tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65015075690331699912024-03-19T05:03:04.486-03:00Old Good LightThis blog is the former photomysteries.com website.
It's about general photography, cameras and image processing softwares. Enjoy !
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This blog is NOT about camera reviews. The idea is to make brief and straight comments on some of the cameras I have or had, and deeper information when and if needed.
English is not my native language, so take it easy on me ok ! =)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-4220875177474080782024-01-09T10:58:00.000-03:002024-01-09T10:58:20.164-03:00Capture One's raising greediness. No more C1 Express.<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">To make things clear, I'm a C1 user since a reasonably time and started with the dedicated Fuji version, then tried Express and later upgraded to the "perpetual" Pro Version.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Capture one is a very good software for some operations but not even close to be te best raw converter neither the best DAM. But I like to use it in some situations, like when I need remote camera tethering (this was the main reason why I decided for it).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It works reasonably well with layers and it's a Swiss-Army knife. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">But the last news from mid December 2023 raised a red flag to me and many other people on several forums.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Thom Hogan wrote a brilliant note about this. Please read it <a href="https://www.bythom.com/newsviews/the-software-saga-continues.html" target="_blank">following this link</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">C1 annouced the end-of-life of the free Express version. Nothing wrong with this, I saw this many times before but never like what they are planning to do. Please read carefully their statements.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" class="es-m-txt-l es-m-p20r es-m-p20l" style="margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 40px; padding-right: 40px; padding-top: 30px; padding: 30px 40px 15px;"><h1 style="color: white; font-family: helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 27px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;">Express is coming to an end</span></h1> </td></tr><tr>
<td align="left" class="es-m-txt-l es-m-p10t es-m-p20r es-m-p20l" style="margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 40px; padding-right: 40px; padding-top: 15px; padding: 15px 40px 20px;"><p style="-ms-text-size-adjust: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; color: white; font-family: helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-size-adjust: none;"><span style="color: black;">We're
constantly working to improve our tools for you. And, to give you the
best creative and collaborative experience, we need to focus on our main
products. This means that starting <b>January 30, 2024,</b> Express will no longer be available.<br /></span></p><p style="-ms-text-size-adjust: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; color: white; font-family: helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-size-adjust: none;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="-ms-text-size-adjust: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family: helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-size-adjust: none;"><span style="color: black;">You
won’t be able to download and access Express from our </span><span style="color: black;">website after
January 30. </span><span><span style="color: red;">If you already own an Express license key, you’ll no longer
be able to activate this.</span><br /></span></p><p style="-ms-text-size-adjust: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; color: white; font-family: helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-size-adjust: none;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></p><p style="-ms-text-size-adjust: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; color: white; font-family: helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-size-adjust: none;"><strong><span style="color: black;">We’ll end all support for Express after January 30.</span></strong></p>
<p style="-ms-text-size-adjust: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family: helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-size-adjust: none;"><span><span style="color: white;"> </span><br /><span style="color: red;">Your images and edits will still be available<strong> until January 30.</strong></span></span></p><p style="-ms-text-size-adjust: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; color: white; font-family: helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-size-adjust: none;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></p><p style="-ms-text-size-adjust: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; color: white; font-family: helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-size-adjust: none;"><span style="color: black;">If you want to know more, just hit the button below.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></blockquote></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Again, read carefully. But there is more.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW119685008 BCX0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Soin Sans Neue", arial; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">"You won’t be able to download and access Express from our website after the above-mentioned date. If you already own an Express license key, you’ll no longer be able to activate this. We’ll also end all support for Express. <span style="color: red;">Your RAW files and edits will still be available until the above-mentioned date – a</span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW119685008 BCX0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Soin Sans Neue", arial; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="color: red;">fter this time you’ll no longer have access</span>."</span></i></span></p><p><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Soin Sans Neue", arial; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-align: left;"><i>"You’ll be able to use Express in full until it’s discontinued (see above). This means you can work as normal, and still have access to your RAW files and edits. We recommend that you transfer your files before we close Express completely, which can be done in a number of ways (see below)."</i></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">What the f**k ? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Nothing wrong with a product's end-of-life, but why on earth to kill existing installations and prevent not only to use it but access your work (images, adjustments) ?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This is the <b>most stupid, spiteful, greedy movement</b> I've ever seen from a software maker: To blackmail the product base, students and hobbysts (read people that form opinion about products) to start paying to continue doing what they were doing. <b>Blackmail is what is happening here. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A decent company would simply not update it anymore and let who installed it continue using.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And to complete the mess, Capure One's CEO said that they are not interested in the non-professional market (translation: fuck the hobbists, amateurs and who don't have money)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>I bet the guys at Adobe had a very loud laugh after reading the C1 news.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I'm sure that C1 has the legal back to do this, but again this is extremely stupid to do.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">My two cents:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Stick with C1 if you <i>really</i> need to or if you have a real advantage on doing this.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">If you want a decent raw converter + editor, I would go for <b>DxO + Affinity</b> or <b>RawPower + Affinity</b> and just forget about C1. They are a better combo, not subscription-based and far less expensive.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Even the Adobe suite subscription is a far better value. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-25821332890976773162024-01-09T10:54:00.000-03:002024-01-09T10:54:13.192-03:00Legacy Lenses 12 - Minolta MD 135 F2, maybe the best 135 ever made.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGi0GmYLMP-yX8oKct3g1bPeMGf-v1RSdWBVOv0xFO0IKxqUk5tXPIqrOyXg2221XtLaniQS7WlM5Ni3MJVqTlLKDwpuKfxGN5W0HsPUfybrlr3mDNaQF_t9e9EOGFk-F74eh_xjryb7wOea2JOcAp0HrhCOBsrPClZmlMDCCFTlXcHkY9HrpDmP7k" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="732" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGi0GmYLMP-yX8oKct3g1bPeMGf-v1RSdWBVOv0xFO0IKxqUk5tXPIqrOyXg2221XtLaniQS7WlM5Ni3MJVqTlLKDwpuKfxGN5W0HsPUfybrlr3mDNaQF_t9e9EOGFk-F74eh_xjryb7wOea2JOcAp0HrhCOBsrPClZmlMDCCFTlXcHkY9HrpDmP7k" width="265" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This lens is a true monster. Large, heavy (725g) and built to last.<br /><br />It dates from 1981 and it's very rare, maybe one of the rarest Minolta MD lenses. The optical formula is 6e/5g and it takes 72mm filters. It also has a built-in, retractable, metal lens hood.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br />Its performance is truly flawless, even wide open from corner to corner with incredible resolution at the center. Very low coma and astigmatism at F2.0 and a controllable CA.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I tested it with the Sony A7-II and A7-III. In </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">my</i><span style="font-family: verdana;"> opinion, no modern lens can match it for the same cost.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This is a fantastic lens for astrophotography. Too bad I can't use it with my Pentax KP... <br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>The only thing I want to suggest is to triple check for the 4th and 5th elements that are cemented together as a group. Be sure that this group has no fogging. If the lens has any signs of fog/haze on this particular group, avoid it.<br /><br /><br />Pros:<br /><br />- Top notch optics<br /><br />- Built to last<br /><br />- Easy to service</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Bokeh master<br /><br /><br />Cons:<br /><br />- Heavy<br /><br />- Rare<br /><br />- Expensive <br /><br /><br />Check <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6501507569033169991/6017044076533353313#">here</a> for more info.</span><br /><p></p></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-84476766986789895672023-12-19T11:40:00.000-03:002023-12-19T11:40:40.568-03:00Olympus 35RC<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">This is a very nice and compact 35mm film camera.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Just six months following the release of the Olympus 35EC, the Olympus 35RC was unveiled in the autumn of 1970. In contrast to the electronic program shutter featured in the EC, the RC adopted an shutter-priority auto-exposure system with a mechanical shutter that allowed for optional manual operation. This gave photographers complete control over exposure settings for more creative freedom. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">It has two operating modes, shutter priority and full manual.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPwg1lvTnAS81-IEHqVHBqUwbtvB0LP5P8YHQWbxQcSB0d9EqL-iX-KbMlbQtWeljcvpK7-4iSOwXIg-gzelv8jaIryD_4xt3xblcBD1FoeTg_yEd5IfXgmpc8zePYr5cXAqMY4bzpSQ/s1600/DSCF3028.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPwg1lvTnAS81-IEHqVHBqUwbtvB0LP5P8YHQWbxQcSB0d9EqL-iX-KbMlbQtWeljcvpK7-4iSOwXIg-gzelv8jaIryD_4xt3xblcBD1FoeTg_yEd5IfXgmpc8zePYr5cXAqMY4bzpSQ/s640/DSCF3028.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olympus 35 RC</td></tr>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">I got mine for $35 and it just needed a viewfinder and lens cleaning. The meter and mechanical parts were perfect. I also ordered a custom-made light seal kit from </span><a href="http://aki-asahi.com/store/index.php" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Aki-Asahi</a><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">. Their light seals are very well made and affordable.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The camera has a top shutter speed selector on the top plate and it's possible to choose from 1/15s to 1/500 plus B. It's a fairly limited range but it's amazing how you can do if combined with a razor-sharp five-element E.Zuiko 42mm F2.8 objective and a good 400 ISO film. </span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The lens is EXTREMELY sharp from F5.6 to F8 and still a very good performer at F3.5 with <i>some</i> corner softness at maximum aperture of F2.8.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><div>It's important to note that this compact camera was specifically crafted for handheld photography, and even the most skilled hands couldn't guarantee optimal results at speeds slower than 1/15 sec.