david_smith110

<p><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/444/18615865531_c53275c0b1_c.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/387/18425949918_5fa6e3cba7_c.jpg" alt="" />Shot my 16 year old cousin out at the lake. Used the NEX 7, Speedbooseter and Yashcia ML 50/1.7 combo. I was chest deep in water for the last two shots. She is actually sitting on a rock just under the water in those. Hope you enjoy.</p> <p> </p>

<p>Jeeeeezuussss people....</p> <p>The A7RII is a great new camera. You don't have to like it, you don't have to <em>get</em> it. If it is not the tool for you or you don't think it can use the bazooka lenses you need for your work or your art or whatever then move along, nothing to see here. You can still go home and have dinner tonight and go to sleep in your own bed.</p> <p>Fact is, Sony is showing what is capable on the bleeding edge of camera design right now. But the wonderful thing is we are all photographers here right? I mean, we are concerned about the images we are making right? Not the name on the box in the other guys hand. Right? RIGHT?</p> <p>Many people are going to buy this camera and be happy little campers (I wish I could afford to be one of them). Many are going to sit around and grumble. Nothing new.</p>

<p>Barry, excellent capture on the beach. The tones are just lovely.</p> <p>Anthea, those are some very nice effects you managed there as well.</p>

<p><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7749/18316777722_1b212cb862_c.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p><em>skating rink attendant</em><br> a7 • lens unremembered</p>

<p><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/255/18316754032_1b029871cd_c.jpg\" alt="" /></p> <p><em>trapped on ice</em><br> a7 • FDn 50/1.4</p>

<p><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8763/18320681115_dc281e0e8d_c.jpg" alt="" width="534" height="800" /></p> <p><em>belly slide</em><br> a7 • auto yashinon 5cm f/2</p>

<p><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7347/16391139888_0a5e5137f7_c.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p><em>ephemeral<br /></em>a7 • zeiss biotar 58/2<em><br /></em></p>

<p><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8655/16678026561_4a77f04168_c.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="534" /></p> <p><em>the deadliest foe</em><br /> nex 7 • speedbooster • yashica ml 50/1.9</p>

<p><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8755/16927550658_f4af4a1f7c_c.jpg" alt="" /><br> <em> </em><br> <em>haunted and weary</em><br> a7 • auto yashinon 5cm f/2<br> <em> </em></p>

<blockquote> <p>Take her into the future of digital photography. Go mirrorless and get her a Sony a6000. The kit lens is fine for a beginner. She can always upgrade lenses at a future time.</p> </blockquote> <p>I agree with this wholeheartedly. From your post you have a compelling reason to have her get a Nikon since you are already familiar with they way they operate. But there might really be a few compelling reasons to go ahead and get her familiar with mirrorless.</p> <p>Mirrorless cameras are leading the revolution so to speak on camera innovation right now. The DSLR, tried and true though it is, is very much at the end of its development cycle. That is not to say it out of date but it is getting long in the tooth. DSLR's do have the advantage of a huge line of lenses at their disposal, but this is to be expected of a product that is now well into its <em>third decade of life.</em><br> <em><br /></em><em><br /></em>Mirrorless cameras are catching up and their lens lineups are beginning to fill out quite nicely. Especially the Fuji lenses for their X cameras. (Great cameras by the way). Photography is always more about the lenses then the body since they are the heart and soul of the creative process far more then a plastic box they are attached to. And this is where mirrorless cameras have a definite advantage over DSLR's.</p> <p>Legacy film lenses. It is stupidly easy to mount up some of the greatest lenses made in human history and use them on modern digital mirrorless cameras with what amounts to full functionality. This is definitely something to consider if a limited budget will come into play with her gear needs in the future. You can find old film lenses that cost a fraction of what their modern day counterparts cost that will mount up easily to mirrorless and allow your daughter to explore many of the different creative aspects of photography that different focal lengths allow. For example...</p> <p>https://www.flickr.com/photos/8539414@N07/sets/72157629936411965</p> <p>This link is for the flickr album of my Sony Nex 7 using old film lenses. The camera that Ernest recommended, the Sony a6000, is for the most part a new version of the NEX 7. Believe me when I say the a6000 is an absolute amazing gem of a camera that could have taken all of the same photos in my NEX 7 folder. The a6000 was also mentioned recently by The Camera Store at the end of their review for the new Canon Rebel if I am not mistaken. They said the camera was great, but there could find no reason to recommend it over the a6000. The Sony is just that good.</p> <p>There are plenty of good auto focus lenses for the a6000 as well, so no matter what type of photography you daughter may want to do there should be a lens choice for it.</p> <p>Im sorry if I seem to be derailing off of your choice for Nikon, but there are just so many great mirrorless cameras on the market (and I have had a good bit of photo success with my choice to use them) that I try to recommend them to everyone. (Oh, the thing I forgot to say about Nikon....their cameras have about the longest flange to focal distance of any camera made. So adapting old film lenses is next to impossible. Staying with Nikon will for the most part remove her ability to tap into some of the best glass ever made for sometimes little more then pennies on the dollar.)</p> <p>Whatever decision you go with, kudos to you for putting so much thought and consideration into such a creative (and possibly life changing) gift for your daughter. My own little girl is only 3 but I cant wait to start shooting with her and seeing where she goes with photography, if I can even interest her in it. :)</p> <p>Oh, try visiting KEH.com as well. You may want to consider buying used and KEH is an amazing resource for used camera gear. They grade their items very conservatively and they have a no questions asked 30 day return policy. I have used them many times and never had a problem with them. I almost always recommend people buy used cameras since they are an excellent way to avoid gear depreciation. I am on a pretty tight budget myself (thus why I shoot with old film lenses) so I understand the importance of making every penny count.</p> <p>Good luck with your search.<br> <em> </em><br> <em> </em></p>

