I know a very good photographer, that for years, he used D200, and 3 lenses, when he got D3X, he upgraded 1 lens, and still shoots same other 2 glass. His work is fantastic. Equipment is not worth making hardships for yourself. He got more out of a D200 than I have got out of all my cameras I have had. Of course, it didn't hurt that he was in a breatthaking scenery location. I love the Smoky mountains here, but the Grand Tetans or Mt. Lanere or the Grand Canyon or the Badlands, they are not.
Great set Charles, the woman, quite attractive and a great shot of her.
I think the only other glass I want is a 50 lux, and later maybe a 75 lux, that's it for me, no noctilux noctican afford.
But no other glass for me until my 24 is paid in full. Working on it.
Charles, again some really great images from Bangkok-
Due to some persistent focus problems at MFD I've sent everything again to Leica (now for the 4th time!). This time they finally managed to do a perfect calibration. All lenses are spot on now at all distances.
They also checked my 90AA which was rather soft, especially wide open at closer distances. Short answer: it is within spec/tolerances. I did a new test today, which confirmed my previous findings. This lens is clearly not as good as the Zeiss 100MP, even on longer distances. I will return the lens.
I'm considering now the Summicron 75 or the Summarit 75, but since I very seldom use anything above 50mm I will probably just live with the situation that the Lux 50 is my longest lens.
Bobu wrote:
They also checked my 90AA which was rather soft, especially wide open at closer distances. Short answer: it is within spec/tolerances. I did a new test today, which confirmed my previous findings. This lens is clearly not as good as the Zeiss 100MP, even on longer distances. I will return the lens.
Too bad Boris because you are going to miss out on a really great lens. Remember though, it took Leica four attempts before they managed to do a simple focus calibration on your lenses/camera. So their statement that it is within specifications should be taken with a grain of salt - if it's not better than the 100 MP, especially at larger distances then there's something wrong. However I understand if you are fed up with sending your gear to Solms without them fixing it properly. So returning the lens out of principle might be the right thing to do.
Toyota told me a tire on my truck that apparently had a bad belt was "adjusted to spec". They would do nothing else. Funny how it wouldn't balance, and always had the same thump thump @ 70 mph. Finally after enduring that d@mn tire for 34,000 miles, I had a tire leak, and it resulted in running it off bald on the edge, I said, that's it, take that tire off and burn it, get me 2 new tires and an alignment. Then, it was adjusted to SPEC. :-)
By the way this was my second 90AA. The first (new) one had some dirt inside the lens. And it is impossible to get another one in short time, because most of the 90AA optics are used at the moment for speed cameras. Therefore no more 90AA for me, maybe I will give one of the 75 a try in the future.
But I had also some positive experience with Leica in the last week: I received a new 21SE, with the reworked focus mechanism, wich is now very smooth. This lens is really great and at least as good as the Zeiss 21ZE. At the moment I'm thinking about selling my 18SE and 24EL and just keep the 21SE as my only extreme wide angle lens. My kit would then consist of the following four lenses: 21 SE, 28 Cron, 35 Lux, 50 Lux. This should be a nice lightweight kit for all my landscape and travel photography.
Technician wrote: Bijltje, you're right on idea that being a forever debtor is a bad thing. Other than that I deny any expences at lines which have no intersections with photography, because I do realize for certain that those things aren't necessary to make a living, they won't make the life much easier. But for broken-hearted person (which I am) there might be something to enlighten the way in the dark, something that I should do for small community around me, something by what someone will remember 'that guy' in the future. Feel free to call this pathetic and defective — that's the way it is. You can't imagine how often I hear what an irredeemable shit I am. Photography in a manner helps to not to give up, it's a form of compensational mechanism in the world of my own. I realize that the gear won't solve any problem, won't answer on existential questions but to some degree it'll bring some comfort to the photographing process which I love heartily. I am trying to grow up as a 'tog, trying to do different things (with varied success) and of course do feel some constraint in tool usage. I don't need latest and greatest, but a tool with which I could get to like and use it for a very long period of time without appearance of those consumerism-driven thoughts of better spec-wise instruments availability. Crop-sensor body is definitely not in that class as autofocus isn't too. Crop is the waste of lenses, tiny VF implies really hard conditions at focusing and thorough composing — that's why I wish to acquire desired as soon as possible at any cost. Maybe I'm too young to make an overview on everything and from the stellar height of life experience make a right decision, but what else I have to do?
I did not want to read you any lesson on what to do, and what not. I had experience myself with buying on a loan (imac computer) when I was your age and it was a hell of a job to get rid of the dept. So only wanted to make you aware.
If you feel for yourself its the right thing to do you should get it.
Seekuh, that light on the second one is great! And are there birds in the first picture?
I wonder how the 24 elmar would stand up to the lux on those apentures.
Technician wrote:
But for broken-hearted person (which I am) there might be something to enlighten the way in the dark...
I hear you and it's sort of the same here. My life sucks infinitely and photography is a way to forget about everyday. While my friends are getting married, buying houses and growing children, I'm out photographing in the middle of the night just because I haven't got anything better to do. For that I want the best gear I can possibly afford. Or even can't afford, but still be able to get if taking a loan.
