Nikon's EVIL

Red Pedal -- NEX-5 & Leica Summicron 90mm f2.

The long rumored Nikon EVIL camera(s), the V1 and J1 have finally been unveiled. I think people are just surprised to find that the sensor size is some weird 2.7x, and than many got angry.  Most would expect Nikon's version of the mirrorless camera to be better than the offerings from Sony and the Micro 4/3 camp, but it turns out to be not what everyone expected.  Personally, neither the J1 and V1 interest me even one bit, I guess they are not targeted at consumers like me.  I understand they do not want the new mirrorless system to directly compete against their own entry level DSLR line.  So, to Nikon, this makes perfect sense, just not to the Nikon dire hard fans who were expecting more.

The samples I have seen look disappointing.  ISO 400 is already too noisy.  Seriously, they don't look much better those from the Canon G12 point & shoot.  What's the point?

So, Canon is now officially the only major camera maker who does not have a mirrorless camera system.  If they are planning something similar to Nikon's offering, I would be very disappointed.  I am hoping Canon will make something more innovative, better than what's already or soon to be on the market.

Voigtlander Super-Dynarex 135mm f4 Sample

Bicycle -- NEX-5 & Voigtlander Super-Dynarex 135mm f4 @ f4.

Voigtlander and Kodak were the two major camera makers that used the DKL mount.  DKL was not really that common and therefore there aren't that many DKL mount lenses out there.  Most of them were made by either Voigtlander or Schneider-Kreuznach.  I have small collection of DKL lenses, but unfortunately, all except the Schnieder-Kreuznach 50mm f1.9 have very long minimum focus distance.  We complain about this on rangefinder lenses, like the Voigtlander Nokton 40mm f1.7 with MFD of 0.7m.  Both the Schneider 135mm f4 and the Voigtlander 135mm f4 have MFD of 4 meters (15 ft)!  So, any kind of close up is out of the question without extension tubes or close-up filters.

Strangely enough, the Voigtlander Super-Dynarex has a 40.5mm filter size, and the Schneider Telexenar 135mm f4 has a 58mm filter size.

The Super-Dynarex 135mm f4 is a very nicely made lens.  The one I have is in amazing shape and very clean inside and out.  Being such an old lens, it's remarkably usable optically, even at f4.  Due to the very long MFD, this is the second time I actually used the lens, after acquiring it for a while.  I find long lenses like 135mm or 200mm, very hard to focus on the G1 or NEX-5. If I magnify the image, it shakes too much due to small angle of view, add to the problem is the lack of a view finder on the NEX-5, which makes manual focus even harder.

I don't see myself using this lens or the Schneider Telexenar 135mm f4 much.  I don't like lenses with very long minimum focus distance.

Tokina RMC 17mm f3.5 -- First Sample

Signs -- NEX-5 & Tokina RMC 17mm f3.5 FD. Click for larger.

This is one of the few lenses I picked up at the camera show.  Unfortunately, it's in Canon FD mount, which means it's really usable on M43 or NEX, if you shoot digital.  I know there are adapters with glasses inside for EOS, but these kinds of adapters never really interest me, having tried one before.

Back in the olden days, a 24mm lens is consider very wide, and 20mm is extremely wide; a 17mm is approaching fisheye territory.  But, nowadays, 20mm equivalent wide angle is so common, even on the APS-C format.  But, ultra wide angles were very expensive back then, even for third party lens marques.  It was (is) difficult to design ultra wide angles that have good distortion, sharp at corners, great colors, with good flare control.  So, inexpensive ultra wide angle were not really that good a performer.  I had a Sparitone 18mm f3.2 a few years back, and it was just a so so lens.  But, that didn't stop me from using it and got some memorable pictures from it.  This Tokina seems to be a lot better than the Sparitone.  Haven't taken enough pictures to assess its image quality, but the initial pictures look promising.  More pictures to come.

As a side note, I bought the LCD cover for the NEX-5.  A piece of plastic that costs $22!  Unbelievable.

