Gear discussion thread v. "I got some new gear and I got to post it here" - General

Keh sounds like a good deal then. I post it on CL, though I doubt I can get any takers, then I'll go to keh. I'm also getting a quote from b&h (they didn't have a preset for the lens, even though they sell it :/ )

[QUOTE=notlabbet;44687442]Keh will buy my kit lens for $250, should I eBay for that extra $50? Last eBay selling experience I had sucked.[/QUOTE] That's a really good price, I'd go for it. So much less hassle, and you are losing about $20 in the process versus a best case eBay scenario.

Also selling my Panasonic G6 for 550 USD with 14-42 Lens and 64GB high speed SD card included (and battery/charger obviously) oops didn't see the for sale thread

My RJ focal reducer thing arrived today. The build quality is exceptionally good, and all my lenses fit, even the 20mm and 55mm f1.2 FL lens (which are not compatible on the Lens Turbo!). It gives about a 1.1x crop, and it does give you a 1 stop brighter image. Image quality though is a bit mixed. The centers are sharp (perhaps a little sharper than they are with a dummy adapter), but the quality falls off toward the edges and never really picks up. Not a landscape device, but that's not really why I bought it anyway, I'll grab the RX100 as a landscape backup and have no problems. It's also got the blue spot problem, but that's not really something that bothers me much. The LoCA's are absolutely horrible, but Lightroom is apparently a wizard and can get rid of at least 90% of them. Like they were bad enough to where I would have sent this thing back instantly at any sort of monetary loss, but then Lightroom really helped SOOOOO much. I'm beyond impressed at Lightroom right now. This is a 100% crop of the far right edge of the image at f8 on a 55mm. Not perfect, but it does make the adapter go from useless to useable. Removing them brings back perceived sharpness, and the edge falloff becomes less of an issue, and more of a problem if you are viewing 100% or printing very large. For web use this adapter is totally acceptable. [t]http://i.imgur.com/xYuZO33.jpg[/t] Pros: Built incredibly well Fits all FD lenses I've tried (20mm 2.8 nFD, 28m f2.8 nFD, 35mm f2 SSC, 50mm f1.4 SSC, 55mm f1.2 FL, 135mm f3.5 nFD, 200mm f4 macro) Adds 1 stop of light Reduces crop from 1.5x to ~1.1x, great for wide angle lenses Overall results are good (not great) Price point is acceptable for the level of quality Aperture open and close lever, allows you to focus wide open then stop down by twisting the lever Cons: Image quality is reduced toward the edges and will not ever match the lens used natively on an FF camera, nor that of a glassless tube on APS-C Super strong LoCA's require lightroom processing Adds about 1% barrel distortion Blue spot problem PP is absolutely NECESSARY for good results Focuses past infinity, watch your focus Slightly reduced contrast I'd recommend the product if you have certain lenses that you want wider on a budget, this will do just that. It gives you a bit wider angle and more light, and a bit closer to that FF look (though not of the same quality). Better for portrait and closeup than landscape and long distance, just make sure this is not your only camera and lens combo that you bring into the field (just grab a regular tube as well if you need higher quality). If you are not good at post processing, you will likely not enjoy this product at all. Go in expecting results to be good at best and not an a7 replacement and you are likely to have a bit of fun with it. Overall I'd give about a 3/5.

[QUOTE=Trogdon;44690608]Focuses past infinity[/QUOTE] fuckin radical

[QUOTE=Trogdon;44690608] Focuses past infinity[/QUOTE] prePARE for fucking LIGHT SPEED [IMG]http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/warp-speed-1.jpg[/IMG]

the takeaway message i am a time traveler

we all knew it in our hearts [editline]30th April 2014[/editline] [img]http://fi.somethingawful.com/images/smilies/emot-siren.gif[/img]bullshit alarm[img]http://fi.somethingawful.com/images/smilies/emot-siren.gif[/img] i was just about to trade in my lens to get the 40 f2 m-rokkor and it disappears from the listings i was minutes too late [editline]30th April 2014[/editline] so now i think im still gonna trade in my lens, and also shovel up some cash to get the 45mm F2 plannar T* trog, is yours good?

What do you guys think of mirrorless cameras? I know they are pretty damn expensive, cost almost the same as entry DSLRs, but are they worth the monies?

[QUOTE=Ignhelper;44691877]What do you guys think of mirrorless cameras? I know they are pretty damn expensive, cost almost the same as entry DSLRs, but are they worth the monies?[/QUOTE] A lot of upsides, but don't try to change lenses in a dusty place.