</div><div><br /></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">A notable addition was the red band on the left side of the aperture scale, signaling insufficient light for auto-exposure operation. When the indicator needle entered this band, the shutter would automatically lock. This feature proved useful for creative photography. In auto mode, photographers could gently press the release button, check the aperture reading, and then switch to manual aperture setting based on the previous exposure reading, ensuring both creative freedom and necessary information for precise exposure settings.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Focusing is done manually by a nice coincidence image rangefinder. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">The viewfinder featured an Olympus special bright frame finder, displaying shutter speeds at the top and an aperture scale at the bottom. Both scales included movable indicator needles for easy confirmation of settings.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The shutter priority mode needs a battery to work. The original one is a PX-625 1.35V mercury battery, now banned, but you can use a Zinc-air Wien battery and it works very well. Another option is to adapt a silver oxide battery (1.55 V) and have the light meter recalibrated by a technician, or just compensate the difference selecting a higher ISO. I do not recommend 1.5V alkaline batteries as the voltage drops during its lifetime. The difference from 1.35 to 1.5 V can result in a +2 stops exposure error. </span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Finally, I ended with a very nice <a href="https://www.35mmc.com/14/01/2015/mr-9-battery-adapter/" target="_blank">voltage converter adapter</a>. Worth every cent.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The manual mode is meter blind. You will need an external light meter or an exposure table to properly expose the film. It's possible to use the manual mode without the battery.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Also very interesting is the "Flashmatic" system used on several Olympus cameras from this era. It's a very clever approach. The idea is to set the camera with the flash guide number (luminous power) and the camera will automatically set the aperture based on the film ISO and focusing distance. Works like a charm and it's not fooled by the background. It can sync at any speed.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The CdS light meter sensor is positioned inside the filter thread, allowing automatic compensation for the filter factor.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">It's a very precise meter and capable of good exposures even with positive film, but remember it's center-weighted, so you must compensate manually for strong backlight or the classic bride on the snow and black cat in a coal mine situations. The shutter release also acts as an exposure lock when pressed halfway.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">And last but not least, the filter size is 43.5 mm, and not very easy to find. Like many other people, I decided to use a 43.5 to 46 mm step-up ring.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">There is much more information about the 35RC on the following websites :</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://web2.ph.utexas.edu/~yue/misc/35RC.html" target="_blank">Andrew Yue website</a></span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.cameraquest.com/olyrc.htm" target="_blank">Camera Quest</a></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Compared to other Olympus cameras with rangefinder from the same era:</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">This RC is much better than the classic Olympus Trip 35 and, in my opinion, a better choice than the Olympus 35 DC. The later one has a more luminous lens, but it's totally autoexposure within almost the same exposure parameters with the shutter speed range from 1/15s to 1/500s and a 40/1.7 lens. The manual mode of the RC is a good add-on.</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The best one of the series is the RD. Think about an RC with a huge 40mm F1.7 lens and a mechanical shutter capable to go down to 1/2s. This little camera is a killer. It's also smaller than the Canon Canonet QL17 and QL19. But the RD is a rare camera and usually expensive.</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Compared to the XA, the RC is much cheaper, has a better viewfinder and rangefinder and less prone to electronic malfunctions. I think the RC lens is sharper than the XA's one.</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The 35SP has superior specifications in almost every aspect, but it's a much larger and heavier camera and the light meter sensor is placed outside the lens filter thread and you need to remember to compensate if you're using filters. One drawback of the SP is that it works on full-automatic, metered mode <i>or</i> full-manual unmetered mode. I still prefer the RC or the RD.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-64560151440096793872023-12-15T17:07:00.001-03:002023-12-15T17:07:06.800-03:00Konica Autoreflex TC, T3 and T4<p><br /> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Konica cameras are always good and a very good compromise between cost and quality and the optics are famous for being outstanding.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As usual, I'll not dig into historical and technical details and keep focused on my user experience with the Konica Autoreflex TC, T3 and T4.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">For more information please check: <a href="https://mattsclassiccameras.com/slr/konica-autoreflex-tc/" target="_blank">Matt's Classic Camera</a> and <a href="https://buhla.de/Foto/Konica/eTCHaupt.html" target="_blank">Buhla</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Konica is famous for some really outstanding quality lenses and just this may justify to have a Konica SLR. Of course you can also use the lenses on any digital mirrorless camera. </span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The simplest Autoreflex, the TC</span></h2><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This is the entry-level model, but still a very decent camera that you can find for just a few dollars on the second hand market, flea markets or garage sales.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The main difference between the TC and the other models is the fact it has no shutter speeds below 1/8s.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivlkGXpkhydM-8QDjr_bfFn-FFtm53_iT1rN7HYQ5HtUjWszWwGZmyXAeFlZKz1gP105AKXxowqepFVKx6ei6ZuDZv0TECEpTqP21u1iYJoCA92kVPiXM09jg_IYXm7UH729cgpDOgRPAowjlfHYcNLwd7s55481AaxXeS1tFk3D1j_SuEYSqwgPf6_zk" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivlkGXpkhydM-8QDjr_bfFn-FFtm53_iT1rN7HYQ5HtUjWszWwGZmyXAeFlZKz1gP105AKXxowqepFVKx6ei6ZuDZv0TECEpTqP21u1iYJoCA92kVPiXM09jg_IYXm7UH729cgpDOgRPAowjlfHYcNLwd7s55481AaxXeS1tFk3D1j_SuEYSqwgPf6_zk=w640-h480" title="Konica Autoreflex TC" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Konica Autoreflex TC</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It has a basic TTL light meter mechanically linked to the aperture control mechanism. There is a mechanical latch that identify the galvanometer needle position, locks it and therefore controls the aperture. Pretty simple, exactly the way that some rangefinder cameras like the Konica Auto S2 and the Olympus Trip 35 do. It has auto exposure lock, but no exposure compensation adjustments neither the possibility of double exposures.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The shutter is all-mechanic and the battery is needed just for the light meter itself.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">But this camera has some very odd quirks. The light meter works only on certain ranges of speed and ISO settings.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">From the TC manual:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Exposure Meter Range of Konica TC:</span></b></span></p></div><div><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">ASA 25 - 200 -1/8 sec. to 1/1000</span></b></span></p></div><div><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">ASA 250 - 400 - 1/5 sec. to 1/1000</span></b></span></p></div><div><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">ASA 500 - 800 - 1/30 sec. to 1/1000</span></b></span></p></div><div><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">ASA 1000 - 1600 - 1/60 to 1/1000</span></b></span></p></div></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The meter will simply disengage outside the above mentioned ranges. For example, you will have NO METERING if you set ISO 500 and 1/15s.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Besides this weirdness, it's a cool camera. It's lightweight, reliable, with a decent viewfinder.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Like all Konicas, you will need specific Konica mount lenses to use with it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Pros: Inexpensive, easy to find, light, reliable</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Cons: Takes TWO 1.35V PX13 Mercury battery, light-meter e</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d3d3d;">ccentricities, some people will complain about the missing slow speeds.</span> </span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The T3 and T4</span></h4><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuGByVAwBKZcPhKDKnRys6LRqMhhZag0c2nCBTinorQzePljs4E88iJo58-tS0HMAGzJEKS-kVKfrebbVBo2dC1hQ_egwiFuC3x0_9AnJB5v8rJ2zCMdSD21TUU2qz5eeoR70OEK5GLP1UoL2NDCAyuHNhi3SS8tPZ3jtRujpCH_t5WVsAtQrpPV7m5CU" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuGByVAwBKZcPhKDKnRys6LRqMhhZag0c2nCBTinorQzePljs4E88iJo58-tS0HMAGzJEKS-kVKfrebbVBo2dC1hQ_egwiFuC3x0_9AnJB5v8rJ2zCMdSD21TUU2qz5eeoR70OEK5GLP1UoL2NDCAyuHNhi3SS8tPZ3jtRujpCH_t5WVsAtQrpPV7m5CU=w640-h480" title="Konica Autoreflex T3" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Konica Autoreflex T3</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The T3 is a much more sophisticated camera. First, it's an all-metal body, very well made and heavy like a brick. The viewfinder is pretty decent and the focusing screens are user changeable.</span></span></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The shutter </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">is a mechanic Copal Square, with vertical-travel curtain </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">a has the more familiar 1s-1/1000s + B speeds. The T3 and T4 allow multiple-exposures.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The light meter don't have the limitations like the one from the TC and couples with all iso and shutter combinations.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The T4 is a T3 upgrade without any important additional feature. Both cameras are quite similar besides the T4 weight, much lighter than the T3 and it's also smaller.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiA-liTVNtuVdX4_qcp-KfbN8WtDnMKAY4E_N1pVMljshUAuk5nlwOwIYDrKSVoXhpXtbdMeam_W09IuBO01rxRhQ6xPXaRsufIKk-LNHlPx-zYsbRnWS6PR_ZXa5F2GVLVaoFkpYLby3BiHJNctDZWIDdhzS_zfh9PsLmkz0QwfrKHiCq8i_gJHz55Qw8" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiA-liTVNtuVdX4_qcp-KfbN8WtDnMKAY4E_N1pVMljshUAuk5nlwOwIYDrKSVoXhpXtbdMeam_W09IuBO01rxRhQ6xPXaRsufIKk-LNHlPx-zYsbRnWS6PR_ZXa5F2GVLVaoFkpYLby3BiHJNctDZWIDdhzS_zfh9PsLmkz0QwfrKHiCq8i_gJHz55Qw8=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Konica Autoreflex T4</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Conclusion:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The TC,T3 and T4 are nice cameras with reliable mechanics. The exposure control system is basic but if in working condition will work as expected for center-weighted light measurements. Be sure to check if it's working before buying one.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The PX13 mercury battery is definitely something to worry. One option is to use alkalines and have the meter calibrated by a professional. Second option is to use Zinc-Air batteries and the third is to use two expensive silver-oxyde battery adapters with voltage regulation. It's up to you to decide.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So, why bother about Konica SLRs ? Because Konica made some extremely good lenses and they are affordable. And you can always use them on digital cameras if you want.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p> </p><div><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-73755998653515960022023-07-04T09:00:00.002-03:002023-12-15T19:56:09.423-03:00Travelling With Film Cameras Today<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Updated on December 15th, 2023</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I have no illusions that taking photos with film in plain 2023 is not for the faints of hearth and it's more for stubborn people like me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Although we can still buy fresh film in 2023, it's near impossible to buy new film cameras, even more, good ones. And the cost and variety of films aren't exactly pleasent news.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">But there are plenty of camera bargains in the second-hand market, or even on some forgotten drawer, or somewhere else.