<p>Scott</p> <p>My advice would be to not over think the decision to much. Most of todays cameras far exceed the photographic ability of the user (and I am including myself in that statement). Menu systems and button placements all become second nature over time as the brain and body adapt to different operating systems. What is far more important and often overlooked is your vision as a photographer. No camera body or lens combo is going to be better or worse in regards to that.</p> <p>Fuji makes great mirrorless cameras. So does Sony. Oh, and Olympus and Panasonic also. All of them can become the tool you need to create your art. Beautiful landscapes, sweeping cityscapes and achingly powerful portraits of your daughter can come flowing out of any of these small electronic boxes when inspiration, creativity and love is fed into the viewfinder.</p> <p>My advice? You seem to know your way around Sony. Why don't you stick with them. There will be less time then spent 'adjusting' and more time spent creating. The a6000 is a powerful and compact tool capable of stunning imagery. I hear the a7000 is just around the corner. This should be the long awaited replacement for the mighty NEX 7, a tool I have used for several years to create images only somewhat recently 'upgrading' to an A7. Heck, if you look at my flickr page you will notice that the photos I posted just yesterday were taken with my old NEX 7. My daughter and I went to a local lake and did a several hour walk around. I didn't want to worry to much about trying to keep sand and water out of my A7 so I brought along the old NEX for more 'worry free' photography. You may view the images here if you like.</p> <p>https://www.flickr.com/photos/8539414@N07/</p> <p>A smart option might be to buy a used body from KEH.com and give that a try. They offer very sensibly priced cameras in great shape with a wonderful return policy. I have used them many times for lens purchases and have NEVER had an issue when I needed to return something. Buying new is all well and good, but if you can save money on a camera body then more money can be spent on lenses which are far more important to the image creation process.</p> <p>A final thought. Do you ever use old 35mm film lenses on your cameras with adapters? If you view my flickr page you will see that almost every single photo on there is shot with old legacy glass using adapters. This is a very cost effective way to get phenomenal glass in your bag without breaking the bank. Minolta, Canon FD, Olympus OM Zuiko, Yashica ML....these are some of the most amazing lenses ever made and are still viable options today. They should also stand the test of time far better then most plastic auto focus lenses of today. An added benefit is that your lenses can always move with you if you decide to change camera makers with only new adapters needing to be purchased. If you don't already do this I think your comment about the mostly static subjects you photograph should make you a 'prime' user of old legacy glass. :)</p> <p>Anyway, just my thoughts on the subject. Good luck with your gear purchase. I hope you find the tool you need.</p>

<p>a7 • makinon 500/8 mirror (nikon mount)</p> <p><em>so dont burn your bridges woman, cause someday....</em><br> <em><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5607/15808138342_6c47fceeeb_c.jpg" alt="" width="534" height="800" /></em></p>

<p>a7 • FDn 50/1.4</p> <p><em>god writes in cursive barbed wire....its cuts my eyes to read his word</em><br> <em><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7570/15806571605_3834128dbb_c.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="534" /></em></p>

<p>a7 • lens unremembered (minolta mc rokkor pg 50/1.4...i think)</p> <p><em>perilous</em><br> <em><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8586/15621724540_a821d54a92_c.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="534" /></em></p>

