First light Canon 70-200mm f4L lens - Crux

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Hello all...
Last night finally cleared up long enough to try out this lens - Canon 70-200mm f4L with the 40D.

Imaged Southern Cross and Coalsack

FL=70mm @ f5.6
iso 400
11x300sec, 6x600sec (1hr55mins total)
Autoguided via PHD and 80mm Achromat.
Stacked in ImagesPlus, tweaked in PS.

The lens is sharp to the edges! The attached image is a crop so you'll just have to believe me!!
Very impressed with "L" glass so far.

This lens is going to form the heart of my imaging set up for the near future, sold the ED80 a few weeks ago to concentrate on widefield stuff.
Also bought a 1.4x extender to push this lens a bit - hope that works out!

I've uploaded a very large file too 1Mb+, so broadband is a must to view.
[IMG=http://dl106.filemojo.com/files/tn/921/021910926673159/th_Crux-Large.jpg]

Cheers for having a look!
Doug

ps...also was first time out for my side by side setup. Tracking looks pretty good to me!

[skwinty (Steve)]

Very very nice Doug, I wish you many happy hours with your new lens.
Was it very expensive?

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Originally Posted by skwinty

Very very nice Doug, I wish you many happy hours with your new lens.
Was it very expensive?

Not too bad Steve, an ebay success story!
$660AU As New etc etc!
Cheers
Doug

[Antu]

Originally Posted by dugnsuz

Hello all...
The lens is sharp to the edges! The attached image is a crop so you'll just have to believe me!!
Very impressed with "L" glass so far.

Very nice image ! This lens from Canon is excellent, once you've got L-glass you'll never accept anything else Too dangerous for your wallet

[Zuts]

Great image Doug. I would love to have a collection of the various constelations in widefield.

When you say eBay, do you mean one of the hong kong sellers?

Paul

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Originally Posted by Zuts

Great image Doug. I would love to have a collection of the various constelations in widefield.

When you say eBay, do you mean one of the hong kong sellers?

Paul

Thanks for the comment

Widefield imaging is my passion - and it's less critical of the gear!!!!!

No Paul - managed to get a decent 2nd hand one (there are a couple going at the moment I think), If I hadn't won this lens I would have probably gone for one of the HK retailers, cheapest price is around $740AU inc postage I've seen.

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Originally Posted by Antu

Very nice image ! This lens from Canon is excellent, once you've got L-glass you'll never accept anything else Too dangerous for your wallet

[madtuna (Steve)]

Doug I have the 40D and the same lens. I'd be very interested in your opinion with the extender when you get a chance.

[madtuna (Steve)]

Originally Posted by dugnsuz

Thanks for the comment

Widefield imaging is my passion - and it's less critical of the gear!!!!!

No Paul - managed to get a decent 2nd hand one (there are a couple going at the moment I think),

hehehe I got the other one

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Originally Posted by madtuna

Doug I have the 40D and the same lens. I'd be very interested in your opinion with the extender when you get a chance.

Hope to have it soon - bought it today!
The review sites seem to love it...
http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/s...&cat=31&page=1

(albeit for daylight work - wierdos!!!!)

This one is good - photo examples.
Looks like it'll have to be stopped down a bit to get crisp stars!
http://photo.net/equipment/canon/tc1/

...the 2x TC looks like it sucks!

Cheers
Doug

[madtuna (Steve)]

Thanks mate..having as read now.

I've only had my lens a few days so haven't given it a decent shake down yet. Very impressed so far though...it dwarfs my old 90 -300

[iceman (Mike)]

Looks very nice, Doug! A lovely image with a lovely lens.

[Lester]

Good one Doug.

One day I will get some L series lenses too.

[Garyh]

Great stuff Doug!
Those L series lenses are nice hey!
Look forwards to seeing the results with the 1.4x extender as I would love to get one in the future!
cheers

[RB (Andrew)]

Beautifully done Doug, nice detail and very crisp.

Gotta love those L lenses hah

[Tamtarn]

What's this !! No ED80............You've always loved the widefields Doug.

Fantastic first light mate Keep them coming !!!

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Originally Posted by Tamtarn

What's this !! No ED80............You've always loved the widefields Doug.

Fantastic first light mate Keep them coming !!!

Thanks,
Selling the ED80 was tough, but I've wanted to try this for a while.
Anyway it went to the good home of another IISer!
Going to try the 200mm end of the zoom next, and then with the 1.4x extender at 280mm!
Cheers
Doug

[Alchemy (Clive)]

wow !

[leon]

Doug that is a splendid image, bet you are glad you went up that path, I like it a lot. well done.

Leon

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Originally Posted by leon

Doug that is a splendid image, bet you are glad you went up that path, I like it a lot. well done.

Leon

Cheers leon - thanks mate.
I am trying to image Eta at 200mm tonight with a slightly cloudy sky and all I'm getting is milky white crapness!!! This lens needs absolute darkness!!!!
Doug!