L.B.A. Anon - and chatter

"It is by strict economy of means that simplicity of expression is achieved."-Henri Cartier-Bresson

Rose, there are no indecent pictures, only indecent viewers.

 

:-)

LBA- maybe, but at least very good choices are reflected herein. The FA 35, 50, and 77mm and the DA 21mm Limited- hard to argue against!

Dave, glad to see you got the 77 Limited. I know you'll never stop loving it. The 21, 43, and 77 are a wonderful trio to carry, particularly with a compact body. The last two being great on a flm body too.

 

Rose, congrats on your new lenses, both fine choices. Once you get into using the compact 21 Limited, I forsee it will stay on the camera much of the time, and the concept may well spoil you into aiming your sights on the 43 and 70 or 77mm as well.

 

Matthew got me cracking up- instead of simply money back in the pocket as a less costly purchase, the rebate being viewed as money towards another lens! But it did work out that way for a while, when I think of it.

 

As to LBA, I have bought more lenses in the last 2 years or so than in the previous 20! The rebates were really a motivator. But I've found it does slow down. It has slowed to a near standstill for me. At a point of saturation where there is little I need for any real use advantage, there is one or two kicking around in my head, but there's nothing greatly lacking for me right now. And learning what to take or leave has been an acquired skill to be sure.

 

Enjoy your new lenses, and your holidays, everyone!

Michael - 14mm first. (then I have to decide - more primes - or if I want to get that 50-135 zoom.)

 

I feel like I should have one good zoom... and, I like what I've been hearing about that one.

Rose: <A HREF=http://www.flickr.com/photos/19349382@N00/2125656075/>Link to the same image as above</A>

<P>

Dave: Thanks--just wondering, the 'leaves' image's contrast had a rather nice quality to it in my opinion.

the message I get for trying your link (seriously, I should wait to get home on this one...) --

 

Access Denied (policy_denied)

 

This website has been blocked due to content restrictions defined in the Bank's Electronic Communications and Use Policy; Category Type: "Open Image/Media Servers". If you feel this site should not be blocked, please dial x.508

I can see why "Stella waits in the kitchen for Angela to feed her turkey" would be blocked.

 

:-)

Hey Andrew, got any pics of Stella chasing the bat? (And I'm adding you to my Flickr contacts, if you don't mind.)

Andrew: Lemmetellya, this is one sweet lens! The real tipping point vis-a-vis the 70mm was the speed since I'm flash-averse but the 77 really does have a distinctive smooth finish, as you can see.

 

Michael, yeah, I'm still planning to upgrade to the k10d in the not-too-distant future but when Santa volunteered to chip in, I decided to go for the glass first (especially in anticipation of the holiday family gatherings.) Between the 10-20, 43, 77 and the 18-250, I really feel like I've got my kit--at least until I can add a tack sharp, fast, compact 350mm for under $500 ;>)

Now I'm drooling over an F* 600 f/4...

 

I think I'm gonna sell my car for it. It's only 3 miles to work, I can bike that!

 

I'm a sucker for glass with a star in it.

I didn't think that a price was posted on it... if someone's cleaning out the drawer and changing systems - surely they'd want to be rid of it, and would sell cheap.

 

:) positive thinking never hurt anyone. You can always ask what is the absolute lowest he'd take on it - and see if it's in your budget.

 

I did that once with a painting on ebay - and managed to get a beautiful japanese watercolor for $400. (that later cost me $350 to frame - and I gave it away as a house warming gift - now that's something that will not quickly be forgotten.) :D

 

see... positive thinking.

So, now that I'm home I have a lot of responses to make ...

 

ANDREW - stella is SO cute! there's nothing better than dog photos. :) She's an absolute doll. Love her eyes, and those pricked up ears.

 

Hin, the christmas card is awesome - makes me miss autumn. But, since I have the day off - and, 4 foot piles of snow in my front yard, and every where else the wandering eye should glance (outdoors, luckily - not indoors)... not a red leaf to be found. This is on my agenda for tomorrow - capturing snow and giving you all a bit of it. :)

Rose, a 600mm f/4 lens is a rare find. This is an F* not an FA*, but either way it is an

unusual piece. Bojidar Dimitrov states the availability of this lens as "once in a

lifetime."<br><br>

 

If memory serves me correctly, the FA* sold for about $7000 new in the early 90's (Nikon

& Canon's versons sold for about $10k).<br><br>

 

If the FA* was still available, the F* wouldn't hold as much value; but since there is NO

availability for 600mm f/4 glass on a K-Mount, I don't think there are very many people

who have the money and need for this lens that are going to say, "I think I'll wait for an

FA* to come along."<br><br>

 

Remember that currently it is common for FA* lenses to sell well above their MSRP when

new. I think this is a 'if you have to ask, you can't afford it' situation...<br><br>

 

On the other hand, if you want to buy that USED F* lens for my birthday (2/2), I'll buy you

a NEW 14mm for yours!<br><br>

<hr><br><br>

 

I actually didn't come in to carry on about star lenses, but I can't help myself sometimes.

While Kansas isn't the most beautiful landscape in the world, it does have a few gems

hidden away here and there. Since we don't have lake effect snow here (like we did in

Michigan), it's no big deal to go on an expedition or two over the Christmas shutdown

without having to dig the car out of the snow. I've got a couple Kansas themed projects

(one inspired while in northern Oklahoma last weekend) that I'm gonna go scouting

for.<br><br>

 

Yeah, we have more brown Christmases than white ones, but its only 3 months before I

have to start mowing the yard again and I've got alot of winter projects to get done before

then.

