BLLX wrote:
Beautiful still life - the colors are so nice on the first one
Ray and Morten, Since you both mentioned the colors - I used the color version of the second composition for another area of FM, because I thought the Pentax 645Z and 120mm f4 macro lens were closer to the true color of the wood. The strobes being on their lowest power setting may have shifted the spectrum towards the red. Huon pine is very different than North American pine, and this single block turned bowl has years of patina. Paduak is ruby red, lacewood is pinkish - I think they effect the white balance of everything. Basically none of them got it right - not like the human eye can do without even trying.
Finally got my hands on a Zf… and I hate it. Actually there’s lots to like, but the ergonomics and size aren’t ones, nor is the floppy screen. Hard to knock the output though… seemed I had to go classic to start, so NAI 55mm f/1.2.
Spring is almost thinking about being almost here.
http://www.SouthernRail.com/pics/Z5/Crocus.jpg
105mm f/2.5
Nice with spring signs - great shot
---------------------------------------------
AdaptedLenses wrote:
Finally got my hands on a Zf… and I hate it. Actually there’s lots to like, but the ergonomics and size aren’t ones, nor is the floppy screen. Hard to knock the output though… seemed I had to go classic to start, so NAI 55mm f/1.2.
You can't fault the output - beautiful
Sorry to hear you hate it - I've just ordered one 😊 I sold my Z6 didn't really bond with it - so it got no use.
Love my Df so hope it will be the same with the Zf 🤞
James, super captures and processing of the pine bowl and cutting board. Hard to beat the 105/2.5.
Matt, great sunset photos with the ZF and 55/1.2. I have handled the ZF at B&H, it is a beautiful camera but larger and heavier than I would have thought.
Morten, excellent series of photographs specially of the attractive young lady.
It is still freezing around here, a couple more cool weather photos.
I am posting this one because I landed on my rear three times walking around the icy reservoir to take the photo. This chap was filming a selfie video in the very windy balmy weather.
Took this one at F/2.8 which was not intentional. There are usually lots of runners and bike riders on this road.
Serge, you don’t see that every day in Central Park. I’m always amazed by the condo towers they build now. I was in Real Estate in Manhattan back in the early 00’s when air rights and skinny towers were booming. Happy to be in warmer climates now.
Morten, great architecture shots and makes sense, I lived in Copenhagen for 6 months a couple decades ago, but got looking at a map and realize I don’t remember much of its layout anymore. Regardless keep them coming!
I realized as much as I like the 75-150 my catalogue is pretty thin with shots from it, so I’m determined to rectify that. It’s surprisingly contrasty as well which I realized while editing. Not perfect for flare however, but Series E never were. More time with the Zf as well, maybe a thumb grip will help? I’ll give it a bit of time as certain things are quite nice (though frustrating when it’s auto subject detection decides a random shadow is the subject.)
AdaptedLenses wrote:
I realized as much as I like the 75-150 my catalogue is pretty thin with shots from it, so I’m determined to rectify that. It’s surprisingly contrasty as well which I realized while editing. Not perfect for flare however, but Series E never were. More time with the Zf as well, maybe a thumb grip will help? I’ll give it a bit of time as certain things are quite nice (though frustrating when it’s auto subject detection decides a random shadow is the subject.)
Nice shots with the 75~150! It's my only zoom (originally my Wife's lens for her FA). I remember how proud I was tracking down the elusive HN-21 hood to help with the flare issue. Nowadays, you can find an HN-21 on eBay no problem, but back in the 80's you had to haunt the local camera stores used-section for months to get one.
I generally hate hoods (smaller is better!) but I might have to check that out. Thanks for the tip.
grantgoodes wrote:
Nice shots with the 75~150! It's my only zoom (originally my Wife's lens for her FA). I remember how proud I was tracking down the elusive HN-21 hood to help with the flare issue. Nowadays, you can find an HN-21 on eBay no problem, but back in the 80's you had to haunt the local camera stores used-section for months to get one.
If you hate hoods you might consider a rubber one- I use a rubber hood on my 1977 vintage 58/1.2 Nikkor noct lens, the rubber hood although new is close to authentic to hoods I used back when- The hood folds out of way on the lens but still functions as a bumper, and when / if you want it just unfold it- works really well- while rubber isn't "classy" it is very functional.
AdaptedLenses wrote:
I generally hate hoods (smaller is better!) but I might have to check that out. Thanks for the tip.
AdaptedLenses wrote:
Finally got my hands on a Zf… and I hate it. Actually there’s lots to like, but the ergonomics and size aren’t ones, nor is the floppy screen. Hard to knock the output though… seemed I had to go classic to start, so NAI 55mm f/1.2.