[QUOTE=Ignhelper;44691877]What do you guys think of mirrorless cameras? I know they are pretty damn expensive, cost almost the same as entry DSLRs, but are they worth the monies?[/QUOTE] i love mine (nex 5). the prices are decent depending on what you buy. look into the Sony a6000, imo it's the best priced camera out there in terms of price/performance

Mirroless is the future

i like my mirrorless, i wish i could utilize its smallness (thats why im getting that 45mm rangefinder lens)

So the day I didn't lurk Craigslist someone posted a Leica R8, 28mm f2.8, 50mm f2, 135mm f2.8, 28-70mm f3.5-4.5, and an m 50mm f2 for $500!!!! I'm like literally so fucking mad right now if I missed this I missed out on so much potential money

[QUOTE=Trogdon;44690608]My RJ focal reducer thing arrived today. The build quality is exceptionally good, and all my lenses fit, even the 20mm and 55mm f1.2 FL lens (which are not compatible on the Lens Turbo!). It gives about a 1.1x crop, and it does give you a 1 stop brighter image. Image quality though is a bit mixed. The centers are sharp (perhaps a little sharper than they are with a dummy adapter), but the quality falls off toward the edges and never really picks up. Not a landscape device, but that's not really why I bought it anyway, I'll grab the RX100 as a landscape backup and have no problems. It's also got the blue spot problem, but that's not really something that bothers me much. The LoCA's are absolutely horrible, but Lightroom is apparently a wizard and can get rid of at least 90% of them. Like they were bad enough to where I would have sent this thing back instantly at any sort of monetary loss, but then Lightroom really helped SOOOOO much. I'm beyond impressed at Lightroom right now. This is a 100% crop of the far right edge of the image at f8 on a 55mm. Not perfect, but it does make the adapter go from useless to useable. Removing them brings back perceived sharpness, and the edge falloff becomes less of an issue, and more of a problem if you are viewing 100% or printing very large. For web use this adapter is totally acceptable. [t]http://i.imgur.com/xYuZO33.jpg[/t] Pros: Built incredibly well Fits all FD lenses I've tried (20mm 2.8 nFD, 28m f2.8 nFD, 35mm f2 SSC, 50mm f1.4 SSC, 55mm f1.2 FL, 135mm f3.5 nFD, 200mm f4 macro) Adds 1 stop of light Reduces crop from 1.5x to ~1.1x, great for wide angle lenses Overall results are good (not great) Price point is acceptable for the level of quality Aperture open and close lever, allows you to focus wide open then stop down by twisting the lever Cons: Image quality is reduced toward the edges and will not ever match the lens used natively on an FF camera, nor that of a glassless tube on APS-C Super strong LoCA's require lightroom processing Adds about 1% barrel distortion Blue spot problem PP is absolutely NECESSARY for good results Focuses past infinity, watch your focus Slightly reduced contrast I'd recommend the product if you have certain lenses that you want wider on a budget, this will do just that. It gives you a bit wider angle and more light, and a bit closer to that FF look (though not of the same quality). Better for portrait and closeup than landscape and long distance, just make sure this is not your only camera and lens combo that you bring into the field (just grab a regular tube as well if you need higher quality). If you are not good at post processing, you will likely not enjoy this product at all. Go in expecting results to be good at best and not an a7 replacement and you are likely to have a bit of fun with it. Overall I'd give about a 3/5.[/QUOTE] Nice! What's it like shooting at f1.4 with the 50mm? Is it sharp enough in the center to get decent shots? I can imagine this mainly being used on lenses wide open to decrease the DoF so shooting at f/8 on a 55mm using it seems to defeat the point for me (like, you may as well shoot any other 35mm~ lens at f/8 without the speed boost adapter).

1.4 is good at close range, but far away it's pretty ugly. For mostly all f stops at infinity it's like awful but closer distances as long as you are careful about your focus it's not too bad. The shots I posted yesterday were at 1.2, my 50mm 1.4 is a little better wide open by not by a whole lot.

i want to ditch my dslr for a mirrorless. it was a good introductory camera but i don't like the size

[QUOTE=Trogdon;44692540]So the day I didn't lurk Craigslist someone posted a Leica R8, 28mm f2.8, 50mm f2, 135mm f2.8, 28-70mm f3.5-4.5, and an m 50mm f2 for $500!!!! I'm like literally so fucking mad right now if I missed this I missed out on so much potential money[/QUOTE] That sounds too good to be true. Could have been a scam.

