bobbelbob wrote:
Here´s a few I´ve taken nearby my hoods. Just figured out that my 80-200mm f/4.0 ais no longer on works at eternity.... Perhaps I´ll have it fixed or buy another one :-) One for only close-ups and one for landscape perhaps...
Have a great day and take care all!
/Kristian
Great series Kristian. Nothing works at eternity but souls. Some lenses work at infinity, or is eternity=infinity in time space continuum
rafaelcasd wrote:
Great series Kristian. Nothing works at eternity but souls. Some lenses work at infinity, or is eternity=infinity in time space continuum
The Word is of course infinity hahaha. Thanks for the correction Rafael
leighton w wrote:
Speaking of iphones, does the photos app on the iphone have a way of identifying what the subject is in the image, like you can in Google photos? For example, I can take a photo of a strange bug, open it in Google photos, click on Google Lens, and it will identify the bug.
Cool, thanks. I'm still considering switching to the Apple ecosystem.
Some first DSLR negative "scanning" trials with the 55mm f/2.8 AIS on extension tube, set up with big video tripod over a light table. This was rigged using an old x-ray viewing box I used to sort slides on plus a cheap LED video light from Amazon, scanner film strip holder and two boxes to lift the strip off the plexiglass of the x-ray viewer. I don't have the ES-1 slide duplicator yet, as mail from Japan seems to detour via several continents before it gets to the US these days. So I decided to do this without the proper holder just to get a first idea of the processing steps. Got plenty of time these days.
The RAW files I got were using only 75% of the image area, because it was very difficult to set up the tripod at the right height and get things in focus. The darn lens extends so far that by the time you focus, the image never really fits the camera frame size. But at 36mpx, it doesn't really matter. I see film grain in every shot that was properly focused. 100asa negative film is extremely grainy compared to slide film. Resolution aside, the real problem with this job is the color balance. Even using the actions found online and every trick in the book I know in Camera Raw and Photoshop, I need two rounds in Camera Raw to get anywhere close to satisfactory colors. I chose a roll of rain and overcast images for starters and that I think complicated the process. Daylight will have some very clean whites (usually a little blue) to set the balance. The shots I worked on generally have far too much cyan and green in it after setting the white balance on the orange film carrier hue. Once processed a first time, I have to go back with the then positive and make manual adjustments in a Camera Raw filter. Reds too purple once the green/cyan is out of the sky, etc. This is tedious in post, but the digitizing goes rather fast, which is the reason I decided to process the images this way. The slide scanner magically gets he colors much more accurate, however, it is nowhere near as sharp, has poor dynamic range on slides, and is sooo slow, I'd never do more than 10 images before packing it up. 2 minutes of scanning, move the negs, scan again, etc.
I hope the slide adapter will simplify all this, then I'll also be able to use a proper studio flash to crank up the aperture and worry less about focus in the corners. The processing, well, I need to explore more to find what works best for me. The most recommended processes for color correction just don't work at all, given I have subjects with really bright colors that throw off things like average blur/invert/overlay and make it worse at times. Curves work ok if you open the raw file really flat without much contrast. That doesn't really help me, as colors are fine, but the image looks like complete garbage and needs another round of Camera Raw to get the tones right. Oh well.
Here's two samples from Road America in 1997 (Canon gear with Fuji Super G)
Digitized on D810
f/5.6 1/50s ISO 64 with LED light source
85 f/1.4 AI-s or the 105 f/2.5, the AI-s version has the built-in hood that slides forward. There's also the 85 f/1.8 H C Auto
Solaire wrote:
Lovely thread. I recently got a Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 as my first manual Nikkor and I think it's just great. Looks and feels just perfect on a D700 so that's a combo I can already say I'll use plenty.
I think for starters I'll get myself a little trio of the Micro, the 28 f/2.8 AI-S and a short tele. The 105 f/2.5 AI-S seems like the obvious choice but I do prefer the 85mm focal length. Any suggestions? The 85mm f/2 looks cute but I see mixed reviews on its optical performance.