Shooting at f0.95

William -- NEX-5 & JML 50mm f0.95 TV Lens @ f0.95, ISO 800. Click for larger.

Every time I used the JML 50mm f0.95 lenses, I thank my lucky star, to give me an opportunity to acquire this (and its little brother, the JML 25mm f0.95) lens.  For portraiture, it's completely usable at f0.95, as long as there are no point light sources that would make the picture distracting.  A lens with a maximum aperture of f0.95 is a dream for lots of people.  It affords one to take pictures with ultra thin depth of field, but at the same time is relatively affordable to own, unlike the Leica version.

Also tried the JML 25mm f0.95 on the NEX-5.  This lens already vignettes pretty bad on my G1, and on the NEX-5, there is a dark boarder.  With some cropping, it's still usable, as the picture below shows.  After cropping, the pictures is about 7 MP, still has enough resolution of a relatively big enlargement.  As with its bigger brother, the 50mm, this lens is also usable wide open at f0.95 but with the same kind of problem as the 50mm with point light sources.

William -- NEX-5 & JML 25mm f0.95 @ f0.95, ISO 400. Heavily cropped. Click to enlarge.

Uncropped from camera jpeg.

With such fast lenses, I find myself able to shoot at very dim lights and still use a low ISO setting, typically 400 or 800.  The biggest problem is focusing.  For anything that moves, it's next to impossible to get critical focus at f0.95.  It's much easier with the G1 than the NEX-5 for this kind of shooting.  Often I don't need to enlarge the area to obtain critical focus on the G1, due to its great view finder.  That's why I so look forward to the NEX-7.  Just hope the image from it won't disappoint.

A Rare Beauty

Voigtlander Zoomar 36-82mm f2.8 DKL -- World's first zoom lens for the 35mm format phtography. Here fitted with the DKL to EOS adapter 

Today's show changed venue from the Thornhill Community Centre to a hotel conference room in Toronto, closer to where I live.  I found it to be smaller/more crowded than the old place.  There seemed to be fewer vendors as well.

I went there with some M-Mount/LTM lenses in mind, but all of them are way out of my budget.  I especially was looking for a Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f1.5 for the Prominent.  I saw some sample pictures from this lens and I really like it.  But, couldn't find one.  Instead, bought a Voigtlander Zoomar 36-82mm f2.8 lens.  This is definitely not a common lens and it is in really good condition.  It was the world's first zoom lens for 35mm format, with a constant f2.8 aperture to boot.  It definitely set a high standard for others to follow.  It come in different mounts, like DKL (which mine is), Exaktar, M42 and possibly other mounts.  This lens was built like the proverbial out house.  Even after 50 years, the lens feels like it was made this year.  The focus is butterly smooth and the zoom action is amazing. Truly one of the best engineered lenses.

William -- NEX-5 & Voigtlander Zoomar 36-82mm f2.8 @ f2.8. Click for larger.

I knew being the first zoom lens, there were many compromises in the design, so I didn't really expect it to perform well.  Definitely not a contender with today's zoom lenses.  I have a DKL to EOS adapter for my other DKL lenses and I was able to snap a few pictures with this zoom.  Sure enough, the corners are bad, even on the 1.5x sensor of the NEX, but the center of the frame is reasonably sharp.  Even stopping down didn't produce sharp corners.   I bought it purely because it was the world's first zoom lens for 35mm format, and I want to own a piece of photographic history.  Do not buy this lens if you are looking great optical performance. Any of today's cheap zooms will be optically better, though built quality is entirely another matter.

Voigtlander Nokton 40mm f1.4

Pink Roses -- NEX-5 & Voigtlander Nokton 40mm f1.4 @ f1.4. Click for larger

At last, my NEX-5 is back.  I picked it up from Sony's repair center this morning.  Sure enough, it now has a brand new LCD screen.  I will buy a screen cover for it tomorrow to prevent the coating from coming off again. I was, however, very disappointed to find the sensor covered with lots of dust.  Every time I had my camera serviced at Canon, they always cleaned the sensor, even without asking.  It would have been nice of Sony to do the same.  I am sure it won't take more than a minute of their time.

