Dan, I really like your shots with the 85/2 AI-s. I’m curious about what aperture settings you used. The AI [not AI-s] version is the one I have. I agree that it is sharp from about f/5.6. Wide open mine has very low contrast, becoming quite usable by f/4. The loss of contrast is even more noticeable at minimum focus distance. I’ve thought about selling it since I have both f/1.8 and f/1.4 versions. Yet I hang onto the f/2 because of its compact size and the image quality stopped down in bright illumination.
The f/1.8 is a double Gauss design, the f/2 a Xenotar. It is my understanding that Xenotars are potentially sharper than Gauss designs but more prone to uncorrected aberrations at close focus.
Mounted the 85 f/2 AIS on the Df this week. Not too happy with the results though. Do not know if this is sloppy technique(cold evenings) or the lens to blame?
Results on the D7k in the past and D800e had never disappointed so far
Df & 85 f/2 AIS wide open.
Not sure if I like the 1st or 2nd conversion better...
Version 1
Version 2
Had and earful from the subject below after taking his picture, not fun.
Respect to the street masters here who brave it out!
D7200 + Nikkor 800mm f5.6 ai-s EDIF + tripod; ISO 640, f/8 at 1/800s. 42% crop (10/24Mp).
See that we birders always need more reach; I used a 800mm cannon + a DX sensor at 1.3x crop mode, and still I needed a little more cropping!
I could call it a sabbatical or I could say that my muse abandoned me, leaving my Df in the bag and all those beautiful lens in a cabinet and scattered about my home. It is comforting to find the many talented folks who've found a home in cyberspace on this thread are still coming to play... entertaining us with excellent photography.
In the past few months I've actually picked up the camera only three times... once on my birthday when the photo above was taken, then once while visiting the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean and then yesterday while rambling through my neighborhood enjoying the lovely light of autumn. It was yesterday's play that finally motivated me to upload photos from those three excursions... a total of 30 images.
I'll share more photos and take the opportunity to wander back through these pages to see what I've missed during my absence. And thanks for the email Leighton... it took me this long to respond...
Ballard wrote:
Dan, I really like your shots with the 85/2 AI-s. I’m curious about what aperture settings you used. The AI [not AI-s] version is the one I have. I agree that it is sharp from about f/5.6. Wide open mine has very low contrast, becoming quite usable by f/4. The loss of contrast is even more noticeable at minimum focus distance. I’ve thought about selling it since I have both f/1.8 and f/1.4 versions. Yet I hang onto the f/2 because of its compact size and the image quality stopped down in bright illumination.
The f/1.8 is a double Gauss design, the f/2 a Xenotar. It is my understanding that Xenotars are potentially sharper than Gauss designs but more prone to uncorrected aberrations at close focus....Show more →
I think I attempted to use f11 for all the 85mm shots to maximize sharpness, and into the corners. You never know with used lenses. Mine is used and though a great lens, the inner elements are covered with hundreds of hairline scratches from a lousy cleaning job. It’s certainly conceivable they could seriously interfere with contrast, or create problems if pointed toward a light source, but I almost always shoot away from sources (or enough to prevent flaring and ghosting).
My 105 f2.5 AiS has a hairline scratch fully across the middle of the rear element, and I have yet to see any effects from it. I assume it is only the coating and not the glass.
lestor, I usually shoot landscapes at small apertures, and it appears the 85 f2 is suited more to that. I should try some portraits with it...though I am not much for photos of people!
I could call it a sabbatical or I could say that my muse abandoned me, leaving my Df in the bag and all those beautiful lens in a cabinet and scattered about my home. It is comforting to find the many talented folks who've found a home in cyberspace on this thread are still coming to play... entertaining us with excellent photography.
In the past few months I've actually picked up the camera only three times... once on my birthday when the photo above was taken, then once while visiting the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean and then yesterday while rambling through my neighborhood enjoying the lovely light of autumn. It was yesterday's play that finally motivated me to upload photos from those three excursions... a total of 30 images.
I'll share more photos and take the opportunity to wander back through these pages to see what I've missed during my absence. And thanks for the email Leighton... it took me this long to respond...
I could call it a sabbatical or I could say that my muse abandoned me, leaving my Df in the bag and all those beautiful lens in a cabinet and scattered about my home. It is comforting to find the many talented folks who've found a home in cyberspace on this thread are still coming to play... entertaining us with excellent photography.
In the past few months I've actually picked up the camera only three times... once on my birthday when the photo above was taken, then once while visiting the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean and then yesterday while rambling through my neighborhood enjoying the lovely light of autumn. It was yesterday's play that finally motivated me to upload photos from those three excursions... a total of 30 images.
I'll share more photos and take the opportunity to wander back through these pages to see what I've missed during my absence. And thanks for the email Leighton... it took me this long to respond...
Both very fine pictures, the beach shot is so very well done! Glad you dropped in hope you hang around with us. I go on sebaticals from my passions and hobbies quite often. Often I switch to one of my other hobbies and other times I do nothing at all. Photography by far is the one I return to and enjoy most. Your spell you cast on manual focus lenses might well be the most impactful yet.
Keep coming back, your legendary thread is by far one of the grandest of all time!
