p.242 #1 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
trogdon wrote:
First off, congrats on your purchase! It really is a fun camera to use, if very tough to nail focus with the metered finder (only has microprism vs split prism which is weird to get used to). Of the lot the only really lesser lenses are the 55mm f4 (only because the newest version is exceptional), the 135mm f4 (just an average lens), and the 200mm f4 (the later SMC version again is better and focuses MUCH closer). The other lenses never changed much and are great.
I'd also recommend getting a custom made right handed wooden grip, makes it much more like a traditional 35mm to shoot ...Show more →
Thank you Austin! It does take getting use to not having a split prism (w/ microprism collar) and only having a small circular microprism patch. I'm happy that I don't have to stop down to meter. Phew! The camera came with its original case AND!!! wooden grip. Woot! I used the wooden grip during my first outing with the camera, but found it strange...maybe weird...using the handle and then having to remove my hand from the grip to focus again and again. The grip does help when carrying the camera around though! I'll try using the handle again. It might grow on me. I could be doing something wrong and not even know it.
Whelp! Thanks to you I should have two more lenses incoming in the next week or two. Both newer SMC versions of the 55/4 and 200/4 lenses. :P
p.242 #2 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
Use a heavy tripod when you get to the 300mm lens. That shutter packs a wallop. I still remember the pronounced bidirectional twist from the up and down mirror and the side to side shutter when hand holding, like doing the Watusi.
p.242 #3 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
2ndviolinman wrote:
Use a heavy tripod when you get to the 300mm lens. That shutter packs a wallop. I still remember the pronounced bidirectional twist from the up and down mirror and the side to side shutter when hand holding, like doing the Watusi.
I'm on the lookout for a RRS B68 plate for tripod use. I just found out how to lockup the mirror...which will likely be mandatory if I try to use the 300/4 on anything other than 1/1000s.
p.242 #4 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
Alpha_Geist wrote:
Thank you Austin! It does take getting use to not having a split prism (w/ microprism collar) and only having a small circular microprism patch. I'm happy that I don't have to stop down to meter. Phew! The camera came with its original case AND!!! wooden grip. Woot! I used the wooden grip during my first outing with the camera, but found it strange...maybe weird...using the handle and then having to remove my hand from the grip to focus again and again. The grip does help when carrying the camera around though! I'll try using the handle again. It might grow on me. I could be doing something wrong and not even know it.
Whelp! Thanks to you I should have two more lenses incoming in the next week or two. Both newer SMC versions of the 55/4 and 200/4 lenses. :P
You're welcome, glad I can help! As for the grip, I haven't ever found the left hand grip to be useful, but bought myself a third party right handed grip like this https://www.etsy.com/listing/244173759/pentax-67-pentax6x7-custom-wooden-grip
It helps with focusing as you don't have to support the camera weight entirely with your left palm while focusing.
You'll enjoy the lenses though, the 55mm newest version is superb, a very distagon type design, from wide open its already a fantastic lens. I have the 45mm too, but the 55mm is nicer overall in terms of wide open sharpness
p.242 #5 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
LightShow wrote:
I've been thinking about getting one too, to go with my 50/1.2
Looking forward to seeing pictures from it...
It's one of my favourite lens, but I might be biased as it's my first fast 35mm. I used it on APS-C first with good results and even on A7 it doesn't smear until the very corners. I simply love the wide open look. The bokeh is not smooth, but very special to my eyes(first one on film, the other on A7, all wide open or maybe f/2):
It's not much of a landscape lens, the overall contrast is lower than modern lenses. At f/1.5 pretty much only the center is sharp(and as not glowy like summilux pre-asph as far as I can tell), closing down the aperture the sides/corners get gradually sharper and by f8 the entire frame is quite sharp.
Edit: and totally forgot to mention the other main reason I love it: it's absolutely tiny!
p.242 #8 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
Agreed, Nanh, lovely stuff. Thanks for sharing. It sounds like the performance between the Lux and the Canon so far as edge and corner behavior on the a7's is similar. I agree with you, the SA does appear to be better corrected on the Canon (for better or worse).
In completely unrelated news...
