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Monday, May 1, 2023

M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-200 f3.5-6.3


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If there was ever a travel lens made then this lens could be it. Covering a 35mm equivalent focal range of 24-400mm it is a jack of all trade, a master of none.Having said that I personally am happy with the image quality at all focal lengths although it is not crispy sharp at the long end. But for my purposes tack sharp images from corner to corner at all focal lengths is not a ...


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posted by Dil on 05/01/23 19:00  under Lenses

comments (0)  302


Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Panasonic Lumix 14 f2.5 I


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Small and very light weighing in at a mere 55g it packs a bigger punch than it's reputation. Just my opinion of course. It's actually so small it looks out of place on the bigger MFT bodies. It's a 28mm equivalent on FF so it might not suit everybody.

 

However, mount it on one of the smaller bodies like a GM1 or GM5 and you have a perfect carry everywhere camera system.

 

Panasonic GM5 - Panasonic 14 f2.5

...
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posted by Dil on 02/01/23 19:00  under Lenses

comments (0)  368


Friday, November 1, 2019

Olympus 12-200 f3.5-6.3 ED


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If you’re looking for an all-in-one lens from the Olympus stable right now you have two choices. The first one is the 12-100 f4 which has been out for a couple of years, and now you have the 12-200 f3.5-6.3.

 

Lets have a look at the specs of this lens:

 



 

Olympus 12-200 f3.5-6.3 ED

 

 

 


Olympus 12-200 f3.5-6.3
Weight: 455g
Size: 78mm x 100mm
Aperture: f3.5 - f22
MFD: 22cms
Filter: 72mm
Price: €900

Not quite as heavy as the ...


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posted by Dil on 11/01/19 19:00  under Lenses

comments (0)  1535


Sunday, September 1, 2019

Fujifilm XC lenses


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My Fuji system is small and light with superb XF lenses and the cameras are a joy to use. They have a plethora of small light and quite bright prime lenses and they really shine too.

Since the introduction of the X-T30 and X-T3, Fuji have finally cracked the autofocus speed problem that their earlier cameras had. Not that they were really bad, it's just that other system cameras were a lot better. I took the ...


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posted by Dil on 09/01/19 19:00  under Lenses

comments (0)  1680


Monday, July 1, 2019

Lens 'GAS'


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I'm sure you've all heard the term GAS before. It's very common in photographers who think that the next piece of new kit is going to improve their photography. Of course it doesn't but there's no point preaching to them, because they just want new toys to play with. I'm not sure if Gear Acquisition Syndrome is only symptomatic to photographers, but I'm assuming it isn't.


I know all photographers go through this at some ...


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posted by Dil on 07/01/19 19:00  under Lenses

comments (0)  2390


Sunday, July 1, 2018

The Perfect Panasonic Travel Lens Combination


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Lens 1. Panasonic 8-18 f2.8-4.0


Panasonic 8-18 f2.8-4.0

 

Panasonic 8-18 f2.8-4.0

 

Panasonic 8-18 f2.8-4.0

 

Panasonic 8-18 f2.8-4.0
Weight: 315g
Size: 88mm x 73mm
Aperture: f2.8 - f22
MFD: 23cm
Filter: 67mm
Price: €1050


I decided to replace my Panasonic 7-14 f4 lens because of the problem I have of using it on my Olympus cameras. The purple blotch problem was just getting out of hand and I do tend to favour my Olympus cameras over the Panasonic. However, I think this lens ...


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posted by Dil on 07/01/18 19:00  under Lenses

comments (0)  2381


Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Exceptional Lenses I Own


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An earlier post I did was about "Lens GAS" and all the excellent lenses I would dearly love to own but can't justify. Well, lets see what excellent lenses I do own and can highly recommend.

Since I own quite a few excellent lenses, I'll mention only those I think are outstanding and can recommend all photographers take a look at them (if you own that system of course). If you don't own the system, maybe ...


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posted by Dil on 11/01/17 19:00  under Lenses

comments (0)  2668


Monday, October 16, 2017

Manual Focus Lenses I Like


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For those of us that like using manual focus lenses, I'm sure that we all have our favourites that we always grab on the way out the door. I have a few so I thought I would mention them here. maybe I can get a few tips an what you like, and maybe, just maybe, you can recommend one that I haven't tried and turns out to be a gem.

Samyang
I believe this manufacturer to be ...


