Photo Jottings!

Off-camera flash, old style!

Posted by Kurt on December 3, 2012 in Jottings

Did you know over a hundred years ago they had off-camera flashes?  They were audio triggered!  In this case, the Photographer yelled at his assistant to light the flash powder.  It looks like there were at least two flashes used here, one behind and right of the camera, and the other behind the staircase, see the smoke billowing out?  Can you imaging the lingering stench from this?  It does put out a lot of light though, I wonder what the equivalent guide number would be?

Oddly, in my opinion, this image had no real photographic impact in C. 1901.  What’s the subject?  Now it’s cool because of the powder smoke and the hat lady peering from the doorway.  I wonder why it was taken?  It looks like the photographer draped flag bunting over the picture in the hallway to keep the flash reflection from the glass.  There’s plenty of interesting details here, note the corked bottle of furniture polish on the left, and sloppy stain job on the stair risers.

This image is from the LOC website.  Details; one of many images taken at The Firs, upper hall, New Baltimore, MI. (north of Detroit near Lake St Clair).  Glass 8×10″ negative from the Detroit Publishing Co.

Sony makes fun of its customers?

Posted by Kurt on November 22, 2012 in Jottings

I first saw one of these videos on kenrockwell’s site, and thought it was a joke, typical kenrockwell style.  But it wasn’t a joke at all, it was real!  Apparently, Sony has set up a youtube account by the name of DSLRGEARNOIDEA and provides links to the Australian Sony NEX site.

I’m not a marketing genius, but each of the videos seems to belittle people using some of Sony’s products.  I don’t think this is a good idea unless you only plan on selling mirrorless NEX cameras.  Sony just released their flagship camera (A99) along with two super expensive lenses (500mm/4 and updated 300/2.8) and a few more lenses for the SLT bodies.  Now as Sony has shown us, we really don’t need those items, just buy a NEX camera!

Actually, I’ve been telling people this smaller camera system is the future since this post, and then here.  I guess Sony agrees, but why are they trying to kill their traditional camera and accessories sales while at the same time coming out with new products?

In other possible relevant news, Fitch downgraded Sony’s (and Panasonic’s) debt rating to junk status because of poor sales in their consumer electronics and TV operations.  Sony is now worth an estimated 9.7 billion, about what this kid has in his back pocket.

Well, all is not lost yet.  IMHO, Sony is sitting on a gold mine with the NEX system, but they’re currently struggling to produce lenses that people want, so their potential profits go to great lenses from the likes of Sigma and Rokinon.  Sony needs to get it in gear before it’s too late.  Also, their Sensor operations are probably doing well, as Sony makes the sensors for Nikon cameras, and many smartphones.

New NEX-6 with zoom available

Posted by Kurt on November 8, 2012 in Jottings

The NEX-6 with 16-50mm power zoom is currently in stock.  I’ll be reviewing that lens when they come out separately.

Also, Sigma has a new 35/1.4 that is supposed to ship in December.  Sigma will now be including a USB port on the lens so you can fix any focusing problems yourself!  That doesn’t sound very handy, but it’s better than nothing.  I wonder if the  optical quality will be better than the Rokinon?

Hang tight, I’m still trying to make time to take and post samples from the Panasonic 12-35mm F/2.8 lens.

Sony DT 55-300mm F/4.5-5.6 SAM review posted.

Posted by Kurt on November 5, 2012 in Jottings

Check out the review here.  The 55-300mm SAM is actually better than what the sample photos show, partly because of the atmospheric haze and heat shimmer prevalent here in southern AZ, although not a big problem at the time I took the samples, it still causes a loss of quality at longer distances.  I’d definitely get the 55-300mm over the 75-300mm if your camera is an APS-C model.  If you want to  travel as light as possible, the 55-200mm or 18-250mm would be good alternatives.

New toy for review.

Posted by Kurt on November 1, 2012 in Jottings

I’m a goin’ full bore on the Sony 55-300mm review right now, and may have it ready before next week.  Also, I just received the tiny Panasonic 12-35mm F/2.8 lens, which has the same coverage as a full frame 24-70mm lens.  It’s about the same size as the Sony 18-55mm kit lens, but a little heavier!  I just started playing with it, and hope to have some samples up this weekend sometime.

B&H photo will be shipping the Sony NEX 10-18mm next week according to their product page.  Order now as a X-mas gift for yourself and get it before it’s out of stock everywhere.  The Sony NEX 35/1.8 OSS won’t be shipping until late in December, and the NEX 16-50mm power zoom is slated for January, at least in the US.  I think Sony has already sent out all these lenses, just not in sufficient quantity for retailers.

Sony DT 55-300mm samples

Posted by Kurt on October 25, 2012 in Reviews

Check out the full size samples (click on larger images) from the Sony DT 55-300mm F/4.5-5.6.  All are jpegs directly out of the camera (A77), no changes were made.  I posted two shots using two different apertures, although they were hand held so they don’t line up perfectly.   Manual focusing was used.  I took several shots of each scene and bracketed the focusing, and the sharpest shots are shown here.  Heat shimmer is present on some of the longer shots.