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The problem that bugs me is how reliable these old cameras are today. If you are like me that has a fixed idea of always try to shoot with film for fun, it's better to triple-check your equipment before going in a trip with untested cameras and come back frustrated because they had a working problem.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>First rule:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Always test/check old cameras from time to time. It's a common problem to have sticky shutters with long time unused cameras. Exercise the shutter from time to time, they need a little workout every 6 months minimum. If they are sticky, send it to a technician for CLA. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Check also for the light-seals.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have a friend that travelled to the Atacama desert and the Bolivian Altiplano with a venerable Minolta SRT101 and had issues caused by low temperature and old lubricants. The camera mirror stuck in 50% of the times. Not a catastrophe but indeed very annoying and frustrating.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The cameras I usually carry are:</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>For Medium Format:</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Rolleiflex (Tessar F3.5) or Yashica-Mat</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">They are extremely reliable, light and with a very good optical quality, but some people may think they're clumsy. This is somewhat true, TLRs can be quirky.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Zeiss Ikonta, Agfa Isolette, Voigtlander Perkeo folders</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Very compact and they can deliver very high quality images if properly used. They are a bit awkward to set up (open and prepare) but they are usually very inexpensive.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Mamiya 645 if you're brave and strong</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The M645 is a workhorse, extremely reliable and has interchangeable lenses. But it's a heavy camera.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>For 35mm SLRs</b> there are plenty of options, but besides some very few exceptions I would tell you to stay away of electronic cameras and stick with the ones with mechanical shutters that works independently of batteries.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My picks are the Olympus OM-1, the Nikkormat FT2, The Pentax MX, Minolta SRT series and the Cosina OEMs like the Ricoh KR5.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">They are reliable, not too heavy neither expensive and there are plenty of stunning optics tu use with them. Some will argue why not the Nikon FM2... Well I hate this camera. Its shutter is very unreliable, specially the 1st version with a hexagonal pattern. It WILL jam at some point. It always does.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>If we are talking about compacts</b>, my personal picks are the Olympus 35RC, PEN-S and PEN-D because they are compact, inexpensive, have impressive optics and are all-mechanic.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Second rule:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Always have a second camera as a backup. I'm not kidding. Even a small, compact camera can save you from frustration and anger.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Imagine that you spent a good money on film and had your camera dead. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I would suggest you something like an Olympus 35RC, Trip 35 or whatever you think it will be good. There are plenty of good compacts for just a few bucks. Do not overlook those old brands, like Konica, Yashica, Petri, Agfa, Kodak, Chinon, etc. because some of them are simply outstanding. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Be careful with electronic cameras. Triple-check them before using.</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">About films:</span></h3><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">If you have access to a fully analog lab to develop prints, please use the best possible film you can find. If your goal is to scan the film, then you may not need the "best film ever", since many image look parameters can be adjusted using a photo editor.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Fresh film is becoming a luxury article and the brands and types now are a fraction of what were in the past.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Depending on where you live, it can be nearly impossible to find a lab to develop E6 process films (diapositives).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And if everything fails you can develop black and white films by yourself. It's simple and inexpensive, but needs patience and practice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-70937519434824796962023-07-04T08:41:00.001-03:002023-11-28T13:43:29.836-03:00Rolleiflex SL35<div>Updated on July 4th, 2023</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzKxosR4NS9zK_3Y8pmHGYhWfUUMhUdW_9sON2Oy-u5mI1rPkjo1VQuxflKEqQAIscTPMA_vcQ5StcTXPbnU2rLx2RpWtTRPnmWTDnI6rRX02EGWUxgbRvEKlI5yyjPizBGNuNwT3gDA/s1600/WP_20190903_001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzKxosR4NS9zK_3Y8pmHGYhWfUUMhUdW_9sON2Oy-u5mI1rPkjo1VQuxflKEqQAIscTPMA_vcQ5StcTXPbnU2rLx2RpWtTRPnmWTDnI6rRX02EGWUxgbRvEKlI5yyjPizBGNuNwT3gDA/s400/WP_20190903_001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rolleiflex SL35</td></tr>
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This is, in my opinion, the best 35mm camera made by Rollei and launched in 1970. It's an all-mechanic camera body with a decent and reliable horizontal travel cloth shutter with speeds from 1s to 1/1000s.<br />
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The small-sized, all-metal camera body feels very solid in the hands but not too heavy. It's more compact than a Canon FTb or a Nikkormat, but larger than a Pentax MX. Feels good in hands and that's what matter.<br />
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It has no flash hot shoe (or even a shoe). If you plan to use a flash unit on it, you may need a flash bracketing mount or an accessory flash shoe that fits around the eyepiece frame, then use a cable.<br />
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This camera uses QBM mount lenses and it's compatible with 1-pin, 2-pin, and 3-pin units. It usually came with a very sharp 55mm f1.4 Rolleinar, designed by Mamiya or a QFT Rollei 50mm F1.8 Planar.<br />
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The viewfinder is large and clear, with a micro prism focusing aid at the center and a match-needle light meter on the right side.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">About the mechanics, it's a very well-built and projected piece of hardware. It's simple, efficient and very easy to service with no surprises.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The light metering mode is center weighted by two CDs cells and good for normal light use. Not quite in the league of Fujica's or Olympus' SPD system, but more than adequate in good hands.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">There is a very strange design feature, the depth preview and light metering button just near the film advance lever, a very awkward position and easy to be confused with the shutter release button. When you press it, the iris closes to the proper aperture and the light meter is powered. This means that this camera has no automatic aperture reading for the light meter. By the way, it uses a PX625 battery for it. I use one LR44 alkaline and a brass battery adapter.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The light meter/DOF preview switch activates the light meter circuit. </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It's very easy to confuse the LM/DOF button with the shutter button.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The first bad impression I had about the "electronics" was exaggerated. The light meter uses that awful 1.35v mercury battery, but you can use alkalines without any problem because the meter circuit is actually a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheatstone_bridge#:~:text=A%20Wheatstone%20bridge%20is%20an,which%20includes%20the%20unknown%20component." rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wheatstone bridge</a> and independent of the battery voltage. Clever. I like to use the SR44 or any other silver-oxyde ones that fits, but you can aso use standard alkalines like the A76/LR44.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">
Please do not confuse the Rolleiflex SL35 with the SL35M. The later model has horrible and unreliable mechanics, especially the film transport gears and it's probably the worst camera from Rollei by a large margin. Some people like it but honestly I don't.<br />
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It's a cool camera if you plan to play with QBM lenses. There are some excellent, very sharp lenses for a good price on the second-hand market, like the Distagon 2.8/35, the Planar 1.8/50 and the Tele-Tessar 4/135. They form an excellent starter kit and will not make a hole in your pocket. Some lenses like the 25mm Distagon (Color-Skoparex) aren't cheap, but never exaggerated in price. I love the 85mm Sonnar.<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">If you don't want to expend too much money on QBM lenses, there is an amateur range of lenses by Rollei, the Rolleinars. Not good as the Zeiss-derived lenses but good enough for casual use.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">There are two other possibilities for third-party lenses: Tamron's Adaptall-2 series lenses and Rollei's own M42 screw mount to QBM adapter, but it's a hard to fin item.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">
Look elsewhere if you don't have plans to play with QBM mount lenses. =)<br />
<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Pros:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Very well built</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Reliable</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Good viewfinder and focusing screen</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Compact, about the size of the Pentax MX</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Cons:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- QBM lenses are not very easy to find</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Pristine models can cost a good money</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Since my focus is on practical and user experience and not historical or too technical, for more information please see <a href="https://rolleiflexsl35system.blogspot.com/2011/06/rolleiflex-sl-35-system.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Rolleiflex SL35 Blog</a> or the excellent <a href="https://mikeeckman.com/2018/04/rolleiflex-sl35-1970/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mike Eckman's website</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Since I mentioned the Pentax MX, I think they are very similar but in the end personal preferences may prevail. The Pentax viewfinder is larger and better and the camera has an exposure compensation dial around the rewind crank. The light meter of the MX has 5 leds and the SL35 has a match needle system. But the MX has no depth-of-field preview lever/button. In the end, the MX is a more modern camera and the K-mount lenses are much easier to find than QBMs. </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-91866918270154323332023-03-14T10:11:00.007-03:002023-11-28T13:46:49.432-03:00Underated Marvel - The Cosina CT1 Super and OEM versions (Ricoh KR5, XR8, Olympus OM2000, Nikon FM10, etc.)<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The Cosina C1 is the precursor of a very large family of cameras that was sold millions of units under a very wide range of brands and models.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'll be talking specifically about the </span><a href="http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Cosina_CT1_Super" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Cosina CT1 Super</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> , aka Ricoh XR8 (KR5 Super II) because I still have one of these humble but marvelous cameras.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It's an inexpensive, basic, all-mechanical camera with a pretty decent viewfinder (type varies according to the "brand and model") and the original model has a k-mount bayonet (aka Pentax K).</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The shutter is a vertical travel Seiko with speeds from 1s to 1/2000s plus Bulb setting for long exposures. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">The flash sync speed is 1/125s, typical for this kind of shutter.</span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It also has a very good, basic light-meter with three leds on the viewfinder left side, two red ones for over and over exposure indication and a green one for correct. It uses two widely available LR44 or equivalent batteries, just to power up the light meter.