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posted by Dil on 10/16/17 19:00  under Lenses

comments (0)  2710


Monday, October 2, 2017

Lens Envy For The Mirrorless Systems


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I'm sure you've all heard the term GAS before. It's very common in photographers who think that the next piece of new kit is going to improve their photography. Of course it doesn't but there's no point preaching to them, because they just want new toys to play with. I'm not sure if Gear Acquisition Syndrome is only symptomatic to photographers, but I'm assuming it isn't.


I know all photographers go through this at some ...


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posted by Dil on 10/02/17 19:00  under Lenses

comments (0)  2862


Friday, September 1, 2017

Spur of the Moment Purchase - Sony FE 70-300 f4.5-5.6 G OSS


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Spur of the moment purchase - Sony FE 70-300 f4.5-5.6 G OSS

Weight: 854g
Size: 144mm x 84mm
Aperture: f4.5-5.6 - f22-f29
MFD: 90mm
Filter: 72
Price: €1250

 

 

Sony FE 70-300 f4.5-5.6 G OSS

 

 

Sony FE 70-300 f4.5-5.6 G OSS

 

 

 

 Sony FE 70-300 f4.5-5.6 G OSS

 

Sony FE 70-300 f4.5-5.6 G OSS

 

 

Sony FE 70-300 f4.5-5.6 G OSS

 

 

Sony FE 70-300 f4.5-5.6 G OSS

 

 

Sony FE 70-300 f4.5-5.6 G OSS

 

 

Sony FE 70-300 f4.5-5.6 G OSS


Let me just say out front that this was a spur of the moment purchase. Do I need it? No. I just wanted it and for the following ...


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posted by Dil on 09/01/17 19:00  under Lenses

comments (0)  2974


Friday, August 18, 2017

New Lens Expectations


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I've been so impressed with the Samyang lenses that I started thinking about them in general. Although they are all manual focus lenses, once you get used to them you really don't miss autofocus at all. Well, that's me speaking of course. Horses for courses and all that.

I now have the 12 f2 for MFT and for Fuji X mount.

 


Samyang 12 f2

 

This lens is small, unobtrusive, weighs in at 260g and ...


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posted by Dil on 08/18/17 19:00  under Lenses

comments (0)  2742


Saturday, August 5, 2017

Tamron Firmware Update for their -150 F/3.5-5.8 Di III [Model C001] Lens


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It's been a number of weeks since I've posted. Life just gets in the way sometimes.


Update Information

 

Update Information in Detail

 

I though the fact that Tamron have brought out a firmware update for their 14-150 F/3.5-5.8 Di III [Model C001] was worth mentioning. I reported some time ago that the lens performed better on my Panasonic GX7 than on any other camera. If you look back at the FW update notes, version 1.1 was actually ...


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posted by Dil on 08/05/17 16:13  under Lenses

comments (0)  2949


Thursday, May 4, 2017

Olympus 12-100 f4 Pro - Initial Impression


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Not having the willpower to say no to such things, I went ahead and purchased the Olympus 12-100 f4 lens. After looking closely at my use of lenses I came to the conclusion most of my images were taken between 12mm and 200mm and not really being a lover lens changes, the 12-100 f4 would be my ideal “travel” lens.

My last holiday was done with 2 Panasonic GM5 cameras paired with the Panasonic 12-32 ...


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posted by Dil on 05/04/17 12:00  under Lenses

comments (0)  4355


Saturday, March 4, 2017

Panasonic-Leica D Vario-Elmar 14-150 f3.5-5.6 Mega O.I.S. For Four-Thirds Mount


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Brought onto the market by Panasonic in 2007, this lens was my permanent buddy on one of my 4/3 Panasonic L1 bodies. It always went with me on my holidays and it has seen a lot of action over the years.

Panasonic G81 - Panasonic-Leica Vario-Elmar 14-150 f3.5-5.6

 

Panasonic G81 - Panasonic-Leica Vario-Elmar 14-150 f3.5-5.6

 

 

Panasonic G81 - Panasonic-Leica Vario-Elmar 14-150 f3.5-5.6

 

 Panasonic G81 - Panasonic-Leica Vario-Elmar 14-150 f3.5-5.6

 

Panasonic G81 - Panasonic-Leica Vario-Elmar 14-150 f3.5-5.6

 

 

 

Weight: 520g
Size: 90mm x 79mm
Aperture: f3.5 - f22
MFD: 50cms
Filter: 72mm
Price: €1000

I believe I paid in the region of €1200 for ...


