Been street shooting with the Mirex a just a little bit yesterday and the day before. Already have some new techniques in the bag. At first, it was slow going, especially with exposure issues, but I'm getting much faster. Took out the 145SF for fun, but that was mostly as a joke - too slow (aperture), too slow(focus throw), too much presence, too many dials to turn. The 70/2.8 saw some use (also having fun using this for 1/500 flash) and the 80/1.9N, in all its CA glory, spent most of the time on the Mirex.
First time i have really seen the appeal of a t/s adapter.
High praise indeed. Thank you. Also, this has laid the foundation for a move to MF, including digital, so the money is very well spent - not least of all because of the quality available at such low prices.
When I explain what the Mirex is, I get one of two responses-
normal people: right, but what does it do?
"photographers": uh, isn't that for architecture?
The answer is the same - it allows me to manipulate light, principally affecting focus. Light doesn't know whether it's bouncing off an I beam or a baby's forehead. Too often people strictly associate techniques with a particular subject material; these people are rarely good in my experience, often one trick ponies.
To wit, T/S was used in all those shots, focus stacking in two of them, and obviously, panoramic stitching. The other day I was explaining how I can set up key/fill/rim lighting* at night with only a bracket/ttl cabled speedlight and a city street. Better to think of the effect on light than to conceive of these as techniques for architecture, macro, landscapes, and studio model work (respectively).
I'm actually emailing Mirex at the moment to let them know I got it. I have a few suggestions that would really improve the adapter, and I don't think they would be expensive to implement.
1-extended the rotation tabs a bit to allow for a mounting point for extended tabs
2-Use the Mamiya AF mounting spec (the option to use AF lenses, if only WO is of utility).
3-Lever to manipulate the DOF lever (in order to easily use Mamiya LS lenses) - though that may
affect the T/S itself and not the mount, which would be a problem for a model specific feature. By the by, does anyone have PDFs of the service manuals for the 645 lenses, particularly looking for exploded diagrams of the LS lenses?
Anyway, very happy, getting happier. It does exacerbate my 80/1.9 problems, but I need the DOF. Next I have to figure out how to mount a tripod adapter/collar.
*freebie technique:
Key: use a grid on the face to neutralize diverse color balanced light sources and to fill their face (to taste) to about -1/3rd stop (if you want to hide the flash effect and play at ambient lighting)
Fill:Storefront windows, especially if they only leave the display lights on so you don't have to compete by increasing the power to the flash
Rim: Time and frame your shot against an oncoming headlight (ideally), a cluster of lights (traffic, highlights from generic buidlings) if not possible. Underexpose the background to taste (I find myself usually doing -2EV). Incidentally, "hair lights" (often street lamps) don't work well because of color balance issues (if that is important, of course).
I like your pictures with any lens, but the Mamiya ones are really striking because of the intense colors. Red barns in a green countryside photographed with these lenses are hard to beat and always a joy to look at.
Adam,
You are correct.We actually started at the Conservancy Garden where the 3 Sisters fountain is, and the walked north to where it ends in Harlem and then we went south again all the way till where it begins at 59th?? had a great time.Always a great place to take photos.
-Jim
I just got a 200mm APO. A few of my own feature pics will follow shortly. It wasn't reaching infinity focus when I received it but it wasn't a big deal to adjust. Once I located the adjustment screws it was obvious that the adjustment had drifted before.
You know, with an 80-200/2.8 AF-D that goes unused (plus the 300/4 AF and the M645 150/2.8), I still find myself wanting this 200/2.8. Great for portraits and landscapes, lousy for street photography, but the rendition is making pros and cons moot...
...and I gave in. A 200/28., 80 Macro, 75-150, and a 55/2.8S are on their way from KEH. What teleconverters are people using? With the Mirex, I'm using an M42/EOS adapter with an Optix v5 chip and assume that it is best to TC directly at the mount. I bought a Kenko 300 DGX Pro 1.4 this afternoon, but also ordered a MC4 1.4 which should show up tomorrow. Noting lots of SA with the 300 DGX, but I am pretty sure it is just because of the lenses (I only have a 58/1.4 Nikkor and the 80/1.9N+Mirex combo on me). I guess I'll be having a bit of a shoot off tomorrow.
Adam,
Congrats on your new lenses.You should have no problems with the Kenko 1.4 on your APO lenses, esp the 200 APO the shots that i have taken with that combo its really hard to tell that you have a TC on.Only thing that you will have to do is tape the pins.Also Focus is a little harder to nail with the TC you just have to really take your time and make sure it is in focus.Enjoy.And look forward to seeing some shots.
Here are a few shots taken with Mamiya 35N on 5D.All taken @3.5 No distortion Correction.
Have you considered getting a Mirex? Not that the M645 lenses aren't as good as any (and better than most) when they're 'straight up', but a bit of T-S goes a long way...
