Thanks! Walking in the woods keeps my mind clear and I can always find something to shoot.
leighton w wrote:
I think your experiment worked well, love the tree. Both the tree and the fern remind me of Simon Booth's photography. Glad your bag didn't have any "residue" in it.
George,
That very first image is exactly what I noticed on Scott's (mp356) photos. The wires are sharp across the field, the tops of the trees have individual resolved twigs. It is amazing to me that my first copy of the f3.5 ai was $40, but could resolve high tension wires from 4.6 miles away on a gray day. I didn't even notice them with my eyes.
btw...is the Hassy new? Looked at the specs, and it is brilliant. I think there was a large roll film magazine for my Bronica S2 almost the same size.
Jim
GeorgeBo wrote:
All this talk about the 55mm macro lenses had me thinking about my 55mm/3.5 Ai and wondering how it would perform on a medium format digital back. So I decided to take a quick run out during lunch to get away from the computer screen.
I was out walking on a nearby trail after work earlier in the week and saw some Christmas ferns coming out and wanted to get back and take some shots of them.
Well as you see in the first and last shots in the series below, you should go by your gut feeling when starting out.
In the first shot, I am heading out with camera and tripod in tow. Looking at the sky and wondering if this is really a good idea
By the time I got about 1/4 of the way in, the wind picked up and it started to sprinkle. So I abandoned the idea of going further to where I really wanted to go and left the tripod stowed. But I did grab two quick handheld shots on the way back out. After the 3rd shot in the series, the bottom dropped out and my trail walk quickly became a trail run
And in the last shot below, you can see where keeping a dog poop bag in you pack or pocket can sometimes pay off big time.
So nothing really to see here and posting to move the thread along, but was an interesting outing anyway. I will try again later.
I was quite surprised that the lens covered the sensor as well as it does. There was some vignetting at infinity focus in the first shot, but with a 4x5 crop or in the case of that shot an XPAN crop (full width of the sensor used) it doesn't really matter. At mid focus range and especially in close focus macro, there is no vignetting and covers the sensor completely.
And good eye on the Hassy. Yes, it is new. Well new to me (used with warranty). I traded my other medium format kit and the Leica 240. Definitely a bucket list item and I wanted to get it now before retirement in a few years. Really versatile since it is like you said virtually a film back and it is no bigger than the back of my Bronica film camera. And adapting the digital back to my technical camera opens up wide angle options because of minimal flange distance to the sensor, unlike what you have to work with even adapting a mirrorless body.
One thing you have to watch for when adapting lenses like the Nikon, is you can only shoot with an electronic shutter (Hassy lenses have the shutter in the lens). So you are prone to rolling shutter effects. But for landscape or product shots that I typically do anyway, it would not be much of an issue.
But on the plus side, when used on a technical camera body and using lenses like my Nikkor large format with Copal shutter, there is a sync cable that goes from the flash sync on the Copal to the CFV II back that takes the exposure when the Copal shutter is released.
Still getting the hang of the options, but I think I have FINALLY finished my kit building after going down many different roads the past 4 or 5 years. Apart from a lens and adapter here or there. I am going to see how the Nikkor EL lenses hold up. But can't find any information on them regarding image circle size.
James Markus wrote:
George,
That very first image is exactly what I noticed on Scott's (mp356) photos. The wires are sharp across the field, the tops of the trees have individual resolved twigs. It is amazing to me that my first copy of the f3.5 ai was $40, but could resolve high tension wires from 4.6 miles away on a gray day. I didn't even notice them with my eyes.
btw...is the Hassy new? Looked at the specs, and it is brilliant. I think there was a large roll film magazine for my Bronica S2 almost the same size.
Jim
GeorgeBo wrote:
I was quite surprised that the lens covered the sensor as well as it does. There was some vignetting at infinity focus in the first shot, but with a 4x5 crop or in the case of that shot an XPAN crop (full width of the sensor used) it doesn't really matter. At mid focus range and especially in close focus macro, there is no vignetting and covers the sensor completely.
And good eye on the Hassy. Yes, it is new. Well new to me (used with warranty). I traded my other medium format kit and the Leica 240. Definitely a bucket list item and I wanted to get it now before retirement in a few years. Really versatile since it is like you said virtually a film back and it is no bigger than the back of my Bronica film camera. And adapting the digital back to my technical camera opens up wide angle options because of minimal flange distance to the sensor, unlike what you have to work with even adapting a mirrorless body.
