Problem with a new lens! Help please!!

roquark · Mar 4, 2011

I have had my Sony dslr for about 2 weeks now - my first DSLR so I am a complete dummy! Today I received a new lens I bought off ebay, it is a 500mm mirror lens and cames with a t-mount and 3 filters. I have attached the lens to the camera and when I try to take a photo i get a message saying there is no lens attached and the shutter is locked. I think that the camera wants me to attach one of the filters, I assume the skylight one but, on the end of the lens where the filter would go, there is a black circle - feels like sand paper, this seems to be stuck on to the bit where I should screw on the filter, and is stopping the filter going on, but I can't get it off! i don't know if I have to prize it off? cos it doesn't seem to screw off.

Any help would be appreciated. I was to get up to Skye and take photos of the lovely wee birds and I can't til I figure this out :lol:

Thank you so much

PASM · Mar 4, 2011

Which Sony Alpha camera? The older ones (eg A200) do not function without a fully compatible A-mount lens attached (Sony or Minolta). The filters have no relevance to the problem. If your camera is one of the newer Alpha then you must find in the menus the option to allow the shutter to release with 'no lens attached'.

roquark · Mar 4, 2011

Hi, It's a Sony A380. Thank you so much, i will have a look for the menu now! It's not easy, is it?

c.cloudwalker · Mar 4, 2011

I agree the filter shouldn't have anything to do with the other problem.

Now, for the filter, is it attached to the front or the back (the side that attaches to the body) of the lens. On some mirror lenses the filters attach to the rear and you need a special tool to change them. At least, I did with mine.

enzodm · Mar 4, 2011

... and good luck with focus...

roquark · Mar 4, 2011

It looks like it should attach to the front. It looks like if it attached to the back it would just fall into the body. Starting to wish I had gone for the panasonic lumix with the built in, automatic lens! LOL

PASM · Mar 4, 2011

TPF, a year ago. Seemed to work in manual.
http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/photography-beginners-forum-photo-gallery/191912-sony-a380.html

roquark · Mar 4, 2011

Got it! Thank you all so much! LOL Now I just need to figure out how to attach the filters! LOL Thanks again

enzodm · Mar 4, 2011

roquark said:
Got it! Thank you all so much! LOL Now I just need to figure out how to attach the filters! LOL Thanks again

do not worry much about filters (not much need at the beginnings) , just try it as is. It will give you some work... I have one and focusing is not so easy. Do you have a tripod,do you?

SJGordon · Mar 4, 2011

PASM said:
Which Sony Alpha camera? The older ones (eg A200) do not function without a fully compatible A-mount lens attached (Sony or Minolta). The filters have no relevance to the problem. If your camera is one of the newer Alpha then you must find in the menus the option to allow the shutter to release with 'no lens attached'.

Actually the older Sony Alpha cameras work just fine with older manual lenses. Just turn the mode to "M" and shoot manually. You still have the metering so you pick the speed with the camera body and the Aprepture on the lens. If it is a mirror 500mm it is probably a fixed f:8 so all you have to do is set the speed. When the little arrow is about in the center of the line along the bottom of the viewfinder, it will be close to being properly exposed. I have found that when shooting with the older manual lenses it is best to have it showing a bit overexposed by 1/2 to 1 full stop.

I've used plenty of old manual lenses with adapters to fit the "A" mount (Including 2 different 500mm ones) on my older a200 as well as my sons a230. Not a problem at all.

PASM · Mar 4, 2011

OK. That's good. I had an A200 but I never realised it could do it.

roquark · Mar 4, 2011

no, I don't have a tripod, but I have noticed a lot of shaking when I am taking photos of objects in the distance with the new lens. Do you have a tripod?

SJGordon · Mar 4, 2011

90% of the time I am using a long lens I use my tripod, or at the very least a solid support of some sort. Using my camera bag as a sandbag and nestling the camera and lens into it so it is steady. Bracing on a tree/fencepost/light post/ etc... anything to be as still as I can make it. At higher shutter speed you may not have to, but why develop bad habits when you don't have to.

enzodm · Mar 5, 2011

roquark said:
no, I don't have a tripod, but I have noticed a lot of shaking when I am taking photos of objects in the distance with the new lens. Do you have a tripod?

yes. With a 500mm you need at least 1/500s, but in my experience also at such speed is difficult to manage it, better to double. This one is taken handheld (and then sharpened etc): http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...my-one-week-project-2011-a-2.html#post2182671 but it is also difficult to focus, so that I prefer to use tripod and focus through live view at maximum magnification.