Hi Jim,
the pulpit by Nicola Pisano dates back to 1265-1268.
The manufacturing of the inlaid marble mosaic floor went on from the 14th to the 16th centuries, and about forty (!) artists made their contribution.
The attached picture (Z6 w/AI 50/1.4) shows a detail of the Sibilla cumea, designed by Giovanni di Stefano and made by Vito di Marco and Luigi di Ruggiero around 1482 AD.
More info here.
Now that I have read about how "modern", and "cartoon like" those floors are, and how the hatching is done - I am even more impressed. Apparently, these are some of the finest floors in Italy. I suspect the floors are covered to protect the hatching (shading) since it is various fillers like bitumen, and a terrazzo.
Kind of puts things in perspective. The man that designed the floor didn't live long enough to see it completed. And we complain about how long a noise reduction filter takes to run in Lr.
rafaelcasd wrote:
I will heed the advice, ordered my second 7.5mm from the bay, looks new on these seller photos, will be here Friday. Will keep one only. This was $500, not a 6mm but not $12,000 either.
Must not look at the minty, sexy, old-school Nikkor lens-porn! Even has a screw-in lens cap on the finder, rear-cap with finder-mount, and matching case..
Argh, just after I posted that I wasn't looking to buy any more lenses! Alas, only my F3/T has the needed mirror lock-up, though I believe I can use LiveView on my Df to mount such lenses (have yet to take the risk and try that out). Until I actually shoot more with my existing Voigtländer 15/4.5, I will resist the siren call of these classic Nikkor fish-eyes.
If anyone is shopping for glass, I will be selling off most of my kit. I will be keeping two for sentimental value and to use on my F2, but the rest will be going. My nerve damage has finally started to show in my hands. I have permanent pain and loss of feeling in some of my fingers which make me so unsteady that I am forced to use cameras with IBIS and lenses with OIS to continue to keep shooting.
James Markus wrote:
Ray, IMO There are too many variables to analyze a single frame's sharpness. I thought the ai'd 180mm had better sharpness in the first example, and the AF won the second example. Both are "sharp enough" - typing that I realize I have become my father. Used to be he and I strove for perfection, and now "good enough" is just fine with me. In post processing I can make IQ match.
I gave up on lens tests a while back, the differences are so subtle I cannot ferret them out. Of course if you compare a 5cm 1.4 to a 50mm 1.4 ais, the difference will be obvious, but that is pointless test.
Beautiful photos everyone, particularly those of Italy!
The 7.5mm 5.6, my second one, came in two days. it is in nearly perfect shape, it has 4 microscopic particles that appear to be brass behind the front lens, but they are so tiny I needed a 6x loupe to see them.
So yes it is a keeper.
kwoodard wrote:
If anyone is shopping for glass, I will be selling off most of my kit. I will be keeping two for sentimental value and to use on my F2, but the rest will be going. My nerve damage has finally started to show in my hands. I have permanent pain and loss of feeling in some of my fingers which make me so unsteady that I am forced to use cameras with IBIS and lenses with OIS to continue to keep shooting.
So sorry to hear this, Kevin. I hope you will continue to visit this thread regularly even if you no longer or seldom shoot MF lenses.
spoupard wrote:
So sorry to hear this, Kevin. I hope you will continue to visit this thread regularly even if you no longer or seldom shoot MF lenses.
I plan to do just that. I still have a tripod and a monopod that will start seeing more use, so I will still post photos from time to time.
kwoodard wrote:
If anyone is shopping for glass, I will be selling off most of my kit. I will be keeping two for sentimental value and to use on my F2, but the rest will be going. My nerve damage has finally started to show in my hands. I have permanent pain and loss of feeling in some of my fingers which make me so unsteady that I am forced to use cameras with IBIS and lenses with OIS to continue to keep shooting.
Sorry to learn of this progression of symptoms Kevin. Please contribute as you can.
It was a beatiful sunny cool dry day, the reason we put up with all the taxes in California.
Did not go anywhere, so the old house it is. Amazing how a 65 year old lens does so well.
These lenses are fixed focus, and have enormous depth of field, but they are not perfect, so I mount it on a helicoid adapter to the Z camera to get the best edge to edge and near to far focus.by fine focusing while checking the critical areas of the frame.
Rafael, congratulations on great copy of the 7.5mm. Your deck and pool look extremely inviting.
I have mentioned the Seastreak in recent posts so thought to post a photo. The speedster cruising down the East River approaching the Williamsburg Bridge, 1903.
I remember when Georg would post with the 24mm f2.0 wide open. Wild bokeh indeed.
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kwoodard wrote:
I plan to do just that. I still have a tripod and a monopod that will start seeing more use, so I will still post photos from time to time.
Please continue to post. So sorry to hear about the progression.
Used to be he and I strove for perfection, and now "good enough" is just fine with me. In post processing I can make IQ match. 
