User_2000406

<p>Mike, it'd be 4.2mm and f/2.0 on a Speed Booster, but with a narrow 8.4mm field of view. The ideal lens for a Panasonic GM1!</p>

<p>I can think of two reasons to use the Speed Booster. One is when one has specific legacy glass one wants to use for a particular optical effect, for instance a tilt-shift lens. The other is for routine cross-platform lens use. For instance, I recently used my Nikon 80-400 AFS on my Olympus E-M1. By using a speed booster I effectively opened the aperture farther; this helped compensate for the greater diffraction effect on smaller formats such as Micro Four Thirds. Of course I also lost AF, which was OK because I was using a tripod and shooting landscape anyway.</p>

<p>E.J., the fire is not really "in the area", but rather 30-50 miles away. It's so far away (and yet so small compared to the monster fires that sometimes happen in the western U.S.) that the most Mike might get is a general haze that robs contrast and clarity from the air while adding a dull brown tint. On the other hand I did get some nice sunsets a few years ago in that kind of situation.</p>

<blockquote> <p>Unlike early versions of Canon, Minolta, Pentax, Olympus and Contax, it's very easy to utilize them on old & new (film & digital) bodies with <strong>the Nikon SLR models,</strong> this because their mount for the most part hasn't changed...</p> </blockquote> <p>See JDM's response above. The Nikkor G lenses (all the more recent Nikkor models) are unusable on manual focus Nikon cameras even though they will mount. Non-G AF lenses will mount safely on pre-AI Nikon cameras but require stop-down metering when used this way.</p> <p> </p>

<p>Plus some of the rebates come in envelopes that look like junk mail. You get the rebate eight weeks after the purchase, forget one was coming, and toss the obvious junk mail with your rebate inside. Score one more for the manufacturer.</p>

<p>Another shout-out for the "latest arrivals" section on the old version of the site. It's far easier and faster to skim through a numbers of subcategories using that feature than trying to wade through all the existing stock in those categories via the new site. This feature is only partially replaceable by a search function. I need the combination of specific subcategories quickly accessed plus pre-screening for recent arrival. This is something that's missing on B&H's used site and now KEH is getting rid of it.</p>

<p>One new feature that would be nice would be an electronic first-curtain shutter. The D810 will have this and we can hope it filters on down to other Nikon models. With higher sensor resolution, levels of vibration that weren't a problem at one time can now degrade photo quality.</p>

<p>The different versions are listed here http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/specs.html#105. The lens started with the Sonnar optical formula and a minimum aperture of f/22, went to a Gauss formula and f/32, then went back to f/22 while keeping the Gauss formula.</p>

<p>That's actually a pretty weird quadrilateral in terms of natural landscapes- it cuts across the state NW to SE across the grain of the landscape, and is pretty skinny. Are you traveling from Eureka to Sacramento or vice versa, which would explain the shape of your area of interest?</p> <p>That said, here are a few areas of relative obscurity to outsiders:<br> -Highway 49 between Downieville and Sierraville. Rugged mountain canyon, a rushing river, and a historic gold mining town with lots of old houses.<br> -The Sutter Buttes in the middle of the Sacramento Valley, privately owned but visible at a distance from public roads; such views are definitely best during the golden hours.<br> -Iron Canyon on the Sacramento River between Redding and Red Bluff- best access is by boat but there is land access. Expansive views of the Sacramento River.<br> -The back roads through the western edges of Tehama, Glenn, and Colusa counties. These are paved roads running through the foothills of the inner North Coast Range, and offer golden hills in the foreground, dark mountains in the distance, solitude, and this time of the year, heat. Bring extra water.<br> -Just outside of your area, the Salmon River roads between Somes Bar and Etna. Take either road over the crest of the Salmon Mountains. This is a scenic but remote area; it's best to stay close to the paved roads due to the potential for illegal activities out in the forests.</p> <p>Have fun!</p>

<p>I just received a Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 lens from KEH in EX condition. My copy started out its life pre-AI but at some point was AI-converted. This sample is from the last cohort of the early (Sonnar type) version of this lens (see http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html#105). This type was soon replaced by a different version having a Gauss lens formula and which went on to become legendary among Nikkors.</p> <p>Here are several views of the lens:</p> <p><img src="http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL437/1642984/24278681/405147905.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="520" /></p> <p><img src="http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL437/1642984/24278681/405147908.jpg" alt="" width="603" height="399" /></p> <p><img src="http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL437/1642984/24278681/405147907.jpg" alt="" width="479" height="400" /></p> <p>The AI conversion was reasonably clean, and looks very clean when not enlarged like this:</p> <p><img src="http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL437/1642984/24278681/405147906.jpg" alt="" width="454" height="400" /></p> <p>Unfortunately there is a little ding on the rear element (speck in left center in the first photo and the blob in the second photo):</p> <p><img src="http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL437/1642984/24278681/405147904.jpg" alt="" width="338" height="516" /> <img src="http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL437/1642984/24278681/405147909.jpg" alt="" width="390" height="400" /></p> <p>I have not yet seen any effects from this defect in taking a few photos, but advice is welcome. All photos but the last one taken with a Nikon D7000 and a Nikkor 105mm f/4 AIS micro at f/11. Closeups used the PN-11 extension tube. All lighting improvised using multiple media. Pardon the dust!</p>