Included are a few bokeh type shots, along with a close focus and ghosting/flare sample.  Colors are dull because I have the camera set to standard/neutral for jpegs, RAW are much more colorful for some reason.

55mm, F/8, ISO 200.

300mm, F/8, ISO 200, close focus.

300mm, F/7.1, ISO 200.

300mm, F/8, ISO 200.

300mm, F/8, ISO 200.

100mm, F/5.6, ISO 200.

55mm, F/8, ISO 200.

55mm, F/8, ISO 200.

200mm, F/5.6, ISO 200.

200mm, F/8, ISO 200.

120mm, F/5.6, ISO 400.

300mm, F/8, ISO 200.

55mm, F/5.6, ISO 200.

105mm, F/8, ISO 200.

Updates

Posted by Kurt on October 22, 2012 in Jottings

I’ll begin reviewing the Sony DT 55-300mm this week, hopefully I can get some full size sample shots posted in a few days or so.

Also, the firmware update for the A77 and NEX-7 is available now.  I haven’t done it on my A77 yet because I have some Real Estate jobs coming up, and I don’t want any surprises.  It basically allows you do disable the movie button, and expands the number of lenses that are automatically compensated for.  The NEX-7 also has an update available, but be advised it will reset all your AF micro adjustments, so write down all your lens settings beforehand!

Go here for a full list of compliant lenses, and the firmware links.

Olympus 45/1.8 review posted.

Posted by Kurt on October 9, 2012 in Jottings

I posted the Olympus 45mm F/1.8 review here.  So far, the primes that I’ve checked out are superb!  The little E-M5 has been getting a workout lately, and I really like it.  There are some things that are standard now on Sony cameras that I miss, like focus peaking and the LCD resolution.  However, the E-M5 has some unique features that come in very handy, like live bulb and live time, where you can see the progress of your exposure as it happens on the monitor (user set preview times), so you don’t need to guess at a night exposure, you just end it when the image looks right!  Also, the level of customization is crazy!  Just about every button on the camera except the shutter can be set to something that’s more useful than the default setting.  The touch screen is handy, but I don’t use it much.  Focusing is much faster than the Sony NEX system, and more accurate too.

In other news, I’ve updated the Sony Camera and lens charts for both A mount and NEX to include the latest lenses.  I’ll review the lenses when they come out, but I don’t think any are available in the US right now except the 55-300mm, so that one I’ll do shortly.

Don’t do this please.

Posted by Kurt on September 30, 2012 in Jottings

Well, things are getting a bit ridiculous at this point.  I’m now spend more time fiddling through the menu system of each camera as opposed to just shooting as I did when I had my Canon A-1 or Sony A700/900.  Trying to remember how to quickly change settings not only for three different camera brands, but different menu systems for the same brand is an exercise in futility!

Below on the right are the Sony A900, and A77, both have familiar controls, so they’re not really too different.   On top is the Canon G1X, and to the left the Canon 5D III, both with completely different controls and menus, although a few things are the same.   On the bottom is the diminutive Olympus E-M5, with a user interface that’s far more complicated and foreign than I thought the NEX-7 was.

I’d strongly recommend staying with one system, even if you have to sacrifice some quality.  While I’m out with a camera other than the Sony AA77/900, I’m spending too much time trying to figure out how to get a certain function to work, while others are just taking the shot.  By the time I get everything set, the moment is gone.

Here’s a little secret; the Sony A900 with CZ 16-35mm lens will perform about as good as the Canon 5D III with the 24mm T-S lens at low ISOs.  Obviously, the T-S lens has certain abilities, one being able to stitch interior images without having parallax problems; you move the camera and not the lens.  However, the differences between the two cameras and lenses are very little, even at 100% viewing sizes.  The Canon with 24mm T-S has a little more contrast in the extreme sides and corners, and of course better high ISOs, but at ISO 100-200 there is virtually no difference in actual use.

The little Olympus is a bridge camera for me, meaning when Sony comes out with a better selection of e-mount lenses that I want, I’ll fully jump to the NEX system.  Also, I may get rid of the Canon stuff, and get the little RX100, although I think the G1X is superior image wise, I’m beginning to think it isn’t really worth the extra fuss.

I didn’t bother putting in the picture the NEX-C3 or a couple other cameras that I have, they’re for testing purposes only.

I think I’ll take Marc’s advice from the comment section of this post.  I’ll stick to reviewing Sony lenses, and a couple more MFT lenses maybe, and leave the camera reviews to Amazon.

Finally, some people are complaining that I don’t answer my email.  In fact I answer all messages within a few days, but sometimes when replying they come back as an invalid address or some other problem.  Also, check your spam or bulk folders, sometimes I show up there, and don’t know why.

Sony deals coming to an end

Posted by Kurt on September 27, 2012 in Jottings

Don’t forget the deals for NEX cameras and kits are coming to a close on Saturday.  Also, the new Sony DT 55-300mm is now in stock at B&H Photo, I’ll be reviewing that lens soon!  It looks like Sony’s nearly perfect e-mount CZ 24/1.8 is keeping pace with demand finally.  It’s almost always been out of stock since it was released last year.  Hopefully Sony will more carefully estimate demand for any new lenses like that as some people may be inclined to try out other systems.