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Why is this camera so good in my opinion ? Simple. It's basic, but <i>extremely</i> reliable and very inexpensive. This Cosina CT1 Super chassis is so good that it was chosen by:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Ricoh (KR8, KR5 Super II, etc.)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Porst</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Vivitar (V2000, V3000, etc)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Nikon (FM10)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Olympus (OM2000)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Voigtlander (Bessaflex TM, Bessa-R, Bessa-T, Bessa-L)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Chinon CM7</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Petri GX1</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- MIranda MS1</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And many others.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Plastic cover ? Yes. But who cares ? Mine is about 30 years old and alive and kicking. In the meanwhile, my Nikon FM2 went to CLA at least 4 times to fix shutter issues.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Barebones ? Too basic ? The Nikon FM has the same specs and nobody complains. Okay, made of metal... Prove me that this makes it last more. OK, the FM has interchangeable focusing screens and a better viewfinder and that's it. Sorry for being so frank.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgszc6_lObLx6AibYtCW_zgT8Mm4EuClfjzS9VMdaN5mAlETc1WPpDGyyEe36HsyPEVRUOejWgQjXvwxyH1ZgCA_j3qE3wLf2RwapxgeUsGS0kQWD-8yFy1bgtTIFaSE4m9ZPHceXhYuMA-WDgRsZ4MenOyGty_CkhzXIcu5Tkug_-cdh60hiliS4pP" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgszc6_lObLx6AibYtCW_zgT8Mm4EuClfjzS9VMdaN5mAlETc1WPpDGyyEe36HsyPEVRUOejWgQjXvwxyH1ZgCA_j3qE3wLf2RwapxgeUsGS0kQWD-8yFy1bgtTIFaSE4m9ZPHceXhYuMA-WDgRsZ4MenOyGty_CkhzXIcu5Tkug_-cdh60hiliS4pP=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Cosina-Voigtlander Bessaflex TM</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The CV Bessaflex TM was a beautiful camera and the last made camera with a M42 thread mount. The only differences compared to the CT1 were the exquisite focusing screen and cover. This one is fitted with the fantastic EBC-Fujinon 50mm F1.4.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMRvCz-aZEeXJl5fNGEe7asJDbH2ABYrE2n19mmoXxHZ1QKYUWXWCLCe6rVa5zglFlXl8Wfb904OyaLQ-0fEqF08TEGHp-OH03fhXZTMJgioDhsWcQj0-eGo0BwyWbOLWbtv4POL9boSb-iOqpZ5z0ZULqK6wUTv-FvS_5BkqIgirPRYnFORSTzUWk" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="800" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMRvCz-aZEeXJl5fNGEe7asJDbH2ABYrE2n19mmoXxHZ1QKYUWXWCLCe6rVa5zglFlXl8Wfb904OyaLQ-0fEqF08TEGHp-OH03fhXZTMJgioDhsWcQj0-eGo0BwyWbOLWbtv4POL9boSb-iOqpZ5z0ZULqK6wUTv-FvS_5BkqIgirPRYnFORSTzUWk=w640-h396" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Cosina Voigtlander Bessa-R</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The CV Bessa-R was built over the same basic chassis, but without the mirror and pentaprism assemblies. Instead, a direct view viewfinder with a rangefinder. It was equipped with a Leica M39 thread mount, and a modified light meter.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBlxO-v31SR3PoeiRu5xu-A1_qfrCandjg7nJvo8EHujaAdL-iFxfGSal3X1N1LiJle_-8kWrzhtDJtVO7fAmhDw_8sHkfcRMIpKQv2cKo0LPxhhv_MQp9HHNdtZHSPVRqpIIi7KU3Z8ndGLnADOc8HjqUp7Gq6V5T3Ai2tIkZd71DlF8o_4Qr7Vvh" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBlxO-v31SR3PoeiRu5xu-A1_qfrCandjg7nJvo8EHujaAdL-iFxfGSal3X1N1LiJle_-8kWrzhtDJtVO7fAmhDw_8sHkfcRMIpKQv2cKo0LPxhhv_MQp9HHNdtZHSPVRqpIIi7KU3Z8ndGLnADOc8HjqUp7Gq6V5T3Ai2tIkZd71DlF8o_4Qr7Vvh=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ricoh XR-8 (KR5 Super II)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFoipkmsHo1bpFIAHSkWAka7vq9lTnYO0WKruN5BrPsSR9w_aUCp4tFAWgDMjFDXrJrDQ_KtQUr05hOdON_pSGPnd5A4R_kebcdBhgMsG-I6P_aDsNdvLM5YeOOD3LUdf7B_14f2O1WI_jCXy8psQVazwZtljRXL9KTpG4YtjfNUmRyMfBwxf7Mq2b" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFoipkmsHo1bpFIAHSkWAka7vq9lTnYO0WKruN5BrPsSR9w_aUCp4tFAWgDMjFDXrJrDQ_KtQUr05hOdON_pSGPnd5A4R_kebcdBhgMsG-I6P_aDsNdvLM5YeOOD3LUdf7B_14f2O1WI_jCXy8psQVazwZtljRXL9KTpG4YtjfNUmRyMfBwxf7Mq2b=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ricoh XR-8 (KR5 Super II)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The Ricoh XR-8 is the Asian market designation for the KR-5 Super II. It's the same camera. Another incarnation of the so under rated Cosina CT-1 Super. This little camera is a true joy to use.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">To conclude, this is a very well designed plastic-fantastic, inexpensive, all-mechanical camera that does everything right and it deserves a place in the Hall of Fame of the 35mm film cameras of all time.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Think it's something like the VW Beetle or the Citroën 2CV of the cameras !</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-47828374532248245452023-03-13T20:33:00.004-03:002023-03-13T20:33:36.103-03:00Voigtländer VSL3-E (or Rolleiflex SL35E)<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This is one of my all-time favorites. It's the first serious attempt for Rollei/Voigtlander to make a professional grade SLR.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The Voigtländer version is, in my opinion, more elegant than the Rollei, but this is a matter of taste.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The camera is beautifully made and has some very nice features. Starting with the electronically controlled horizontal travel cloth shutter that can work in manual or in aperture-priority modes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The viewfinder is very clear and bright. Not gigantic, but very confortable to use and has a diagonal split-image and a microprism collar for proper focusing. On. the left side there is a vertical shutter speed scale with the associated leds.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwBXpDIh_f3ZrWlUszCLq1M6Pz3OZvLvkovsh0umoD4mzwY3Z2ktuPH6rfpgsM6bdGT_1h4Geg6L9cP7AQPemLrHs4PPyBY9U4K4kfCQUvXcml1KcUhuHlBIdvnVCZoPWZsu7kQC52fQZSB8fNkkhmtT9XyaBB6CK8Qz8BTwqFEAXccXJricJa1lFw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="662" data-original-width="662" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwBXpDIh_f3ZrWlUszCLq1M6Pz3OZvLvkovsh0umoD4mzwY3Z2ktuPH6rfpgsM6bdGT_1h4Geg6L9cP7AQPemLrHs4PPyBY9U4K4kfCQUvXcml1KcUhuHlBIdvnVCZoPWZsu7kQC52fQZSB8fNkkhmtT9XyaBB6CK8Qz8BTwqFEAXccXJricJa1lFw=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Voigtlander VSL3-E</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">They were made in Singapore from 1977 to 1981 and 51.500 units were built.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The first batches had unreliable electronics, but the units with the updated circuit are probably still working today. My VLS3-E is from the latest batches and works very well.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Like all the VSL series (and Rolleiflex 35 series) it uses the QBM mount, to be exact QBM III (with aperture coupler from the lens to the mount).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Like all cameras with electronically controlled shutter, the VSL3-E will not work without batteries. It uses an easy to find 4LR44 6V alkaline or the PX28, both are easy to find.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">There is an interesting feature in this camera, the shutter speed dial is stepless from 16s to 1/1000s</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCgKA6obrVryeoVulz0ujqcFHqtFbAhUZvIf6jW1GnIZIapWSlx1jzQrEA6R0CyWfCzZk-UGVIw7slVhZxL-X0_kK83B4-QcFLoRxE9B3iOn8kMzB0EQqY1IRSBMlTAbDK4ay6k-Ffj1ywwBz4iAJ-A3AXPYyS3paOKgqiTlWdjbgbR2t8LVACqnlr" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="1024" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCgKA6obrVryeoVulz0ujqcFHqtFbAhUZvIf6jW1GnIZIapWSlx1jzQrEA6R0CyWfCzZk-UGVIw7slVhZxL-X0_kK83B4-QcFLoRxE9B3iOn8kMzB0EQqY1IRSBMlTAbDK4ay6k-Ffj1ywwBz4iAJ-A3AXPYyS3paOKgqiTlWdjbgbR2t8LVACqnlr=w640-h428" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Voigtlander VSL3-E top view</td></tr></tbody></table><br />This camera is a very competent shooter and a delight to use.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I would suggest you to buy a Rollei HFT Planar 50mm F1.4 for it because it's widely available and less expensive than the Voigtlander Ultron. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">More information on <a href="https://www.photo-foto.eu/voigtl%C3%A4nder/voigtl%C3%A4nder-vsl3-e/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Woflgang Bongsdt's website</a> (in German) and on <a href="https://rolleiflexsl35system.blogspot.com/2011/06/rolleiflex-sl-35-system.html?sc=1678724336587#c2776106363509758534" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rolleiflex SL35 Blog</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /> </span><p></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-84042192787207481032023-03-12T15:10:00.002-03:002023-07-04T08:45:10.628-03:00Why still use a 4.7 MP Foveon camera in 2020 ?<div><span face="" style="font-size: large;"><i>Updated on March, 12th 2023</i></span></div><span face="" style="font-size: large;"><i><div><span face="" style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>This is an update of the original 2018 post. Test images at 4.7 MP available for download at the end of this post.</i></span><br />
<h2>
<span face="" style="font-size: x-large;">"Low Resolution" Sigma Foveon Cameras</span></h2>
<span face="" style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">From time to time someone asks me why <u>sometimes</u> I still use a 4.7 MP camera today. People usually believe that the more resolution, the better the images are and this is not so simple.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="" style="font-size: large;">Depending on the use we don't need a high-resolution image. What you need is a proper pixel density to have a good viewing experience. What's this?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="" style="font-size: large;">For example, if you like to make printed photos, let's say, in postcard size (6x4 inches or 10x15 cm) you don't need a many megapixels image to have a perfect looking print.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="" style="font-size: large;">This is because the average human eye is virtually unable to see any difference in a printed (or projected) image at more than 300 dpi at a distance of 20 cm. This means that if you print the same image at the same size in 300 and 1000 dpi you simply won't be able to note any difference between them.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="" style="font-size: large;">Let's do some simple calculations:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="" style="font-size: large;">For a postcard size print, printed at 300 dpi we need (6 x 300) x (4 x 300) pixels = 1800 x 1200 pixels = 2160000 pixels = less than 2.2 megapixels.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="" style="font-size: large;">For a larger A4 size (roughly 8.3 x 11.7 inches) we need 8.5 megapixels (8 will do fine)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face="" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face="" style="font-size: large;"><span face="" style="font-size: large;">Larger resolutions are good if you need to crop the image or if you're a pixel peeper and want to have some fun looking it at 1:1 size. For larger prints at 300 dpi, obviously, you will need a higher resolution.</span><br style="font-size: medium;" /><span face="" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><span face="" style="font-size: large;">For poster size prints, you usually look at it from a distance and the print resolution can be lowered due to the human vision nature. </span><span face="" style="font-size: large;">You can use an online calculator to check what print resolution you need, based on the print size and viewing distance.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face="" style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Another interesting use for old, low-resolution still cameras, is to make time-lapse images for making videos or to take multiple shots for stitched panorama images.</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face="" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="" style="font-size: large;">To display a photo fullscreen on a DCI-4K UHD TV (4096x2160 pixels) we need 8 megapixels to fill all the screen pixels but depending on the viewing distance 4 or 5 megapixels would do fine, since you may not want to stare at the screen from 30cm...</span></div>
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<span face="" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span face="" style="font-size: large;">In other words, you may not need the resolution you think.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<span face="" style="font-size: large;">Those old Sigma cameras, from the pre-Merrill age like the SD14/15 and DP1/2 are more than enough if you don't need really large prints. Images from them can be easily interpolated by a 1.5 factor without any <i>visible</i> quality loss.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span face="" style="font-size: large;">An interesting point of the Foveon images is the absence of color alias. It's possible to upscale the 4.7 MP image without any perceivable quality loss to 150% (linear) and with acceptable quality at 200%. </span><span face="" style="font-size: large;">The Sigma Photo Pro raw converter is very good for upsizing.</span><br />
