Lieutenant Z wrote:
Akul, the falls picture is terrific, the 2 guys in the bottom right of the image give an idea of the scale.
+1 The scale of the falls is awesome, Akul. I love seeing it in the icy conditions; very cool.
a7 with 1.4/55mm ZE: [I am no lens expert, but I really really like this lens. My only small dislike, thus far, is the vignetting. It seems to have a more negative impact on the image than my other Zeiss lenses, and I have been more inclined to correct it. Aside from that little nit I like everything about it - the bokeh is pleasing to my eyes.]
Ulff wrote:
It's really no big deal and others (like wiseguy) may feel different about it, but I always regarded this as some kind of an implicit rule in these general image threads not to have to much image posts from one person on one page...
I'm with Ulff. Over on ZI, Cyra has posted 4-5 images in a row sometimes that differ from one another by only a few feet of position from which the shots were made. A half dozen shots in a row of the same lake, same day, from the same end of the lake. Ditto for a green yard series, a snow in the mountains series, a rose series. Oh, and the dawn or dusk sky series. It's like somebody started to do a pano, but forgot to keep the camera in the same place, or to blend the images. In the past month, Cyra has posted at least 5-6 strings of photos --each of the same subject-- on ZI.
It reminds me of the old days of the 60s and 70s when family members would writhe in apprehension when old Dad brought out the slide projector. The sad thing is, ol Dad of the 70s usually wasn't a good photographer. That is not the case with Cyra.
And I fear that contrary to his promise, he is no where near running out of photos. He's a good photographer, but everything has its limits. The repetition has a dulling effect. Some of his strings on ZI look like the contact sheets of long ago. I can't for the life of me figure what the thinking is behind this. It doesn't help Cyra's impression on any forum; it dilutes the impact. And, as Ulff implies, it hurts the forums and threads.
He isn't the only one who posts too many photos on ZI; there are at least 3-4 others. But many of his clusters have the same subject, same color, same concept repetition. If some of them were a full frame shot followed by a crop or two of that same shot to demonstrate lens capability, for example, it might make some sense. But that's not what's happening. Some of his posts are a delight. These excessive and/or repetitive strings here or on ZI are not. He should pick what he thinks is the best photo of each of these series and post just that photo. And not post rapid fire image-after-image, regardless of content, on any one page. These forums and threads are dependent upon some mutual understanding among the participants.
perhaps you should take it to a mod? or to him personally.
I dont know, you aren't a mod, so the way I see it it really isn't your place to comment on other people's posting habits. Of course, I could have reported your post or just pm'ed you, but since you didn't bother, I didn't either.
A question for those with a Zeiss 135mm f/2 APO Sonnar lens in Nikon mount - I recently purchased the lens new from an authorized dealer and it had a resistive/rough feel to it from 4-5 ft and around the infinity mark. Almost a grinding feel but no sand - just roughness. The focus ring wasn't smooth the whole way through. The lens was returned to the dealer and he reproduced the problem faithfully in the same focus distances with the lens I sent back but also in another new lens he had in different distances on the focus ring. I was very kindly given the option to receive the credit back or be sent the other new lens (also with the grinding feel). Is this behavior normal for these lenses? The owner suggested that it *might* be that at the point where the grinding initially starts, the lens grabs another helicoid and that's the roughness I am feeling. I don't know about the insides of the lens but given how expensive the lens is, I don't want it in the back of my head either - I know it will always bother me and not let me truly enjoy the lens. If it is a feature of all such lenses then that's a different story but I'd like to make sure before I ask for the replacement.
crappyjones123 - Sorry I do not own 135, but 'grinding' feeling sounds alarming. I have 21, 35/2, 35/1.4, 100 but none present such symptom. Hopefully someone with 135 will comment.
Ok . . . finally I am able to upload this image. Recently joined FM and I am very impressed with the images in this thread. Here is mine with a new acquired lens 35mm f/1.4 You are welcome to comment and critique on the image.
Anyway here goes . . .
There are many beautiful shots in this thread but every now and again one shot in particular comes along and just blows me away ... well done Akul with your Taughannok Falls shot. Simply awesome.
darbo - I don't think Carsten was joking. I did not know myself that Otus gets the ZE, ZF2 naming also. I checked zeiss site and realized that naming was indeed kept. Interesting decision from Zeiss. Also, you may be the first person who did not call the lens 'Otus' but ZE 55 1.4.
samuli -- excellent, really like the lighting and texture in the foreground.
akul -- that is an epic waterfall photo!
LZ -- great scene
David -- a lot of it has to do with your mad photo skillz, but I am blown away by the IQ of that 55mm 1.4 ZE, (also known as "The OTUS")
skyapad -- nice picture and congrats on the lens. I was reluctant to pick up that lens because of its size and weight (I like to travel light), but I think it is worth it.
My only small dislike, thus far, is the vignetting. It seems to have a more negative impact on the image than my other Zeiss lenses, and I have been more inclined to correct it. Aside from that little nit I like everything about it - the bokeh is pleasing to my eyes.] 
