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declark

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Posts posted by declark

    Own a something 645? Sell me on your camera

    in Medium Format

    Posted

    <p>Owned the Pentax 645 for about 3+ years. Didn't love it, but liked it a lot. Loved the lenses and the price. Hated the chicklet keys on the older style body. Loved the build quality. Loved the battery life. Hated the noisy mirror motor drive. Loved lenses with built-in hoods. Recently switched to a Hasselblad system because I love the more retro style and no motor noise and love the square format. I have yet to see any diff between the Pentax and Zeiss glass yet, but I wasn't really expecting much. Attached is a shot from the Pentax 645 55mm lens and Velvia 50, enhanced scan from NCPS photo (about $12 / roll).</p>

    Slide Film

    in The Wet Darkroom: Film, Paper & Chemistry

    Posted

    <p>I realize this is not in the Central Valley, but since it is by mail you might want to try North Coast Photographic Services in Carlsbad. They've turned my film around within a week or less and offer high quality scanning (look for "enhanced scans" on their web site) at time of processing for about $12/roll for either 35mm or 120.</p>

    Nikon F3HP vs. FM2N

    in Nikon

    Posted

    <p>I've owned the FE2 and F3HP and found there are really great features about both of these cameras. My biggest gripe about the F3 was having to switch it on, whereas the FE2 comes to life just pulling the wind lever out. The F3 is bigger, but so much smoother and better feeling when winding, which I like doing and never had any interest of adding power winders. I like the metering better on the F3 and seemed to get better exposures with it's fat spot meter vs the 60/40 of the FE2. It was much easier to read the needle of the FE2 but then again the F3HP viewfinder is an eye opener and changing screens is a breeze. For some reason I seemed to get sharper results with the F3, maybe because it was just heavier and seemed better damped. You won't go wrong with either, but if I were to get another, it will be the F3.</p>

    Does ANYONE even shoot medium format anymore?

    in Medium Format

    Posted

    <p>Using my Pentax 645 is great, but the Rolleiflex T is even more fun. Love the simplicity and all mechanical feel. The square is addictive too. For the small number of rolls that I do scan (mostly B&W nowadays in the darkroom) I will just send to Northcoast Photographic. The scans are way better than what I can get off an Epson and are spotless. Costwise they work out to about 80 cents a frame for the scans. I have a digital p&s as a lightmeter for my Rolleiflex and is great for snaps, but I just can't get too enthused about it. I've downloaded many sample images from high end DSLR's from a review site to see what the fuss is about, but they all seem to look sterile to me. I realize they probably are straight from the camera and could use a bit of tweaking, but I'd just rather get a great looking Velvia scan and be done with it.</p><div>00UoKP-182481584.thumb.jpg.667da2713b53e06250ce41e6c8851839.jpg</div>

    Film versus digital

    in The Wet Darkroom: Film, Paper & Chemistry

    Posted

    <p>Forgot to mention in my earlier post that the "enhanced scans" from Northcoast Photographic Services work out to about 80 cents each since they scan the entire roll at the time of processing for just under $12. The scans are around 2200 dpi which for 645 yields a 17 megapixel very fine JPEG with a file size around 21.5 Mb each. This was all done thru the mail (granted I am only about 100 miles from this service) and I had my sleeved slides back with CD in less than one week.</p>

    Film versus digital

    in The Wet Darkroom: Film, Paper & Chemistry

    Posted

    <p>I love digital. It's made for some really fun debates. I like to see the frenzy of posts and it's fun to see how quick a post like this will crack 100, kind of like watching the DOW go over 10,000 (again) today. But mostly I like being able to get a Pentax 645/ 55mm lens for about $350. I really like the scans I am getting from Northcoast Photographic Services in Carlsbad (kudos to Ken Rockwell for pointing out their enhanced scans). For me this is just for fun, and although a 5D or Alpha 900 might be nice, at my rate of about 2 rolls of 120 a month it would take 5 years to pay for just one of those bodies, let alone lenses. Here's a sample scan from Northcoast Photo just for fun. Not the greatest shot, but I liked the 21.5 Mb JPEG scan (reduced to 4MB here, so a bit more JPEGGY).</p><div>00UkWv-180487584.thumb.jpg.d1805841582c3e246c0edc3d848c0529.jpg</div>

    Rafting, class III rapids, drybag, Nikon d80

    in Nikon

    Posted

    <p>Even better than the disposable p&s cameras is the Olympus Stylus Epic with 35mm 2.8 lens. I bought one of these in good used condition for this exact purpose for about $30 and it takes very crisp pics. It is somewhat water-resistant and can be operated with one hand. Keep it in a zip lock and stuff it in your life jacket and wait for calmer water. Opens quick and shoots quick. Just load ahead with a 36 exp roll (good for about 38 shots). If you lose it, you are not out a lot $$.</p>

    Does the Canon SD880 display EXIF or histogram to use as a simple light meter?

    in Mirrorless Digital Cameras

    Posted

    <p>In the interest of traveling light, I am thinking of getting an SD880 primarily for its size and that it has a wider than usual lens than most digicams, plus being able to record some short videos would also mean leaving the camcorder at home. I want to travel only with the digicam and a Rolleiflex T for my B&W stuff. I don't presently have a light meter and usually just guess most of the time. I was wondering how much info the SD880 will display regarding EXIF or histogram to be used as a simple light meter for my Rollei. I understand that sometimes this can be downloaded to update the firmware? Thanks for any info, a snap of the LCD display would be really great if anyone would be willing to share.</p>

    BOKEH, BOKEH, what governs bokeh?

    in Classic Manual Film Cameras

    Posted

    <p>I'm not so sure it's defined by aperture blades, curvature of blades, etc.... It's one of those things that makes a certain lens sort of magical; you know it when you see it. I love the bokeh from my Nikkor 105/2.5 Ais, but hated the Nikkor 50mm 1.8 Ai bokeh. Like the following nikons in terms of bokeh: 75-150mm series E, Nikkor-H 1.8, and the 70-210mm AF F4. My Pentax 645 55mm is also very creamy, and maybe even a bit better bokeh-wise than the 150mm 3.5 which is supposed to be a portrait lens. I also hate the bokeh from my Tamron 24-135mm, maybe it's the aspheric lenses that seem to do so much to create sharpness at the expense of bokeh.</p>

    Loud Pentax M645

    in Medium Format

    Posted

    <p>The first time I fired off a shot, my dog jumped back in utter fear from the noise. I wish it was quieter too. I guess I'll have to get a Mamiya 7 if I really want quiet. If your just a hobbyist as I am, I wouldn't bother with a service because it will probably cost more than replacing the body at today's greatly deflated prices. I started off with the 55 f2.8 manual focus and it is one sweet lens, very crisp and has buttery smooth bokeh. The 150 f3.5 is also very good and has not disappointed me. I just added the 45 f2.8 and it seems pretty good so far, no compaints yet, but I still keep reaching for the 55.</p>
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