paramate_horkaew

Subject: Just thought I'd come by and ask your opinions

I just got a Kodak 400CN (Chromatic C41 B&W) for free through some

promotion. Any way, I loaded it into a ZX-M + 135/3.5M but for some

reason I intentionally up-rated the ISO to 1600.

The old book said if one pushes a B&W film to some extent one would

get higher contrast with artistically grainy effect! (with the cost of loss

details) So I was hoping for that 'effect', I guess.

Then came the trouble: No local lab would do push process on C-41!!

Only a hand full pro lab do with hefty extra charges. What would be your

suggestion?

1. Save the bucks and process in a local lab, hoping the C-41's wide

latitude can take the weght during printing.

2. Process in a pro lab and tell them to push process it for 1 stop (ISO

800) and let the printting take on the remaining 1 stop.

or

3. Process in a pro lab and push it for 2 stop (ISO 1600) and be done

with?

Many Thanks

Well, thanks a lot guys. That pretty much clears thing up.

I won't use the rechargable AA on my battery grip again ;-)

... promise, really.

Thank you for all your comments on my recent Q re: SMC 135/35-M vs

Tamron 70-300 LD :-) .. I'm still in the middle of 3nd roll with this SMC-

M lens - haven't processed any yet, but we'll see.

Anyway, I got a digital Panasonic DMC-LC33 this X-mas and a couple of

AA Ni-MH batteries. I wonder whether my "Battery Pack Fg" can share

these batteries too? The Pentax manual specifically says 'NO' to this

question. But I don't see any reason why, except the difference of 1.2v

and 1.5v.

I dared try it any way with my MZ AF and it worked absolutely fine with

Ni-MH batteries. Have you guys ever tried this. My concern is that would

this cause the damage to the camera in the long run? Or is it just one of

those

"If-you-use-XXX-camera-please-use-XXX-battery-too-so-we-can-sell-

you-both" $$$ - ka-ching !!!

Thank you very much for all your comments :)

I take it that the 135/3.5 is most suitable for street candid, then?

Well, this morning I did just that ;), wondered around streets and took some shots. Couldn't wait to process them. (The waiting is the best part digital can't beat, isn't it?)

Actually, I meant to aske how they compare 'optically', i.e., contrst, sharpness and stuffs. Nevertheless, I learnt from your comments that portraits are not just about sharpness .. thanks, guys!!

Well, in terms of DOF + throwing out backgroud, I assume that the verdict is 135/3.5 SMC, right? Excellent!

I was thinking of getting the 135/2.8 as well but somehow decided not to, probably because of the price difference.

By the way, my gears are a MZ-L and a MZ-M (backup) + a 28-105/3.2-4.5 and a 50/1.7 - simple really.

Oh! and a DMC-LC33B - got it for x-mas ... ;D

I recently got my hands on one of the SMC-M 135/3.5 lens. My friend

has a Tamron Macro 70-300 LD which also perform quite nicely - I was

told. Any one has a chance to test/compare both lense?

Suppose that I am to pick one to do portrait, which one can give better

picture quality? Should I borrow the Tamron and shoot at 135 or stick

with my old pal SMC.

P.S. I don't mind the convenience of zoom though.

Hi.. Thanks y'all for the answers. I went to the PDML as suggested and found that there are lots of people who are pro-5N and interestingly fair amount of the pro-6 too. These two seems to be on debate for quite sometimes now.

As I noted earlier, I won't be able to effort the replacement for another few months or so and by then 5N may have actaully gone forever - the new one I meant.

I guess I could probably be able to convince myself that the 6 is not that bad after all - But, hopfully, there'll be something relessed after the *ist which is as solid as 5N. So help me God.

Hi Guys, I've been looking at a AF replacement for my aging MZ-M in a

few months time.

At first, I'd definitely go for my favourite 5N for its retro design, simple

handling (means less things can go wrong), mid-pro spec and that TIPA

award. But I just learnt that it's "going.. going .. gone!" out of production.

You can only find it in some well stock retaillers - if only you look really

really hard.

Then I found that lovely MZ-6 - quite compatible but not that close. It

comes with novice specs and added hi-tech bell and wristles. Don't get

me wrong I'm also a computer geek/nerd myself, I'm not against those

electronic chips, but I'd rather not have too many on my 'reliable'

camera.

You see what I'm getting at here. Is it worth for me to start scouring for

that rare 5N model or should I be able to live with slightly less specs but

plenty of hi-tech toys to play with on MZ-6.

Any suggestion at all is welcome ;) By the way, I'm not interested in *ist.

Only its design alone just well put me off - far off.