MarkA
I could call it a sabbatical or I could say that my muse abandoned me, leaving my Df in the bag and all those beautiful lens in a cabinet and scattered about my home. It is comforting to find the many talented folks who've found a home in cyberspace on this thread are still coming to play... entertaining us with excellent photography.
In the past few months I've actually picked up the camera only three times... once on my birthday when the photo above was taken, then once while visiting the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean and then yesterday while rambling through my neighborhood enjoying the lovely light of autumn. It was yesterday's play that finally motivated me to upload photos from those three excursions... a total of 30 images.
I'll share more photos and take the opportunity to wander back through these pages to see what I've missed during my absence. And thanks for the email Leighton... it took me this long to respond...
Paul, super series from Spain. Love how you picked out the details and pp.
The colors and patterns in the water/sky pic is great, Bill.
Lestor, that's one reason why I shy away from street photography. Easier to just avoid confrontation, and unless I'm actually involved in an activity of some sort I'm usually a little camera shy myself.
Hi Curtis.
Reagan, keep it up with the 800E. Maybe you'l get to Nikon-Nikon again soon.
The winterberry shot is particularly good, Dan. Looks like there's some snow already.
I could call it a sabbatical or I could say that my muse abandoned me, leaving my Df in the bag and all those beautiful lens in a cabinet and scattered about my home. It is comforting to find the many talented folks who've found a home in cyberspace on this thread are still coming to play... entertaining us with excellent photography.
In the past few months I've actually picked up the camera only three times... once on my birthday when the photo above was taken, then once while visiting the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean and then yesterday while rambling through my neighborhood enjoying the lovely light of autumn. It was yesterday's play that finally motivated me to upload photos from those three excursions... a total of 30 images.
I'll share more photos and take the opportunity to wander back through these pages to see what I've missed during my absence. And thanks for the email Leighton... it took me this long to respond...
CGrindahl wrote:
Remember me?
n the past few months I've actually picked up the camera only three times...
No worries Curtis - I made up for that. Just at Road Atlanta. In just 3 days, I added 280GB to my hard drive. Could not tell you what that means in terms of clicks, but my bodies bought in spring are both well into the 20k or 30k clicks each. it will take me a year to delete the fluff from this year and locate good shots in that pile. Sometimes it's a good thing to only take 30 images, the ones that should be taken.
Reagan wrote:
So you show up toss out a couple of B/W's and then your gone
WE WANT COLOR
R
I didn't disappear... I went back a few dozen pages to see what I've missed. I'm still nowhere near done with that but I figured I'd check to see whether my contribution found any restless natives... and who should appear but YOU...
Yes, I did take a few photos I didn't convert to black and white... I'll share a couple. I figure I better stretch this batch out in case winter truly grips the Bay Area and I return to hibernation...
Here are a few shot at Green Gulch Zen Center on my birthday. Sue and I typically head up to the Napa Valley for lunch at a favorite restaurant but the temperature was in the mid-ninties and we decided to stay closer to home. Green Gulch has lovely gardens tended by residents. These were shot with the 85 f/1.4 AI-s.
Leighton would love the place since they also have a large vegetable garden that serves their San Francisco quite famous restaurant called Greens, as well as local markets.
I'm off for the evening but I promise to return in the next day or two. Thanks Scott, Mark, Reagan, Laura, Peter, Raymond, and Ken for the welcome. Let's enjoy what remains of autumn.
CGrindahl wrote:
I'm off for the evening but I promise to return in the next day or two. Thanks Scott, Mark, Reagan, Laura, Peter, Raymond, and Ken for the welcome. Let's enjoy what remains of autumn.
Glad to see you back, Curtis. I had pulled out my old phone to find your number, only to find the battery died and my charging plug is at work. If you hadn’t shown up this week, was going to call you. Glad you are okay.
But then I can barely remember what I had for lunch
So we are supposed to remember some grey old guy who apparently ambles by from time to time, and thinks we should honour him with our memories ..... I don't think so
Will people remember any of us when we are no more ?? With the exception of Ray of course ( now there was a gentleman)
Oh and Reagan, who may or may not get back to Nikon/Nikon ways .... a lost cause I fear !!
Vaguely in the clearing mists of what goes for an ageing memory do I remember something about a guy from California who takes the very occasional photo ..... some good ones too ....
Steve
(nice to see you Curtis) (this might even pass for what some call British humour)
I could call it a sabbatical or I could say that my muse abandoned me, leaving my Df in the bag and all those beautiful lens in a cabinet and scattered about my home. It is comforting to find the many talented folks who've found a home in cyberspace on this thread are still coming to play... entertaining us with excellent photography.
In the past few months I've actually picked up the camera only three times... once on my birthday when the photo above was taken, then once while visiting the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean and then yesterday while rambling through my neighborhood enjoying the lovely light of autumn. It was yesterday's play that finally motivated me to upload photos from those three excursions... a total of 30 images.
I'll share more photos and take the opportunity to wander back through these pages to see what I've missed during my absence. And thanks for the email Leighton... it took me this long to respond...
I didn't disappear... I went back a few dozen pages to see what I've missed. I'm still nowhere near done with that but I figured I'd check to see whether my contribution found any restless natives... and who should appear but YOU...