One thing you have to watch for when adapting lenses like the Nikon, is you can only shoot with an electronic shutter (Hassy lenses have the shutter in the lens). So you are prone to rolling shutter effects. But for landscape or product shots that I typically do anyway, it would not be much of an issue.
But on the plus side, when used on a technical camera body and using lenses like my Nikkor large format with Copal shutter, there is a sync cable that goes from the flash sync on the Copal to the CFV II back that takes the exposure when the Copal shutter is released.
Still getting the hang of the options, but I think I have FINALLY finished my kit building after going down many different roads the past 4 or 5 years. Apart from a lens and adapter here or there. I am going to see how the Nikkor EL lenses hold up. But can't find any information on them regarding image circle size.
GeorgeBo wrote:
I was quite surprised that the lens covered the sensor as well as it does. There was some vignetting at infinity focus in the first shot, but with a 4x5 crop or in the case of that shot an XPAN crop (full width of the sensor used) it doesn't really matter. At mid focus range and especially in close focus macro, there is no vignetting and covers the sensor completely.
And good eye on the Hassy. Yes, it is new. Well new to me (used with warranty). I traded my other medium format kit and the Leica 240. Definitely a bucket list item and I wanted to get it now before retirement in a few years. Really versatile since it is like you said virtually a film back and it is no bigger than the back of my Bronica film camera. And adapting the digital back to my technical camera opens up wide angle options because of minimal flange distance to the sensor, unlike what you have to work with even adapting a mirrorless body.
One thing you have to watch for when adapting lenses like the Nikon, is you can only shoot with an electronic shutter (Hassy lenses have the shutter in the lens). So you are prone to rolling shutter effects. But for landscape or product shots that I typically do anyway, it would not be much of an issue.
But on the plus side, when used on a technical camera body and using lenses like my Nikkor large format with Copal shutter, there is a sync cable that goes from the flash sync on the Copal to the CFV II back that takes the exposure when the Copal shutter is released.
Still getting the hang of the options, but I think I have FINALLY finished my kit building after going down many different roads the past 4 or 5 years. Apart from a lens and adapter here or there. I am going to see how the Nikkor EL lenses hold up. But can't find any information on them regarding image circle size.
...Show more →
You know you can’t just not post pictures of the setup. Some of us dream through your gear adventures :-). Congrats on just doing it!
Similar to James experience, my favorite walk around lens is the 55mm f3.5 Ai'd (factory). I find it very versatile and sharp. This one taken last fall hand held. Thanks for looking.
Scott
rafaelcasd wrote:
Your question made me question myself and I took some more shots today. The lenses are supposed to be the same optically and they are really so close to each other that it is my casual testing technique that creates the difference. My errors are consistent, which is interesting to me.
Very small differences in focusing all of these 20mm lenses make a significant difference to the corners and edges. If you get focusing right the images at f/8 are more than satisfactory for landscapes to me. For mechanical reasons it is harder to accurately focus the AF than any of the manual lenses.
With the extra care today I was getting better results with the AF, but no better that what I was getting yesterday with the AIS.
I cannot differentiate it anymore, they perform the same as much as I can tell. Still like using the manual focus better, but that is personal preference.
Here are the best photo from the AIS and from the AF at 2.8. Lots more on Flickr for those with idle time.
Flickr has some photos straight at the sun - both performed equally and are excellent with the sun in the frame or hitting the glass....Show more →
On the face of it, the AiS is nicer to use for manual focus, but having just bought a Fringer Nikon to Fuji adapter for my Fujis I find the AF lenses work nicely with it, because they have the chip they communicate max aperture and other info and the Fringer works the diaphragm as semi auto. You can set (say) 5.6 etc and the lens stays at full aperture until you half press the shutter button, then it stops down automatically, powered by the little aperture motor in the adapter. Speeds up manual focus work very nicely. Ive been manually focussing AF lenses since I first bought one 30+ years ago, originally with F801 but also to use with FM2 and F3, so used to it.
mp356 wrote:
Similar to James experience, my favorite walk around lens is the 55mm f3.5 Ai'd (factory). I find it very versatile and sharp. This one taken last fall hand held. Thanks for looking.
