03/18/14

Panasonic G5 - Panasonic X Vario 35-100 f2.8 Power OIS

You have to give it to Panasonic, this lens is very good indeed and paired with the 12-35 f2.8 and maybe the 25 f1.4 for low light work you've got the basis for a very good system. Personally I prefer to use the Olympus cameras because they've got more heft to them. That's the impression I get when holding the two systems. The build quality is much better on the Olympus models...or is it just me that gets that impression.

With this small and quite light 35-100 f2.8 you get the equivalent of a 70-200 f2.8 on a full frame camera and the size difference is amazing. For my purposes the smaller system wins every time and my back is also thankful for it. Younger photographers may not understand this point at present, but the older you get the more you'll understand.

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Dil 03/18/14 19:00 comments (0)

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• Panasonic • G5 • 35-100 f2.8

03/17/14

Lenses

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Sony Nex-7 - LEA2 Adapter - Sony DT 55-200 f4-5.6 SAM

I've only used this combination once because I wanted to see how the focusing works with the LEA2 adapter. In short it works very well indeed. Focusing is fast because you get PDAF with the adapter attached. A negative point would be the size of rig increases and the lens is not exactly small but quite workable. The lens gives sharp contrasty image with pop to them. I should use this more as you get an equivalent focal range of 82-300mm which should cover most situations. You need good light as the lens is only an f4 at the shortest focal length but like I said, if good light is available you should be fine. The other alternative is to use a tripod but I'm no fan of tripods (although I do own quite a number of them). I only tend to use tripods in senarios I know what to expect when I'm going for ultimate sharpness. I must admit, using a tripod will get you sharper images, no doubt about it.

I must get out and try some cheap prime lenses I have like the 85 f2.8 SAM which is a remarkable lens for the price (around €200 at the time of this post).

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Dil 03/17/14 19:00 comments (0)

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• Sony • Nex-7 • LEA2 • 55-200 f4-5.6

03/16/14

Lenses

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Sony Nex-5N - Nikon E-Series 100 f2.8

Since Iwas talking about the Nikon E-Series 100 f2.8 lens yesterday, it seemed apropriate to post a few images from this lens to show what it's capable of. Olny a couple of shots but I think it shows what you can expect from this lens. Sharp, contrasty and fits well on the Nex system cameras. Very easy to focus using the peaking function on the Nex. Of course you can also use this on your m4/3 cameras which would give you a 200mm equivalent focal length. IBIS is recommended though as it would be quite difficult to handhold in anything but good light.

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Dil 03/16/14 19:00 comments (0)

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• Sony • Nex-5N • Nikon • 100 f2.8

03/15/14

Lenses

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Sony Nex-5N - Nikon E-Series 50 f1.8

I suppose the images chosen for the composite above doesn't really show what this lens can do, but they're images that I like so that's why I selected them. It's a very sharp lens and is very useful on the Nex series of cameras offering a focal length equivalent to a 75mm lens. This is the focal length that I start to feel comfortable with and there's no end above that. Like I've mentioned before, the wider the focal length the more uncomfortable I get. I wish I did feel comfortable with these wider focal length lenses because you tend to get a lot more into the image; more documentary type images are possible, but I just don't see it when out on the streets. I have a lot of photography books and I love to look at these wide street photography images, but alas, when I get out and look through the viewfinder I still tend to see telescopically. I just can't seem to frame these wide angle images, they tend to be flat and boring.

The Nikon e-seies of lenses tend to be some of the sharpest out there and I would recommend these lenses to everyone who asks me which lens they should buy next. I also have the 100 f2.8 and that is very sharp too and is a focal length that I like using. I've tried the wider 28 f2.8 Nikon e-series lens but I lucked out on the quality plus my eye didn't really take to it. See my 28mm lens tests for further information on those lenses.

Any suggestions out there?

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Dil 03/15/14 19:00 comments (0)

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• Sony • Nikon • Nex-5N • 50 f1.8

03/14/14

Cameras

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Fujifilm X100S

People who haven't used these Fujifilm cameras don't know what they're missing. Then again, everyone's different and it might not suit everyone. I have to admit I have to concentrate when using this camera or using lenses in this focal length range because I'm a long lens shooter and see the world with a telescopic eye, this focal length doesn't come easy to me. But then again, that can't really be a bad thing because you have to slow down and really think about what you're doing. You also have to get closer to your subject than normally would be the case so you zoom in with your feet.

The real pleasure comes though when you open the image in your favourite viewer. I think they have a certain signature that not all systems have and for me, Fujifilm have really hit the nail on the head. I like how the images turn out and they're great for converting into monochrome.

If you haven't tried these new cameras from Fujifilm, do youself a favour and go and try one out. Even rent one for a weekend or a week and just go shoot with it. I think you'll be surprised at the file quality and your next purchase could well be a Fujifilm camera. One last point I have on these systems concerns the lenses available: they're simply stunning, especially the two zooms I have; the 18-55 kit lens and the 55-200.