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<span face="" style="font-size: large;">The output resolution of those 4.7 MP cameras (DP1/2 and SD14/15) is 2652 x 1768 pixels.</span><br />
<span face="" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span face="" style="font-size: large;">Upsizing it to 150% leads to a 3978 x 2652 = 10.5 MP, more than enough for an A4 or Letter size print.</span><br />
<span face="" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span face="" style="font-size: large;">Just take a look at this image:</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4rbEqi8ODcbbo-OiOwe7TYGJOt8CN9z_I4rN2KbsXcq8nAOF-SsIl70qB1sq6uzRLMTD27zR3-bqLjPewUVJwFMUKzggST4xsHC5SB65TIgQphFbcXOe29HnNHCwdw9ZNX6LErJ7TC8/s1600/SigmaDP2-017.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4rbEqi8ODcbbo-OiOwe7TYGJOt8CN9z_I4rN2KbsXcq8nAOF-SsIl70qB1sq6uzRLMTD27zR3-bqLjPewUVJwFMUKzggST4xsHC5SB65TIgQphFbcXOe29HnNHCwdw9ZNX6LErJ7TC8/s640/SigmaDP2-017.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sigma DP2 sample, from Sigma website<br />
(C) Gris</td></tr>
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<span face="" style="font-size: large;">and this other one:</span><br />
<span face="" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IH9EM1ZkaRUAUFZdWwy53MScevba0KfgVer2RyWEVho__Wl-Ez5Lk9wbjeCzhAWDdyXQJZSQWeBEnCLtFFUXIYoAqepupWdBjRr05d7wVhAI14pq2sIetTMu-mMPzOrtnFkHjmYhmms/s1600/SigmaDP2-014.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IH9EM1ZkaRUAUFZdWwy53MScevba0KfgVer2RyWEVho__Wl-Ez5Lk9wbjeCzhAWDdyXQJZSQWeBEnCLtFFUXIYoAqepupWdBjRr05d7wVhAI14pq2sIetTMu-mMPzOrtnFkHjmYhmms/s640/SigmaDP2-014.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Sigma DP2 sample, from Sigma website</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">(C) Gris</span></td></tr>
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<span face="" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="" style="font-size: large;">Go on... Use SPP to upsize them to 150% and print with a good paper, ink and printer and see by yourself.</span><span face="" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span face="" style="font-size: large;">Considering the fact that any of those Sigma cameras with 4.7 MP (x3) are very cheap now, it may worth a try.</span><br />
<span face="" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span face="" style="font-size: large;">The last example was done using a Jurassic Sigma SD10, the second dSLR from Sigma and it's just 3.3 MP.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-TePf5a1F9Bde-hEcezpgbMq9ztJo_rI9EBliTx4PZHzceEwk74eZu-5wtkkfE2NxTGxJA0r60RufyNKanKwVkDqemUi5y8s7mAH4cjsho-AhqZwClCiKBGYSBp8vjQJ3lNYcIWYF-M/s1600/IMG01336P.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-TePf5a1F9Bde-hEcezpgbMq9ztJo_rI9EBliTx4PZHzceEwk74eZu-5wtkkfE2NxTGxJA0r60RufyNKanKwVkDqemUi5y8s7mAH4cjsho-AhqZwClCiKBGYSBp8vjQJ3lNYcIWYF-M/s640/IMG01336P.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sigma SD10 image example</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face="" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face="" style="font-size: large;">The image was first converted from X3F to TIFF using Sigma's own program SPP version 6 and then processed again on Affinity Photo for some color correction and tone curve adjustment. Honestly, it's a very high-quality image, but small. Still impressive today and easily up sizable to 4K to be displayed on a UHD TV or monitor.</span><br />
<span face="" style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNiPHu3bD5HNuzbaMQ5Lc78TOnF_jHCXgr0PJRq_5enOIJy_PE6Dp1-Ci2U6jzCTzmMRCHAAcnPiSOi9iuAhUOuNrOx1E0BKR3siZ0cLD_nXfESfACJZ_e1DAK_8hvDOKu1Hx2iRoYlqSJB7d_v0MZclVDJIOINiZ9MghIWJGDK5GYxJTJm_zXL4KI" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1682" data-original-width="1700" height="632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNiPHu3bD5HNuzbaMQ5Lc78TOnF_jHCXgr0PJRq_5enOIJy_PE6Dp1-Ci2U6jzCTzmMRCHAAcnPiSOi9iuAhUOuNrOx1E0BKR3siZ0cLD_nXfESfACJZ_e1DAK_8hvDOKu1Hx2iRoYlqSJB7d_v0MZclVDJIOINiZ9MghIWJGDK5GYxJTJm_zXL4KI=w640-h632" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower (Sigma SD15)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Now some upscaling tests:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face="" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face="" style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEix07R4UeMfhw35yc5-AOYxNXL3t27Kbw-Q0LJq_Wr6vxtD9_ZHANo5niBPmvvfHlQI5r-0n--oemEit72FXqBBXNNxgL6YhXjzlXokA5-1D7JpD-4ZH1Yc-fyMsV351WA2ihUxxhAIVzoqU-L2_B4O_OJFXOZvYvhsKiLXOLwiblcaCmxcC7jiH_Es" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1760" data-original-width="2640" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEix07R4UeMfhw35yc5-AOYxNXL3t27Kbw-Q0LJq_Wr6vxtD9_ZHANo5niBPmvvfHlQI5r-0n--oemEit72FXqBBXNNxgL6YhXjzlXokA5-1D7JpD-4ZH1Yc-fyMsV351WA2ihUxxhAIVzoqU-L2_B4O_OJFXOZvYvhsKiLXOLwiblcaCmxcC7jiH_Es=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">100% size SD15 Sigma Photo Pro<br />Click to Enlarge</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiH67Azi5qyqaqACUEih1pDVF29Ql5NXA89Coy59FBpjlWxsPCDVF2hlYefdRapbIuYQUDIZg1nRZHdvnNcWNBvFYVNDeI9fckO53-0FvhmRXVs2ElTBt5qHznbYxRt3Eqxc8OvJl4UBoJ2_U2Y2KTwpF0uGYKkil1Flx938q4J_u98WWJoioHhdPv0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3520" data-original-width="5280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiH67Azi5qyqaqACUEih1pDVF29Ql5NXA89Coy59FBpjlWxsPCDVF2hlYefdRapbIuYQUDIZg1nRZHdvnNcWNBvFYVNDeI9fckO53-0FvhmRXVs2ElTBt5qHznbYxRt3Eqxc8OvJl4UBoJ2_U2Y2KTwpF0uGYKkil1Flx938q4J_u98WWJoioHhdPv0=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">200% upscaled, Sigma SD15<br />Click to Enlarge<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face="" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="" style="font-size: large;">You can download some images for tests.</span><br />
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<span face="" style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheE_5iA7864faYDRtrWvEHhMXVuT4iMjBwEfBGHhPi6KNiyYhsuLbqxU6_uJnK9SLPY_DQAoJszNGNjFVieH-bg9UepsZYtf7l-wp5knUPodbiCP-5B1FjHEBCRh35MjWRQQMFTDcvmwk/s1600/SDIM0298.jpg"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheE_5iA7864faYDRtrWvEHhMXVuT4iMjBwEfBGHhPi6KNiyYhsuLbqxU6_uJnK9SLPY_DQAoJszNGNjFVieH-bg9UepsZYtf7l-wp5knUPodbiCP-5B1FjHEBCRh35MjWRQQMFTDcvmwk/s200/SDIM0298.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVuWPe-CHZuK0UoVQe-WdJFp3XfsvldD83gdsarXlF_nPhn9lor5vgRYUikQF-_adCX8_zRKL59cTAhzpZVYK7jZFSYIV-AV81JqLv0j9r3zLRREr2bXdS2ZzajEnzZWPJkuxwvryrk0/s1600/ENELOOP.jpg"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVuWPe-CHZuK0UoVQe-WdJFp3XfsvldD83gdsarXlF_nPhn9lor5vgRYUikQF-_adCX8_zRKL59cTAhzpZVYK7jZFSYIV-AV81JqLv0j9r3zLRREr2bXdS2ZzajEnzZWPJkuxwvryrk0/s200/ENELOOP.jpg" width="200" /></a></span><br />
<span face="" style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDd-Lk1zevMTU1K67zTnFJA6wGiwVgKnlQJqLWE3pRMT1vjmzMFYxR2xt5MaS6dog5kn-glB6LPXs8C6Q-vmF8cnMlz0h59vhT3c203m_0i43mV_Qr0g09SUuA6M9y7CqjAqpMEEhJN7o/s1600/SDIM0257.jpg"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDd-Lk1zevMTU1K67zTnFJA6wGiwVgKnlQJqLWE3pRMT1vjmzMFYxR2xt5MaS6dog5kn-glB6LPXs8C6Q-vmF8cnMlz0h59vhT3c203m_0i43mV_Qr0g09SUuA6M9y7CqjAqpMEEhJN7o/s200/SDIM0257.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWXnJy63ZZYhbDqqB2oV7y5zkN_bXHNVJ1d18ro0PTmDKZt7FJO6w538Z2G7ysKjQ3N3rBYZpYhyphenhyphenMwM6rp7Z1LwQXx5PF5zT7KCB0cyjyYYg9zqWFYBS2luwPw53icctzKH7D4zccaQM/s1600/SDIM0322.jpg"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWXnJy63ZZYhbDqqB2oV7y5zkN_bXHNVJ1d18ro0PTmDKZt7FJO6w538Z2G7ysKjQ3N3rBYZpYhyphenhyphenMwM6rp7Z1LwQXx5PF5zT7KCB0cyjyYYg9zqWFYBS2luwPw53icctzKH7D4zccaQM/s200/SDIM0322.jpg" width="200" /></a></u></span></span><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-87336869419299503972023-03-07T23:39:00.002-03:002023-05-11T02:35:03.200-03:00Legacy Lenses 16 - Voigtlander Color-Skoparex 25mm F2.8<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Another interesting lens from Voigtlander. This is actually a Zeiss 25mm F2.8 Distagon rebranded for Voigtlander. It was also sold as Rollei-HFT Distagon 25mm F2.8.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRufWWQDgnGkNEMGAmp2ePAE5AjkDqzkbzABS1Ns2kozjwOnOcVu-yG9u4lDkpXbhK8v_nWOP3f6x39kv_Jl_6hBgY5CQ3TQ0SMTKI3xy-UNzPRJUz0wSrG38Zm2cxuJqXFmslU4-Tg7mAZ5K9GSyLzY3JF2hc_In1qdsS2UQ5D5OqWDAx1AoqLb6W" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRufWWQDgnGkNEMGAmp2ePAE5AjkDqzkbzABS1Ns2kozjwOnOcVu-yG9u4lDkpXbhK8v_nWOP3f6x39kv_Jl_6hBgY5CQ3TQ0SMTKI3xy-UNzPRJUz0wSrG38Zm2cxuJqXFmslU4-Tg7mAZ5K9GSyLzY3JF2hc_In1qdsS2UQ5D5OqWDAx1AoqLb6W=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4GqFSYMvqgXZeuE8kfqLsZ0yuJpNT5tCVdjJLNBxMWytjwHUsklk5pjrCgwUs0s-AMNznSUHsqIi5TPhs96FBtGFDXIpUs1yVru_VuPtLgtlFmZIK9uvtDAU2vgc_T4t4hdPKMHMuAekFLqXtzzeRa_QllEcJU_A45F6jub0rlazJamdaSghS83WN" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1085" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4GqFSYMvqgXZeuE8kfqLsZ0yuJpNT5tCVdjJLNBxMWytjwHUsklk5pjrCgwUs0s-AMNznSUHsqIi5TPhs96FBtGFDXIpUs1yVru_VuPtLgtlFmZIK9uvtDAU2vgc_T4t4hdPKMHMuAekFLqXtzzeRa_QllEcJU_A45F6jub0rlazJamdaSghS83WN=w400-h398" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />It's a very well-made lens, with a pretty decent coating but better to avoid strong frontal light, useful for film and works well on digital, just have in mind that it needs to be stopped down to at least F5.6 to have decent corners. The center is sharp from 2.8 and very sharp at 5.6 and 8.0</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Optical formula: 8e/7g</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Weight: 310g</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Angle of view: about 82 degrees</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Filter size: 49mm<br /></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-40664400341452553322023-03-07T23:26:00.003-03:002023-03-07T23:32:09.874-03:00Legacy Lenses 15 - Voigtlander Color-Skoparex 21mm F4 <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This is an interesting lens. It was made by Mamiya and also sold in M42 mount.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It's a rectilinear ultra-wideangle lens, not a fish-eye. Not the best in class but it's at least affordable. I costed a fraction of the mainstream Miltoltas, Canons and Nikons.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbhcjN8V_xrLzukpkolq-KyBGibz0hpPBnyAI-2DlfxowPZdxNGAEbCRO9rVmB3_-nRujgKT8KOuWloq6JW8ju4cAo-jmPejwoIDkYXpTCeqVJTBOr39-GKufVZZo1_ciicR-rdpnJbRdvun_DLdjWsEvo2bNkZPO8cH8CQeWjXRmyabMdYOc7SNjW" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbhcjN8V_xrLzukpkolq-KyBGibz0hpPBnyAI-2DlfxowPZdxNGAEbCRO9rVmB3_-nRujgKT8KOuWloq6JW8ju4cAo-jmPejwoIDkYXpTCeqVJTBOr39-GKufVZZo1_ciicR-rdpnJbRdvun_DLdjWsEvo2bNkZPO8cH8CQeWjXRmyabMdYOc7SNjW=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Voigtlander Color-Skoparex 21mm F4</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /> </span></div></div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgJjp3E_HgVT5Fv6Im5beDFruHOGDXzGl9sIzXLaJ8w3KYzGXxAHAVl1Bd1L8SablhNGI61Z3PzAV6qBsLmcoyN2zCAZ_pDcxlSIZ4ZDsq0uYBaOSDswyIvbtrutK6jQZjcX6TM-mERsNR2jdKmS9utfVIER7NkO2gG-J_Xq5YfMTJQUUVMM2YAAeS" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="1129" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgJjp3E_HgVT5Fv6Im5beDFruHOGDXzGl9sIzXLaJ8w3KYzGXxAHAVl1Bd1L8SablhNGI61Z3PzAV6qBsLmcoyN2zCAZ_pDcxlSIZ4ZDsq0uYBaOSDswyIvbtrutK6jQZjcX6TM-mERsNR2jdKmS9utfVIER7NkO2gG-J_Xq5YfMTJQUUVMM2YAAeS=w400-h386" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Voigtlander Color-Skoparex 21mm F4<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It has a very beautiful coating but it's not enough to prevent flaring. Always use a light hood and avoid pointing to strong light sources.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The image quality is adequate for film and usable on digital. Remember that this is very subjective. For my taste, it performs acceptably at F8 on my Sony A7-III. At F4, the corners are soft.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">If we are talking about UWA lenses for full-frame sensor cameras, this one is a bargain, but not the easiest lens to find.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This lens is identical to the Rolleinar MC 21mm F4</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Technical data:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Angle of view: 91,7 degrees</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Optical formula: 9e/8g</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Filters: 58mm</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Weight: 250g</span></div></div><br /><br /></div><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-87927643108434249962023-03-07T23:04:00.001-03:002023-03-12T15:03:14.431-03:00Icarex 35 and 35CS<p> Update March 7th 2023</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKOcEWwuXyJPE3k9aesbah1b7xdx1zx3O8RD0EmDR4MmE6VLnHHD8luF0X-p216U2z8LT8sfsvrg5w8o5hnit90xC7RQxUIKvLDoaSnicY-0WJhO3HhnUvYNAWgEbc9iqYofUbMdQn1M/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKOcEWwuXyJPE3k9aesbah1b7xdx1zx3O8RD0EmDR4MmE6VLnHHD8luF0X-p216U2z8LT8sfsvrg5w8o5hnit90xC7RQxUIKvLDoaSnicY-0WJhO3HhnUvYNAWgEbc9iqYofUbMdQn1M/w640-h426/IMG_0014.