Matt, if the lens is old and used - no matter what it used to be worth, it's still old and used. It's not like a painting where it gains value when the artist dies. :)

 

I believe I read somewhere that (and it was probably here) - that if you don't have the right lens, you move a little closer - and you make what you do have, work as if you did... ;) (I probably totally misquoted that - but, it sounds right).

 

I guess I should be glad you weren't asking for this gift for christmas... because express shipping is so expensive. :D

 

<a look into Roses thoughts: ((Those Aquarius people - rarely practical when it comes to shopping... 7000$ on a lens? - jeepers!)) & ((Matt must be suffering mid-life crises - some men buy jags or convertables - Matt's at least thinking lens-surely it can't be that bad... bet he won't talk his wife into this one... :) ))>

 

- - I just cleaned out and defrosted my car tonight. It had 2 snowstorms collected on it - and I finally decided it wasn't going to melt before tomorrow unless I took care of it myself. It took more than an hour getting the 8 inches of crusted snow off it. I used a shovel on the whole mess - and 30 minutes of defrost to see through the glass. Thank goodness the driveway around it had been shovelled out when it was fresh. (and the downstairs neighbor did it - the son, not the old lady.)

Ok, the sun is just starting to poke through the clouds - this is the view from one of my windows - I'd thought I'd leave you with a vision of white...

 

yes - this is done with my new 35mm - and I was wishing it was a little wider - because that same rooftop has a gorgeous point at the front - but if I get the point, I can't get the pipe... I know... it's all about trying to make it all fit, and using what you have.<div></div>

and the second view if I look out a little further...<div></div>

Yeah. Brown Christmas' the hubby sez. THANKS SWEETIE! Of course, I'M not the one out

there shoveling it off the car.

 

And on LBA.... if you know you have LBA, never ever ever marry someone who has - or could

easily contract a case of - LBA. There's no filter, no stop that says "Hunny, you think MAYBE

we should make sure we can buy food this month BEFORE you buy that F*, not after?"

oops. Dang infectious disease, that LBA.<div></div>

OK - I'm still new at this. the pic wasn't small enough. my bad. But this one is just so we're

clear how much snow is in my driveway. This is NOT normal for KS (for the last 15-20yrs,

anyway).

Rose, those photos look very familiar (unfortunately!).

 

A tip for when photographing snow: Set EV to +2/3 or +1. Cameras see snow and think it's 18% grey, so they calculate an exposure that makes snow look grey instead of white.

Rose - to got back about 3 rabbit trails ago.... buy a reflector before lights. We about live

& die by the light kit - but I really, really like reflectors better. Besides, they're lighter than

light kits!

I know posterboard = cheap... but I am so happy w/ my 5 in 1 diffuser/reflector set I got

a couple months ago. I think it was about $40 for a 48" set. Ok, so a reflector means you

will need an assistant, but what else are kids for?! In my mind, it's better right now that

having a flat reflector and no stand to hold it! Oh yeah - being springy, it folds down very

well and takes up NO space.

Also - be sure if you're using the reflector outside, your assistant is over 180lbs if the day

is windy. If they're not, you may discover your assistant and that new, pretty white sail

(formerly known as a diffuser/reflector) flying off!

ok - I'm going to get this right eventually. I might even remember to put the explanation for

the picture in the same post!

 

The above pic isn't one of our best portraits ever (I blame it on the black dogs), but the fill

flash was bounced off the diffuser back to all the subjects. I figure discussions of black dogs

and dark skinned brides is a whole other thread, coming soon..... :D

My apologies about my wife taking over the thread. I guess I'll have to go measurebate at

DPReview now...

taking over?!?!? This from the guy that's been reading me every post since he joined up!

 

The last straw was the day I discovered Hin snuck over here and swiped our plates for his

food shot! ;-D

 

matt's going to regret letting me quit the day job - it'll leave a lot more time for wasting

in here (instead of editing video.... like he's supposed to be doing. Ok, so I'm supposed to

be editing, too.....)

 

Hi Justin, Hin, Miserie (sorry about the nudie pix insinuation), Rose, etal! Already feel like

I've known you for a couple months!

Maria, I'm so glad to finally have a chance to meet you! The reflectors are coming after my first january pay check. It doesn't take much to convince me a good deal - just telling me I need it - is often enough. (although, I should clarify that remark - that I AM a budget conscious shopper - there are NO $7K lenses on my 'to buy' list. If I wanted expensive lenses, I would have bought the Nikon...) - but $40, that I can hand over with a smile...

 

Miserere - If only you'd commented BEFORE I went outside and shot about 100 pictures... Now that I have lots of pictures of snow that seems to be tinged gray... How do I fix it?

 

Here I was thinking it was my UV filter. That maybe I'd bought the wrong one... damn camera trying to think for me.

 

I got such a laugh at the 'brown christmas' shoveling pic - Matt didn't seem to be having much fun. :D I wonder where his Christmas spirit went on that one...

 

It's good I got out today - even if the pictures aren't salvageable... it's getting warm out, and everything's melting.

 

I met a photographer dude on the trail this afternoon - with a tripod out, and a huge lens - couldn't tell his camera but it seemed like a lot of lens for having it pointed at a huge pine. He complained that it was already too late to take pictures. The sun had destroyed the snow... it was all dripping away. Amazing how fast that happened... and yet, at that same time, there were a whole load of people who were cross-country skiing that same trail.

 

Lucky I got out there before him... Not lucky that I don't know how to fix my pictures...

 

Oh well, it's all part of the learning process.

Good, now my wife can help you fix your shots while I drink coffee and edit video...

 

It was nice knowing you guys.