<p>Barry, I believe you will absolutely love the A7 when you demo it. It is a powerful photographic tool that is nothing less then a 24mp full frame digital back for every lens ever made. I shoot almost exclusively with old film glass and the A7 is hands down the best camera I have ever owned for that. Short of the original film bodies for those lenses of course, but even that is arguable. I have gone digital some time back however so this is a non issue for me.</p> <p>You may veiw my A7 folder on flick here if you like. https://www.flickr.com/photos/8539414@N07/sets/72157641534772013/</p> <p>As for the FD adapter, I finally lucked up on finding what I did not think anyone would ever produce. I have avoided FD glass on my A7 (and NEX 7 previously) mainly due to the fiddly breech lock ring required. The ones that I have owned inevitably get loose and start to slip over time. Plus changing lenses in the field is just more of a hassle with this mount and I have to many other excellent lenses (Yashica ML, Minolta) which are simply much easier to use and of equal or better quality. You will see examples of these lenses in the link above.</p> <p>But looking again thru the auction site the other day I found one with a unique one piece design. Finally! Somebody went and made one. Here is a video link showing how it is used.</p> <p> <p>Looks to be good quality and if it works as advertised I will most likely do a small write up on it for pnet. I have high hopes since it is manufactured in Poland instead of China and the seller states it is made to very high tolerances (0.005mm). I have found some web reviews of this and other adapters from the seller (cieceo7) and they seem to be universally positive. I may have found a new supplier for all my adapters if this is the case.</p>

<p>I have only had direct experience with the FDn 50/1.4 and the FDn Macro 50/3.5. Both are lovely lenses, and they are the only plastic lenses that dont actually feel like plastic when you use them. For the most part they fell like metal lenses they are so well made. That is a big plus in my book.</p> <p>Having said that, I have noticed the 50/1.4 exhibit noticeably more chromatic aberration then other fast 50's I own. This is mainly wide open against high contrast subjects but it is very prominent. I have a new, one piece high quality adapter on the way from Poland to replace my crappy second hand FD/Sony E adapter so I hope to get some really good tests in when it arrives sometime in the next few days. If the 50 lives up to my hopes on the A7 I will be looking at picking up a couple more FDn's. Probably the 50 Macro (never should have sold mine) and the 35/2.</p> <p>Here are a couple of older shots.</p> <p>Sony A7 • FDn 50/1.4<br /> <em>relics</em><br /> <em><br /></em><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7391/14054926912_a68cd77b15_c.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="533" /><br /> <br /> Canon 40d • FDn Macro 50/3.5<br /> <em>Hallo? Are you there god?</em><br /><br /> <em><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8113/15687627405_29af322042_c.jpg" alt="" width="534" height="800" /></em><br /> <br /> <em><br /></em>same combo, FDn macro<br /> <em>our shadows taller then our souls</em><br /><br /> <em><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5476/11975275834_b3e9a3ce5a_c.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="531" /></em></p>

<p>Gordon, thanks for the link to the other thread. Very informative and good to know about these obvious custom one off lenses. It is a shame that some of the less informed among the community or novice photogs may spend a lot more money on one of these thinking it may be rare in a way that it is not.</p> <p>Rick, thank you for the heads up on the metal construction on the pre FDn's. Thats what I had assumed but wasnt completely sure.</p> <p>And thanks again for everyone who commented, most appreciated.</p>

<p>Thank you everyone for the input. Still not sure what to think about this, but I think JDM and Koray might be on the right path with this being a one off custom job. Comparing the pictures of the lens with the FDn I have on my desk in front of me the parts are exactly the same. Screw positions are the same and everything, so I dont think any older FD parts were used in this one. Which means it either comes chrome from Canon or its someones labor of love. If so, I must admit that somebody did a very good job of customizing it. The sheer amount of time to fill in the little numbers alone is staggering. But some people like that sort of thing.</p> <p>Quick question, are the older FD lenses (pre FDn) made of metal? Or is it the same high quality poly carbonate of the FDn line?</p>

<p>I came across this while looking at FD lenses on Etsy. I havent seen its like before and was curious if it is a one-off or maybe a limited edition run I wasnt aware of. Unfortunately its not in the budget right now or I would purchase it. I really like the way it looks.</p> <p>https://www.etsy.com/listing/155342362/canon-50mm-f14-fd-mount-full-frame-lens?ref=sr_gallery_4&ga_search_query=canon+fd+50mm+1.4&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery</p> <p>It is definitely an FDn since it has the bayonet button, but the chrome and black paint scheme is reminiscent of the old versions of the lens. Just curious if anyone might have an explanation of what this is.</p>

