Few More Pictures From the Distillery District

Walking on Stone House Walk -- 5D & EF200mm f1.8 @ f1.8. Larger Picture.


Tank House Lane -- 5D & EF200mm f1.8 @ f2.0. Larger Picture.


Sign of Autumn on Stone House Walk -- 5D & EF200mm f1.8 @ f1.8. Larger Picture.

G1 Going for Repair Tomorrow

My G1 developed a symptom that after power down for about 10 minutes or more, then turn back on, the first picture is always over exposed, sometimes by as much as 3 stops. And, once in a while, I would get a message that says "Mode Dial not in correct position." although I know for a fact that it is.

I sent Panasonic a service request, which I got an auto reply saying that I would receive a reply in a few days. After 7 days, I received nothing. Sent them a complain mail and this time, I got a reply back in 3 days. They told me they could not find the request I sent.

Anyways, instead of e-mail, I decided phone call would be much more direct and faster. True enough. Phone was quickly answered. Support staff was very pleasant and helpful. In the end, they sent me a Canada Post XpressPost label I could print and send in the camera, on their dime. I have shot 15,7xx pictures with the G1 since April 3, 2009.

Panasonic promised the turn around time for repair is 48 hours after receipt. That's extremely fast. The last time Canon fixed my 1D Mark II, it took them 6 weeks (and two tries).

I have my fingers crossed.

One of the last few pictures taken with the G1 yesterday. G1 & Kodak Anastigmat 50mm f1.6 @ f1.6. Larger Picture.

Sample Macro Shots from Kodak Anastigmat 50mm f1.6

Took a few shots in people's gardens. The macro mode on the Kodak Anastigmat 50mm f1.6 is extremely good and versatile. A very welcome feature, since many c-mount lenses in this focal length have very long minimum focus distance.


Fall Leaf on car hood -- G1 & Kodak Anastigmat 50mm f1.6 @ f2.8. Larger Picture.


The Fly -- G1 & Kodak Anastigmat 50mm f1.6 @ f2. Larger Picture.


G1 & Kodak Anastigmat 50mm f1.6. Larger Picture.

The Distillery District

I am ashamed to say that I didn't discover the Distiller District until a couple of years ago. I mean I saw it, passed by it, heard about it, but never went inside. What a mistake that was, because it's a beautiful place with lots of photo opportunities. It has quite a few art galleries, and the restaurants, pubs, cafes, etc., are always packed, especially in the evenings. If you have a chance, do visit it. You can check out their web site.


Tank House Street -- 5D & EF 200mm f1.8L @ f1.8. Larger Picture.


Flowers In Window -- 5D & EF 200mm f1.8L @ f2.0. Larger Picture.


Lonely Chair -- 5D & EF 200mm f1.8 @ f1.8. Larger Picture.

Hot Dog Stand

The more I use the Kodak Cine Ektar 25mm f1.9, the more I like it. It has by far the largest imaging circle of all my 25mm cine lenses. When stopped down, even the edge is very acceptable.

By the way, I have finally created a Pro account on Flickr. The image below is now linked to the first set of photos I uploaded. I have had enough with pBASE. Their downtime is way too often and not acceptable. After using it for the last 6 or 7 years, I will probably not renew it when it expires in 4 months.

Hot Dog Stand at King & University. G1 & Kodak Cine Ektar II 25mm f1.9. 

Mellow Yellow

Possibly one of the most striking building around the downtown area, at least in terms of colour, Gino's Pizza repainted the building at the corner of Queen & Church when they opened the store a few years ago. I especially like the lighting in the evening sun light, like today.

Gino's Pizza Building -- G1 & Kodak Cine Ektar II 25mm f1.9. Shot in Vivid Film jpeg. 

The Evening Serenade

This man was playing at the south side of the Distillery District near the parking lot. Beautiful music for a nice evening.


Evening Serenade -- 1D Mark III & Carl Zeiss S-Planar 60mm f2.8 Makro. Larger Picture.

Nikon Nikkor 35mm f1.4 Ai-S

For years, I have had more manual focus Nikon lenses I can remember, but never really kept them. Why?!? I have had the 58mm f1.4, 85mm f2, 35mm f1.4, 180mm f2.8 ED, 300mm f2.8, etc, etc. I have heard so much about Nikon lenses great quality and sharpness. With the exception of the 180/2.8ED and the 300mm f2.8 Ai-S, I can't see them any better than the Canon equivalent, or lenses from other major makes, for that matter. They are very well made, for sure, but I find them to be soft wide open. I also had high hopes for the 35mm f1.4, but this is no exception. Wide open it's just very low contrast and sharpness was only so so. It's usable to shoot people wide open, but to be really usable, it needs to be at f2.

Although not fair comparing it to the Canon EF 35mm f1.4L, since the Nikkor 35/1.4 was designed decades ago, and the Canon 35/1.4 is relatively new, but looking at pictures taken at f1.4 from both lenses, the sharpness and contrast on the Canon is remarkable. Even the cheaper Minolta MC 35mm f1.8 at f2 is about the same as the Nikon, and I actually prefer to shoot the Minolta than the Nikon.

And the bokeh, not sure why, Nikon lenses don't seem to have very good bokeh.

I really, really wanted to do a comparo between the Nikkor 35/1.4, Canon 35/1.4, Leica-R 35/2, and the Pentax SMC 35/2, but man, it just takes so much time that I don't have.

I know. I have only used the old stuff, and the new designs from Nikon are probably like day and night compared to the old, but I like old stuff. I really want to like this 35/1.4 Nikkor, and other Nikon lenses, but, somehow, me and the Nikkors just don't jive.

I guess I will never be a Nikon man :)


William -- 5D & Nikkor 35mm f1.4 @ f1.4. Larger Picture.


Eco-Cab -- 1D Mark III & Nikkor 35mm f1.4. Larger Picture.


Chained Table and Chairs -- 1D Mark III & Nikkor 35mm f1.4. Larger Picture.


The Immaculate Conception -- 1D Mark III & Nikkor 35mm f1.4. Larger Picture.

Checking Street Car Power Lines

TTC workers checking the Street Car power lines. Looks like a dangerous job to me.


G1 & Kinotel 3 inch f2.5. Larger Picture.

Sign of Autumn

Wouldn't you know it. Summer flew by at supersonic speed, and autumn is fast approaching. I am actually not complaining. I do enjoy the cool and colourful season, though may not be as much as I like summer.

I have been enjoying the 1D Mark III. The high ISO performance is amazing. I am sure a D700/D3 or 5D II may be better, but I am completely happy with the clean images at those ISOs that I could not get with my 1D II. I have one picture below taken at ISO 2500, and you can hardly see much noise (at the web resolution, of course, but even at 100% crop, it's very clean).


Yellow Leaf -- 1D III & Carl Zeiss Makro 60mm f2.8. ISO 400. Larger Picture.


Wilted -- 1D III & Carl Zeiss Planar-S Makro 60mm f2.8. ISO 2500. Larger Picture.