Also got a chance to try the Voigtlander Nokton 40mm f1.4 on the NEX-5.  I like how small but well built the Nokon is.  It's very sharp lens even wide open.  Very happy to find that with the 1.5x sensor, I don't see any vignetting at all even at f1.4.  It take a bit of getting used to to have aperture on the front and focusing ring at the back (like many c-mount cine lenses).  I did fumble a few times trying to focus and changed the aperture instead.  Natively at 40mm, it's equivalent to 60mm on theNEX-5, and I guess it's still considered a normal lens.  Due to its very short flange distance, the adapter is relatively thin which makes the lens look small, as opposed to SLR lenses where the adapter is very thick; even a pancake lens would look ridiculously large.

The only thing I don't like about the Nokton, is its 0.7m minimum focusing distance.

I can already see myself in trouble.  M-mount lenses are perfect for the NEX.  Just thinking about putting this lens on the NEX-7 with a gorgeous viewfinder increases my heart beat.  I just hope that I will go slow adding M-mount lenses.  My next target is likely a 12mm, or 15mm or a 21mm Voigtlander, since it's quite a bit cheaper than other makes.  The 35mm is too close to the 40mm I already have.

Heaven have mercy on me, and give me strength to resist emptying my account on M-mount lenses.

The Sony Repair Experience

Pine Cones -- Panny G1 & Kern-Paillar Switar 75mm f1.9. Click for larger. 

Two weeks and and a day ago, I dropped off my Sony NEX-5 at the Sony repair center and I was quoted that the camera should be fixed between 1 and 10 business days.  That's pretty good in my opinion, because my experiences with Canon didn't fair very well, in terms of length of time and quality of service.

Let me get the negative aspects of this Sony repair experience first.  My major complain is that their repair status on their web site does not work.  I always receive errors.  Contrast to this, Canon is very good in this regard. I just think that a company this large, can not have a simple function that many people actually use, working.  I can't imagine what consequences for me is, if I were responsible for this function, at my job.  I don't think my manager will be too happy about this, but it doesn't seem to bother Sony.

So, I called three times over the length of the repair, to inquire on the status of the repair.  On my second call this Wednesday, I was told that the camera was fixed, and they asked if I wanted to have it shipped to me, or I would like pick it up.  They told me I could receive the camera on Friday (today) if I had it shipped.  I agreed to having it shipped and was expecting to receive it today.  But, I didn't.

Called again today the customer service rep told me the camera wasn't shipped.  I was pretty unhappy that they gave me conflicting information, but I told them I would pick it up on tomorrow (Saturday).  I am hoping there will be no issues getting the camera tomorrow.

Now the positive.  From the dropping off to the telephone calls, every one was courteous and friendly.  The facility was very good.  They didn't give me a hard time about replacing the screen, since, technically, the screen was not broken, just the coating came off.  They did fix the camera within ten business days as quoted.

Over all, I would rate this as a positive experience.  Hopefully, I won't have to use it again.

Gear Thoughts

Lights -- Canon 1D Mark III & EF 85mm f1.2. Those black dots are birds, not dust!

Since I got the 1D III (the second time), I have had used it a few times. I am quite happy with it so far and it seems to be a lot more reliable (in terms of focusing) camera than the Mark III I bought originally.  Focus seems to be very accurate, with the exception of the manual focus is slightly out of whack, possibly due to the shims missing on the focusing screen.  But I really do not use manual focus lenses on the Mark III.  Looking at the ISO 1600 and even 3200 pictures, I am happy to say that it's very clean.  Much better than those from the NEX-5.

Now that we know what to expect from the NEX-5N, which has amazing low light capabilities.  If this camera has a built-in EVF, I would have bought one today, but adding the EVF to the NEX-5N is almost the same price as the NEX-7!  Sony should really make a NEX-6: a camera with NEX-7 body and NEX-5N sensor.  As optimistic as I am, I don't think the sensor in the NEX-7 will be anywhere close to be as good as the one in NEX-5N.

