p.47 #2 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
Non-alt, but I just traded my out-of-warranty Nikkor 200/2 VR for in-warranty as-new 24-70G and 70-200G VR II. I gave up a little in value, but the market is soft, and these two zooms will cover my needs for fast AF and flexible performance, allowing me to concentrate on alt glass for other focal lengths/primes. I expect that I will sell a couple of Nikkors coming up.
p.47 #4 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
saving for the Rokinon/Samyang 8mm DX sensor fisheye next. Don't have the patience to first save enough for the Sigma 8-16mm, but I really want that lens for it's range and sharpness
I dunno about other mirror lenses but reviews from folks who have used more than one call the 55BB very special.
All I know is that it's sharp, very smooth operation, the images are flawless, and the bokeh can be very very interesting! For hand held shooting it's a daylight lens to be sure or you'll need a camera with good ISO handling in the 1600 region - that would do fine for like indoor shopping malls or overcast+shady mountain/jungle underbrush. What good ISO handling won't take care of a monopod will... and of course a tripod for long exposures and etc. I've been using mine on a monopod for indoor stuff like in the first few posts of the revived adaptall thread.
The Macro capabilities are very cool with a 5-foot working distance and 1:3 magnification ratio. To give you some idea this leaf-flower-thingy is only 4 inches tall and I was about 5 meters (16 feet) away from it at the time:
The rear of the lens accepts a 30.5mm filter thread for 2x, 3x, 4x, diopters as well ND, UV and others. Mine came with a UV, two ND, and a CPL filter although I dunno how I'm supposed to adjust the CPL filter... And for 2x I'd much rather use a 2x doubler I think unless the diopters are achromats...
The adaptall site says this 55BB is the new version upgraded from the 55B and, "The major optical design change is the switch to a constant thickness meniscus main mirror in order to reduce close focusing spherical aberration. The change in the main mirror design also necessitated changes for the two smallest lenses located within the middle of the optical design."
I dunno what the 55B was like but there is zero (ZERO!) spherical aberration at any focus distance on this 55BB.
p.47 #14 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
I hope the new ZE/ZF 25 is as sharp.
I asked in the Contax image thread what a fair price for a clean all black set of G2, 28, 45, 90, & flash is worth, so far I only have buy it now prices, but those can be elevated for many reasons, TIA .
p.47 #15 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
I just got a 135/2.8 Q.C Nikkor that has the factory AI aperture ring...for $38....a nice find since my "K" isn't AI'd....I look forward to giving it a C/C test drive against the newer "K" version...
I used to have a "Q" and liked it's heft....
Also found a couple of 50s....Olympus 1.8 and SMC Pentax 1.7 cheap because of a bit of fungus and and lens separation residue....I'll be testing them this weekend to see how much that might affect IQ...
p.47 #19 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
ZF.2 35mm 1.4
Just on time for holiday season. I want this one badly. Love it so far. CA is very strong wide open, similar to my P50. Sharpness wide open is about the same as P85 but sharper than P50, It is enough for my purpose. I wish P50 has similar WO performance. Color is different and best(to my taste for Skin tone)of all Zeiss I have. Don't know why, same day, same time shot with P50, this one has more pleasing color. Does anyone with new 35mm echo this?
It build very well, but very heavy and I have to be very careful to not bump it. With Nikon 14-24-70-200 I had before, I am not worried that (bump), but not this one. Guess I start appreciate Nikon's engineering.
It is very difficult used lens for take portrait unless it is a setup. as I want f1.4 so badly, and portrait distance I used mostly for this one is more like 0.3-0.8M which has crazy think DOF.
Do I regret the purchase this one over Nikon 35G, Zeiss owner know the answer. Thanks god that I don't shoot professionally, I trade missing shot for quality and ownership pleasure
I have start this difficult path, and I enjoy it very much and plan to do that before I am getting too old tosee/todo the Manual focusing. The Canon S-type focus screen for D700 really help for 35mm than any other lens I have for portrait.
And for 2x I'd much rather use a 2x doubler I think unless the diopters are achromats...