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posted by Dil on 03/04/17 16:00  under Lenses

comments (1)  4536


Thursday, February 16, 2017

My Favourite Kit Lenses


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Every manufacturer bring their cameras to market with a standard (normally sub-par) kit lens. Normally I discard these as “not-up-to-my-standard” and they end up in a corner somewhere. The only reason I get some of these lenses is when I can’t find a body only offer but sometimes these lenses surprise me with their image quality. Some of them are not to be discarded as I stated above, “sub-par”.

There are times a lens comes out ...


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posted by Dil on 02/16/17 15:30  under Lenses

comments (0)  2546


Saturday, January 14, 2017

Panasonic 14-42 f3.5-5.6 PZ Power O.I.S.


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Having just tested the Olympus 14-42 f3.5-5.6 EZ I was expecting the same sort of performance from this lens. Lets just look at these two for a minute; both are 14-42mm, both are f3.5-5.6 and both have a power zoom (or electronic zoom). Lets see the specs for the lens:

Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-42 f3.5-5.6 PZ Power O.I.S.
Weight: 95g
Size: 27mm x 61mm
Aperture: f3.5 - f22
MFD: 20cm
Filter: 37mm
Price: €330

Olympus E-M10 II - Panasonic 14-42 f3.5-5.6 PZ

 

 

Olympus E-M10 II - Panasonic 14-42 f3.5-5.6 PZ

 

 

...
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posted by Dil on 01/14/17 17:00  under Lenses

comments (0)  3180


Saturday, January 7, 2017

Olympus 14-42 EZ f3.5-5.6


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Nice and compact, very light and allows you to put this, attached to an Olympus E-M10 or E-M10 II, in your jacket pocket. All the lens has on the outside is the zoom ring, and that is it.

 


Olympus 14-42 f3.5-5.6 EZ (28 - 84mm in 35mm terms)
Weight: 91g
Size: 23mm x 61mm
Aperture: f3.5 - f22
MFD: 25cm
Filter: 37mm
Price: €280

 

 Olympus E-M10 II - Olympus 14-42 f3.5-5.6 EZ

 

Olympus E-M10 II - Olympus 14-42 f3.5-5.6 EZ

 

 

Olympus E-M10 II - Olympus 14-42 f3.5-5.6 EZ

 

 

Olympus E-M10 II - Olympus 14-42 f3.5-5.6 EZ

 

 

Olympus E-M10 II - Olympus 14-42 f3.5-5.6 EZ

 

 

...
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posted by Dil on 01/07/17 14:30  under Lenses

comments (0)  3541


Sunday, January 1, 2017

Olympus 12-50 f3.5-6.3 EZ


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This lens (or my copy) can't be described as Olympus' greatest achievement. I think this was the kit lens with one of the earliest EM models. Forgot which but it doesn't really matter.

 

Olympus 12-50 f3.5 - 6.3 EZ (24-100 35mm equivalent)
Weight: 212g
Size: 83mm x 57mm
Aperture: f3.5 - f22
MFD: 20cm
Filter: 52mm
Price: €230

 

Olympus E-M10II - Olympus 12-50 f3.5-6.3EZ

 

 

Olympus E-M10II - Olympus 12-50 f3.5-6.3EZ

 

 

Olympus E-M10II - Olympus 12-50 f3.5-6.3EZ

 

 

Olympus E-M10II - Olympus 12-50 f3.5-6.3EZ

 

 

I like the range 24mm - 100mm in FF ...


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posted by Dil on 01/01/17 14:00  under Lenses

comments (0)  3735


Sunday, December 18, 2016

Mitakon (ZY Optics) Speedmaster Pro Ver.(M67) “The Dark Knight” 50mm f0.95 for FE Mount


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Having a preference for the 50mm lens, it stands to reason I own a lot of lenses in this focal length. A lot of photographers find the focal length boring, preferring the 35mm view. Not me though, I prefer the 50mm.

Before I go on any further, if you are thinking of purchasing this lens, there are two versions. My version, “The Dark Knight” came out only 3 months after the original version.

 

...

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posted by Dil on 12/18/16 13:30  under Lenses

comments (0)  1666


Sunday, November 27, 2016

Update: 135mm Lens - Samyang 135mm f2 for E Mount


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One of my first post was about using 135mm legacy lenses on mirrorless systems. Since then I've acquired another 135mm lens but not one that can be adapted to all systems. The original post was about legacy lenses easily adapted to modern digital mirrorless systems via a cheap dumb adapter.

