Infrared Photography with Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm f2.8

So far, most of my infrared photography was done with the Pentax-M 20mm f4 lens, and mostly at infinity. The reason is because with infrared photography, what you see focused in the viewfinder is not what is actually focused in the image, because the viewfinder is calibrated for visible light and focus point for infrared is not the same as visible light . This combo works perfectly when I set it to infinity focus.

But, it's time to try other lenses and different kinds of pictures. I picked the Flektogon 35mm f2.8, for no particular reason. Only because it was already there with the adapter on. I tried some pictures with close focus. Close focus is always a hit and miss with infrared, especially with large aperture settings. I use focus bracketing to at least get one or two pictures in focus; take a series of pictures with slightly different focus points. The results turned out quite satisfactory.

Kaiser's Crown - Canon 20D IR & Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm f2.8 @ f2.8. Click for larger.

Leslie Groove Park - Canon 20D IR & Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm f2.8. Click for larger.

Kaiser's Crown - Canon 20D IR & Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm f2.8.

Reading in the park - Canon 20D IR & Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm f2.8 

G.A.S Attack

The Sigma twin lens deal has been going on for a couple of weeks now. Two Sigma lenses, the 19mm f2.8 and 30mm f2.8 lenses for $199 at B&H. The stock went out pretty quick and it was back ordered until the 28th of January. I was not going to buy them, but fellow blogger lucindale emailed me about it. As I said, I am weak when it comes to lenses. The email just pushed me over the edge. The lenses arrived yesterday.

I was excited. There are a lot of good things being said about these Sigma lenses. On my way home from picking up the lenses, I put on the 19mm f2.8, and shot a few frames. The very first frame is what you see here. I am happy I bought them. It's optically excellent, albeit a bit slow with an f2.8 maximum aperture.

One thing almost gave me a heart attack was the noise from these lenses. I didn't notice it when I put on the 19mm, but when I got home, as soon as I took the 30mm f2.8 out of the box, I heard something moving inside. Not just a small sound, but it feels and sounds like a large part is loose inside the lens. I was swearing inside, thinking the lens had to be returned. Quickly I put on the 30mm and tried it on the NEX-6. Not a problem at all. Focused fine, picture is razor sharp at f2.8. Then I lightly shook the 19mm and sure enough, it makes the same noise as the other lens. The noise is very disconcerting. A quick search indicates that the noise comes from the linear motor; when no power is applied, some of the lens elements float. Phew!

Curiously, the 19mm f2.8 comes with a lens hood, but not the 30mm f2.8. This is very unusual. The normal Sigma way of doing business is that every lens, regardless of how cheap, comes with caps, hood, and a nicely patted lens case. This puts certain lens maker to shame; unless you pay a premium for lenses that have a red ring, no hood and lens case for you!

Jimmy Simpson Park - NEX-6 & Sigma 19mm f2.8 wide open.

B&W Photo Conversion From Colour

I noticed that some pictures, when viewed in colour, look very ordinary or even bad, but when converted into black and white, they look very different.  This is especially true for very high ISO/grainy shots.  The chroma noise in the colour photograph is usually what makes it look disgusting, but in black & white, the noise becomes monochromatic and it sometimes even enhances a picture.

The picture below looks pretty bad in colour, but I think it is much nicer in black and white. All the colour fringing and chromatic aberrations and noise are no more.

Jimmy Simpson Park at Night - NEX-5N & JML 50mm f0.95, ISO 1600