While talking about lens values - I think they really are at the wide angle end with the old Nikkors
My $90 ebay 20mm f/3.5 here, most packable ultra wide I ever owned. not perfect at all, but it weighs almost nothing and unless you look in the corners or shoot wide open, it's quite sharp. 20mm is probably my favorite wide angle focal length
f/22.0 0.3s ISO 64 on D810, sitting on a rock as support, probably had a polarizer on to cut light. SEP2 for the conversion
No non-Nikon equipment was used in the making of this image. Not even 1930s Leicas Just the good old Curtis-fave Df, and the 28 3.5 PC-Nikkor.
Used an ND10 filter. Dropped it twice on muddy ground (pretty clumsy day!), which I suppose is better than dropping it onto a rock or pavement. One issue I have is the pics have an awful pink flare on the right edge (about 3/4ths of the way up). The flare is not an issue after SEP conversion, but won't work if I try to take a color pic.
Chris Thank you!
There was a lot of light in the lighthouse lantern room so no HDR was needed. The dynamic range of the D810 helped.
Kristian Glad you liked the cave!
The Reagan shot was done with a Leica M2 with 21mm f/3.4 Super Angulon and Tri X. Scanned with a Nikon LS 2000 film scanner.
Peter That is amazing results for not using a tripod!
Saph The water under the bridge looks sweet. Did you block the view finder lens? That could be where the streak came from.
pburke wrote:
While talking about lens values - I think they really are at the wide angle end with the old Nikkors
My $90 ebay 20mm f/3.5 here, most packable ultra wide I ever owned. not perfect at all, but it weighs almost nothing and unless you look in the corners or shoot wide open, it's quite sharp. 20mm is probably my favorite wide angle focal length
f/22.0 0.3s ISO 64 on D810, sitting on a rock as support, probably had a polarizer on to cut light. SEP2 for the conversion
I love the sunrays-in-mist thing that seems to be happening in this photo, Peter!
Here are a few more shots from Sunday, with one lens (135 f/3.5 QC) exploring two scenes through five images.
Thanks Peter. This is indeed an eye opener. From what I have seen 200-500 is a great performer and must for BIF and other fast action shots.
Any idea what my 500mm f4 P AIS will fetch?
pburke wrote:
is it like new? it should be at that price. That's where the values have dropped for these lenses. My 600/f4 was $2800 in 2014, but now maybe $1600. Still a lot when compared to a 200-500mm VR, unless you see more than just a tool in this thing. If you're not worried about someone else snagging it up before you make your move, just for kicks go rent a 200-500mm VR for a few days, just to get a reference for what $1250 get you these days.
I rented the 200-500mm VR in fall of 2016 and it was so good, I almost didn't buy my 400mm AF lens. Lots of samples in my gallery from that race. Looking back at it I don't know what possessed me to not buy that lens but spend 6 times as much on my 400mm... which is better, but not that much better. Also, I am definitely going to buy the 200-500mm on top of the 400mm, because it can do things the 400 cannot do (walk around lens in much tighter spaces)
Anyway - the 400mm f/2.8 AIS is probably worth a little more than $1200, but using eBay as a measure is difficult. They don't sell that often and asking prices are all over the map. Same for my 600mm f/4, where the old model can be found for barely over $1000, and one auction for one that's not quite as nice as mine is over $2300. Actual selling prices may be somewhere in the middle. The low dollar units always look like old press beater lenses.
The 500mm f/4 is a very popular lens, very portable compared to the 400 and 600mm fast lenses. It was cheaper, too, but prices have held up pretty well. $1200 should sell a nice copy. An engraved and brassy looking copy is on eBay for $900 but not selling. Another not very nice looking lens, but photographed well and promoted with "Reach out, Far Out" in the title is offered for $2200 and has a lot of "watchers" - hmm - it's all about marketing on these lenses. I need to get set up for some proper quality product images of my 600mm to get a good price. I know I have the samples that prove it does work as good as any of those old lenses. Just need to find a buyer who feels AF is overrated...
ramkumar999 wrote:
Thanks Peter. This is indeed an eye opener. From what I have seen 200-500 is a great performer and must for BIF and other fast action shots.
What happens when you digitise your slides and negs ??
