I've never dared to put mine on a tripod. I only use with a monopod and my left hand supporting the front of the barrel. Yes, it's hard to focus at 135mm, but not bad at all at 600mm. Just like all 1 touch zooms, I focus at maximum focal length and zoom out to compose. Using fast film and bright daylight certainly helps... The 4:1 Zoom range absolutely destroys primes in composition flexability and you really dont give up much at all in performance. I like it.
JCO > -----Original Message----- > From: Fred [mailto:fwcetus@;erols.com] > Sent: Sunday, November 03, 2002 3:14 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: Poll: Telephoto Zooms > > > > 135-600 F6.7 SMC Zoom Takumar !!! > > Over 4:1 zoom range and wicked sharp. > > Perhaps, JCO, but I listed this lens (the K-mount version of it) > under my "Honorable Mentions", as: "Well made and quite sharp, but > my difficult in rapidly focusing it (at f/6.7) limited the > usefulness of its 'one-touch' zoom action, and I have never had a > lens that balanced so poorly on a tripod." Of course, for long > telephoto use with stationary targets on a very sturdy tripod > equipped with a tripod mount offset of some sort, it could be quite > manageable. > > Fred > >