Originally, I wanted a full frame body, and my eye was set on the 5D II, and I will have something like 1D III, 5D II and NEX-5.  But I have really been spoiled by the NEX-5.  I took it with me everywhere I went and took a lot of pictures with it.  You can't beat the portability of the NEX bodies.  Now that the NEX-7 will be out in a couple of months, and it almost has everything I want in an EVIL camera, except the sensor, and unfortunately, it not cheap.  If I buy the NEX-7, I will have no funds for the 5D II.  On the other hand, if I buy a 5D II, I can probably squeeze out enough money to upgrade to the NEX-5N.  And then there is the 50mm f1.8 OIS that I really want too!  Now you can see why I am slowly going insane!

NEX-5 Back to Sony for Repair

Actually, there is nothing really wrong with my NEX-5, in terms of operations and functionality.  It's purely a cosmetic problem: the anti-reflective coating on the rear LCD has all but rubbed off except near the center of the screen.  It looks really disgusting when the screen is turned off although it's not as bad when it's on.  I don't think it's acceptable that the coating comes off so easily.  Sony should either provide a glass cover for the LCD screen or make the coating stay on more permanently.

At the moment, I don't know if it's even covered under warranty until the technician has a look at it.  This is the first time I have had to use Sony's customer service and so far it's been very positive.  The reception and the facility is excellent (although it's hard to find the customer service department.)  I was quoted a turn around time of 1 to 10 business days, depending on availability of parts.  This is a far cry from the Canon service when I regularly had to waiting at least two weeks and most often four weeks.

When the screen is fixed, I will put on a screen protector first thing.

On a side note, I have been really going gaga over the NEX-7.  Today I read the image comparison of the A65 (version 1.02 firmware) versus the the A850 on a Chinese site and I am really impressed with the high ISO performance of the 24MP APS-C sensor on the A65 (and the A77, NEX-7).  Too bad these are all jpg images but the improvement is like night and day in terms of noise reduction, especially chroma noise.  Given the translucent mirror that causes a 1/3 EV light loss on the A65, the NEX-7 image should actually be marginally better.  If the final image quality of the NEX-7 is similar to what I see on the A65, I will not hesitate to buy NEX-7 as soon as it hits the dealers' shelves.

Skylon Tower in the distance, Niagara Falls -- Sony NEX-5 & 18-55mm kit lens.

NEX-5N or NEX-7?

The net is abuzz about the NEX-7 but we have not really seen any sample pictures from it yet.  We can only infer from the A77 samples about NEX-7 image qualities.  On the other hand, the NEX-5N samples are available from many well known sites.  What I have seen, especially the high ISO samples, are nothing less than astonishing.  It almost rivals that of the 5D II.   Sony has finally caught up and perhaps surpass Canon/Nikon on clean high ISO image quality.  I really like what I see and can't help but thinking that if Sony puts the NEX-5N's sensor in the NEX-7, I will have no hesitation buying one, even at $1200 for the body.  Or, if the NEX-5N has a built-in EVF, I will not hesitate to buy one either.  Adding the external EVF to the NEX-5N will almost cost about the same as buying the NEX-7.  Why does Sony have to torture us like this?!?

I will patiently await tests on the NEX-7 when it becomes available.  If the image quality turns out to be at least as good as the current NEX-5 (not 5N), I will most likely buy one, although I really have no need for 24MP.

On the note of EVIL cameras, I think Canon has  missed the boat here.  Even Nikon is rumored to introduce one soon, but we have heard nothing from Canon.  EVIL camera segment is the fastest growing part of the digital camera business, and I don't know how Canon not see that.  By the time to do introduce one, it may be a bit too late to capture the lost market share.

Sony NEX-5 & Kodak Ektagraphic 50mm f1.2 Projection Lens. Click to see larger.

Kodak Projection Ektagraphic 50mm f1.2 Lens

Pricked up another projection lens couple weeks ago.  This one was a Kodak Ektagraphic 50mm f1.2 lens.  Very similar to the Kowa 50mm f1.2 projection lens, but heavier, larger, and seems to have multi-coating which the Kowa does not have.  Due to its larger size, I could not make it part of my 52mm screw on lens for the Vivitar 2x focusing helicoid.  Luckily I have another one which I modified and fits perfectly.