Good stuff, even though you hate it. That's the thing that's stopped me from having one. As it stands, I find the Df's ergonomics marginal and expect that short of an add-on grip, I might not enjoy Zf. It's nice to have options though.
I was pretty skeptical and largely met expectations (but I still had to try it).
It’s large, wider than a Z6 and about as tall. An add on Smallrig rig or similar and it helps grip, but now it’s as tall as a Z8. Not critical but that makes it not fit well in bags, even without the grip it’s a bit of an issue. If it gripped well as is it would be tolerable, but I suspect a stick on thumb support and maybe a stick on front plate could help, I had to do that with the Zfc previously. Still, it’s a lot of fuss and could have been avoided.
What maybe annoys me more is the stupid articulated screen they use on most cameras now. As much as I like the EVF quality and new Expeed 7 features around manual focus and non-cpu lenses I loathe having an LCD folded out to the side for low angle shots which I do regularly. The shots of the feather above reinforced that as it was a fairly frustrating experience trying to get focus.
On the other hand, great colors and contrast, B&W mode is nice (but doesn’t persist with import). The high efficiency RAW is 1/2 the file size, but not recognized by iPads where I do a lot of review. At the end of the day lots of minor annoyances will add up, but they may be specific to me and my shooting.
Not that anyone asked but figured I’d share, probably as an outlet for my wish that someone would make the perfect manual focus camera. I’ll go back to daydreaming in silence now.
AdaptedLenses wrote:
I generally hate hoods (smaller is better!) but I might have to check that out. Thanks for the tip.
The HN-21 is a screw-in hood, and only sticks out 30mm, so doesn't add that much to the lens length (the 75~150 is 117mm long from the mount). I leave mine always mounted. Alas, the diameter of the hood is 69.5 so it's not suitable for the old "put a lens cap on the end" trick.
AdaptedLenses wrote:
I was pretty skeptical and largely met expectations (but I still had to try it).
...snip...
Not that anyone asked but figured I’d share, probably as an outlet for my wish that someone would make the perfect manual focus camera. I’ll go back to daydreaming in silence now.
And here I thought it was, according to owners, the best thing since the last best thing. I must confess, I like the stupid articulating screen but I can see why it doesn't bother me. I was using one from as long ago as 2012 in the D5100 and D5500. A bit like the collapsible zoom lenses many don't like. Been using them since the Nikon 1s came out. Now don't get me started on the tilt screens. I hate the things, only good for landscape shooting. I just use the viewfinders, and this is why I found the Zfc and Zf so appealing when they were the only cameras with those screens. I just couldn't convince myself that I'll get used to the nothing to hold on to brick shapes.
I'm surprised at the description of size, the B&W mode not persisting with import or iPad not support HE* raw. I have not seen or handled one before. Oh well. At least you scratched the itch.
AdaptedLenses wrote:
Finally got my hands on a Zf… and I hate it...
First, let me say I really like your pics in that sequence. But that's not what prompted me to reply. I don't know the Zf, nor any of the other cameras frequently mentioned in this thread. I'm, so to speak, ignorant of the subject. Your first sentence prompted me to wonder what the fuss was about, then dig up some reviews of the Zf. The follow-up discussion in this thread has been interesting too. It seems some reviewers didn't like the feel of the small "handle". I tried to get a sense of how the dimensions and weight compared to my Z5-II but that question never got answered satisfactorily.
So I ended up with several observations.
In the old days, meaning back when I was shooting film, we used "brick-shaped" cameras and never complained, at least not until they started having a handle for the right hand. I still like my early 70's Nikkormat, will start shooting film again as soon as we can get out into the world where pictures make themselves available for taking.
My Z5-II feels sort of just-right, a good size and not too heavy (I think), though the F buttons between the lens and the right side are easy to push accidentally with the left hand. Maybe that means the body is too small. Because I've reprogrammed the lower button I like its accessibility, so I can't complain. And pushing it accidentally doesn't hurt anything. So it's a minor ergonomic complaint.
And the fold-out screen? I never use it for taking pictures but do use it when manipulating various menu items or for seeing/showing pictures I just took. What I don't do is use it as a viewfinder, except when I'm scanning my slides in which case it becomes a convenient viewing screen. So I can't complain about it.
It's been an interesting conversation. I know I'm not contributing much, just making observations and trying to generate a sense of perspective for myself.
Ribes sanguineum, red flowering currant with Z6 & 50/2 H•C. This is the "new to me" lens mentioned recently. It brings back fond memories of my first Nikkor lens, the H version of this lens, that I bought in 1971.