Now thats the sort of lens I want

lostprophet · Jul 8, 2006

Look at the photo at the bottom of the page then read the text below it !!

What sort of focal length are they using??

http://www.rafmarham.co.uk/relations/stories-2006/39sqn-23jun06-2.htm

Torus34 · Jul 8, 2006

Very long focus. It's also expensive -- not only the lens, but the plane that the camera's mounted in probably runs up the bill a tad.

You can achieve something similar without going too deeply into debt by using a good astronomical telescope as your prime. Orion, Meade and Celestron, to name a few brands, make them. If you're so inclined, you can make the 'scope yourself.

The big problems encountered for terrestrial subjects are haze and atmospheric distortion due to heat waves. Depending on the optical design, you may also have to become accustomed to seeing the image upside down.

In camera terms, my own scope [home made] is a 1370mm f6.8.

markc · Jul 8, 2006

I guess that's even more powerful than these:
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=154&modelid=8178
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/zoomsMF/12001700mm.htm

Can you imagine walking around with one of those monsters?

lostprophet · Jul 8, 2006

markc said:
I guess that's even more powerful than these:
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=154&modelid=8178
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/zoomsMF/12001700mm.htm

Can you imagine walking around with one of those monsters?

I've a mate that walks around with a Nikkor 800mm F5.6 now that is a monster but that zoom you've linked to is a bit special

mentos_007 · Jul 9, 2006

must be heavy

PlasticSpanner · Jul 9, 2006

I have a 1500mm f8! :lol:

(Celestron!)

Not just the lens on the Canberra but what film were they using too? Must be quite a large negative and reasonably fast (Canberras aren't slow coaches!) yet fine grained.

As an afterthought, from the Isle of Wight how do you even know accurately which way to point the camera to get Big Ben? :lol:

hobbes28 · Jul 9, 2006

PlasticSpanner said:
I have a 1500mm f8! (Celestron!)

Not just the lens on the Canberra but what film were they using too? Must be quite a large negative and reasonably fast (Canberras aren't slow coaches!) yet fine grained.

As an afterthought, from the Isle of Wight how do you even know accurately which way to point the camera to get Big Ben?

With the GPS... gosh...

One day I'd like to have a telescope to shoot through so I could take some space shots. Then I see the ones ya'll put up and want it even more.

hot shot · Jul 9, 2006

PlasticSpanner said:
I have a 1500mm f8! (Celestron!)

Not just the lens on the Canberra but what film were they using too? Must be quite a large negative and reasonably fast (Canberras aren't slow coaches!) yet fine grained.

As an afterthought, from the Isle of Wight how do you even know accurately which way to point the camera to get Big Ben?

the same why they know which way to fly cowardinats and triginomity (gps wasnt around at this time not to this extent anyways) the film is the size of a dinner plate but square, orion are the make to go with :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: got all my stuff for gcse astronomy from them

duncanp · Jul 9, 2006

WOW, theyve just developed a 110mp sensor for an observatory, its 4 inches x 4 inches!

Unimaxium · Jul 9, 2006

wow, what an awesome lens. One thing though... I just did a little looking around with Google Earth, and that picture looks like it was taken from to the southeast of Big Ben, but isn't the Isle of Wight southwest?

duncanp · Jul 10, 2006

Unimaxium said:
wow, what an awesome lens. One thing though... I just did a little looking around with Google Earth, and that picture looks like it was taken from to the southeast of Big Ben, but isn't the Isle of Wight southwest?

hmm im not sure,

fun spoiler..