If you're looking for an APO-Summicron-M 90, check out this eBay deal from therangefinder. So far as I can tell, there's a little paint loss from usage on the body but no other flaws. I've never seen a price that low on one with case and box. I've also contributed a couple of positive feedback entries to the thousands they've received for the two lenses I've purchased from them. US and Canada only, though. If you're in the US, it'll come to you via Priority Mail, so no "brokerage fees" to worry about.
p.242 #10 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
One of the greatest findings of today - The Leica Vario -Elmar R 35-70/4.0 ROM E60.Yay!Deep in my heart I've been waiting for that to happen somehow.So far indoor test shots are more than encouraging for a zoom of this fl (best of all 35-70 zooms that I got and hands down better than the 35-70/3.5 Minolta MD Macro,but not by much).It looks like that at every FL i.e. 35-50-70 the lens is as good as the prime,Tomorrow I'll hopefully get some real life shots outside.Stay!!!
Zeiss Makro Planar C 60/2.8 - my second copy - it is mint,whereas the one I have is just excellent..Stay!!
And a handfull of other different lenses to try and decide,whether to keep them or not.
- Hasselblad Sonnar CFE 180/4 - not tested yet-the adapter is awaited still.
- Canon EF 28-135/3.5-5.6 IS USM - all my Canon EF-Sony E adapters struggle with it,(though the overall IQ on the A7R is very good).Stay?
- Canon EF 20-35/3.5-4.5 - same as above,Stay?
- Voigtlander Macro Dynar 100/3.5 1:2 - good,sharp,but coatings leave a lot to desire (flare!!!) as well as the all plastic body.Go?
- Exakta MC Macro 24/2.8 - not bad wa lens for the price,but needs to be stopped down to f8 to get acceptably sharp image across the frame (corners included)/A7R-rejected
-Yashica MC Zoom 35-70/3.5-4.5 - corners and sides too soft for my taste,even at35mm/ f11/A7R-rejected
-Sigma 18/2.8 - looks softish in the corners/sides even at f11/A7R-rejected
- Sigma Apo Macro 70-210/3.5-4.5 - not yet fully tested - preliminary findings - soft at 210mm wo/A7R.Go?
p.242 #11 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
I went on a spree just before christmas and bought the Fuji 16 f1.4, the 56 f1.2, the 18-55 zoom (which turned out to be a super surprise - it is a hell of a good lens) and the 55-200 all in one expensive shot. It was a good day. I spent the rest of the month eating ramen soup but smiling.
p.242 #12 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
I just added a like-new Zeiss 2/135 APO Sonnar ZE, that had been awaiting a home in the pre-owned lens display at a local camera store. When trying it a couple of weeks previously, its focus coincided perfectly with the AF confirmation in my new Canon 5Ds R. Hand-held, wide-open, with no special focusing screen, I was capturing some shots that amazed me, by trusting the AF confirmation. (Normally, I prefer the manual-focus experience with Nikon equipment.)
I had resisted the temptation, at the time, because I had acquired a pre-owned sample of the ZF.2 version of the same lens last year, but I decided I had a couple of well-liked, but rather unused lenses that I could trade, to cover most of the cost. 135mm being one of my favored focal lengths, I reckon the duplication of two Zeiss 2/135 APO Sonnar lenses, for two different mounts, is not too extravagant.
p.242 #15 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
Not a purchase I made, but I saw a ZM 15mm f2.8 with ND and viewfinder for $2k at The store Photomart today in Scottsdale AZ. Just in case anyone is interested!
p.242 #16 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
My Pentax SMC 200/4 (new version) came in last week. Sill waiting for the Pentax SMC 55/4 (new version) to leave customs. Picked up a Pentax 67II to share some lenses alongside my 6X7.
Aaaand, today I took receipt of the classic 50/1.4 planar ZF.2 to permanently fix onto my F2A Photomic.
p.242 #17 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
RexGig0 wrote:
I just added a like-new Zeiss 2/135 APO Sonnar ZE....
Such an awesome lens! I wish I still had mine...although in the Nikon ZF.2 mount instead.
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teh_rebel wrote:
Been good for quite a bit with buying anything new but the minute i get back on here, i end up buying 2 lens lol. Nees to sell stuff now
New additions
- CV 35/1.7
- CV 50/1.5
If you have a Sony E mount camera and a close focusing adapter, that CV 50/1.5 is really something special! Grats!
p.242 #19 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
Canon FD 35-105/3.5. Third strike, and I'm out. Can't seem to find a copy of this lens that doesn't have edge issues. Scratching this one off the list.
It does take getting use to not having a split prism (w/ microprism collar) and only having a small circular microprism patch. I'm happy that I don't have to stop down to meter. Phew! The camera came with its original case AND!!! wooden grip. Woot! I used the wooden grip during my first outing with the camera, but found it strange...maybe weird...using the handle and then having to remove my hand from the grip to focus again and again. The grip does help when carrying the camera around though! I'll try using the handle again. It might grow on me. I could be doing something wrong and not even know it.
