>> Now go get the focal image doubler

I have a 2X teleconverter which died and will get recommissioned some 
time.
BUT odds are that the quality at such extremes (750mm -> 1500mm) would 
not be vastly better than setting compression to extra fine and 
blowing up the resultant image by 2X linearly. I'm very well aware of 
the difference between optical and digital "zoom" but at extremes such 
as this you need very very good glass to make it work.

Also, fwiw a 2X teleconvetre takes this lens to a fixed f16 1500mm 
which is usable but a bit slow in many cases. Plus you lose the 
auto-focus. Most lenses need to be f5.6 or faster at max aperture for 
AF to work* and the Minolta engineers did a special job to make this 
f8 still autofocus. The teleconverter will make sure it doesn't.  [[* 
even if the light and situation made it technically possible the 
camera electronics "know" that it can't do it and won't try. Ask me 
how I know :-) ).

>> and a collapsible monopod so you can use
>> this most of the time.

No monpod, yet. I have various tripods including a pocketable 
rigid-leg ball headed unit which allows reasonably rigid mounting in 
almost any situation (if you don't mind finding a wall or lying on the 
ground).

>> Is it a Russian Schmidt ?

Minolta 500mm "reflex" mirror lens.
Only production mirror lens ever designed with autofocus.

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minolta_AF_500mm_Reflex_lens

Here's what it looks like inside (techo geeks and / or lens freaks 
only need view)

        http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/forum_posts.asp?TID=15500

> Any chance to shoot some stars or the moon, just to see the image 
> quiality at
> night ?

Sometime - remind me in a month or so if nothing eventuates.
I've done some hand held or braced night shots but at f8 and 750mm it 
needs a rock solid mount for good results.
D

> The street shot is impressive esp. because of its steadyness. Was 
> the
> camera in hand ?

Yes. I *may* have braced it against a lamp post but it may have just 
been hand held. At 750mm the rule of thumb says 1/750th is slowest 
speed to use and this was 1/250th but you can get down to around that 
speed with careful shooting AND the camera has antishake built in 
which gives another 2+ stops or 4X slower speed so that speed is OKish 
hand held.

I haven't done a vast amount of playing with it in wild-life 
situations yet. Here's arguably my best bird photo so far. An "Indian 
Myna" at about 10 metres - in my back yard from inside the house using 
a dark drape as a hide. Depth of focus of about 100mm or less can be 
easily seen on the ground.


Warning        1.4 MB files, slowish server

        http://others.servebeer.com/misc/500mmmyna.jpg

Here's a number of mostly rather impressive photos that other people 
have taken with the same lens

        http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11342

In all cases an uncropped photo is taken from a distance of about 22 x 
the original full image width .







        Russell


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