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Icarex 35CS</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>This is a quite neat camera from the mid-'60s made by Zeiss Ikon, but the project was originally from Voigländer. Some people say that this camera is not so reliable, but mine is working perfectly except for the light meter (built-in on the CS prism).</p><p>It's a bulky and heavy all-mechanical camera with a very good viewfinder. Not exceptionally large, but very, very clear and it has a 45 degree split image focusing aid and a plain matte area.</p><p>The body finish is supperb !</p><p>The shutter speeds are from 1/2s to 1/1000s and it's very smooth and reliable compared to the Contarex and Contax rangefinder cameras from Zeiss, much more simple and less prone to jams. </p><p>The Icarex was sold with finder options: <i>A plain waist-level</i> (like the ones found on TLRs), a <i>simple prism </i>and the dreaded <i>CS prism-meter</i>. </p><p>The last one has a so-so CdS light meter very prone to problems. The exposure setting is very awkward. First you need to set the speed on the top dial of the prism assembly and set the same speed on the shutter speed selector. Then you need to step down the lens by pressing the DoF/iris button near the lens mount and adjust the aperture until the light meter needle stays at the center. Not very practical. To make things even stranger the meter needle is at the TOP of the viewfinder area, along with the aperture number. At its top, we can see an exposure guide calculator. It uses a dreaded PX13 (625) mercury battery. Do yourself a favor, forget about it and use a handheld meter.</p><p>I prefer it with the simple prism (no meter).</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4I7JZBkZv-yob-UlKMowIcdrtkMTxs0qoDjp8ec_8OY7LqYvnp_mvHI9le2VPd4qIBjHWoMC1j7JFDBip0vpJTERPFO-U-rrRk-Rw4g9H3VJ0MPEkSckIx5oLsQzN4ICednV-JmpYpTk/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4I7JZBkZv-yob-UlKMowIcdrtkMTxs0qoDjp8ec_8OY7LqYvnp_mvHI9le2VPd4qIBjHWoMC1j7JFDBip0vpJTERPFO-U-rrRk-Rw4g9H3VJ0MPEkSckIx5oLsQzN4ICednV-JmpYpTk/w640-h480/IMG_0712.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Icarex 35</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Note that the Icarex 35 and the 35CS are the same camera. The difference is the detachable prism model.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6p3kNY6gH1hHYWHAFlwp33SsQkFerW4jSzIsmgjkGGcxTJGtD5MpBCCZfa-cI7-_ytilAopjxga1ai1yWg-M9lcCXwSeTsZebwka0Z-dsante6q1iYDRfnLg2xV984jaJz2pRtwmjqo/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6p3kNY6gH1hHYWHAFlwp33SsQkFerW4jSzIsmgjkGGcxTJGtD5MpBCCZfa-cI7-_ytilAopjxga1ai1yWg-M9lcCXwSeTsZebwka0Z-dsante6q1iYDRfnLg2xV984jaJz2pRtwmjqo/w640-h480/IMG_0713.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Icarex 35 with the standard prism<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />At this time I have four lenses:<div><br /></div><div>- Skoparex 35mm F3.4 (6-elements, 5-groups)</div><div>- Tessar 50mm F2.8 (4-elements, 3-groups)</div><div>- Dynarex 90mm F3.4 (5-elements, 3-groups)</div><div>- Super-Dynarex 135mm F4 (4-elements, 3-groups)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-JV4_rAhbnjfyuOVBZ4j8cO_nA69nFg0n8sIoD7_LyPB7VYLAXakN9VcMG6Ue_EU0QGzfVBa-zD6R5QYT088bsvCFChWUPVY9rRxCMqV2D0vTehlY6h6VB80NU-aq94xmHH3e5doMhsL0VTlkpj4VWv9skSIieAETABNcv801hKiihE8lnz_cq6lo" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1273" data-original-width="1483" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-JV4_rAhbnjfyuOVBZ4j8cO_nA69nFg0n8sIoD7_LyPB7VYLAXakN9VcMG6Ue_EU0QGzfVBa-zD6R5QYT088bsvCFChWUPVY9rRxCMqV2D0vTehlY6h6VB80NU-aq94xmHH3e5doMhsL0VTlkpj4VWv9skSIieAETABNcv801hKiihE8lnz_cq6lo=w400-h343" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have an ad at Mercadolivre.com for this lens</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcmYtzKVFascQQC1STT0bXwrlyToXs5d0C6YWJmjxXXiuWeFR95kYFGGsMzYym57YsPqEsKIz2gl2pItUn354UU2ca8bh3etg4PsOhmVVSMRQomNaPTcFr4tVWMOO65TRDmV2PknDSADFa9i0t2Oh0V1aR9WLcaXUIfu7k_Ocp1hnLU3Op7aXKgi7Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1368" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcmYtzKVFascQQC1STT0bXwrlyToXs5d0C6YWJmjxXXiuWeFR95kYFGGsMzYym57YsPqEsKIz2gl2pItUn354UU2ca8bh3etg4PsOhmVVSMRQomNaPTcFr4tVWMOO65TRDmV2PknDSADFa9i0t2Oh0V1aR9WLcaXUIfu7k_Ocp1hnLU3Op7aXKgi7Q=w427-h640" width="427" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have an ad at Mercadolivre.com for this lens<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>All are single-coated and designed by Voigtländer (besides the Tessar). They take a very odd filter, Icarex B50 (different from Hasselblad's B50 !). They are quite sharp when stopped down, but flares like crazy. A light hood is a must.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>To be honest the greatest complication for this camera in the present time are the lenses. They are not that rare but they are odd. The lens mount remembers a cross between a Canon FD (lock) and an M42 screw mount (pin) ! </div><div><br /></div><div>There is an M42 Icarex 35 TM that have a normal 42mm screw mount.</div><div><br /></div><div>The lenses are more than adequate for film photography but they are tricky for digital cameras due to the poor coating on the rear faces of the lens elements, remember that the camera sensor is a highly polished device and reflects quite a lot of light. This can cause strange reflexions between the lens elements resulting at least in strange effects if you point the lens to strong light sources. Better avoid and use with more favorable light conditions. </div><div><br /></div><div>All the four above-mentioned lenses have this problem.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeymeI_VZTVJNEXlAULbcCE0DOh4_KRjAXey4ij1Ku2dxsrcxLv03H4-agofEezkR-5W3R2lalPKzbCs09Q-s37Gu8T0uS07IZa1pzMms1KEi7Uzd7WWAY6qc7Bh_tjDhLGg4cwfqcTs/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeymeI_VZTVJNEXlAULbcCE0DOh4_KRjAXey4ij1Ku2dxsrcxLv03H4-agofEezkR-5W3R2lalPKzbCs09Q-s37Gu8T0uS07IZa1pzMms1KEi7Uzd7WWAY6qc7Bh_tjDhLGg4cwfqcTs/s16000/IMG_0715+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Icarex camera lens mount</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilP4tDpSrW6-6nMNEgiYpBkSJDWjK9B1ZTY3M-Bv6fMqEHOlAjJX6dKd5uJOFfNAhOy4kRlzWEMuWgwVRrQvOd4UKYtaXGBkywjsKZ3E78eeUWjfXYdBfJDtKHowtZSKh0cwISlkJaKIw/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilP4tDpSrW6-6nMNEgiYpBkSJDWjK9B1ZTY3M-Bv6fMqEHOlAjJX6dKd5uJOFfNAhOy4kRlzWEMuWgwVRrQvOd4UKYtaXGBkywjsKZ3E78eeUWjfXYdBfJDtKHowtZSKh0cwISlkJaKIw/s16000/IMG_0714+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Icarex lens mount</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The good:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">- Not expensive</div><div style="text-align: left;">- Well-made</div><div style="text-align: left;">- Small but excellent viewfinder</div><div style="text-align: left;">- Reliable mechanics</div><div style="text-align: left;">- Good, but few lenses available</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The bad:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">- Light-meter wiring on the camera body not very reliable</div><div style="text-align: left;">- Light-meter prism-finder very clumsy</div><div style="text-align: left;">- Limited set of lenses for the Icarex mount, but plenty of them for the M42 version.</div><div style="text-align: left;">- Very stupid filter bayonet mount, with a misleading designation.</div><div style="text-align: left;">- Hard to find lens caps and filters</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><p></p></div></div><gwmw style="display: none;"></gwmw>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-30687011205179183902023-03-06T20:17:00.001-03:002023-03-06T20:17:56.481-03:00Photo Supreme 2023 just released !<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This week, IDImager launched a major update for Photo Supreme, now known as 2023.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Photo Supreme (PSU) is probably the most powerful DAM for Mac and Windows. It can manage huge catalogs easily, actually I'm impressed about how fluid it is. My collection has about 150K images.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">What's new on Version 2023 ?</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Powerful bookmarking</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Schedule folder verification to check for missing/altered files and folders</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Search by regular expressions ! This is awesome !</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">More powerful filtering options</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">For Mac and Windows.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.idimager.com/">idimager.com</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Note: This blog is not associated with any software or equipment maker. Please see the disclaimer section for more information.</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-54228768065660032522023-01-18T12:08:00.000-03:002023-01-18T12:08:31.702-03:00Capture One Phasing Out Perpetual Licences<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Some not so good news for a lot of people...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Capture one is phasing out perpetual licenses and moving in definitive to a subscription-based scheme.</span></p><p><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" class="es-m-txt-l es-m-p20r es-m-p20l" style="margin: 0; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 40px; padding-right: 40px; padding-top: 30px;"><h1 style="font-family: helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 27px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #666666;">An update about upcoming changes to our perpetual license</span></h1>
</td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="es-m-txt-l es-m-p10t es-m-p20r es-m-p20l" style="margin: 0; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 40px; padding-right: 40px; padding-top: 15px;"><p style="font-family: helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: none;"><span style="color: #666666;">In December last year we announced upcoming changes to our perpetual license and the introduction of a new Loyalty Program.<br /><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: none;"><span style="color: #666666;">Based
on your feedback, we are sharing details about the program early and
delaying changes to our perpetual license by 2 weeks so you have more
time to decide what is best for you going forward.<br /><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: none;"><span style="color: #666666;"><strong>Changes to our perpetual license will now take effect from February 14, 2023.</strong><br /></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As you know, like with any subscription-based system, if you opt-in to this modality you will not be able to use the software without an active subscription. </span></p><p><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">From Capture one:</span></p><p style="font-family: helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: none;"><span style="color: #666666;"><i>Here’s a reminder of how the upcoming changes to perpetual licenses affect you:<br /><br /></i></span></p><p style="font-family: helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: none;"><strong><span style="color: #666666;"><i>You have a perpetual license for an older version of Capture One Pro. You have 3 options before February 14, 2023.</i></span></strong></p>
<ol><li style="font-family: helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; text-size-adjust: none;"><p style="line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: none;"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><strong>Do nothing:</strong><br />If
you are happy with your version of Capture One Pro, great! There’s
nothing you need to do. Your software will continue to work as is and
there’s nothing to pay.</i></span></p></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; text-size-adjust: none;"><p style="line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: none;"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><strong>Upgrade to Capture One Pro 23:</strong><br />It
will be cheaper for you to upgrade to Capture One Pro 23 before
February 14, 2023. Plus, you will receive all updates including new
features until September 30, 2023.You can do this by logging into your
account at captureone.com.</i></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: none;"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><br />After
that date, if you would like to get a new version of Capture One Pro
(released after September 30, 2023), you will have 2 options available
to you:</i></span></p>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i><br /></i></span><ul><li style="line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; text-size-adjust: none;"><p style="line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: none;"><span style="color: #666666;"><i>Buy
a new perpetual license for Capture One Pro: Use that version of
Capture One Pro for as long as you like. You will receive bug fixes
until a new version is released, but you will not receive free updates
