Zooms. The best of the worse?

Have been shooting with primes for the past year or two, I regret to say that my zooms have been in neglect. That is, not since yesterday when I read on one of the Facebook group about the Minolta 24-50 and the Minolta 24-35 zooms in MD mounts. That got me excited and I started reading up on them. It seems the Minolta 35-70 3.5 with macro comes up very often on the net. Granted some post can me many years ago but they got me excited nevertheless.

I went in deep looking for my 35-70. I knew I have yet to really shoot with this lens so I wanted to see what the hype was. I must say that I have to manage my expectations when I saw the images. Primes are much better. And if this zoom is one of the best in the rokkor range I wonder how would the rest do? As fast as as zooms go, this one does not disappoint in several ways. The ways it does disappoint is because of it's sheer design. For example it's biggest aperture is 3.5 and stopping down to 5.6 shows a stark, better difference in image quality. Compare this with a night fifty of 1.4... the dof or the shallow dof pales in comparison.

But one has to call a spade a spade. As far as zooms go, it does give good images. Coupled that with the convenience of carrying just one lens, this 35-70 is one of the best.

Not surprisingly I went to eBay and ordered a 24-35. I hope if the quality of the images produced is on par with the 35-70 then I might have the perfect kit for my holidays this coming December.

In the meantime, I will bring the lens outside and hopefully be able to catch more interesting shoots.

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Using the nikkor H.C 50mm f2.0

Made in Japan

I just received this lens for about 3 days already. Normally I would have lots of pictures taken. But literally I could not. I hurt both my shoulders and I find it even difficult to bring the viewfinder to my eyes. But I tried, using many things as support. 

Nikon Nikkor

First impressions: Very nice.

Besides being very affordable, its also very compact. Minimum focussing distance is less than 0.6m. The focussing ring stand out because, its of a bigger diameter than the rest of the lens, while everything else is where it should. Mine is from the older generations where I think its not even Ai-S. But that does not matter me as I used it on my xe2.

Handling, its ok. Normal for a normal 50mm lens. Sometimes I fiddle with the aperture ring because the butterfly catch may be a bit intrusive. 

Contrast.

Using a manual lens for manual focus, you need to rely on contrast to help you to nail that focus. The nikkor level of contrast is better than average. Thus providing images with better than adequate contrast, but not too much that will give a jarring difference between the highlights and the shadows. Thus, the images, from my eyes and my opinion as well, are very pleasant allowing lots of details to be seen even in normal jpegs.

Picture quality.

As for the famed sharpness of this lens, I really can’t tell and conclude that its the sharpest 50mm nikon ever created.I simply do not have the resources to compare it to all the 50mm Nikon has ever built. But is it sharp? Of course. Its a 50mm lens. Does it glow? No. Does it have character? All lenses have character of their own, even different lenses from the same make and brand and focal length. It produces very clean images. The out of focus areas are not distracting and it makes the subject stand out very well, even at f2.8. However, I don’t think the image can be said to be as organic as the ones from the Contax 50mm. Clinical and dependable would be those words I would use to describe the final images.

Did I regret getting this lens, of course not! For less than $100, I was excited. But I regret not knowing about it sooner. To summarise, if you love the type of images produced by a Nikon, get this cheap nifty fifty. On the xe2, it will give a 75mm-ish fov. My kind of focal length.

Pictures of the lens and camera are taken using the Em5 and the olympus 45mm 1.8

Some pictures.

Here are some pictures. Mostly SOOC after imported and exported from LR. Except the ones with the yellow stripes, I had to decrease the exposure and increase the blackness as mainly black road, came out grey. LOL.

Rear View Mirror

Dinner table.

After School

I am a washing machine

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Stripes

As and when I use the lens to take pictures, I will post it up at my flickr account.

Pain in my left shoulder.

Been in pain for a good three or four days. Could not even lift up my left hand to take pictures with the camera. But I thought I gave it a try today and my 50mm f2.0 Nikkor hc arrives. Reviews said it's the sharpest 50mm ever build by Nikon. I don't know. As it is almost all 50mm lenses are sharp. Here are some pictures I took of Idris this afternoon.

At f2.

At 2.8

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Gifts from shah Alam.

Mother in law came back from visiting relatives in shah Alam and she brought gifts! Took these pictures of my son with the cap with the Carl Zeiss 85mm 1.4 planar. Xe2. Love the 3d-ness of the results.

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Zeiss planar.

As far as lenses go, Zeiss lenses are quite coveted. I for one an am Zeiss advocate and are now completing my Zeiss collection. There are so many.

As far as Zeiss goes, my vanilla plain 85mm 1.4 may not be as kick ass as the newer planar. Try googling for milvus etc..

No time? Here is a link... http://www.verybiglobo.com/zeiss-milvus-851-4-vs-zeiss-otus-851-4-vs-zeiss-planar-851-4-comparative-lens-review-2/

Anyway bought my planar for about $700. And that's in Singapore dollars. I won't believe touching the top range planars anytime soon.

So, from today I decided to stick one lens per week on my xe2. Hoping I would get now airtime for each and every one of them. I hope.

Mine is the Nikon mount, attached to my xe2 via a dumb adapter. Here are some pictures for today. Jpegs, sooc.

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Canon 50mm 1.4 ltm

I think I have found my almost perfect lens. Its sharp wide open and its a joy to use on my xe2. Almost... its because it juts out a little. Other than that focussing is smooth and the aperture ring is firm and clicks nicely. The aperture is in front of the focussing ring though and that takes some getting used to. Luckily I have experience in such lenses, such as the helios and the pentacons.

