p.156 #1 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
Sceptic, much appreciated.
Your description of the less-successful lens-buying experience is spot on. Luckily the Sigma is definitely usable from my viewpoint, so I'll take the fungal Konicas as a valuable lesson and reminder of what can happen (although I am reminded of it every time I shoot the Sigma with its characteristic pungent smell of mold... I hope it wears off eventually).
I will surely post my findings when I find time to tackle the Konicas.
p.156 #2 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
sceptic wrote:
I have also had to deal with dishonest/ignorant sellers and know first hand the joy of buying a lens changing to anger once the thing arrives... Iīve learned that an item described as "not tested" can just as well mean "I canīt be bothered to remove the caps and take a look" or, more probably, "I know itīs garbage, but claim ignorance".
I've learned this the hard way, too... the nice thing about dealing with people on this forum is, most people care about their reputation here.
p.156 #3 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
Back on topic; a Vivitar Series 1 70-210 f/3.5 (Kiron) just arrived. Best 17$ I've spent, from the looks of it. I was going to clean some internal dust between the front elements, but found that the thread locker applied to the retaining ring was tougher than I thought. Built to last, I suppose...
p.156 #5 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
Hartblei Super Rotator 65mm f/3.5
Nikon F mount
8 degrees of tilt and shift ability
I also scored a really nice Zork Pro-Shift adapter. This model lets you put Pentax 67 lenses on a Pentax 645 body (or on DSLRs with adapters) and shift away.
p.156 #13 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
I recently bought a Contax G 45 and am shocked how well it competes with my FE 55. Initially, it was actually beating the 55 (to my consternation) till I tighten up my testing procedure. Even then, the 55 is only slightly sharper. Maybe I got a good 45.
p.156 #15 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
sflxn wrote:
I recently bought a Contax G 45 and am shocked how well it competes with my FE 55. Initially, it was actually beating the 55 (to my consternation) till I tighten up my testing procedure. Even then, the 55 is only slightly sharper. Maybe I got a good 45.
it seems they're all that good (or at least the vast majority of them). bokeh on the 55/1.8 is a lot better imo though.
p.156 #16 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
It was a package deal. G45 and G90. I was buying it for the G90 as a possible small replacement for my 85/1.4. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the G45 yet. It's so sharp, but I doubt I will use it much. However, it's so sharp, it's worth holding onto it. I'm still evaluating it, but the center is pretty sharp. It does seem a little more contrasty than the 55 FE. They must have changed the T* formula.
p.156 #18 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
My new FD 35/2.8 TS, like new in original box, bought here in Tromsø at very reasonable price, around a fourth of what the previous owner paid twenty years ago
p.156 #19 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
Twoeye I have that lens and just ordered a Metabones speed booster to attach it to my Fuji X mount cameras. I found I wanted a bit wider perspective than what is available on a APS-C sensor. I bet it is wonderful on a FF sensor. The speed booster should get it back close to 35mm on my Fuji. I am interested to see what you will be shooting with this combo.
I have a few Rainbow adapters that seem to work pretty well as far as lining things up and a few Metabones straight adapters(not speed boosters) and they are a bit better quality than the Rainbows.
p.156 #20 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
sflxn wrote:
I recently bought a Contax G 45 and am shocked how well it competes with my FE 55. Initially, it was actually beating the 55 (to my consternation) till I tighten up my testing procedure. Even then, the 55 is only slightly sharper. Maybe I got a good 45.
I'm actually shocked by this. I just sold my ZM 50 Planar, which is a close relative of the G45 (I've never had the G45). The ZM 50/2 was very sharp to the edges on a crop sensor, but had progressively weak midfield and poor corners at f/4 and wider on my a7. The center was always sharp and contrasty, but the overall frame sharpness didn't come close to the FE 55 until f/5.6 or f/8, and even then wasn't as sharp and contrasty as the FE 55. The FE 55 OTOH, is shockingly sharp across most of the frame at f/1.8, has very good corners at f/1.8, and only gets better from there. From f/2.8 on it's just amazing. I've never seen such performance at all apertures from any largish aperture lens, and throw in a very smooth bokeh with great Zeiss rendering and it's in pretty rarified territory.
I'd love to see an aperture comparison of the G45 and FE 55. I wish I had some ZM 50 side by sides to post, but it's gone now
