fast_primes

<p>I'd like to offer a radical solution of just 3 FF Nikon prime lenses for a super simple travel system:<br>

1--24F2.8 AF<br>

2--pick just one of 35F2.0 AF, 50F1.8 AF, 50F1.4D AF and 50F1.4G AF<br>

3--85F1.8 AF</p>

 

<p>Will Sigma's 30F1.4 fast prime autofocus with Pentax dslrs? Pentax seems the only one (recent exception--Nikon) releasing APS primes, but the absence of a fast normal (30-35mm at less than $400) ultimately stopped me from going Pentax. I went Nikon because of their new 35F1.8 DX, but I still like Pentax overall--70F2.4, etc.</p>

<p>Mel, why is the 55-200 kit lens rarely used with your grandson? Would the VR 55-200 be better for you?<br>

Also, THE lens to get for your grandson (and much else) is the new (and not yet released) Tamron 60mm F2.0 macro!</p>

<p>Two major factors should be mentioned:<br /> <br /> 1- that 4/3 lenses are generally <em>sharper</em> than full frame lenses, due to the fact that the FT lenses have a smaller area to cover!<br /> <br /> 2-the NEW factor is the elimination of the mirror with micro-FT will lead to still <em>further</em> sharpness enhancements for wide angle lenses in particular due to symmetrical lens design used already by rangefinder cameras. <br /> <br /> Thus for architectural and landscape photographers who don't need low noise high ISO and narrow depths of field from fast lenses, the FT system might be the best solution even now. I'm looking forward to seeing how well the Panasonic 7-14 micro zoom does when it's finally released, but I'm with Philip in wanting fast lenses on larger sensors. I used to have the OM Zuiko 100F2.0 and 50F1.2 lenses (along with 21F3.5 and 28F2.0).</p>

<p>D60 with 35F1.8, 18-55VR and the new Tamron 60F2.0 macro, will be my vacation system within the current DX range.The star of course, is the 35F1.8 DX, a magnificent lens for the price!<br>

I know from personal experience that system weight/complexity is inversely proportional to aesthetic creativity while on vacation--at least for me!</p>

<p>Not that I'm particularly enthusiastic about either, but is there any detailed information on the 2 new Olympus lenses themselves (design, cross section display, MTF curves, etc)?</p>

<p>May I suggest a different approach--namely pick a camera bag first, then select the gear to fill it to an optimal level or weight. Optimal might mean the weight you can carry on your shoulder or back for a full 8 hours or more, without fatigue. In the days of film, that could be a Domke 803 satchel bag with a pair of OM slrs plus 4 primes (Zuiko 21F3.5, 28F2.0, 50F1.2 and 100F2.0). In my case, that's a Nikon D60, with 18-55VR, 35F1.8 and either the 55-200VR zoom or the new Tamron 60mm F2.0 macro lens--the selected bag for me being the medium (DR-467) Kata backpack camera bag.</p>

<p>As for primes, the new (and still not widely available) 35F1.8 is Nikon's ONLY DX prime amid a stupendous range of DX zoom lenses. Btw, the 35F1.8 was the SOLE reason I selected the Nikon D60 over the Panasonic G1. With the D80 and it's built in AF motor, you of course have a wider choice of Nikon FX AF primes.</p>

<p>For those that have shot both, how does an Olympus (or Panasonic) dslr with the 50mm F22.0 ED macro compare to an Olympus OM film camera sporting the 100F2.0 lens. I had the latter for many years and it was quite simply, the BEST portriat lens I ever owned or expect to own. The newer ED lens is half the focal length, thus doubling(?) the depth of field, the old Zuiko has 9 element diaphragm blades while the new only 7, and the new ED lens is a true macro--going down to 1:2, while the older Zuiko focuses to 2 feet. I'm aware that the ED has a superb reputation as a sharp lens, but how does it fare subjectively against the older Zuiko?</p>

<p>The coming new Tamron 60mm F2.0 macro (DX/APC format only) will have 7 diaphragm blades, while the existing FF Tamron 90F2.8 has 9. For the specific cases of portraiture and macro usage, just how perceptable will Tamron's choice of 7 blades in the new 60 macro be (presumably a manufacturing cost measure)?</p>

<p>For displays behind glass, you can place the lens itself right against the glass itself for an impromtu tripod! Also there is sometimes space on display pedestals that one can set a camera.</p>

