Archive 2017 · Iceland Summer 2016 with A7RII and Zeiss lenses
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p.4 #1 · Iceland Summer 2016 with A7RII and Zeiss lenses
Well, I know I have to visit Iceland sometime before I die, even though my future experience is going to be tainted by knowing for sure that whatever I do, I cannot hope to do it as well as Boris does (and the other talented photogs do).
p.4 #4 · Iceland Summer 2016 with A7RII and Zeiss lenses
Boris,
Really great work, and it's been posted at the right time, as I am doing my planning for a trim this summer.
Anyway, I wanted to ask if you chose to use single exposures for the long exposure shots or if you did a combination of SmootReflection and a ND filter? I'm still experimenting with the app and while there are pitfalls to shooting with the SR app, it seems to effectively solve the need for really strong ND filters, but at the expense of loss of the 14-bit image file (which is lost with a 30+ second exposure anyway).
As for favorites, there are a lot of great images in there. but I probably gravitate to the ones with the basalt columns the most (1, 2, 14).
p.4 #8 · Iceland Summer 2016 with A7RII and Zeiss lenses
mjm6 wrote:
Anyway, I wanted to ask if you chose to use single exposures for the long exposure shots or if you did a combination of SmootReflection and a ND filter? I'm still experimenting with the app and while there are pitfalls to shooting with the SR app, it seems to effectively solve the need for really strong ND filters, but at the expense of loss of the 14-bit image file (which is lost with a 30+ second exposure anyway).
They are all single exposures with either 2.0 oder 3.0 B+W nd filters.
My exposure time was never more than 30 sec., therefore I always got the 14 bit.
But my main reason for not using SR app was, that it takes a lot of time. Shooting for example 256 images takes much longer than 30 sec. Shooting in Iceland with lots of rain and spray from the waterfalls the longer time often makes the difference between getting water drops on the lens or not.
But of course the image noise is much better using the SR app.
p.4 #13 · Iceland Summer 2016 with A7RII and Zeiss lenses
Magnificent photos! How do you get the amazing details in every shot? It looks like you can count every single sand grain and every single mineral in every rock. That kind of detail in a photo is usually something you only see in the medium-format cameras. Is that because you're using the Zeiss Loxia?
Thanks for sharing!
p.4 #16 · Iceland Summer 2016 with A7RII and Zeiss lenses
billsamuels wrote:
Magnificent photos! How do you get the amazing details in every shot? It looks like you can count every single sand grain and every single mineral in every rock. That kind of detail in a photo is usually something you only see in the medium-format cameras. Is that because you're using the Zeiss Loxia?
Thanks for sharing!
The Loxia 21 and 50 are really great lenses with lots of microcontrast. They definitely help showing small little details in the images.
Other factors that are important to get sharp images with lots of details:
- use a sturdy tripod and self timer whenever possible
- put the tripod on a stable ground (rocks are better than grass or mud)
- use EFC to reduce motion blur
- use a remote controller or self timer
- use the best the aperture of each lens (usually f/5.6 or f/8)
- always try to avoid stopping down beyond f/11, otherwise you will loose all the fine details due to diffraction
- use a high resolution camera without an antialiasing filter like the A7RII
- use either no or only the highest quality filters (I use B+W or Heliopan)
- set IS / IBIS to off on a stable tripod
- use the base ISO whenever possible
- focus at the point where you get the best compromise between foreground sharpness and background sharpness (this depends a lot on the lens, for example with the Zeiss ZF 15mm you have to focus rather towards the background while with the Zeiss ZF 21mm it is often better to focus closer to the foreground, the reason is the strong FC of some lenses, it’s important to know the FC characteristic of your lenses and use it to your advantage)
- focus always with LV at max magnification
- of course shoot always in RAW with the highest bit rate and lowest/no compression
- for post processing with LR good individual settings for sharpening, contrast and clarity are important (they depend a lot on the camera and subject, clarity can be problematic, use it sparingly)
- for export sharpening from LR for web images use either standard or strong
- post the images in larger sizes
Most of these points are trivial and common knowledge.
p.4 #19 · Iceland Summer 2016 with A7RII and Zeiss lenses
Bobu wrote:
The Loxia 21 and 50 are really great lenses with lots of microcontrast. They definitely help showing small little details in the images.
Other factors that are important to get sharp images with lots of details:
- use a sturdy tripod and self timer whenever possible
- put the tripod on a stable ground (rocks are better than grass or mud)
- use EFC to reduce motion blur
- use a remote controller or self timer
- use the best the aperture of each lens (usually f/5.6 or f/8)
- always try to avoid stopping down beyond f/11, otherwise you will loose all the fine details due to diffraction
- use a high resolution camera without an antialiasing filter like the A7RII
- use either no or only the highest quality filters (I use B+W or Heliopan)
- set IS / IBIS to off on a stable tripod
- use the base ISO whenever possible
- focus at the point where you get the best compromise between foreground sharpness and background sharpness (this depends a lot on the lens, for example with the Zeiss ZF 15mm you have to focus rather towards the background while with the Zeiss ZF 21mm it is often better to focus closer to the foreground, the reason is the strong FC of some lenses, it’s important to know the FC characteristic of your lenses and use it to your advantage)
- focus always with LV at max magnification
- of course shoot always in RAW with the highest bit rate and lowest/no compression
- for post processing with LR good individual settings for sharpening, contrast and clarity are important (they depend a lot on the camera and subject, clarity can be problematic, use it sparingly)
- for export sharpening from LR for web images use either standard or strong
- post the images in larger sizes
Most of these points are trivial and common knowledge.
I think what also made the photos stand out some more is that the Zeiss Loxia lenses are amazing lenses. I've been getting some great photos since I switched from Canon L lenses to mostly Zeiss and Leica lenses. I get a lot of micro-contrast with the Leica-R Summicron 50mm, much like what I see in your photos, but that's one lens, not a whole family of them, and your lenses have better micro-contrast than the Leica I have, but then again, the Summicron 50mm was made in 1966.
Regardless, superb photos. I have an A6300 so I go back and forth whether to get a Loxia or two or stay with Canon.
Bill
p.4 #20 · Iceland Summer 2016 with A7RII and Zeiss lenses
johnmatrix84 wrote:
Great work! You have a great eye and these are fantastic. I would maybe back off the saturation and contrast a little bit.
Superb work as always Boris.
I would agree with John's and McBroom's comments earlier. The processing undoubtedly seems different on this set to that of your other recent work (e.g. Lofoten and Faroes). Far more saturated and contrasty (the greens especially - I've been to Iceland twice and the greens seem to pop more in this set than in mine - and I think my processing is too heavy-handed at times) ! Maybe the processing is good for a book though, as the average man-in-the-street seems to prefer well saturated images ? I'm using a calibrated iMac 27".
Another minor pique is that, for me personally and this may not be the general consensus, is that your exposure times for water seem to be a little too long leading to a lack of texture and overblown whites ? I like smooth but with a little texture. That is purely personal taste of course. Usually I'll take the same shot at multiple exposures - did you do that too ? Any alternatives you could show ?
The above should not be taken as major criticism, this is a wonderful set and will make a great book !