This new lens has an FE Sony mount as the Sony native lens selection is rather lacking. I have some A mount lenses but ...


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posted by Dil on 11/27/16 14:30  under Lenses

comments (0)  4326


Friday, November 11, 2016

Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 15mm F1.7 ASPH


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What a beautiful little lens. Comes with a hood and a rubber cap to cover the front element that doesn’t come off when you take it out of your bag. This lens just smells of Leica.

It’s got Leica in the name and although it’s not built by Leica the quality is visibly superior to your normal Panasonic built lenses. They are built to Leica specifications which was a real coup for Panasonic. Quality is much ...


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posted by Dil on 11/11/16 20:00  under Lenses

comments (0)  2474


Friday, November 11, 2016

Samyang 100 f2.8 Macro for FE-Mount


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After the purchase of the Samyang 135mm f2 lens, and being very impressed by the image quality I decided to acquire the Samyang 100mm f2.8 Macro also in the E-mount version (I know I've said it before but I'll say it again anyway, there's no way I'm going to pay Sony the prices they're asking for their newer lenses). I did look at the Zeiss equivalent but I had to pick myself up off the ...


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posted by Dil on 11/11/16 12:45  under Lenses

comments (0)  3200


Saturday, August 20, 2016

Sony E PZ 18 - 105 f4 G OSS


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Just like with all of my other systems I like a single lens that covers most of my shooting focal length needs when out on a walk and I don't know what to expect at my destination. I would have bought an FF lens for my A7x cameras but I couldn't really find one except the 24-240. The problem with that lens is  it's heavy may spoil my walk. So I found one of these ...


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posted by Dil on 08/20/16 16:00  under Lenses

comments (0)  4404


Sunday, August 7, 2016

My X-Mount Lens Solution (Partly Solved)


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My last post was just me philosophising a little about what X-Mount lenses to buy or not. I still haven’t acquired the Fujinon 10-24 f4 because it’s just too expensive. Can’t justify it, and if I personally say that about a lens then it’s got to be serious. It doesn't mean that I've given up on that lens though, it's just on hold.

 

I decided to go another route with my X-Mount lenses with ...


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posted by Dil on 08/07/16 19:00  under Lenses

comments (0)  2960


Saturday, April 9, 2016

Commlite Update + Canon 40 f2.8 STM


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I had the opportunity the other day to go for a little walk and I took along the Sony A7II with the Canon 40 f2.8 STM mounted via the Commlite EF - E mount adapter. I have now set back-button AF on all my Sony Alpha cameras but I just couldn't get this to work using the adapter. It's probably not supported so I used the top button in the usual way. Maybe someone out ...


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posted by Dil on 04/09/16 14:00  under Lenses

comments (0)  2560


Saturday, February 27, 2016

Zeiss Tessar 85mm f4 ZM


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                                   Zeiss T* 85 F4 Tessar ZM

Sometimes, just sometimes you purchase a new piece of equipment and you just fall in love with it. This is the experience I had after purchasing the Zeiss Tessar 85 f4 lens. It's just a wonderful piece of engineering. It's actually quite compact at 95mm with a diameter of 54mm but I class it as being quite hefty weighing in at 310g. As a matter of fact I wanted ...


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posted by Dil on 02/27/16 15:26  under Lenses

comments (0)  10284


Sunday, December 28, 2014

135mm Lenses on the Sony A7r


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When I was using my Canon 5D (still have it just not using it much) the 135mm f2 L lens was one of my favourites. The focal length just suited my style of photography and, let's face it, the 135mm f2 lens is one of the sharpest lenses ever made. Those who argue with that last statement must have purchased a "Monday morning lens" or just aquired a bad copy. So when I ...


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posted by Dil on 12/28/14 16:00  under Lenses

comments (0)  3174


Thursday, December 4, 2014

Some 50mm, 75mm and 100mm manual focus lenses on the Sony A7r


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Over the years I have accumulated a number of manual focus lenses from Olympus, Nikon, Minolta, Zeiss, Canon among others. All of these lenses have been tested (read used) on APS-C and M4/3 cameras with good results for most of them. Those lenses that didn't pass the test on those cameras have no chance of passing on a full frame camera for the simple reason that the sensor uses the sweet spot of ...


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posted by Dil on 12/04/14 15:30  under Lenses

comments (0)  2544



ABOUT

I'm an enthusiastic photographer who likes to tinker with manual lenses on most camera formats.

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