[pinholecam] A week with ...... (random ramblings of a lens junkie) - 2015
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I agree...it instantly caught my attention when I first saw it...but then again most all of his images do...
Thanks guys.
Glad you like the shot.
20150621-DSC03902-1 by jenkwang, on Flickr
Last photo for the M20/4 for the APAW.
I'm sure glad that I hiked up this location, enjoying the nice cool weather and views along the way.
All with smallish lenses inside the bag making it a much more enjoyable walk.
More photos from the Bandung trip are covered in this thread.
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1534671
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A week with the Voigtlander 12/5.6 Heliar
This will be another series on 4 lenses I used for a short trip.
As I've mentioned before, for me, nothing is more true than just getting the lenses out there and using them.
There can be internet arguments and theories over MTF, max f-stop, branding, etc.
Even test shots on a lazy weekend afternoon.
But 'there' is the key to me.
The practicalities of each lens, the quirks, how to try and use them properly, all come in.
For good purpose too, since I am capturing loved ones in photos or just nice people/places/things that I encounter.
Sailing towards the skies by jenkwang, on Flickr
This will be another series on 4 lenses I used for a short trip.
As I've mentioned before, for me, nothing is more true than just getting the lenses out there and using them.
There can be internet arguments and theories over MTF, max f-stop, branding, etc.
Even test shots on a lazy weekend afternoon.
But 'there' is the key to me.
The practicalities of each lens, the quirks, how to try and use them properly, all come in.
For good purpose too, since I am capturing loved ones in photos or just nice people/places/things that I encounter.
Sailing towards the skies by jenkwang, on Flickr
20150625-DSC04383 by jenkwang, on Flickr
I went with a larger selection of lenses this time round.
The reason being that I knew that with these primes, and with the location (beach resort), I could simply leave what I did not want in the room.
The CV12/5.6 of course would be the widest lens I brought in case I had some 'me time' to take some landscape shots.
Path of the Sapling by jenkwang, on Flickr
There is certainly a learning curve to this lens imo.
For lower light conditions, the vignette becomes particularly strong.
It becomes even worse when a ND filter is added.
I guess the decrease in light levels to the off center is non-linear with such an addition.
Best case I can find for now is to do at least another +2ev exposure and blend that in via a custom mask I've created based on the CV12 on a white wall.
The effect of this lens, to me is worth it.
Its so wide that it looks 'to the side' as well as 'down'.
Providing an expanse of view and foreground relation that will often be harder to get on any other lens.
Rise over the infinity pool by jenkwang, on Flickr
There is a drawback to having so wide a FOV as well.
The perspective distortion just pushes everything so far away.
This is fine if there is a distinct element in the picture to anchor the viewers attention, but in a beach resort, where there was limited access other areas, and the background is the sea and horizon itself, it can prove a challenge.
Rise over the infinity pool by jenkwang, on Flickr
There is a drawback to having so wide a FOV as well.
The perspective distortion just pushes everything so far away.
This is fine if there is a distinct element in the picture to anchor the viewers attention, but in a beach resort, where there was limited access other areas, and the background is the sea and horizon itself, it can prove a challenge.
My favourite before the CV15 III comes along. :thumbsup:
Thanks for popping in.
Yes CV15iii is quite the lens now.
I dunno if I should be kicking myself for not getting one at a good price the other time or sticking with what I need with the 12.
20150626-DSC04530 by jenkwang, on Flickr
Its certainly good for the previously mentioned reasons to bring along a complementary wide lens in case the FOV is just too wide in some cases.
Nonetheless, it is good to stick to a lens for a while, finding how it works both technically and compositionally.
This is what no amount of theoretical discussion about MTF, field curvature, even price and lineage/prestige of a lens brand will never help to do.
Its just so much better to just take a few lenses and take some pictures.
20150626-DSC04488-1 by jenkwang, on Flickr
Though I did not use the CV12/5.6 the most this time round, it was certainly a welcome addition to my bag.
The times I did not need it, I just left it in the room.
This to me is one of the advantages of small primes.
Its modular nature, general smaller size and encumbrance and usually very good IQ.
A week with the Pentax K24/2.8
To accompany the 12mm, which can be too wide in some cases, I took with me the Pentax K24/2.8.
So far, this focal length has been my favorite to match up with the extreme FOV and perspective distortion of the CV12.
DSC04501 by jenkwang, on Flickr
The 24mm, for my tastes is that right level of wideness coupled with reasonable perspective distortion that makes bkgnd elements look less pushed out.
It also provides that f2.8 when necessary.
To accompany the 12mm, which can be too wide in some cases, I took with me the Pentax K24/2.8.
So far, this focal length has been my favorite to match up with the extreme FOV and perspective distortion of the CV12.
DSC04501 by jenkwang, on Flickr
The 24mm, for my tastes is that right level of wideness coupled with reasonable perspective distortion that makes bkgnd elements look less pushed out.
It also provides that f2.8 when necessary.
20150626-DSC04804 by jenkwang, on Flickr
24mm is also a rather handy environmental portrait lens.
This ended up as my 2nd most used lens for the whole trip.
For a whole body shot, I don't find that it distorts the person as much any wider lens will.
This makes it easy to switch between shooting picts of the kids doing their stuff and then quickly turning attention elsewhere and shooting photos of the place.