If you are into vintage lens and you really want to feel the vintage experience, than this is the lens to get. On my Fuji its about 75mm which is the focal length that I really like to work with. Here are some potraits shots using the lens. I'll post more of the wider shots soon I hope.

Having brunch.

Trying out a turban.

Saturday.

It's a depressing Saturday. I have to be on my liquid diet while the rest are enjoying Mac and cheese. Haizz.

It's the afternoon already. And I am so bored. It's humid and hot.

Getting old and grumpy easily nowadays. The liquid diet is keeping me full. But hey, who does not like Mac and cheese.

Been two days since I have started to play with those dumbells. Might as well.

Old is gold they say, but I say older is better. Pictures are from my Canon 50mm 1.4 ltm. I finally found my m to Fuji adapter and the lens has been on my xe2 since this morning. Quite easy to focus as the contrast level is fantastic even from the LCD screen. Of course some sample shots from my ever willing model, my 5yo. It is sharp wide open but with almost lenses, vintage or not, one or two clicks to stop it down would be good for the final picture.

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At the oval.

The oval is a cluster of old black and white bungalows. They were used to housed foreign troops pre-independece Singapore. Now its a cluster of restaurants and a big airport themed playground. I usually bring Idris here to burn off some steam, more like a morning exercise routine. All of these photos taken using the SMC Takumar 55mm 1.8 and the Xe2. Honestly, I would recommend people to come here. For the fun.

Idris and Wan.

Trying out a different position.

Came down the slide.

Sticking his tongue out.

Wan feeling giddy.

Su.

Having fun.

Missing the fun.

Heard on the radio about controlling children's usage of their mobile devices. I think the discussion was a bit off centered. I think its not the children who need to be taught on controlling the usage of their mobile devices, its EVERYBODY!

I took this on my xe2 and the smc takumar 55mm 1.8 Focus was off and I had to crop this picture. But clearly, they would have more fun without the mobile phone.

Missing the fun.

Colonoscopy

Had one just now. Together with endoscopy. This is in preparation of the bariatic sleeve surgery that I am scheduled for on 30th July 2018.

I was awake for both procedures and it was interesting, painful at times.

Still on liquid diet. Some cheating took place  when my sister and her family came to dinner with us at the hospital. Mostly dinner there for me is just a cup of black kopi. Kosong.

Su drove me back. I wished I had taken some pictures because it was a lovely experience. And the sound system in my car rocks!

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More pictures from the takumar.

Pictures of Idris. And the out of focus background. Enjoy.

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This is sharp.

Without a doubt this lens is sharp. But most other 50mm lenses are sharp too. What makes it special is the total package it possesses. The out of focus background for example and how it makes the picture nicer. How the sharpness of the lenses does not necessarily means it has to be at the center.

All in all, it's what the lenses can produce that endear it to you.

But this takumar 55mm is sharp.

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Takumar 55mm 1.8

After seeing what the contax 1.7 can do, I decided to try out my Tak 55mm 1.8. I can help feeling that I am missing something. Maybe I was not looking at the right place or direction.

Picture of the camera set was provided by the em5 and the Olympus 45mm 1.8.

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Went to KKH

Sent Idris to KKH today for follow up. It seems he now has eczema on his skin. Due to the drying action of the medicine for his itchiness.

This is Idris before making our way to KKH. Taken using the Contax 50 1.7.
I am loving this lens more and more everyday. Its compact and feel simple enough to use. It is simple to use. Feels like the time I was using my Nikon FM2 and the nikkor lenses. Its shorter than the 50mm 1.4 by about a centimetre thus making it more compact than the 1.4.

Now I am wondering about the rokkors and the other 50mm 1.7 lenses that I am missing out because I want the widest apertures...
Got it for USD$110. I think that that is a good buy.

A smile for the day.

Another one.

My son's chair in his room. Beautifully rendered.

CY 50mm 1.7. xe2

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Pictures from the contax 50mm 1.7 planar c/y

One of the first pictures that I took using my xe2. I have to say the focussing is much nicer than the 1.4

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Ktph

It's was a gloomy morning today when I went there to see the dietician. I hope it's not a bad omen, as though I believe in them.

Part of khoo tech phuat hospital.

Redmi.

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Contax 50mm 1.7.

Just took delivery of this lens. Hope it will lives up to the hype.

Here is another picture of it.

7 artisans 25mm 1.8

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Contax 50mm 1.7 c/y mount

Just took delivery of this lens. Can't wait to try it out.

Redmi

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Optifast

It has begun. My first meal supplement. Objective is to shrink my liver. Makes it easier to reach the stomach. Taste like biscuits in strawberry milk.

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Hard meal

The last hard and proper meal I had before going for my soft diet. Getting ready to go for my bariatic surgery at the end of the July.

Redmi

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Children

The girls are my wife's cousin daughters. I don't know what they are to me but they are ever so sweet.

Pictures taken when they came over just now. My two sons really enjoyed their company.

Xe2 with 7 artisans 25mm 1.8

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Minolta 40mm f2 m.

http://vintage-camera-lenses.com/leica-summicron-c-40mm-2-minolta-m-rokkor-40mm-2/

URL to refer to one of my most missed lens. Bought it twice and sold it twice. Missing it so much.

Price has gone up. If I ever get another one that will be the last lens that I will ever buy.

Idris. A few weeks old.

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