Osprey with an ultra- long lens

[Doug L]

I normally use this telescope to look at the moon, but occasionally it comes in handy for nature photography, too. This is my favourite image so far with it. The osprey was really high up in a dead tree munching on a small-mouth bass. My only clear line of sight (free from intruding tree branches) was from a position close to the base of the tree.

Canon XT, Meade DSX 90mm Maksutov/Cassegrain scope (1300mm focal length at F13 with the camera adapter).

[Yisehaq]

Nice shot and what a lens Doug. On canon
XT it will be 1300 X 1.6!!!

[Doug L]

Thanks, Yisehaq. Yes, it's a long lens - good thing the optics are 'folded'. It's the same optical design as the classic Questar scopes. Even though the tube is short, though, a beefy tripod is required.

[Marko]

very cool close-up doug!

[Iguanasan]

Well, that lens certainly gets you into the action! Nice look at the osprey.

[asnow]

Wow such a long lens and yet still very sharp. Well done.

[Doug L]

Thanks, everyone. Yes, it's difficult to consistently get really sharp images with this lens. I get more keepers if I use mirror lockup, and I always use a cable remote to press the shutter. It's best to let the scope cool down or warm up to the ambient air temperature - on very cold or hot days, I usually put the lens outside on the balcony for an hour before I head out. On all but the brightest days I usually have to bump up the ISO to keep the shutter speed fast enough. Focusing manually forces me to concentrate on non-moving subjects only. Even with all these limitations, I still like taking this lens with me. If conditions aren't good enough for photography, I just look at the critters in incredible detail through a selection of telescope eyepieces (usually 70 - 100 power).