Scott
Been using the 55/3.5 for close up work for 30 years, prefer the simplicity of it over the CRC of the 2.8. But the 50/1.8 should do better at distant landscape on smaller formats, and its so small and light. Interesting that the 55 covers the bigger sensor ok.
'Finally finished" your kit building George? Let's see if you repeat that sentiment a few months later
GeorgeBo wrote:
I was quite surprised that the lens covered the sensor as well as it does. There was some vignetting at infinity focus in the first shot, but with a 4x5 crop or in the case of that shot an XPAN crop (full width of the sensor used) it doesn't really matter. At mid focus range and especially in close focus macro, there is no vignetting and covers the sensor completely.
And good eye on the Hassy. Yes, it is new. Well new to me (used with warranty). I traded my other medium format kit and the Leica 240. Definitely a bucket list item and I wanted to get it now before retirement in a few years. Really versatile since it is like you said virtually a film back and it is no bigger than the back of my Bronica film camera. And adapting the digital back to my technical camera opens up wide angle options because of minimal flange distance to the sensor, unlike what you have to work with even adapting a mirrorless body.
One thing you have to watch for when adapting lenses like the Nikon, is you can only shoot with an electronic shutter (Hassy lenses have the shutter in the lens). So you are prone to rolling shutter effects. But for landscape or product shots that I typically do anyway, it would not be much of an issue.
But on the plus side, when used on a technical camera body and using lenses like my Nikkor large format with Copal shutter, there is a sync cable that goes from the flash sync on the Copal to the CFV II back that takes the exposure when the Copal shutter is released.
Still getting the hang of the options, but I think I have FINALLY finished my kit building after going down many different roads the past 4 or 5 years. Apart from a lens and adapter here or there. I am going to see how the Nikkor EL lenses hold up. But can't find any information on them regarding image circle size.
Minty metal cylinders - some with glass - have arrived from far off lands. How does someone get a relatively rare, and prized lens - and then not use it for 35 years? Even the sheen on the crinkle finish has luster - not even a single scuff, no paint rubs, not even dust. There are two tiny tiny issues, but enough words. Behold gear shots....shot with D7200 and the 105mm f1.8 ais all but the last one at f1.8
Love the finish on those! And what a way to present it to the group too!
James Markus wrote:
Minty metal cylinders - some with glass - have arrived from far off lands. How does someone get a relatively rare, and prized lens - and then not use it for 35 years? Even the sheen on the crinkle finish has luster - not even a single scuff, no paint rubs, not even dust. There are two tiny tiny issues, but enough words. Behold gear shots....shot with D7200 and the 105mm f1.8 ais all but the last one at f1.8
gyoung143 wrote:
On the face of it, the AiS is nicer to use for manual focus, but having just bought a Fringer Nikon to Fuji adapter for my Fujis I find the AF lenses work nicely with it, because they have the chip they communicate max aperture and other info and the Fringer works the diaphragm as semi auto. You can set (say) 5.6 etc and the lens stays at full aperture until you half press the shutter button, then it stops down automatically, powered by the little aperture motor in the adapter. Speeds up manual focus work very nicely. Ive been manually focussing AF lenses since I first bought one 30+ years ago, originally with F801 but also to use with FM2 and F3, so used to it.
Gerry, that Fringer adapter sounds wonderful. Nikon could have done something similar for non-AF lenses with the FTZ as the aperture lever is there but not used for MF lenses. Do they make one for the Z?
James Markus wrote:
Minty metal cylinders - some with glass - have arrived from far off lands. How does someone get a relatively rare, and prized lens - and then not use it for 35 years? Even the sheen on the crinkle finish has luster - not even a single scuff, no paint rubs, not even dust. There are two tiny tiny issues, but enough words. Behold gear shots....shot with D7200 and the 105mm f1.8 ais all but the last one at f1.8
A different treat for you!!!! a riddle: what was C-Tracktor 9 doing?
This by the way is from the 35-200mm 3.5-4.5 ais, a wonderful and expensive lens that can be had cheaply and whose performance I underestimated after one of my quick tests.