Technician wrote:
That's simple: you'll have the gear from the very start. While you're saving the money time is flowing away. Imagine for how long period I will save up without ability to touch what is desired. Something cheaper? D700 is the cheapest Nikon FF DSLR.
Yeah, for sure... ask Greek people about getting on loans without any problem for years! What you describe sounds like the situation in Greece a couple of years ago...
Please : do not spend (too much) the money you do not have...
3D.Doug wrote:
I know a very good photographer, that for years, he used D200, and 3 lenses, when he got D3X, he upgraded 1 lens, and still shoots same other 2 glass. His work is fantastic. Equipment is not worth making hardships for yourself. He got more out of a D200 than I have got out of all my cameras I have had. Of course, it didn't hurt that he was in a breatthaking scenery location. I love the Smoky mountains here, but the Grand Tetans or Mt. Lanere or the Grand Canyon or the Badlands, they are not.
Great set Charles, the woman, quite attractive and a great shot of her.
I think the only other glass I want is a 50 lux, and later maybe a 75 lux, that's it for me, no noctilux noctican afford.
But no other glass for me until my 24 is paid in full. Working on it. ...Show more →
I think scenery is all relative. The grand canyon does absolutely nothing for me but many people think Arizona can be breathtaking...I don't see it anymore, it's just..the brown place I temporarily live again. No color, too hot..the north is better..but I'm done with deserts.
Also in a year I bet you start having sweet dreams with noctilii dancing in your head.
nice cityscape Charles, but that last shot of the girl, wow, the 24 did some job on that portrait with your help.
yeah, I suppose that's true about the Grand Canyon, only so many shades of brown, not the easiest place to photograph either I am sure.
As to me and the Noctilux, well in a perfect world perhaps, but that entry fee is pretty steep, ties up my entire year's budget probably, and then some! I dunno, a nice 50 summilux wouldn't be bad either.
@ Bijltje:
No, these are air balloons. Don't know the reason but they were suddenly in the sky.
@ 3D.doug:
Same here, it's about one or two weeks now that I own the 24/1.4.
@ Charles:
You are a 24/7 guy, which is to our pleasure. I like the photo with the guy leaning towards the wall. Very subtle loss of sharpness from foreground to background.
The SuperElmar 21 must be a wonderful lens. Before I bought the 24/1.4 I intended to keep the Summicron 28 and add the SE21. Now I'm going to sell my Summicron 28 and won't buy a SE21 because I prefer having just one lens in the range of 21 to 28 mm. If I had too many lenses in this range I would always change lenses which sometimes bothers me because there is too much choice. Sounds weird, I know.
I agree, I don't want any other lenses in 20-30 range. 35 is close enough, keep my 35 Cron ASPH though, love that focal length and it's a sharp lens. Nice and compact lens too.
Bijltje wrote:
I did not want to read you any lesson on what to do, and what not. I had experience myself with buying on a loan (imac computer) when I was your age and it was a hell of a job to get rid of the dept. So only wanted to make you aware.
If you feel for yourself its the right thing to do you should get it.
Thank you anyway. There's left only three months of paying on 105 VR (which isn't usable anymore, it dropped on the ashphalt) and four months of paying on 50 mm lens. I have no much difficulties on paying.
Makten wrote:
My life sucks infinitely and photography is a way to forget about everyday. While my friends are getting married, buying houses and growing children, I'm out photographing in the middle of the night just because I haven't got anything better to do. For that I want the best gear I can possibly afford. Or even can't afford, but still be able to get if taking a loan.
Absolutely the same here.
Makten wrote:
We do mind! At least I do.
Thank you, Martin! Nice to meet a soulmate, really. It shows that I am not totally left alone.
Thomas73 wrote:
ask Greek people about getting on loans without any problem for years! What you describe sounds like the situation in Greece a couple of years ago...
Nothing new for Ukraine, though. We're permanently living in a state of hopelessness.
Thomas73 wrote:
Please : do not spend (too much) the money you do not have...
I have nothing to do anymore, sorry.
charles.K wrote:
Technician, I do feel for you! If getting the gear you wish for, causes too much angst, I would wait for the moment IMO
I appreciate your input, Charles! Getting the gear doesn't cause too much angst, it is quite easy enough when we're going to compare how much sandess causes communication with the people whom I love. They do not give a shit about my feelings. I'm shocked every time when see that you have to treat badly with somebody to gain his/her attention and respect. Is that what people are seeking for? If so, I'm not going that way, definitely.
Thankfully, there's a good music such as one played by Pat Metheny, Esbjörn Svensson, Ketil Bjørnstad and alike.
Technician:
Esbjörn Svensson was a great musician. It is very sad that he drowned in June 2008.
CharlesK:
I really look forward to revisiting Bangkok, I am going back in December for the fourth or fifth time. I hated BKK the first time around, thought it was bearable the second time. The third time I started appreciating it and now I really like Bangkok. I have to keep a leash on my girlfriend so she doesn't eat EVERYTHING.
Anyway; I think you have a real winning combination with the 50 and 24 Lux. They both have that special extra something.
Great shooting with it and the 75 Lux.