Finally got a chance to tried it out today.  Very happy with the results.  Slightly sharper than the Kowa, and less purple fringing.  However, it vignettes a bit more at infinity focus but at close range, vignetting is not visible.  Strange, because the lens is larger than the Kowa, but vignettes more.

NEX-5 & Kodak 50mm f1.2 Projection Lens. Click for larger.

Depth of field of this lens is of course very thin, being an f1.2 lens.  Unfortunately, there is no aperture control on the lens so very thing is shot at f1.2.  For some situations, this is desirable, but of course you will get fatigue looking at too many of the same kind of pictures with very thin depth of field.

It's a great low light lens, if you could nail the focus.  Definitely worth trying on out if you always wanted to own an f1.2 lens.

NEX-5 & Kodak 50mm f1.2 Projection Lens.

   

The Sony NEX Kit Lens

I brought only the 18-55mm kit lens and the Canon FD 55mm f1.2 lens with me to New York this time.  The Sony NEX kit lens owners seem to be pretty harsh on the lens, and I read some of the reviews, which show terrible image quality even at f8.  Fortunately, my finding is slightly more favourable.  I find the kit lens to be pretty sharp, and the corners are acceptable at f8, but the distortion is horrendous at 18mm, which is the most useful angle on the kit lens.  At 55mm, distortion is much better controlled and image quality is quite usable wide open at f5.6.

I am quite happy with the lens and I no problem taking it with me on trips.  It's very light, well built, although a bit large compared to my kit lens that came with the Panasonic G1, but not by much. Remember this is the lowest end and the cheapest lens the manufacturer can  make as a kit lens.  Other than the original kit lens that came with the Rebel 300D, I have had good experiences with kit lenses that came many of the camera bodies I have bought over the years.  They are optically getting better while built materials getting cheaper (except the Sony NEX, which has metal mount and lens barrel).  For any better quality lenses, you would have to fork out quite a bit more money for slightly better image quality.  The majority of NEX users will find the lens more than satisfactory in most cases, except low light use.

Subway Station -- NEX-5 & 18-55mm kit lens.

Ground Zero Revisited

I last visited New York city two months ago in June.  That was not my first time in New York, but was the first time that I actually visited with free some free time.  I went back last week for a few days for some more training sessions.  Stayed at the same hotel which has part of the view of Ground Zero.  As before, construction was going on feverishly from 6AM until 11PM each day.  They are trying to finish the 911 Memorial in time for the 10th anniversary of the 911 attack.

Looking at the construction site, it's hard to imagine the horror and destruction of the towers, unless you have seen what it was like.  Peace is not without its prices.

Construction -- NEX-5 & 18-55mm kit lens. Click for larger.

Construction II -- NEX-5 & Canon FD 55mm f1.2 SSC.

Sunset on Field of Green

Last Ray -- NEX-5 & OM 35mm f2. Click for larger.

I have had used the Olympus OM 35mm f2 lens for a little while now after swapped my SMC Takumar 35mm f2 with Adam.  Over all, I am quite happy with the lens.  Not a great deal of difference with the SMC Tak 35/2, but the Takumar is slightly smaller in diameter (49mm vs 55mm filter size) but longer lengthwise.  If I had to choose, I would choose the OM 35mm f2.  Not sure why, but I think it might be because I have had many many Takumars over the years, but hardly any OM lenses other than the 50/1.4 and 100mm f2.8.  In any case, I am having a blast with the OM 35mm f2.

Toronto Traffics

Under Construction -- NEX-5 & OM 35mm f2. Click to see larger.

If you live in Toronto, you will understand how bad traffics is, pretty much any time of the day.  Downtown, highways, you name it, it jams with cars all the time.  The picture above was taken while stuck in traffic on the Gardinar Express Way.  I am so glad I bike to work everyday and only need to drive on the weekends and occasionally weekdays.

