In just a few weeks this plant will put up a stalk 15-20 feet in height that will have flowers on top. The growth rate is amazing, visible each day. The agave will flower just this once after many years of growth, more than a decade, and then wither and die. Since it is on the end of my driveway it will then need to be replaced with something else.
Legendary Nikkor F1.2 58 mm Noct lens version 1 (7 blades) from 1977 adapted to Nikon Z8, Cobalt Kodachrome preset. I thought the Kodachrome preset presented the image well to my eye making the stalk pop. There has been a lot of discussion of the Kodachrome preset here at FM, in the week I have been using it I like it.
A distinctive lens, not like anything else I have, much more vintage render than a CS 1.0 noct, it is perhaps closer to a Leica 0.95 in some ways, although with hand ground aspherical elements it is perhaps more of a cousin to the Leica 1.2 noct, I have never used a real vintage one, but have used the LLL reproduction and color the Nikkor seems somewhat like that lens. It has a reputation well deserved for being a distinctive lens. While not cheap it is still a fraction of the cost of Leica, and not that much more expensive than a new LLL reproduction of the Leica 1.2 50 depending on the preservation of the Nikkor and whether it is a Japan purchase (like mine) or elsewhere, the elsewhere being significantly more expensive.
EMH2025 wrote:
In just a few weeks this plant will put up a stalk 15-20 feet in height that will have flowers on top. The growth rate is amazing, visible each day. The agave will flower just this once after many years of growth, more than a decade, and then wither and die. Since it is on the end of my driveway it will then need to be replaced with something else.
Legendary Nikkor F1.2 58 mm Noct lens version 1 (7 blades) from 1977 adapted to Nikon Z8, Cobalt Kodachrome preset
This is a bit sad. Years of growth end in just one season. There were two other species in the neighbourhood. One flowered last year and died, leaving the other all by itself and breaking the symmetry they provided the driveway. It's now just an ugly mess.
Would like to see what the flower looks like on this one when it's done.
SiMuMe wrote:
This is a bit sad. Years of growth end in just one season. There were two other species in the neighbourhood. One flowered last year and died, leaving the other all by itself and breaking the symmetry they provided the driveway. It's now just an ugly mess.
Would like to see what the flower looks like on this one when it's done.
I intend to take photos with a few different lenses of this and some others in the neighborhood, it is part of Spring here, some will bloom, some will then die, and others take their place. I have no idea how flowering is triggered because it is not a set number of years, but it is many. The plant puts all it has into flowering and reproduction much like all the annular plants, except this one is not a single season plant.
Lovely sunsets Matt. I have frequently been tempted by the Zf as I cannot use some of my nikkors on the GFX, I just baulk at the cost. I'm actually happy to hear it's bigger than expected - my GFX50S is like a big old brick, especially with the grip added !
A pic from one of the ski fields where I live, no snow as it's summer but a great twisty road up there for my MB
EMH2025 wrote:
In just a few weeks this plant will put up a stalk 15-20 feet in height that will have flowers on top. The growth rate is amazing, visible each day. The agave will flower just this once after many years of growth, more than a decade, and then wither and die. Since it is on the end of my driveway it will then need to be replaced with something else.
Legendary Nikkor F1.2 58 mm Noct lens version 1 (7 blades) from 1977 adapted to Nikon Z8, Cobalt Kodachrome preset
I remember seeing those stalks in the desert around Tucson when I was there on a culture exchange at age 15, It was spring, but I don't remember ever seeing the flowers. Sure looks like asparagus, and it sounds like it grows at the same rate. Looking forward to seeing the result of years of energy saved up for reproduction. Do birds or insects play a role?
James Markus wrote:
I remember seeing those stalks in the desert around Tucson when I was there on a culture exchange at age 15, It was spring, but I don't remember ever seeing the flowers. Sure looks like asparagus, and it sounds like it grows at the same rate. Looking forward to seeing the result of years of energy saved up for reproduction. Do birds or insects play a role?
Apparently the bats I see flying around in twilight have a role, I am hoping to get some photos, I'll be out there some evenings with my Plena and a flash as I think F1.8 and a flash might do it
every spring as I drive around I see the giant stalks reaching for the sky, these agave are very abundant where I live, I have another big beside this one for instance, but when the large plant does die it leaves quite the hole.
the stalk is typical monocot so it does indeed look like a giant asparagus until it branches and flowers
Splurged and got myself three sleek cars. I need to go on a diet to drive them, but they never need gas. Just "pull-n-go".