Well just in case you don't know, I will show you.
Obviously if you have the storage space to keep them, and that is your want, then do so.
But if like me you're getting on in years and are down-sizing, means that storage space is limited.
So the picture below will show what 1000 slides looks like when you have done with them.
At 36mp I think that is just about the right size of file for these slides, I could wait until 100mp comes available, but I don't think it will make them look any better. (discuss if you like)
Steve
Stokesey 2018
Nikon slide copy rig - Nikon equipment throughout. except the tripod and bin
Sony A7RII + Fotasy adapter + Reflex-Nikkor C 1000mm f/11 + tripod, ISO 320, f/11 at 1/250s; 28% cropped (12/42.2MP). The bird was ~16m of distance.
The mirrorless camera (no mirror slapping and provoking blur) and the EVF with magnification are a huge help to reflex teles, which has a narrower DOF and are very very sensitive to camera/tripod minimal shake.
See how we birders always need more reach: this was a 1000m tele at just 16m away and still we need to do cropping...
Tell us the truth Leighton... are people in your family saying that Garrett looks like you? I see a similarity, but I'm hardly an expert on such matters, though I spent Sunday afternoon at a friend's home and had been given instructions to take as many photos as possible of her first grandchild. Nothing is quite a enjoyable as photographing infants who don't move very fast... my manual focus lenses did just fine, by the way...
Here is Mia... shot with the 85 f/1.4 AI-s. I did most of my shooting that day with the 55 f/1.2 S.C. AI. I'll share more later.
Beautiful work, as always Jose. It appears with the new Sony on the scene, that AR III, that folks are picking up the earlier version. As I mentioned above, if I were to explore an alternative camera to the Df from another manufacturer, I'd like check out the full frame offerings from Sony. You say a bit about the advantages of this camera. Can you say more about how shooting with our favorite lenses works with the Sony A7R II?
CGrindahl wrote:
Tell us the truth Leighton... are people in your family saying that Garrett looks like you? I see a similarity, but I'm hardly an expert on such matters, though I spent Sunday afternoon at a friend's home and had been given instructions to take as many photos as possible of her first grandchild. Nothing is quite a enjoyable as photographing infants who don't move very fast... my manual focus lenses did just fine, by the way...
Here is Mia... shot with the 85 f/1.4 AI-s. I did most of my shooting that day with the 55 f/1.2 S.C. AI. I'll share more later.
I know you're a young man Ram, so clearly lugging big heavy lenses around isn't a problem for you. I stayed with the 400 f/5.6 AI-s ED-IF simply because I could handle it without getting a hernia. The lens I'd always longed for was the one you're thinking of selling, the 500 f/4 AI-p which produces magical images, at least that has what I've found when I searched for them. I'm not in the market mind you.
As we say, kit building is forever. That clearly leads different folks in different directions, sometimes away from Nikon and sometimes away from manual focus lenses. As I've been shooting the last few weeks I'm reminded of why what I currently have in my kit works so well for me. The Df produces gorgeous files and I still take pleasure in watching the image come into focus in the viewfinder as I turn the focusing ring on these remarkably well constructed lenses. I also am aware that I really enjoy shooting between 24 and 180mm. Neither longer now wider lenses find much time on my camera. The sweet spot is probably 105 but the 55 makes a great walk around lens and sometimes 135 triggers my fancy.
Good luck sorting out what works best for you Ram. Life is too short to miss out on what gives us pleasure. Today I stopped at a hobby shop to check out their trains... amazing what is available. I've been watching videos on YouTube of folks with layouts that take my breath away. But recognizing the reality of my small space, and noting the prices of small rolling stock, like $250 for a an engine... I'm glad photography is my hobby AND that I enjoy shooting with lenses that cost far less than that engine... Life goes on.
Ah yes... but that fellow has the benefit of time which some tell us leads to WISDOM.
He could very well be right in his assessment.
Watching grandma with her beautiful grandchild I can easily imagine how smitten both you and Barbara must be with your growing brood. You deserve it all... having invested so much into creating and nurturing YOUR family. Have fun my friend!
