April 17, 2008 (Thursday) Proto Photo topic

[tom mann]

Sean, what kind of lens are you using for those telephotos?

That would be this badass mofo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/183198-USA/Canon_2578A002_70_200mm_f_4_0L_USM_Autofocus.html

Sweet glass, isn't it?  ;D

How fast is the focusing?  I have a Tamron 70-300 and the quality is nice but it's slow as a dog.

[Chris333]

These are from today (Friday), but close enough.

Ohio central picked up a pair of U-boats. Here at Brier Hill:


Caught a CSX ballast train. Notice the solar panels:

Unloading at a cement plant on the old Erie mainline. I believe the yellow crane is some sort of car shaker:

Just a few of a couple hundred garbage container spine cars:

And LETX getting those GP15's from last year ready:

[3rdrail]

Chris, whose Uboats were those? I see a logo with "RFRX" at the bottom, but "CHCR" or "CMCR" initials under the unit number. Any idea where they came from?

[GonzoCRFan]

How fast is the focusing?  I have a Tamron 70-300 and the quality is nice but it's slow as a dog.

It's fast enough that I can use the autofocus to size up an approaching train and be able to get nice, sharp shots. I would HIGHLY recommend one, if you have the spare cash lying around. Out of my 3 lenses, it is by far the best one.

[Chris333]

Chris, whose Uboats were those? I see a logo with "RFRX" at the bottom, but "CHCR" or "CMCR" initials under the unit number. Any idea where they came from?

RFRX
http://www.trainweb.org/chris/pennt74.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/mcolelli/image/88316834

B23-7's
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,1235115

Guess the OC has had them, but they just showed up in Y-town this year. Haven't seen them running yet.

OHCR under the number for Ohio Central

[DKS]

How fast is the focusing?  I have a Tamron 70-300 and the quality is nice but it's slow as a dog.

It's fast enough that I can use the autofocus to size up an approaching train and be able to get nice, sharp shots. I would HIGHLY recommend one, if you have the spare cash lying around. Out of my 3 lenses, it is by far the best one.

If you don't need the ultra-high quality of the Canon "L" series, for the same money you can get a longer 70-300 (instead of 70-200) zoom, plus image stabilization:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/397663-USA/Canon_0345B002_70_300mm_f_4_5_6_EF_IS.html

This is the one I have. It's lighter, just as fast (both in terms of f-stop and focusing), and image stabilization really helps when you don't have a tripod or the lighting is poor.

I don't have a railroad-related image, but this one was taken with this lens at 300mm:

[img width= height=]http://lh5.ggpht.com/dks2855/SAnWlSuWEOI/AAAAAAAAEZs/LlRlw-e_9TQ/s800/IMG_0653.JPG[/img]

[Mark5]

Wow, bi-levels in those colors really get around! Both MARC and VRE have some of those in the same colors (tho VRE may have repainted by now).

[GonzoCRFan]

This is the one I have. It's lighter, just as fast (both in terms of f-stop and focusing), and image stabilization really helps when you don't have a tripod or the lighting is poor.

How is the build quality on that? I was researching the Canon 28-135 that comes with the 40D, and it seems the most common complaint was it felt really flimsy when the barrel was extended to the full 135mm. I assume the 70-300 has a similar barrel that extends, so I'm just curious. IS is a great feature, but the variable f-stop can work against you at full zoom...

[Ian MacMillan]

How fast is the focusing?  I have a Tamron 70-300 and the quality is nice but it's slow as a dog.

It's fast enough that I can use the autofocus to size up an approaching train and be able to get nice, sharp shots. I would HIGHLY recommend one, if you have the spare cash lying around. Out of my 3 lenses, it is by far the best one.

It is a kick a$$ lens. I picked mine up from Abes of ME for $495

[DKS]

This is the one I have. It's lighter, just as fast (both in terms of f-stop and focusing), and image stabilization really helps when you don't have a tripod or the lighting is poor.

How is the build quality on that? I was researching the Canon 28-135 that comes with the 40D, and it seems the most common complaint was it felt really flimsy when the barrel was extended to the full 135mm. I assume the 70-300 has a similar barrel that extends, so I'm just curious. IS is a great feature, but the variable f-stop can work against you at full zoom...

I also have the 28-135 that came with the camera, and it is indeed pretty flimsy. I'm looking to replace it. While it's certainly nowhere near as flimsy, the 70-300 is also not super-sturdy, either, when the barrel is fully extended; you can't knock it around hard. But I'll trade the extra features at its price point for the need to be just a little more careful with it. The biggest value is the image stabilization, I believe. And you can manually control the f-stop through the camera if you need to.

[asciibaron]

i see your "East Aiken" and raise you "Gunpowder River"



-Steve

[Mark5]

Steve,

Nice pic - very interesting bridge!

Mark

[asciibaron]

Nice pic - very interesting bridge!

thanks - i waited on my lunch break for 2 hours for this.  the train is all of 2 cars long.  i caught them later a few miles away with just the locos after they set out the cars

-Steve

[Virginia Atlantic]

Wow, bi-levels in those colors really get around! Both MARC and VRE have some of those in the same colors (tho VRE may have repainted by now).

VRE has three "generations" of ex-Chicago Gallery Cars.  Two sets were repainted, one was not.

The initial set was done in a wall of grey scheme.  Most of them are now out of service I believe.

The second set was in the red/white/blue "V" scheme, and those remain in service and will be held onto for a bit still.

The third (which is really two sets of cars) were never repainted. 

Most will be removed from service once the full set of new Sumitomo Gallery cars arive and are in service.