Canon 5DS-R_with the Nikkor-O.C_35mm-f2.0
EMH2025 wrote:
In just a few weeks this plant will put up a stalk 15-20 feet in height that will have flowers on top. The growth rate is amazing, visible each day. The agave will flower just this once after many years of growth, more than a decade, and then wither and die. Since it is on the end of my driveway it will then need to be replaced with something else.
Legendary Nikkor F1.2 58 mm Noct lens version 1 (7 blades) from 1977 adapted to Nikon Z8, Cobalt Kodachrome preset. I thought the Kodachrome preset presented the image well to my eye making the stalk pop. There has been a lot of discussion of the Kodachrome preset here at FM, in the week I have been using it I like it.
A distinctive lens, not like anything else I have, much more vintage render than a CS 1.0 noct, it is perhaps closer to a Leica 0.95 in some ways, although with hand ground aspherical elements it is perhaps more of a cousin to the Leica 1.2 noct, I have never used a real vintage one, but have used the LLL reproduction and color the Nikkor seems somewhat like that lens. It has a reputation well deserved for being a distinctive lens. While not cheap it is still a fraction of the cost of Leica, and not that much more expensive than a new LLL reproduction of the Leica 1.2 50 depending on the preservation of the Nikkor and whether it is a Japan purchase (like mine) or elsewhere, the elsewhere being significantly more expensive.
I never knew they only flowered once, I just always thought that the stalk kind of fell off and more came back later. Makes the couple of times that I've seen the blooms more special.
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cadman342001 wrote:
Lovely sunsets Matt. I have frequently been tempted by the Zf as I cannot use some of my nikkors on the GFX, I just baulk at the cost. I'm actually happy to hear it's bigger than expected - my GFX50S is like a big old brick, especially with the grip added !
A pic from one of the ski fields where I live, no snow as it's summer but a great twisty road up there for my MB
James Markus wrote:
Splurged and got myself three sleek cars. I need to go on a diet to drive them, but they never need gas. Just "pull-n-go".
Canon 5DS-R_with the Nikkor-O.C_35mm-f2.0
The affordable drives, the OC does pretty well with these.
Definitely can’t argue with the output, but the ergonomics are not a selling point for the camera. I tried literally every grip that was available last fall and settled on the Neewer CA134 grip as it has a good grip for the front and a thumb rest on the back. It still is heavy, but the weight helps with heavier glass. I have toyed with trading it for a Z5.2, as I like the Z5 handling. I’m not sold on that idea yet, so we will see. The manual dials have saved my butt more times than I’d like to admit…so there is that.
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.
I just received a minty Bellows-Nikkor 105/4 (from the last batch of lenses with the lens-data on the outside of the body). This brings my 105mm collection up to eight Nikkors (if you include the 100/2.8 Series-E, which I do!). I hadn't intended to buy one of these, having recently purchased the 120/5.6 AM-ED which was my "ideal" macro lens for the PB-4. However, when perusing the internet for "lens porn" images of the vaunted 200~400/4 ED (less than 500 ever made), I tripped over a listing at Blue Moon "Camera and Machine" in Portland OR for a complete setup (including the hood, hood cover, and bright yellow carrying pouch) for only $750 (which is SUPER-cheap for this lens). It was already sold (luckily for my GAS!), but I decided to check out the shop's other listings and that's how I found the minty/cheap Bellows-Nikkor now in my possession. I'd never heard of Blue Moon camera, but their pricing seems very fair, and based on my Bellows-Nikkor, their quality ratings are honest. The shop actually phoned me after I placed my order to make sure I was aware that the lens had no focusing-helicoid and needed to be mounted on a bellows, so I would say they are a shop I will deal with in future.
grantgoodes wrote:
I just received a minty Bellows-Nikkor 105/4 (from the last batch of lenses with the lens-data on the outside of the body). This brings my 105mm collection up to eight Nikkors (if you include the 100/2.8 Series-E, which I do!). I hadn't intended to buy one of these, having recently purchased the 120/5.6 AM-ED which was my "ideal" macro lens for the PB-4. However, when perusing the internet for "lens porn" images of the vaunted 200~400/4 ED (less than 500 ever made), I tripped over a listing at Blue Moon "Camera and Machine" in Portland OR for a complete setup (including the hood, hood cover, and bright yellow carrying pouch) for only $750 (which is SUPER-cheap for this lens). It was already sold (luckily for my GAS!), but I decided to check out the shop's other listings and that's how I found the minty/cheap Bellows-Nikkor now in my possession. I'd never heard of Blue Moon camera, but their pricing seems very fair, and based on my Bellows-Nikkor, their quality ratings are honest. The shop actually phoned me after I placed my order to make sure I was aware that the lens had no focusing-helicoid and needed to be mounted on a bellows, so I would say they are a shop I will deal with in future....Show more →
Blue Moon Camera is just a few miles from where I live. I don't know whether I'm grateful or not. Sometimes it's not good to have temptation so close. They are a wonderful resource, however. I've bought many lenses there over the years, and I've always found them great to deal with.