<p>Louis, looks like you are right as the consensus seems to be that a Tessar is a no go here. Thank you for that link, there is some interesting viewing there. I know its hard to really compare lenses like that gentleman did due to sample variation and the difficulty in keeping the test criteria accurate, but he did a really good job. His copy of the Yashinon preformed decently, but I was very impressed with the little 50/1.8 Zuiko. He has a sharp copy of that lens to be sure.</p> <p>Rick, thanks to you as well for the heads up on the Yashica Board. I wasnt aware of that. And you're right, it really is a sophisticated little lens. Makes you wonder why they cant make simple, small lenses like this today for all the new mirrorless cameras that on the market. I guess that means these old lenses are just all the more special because of that. I am very much intrigued though about the possible connection between the Yash and the Takumar. Did Tomioka make some of the original Pentax lenses as well? They were a large 3rd party supplier so it is entirely possible I suppose. I really thought that Pentax made all their own lenses, but back in the early days it might have been easier to just purchase an existing design to fill holes in the lens lineup. Maybe that is what happened here.</p> <p>The Tomioka Tominon C. 5cm f/2 is for sure the exact same lens, as can be seen<br> here. http://www.kevincameras.com/gallery/v/m_42_len/tomioka/50_2/392070/<br> There are several variations between the color of individual parts like the focus ring or aperture ring, but it is the exact same lens with same engravings. I would love to pick up one of these old Tominons but they fetch ridiculous prices on the auction site, with asking prices starting around 600. Think I will just keep my little Yashinon and be happy. :)</p> <p>Winfried, I didnt think about the speed factoring into whether the lens might be a Tessar, but you are entirely right. Also, in retrospect, the out of focus area from this lens is really nothing like the other Tessars I have owned. So that should have been a clue as well. Thanks for the input.</p>

<p>A7 with Konica Hexanon AR 200/4, from a zoo trip.</p> <p><em>old soul</em><br> <em><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3943/15546882565_04f4c97e61_c.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="534" /></em></p>

<p>A7 with Auto Yashinon 5cm f/2, also from field trip.</p> <p><em>on the fence about things</em><br> <em><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3945/14948124244_d78015db37_c.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="534" /></em></p>

<p>A7 with Minolta MC Rokkor PG 50/1.4. From a field trip.</p> <p><em>the ties that bind</em><br> <em><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5612/14948123094_53aabb6b6c_c.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="534" /></em></p>

<p>Hello CMC.</p> <p>I have a question regarding the Yashinon 5cm f/2 lens. A while back I found a near mint copy of one attached to a Yashica J3 at a local thrift store. Now being a sucker for Yashica (Tomioka) lenses I just had to add this to my collection. I have recently pulled it back out of the bag to use it on my Sony A7 and I am simply blown away by the results.</p> <p>The lens is very sharp wide open. It exhibts little to no CA while also exhibiting the Yashica swirly bokeh I am fond of. And the build quality is simply superb. It is small and jewel like, more reminiscent of an old rangefinder lens then any made for an SLR. It is prone to flare due to the primitive coatings used (we are talking early 1960's here) but if used smartly then much of this can be avoided. Overall it is a wonderful little lens.</p> <p>My question is does anyone know or have any old periodicals that might have some technical data for the lens? I am mainly looking for groups and elements info. I found one resource online that said it was a Tessar design. That surprised me at first but then considering the size of the thing I suppose it could easily be a simple 4 lens/3 groups in the classic style. For some reason I was just assuming it would be some type of double gauss design, as most of my other fast fifties are.</p> <p>I would greatly appreciate any illumination on this lens that the CMC forum might have. I know it is almost certainly made by Tomioka, since they pretty much made all of Yashica's lenses for them. And this lens is identical to one that is labled Tominon. I mean 100% indentical. It is also about 99% identical to the Auto Takumar 5cm (or 5.5cm) f/2. That one has ten aperture blades tho, whereas the Tomioka badged model and Yashinon model both have only 6.</p> <p>Here are a couple of shots I made on a field trip this weekend. Sorry that they are on the Sony A7 instead of the Penta, but my workflow has become completely digital. I do still shoot with nothing but old film lenses though, and for that the A7 is a perfect tool.</p> <p><em>on the fence about things</em><br> <img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3945/14948124244_d78015db37_c.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="534" /></p> <p><em>under the trees</em><br> <em><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3936/15383244000_1cc5558841_c.jpg" alt="" width="534" height="800" /></em></p>