with new features.</i></span></p></li>
<li style="line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; text-size-adjust: none;"><p style="line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: none;"><span style="color: #666666;"><i>Move
to a subscription plan: On a subscription plan, you will receive all
updates, including new features for as long as you are a subscriber.</i></span></p></li></ul></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica, "helvetica neue", arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; text-size-adjust: none;"><p style="line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: none;"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><strong>Move to a subscription:</strong><br />If
you want to try a subscription plan, you should wait until the Loyalty
Program is introduced on February 14, 2023 as you will get a discount on
the first year of a subscription.<br /><br />Under our Loyalty Program you
can also receive a discounted (or free) perpetual license for Capture
One Pro when you decide to stop your subscription.</i></span></p></li></ol><p><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-19878685788377039542022-08-16T17:46:00.001-03:002022-08-16T17:47:29.379-03:00Travelling light , down to heavy gear !!!<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I was a big fan of root, big photographic equipment but since some years ago, I totally changed my mind about what stuff should I bring with me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">For a very long time, I used to travel with a dSLR, a couple of lenses and a compact camera, for example, a Canon with a 24-70 L and very likely a 17-40 L, but although excellent for nature and landscapes, this combination can be very annoying for "normal" travelling, like for example, to visit European cities. It's just too heavy, brings a lot of attention and honestly, you will hardly notice any improvement in your photos.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Then I decided to forget about carrying two or three lenses and instead, opted for a Canon 24-105 IS STM. Okay, just one lens, but still heavy and clumsy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">For the same weight I could carry all my micro four thirds equipment, now composed by a Panasonic GX85, plus four lenses, covering from 9mm to 250mm, and still able to include my venerable (and much adored) Panasonic LX100.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Okay, in 90% of the situations this MFT setup works fine, it's very comfortable to use and can fit in a small bag, and WAY better than any conceivable mobile phone. But not so great for what I like the most: Low-light photography.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">For some reasons I explained in an old post, I decided for the Sony A7 (I have both the II and III) and opted to not use Sony's glass, using instead, the canon lenses I already had although with the Sigma MC-11 Canon to Sony adapter. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">At that moment my Canon lenses were the EF 24-85 3.5-4.5 USM, EF 17-40 F4 L, 40mm F2.8 STM complemented by some cool manual focus old gems.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I got stunning results from this setup, but the problem was that unfortunately the final weight was way above of what I consider comfortable to carry around and still clumsy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">After digging for some months, I ended up with a very good balance for a basic all-round travel kit:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Sony A7 III</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Samyang/Rokinon 18mm F2.8</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Samyang/Rokinon 24mm F2.8</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Sony 28-60 F4-5.6 OSS</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Minolta MD 50mm F1.4 (with adapter)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Minolta MD 135mm F3.5 (with adapter)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Nice weight, compact, not expensive and with a more than adequate performance for my needs.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The five lenses above mentioned are inexpensive, lightweight and have sharpness far beyond I usually need.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I still carry a decent compact, the LX100 or A Sony A6300 with the 16-50 PZ.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Depending on where I will be travelling, some lens variations may be expected, maybe a macro, who knows ?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-2150017010387192882022-07-02T16:26:00.005-03:002024-01-09T10:50:50.491-03:00Legacy Lenses 14 - Going WIDE ! Minolta MD W-Rokkor-X 17mm F4<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The Minolta MD W-Rokkor-X 17mm F4 is one of the rarest and most interesting vintage optics from the film era and it's a masterpiece.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This was the widest rectilinear lens made for the MD system and a fantastic performer. It has an 11e/9g optical formula with floating elements.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Keep in mind that it's not easy to make such a wide lens geometrically corrected for a 24x36 mm frame. This is top notch optics even today and its performance rivals or even surpasses the Canon EF 17-40 F4 L, for half the price. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhp5WV8DA4P_UWrIcx4x5-RcHv5t7i6D1qLnY8uPfTBrB30ALV-VShRIxyxL60IaAs2oAk8cXCLQE1zh81ChSsBLA1f64lwTzXeYwNdOGXiVOMe8FUuXqAbLlSg6uRaoUjKSTER5tnGR_uf3RsSdeinQx6O9wjPo3Rj_PQs44U9lKNY1tPJgMbmvqDC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2597" data-original-width="2779" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhp5WV8DA4P_UWrIcx4x5-RcHv5t7i6D1qLnY8uPfTBrB30ALV-VShRIxyxL60IaAs2oAk8cXCLQE1zh81ChSsBLA1f64lwTzXeYwNdOGXiVOMe8FUuXqAbLlSg6uRaoUjKSTER5tnGR_uf3RsSdeinQx6O9wjPo3Rj_PQs44U9lKNY1tPJgMbmvqDC=w400-h374" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br />It has very low distortion and it's considered rectilinear. Not too heavy (325g), reasonably compact and takes standard 72mm filters, but they need to have thin rings, otherwise some vigneting will occur.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I've been using this lens on a regular basis with the Sony A7-III and it works superbly. For me, it's a keeper.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The Rokinon/Samyang 18mm F2.8 is far more available and also a good performer, but the Minolta smashes it if we're talking about distortion.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Coma is nearly absent from F5.6 and it's very sharp on corners stopped down to F8. Let's say, it's very usable from F5.6 if you're really worried about corner performance.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Due to the very wide field of view, it's very easy to include strong light sources in the frame without paying attention and then have some interesting flares on the image. A hood is always a good thing to have.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i>Warning: Servicing this lens is an extremely complicated task, do not attempt to CLA it unless you're a very skilled technician, otherwise you will ruin it.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Pros:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Compact</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Excellent performance</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Not too heavy</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Takes 72mm filters</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Extremely low distortion</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Cons:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Very rare to find</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Coma at corners wide open</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Blurry corners wide open (due to coma)</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">For more technical info and tests, please look <a href="https://lens.ws/minolta-md-17mm-f4/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-47901056933037041152022-06-18T13:49:00.003-03:002023-02-13T15:38:08.105-03:00Legacy Lenses 13 - Minolta MD 135 F3.5 - Cheap and Razor Sharp<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXhPkwSbemb5QzLYRqFzc1upz2Qlcnu9jr5RvrjOj1YxEfhNi8tbDUeubMxaZkty8ZmfJAFIzixJEPjGc30YeU1SE19L0sqk_pa9aPgenQUgnUIp2r41fpryvxeKB9uBh6kyrBJNBLK13HCqAfJQ8q1j0cL3SQD6lKzN1x8uo5-y1TTI49_eisb8zC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXhPkwSbemb5QzLYRqFzc1upz2Qlcnu9jr5RvrjOj1YxEfhNi8tbDUeubMxaZkty8ZmfJAFIzixJEPjGc30YeU1SE19L0sqk_pa9aPgenQUgnUIp2r41fpryvxeKB9uBh6kyrBJNBLK13HCqAfJQ8q1j0cL3SQD6lKzN1x8uo5-y1TTI49_eisb8zC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This lens is the proof that good stuff can be cheap and easy to find. The Minolta MD Tele Rokkor 135mm F3.5 was the budget telephoto lens for the Minolta SLRs, like the X700.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Not the best built from Minolta but feels sturdy and well-made, and it costs a fraction of the F2.0 and F2.8 versions. But it's a very solid performer with a very sharp frame from edge to edge even at maximum aperture.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The optical formula is 5e/5g and weighs only 285g making it one of the lightest 135mm ever.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmytTKg1PDT8x9DoSKp3AKGwDbcOOx-9LMETO6DiqCs4wFNvvAv48II5fJXGwMzZlq8WIuKnkVZsaNYhnEUqSFlTkRvJsJLNJZjZ6cKQr4QfoDutc2wEPCQvsOodKEc2UVUfrt77qylsv2wgFMjEDpyEeodD3-lXFf3j4-ZLf8Io8PvQMDRnGOohQl" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmytTKg1PDT8x9DoSKp3AKGwDbcOOx-9LMETO6DiqCs4wFNvvAv48II5fJXGwMzZlq8WIuKnkVZsaNYhnEUqSFlTkRvJsJLNJZjZ6cKQr4QfoDutc2wEPCQvsOodKEc2UVUfrt77qylsv2wgFMjEDpyEeodD3-lXFf3j4-ZLf8Io8PvQMDRnGOohQl" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Tested on the Sony A7-III and Panasonic GX85 with flying colors. This lens is on-par with the Zeiss Tele Tessar 135mm F4 and the Zeiss Sonnar 135mm F4.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Pros:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Cheap</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Light</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Very sharp</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Cons:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Like all MD lenses, cannot be used in most DSLRs without that dreaded adapters with optical elements.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">- Some flare</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-35296796935589747392022-06-18T11:14:00.001-03:002024-01-09T10:55:02.420-03:00Legacy Lenses 11 - SMC Pentax 50mm F1.2<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This lens is a true classic from the '70s-'80s. It's an extremely compact large aperture normal. It was made from 1975 to 1984.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6FpeZAIT3i1TUG1zqvT1GymZUAo5gDFEHALravczOe4hvUQ0OOtE20Sr5Hy8aCMdscJQBQadMK2pN5yx3sn-IZqiAu0dGMyxLpPPO-GCmwcuG97Ku5fi0yEnft4CalWlJuHVVsDNC_0fR6Hkz1hRPvq668MmfnTDaJ8TfMyo4i0V0EO5LJOSxuo7J" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6FpeZAIT3i1TUG1zqvT1GymZUAo5gDFEHALravczOe4hvUQ0OOtE20Sr5Hy8aCMdscJQBQadMK2pN5yx3sn-IZqiAu0dGMyxLpPPO-GCmwcuG97Ku5fi0yEnft4CalWlJuHVVsDNC_0fR6Hkz1hRPvq668MmfnTDaJ8TfMyo4i0V0EO5LJOSxuo7J=w320-h320" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The optical formula is 7 elements in 6 groups SMC coated (multilayer coated). It delivers stunning results in mid-apertures and like all F1.2 primes from this era, somewhat soft borders wide open, but with an incredibly sharp center. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The SMC coating is very effective against flare and ghosting, but I would always fit a lens hood on it just in case.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Very interesting for portraits when used with APS-size digital camera sensors and an available light monster. Be advised about the very shallow depth-of-field when wide open.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It's small and weights only 385g, making it one of the most compact and light F1.2 primes ever made.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8IKHdOaiWFv_DZQcqqFjW8FH0c42cy98sUSn4cCtETQjpATbFDyIfzvu-sImf_XEI3WTMIsdRZGuT9uQsI0CPUmnWtwkBQjBmFkmhB7JeifNv7dk3bqX72UlyClxQ5ow_nj337sOb6zhK0P_pMLDDrpkQBsWWic9xuwh76LtBTOPu-R6h_lSac4N9" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; outline-width: 0px; user-select: auto;"><img data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8IKHdOaiWFv_DZQcqqFjW8FH0c42cy98sUSn4cCtETQjpATbFDyIfzvu-sImf_XEI3WTMIsdRZGuT9uQsI0CPUmnWtwkBQjBmFkmhB7JeifNv7dk3bqX72UlyClxQ5ow_nj337sOb6zhK0P_pMLDDrpkQBsWWic9xuwh76LtBTOPu-R6h_lSac4N9=w320-h320" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The SMC coating is a very nice bonus. This lens copes well with flare, better that any other similar lens from this era.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Definitely a keeper and my favorite F1.2 lens. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A joy to use with the Sony A7 series.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Pros: Very sharp, light, compact</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Cons: Not very easy to find and very expensive.