Stan
Senior Member
Posts: 84
|
Post by Stan on Apr 22, 2013 22:49:13 GMT -5
Kind of interesting, but I've just recently struggled with the same issue. I shoot both Nikon and Micro4/3rds (which is a recent addition). One of my weird photography obsessions has always been cat.-mirror lenses, and have always wanted either the Tokina or Tamron. As Tamrons are way more expensive these days I got a Tokina off of eBay. Of course since I decided to go with the Tokina vs. other brands who use T2. My decision was made for me and I'll order a m4/3 to Nikon adapter.....unless of course I decide to keep the Samyang 500mm mirror in the cabinet as well!
|
|
Stan
Senior Member
Posts: 84
|
Post by Stan on Apr 21, 2013 13:58:45 GMT -5
Oh, I don't mean that I'm going to use my AF lenses less. I just feel like I have pretty much what I need to use....as long as I stay with DX anyway. I have a 18-200mm and a 18-70mm, which I find that I use the most. I wanted something that was smaller and lighter. The 18-200mm is great all everything when I just want to carry one lens out and about.
I had not thought about the possibility that the focusing screen being a little bit "out". That's definitely something to think about.
I know that thought of moving up to a D700 will continue to weigh on my mind, but I've only had the D300 for about a year and just not getting really comfortable with it. My upgrade route was a little weird, moving from a D70 to a D200, then to a D70s, THEN to the D300. The reason being that I sold the D200 when the market price on them was starting to fall, not wanting to keep it too long. And instead of going right to a D300, I had to save up for a while, so I picked up a D70s for very little since it had a problem of not being able to turn off (had to pull the battery).
|
|
Stan
Senior Member
Posts: 84
|
Post by Stan on Apr 21, 2013 12:07:30 GMT -5
CP Rail! My wife and I have great memories of that railway! Part of our honeymoon was on the Canadian (although it's VIA run now).
|
|
Stan
Senior Member
Posts: 84
|
Post by Stan on Apr 21, 2013 11:54:51 GMT -5
Thanks for the heads up on the AI issue. Up to this point, the only MF lenses I've acquired are the 50mm/f1.4 Nikkor that has been converted to AI as well as having a CPU chip put on and a Tokina 500mm mirror lens that's AI. It's definitely something I'll keep an eye out for as I look at picking up more MF lenses.
I actually think I might be through with buying autofocus lenses completely and might just stick to MF only from here on out. I kind of wish that I had an FX sensor'd camera (eg. D700) so I could take better advantage of classic Nikkors without losing that 50% angle of view. I'm actually in the process of selling off some of my AF lenses "as we speak"!
On the focusing issue; that's an area that I'm still trying to figure out, and decide whether I want to buy a focusing screen. I found that in daylight, I actually focused better by eye vs. trying to use the confirmation light. However, I was far less successful inside a dimly lit building trying to shoot pictures at my nephews' birthday party last week! I strongly considering picking up one of those inexpensive rangefinder/microprism screens out of HK/China and giving that a try. Then if that turns out well and as I acquire more MF lenses, maybe getting the "cats-eye" screen for it.
I'm actually not concerned about the D50. I had picked up up as a backup to the D300 and a lightweight carry camera in lieu of it. However, I've recently acquired a Panasonic GF-1 which will take over this role. And given the proliferation of adapters for the Micro4/3rds format, give me great flexibility to experiment with virtually any lens.
|
|
Stan
Senior Member
Posts: 84
|
Post by Stan on Apr 20, 2013 19:04:59 GMT -5
Thanks for the confirmation. Other than the 50mm Nikkor, I just haven't used much in the way of MF glass on my digital bodies at all. So I'm coming from the opposite direction as you, having had more experience with the digital end, and less on the MF glass. So I'm glad to hear that the Vivitar would be a good place to start.
If you don't mind me commenting on your choice due to "budgetary constraints" of the 20D; I believe the 6 & 8Mp DSLR bodies form kind of a secret great deal segment. IMHO, the vast majority of users don't need anything higher res except on rare occasions. I started with a Nikon D70 for the same reason, and have found that some of my best images are still from the long-gone camera! I tell people all the time, that it's all about glass, technique and being there. These things ranging from the various Canons, Nikons, Pentaxes and the really below the radar Konica/Minoltas are just great deals right now!
|
|
Stan
Senior Member
Posts: 84
|
Post by Stan on Apr 18, 2013 23:24:28 GMT -5
Although, I've had a fair amount of classic gear of one type or another go through my hands over the years, I'd really like to concentrate on one area for a while. I'm currently a Nikon DSLR (D300, D50) user, as well as having a Panasonic Micro4/3rds (GF-1) for a light "carry" camera. Since I still have young kids, and will therefore be using the digital bodies for that for quite some time, I thought that maybe narrowing my collecting type somewhat might be a good idea.
That area being "classic" manual focus glass. I got a bit of a start with a Nikkor 50mm/f1.4 that's been AI converted as well as a CPU chip installed. I've been trying to relearn my long dormant focusing skills with it recently and having a wonderful time (although with uneven results so far). I was also given a broken EM with the kit "E Series" 50mm/f1.8 so there's that lens as well (it does not have a CPU chip).
I'd like to see if I could get some thoughts on what might be some good lenses to target as starters which wouldn't be too expensive. I'm already on the trail of the Kiron made Vivitar 70-150mm/f3.8 Close Focusing (two-touch). Probably for nostalgic reasons as much as it's reputation, since I had use of one in high school during my Yearbook photography days. It's my intention to stay with Nikon mounts as much as possible (although not strickly necessary with the GF-1 given the many adapters available) since that would allow me to use them on both the Panasonic and the Nikons.
Any thoughts or pointers would be welcomed! I'm pretty much an "old fashioned" straight photography guy and shoots virtually no video at all, so that's not a consideration.
|
|
Stan
Senior Member
Posts: 84
|
Post by Stan on Apr 18, 2013 23:09:19 GMT -5
Thank you gentlemen for the warm welcome. As I expect to transition to more of a collector/user over the coming years, I'm sure this will become the "go to" forum for me. Unfortunately, it might take me a while to get into another collecting cycle since I'm currently in a clean out one!
I am really looking forward to using classic glass with my digitals though.
|
|
Stan
Senior Member
Posts: 84
|
Post by Stan on Apr 17, 2013 23:06:41 GMT -5
I'm new to this forum, although, I've participated in several others including a computer oriented one where I'm a Moderator. I've always loved photography and photographic equipment, although I can't decide which I like more! I started in photography as a boy of about 6 or 7 with my father teaching me how to use his (then relatively modern) Voigtlander Bessamatic Deluxe. Over the years, I've collected and used a wide variety of equipment ranging from a SpeedGrafic all the way to my current Nikon DSLR and Panasonic Micro 4/3rds systems. Along the way, I've had a Canon Rangefinder (7s), SLRs (A1, AE-1), lots of Pentax SLR gear (MX, ME Super), as well as misc. hodge-podge that could be called collectables. These have ranged from Exacta Varex, to Zenit, and have also included a Rollie 35. Although, I have a love for all cameras, my favorite category would probably be late 60's to early 80's Japanese, particularly 35mm SLRs. Currently, I'm reacquainting myself with manual focusing after receiving a "chipped" 50mm/f1.4 from my brother. I fully intend to collect more classic manual focus glass and use it with both my Nikons (D300, D50) as well as my Panasonic GF-1. I'm really looking forward to reading all the collected knowledge and wisdom here as well as picking some of your brains for more! I'm a life-long educator, currently teaching Advance Placement World History and Pre-AP World Geography to High School Sophomores and Freshmen here in North Texas.
|
|