Mirror Mirror

Mirror -- NEX-5 & Federal Fedar 3.5 inch f6.3 Enlarging Lens. Click to see larger.

I have been out and about everyday on my lunch break for the last two week to walk around the neighborhood and take pictures.  What I have seen the most, in terms of flowers, is tulips.  They are everywhere, in many different colors and species, all blossoming seemingly in competition with each other.  I was going to post another tulip picture, but thought better of it.  Already posted two in the last few days.  I am sure I will post more before they all wilt and wither as spring fades.

 

Federal Fedar 3.5 inch f6.3 Enlarging Lens

Tulips -- NEX-5 & Fedar 3.5 inch f6.3. Click  for larger.

The Federal Fedar 3.5 inch f6.3 is the sister lens to the Federal Anastigmat 55mm f4.5.  Both lenses are very tiny.  Obviously, the Fedar is not an indoors lens, having a maximum aperture of f6.3, and at this aperture, the image is a bit soft.  From f8 on, it's sharp enough, but not as much as the Anastigmat 55mm f4.5.

Despite being such an old and cheap lens, it can still create some nice images.  You just have to shoot with its limitations in mind.  I wouldn't shoot with it everyday, but sometimes you will be surprised what you will get in return for a very small investment.

Symphony of Colours

Deep Spring -- NEX-5 & Taylor-Hobson 75mm f2. Click to see larger.

This time of the year shows life in full force.  The gray and colourless landscape of winter is slowly being transformed into a wonderful and colourful painting.  Everywhere you look, it's a symphony of wonderful colours.

Toronto Annual Gymnastic Competition Final

The Jimmpy Simpson Gymnastic team competed against other community recreation center from Toronto in the Toronto Annual Gymnastic Competition Final yesterday at Joseph J. Piccininni Community Recreation Centre. It was a hellish day for both parents and kids from 8am to 7pm, all packed in one room.

This was the first time Megan competed since she joined the gymnastic team last year.  I am proud to say she did really well.  She was placed 4th on floor, 5th on beam, and 2nd on vault, and won an overall third place in her age group.  Gymnastics is a sport that demands extreme hard work and dedication.

On vault -- 1D IIn & EF 200mm f1.8 @ f2

Second Place -- 1D IIn & EF 135mm f2 @ f2.2

Love Me Tender

Young Tulip -- NEX-5 & Kern-Bolex 50mm f1.3 Projection Lens. Click for larger.

I don't know why this pictures remembers me of the old Elvis song.  Very strange.

These projection lenses are really good for low light, since they are very usable wide open, and they usually have a very large maximum aperture.  I especially like the Kern-Bolex 50mm f1.3, even though it has lots of purple fringing.  It's so insanely sharp and is much easier to hand hold in low light, due to its shorter focal length.

Still have three projection lenses I have not tried: Rodenstock Splendon 300mm (with no max. aperture marking), Leica 200mm (also has no max. aperture marking), and a Bell & Howell 76mm f1.6.  I don't think I will be able to make the 300mm usable, as it's far too long and hard to use.  The Leica and the B&H I may try, but I think my hand is full with three working ones at the moment.

Beauty and the Vespa

Silver Vespa -- NEX-5 & Bausch & Lomb Super Cinephor 4.75 inch f1.9. Click for larger.

Now that I have tried a few projection lenses, they all have one thing in common: all very sharp wide open, and all purple fringing like hell in highly reflective edges.  The Kern-Bolex 50mm f1.3 is the worst, and the Super Cinephor 4.75 inch f1.9 is close behind, where the Astro-Kino 65mm f1.5 fares a bit better.

I think I have found a possible solution to adding aperture control to projection lenses.  I have tried it today on the Super Cinephor 4.75 inch f1.9 lens with pretty good results.  What I found was a disc like aperture that fits inside a 52mm filter ring.  It can sit between two 52mm filters.  The problem is the aperture control is vertical, which means I can not change it unless I unmount the lens.  I am working making the aperture control arm work horizontally, from the outside of the filters.  This will only work with long lenses, unfortunately.

Pentax K-1000 -- The Longest in Production Camera in History

K-1000, a classic that is still recommended for photography students. Click to see larger

Introduced in 1976, this tank-like, all mechanical camera with simple match-needle metering was the longest producing camera in history.  It was not discontinued until 1997, only because some of the parts to make it became too expensive or not available.  This was the third and last K-1000 I had and I just sold it few weeks ago due to non-use, along with a roll of Ektar 25, and Ektar 125 that was 10 years expired.  The Ektar films were the best there was.  I shot two rolls of the Ektar 25 on my Pentax Program Plus and I love the fine grain of the film. The K-1000 was not well used, but will be missed nonetheless.

Spring Showers

Fallen Flowers -- NEX-5 & Taylor-Hobson 75mm f2 @ f2.8. Click to see larger.

We are having a lot of rain in the last couple of weeks.  I don't really mind too much about rain even though I am usually soaking wet by the time I get to work, or get home on my bike.  Taking pictures in raining weathers is actually much better than sunny.  The rain in spring makes everything seem so moody, and sad, and yet so alive.

As I use the 17-31mm focusing helicoid that I purchased, I am cursing it more and more.  The built quality is really bad.  It now has a very annoying play at the mount. This actually makes focusing difficult and psychologically draining.  Each time the focusing ring wobbles a bit, it takes away the joy of using the lens.  It's time to look for a better solution.

Behind the Gooderham Flatiron

Gooderham Flatiron from the back -- NEX-5 & Taylor-Hobson 75mm f2

The Gooderham Flatiron is one of the most photographed landmarks in Toronto.  Most people do it from the front, but the rear is equally beautiful, made famous by the mural Trompe.d'oille, created by  Derek Michael Besant.  


I am enjoying the Taylor-Hobson 75mm f2 lens, after it's more or less fixed.  One side is still slightly unsharp, but quite acceptable stopped down. It's hardly noticeable unless looking at 100%.  I intend to use this lens at least a dozen times this month.  Hopefully I will have a better feel for it.

Home Brew Focusing Helicoid Got Interchangeable Mounts

Home brew focusing helicoid with 55mm & M42 mount. Click to see larger.

I spent the long weekend last week getting my home brew focusing helicoid to become sort of modular.  Currently, it has a 55mm thread made out of a filter (without glass, of course), and I also made an M42 mount.  Together with the thinner 17-32mm helicoid that I bought, I can now use most of the odd lenses I have.  I am very glad that I have a large collection of step-up/step-down adapter rings that I got from the old Outlet Store.  They are now finally being utilized, especially the 55<-->52mm, 52mm <--> 49mm.  Perhaps I saw this coming :)

To make the lenses focus to infinity, I simply add/remove filter rings.  The advantage of this kind of adapters is that I can bring a few spare filter rings and add them on if I need to do some close up.

Next project is to make a focusing helicoid with aperture control, so that I can use the projection lenses and have control over depth of field.