Ha-ha! He has one running at the moment for a BIN of $425 (free shipping) on eBay. Naturally, this will quickly be dated and fall off this thread -- 50 minutes to go at the moment! Check eBay for his listings, or contact him via email.
Greggf wrote:
Here is a shot just taken when out with the dog on a walk. I do love this lens! In fact, with a brand new baby in the house, I'm whittling my lenses down...and (gasp), I sold my ZE 35 1.4!! I really impressed by this lens, and it does 98% what the ZE does, with less CA!! Plus, having the extra $$$$ back in my pocket is kinda nice!!
Nice shot. In what lies the 2% you reckon?
Just the smoothness of the bokeh...that's it!! No doubt that the ZE/ZF 35 1.4 has the creamiest bokeh...but in the end, the Rokinon won out, at least in my eyes!!
I don't mean to cause any offense, so please don't take this the wrong way... but is this the stuff you typically shoot?
edit: to be clear, I'm genuinely curious. I know there are others on this board who routinely post photos (beautiful photos) of trash and other things most people wouldn't think to shoot. I just haven't got a feel yet for your output to know whether this is your routine subject matter or if you're just feeling the lens out.
deadwolfbones -- No offence taken! I don't think you're the only one who either doesn't "get" what I'm doing, or else thinks it doesn't work. I say that based on the dearth of comments to most of my images. It may be that I post too many, and they aren't good enough for pro/con responses. That's hard to know.
To answer your question is tough, because you are almost asking for an artist's statement (which I hate). My main field of interest in photography is architecture (and associated landscape), and that is how I make money, if and when I make money.
My interest extends beyond the commercially viable images to the whole anthropological mechanism of Man's creative and destructive effects on the world around him. From a aesthetic POV, I like high contrast "naturally lit" (minimal PP to enhance colors) subjects, especially twilght shots of buildings and cities. I spend my time when not on assignment by testing bodies and lenses and practicing techniques or comparing settings, then detailed PP (I've been learning a lot on the FM forums from people like denoir and others with outstanding PP skills), all in the pursuit of staying "on top of my game" -- keeping as nimble and fresh as I can be, considering age advancing, trying to slow me down. I choose subjects of convenience in my nearby environs, usually within 10 miles (I could have an exhibit just on my backyard, with seasonal and daily lighting changes, ha-ha!).
I am also an oil painter, and so constantly hone my skills for juxtapositons, contrasting tones, colors, and shapes. The photography and painting mind-set are intermingled for me.
I'd say the images I post are a fair representation of how I look at things when left to follow my own interests. I apppreciate the tolerance I have received on the forums, for posting so many pictures. Ultimately, I hope some of the technical examples of camera and lens performance hold up and help readers make informed decisions based on real-world use in natural light situations.
Sorry for the Artist's Statement, but thanks for asking.
Anyway, here are more images and comparisons with the 35/1.4 on the 1Ds2, shooting RAW at ISO 50 and 100.
Here are two sets of images, the first shot at f/1.4 and f/2.8, and the second at f/1.4 and f/4. Focus on the second set is through the middle poster.
I just received this lens...looks like a winner. Focus isn't too hard to nail and once you get the hang of it, its easy from there. Heres a sample shot so far: