david_mcewan

I took up amateur photography in the early 1960s and used a Voigtlander Prominent rangefinder until the early 1990s when I switched to the Canon EOS system, thus missing the mechanical SLR camera experience. I then moved to the Canon digital range about 2008. In 2010 curiosity got the better of me and I bought a FTbn body fitted with the subject lens. I used 4 rolls of kodak 200 over several weeks of summer, had them developed and put them in a box with other photos without checking them as my curiosity had waned by then. Over the years I have owned/used many of the EOS L lenses including several primes. Several weeks ago while in Covid lockdown here in Melbourne I took the opportunity to browse my many prints. For the first time I viewed the developed rolls and found to my amazement that the photos just stand out with a pop, depth and clarity not matched by any other lens I have used. I now have a newfound enthusiasm for photography and I will be putting this lens to good use in the coming summer months.

A dead heat for me between my Voigtlander Vitomatic 11a with the Ultron 50mm f2 lens, and my Voigtlander Prominent 1a fitted with the same lens.

I was in Singapore last year. I left my full frame camera at home and took a Canon 100D with a pancake 24mm f2.8. On a crop sensor the 24mm is an ideal lens for travel photography.

Thanks to everyone for the thoughtful comments and photos. Since first posting I had decided to go with the crop camera (SL1) as weight and space are important to me. I was inclined to buy the ef-s 10-18 and combine it with the 28-200. In full frame terms I would have 16-29 and 45-320 and the pancake 24mm giving me 38mm. But Ed Ingold's comments and his photo taken at 35mm have given me further food for thought. With my current lens selection I have to take 3 lenses and I would have to change lenses to cover 35mm. He mentions that the vast majority of his photos on his Grand Canon visit were taken with a Nikon crop lens of 17-85. Canon has a 15-85 crop lens (24-135 ff equivalent) which I can buy for a good price secondhand. Using just one lens would make life easier for me but would I be sacrificing too much at each end?

In October I will be travelling to Las Vegas for ten days. I hope to get to the Grand Canyon on two of those days, going in by helicopter on one occasion. Last year when I travelled to Singapore and Great Britain I left my Canon full frame and ef lenses at home and used an SL1 camera fitted with an ef-s 24mm 2.8 stm lens. It proved to be an ideal combination with its small size and light weight for overseas holidays. I'll use this again in Las Vegas. However, because of advancing years this will probably be my one and only opportunity to catch a glimpse of the Grand Canyon. So what additional lens do I use? Do I go wide angle with an ef-s 10-18 or do I need to use one of my ef lenses which with the 1.6 factor will take me beyond 400mm? At present the 24mm is the only ef-s lens I own. However I'm prepared to buy another lens for the occasion. Or do I take the SL1 with the 24mm for walking around Las Vegas and simply take the 5dMk2 as well for the Grand Canyon - to heck with the weight! If I take this route do I then take a wide angle ef lens or a 28-200 and grab what shots I can as I do not know what the conditions will be like on the days I visit? The more I think about the possibilities the harder it becomes to make a decision. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I'm really glad I started this thread. After reading the replies to my query I realise I've been suffering from GAS. The more I think about it , the reality is that the 5D2 will do all that I need for the foreseeable future, and I also have an 18mp Canon 100D body to help out. My enjoyment from photography comes mainly from finding a subject, composing and taking the shot and I get little or no joy from sitting in front of my computer post processing. Also, Andy's comment about his film camera set off a light bulb in my mind. I have an EOS 7 body I bought in 2002, a mint A1 and a good range of FD lenses stored away so in future I will start using film as well. Fortunately two film labs are close by to make life easier for me.

Thanks everyone for the replies. Jochen, it's interesting that you mention the 35-135 range. As the years creep up on me I find the 5D 2 plus L glass losing their appeal because of the combined weight. In the early 1990s I bought an EOS 10 which was fitted with the 35-135mm f4-5.6 USM lens as standard. I've used it a couple of times recently and have been surprised with how good it is for my purposes. Robin, I appreciate your detailed information on the newer Canon full frame models. Andy, I'm very happy with the 5D 2, but to illustrate my thinking: suppose I bought a new car in 2009 and I am still quite happy with it in 2019. However, it is only when I drive a new car that I realise all the advancements that have been made in the ten years that would make driving easier for me. I know there is no direct comparison between a car and a camera, but I hope that example helps you get my drift.

I have been an amateur photographer for many years and tend to use the 5D Mk2 in much the same way as I used film cameras - taking photos of subjects that interest me in a methodical fashion and taking as much time as needed for composition. I am very happy with the camera and the results I get from it. Taking movies is of no interest to me. I have prime and zoom lenses covering 17mm through to 400mm but find the vast majority of my photos are taken with a 40mm f2.8 pancake and a 85mm f1.8. After an absence of about two years, I recently began visiting photo forums again - and what depressing reading. The clear message is that I am using an obsolete piece of technology clearly bested by any full frame camera now on the market, DSLR or mirrorless, especially those made in the last two years. I know some of this may be marketing hype, but equally I don't want to be happy in my ignorance if technology has made advances that should make me consider selling my 5D. Any advice from members who have made the move from the 5DMk 2 would be appreciated.