<br /><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-87349540675246039222022-04-22T23:02:00.001-03:002022-05-02T12:41:44.396-03:00Photo Supreme Version 7 just lauched<p><span style="font-size: medium;">On April 21th 2022, IDImager launched Photo Supreme version 7.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The upgrade from V6 costs $ 77 (-40% from the full price) and $129 for the full license (one user)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-54964123112088800882022-01-21T15:02:00.005-03:002022-05-02T12:41:57.919-03:00Why software as a service may be a very bad thing to you ? <p>Software as a service, aka SAAS is a business model that you subscribe for the right to use a program, paying for this in a regular way.</p><p>Those companies marketing teams sell the idea that this is a very good thing to you and they will keep the software always updated at no extra cost (Hahahahah ! Really?) And better: they try to convince you that this is more economic to you...</p><p><b><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">Reasons why</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">I would never use a subscription-based software:</span></b></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>THE MONEY SINK</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You will need to pay every single month to continue using it as long as you need. If you don't want to use it anymore, you may have to pay a fee to leave.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A typical plan will cost you much more in the long run than permanent licenses. Take Adobe's or Capture One's subscription plans and check by yourself.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>FORCED MARRIAGE</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The makers try to sell you the idea that you NEED updates forever. This may not be the case for a very significative portion of the users. You should have the right to decide if you need a specific update or not.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I have Photoshop Elements 11 and I don't think I will ever need a paid update for it, since I use it just for very basic stuff on JPEG images on a basic laptop computer.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>HOSTAGE SITUATION</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">With SAAS you will always be a hostage of the software company in question. They have all the cards at their disposal.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>UNCERTAIN FUTURE</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If by some reason the referred company decides to stop the service you will certainly be very mad about this, especially if you just know how to use their software. Sounds familiar?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If someone else buys the company that makes the software you use as SAAS and decides to shut it down, you can't do anything, just cry.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-55650491401459023712022-01-19T10:50:00.003-03:002022-05-02T12:42:08.089-03:00Capture One Killed its Dedicated Versions <p>On January 18th, 2022, Capture One discontinued C1 dedicated versions for Sony and Nikon.</p><p>Now you must pay for the full product, much more expensive.</p><p>At the present day (Jan. 19th) you can still download C1 Express for Fuji.</p><p>https://www.captureone.com/en/account/download/capture-one-express-for-fujifilm</p><p><br /></p><p>There are better options for less, like DxO Elite.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-87156650133725490852021-10-30T11:11:00.005-03:002021-11-13T14:20:50.934-03:00 Free Powerful DAM: Photo Supreme Lite<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">IdImager launched a FREE, lite version of its awesome Photo Supreme.</span><gwmw style="display: none;"></gwmw></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It has the same features of the paid version, but it's limited to 5000 images per catalog.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.idimager.com/photo-supreme-lite-edition" target="_blank">More information here.</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-56233607526087928512021-06-15T18:30:00.010-03:002023-02-13T15:44:58.289-03:00Kodak Retina S1 / S2<div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLJ1QFWDsxWIfzUFB75c-h2v7AXOCsNboEo8yGcGCMPiv_arZDIs_7kT9u6z57zkw9XOZ7UeZ2SsDRUd-IkUmpPSUxV_YkTIn9I1mgv6dU6Prn8Wgq4zLagAyOoEn9chfknqZwsOfs8I/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLJ1QFWDsxWIfzUFB75c-h2v7AXOCsNboEo8yGcGCMPiv_arZDIs_7kT9u6z57zkw9XOZ7UeZ2SsDRUd-IkUmpPSUxV_YkTIn9I1mgv6dU6Prn8Wgq4zLagAyOoEn9chfknqZwsOfs8I/" /></a></div><div class="separator"><br /><gwmw style="display: none;"></gwmw></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">When someone talks about Kodak Retina cameras, they usually think about that fancy (and sometimes marvelous) 35mm folders made in Germany by Nagel, like the I (type 010), II (type 014), IIIc and IIIC (type 028) and sometimes the low-end Retinettes (non-folders).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Retinas have their quirks, weirdnesses and sometimes questionable projects and materials, but they usually have very good optics from Schneider or Rodenstock and that's the key point. Some even have interchangeable lenses !<br /><br />This extremely long series of cameras started in 1934 and ended in 1969, having dozens of models and sub-models, from folders to non-folders to SLR... They even made Retinas for Instamatic film cartridges !<br /><br />The very last models were known as Retina S1 and S2 produced from 1966 to 1969 and both aren't folders and have a more "modern" looking. They are very "square looking" cameras and have fixed lenses and Albada-type visors, but no rangefinder.<br /><br />There's only one type of lens, a Schneider-Kreuznach Reomar 45mm F2.8 coated triplet, attached to a very simple leaf shutter with 6 speeds (B and 1/30s to 1/250s) and a remote release socket. Don't be fooled by the simple 3-element design, this lens can deliver very good images when stopped down to F5.6 and F8. There is some light falloff in the corners when wide open.<br /><br />The focus is done by estimation. No rangefinder. But you can always buy one of those fancy old-school hot-shoe mountable ones.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Like I always say, it's not difficult to get perfectly focused photos using just the scale if you use medium apertures.<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />It's a no-brainer camera. The top plate has a hot-shoe for electronic flash and a socket for flash cubes. At the bottom there is a battery compartment, but it's just for the flash cubes. The camera doesn't need batteries for operation.<br /><br />The S1 (type 060) has no light meter but it has an interesting implementation of the sunny-16 rule for film exposure by setting the film sensitivity and adjusting the aperture and speed combination by "weather symbols". Clever and works extremely well in normal light conditions, but you can always use an external meter or even a mobile phone application.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uhjANIINQfbhfdMbMC1nuhn8HQQUc4JYthzSpgnpjExWN3tqJLJOKTfp-i76Ghzj1s6ASfcfUXe4GxiKs49gTKkY9FSkAOYkO04mRKnSXcR2bguluyA07Sfmg3i-6p-WdssAPnxOzc4/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1280" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uhjANIINQfbhfdMbMC1nuhn8HQQUc4JYthzSpgnpjExWN3tqJLJOKTfp-i76Ghzj1s6ASfcfUXe4GxiKs49gTKkY9FSkAOYkO04mRKnSXcR2bguluyA07Sfmg3i-6p-WdssAPnxOzc4/w400-h325/IMG_0997.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br />The S2 (type 061) has a coupled selenium light-meter and believe it or not, it even shows a needle with the usual +/- scale to check the correct exposure.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Pros: <br /><br /></span><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dirty inexpensive</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Large (but horrible, low contrast) viewfinder</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well built</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">No batteries needed</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fun to use</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Incredibly, it can deliver very sharp images when stopped-down a little</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cons:<br /><br /></span><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">No filter thread</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">No low speeds (1s to 1/15s)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Very odd lens cap size</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">No rangefinder</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>Like most Retinas, not the best mechanics. Treat it gently, specially the very strange film rewind mechanism. Please check the manual before using the camera, otherwise you may break it. </b></i></span></li></ul><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Retina Rescue</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Retina S1 manual from Mike Butkus</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">and the S2 manual</a></span><br /><br /></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-76614434154643531472021-05-16T13:06:00.017-03:002022-12-01T11:10:50.359-03:00Nikon F2 Personnal Impressions<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Nikon F2</span></h2><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Nikon F2 was launched in 1971 and it was made until 1980. It's an all-mechanical, very sturdy, large and heavy camera. But it was also extremely reliable, aimed at the professional market.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The weight is nothing less than 840g without lens. It's compatible with Ai and old non-Ai lenses and has a huge, bulky removable prism with the light meter built in it. The DP-1 model has a match-needle light meter and the DP-2 has LEDs. The light meter works with two 1.5V button batteries.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The mechanical coupling of the lens with the light meter is clumsy. You need to match the lens "horns" (on the aperture ring) with a lever on the meter assembly, then turn the aperture to the lowest value to set properly the light meter.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJxUj_dliwRXtcHj5qF933bdzjYGWOaLaMiPblHsVgh0kbTgDwKRxUx1m3EtFh0jh5iYauzZFaWj3B67u_850NJlFLQ4GEGzVKSlS_SdnWrr_4ovJRInpKhh2TwWM78S8GsnldigqbHk/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Nikon F2" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJxUj_dliwRXtcHj5qF933bdzjYGWOaLaMiPblHsVgh0kbTgDwKRxUx1m3EtFh0jh5iYauzZFaWj3B67u_850NJlFLQ4GEGzVKSlS_SdnWrr_4ovJRInpKhh2TwWM78S8GsnldigqbHk/w640-h480/IMG_0940.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The shutter is all-mechanic with speeds from 10s (combined with the self-timer) to 1/2000s and the curtain is made of titanium foil.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Personally, I think the F2 is a mix of good and bad things and it's up to you to decide, it's a matter of taste.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The viewfinder is excellent and there are at least 14 different focusing screens from Nikon if you need something more specific.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Pros:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Sturdy</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Very reliable</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Excellent viewfinder</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Uses easy to find batteries</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Lasts for decades</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Mechanical</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cons:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Very bulky and heavy</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Detachable finder-meter not very practical and clumsy to change shutter speeds.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Overpriced</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Very awkward flash hot shoe that covers the rewind crank.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">- So-so light meter.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I prefer smaller cameras, like the Nikon FM, but if you don't bother about weight it's a very good camera.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I ended up selling it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6501507569033169991.post-74713999172003711442021-04-25T13:20:00.001-03:002022-05-02T12:42:52.765-03:00Gentlemen Coders RAW POWER for Mac<p>Raw Power is one of the most rewarding raw image converters for Mac to date. It's powerful, simple, elegant yet affordable. If you have a Mac, it's a must-have.</p><p>Too long to post here.</p><p><a href="https://oldgoodlight.blogspot.com/p/gentlemen-coders-raw-power-raw.html">Please follow this link</a> (redirects to a page inside this blog)</p><p><i>Please note that this blog is not associated with any equipment or software maker. It reflects my own opinions and impressions, as stated in the disclaimer.</i></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com