CGrindahl wrote:
I know you're a young man Ram, so clearly lugging big heavy lenses around isn't a problem for you. I stayed with the 400 f/5.6 AI-s ED-IF simply because I could handle it without getting a hernia. The lens I'd always longed for was the one you're thinking of selling, the 500 f/4 AI-p which produces magical images, at least that has what I've found when I searched for them. I'm not in the market mind you.
As we say, kit building is forever. That clearly leads different folks in different directions, sometimes away from Nikon and sometimes away from manual focus lenses. As I've been shooting the last few weeks I'm reminded of why what I currently have in my kit works so well for me. The Df produces gorgeous files and I still take pleasure in watching the image come into focus in the viewfinder as I turn the focusing ring on these remarkably well constructed lenses. I also am aware that I really enjoy shooting between 24 and 180mm. Neither longer now wider lenses find much time on my camera. The sweet spot is probably 105 but the 55 makes a great walk around lens and sometimes 135 triggers my fancy.
Good luck sorting out what works best for you Ram. Life is too short to miss out on what gives us pleasure. Today I stopped at a hobby shop to check out their trains... amazing what is available. I've been watching videos on YouTube of folks with layouts that take my breath away. But recognizing the reality of my small space, and noting the prices of small rolling stock, like $250 for a an engine... I'm glad photography is my hobby AND that I enjoy shooting with lenses that cost far less than that engine... Life goes on. ...Show more →
Correct Curtis. I have no problem lugging around heavy lenses. Yesterday, I was riding back from work on my motorcycle and found two eagles perched in a tree close to my home. I shuffled quickly to change clothes, pack the 500mm f4 P only to find them vanish from that place. I like longer telephoto lenses for the unique focal point they bring as compared to today's Phone shots.
I am looking at 200-500 especially for my yellowstone trip so I dont have to bother about losing shot changing lenses in that great scenery.
Funny you should mention Hobby shop. Two days back, I went to "Hobby Lobby" to pick up small plastic model people to use in my scene in Macro photography. I cannot wait to use them and share results here. I am going to try to use the 55mm f3.5 with some macro scenery in mind.
CGrindahl wrote:
Beautiful work, as always Jose. It appears with the new Sony on the scene, that AR III, that folks are picking up the earlier version. As I mentioned above, if I were to explore an alternative camera to the Df from another manufacturer, I'd like check out the full frame offerings from Sony. You say a bit about the advantages of this camera. Can you say more about how shooting with our favorite lenses works with the Sony A7R II?
Thanks Curtis.
Unfortunately not enough time yet to answer your question. I used just less than 10 Nikkors from my 50+ collection.
Next week I am going to Genoa and Rome in a short trip to Italy and I am 99% certain the camera to bring will be the A7RII. Now the torturing time to select which 2-3 lens kit to be in the bag...
You must feel pretty good about the Sony Jose, since you're planning on taking it to Italy. Honestly, I've not heard anyone complain about the camera, except perhaps for battery life. I note one is for sale on FM that includes TWELVE batteries and six chargers. I guess that makes the point directly. Still, for my kind of shooting, which generally involves relatively short rambles and perhaps no more than a hundred photos, I don't think battery life would be a big problem. Of course, I shot almost 400 photos on Sunday on a battery at half charge and the Df made no complaint at all. Yes, I had a second battery in the case but...
I envy you your trip to Italy. Even a short visit should be delightful. You can entertain us with more photos of your travels, as you have in the past.
Temperatures were over 80 this weekend and for the next week will be in the low to mid-seventies with clear skies. We all want rain, but very few Californians are complaining about the sun.
kwoodard wrote:
Depending on when you go to Marin, might be able to drive down and say hello.
I noted this post Kevin. It would be great fun if you could join us when Chin is in the Bay Area. He mentioned that his flight out of San Francisco is on March 13. He would likely be here the 11th and 12th, a Sunday and Monday. I know you're a busy man with a full-time job, a wife and baby, so will definitely understand if things don't work out. Would be fun though...
Just the good old Curtis-fave Df, and the 28 3.5 PC-Nikkor. 
I see a similarity, but I'm hardly an expert on such matters, though I spent Sunday afternoon at a friend's home and had been given instructions to take as many photos as possible of her first grandchild. Nothing is quite a enjoyable as photographing infants who don't move very fast... my manual focus lenses did just fine, by the way... 