Hi, Arthur. With regard to accommodation in Hobart, I suggest that you go to wotif.com and look up Battery Point, Hobart and you will have a very good range of places to choose from. Battery Point is one of the oldest suburbs in Hobart. It is quite small and has many places of interest to see, including Salamanca Place, which has a variety of specialist shops and cafes located in historic buildings . Hobart is a very small, hilly city built right on the water and has lots of interesting buildings and gardens within easy walking distance. Make time in Hobart to visit MOMA, the Museum of Modern Art, and also drive to the top of Mount Wellington for spectacular views. I'm not sure how much time you want to take to get to Launceston. The Midlands Highway is the direct route and takes about 2 and a half hours. It passes through some interesting small towns such as Otlands, Ross, Campbell Town and Longford. These are historic convict era towns which have places of interest to see as well as having cafes and restaurants. If you have more time then the more scenic route is along the east coast staying overnight. When you get to Launceston make sure you leave time to visit Cataract Gorge. Let me know if you want further information

I'm heading over to the UK in a few weeks time and taking my 5D mk 2 as my main camera. Amongst my now rarely used film cameras I have an EOS Elan 7 from about 2003 in excellent condition. The thought occurred to me that as it has such a light body it would make an ideal backup camera especially when fitted with the 40mm pancake lens. Has anyone had experience with this lens fitted to an EOS film body?

I would appreciate the advice of contributors to this forum. In the 1990s I switched to the Canon EOS system and then to Canon dslrs in the early 2000s. Sitting rather forlornly in my camera bags now are some excellent FD Canon lenses and, in particular, a mint Canon LTM 50 mm f1.4 from the last of the Canon rangefinder series. What I would like to do is to buy a mirrorless camera body and then use suitable adaptors to make use of these lenses. I would be using the camera strictly for leisure photography. My questions are as follows: Is there a best mirrorless system for legacy lenses? Is there a best brand of lens adaptors for legacy lenses? I do not want to buy a camera only to find that there is no adaptor able to deliver satisfactory results.

It's interesting to read on this thread, and many others over the years, how many people there are who love the results from the Prominent but complain about the ergonomics. As a left-eyed shooter the ergonomics are great - unlike so many of the great mechanical SLRs which, for convenience, have long film advance levers that do not return completely and are likely to poke me in my right eye. Two cameras that come to mind are the Canon FT and FTB. I bought a 1957 Prominent in mint condition in 1961. In the following years I added the 35/3.5 and the 100mm f4.5., using a Turnit for the 35mm and 100mm and a Kontur for the 50mm Ultron. It was not until the mid 1990s that I put the Prominent aside as my main camera and switched to the Canon EOS system. For more than three decades I was rewarded with thousands of slides and prints: it never ever let me down. After reading this thread I took the Prominent out of its case. It is still like new. Slow shutter speeds are spot on, and I just love to hear the mechanical timer and quiet shutter. I have several Voigtlanders in my collection, the easiest to use being a lovely Vitomatic 11a with the ultron f2 lens - a fairly rare combination. But the sentimental favourite will always be the Prominent.

I recently completed a three weeks visit to the UK and took with me my 5D11, wide angle zoom and a 70-200 zoom. Just before leaving Australia I bought a 40mm f2.8 pancake lens and put it on the camera - it stayed there for the entire visit! The 5D11 immediately became an easy to walk around with camera. Without this lens the camera would probably have been left at the hotel and I would have used my phone camera

Hi, Larry. If you are interested in the road trip suggested by Ian Copeland then I suggest you contact www.visitbrokenhill.com.au for short outback tours . May I suggest the Broken Hill bush mail run with the Australia Post contractor. This is a mail run covering a loop of about 330 miles and visiting some of the remotest outback properties in New South Wales and takes a full day. Also, just refining the Great Ocean Road section, drive from Warrnambool around the Great Ocean Road to Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula, catch the car ferry to Portsea (about 35 minutes) and you are on the Mornington Peninsula. The drive to Melbourne is approx 70 miles but from Portsea you can visit up to 25 or 30 wineries with excellent food from the area. A slight detour on the way takes you to Arthur's Seat, approx 1200 feet in height and with wonderful views across the Peninsula and Port Phillip Bay. If you have refined your tour by now and need further information, let me know.

For day to day use I would go with the 24mm on a crop sensor. I use a 40mm on a full frame body. It is so sharp, light and small that is stays on the camera body until I have a specific need for another focal length. I find that I now use the dslr much more simply because it is now so unobtrusive without a large lens hanging on the front of it, and it makes street photography so much easier.

