demetrios_demetrakis

<p>Hey guys, I will alway's take my twins with me wherever I go ! They are my beauties Olympus OM-4 & OM4T, accompanied with their truckload of toys, OEM Oly lenses. We can cover just about anything we need too.</p>

<p>Mr. Donaldo<br>

I can tell you that after almost 25yrs of shooting with Oly OM4T' & OM4's , that the "Little Gem" of a lens is as good as it came the first day. It was always sharp as a tack and it had its sweet spot around F8. I shot mostly indoors in Cathedrals & Churches with flash on slide film (ASA 200/400), you could tell how good it was when the image was projected on a screen 30-50 Ft away. It gave me the flexibility from the FOV of a 28-48MM perspective when you want to manuver indoors for a change in the perspective. The colors were spot on, and the contrast & sharpness were there. So "YES" get it if you can for a reasonable price, check if it out at both ends of the glass for microbial mold. Good luck, let me know if you get one and what your results are like, post some pictures with this lens we would love to see them in action !</p>

<p>Mr.Patrick<br>

I cant get into the technical niceities of this lens, as I have used this lens many a times on my overseas travels when shooting slide films. Words dont do this little lens justice as it has bailed me out from going back & forth on changing lenses to offer me the advantage of 4 usable lenses in one handy dandy unit. I get the magnification & fields of views that I require indoors with flash. I shoot interiors of churches and all I can say is that it is sharp when I project them in lectures. I've always felt that a photographer should concentrate on getting his shot and this reduces all of the ancilliary little distraction of carrying different lenses around epecially today with overseas travel and TSA & foreign custom peek-a-boo searches & explainations. So I am sure that you will be happy with this if you can find on in good optical and physical condition. I would buy another one if I found on in excellent condition. Good luck, get one in good shape and I bet you a cup of coffee & a doughnut that you will be thrilled at what this little dandy can do for your pictures and less strain on your shoulder & kit bag.</p>

<p>Mr.Patrick<br>

I cant get into the technical niceities of this lens, as I have used this lens many a times on my overseas travels when shooting slide films. Words dont do this little lens justice as it has bailed me out from going back & forth on changing lenses to offer me the advantage of 4 usable lenses in one handy dandy unit. I get the magnification & fields of views that I require indoors with flash. I shoot interiors of churches and all I can say is that it is sharp when I project them in lectures. I've always felt that a photographer should concentrate on getting his shot and this reduces all of the ancilliary little distraction of carrying different lenses around epecially today with overseas travel and TSA & foreign custom peek-a-boo searches & explainations. So I am sure that you will be happy with this if you can find on in good optical and physical condition. I would buy another one if I found on in excellent condition. Good luck, get one in good shape and I bet you a cup of coffee & a doughnut that you will be thrilled at what this little dandy can do for your pictures and less strain on your shoulder & kit bag.</p>

<p>Jeffry:<br>

I have at least 15 original "Oly" lenses in my collection, and the one that I love is a little rare gem that they produced, it was a small zoom 28-48MM I forgot the F/stop range now(as its 1:30AM) but it was a show stopper & hum dinger to boot. I especially used this when photographing inside churches and historical buildings and museums. It was really very tack sharp & provided great color accuracy in all of my film & slides (400 ISO films)that I shot in Europe & Greece. My wife knocked it off the table with the camera attached on New Years with not a scratch or bump in it (rubber hood was attached) it broke its fall. If I found one again I would buy it as a spare, if you find it BUY IT! You will never regret it. Honestly.<br>

Jim Demetrakis</p>

<p>Marcus:<br>

As I shoot only film when I was in (Greece & Jerusalem) Churches I always shoot with ISO 400 speed Film & Slides (Kodak & Fuji) then. With the demise of film today look at whats available from Kodak in Europe today (Porta 400NC) & Fuji Professional Slide film (Provia 400X) if you shoot any film for the Baptism. Just remember to stay in the range of your flash to avoid flash fall off and always watch for a correct exposure confirmation on flashes this will more or less confirm if your exposures are spot on (for film) and check your digital view after your shots with the digital cameras..<br>

Jim Demetrakis</p>

<p>Mr.Marcus<br>

You are about to experience a truly enlightening & interesting photographic journey. There are quite a few stages in the Greek Orthodox Christening. I will elaborate the steps for you below as I have shot many ones for my friends. Good idea to get their a couple of days early, first you will unwind from the travel trauma. Next make sure to take a seperate light/flash meter with you if you have one. This will verify the light in the church as you can use this to double check your cameras flash measurments remember a baptism is a once in a life time affair. You are right to take a hammerhead flash this should be plenty of flash power. Remember to take electrical wall adaptors for the recharging of your batteries as I dont know if the type & size in Zurich will match the wall outlets in Greece. Going from memory they are 220V with a high amperage(dont touch) it may zap you for good! <br>

1st. Take pictures in the church if it is an old one it will have a lot of richly colored icons on the Alter Screen (Iconostasis) and the interior walls and ceilings. Really most of them are truly very beautiful and extreamly colorfull.<br>

2nd. Take pictures of the God Parents holding the baby with the Priest reading a set of prayers at the entrance of the church. They will proceed to the baptisimal font where more prayers will be read. Nice family shots with both the God Parents(GP) & Parents (P) present along with the baby. More shots...<br>

3rd. The Priest reads prayer over the baptisimal font (Colimbythra). Take Photos (TP) The actual baptism takes place with the GP being given oil to spread on the babies head,body,arms & feet. (TP) then Priest takes baby and immerses it in the font by lifting and immersing it three times (TP). Then Priest takes baby and cuts its hair, and seals it with Holy Unction Oil again head arms feet. then they take baby to side and put on its baptisimal clothing (all white). Priest puts Cross on newly baptised baby, TP at all of these points. the more the better you are guaranteed some good shots with all of the movement and action taking place.<br>

4th. They then bring baby back to the font and Priest leads the GP and children around the font with hand held candles 3X. TP at all of the turns around the font with the GP & kids in tow with their candles.<br>

5th. GP bring baby to the front Alter steps, Priest reads Bible over the newly Christened baby with GPand children if any at the side holding lite candles (TP).<br>

6th.Priest then gives baby Holy Communion (TP) Parents take baby back from GP and kiss the GP hands in a sign of respect (TP). After ceremony take family pictures with the Priest & Parents & GP in front of the Alter holding the baby in its new white clothing. Also take pictures out in the courtyard in front of the church for your album. Its a lot of fum and loaded with constant action & movement. Enjoy the real fun at the reception as their will be plenty of dancing & music for everyone to have fun till the wee hours of the evening.<br>

Take either 100 or 200 ISO speed film for Greece, as if the days are mostly clear sunny & blue. Also if you have a wide angle for inside the church you can sert up some great shots.<br>

post some so we can see them when you return.<br>

Jim Demetrakis </p>

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