CGrindahl wrote:
Clearly without the PK-13 Samy... but I understand the choice you made...
You're still a young man Samy so you don't need to think about such things. At one time I thought I'd pass all my lenses along to Leighton and then he betrayed us by going to Fuji. That necessitated a whole new plan. I expect whomever is executor of my estate will be holding an estate sale...
I'm not planning on leaving any time soon, but then as we're witnessing at the moment, our best laid plans often come to nothing... One day at a time, as they say....Show more →
leighton w wrote:
Cool, thanks. I'm still considering switching to the Apple ecosystem.
WHAT? Did hell freeze over...
I recall you like to build your computer which isn't likely going to happen if you take the Mac route. I don't think we need to debate the virtues of the different systems but I'm curious what is motivating you to consider this Leighton. And I do still love you even though you bought a Fuji camera. Real friendship, even is cyberspace only happens when folks can disagree without becoming disagreeable. Especially at moments like these, we put aside inconsequential matters.
Peter B... LOVE your thorough description of how you're handling these old photos. What a wonderful way to spend free time. You might inspire others to take a deep dive as well. Alas, I don't have old negatives or slides though I have done something similar with old photos. Some years ago we set up the challenge of sharing photos of ourselves where we were younger. It was quite fun. Perhaps we want to create a new challenge that will take us into our old photo albums...
Peter O - Thanks for your kind words. No doubt the search for more megapixels is lost for most of us. I've no regret that I passed up the D800 or its successors. The 16 megapixels available with the Df from the D4 sensor works just fine. If I could get 24 I'd be interested but not in a mirrorless camera that treats our favorite lenses so cruelly. I thought the Z6 would fit the bill until we discovered what comes with the package. Not for me since I only shoot with manual focus Nikon glass.
Love the challenge you and your friend have given one another. These are times when every creative adventure is welcome. No doubt, folks are returning to this thread for exactly that reason... BOREDOM...
I'll not complain, nor does it seem anyone else is... in fact, it is nice to see "old friends", even old cyber friends. As many of us are realizing, it is connection through the ether that keeps us sane. In forty minutes I'll be hosting a Zoom meeting and will spend a couple of hours with four dear friends I met through 12 Step engagement. We've known each other for over ten years. What a gift Zoom has been.
Love the water drop Peter. Please keep sharing anything you come up with that involves one of our favorite lenses...
Welcome Philippe! I knew instantly these were your photos. Love your work on the street. Funny that you characterize your situation as "home arrest." I guess with time most of us will feel some of that, even retired folks who are well past the busiest years of their lives. Today is the 32nd anniversary of my leaving my last full-time job. I was 46 at the time and had been Director of Community Development for the City of Vallejo the preceding decade. I've been gainfully employed at times over the years but never full-time. I recall when I left the last position that carried with it a regular paycheck... 23 years ago. A friend encouraged me to rest in the space created to see what might come out of it. I've been doing that ever since and somehow made it this far. Amazing the life journeys we find ourselves taking. And now we're invited to stay home. Talk about a Rorschach test for all of us. How do we deal with a life without the distractions we've relied upon to stay sane?
I wish us all well in our exploration of open space...
Definitely Kristian... devote that 80-200 f/4 to close work. Mount an extension tube and play a bit. It would doubtless be a great performer. As I've noted, the push-pull zoom/focusing ring is perfect for close work. It is much easier to find focus pushing or pulling than turning the ring. Give it a shot. Love what you did with the lens above. Stay healthy my friend.
Perhaps I´ll have it fixed or buy another one :-) One for only close-ups and one for landscape perhaps...
The Word is of course infinity hahaha. Thanks for the correction Rafael 
Real friendship, even is cyberspace only happens when folks can disagree without becoming disagreeable. Especially at moments like these, we put aside inconsequential matters.