I had a post typed out but the site loves to time out and erase my post. Fun shots on the recent page or two… A couple more 75-150 shots before I move on to different glass. Requisite cathedral view down the pier.
Question about older Nikon bodies, related to MFNG because that's what they would have used and that's what I've got. A few days ago I posted this pic of two bodies I got from a friend Jim.
The one on the right is an F with Photomic meter; Jim said it was from 1973. Sorry, I don't know whether there were different Photomic viewfinders at the time. The one on the left is an F2 with plain veiwfinder which Jim says was from 1980.
I've been resurrecting them slowly. The F seems ready to work though I haven't put a battery in the viewfinder yet. There is a minor smudge in the viewfinder, not really a hindrance. It is definitely in the viewfinder, not the focus screen, but isn't on any of the accessible surfaces. Can the viewfinder be disassembled and cleaned? It looks like some tiny screws might give me access to the prism.
The F2 needs (so Jim said) light seal replacement, and he included what he said was a kit for that. I haven't opened that envelope yet. The viewfinder and focus screen come off easily. Various websites say the F Photomic viewfinder will not fit the F2, and that appears to be true since the front attachment tabs have nothing to grip. But that F2 front plate makes me curious. The small font isn't what I would have expected. It's on the body, not the viewfinder casing, and the viewfinder just says "F". Was the F2 issued with that appearance at one time? Could this have been a home-market version?
I intend to install the light seal strips and put both cameras in service. (I've already started shooting film in my Nikkormat for fun, will post scans when available.. A Wein mrb625 battery make its meter agree with both my Z5II and a light meter app on my phone. We'll have to see how long that battery lasts though.) Don't know yet if that Photomic meter will work. I'm curious about what I'm working with, especially with the F2..
Addendum: Never mind the question about the F2. A follow-up search revealed some pics and discussion in non-mainstream places.
But if you know anything about cleaning the F's viewfinder, I'd like to hear it. Well actually, see, not hear.
AdaptedLenses wrote:
I had a post typed out but the site loves to time out and erase my post. Fun shots on the recent page or two… A couple more 75-150 shots before I move on to different glass. Requisite cathedral view down the pier.
Nice pier shots. I really like the one from underneath. Um, I've never heard the term "cathedral shot" before. Is that a thing?
Ugh did it again… the arches form a look that’s similar to a church cathedral. It’s a term I’ve heard but not sure how wide spread it is. But that type of shot o a Pier is very common.
jimmuller wrote:
Nice pier shots. I really like the one from underneath. Um, I've never heard the term "cathedral shot" before. Is that a thing?
I’ll trade you viewfinder’s for your plain one on the F2. I have the metered prism, but have always wanted the plain one.
jimmuller wrote:
Question about older Nikon bodies, related to MFNG because that's what they would have used and that's what I've got. A few days ago I posted this pic of two bodies I got from a friend Jim.
The one on the right is an F with Photomic meter; Jim said it was from 1973. Sorry, I don't know whether there were different Photomic viewfinders at the time. The one on the left is an F2 with plain veiwfinder which Jim says was from 1980.
I've been resurrecting them slowly. The F seems ready to work though I haven't put a battery in the viewfinder yet. There is a minor smudge in the viewfinder, not really a hindrance. It is definitely in the viewfinder, not the focus screen, but isn't on any of the accessible surfaces. Can the viewfinder be disassembled and cleaned? It looks like some tiny screws might give me access to the prism.
The F2 needs (so Jim said) light seal replacement, and he included what he said was a kit for that. I haven't opened that envelope yet. The viewfinder and focus screen come off easily. Various websites say the F Photomic viewfinder will not fit the F2, and that appears to be true since the front attachment tabs have nothing to grip. But that F2 front plate makes me curious. The small font isn't what I would have expected. It's on the body, not the viewfinder casing, and the viewfinder just says "F". Was the F2 issued with that appearance at one time? Could this have been a home-market version?
I intend to install the light seal strips and put both cameras in service. (I've already started shooting film in my Nikkormat for fun, will post scans when available.. A Wein mrb625 battery make its meter agree with both my Z5II and a light meter app on my phone. We'll have to see how long that battery lasts though.) Don't know yet if that Photomic meter will work. I'm curious about what I'm working with, especially with the F2.....Show more →
