? I didn't think they made it that far north. Who is the last guy?

By the way, you can see the results of my first TN test here:
http://forum.fourthirdsphoto.com/f37...ope-73064.html

[Tord]

Originally Posted by DanC.Licks

Nice, Tord. So Kingfishers do in fact find their way to Sweden? I didn't think they made it that far north. Who is the last guy?

By the way, you can see the results of my first TN test here:
http://forum.fourthirdsphoto.com/f37...ope-73064.html

Thanks Dan,

Yes we have Kingfishers in the Southern and Southeastern parts of Sweden, a frontier outpost for this resident species and the mortality year-to-year is high. Harsh winters will take their toll, 75-95%, since they are dependent on open water, which can be an issue. The population is vulnerable and sightings are not common.

The last guy is a Red-backed shrike (female).

/Tord

[Tord]

Originally Posted by DanC.Licks

By the way, you can see the results of my first TN test here:
http://forum.fourthirdsphoto.com/f37...ope-73064.html

Looking good.
/Tord

[Tord]

Here are a few more samples from the past weekend, taken through the Skywatcher 600 + Zuiko EC14. A mix of close and long shots.

[DanC.Licks]

My first real live bird with the Canon TN on my SW80/600.

[DanC.Licks]

Back near the Danube today. Three without the TN and one with (ruffled).

[Tord]

Originally Posted by DanC.Licks

Back near the Danube today. Three without the TN and one with (ruffled).

Great pictures, impressive level of detail.

[DanC.Licks]

Tack så mycket!

Nice thing about these guys is they move VERY slowly!

I am finding the problem with the TN, or any other teleconverter, is in focusing. The E-30 view finder was an improvement over the 620, but it seems to be reaching its limits with the 80/600+2x TC. It will be very interesting to see how Carlos does with the OM-D over time. I can see that the EVF with the push button magnification might be the way to go with a MF long lens.

[Tord]

I agree that adding TC and losing 1 or 2 steps adds challenge. 1.4xTC turns into F/11 and 2xTC into F/16. F/11 is fine for high contrast subjects or good light conditions, but F/16 requires both for high keeper rate.

To give an idea about the necessity to focus accurately here are DOF values calculated by DOF Master tool, using Circle of confusion 0.017 mm. I picked some arbitrary, what I believe are "realistic" distances to subject in practical field conditions and rounding up/down to closest value supported by DOF Master.

600mm F/8
10 meters: Magnitude of 10 cm
15 meters: 20 cm
20 meters: 30 cm
30 meters: 70 cm

800mm F/11:
15 meters: Magnitude of 15 cm
20 meters: 20 cm
30 meters: 50 cm
50 meters: 150 cm

1200mm F/16
20 meters: magnitude of 20 cm
30 meters: 30 cm
50 meters: 100 cm
75 meters: 210 cm


The display on my camera is unfortunately out of function so I cannot operate the LiveView.

[DanC.Licks]

A high-flier from yestarday. Who is he? Any ideas?

[cango]

Originally Posted by DanC.Licks

Attachment 400228
A high-flier from yestarday. Who is he? Any ideas?

Pernis apivorus or buteo buteo is my guess, but I'm not good, I think they all look very similar ;-)
Good catch

[DanC.Licks]

For sure not butio butio. Got one of them also, but he was too high and the picture is unclear. We know them, but this guy we saw for the first time. Pernis apivorus could be.... The black tipped bill and the white trailing edge of his wings and tail should help.


He was also quite dark, almost black.