DSC04515 by jenkwang, on Flickr
Here is a shot at the same spot where I took the pict with the CV12 a few posts above.
While the CV12 went for a dramatic sweep from foreground (what was basically at my feet) towards the scene, the 24mm does a more 'conservative' perspective that has a more natural compression to the elements in the scene.
There is no right or wrong to me, and that is often the beauty of using primes to me in that I just try to find the composition that can suit what I have on hand rather than lament over the 'what it could have beens'
f2.8 max aperture certainly comes in handy sometimes.
I say sometimes as I know nuts about taking astro stuff and don't think I have enough opportunity to take them (though I would love to).
DSC04909 by jenkwang, on Flickr
I did imagine myself doing one of the above in a totally darkened sky filled with very obvious stars.
So bringing the Pentax K24/2.8 was 'part of the plan'.
What I got instead, was still light pollution from the resort and my unrefined PP methods for doing night shots.
But its always a never ending learning for me.
I say sometimes as I know nuts about taking astro stuff and don't think I have enough opportunity to take them (though I would love to).
DSC04909 by jenkwang, on Flickr
I did imagine myself doing one of the above in a totally darkened sky filled with very obvious stars.
So bringing the Pentax K24/2.8 was 'part of the plan'.
What I got instead, was still light pollution from the resort and my unrefined PP methods for doing night shots.
But its always a never ending learning for me.
20150626-DSC04864 by jenkwang, on Flickr
Lens wise, this is certainly not the best 24mm legacy lens out there to use on an A7 with its thick filter stack.
However, few are and I've tried and looked at samples for quite a few of such legacy 24mm.
They all have about the same distortion profile (ie. slightly mustache like), the same presence of field curvature and sharpness over the frame.
The only one exception being the old Canon FD24/2.8 which is a bit better for off center sharpness on an unmodded A7.
So why still stick to this lens then? Not the sharpest right?
Well, this to me is what makes a difference between real world practicality and on-paper evaluations.
For one, I already have the lens
(yes, that means I don't need to spend again, in the real world where $ is finite) Next, is the space savings and reduction of additional handling sticking to one (or two ) adapter types only.
Remember, I fit on a Pentax>A7 adapter, that adapter stays on the camera and the lenses remain the size they are.
This is opposed to having a bag with FD, M-mount, Pentax, Nikon, etc adapters attached to each 'best' lens option, those weight and space fills up real fast.
Then there is the size of the lens (smallish wrt lots of options of the lineage)
The flare resistance from the reputed SMC coating at that time.
Finally, what I really like about this lens is a certain 'bite' in the image.
I can't fully put my finger on it, but there is a way it transitions contrast that give it a little bit extra bite in an image (not just sharpness by pure resolution ).
The good thing to add now is that I've a modded A7 now which give even better performance for this lens.
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Wave good-bye to another day by jenkwang, on Flickr
This was certainly my most used landscape lens for the trip.
Often, just out of simple convinience, I simply stepped out the door with only the K24/2.8, tripod and 2 filters in the pocket in the early mornings.
There was that assurance that I would not be caught short for wanting something else.
20150627-DSC04960 by jenkwang, on Flickr
Ending the APAD for the Pentax K24/2.8 with another shot of the kids.
Plenty of landscape shots already, so just change the pace a little.
For the shot above, like I mentioned, I just like the versatility of the 24mm FL.
Just an hour ago, I was using it for some of the landscapes I posed before.
Once the kids were up, I just took them out and slung the camera with this same lens with me.
A week with the Canon FD135/2
3rd lens used for the short trip.
The Canon FD135/2 is something I seldom bring out for a vacation, usually assigning it to more specific portrait sessions.
The reason being that its a chunky lens, not really that big , but rather heavy and it adds up real fast in a camera bag with other gear.
Not too appealing considering it has to be lugged around if on a vacation or photo tour (as I'm mostly on foot )
But I wanted something fresh and good for my children shots, so I decided to add it into the bag.
I also knew that if I did not need it, I could just leave it in the room, so largely no harm done (to the poor back)
20150626-DSC04728 by jenkwang, on Flickr
3rd lens used for the short trip.
The Canon FD135/2 is something I seldom bring out for a vacation, usually assigning it to more specific portrait sessions.
The reason being that its a chunky lens, not really that big , but rather heavy and it adds up real fast in a camera bag with other gear.
Not too appealing considering it has to be lugged around if on a vacation or photo tour (as I'm mostly on foot )
But I wanted something fresh and good for my children shots, so I decided to add it into the bag.
I also knew that if I did not need it, I could just leave it in the room, so largely no harm done (to the poor back)
20150626-DSC04728 by jenkwang, on Flickr
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20150626-DSC04548-BW by jenkwang, on Flickr
Lens wise:
72mm filter thread
6 elements, 5 groups
660g
Not too huge a lens as one expects for a f2 (at least to me)
More on the chunky side but as a rough guide, rather close to some of the modern offerings 85/1.4 lenses.
The built in hood is both practical and makes the lens smaller and less clunky to handle.
Very solidly built but kind of a bakelite type plastic feel on the exterior, not unlike many lenses of that era.
So to me, its a viable alternative to a 85/1.4 in terms of portability when used outdoors.
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