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Dil 03/14/14 19:00 comments (0)

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• Fujifilm • X100S

03/13/14

Lenses

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Olympus E-PL1 - Pentax 135 f3.5

I find it really fun to use these old legacy manual focus lenses on the m4/3 cameras. It makes me want to go out and photograph. It really doesn't matter what you photograph, just go out and do it. The more you photograph the better you will get at training your eye to see things you normally don't. If you don't know what this lens looks like here is a link to it on Pentaxforum: SMC 135 f3.5.

It's small and although a little on the heavy side because of the all metal construction, handling it is not a problem. Image quality is very good as you can see in the above image. You can get these on ebay for little money and I'm sure it will give you a lot of pleasure in the months if not years ahead.

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Dil 03/13/14 19:00 comments (0)

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• Olympus • Pentax • E-PL1 • 135 f3.5

03/12/14

Lenses

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Panasonic G5 - Panasonic Vario 45-150 f4-5.6

You find this lens normally as part of a two lens kit, or you can purchase it so for a couple of hundred Euros. It's small, well built and delivers very good image quality. Here's a link to the lens on the Panasonic site: 45-150 f4-5.6. Personally I find the lens very good and gives the user a 90-300mm equivalent focal length. That's quite amazing when you consider how small the lens is. Image quality is fine and I like the build construction Panasonic seem to have settled on. It looks robust and it gives that feel when holding these lenses. I tested this lens on the G5 and I can't fault it at all. Couple this with the 14-45 f3.5-5.6 lens and you have a nice pair for most of your needs. Of course, you will need good light for both lenses because they're not fast at all. If you need a fast lens for low light work you could purchase either the Panasonic 20 f1.7 or the excellent Panasonic 25 f1.4.

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Dil 03/12/14 19:00 comments (0)

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• Panasonic • G5 • 45-150 f4-5.6

03/11/14

Lenses

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Olympus E-M5 - Olympus mZD 60 f2.8 Macro

I haven't posted a lot from this lens, actually it could only be twice. It's not that I don't like the lens; on the contrary, I think it's a wonderful lens to use. I just don't get around to doing macro shots at present. Just how things develop I suppose.

Although all the shots in the image above are macro I think the lens is also great for portraits albeit a little long for some people. Because I like using long lenses it suits my needs perfectly. I could say it's one of the best lenses in the Olympus arsenal at present but they do have some lovely prime lenses. Olympus have always been good at these primes and if you haven't tried their OM series of lenses, you should. Build quality is excellent and the clarity of the images from these old lenses are a joy to look at.

Michael Reichmann over at The Luminous Landscape site has a good article about the Olympus Zuiko lenses that's well worth a read. You can find it here.

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Dil 03/11/14 19:00 comments (0)

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• Olympus • E-M5 • 60 f2.8

03/10/14

Lenses

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Fujinon XF 18-55 f2.8-4 R LM OIS

Now this is what I call a kit lens! It is one very very good lens and classed above your average kit lenses from other manufacturers. It is also faster at f2.8-4 which is also a plus point.

I'm happy with the image quality of this composite but I haven't changed much in the way that I've processed it. It doesn't matter what I do to these files they always look good. BTW, these Fujifilm files are the best when converting to monochrome, they just hold their quality. Rendition on the X-Trans sensors is also superb and I just love the files from the X100S (my standard 35mm equivalent camera). I've just been testing the 55-200 zoom lens some too and that is really a nice lens also. Fujifilm can't seem to do anything wrong at the moment. I'm now thinking about an X-E2 since the AF has been improved on that camera compared to the X-E1. I'm not saying that the X-E1 is slow, just that the X-E2 is even faster.

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Dil 03/10/14 19:00 comments (0)

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• Fujifilm • X-E1 • 18-55 f2.8-4

03/09/14

Lenses

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Voigtländer 21 f4 M-Mount

Another winner by Voigtländer. I really am impressed by the quality of these lenses, now built by Cosina. You know you have a quality product when handling these lenses. They should last you a lifetime if you take care of them. All metal and quite heavy compared to other lenses you can purchase today, it really is fun photographing with these gems. I now have quite a few Voigtländer lenses and I haven't been disappointed by any of them so far. Of course, don't use these on the Nex-7, you're just making more work for yourselves due to the purple edges you get from that sensor. If you shoot in B&W then you won't have that problem but I prefer to shoot colour and convert in PP.

P.S. The vignetting you see does not come from the lens on the Nex-5N, I did that in PP.

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Dil 03/09/14 19:00 comments (0)

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• Voigtländer • Skopar • 21 f4 • Sony • Nex-5N

PhotoBlog of Random Images

Panasonic G5 - Panasonic X Vario 35-100 f2.8 Power OIS

Sony Nex-7 - LEA2 Adapter - Sony DT 55-200 f4-5.6 SAM

Sony Nex-5N - Nikon E-Series 100 f2.8

Sony Nex-5N - Nikon E-Series 50 f1.8

Fujifilm X100S

Olympus E-PL1 - Pentax 135 f3.5

Panasonic G5 - Panasonic Vario 45-150 f4-5.6

Olympus E-M5 - Olympus mZD 60 f2.8 Macro

Fujinon XF 18-55 f2.8-4 R LM OIS

Voigtländer 21 f4 M-Mount

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