Thanks to all who have contributed to my query. Two reasons for going for the 350D in the first instance are its light weight and small size. Until using film became impractical, my wife was happy using a small Canon dslr with a 28-70 3.5-4.5 lens - a very light lens that still gives great results. I felt that if I used the 350D with the 24mm stm it would give her the opportunity of shooting anything that took her fancy and give good results. If this rekindled her enthusiasm for photography then the 100D body would be a logical move, with other lens choices to be made at that time. I really like the pancake lenses. I use a 40mm f2.8 on my full frame and results are excellent. It's my hope that the 24mm will give similar results on an ef-s body.

Back in 2006 I bought a 350d as my entry to digital photography. I took about 400 photos, hated the results from the kit lens so I removed the battery from the camera, packed it all away, and went back to film for a few years before getting a 5D Mk11. My wife is now expressing an interest in digital photography. I am tempted to resurrect the 350D and put the new 24mm f2.8 stm lens on it, making a very lightweight, easy to carry camera. However, friends are horrified that I would even think of using such old technology and tell me my wife may as well use her mobile phone camera. I can't see that I've got anything to lose. If the technology makes the camera outdated I can then look at buying a newer camera. Am I missing something?

<p>Just to answer some of the points raised, in no particular order: over the years I have accumulated quite a number of prime and zoom lenses. I have sold my ef-s bodies and lenses and stayed with the "normal" focal length lenses for full frame as I find composition easier - probably embedded in my mind from years of using film cameras.<br /> I fully realise the problems in lugging the Mk11 around but I do so because it has a viewfinder. I live in Australia and for most of the year - certainly now because it is summer - the brightness of light is such that I find any camera which relies on an LCD screen for framing is frustrating to use because in almost every case the screen just blacks out. For people living in the United States, think of the light in Arizona in summer.<br /> The only camera I own which is not full frame is a Canon Ixus 850 IS with a 28-105 lens. I have not upgraded it because it has a somewhat primitive viewfinder which can be used in an emergency when the LCD screen blacks out. I had thought of taking this camera but it does not go beyond 400 iso and is fully automatic.<br /> So I am left with the Mk11 and the 40mm. I am restricted to one lens because of other non photographic luggage I am taking.<br> <br /> Once again, many thanks for the replies to my query.</p> <p> </p>

<p>Thanks to all who have replied to my query.<br> It is quite some years since I have been to London and never in winter, so I thought my full frame with its iso range, far better than any other body I have, would cover the 2.8 limitation of the 40mm in poor light.<br> Also, with the 40mm mounted, the Mk 11 seems to have the ease of use of a point and press.<br> It was only after I saw the results from the 85mm that I began to consider it. In my mind I sought to justify its use by wondering whether the extra stops would outweigh its additional size and weight. <br> Given how tight my schedule will be, I've decided to go with convenience of the 40mm. </p> <p> </p>

<p>In a few weeks time I'll be travelling to London for a short business trip.<br> I'll be taking my 5D MK11, and it was my intention to take just one prime lens, a 40mm 2.8, as I have found it to be useful in the past. It is very sharp wide open and being so small the MK11 becomes much easier to use in crowded situations.<br> However, a friend has returned from a similar trip but using an 85mm f1.8. His results are excellent.<br> I am finding it difficult now to decide which one to take, and I can take only one.<br> Has anyone had experience with either lens in a city such as London during winter?</p>

<p>To BW,</p> <p>The Dynaron 100 has a mark on its body near where it fits onto the camera. It looks as though somebody did not know how to detach the lens from the camera and used a pair of pliers.</p> <p>Fortunately, the lens did not suffer at all from being in the water. It was still in its waterlogged leather case when found. It is a slow lens but used in daylight it makes a wonderful portrait lens. If I remember correctly, in early 1961 Kodak colour reversal film was rated at 25 ASA and later in that year the ASA was bumped up to 64. </p> <p> </p>

<p>Yes, I do. Back in early 1961 while on our honeymoon I dropped and broke my wife's Box Brownie.<br> I knew nothing about photography at that time but also knew I had to replace it quickly! I walked into a local camera store to get advice and walked out with a mint 1958 Voigtlander Prominent with an Ultron 50mm f2 lens, a Turnit and a Gossen Sixon light meter.<br> Three weeks later at a Victoria Police auction of unclaimed stolen goods I bought a 100mm Dynaron lens. I was told that it had spent two weeks in a bag at the bottom of a creek.<br> From 1961 until 1992 the Prominent was my only camera and with it I took thousands of slides and prints recording my growing family. I then bought into the Canon EOS system and the Prominent was stored away.<br> In 2009 Gabor Szabo had a thread showing photos taken with his Prominent and a Skoparon 35mm f3.5. That sparked my interest again and I bought a Skoparon.<br> Every few months I run a roll or two of film through the Prominent. It is still in mint condition. I don't know whether it is sentimentality on my part and/or the obvious quality of the camera, but I get far greater pleasure using it than using any of my digital slrs.</p>