<p>I've caught brief comments that suggest Nikon's jpeg capability and features varies by camera model. Does Nikon succinctly spell out jpeg capabilities and differences by camera model somewhere? I currently have a D60 and I'm particularly interested in automatic distortion and falloff correction by specific lens, relative quality of FINE jegs generated (by camera model and versus external software) and what post-exposure processing can be done in-camera?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>I would strongly suggest the superb 50mm F2.0 macro. Coasta Rica abounds with flowers of all kinds! I spent a week there some years ago and I found very little use for telephoto lenses. I would also suggest the 9-18 zoom over the 40-150, as I saw some superb wide angle shots. Thus a 14-54. 50 macro and 9-18 is what I would take--along with a cheap/light tripod.</p>

<p>Have a great trip.</p>

<p>Excellent job Matthew! I had always wondered about the latest Olympus OM 85, having bypassed it in favor of the 100F2.0 and Vivitar Series 1 90 Macro. It seemed the perfect complement to the 40F2.0.</p>

<p>Thanks for the link Ron! Apparently the new Ektar 100 is as good or better than the old Ektar 25 which is great news. When Kodak first came out with, it was only in 35mm rolls. Hence I paid no attention, being no longer interested in 36mm film. The recent availability in medium format did pique my intest, since I regret not shooting a lot more Ektar 25 120 when I had the chance.</p>

<p>How does the new Kodak Ektar 100 compare to the old Ektar 25 circa 1985 or so?</p>

<p>Will a Nikon D40 or D60 plus 18-55 and 55-200 zooms plus new 35F1.8 lenses, fit comfortably in a Domke 803 satchel bag?</p>

<p>Go in a completely different direction--buy the new 35F1.8 DX lens! THAT is a much better solution!</p>

<p>One thing that gets ignored in the latest generation of wide angle zooms and primes, is compactness! For many of us, ultra wide angle (< 24mm in traditional 35mm format or 12mm in FT format) remains an infrequently used range. Consider the old OM 21F3.5 with it's 49mm filter thread, was actually as small as a 50F1.8 lens--hence there was no space or weight penalty to carrying it along on many an outing and all major travels. For many years of 35mm film use, the 21F3.5 was my only ultra wide angle. Only Pentax with its' new 15mm F4.0, offers a compact digital format prime. Surprisingly, none yet from either Olympus or Panasonic. I'm aware that the optical performance of the latest wideangle zooms are extremely good (especially the new Panasonic 7-14), yet their relative size/volume still put me off. I hope O/P eventually get around to offering a nice compact 10mm for the mFT format.</p>

<p>What settings and techniques can I use to properly expose a black cat--excluding and including flash? I just got a D60 kit with the VR 18-55 lens,<br /> Thanks.</p>

<p>For street shooting you'll ultimately find the RZ way too big and heavy. Get a P645 or Mamya RF instead.</p>

<p>There may be radical changes ahead for Pentax. One of it's major corporate partners Samsung, has announced a new camera system called NX which will have the following features:</p>

<ul>

 

<li>Substitution of an EVF (electronic view finder) for the standard slr mechanism (as in the Panasonic G1)</li>

 

<li>Which allows a much closer lens to sensor distance</li>

 

<li>Which allows smaller and sharper lenses, especially from normals on down to wide angles</li>

 

<li>The new system will utilize existing APS sized sensors--larger that the micro 4/3 sensor of Olympus/Panasonic</li>

 

</ul>

<p>Thus a spanking brand new, from scratch, from the ground up system, will have to be built. How large a slice of the new NX system Pentax will take is an open question. But the NX could give Samsung/Pentax an end-around on Canon/Nikon. The Panasonic G1 has emerged into a cult hit camera, thanks to the benefits of doing away with the slr mechanism. Check out DPreview's comments on the NX <em><a href="http://www.dpreview.com/news/0903/09030201samsungnxsystem.asp">here</a> </em> .</p>

<p> </p>

<p><em>"That said I hope that the new Voigtlander Color-Skopar 20mm/3.5 with Nikon-mount will be a better performer than the 20mm-Nikkors I've tried."</em><br>

George,<br>

Where can I find detailed info on the Voiglander 20F3.5 you refer to?<br>

Thanks.<br>

FP</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Obviously the kit 14-45 zoom lens that comes with a G1 is not a Leica prime. Still, how well is it regarded?<br>

Thanks.<br>

FP</p>

<p>Are you guys sure the 35F1.8 list for $199??? The specs (8 elements, aspheric element, decent speed) suggest an "overkill" lens akin to the Sigma 30F1.4!</p>

<p>From enthusiastic user comments and the fact that the lens is much closer to the mirror, I was under the impression that this lens was better than the test results indicate. In an absolute sense, how does the G1 fare against the better APS competition in overall performance (camera + kit zoom)?</p>

<p>FP</p>