Canon FD 50mm f1.4 SSC Sample

Red & White -- NEX-5 & Canon FD 50mm f1.4 SSC. Click for larger.

The more I use the Canon FD lenses, the more I feel they are way under appreciated.  I especially like the starndard 50/55mm lenses, from FL to nFD mount and all of them are excellent.  Well made, optically excellent and all have very pleasing bokeh.  The problem is, there are so many variant on the  Canon FD 50/55mm lenses that just having one of each will cost a small fortune, not to mention the exceptionally good FD 24mm f1.4L, FD 85mm f1.2L, FD 135mm f2, and the jaw dropping FD 200mm f1.8L which was the brother of the superb EF 200mm f1.8L.  Perhaps, it's better to concentrate on the FD line than having so many other brands.

Lazy August

Leaf -- NEX-5 & Kowa 50mm f1.2 Projection Lens. Click for larger.

This has been a lazy August for me.  Don't know if it's the very hot and humid weather, or I just want to take it easy.  The desire to go out and take pictures has been waning but I find it relaxing in a different way as picture taking is relaxing.  Most people take more pictures in the summer, but strangely enough, I am take more pictures in the spring and fall. Find the colour and subjects are better in those two seasons.
 

Window Sill Planter

Pretty Flowers -- NEX-5 & Kowa Prominar-16 50mm f1.2 Projection Lens. Click for larger.

I have often wondered if I had only a body and a couple of zoom lenses, would I still be taking as many pictures I have been doing.  The answer is probably no.  I think new lenses/cameras encourage picture taking.  You've got to try out the new stuff, right?  Unfortunately, I do think, though, that often this makes me take pictures for the sake of taking pictures, instead of getting serious and think more of what or why I am taking pictures.  No matter, for me, the fun is often the process, and if the pictures turn out that I like, it's bonus.

Black Ninja

Ninja -- NEX-5 & Kowa Super-Prominar-16 Projection Lens. Click for larger.

So I have replaced the c-mount to NEX adapter on the Vivitar 2X macro teleconverter focusing helicoid with a 49mm NEX reversing ring.  The opening is now much larger than the c-mount's 25mm diameter.  The first lens that benefits is the Kowa Super-Prominar-16 projection lens.  This lens was not able to focus to infinity before because the c-mount was restricting the lens from going further into the lens mount (camera body).  Now that the mount is larger, infinity focus is possible.

It turns out that I like this lens a lot.  Sure it vignettes a bit, and there is purple fringing, but it's very sharp and the depth of field is so thin, even when shot from quite a far distance.  Perfect for low light or when thin depth of field is needed.

The Year of Sony?

Rumour has been flying over the net that August 23/24 will be a huge day of Sony announcements.  No less than four camera bodies, and a few lenses will be announced.  For me, it's the NEX-7 that I am looking forward to.  The spec looks extremely good, except I would trade high pixel count for better high ISO performance.  What I like so far of the NEX-7:

• 3 Million Pixel ViewFinder -- Finally!  I am sold on this feature alone.  I already like the NEX-5, and the lack of a viewfinder has been a huge disappointment.
• Faster Start Up Time -- I don't know about you, but I know of no other recent DSLR/EVIL camera has a  slower start up time than the NEX.  Even waiting for it to wake up from sleep is an excruciatingly painful. 
• Base ISO 100 and higher ISO performance -- I really missed ISO 100 when using fast lenses in bright lights.  But, I am not holding my breathe on ISO 16,000.  I will be very happy if it can do clean ISO 3200!
• Faster auto focus -- Let's face it.  The NEX is probably the slowest focusing EVIL camera out there, so anything better and faster helps

Those are my main concerns and they are enough for me to upgrade.  I am just worried about the price.  If it's over a grand for the body, then I will just have to wait until the price comes down.

Finally, I am very happy to see Sony is revamping they Interchangeable Lens camera line up.  The specs for the A77 certainly looks very impressive.  Wonder what full frame A99 will be like!

Sail Boat -- NEX-5 & Pentacon 200mm f4