[QUOTE=Desuh;44694029]That sounds too good to be true. Could have been a scam.[/QUOTE] Could be, but I'm thinking even at $1000 and labeled correctly (wasn't even marked as leica) people would go nutso and be there in mere seconds to snap it up. The lack of the camera in the title is what makes me think it's legitimately someone who just doesn't know, as they could scam for way more at that point. I wouldn't have even known it was a leica if I didn't browse using the iPhone app which shows photo thumbnails next to the title. I gave them a call just a bit ago (ad is still up) but their phone was off, so I shot them a text (which I should have done last night). [url]http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/pho/4448353671.html[/url]

this just came in [img]http://s22.postimg.org/3mrgt6d5t/28mm.jpg[/img] NM condition, only the apperture blades retract a bit slow but that shouldn't be such a big deal since I don't shoot 10fps.

I started talking to my girlfriend about photography last night. Then I remember I had a Canon FTb in my closet. I haven't touched that thing in over two years. I don't know how to use film cameras. Today I went over to a film shop where I bought a new battery for my camera's light meter and got a roll of film. The lady who worked there explained to me how load, set (things like ASA), and shoot. I remember back a couple years ago I tossed a film roll in my camera and would just shoot; I had no idea to set anything. My photos never developed or the people at Rite-Aid didn't really want to send me my photos. Anyways, here's some pictures of my equipment. [t]http://puu.sh/8vER2[/t] [t]http://puu.sh/8vGRg.jpg[/t] [t]http://puu.sh/8vGTi.jpg[/t] [t]http://puu.sh/8vGHC.jpg[/t] [t]http://puu.sh/8vGLn.jpg[/t] [t]http://puu.sh/8vGOF.jpg[/t] I have no idea why I bought this camera. I don't know if it even works or not. I got it off ebay and I can't look back too see whether it functions or not. [t]http://puu.sh/8vFHv[/t]

[QUOTE=Zeemlapje;44695684] NM condition, only the apperture blades retract a bit slow but that shouldn't be such a big deal since I don't shoot 10fps.[/QUOTE] that actually could be a problem, if there is like any trace of oil at all on the shutter it can overexpose shots by a lot depending on when your camera stops down while taking a photo. this can be avoided by shooting in stopped down metering, but even the slightest slowness in the aperture can majorly destroy a photo so be careful. also be sure to shine an LED through the rear element and look at the front, and vice versa. it's possible that if there is oil in the blades that it could have splashed on the rear element, causing a bit lower contrast and slightly lower flare (these can be not noticeable at all though).

^ They've gotten smoother after shooting last night, no oil leaks present.

I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask but I noticed some weird stuff with my Canon 55-250: During manual focus the ring moves in steps as opposed to before when it's movement was smooth (AF is still fine). It also makes a slight clicky sound and it's a bit harder to turn aswell. It's like the focus motor is not fully disengaged when switching modes. I have no idea what happened, haven't touched that lens in weeks. Anyone had a similar experience?

the J1 was probably a poorly selling camera for a reason but like this is a very good deal [URL="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-1-J1-SLR-Digital-Camera-w-10-30mm-VR-Lens-Refurbished-Adobe-Light-Room-5-/310948145902?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item4865f42aee"]http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-1-J1-SLR-Digital-Camera-w-10-30mm-VR-Lens-Refurbished-Adobe-Light-Room-5-/310948145902?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item4865f42aee[/URL] waiting for the day that the other nikon mirrorless flops hit a price this low

Ouch that's pretty awful, that's like $60 more than Lightroom is regularly. It sucks that the optics have such poor apertures (unless you spend a shitload of money) otherwise that would be a great deal. Pretty sad how low some mirror less cameras sold for eventually, I remember the EOS M and 22mm going for $250, and the Nex 3n with 16-50mm kit for $250.

I heard the EOS M isn't so bad any more, firmware upgrades and such, and now it's basically performs like a miniature DSLR with an EVF. They have an EOS M Mark II in Japan too. Edit: "EOS M2".

it's not terrible, it's just not very exciting. The focusing is better now, but still about average for its class (though expectations are higher now with the a6000, XT1, and EM1). Still very little external controls, and the form factor is pretty poor in terms of ergonomics. Aside from the touch screen it's no better than the Nex 5 (i'd prefer a tilt screen personally) that came out in 2010. The 22mm lens is great though, and pretty much the only reason to even consider the system Canon pretty much gave up on the system in most of the world, as you can't buy the mk2 or the 11-22mm lens in most countries. Overall just very half assed, which I feel similarly (though less strongly) about the Nikon 1 system.

someone just passed me along the quote: "if you can hit your target, [i]any[/i] gun will do the trick" I think it relates photographically.

[quote]Of course if you shoot RAW then the colors you get will depend on your software; I shoot actual photos (JPGs).[/quote] -Ken Rockwell, 2014 [editline]9th May 2014[/editline] confirmed raws are not real images my entire lifes work on photography has been a lie