The Full Frame Sony NEX

The Sony Alpha Rumor site has a posting about the up coming full frame Sony NEX with a SR5 (highest) rating. Generally, posts with SR5 rating are almost always correct.  This is indeed an excellent news.  The only rangefinder style full frame camera is currently made by Leica: the M9 and M9 Monochrom.  Most of us mortals can not afford such expensive cameras.  A full frame rangefinder that can auto focus and thousands of dollars less than the Leica?  What's not to like?

The only question is: How will it be implemented?  The current E-Mount, from the look of it, does not seem to be able to accommodate a full frame sensor.  So a new mount or a modified E-Mount maybe possible.  For me personally, it's not a real problem, as I only have two E-mount auto focus lenses, and I am willing to accept a new mount.

If Sony can pull off this feat with a full frame sensor in an NEX style body, I bet many people will forgo their current big full frame DSLRs.

Interesting and exciting times.  Can't wait for the official announcement.

I see pixels -- NEX-5N & Schneider-Kreuznach Componar 50mm f4.5 Enlarging lens with 4-blade aperture at f5.6 or f8.

Minolta MC W.Rokkor 28mm f2.5 Close Up Samples

Most wide angle lenses are designed and optimized for mid distance/infinity, yet at the same time, they offer very close minimum focus distance.  Generally, the wider the lens, the closer you can focus.  There are exceptions, of course.  This particular Minolta MC W.Rokkor can only focus to 0.5 meters, whereas most 28mm lenses can focus to at least 0.35m.  0.5m is what most 50mm lenses will focus down to.  In any case, I am sure there is a good reason for this rather long minimum focus distance for the Rokkor 28mm f2.5, but I will never know exactly what.  I decided to test how it performs at close distance anyway, and I found it to be quite good, actually.  I especially like the bokeh, which is much better than the OM 35mm f2 wide open.

Royal Enfield Motorcycle - NEX-5N & Minolta W.Rokkor-SI 28mm f2.5. Click for larger.

Upside down - NEX-5N & Minolta W.Rokkor-SI 28mm f2.5. Click for larger.

Umbrella - NEX-5N & Minolta W.Rokkor-SI 28mm f2.5. Click for larger.

Bokeh - NEX-5N & Minolta W.Rokkor-SI 28mm f2.5. Click for larger.

Slow August

I can't explain it.  I am least photographically productive during the July and August months.  Maybe the heat makes me want to stay indoors, or I simply find the strong sun/lighting not ideal for taking pictures, or, I just want to take a break from taking pictures. I am sure I will resume my normal schedule of updating this blog comes September, when the temperature turns cooler and colours of tree leaves become more interesting.

Death of a flower - NEX-5N & Olympus OM 35mm f2.0

What Is Acceptable Optical Quality?

Many people, including some readers of this blog, find the NEX kit lens 18-55mm and the 16mm f2.8 lenses to be optically unacceptable.  Yet, many, including me, find these lenses optically acceptable, given the price point.  What constitutes lens quality as acceptable?  Obviously, everyone has their own level of acceptance.

Optical quality is more than just sharpness. Distortion is probably the biggest concern for many people after sharpness.  Then there are other aspects such as vignetting, colours, rendering style, bokeh, flare resistance, and possibly others that affect our perception of optical quality. Personally, I think I have a pretty low standard of optical quality acceptance, when price of the lens is weighted it.  I am easily satisfied.  You might think that after using so many lenses, I would become a lens snob, but that's not true at all.  I always evaluate a lens from its target audience.  One should not expect the same optical quality from a kit lens from those that costs a thousand dollars or more.

Glass Stairs - NEX-5N & E-16mm f2.8. Click for larger.

In the case of the Sony 18-55mm kit lens for NEX, it's on par with most other manufacturer's kit lenses, though I think the original Panasonic 14-45mm (metal mount) is one of the best kit lenses I have used, but they all have their short comings, especially in the distortion department.  Manufacturers are increasingly relying on in-camera correction for lens design flaws.  I think this is a bad trend, especially when you are paying hundreds of dollars for a nice prime lens; you want a lens that's well designed from the beginning, not a patch up job by software afterwards.

Different kinds of horses - NEX-5N & E-16mm f2.8. Click for larger.

Adventure in New York City with Sony Kit Lenses

We have been planning to visit New York City for at least two years.  Last year, just before our planned date of visit, there was the hurricane (or was it a tornado?) in New York City and we had to cancel it.  This year, one day before we would leave, I got sick, and had to cancel the hotel room, but I felt better later so we decided to stick to our plan.  Of course, re-booking the same room cost more!

Driving there was uneventful.  We took a 45-minute break half-way in the trip, and arrived in New York City in approximately 9 hours from Toronto, as there was some traffic jam.  I had been to New York City a couple of times, but each time it was short and for business, so didn't really have much time to explore the city.  Three words jump out of my head about New York City: Big, Busy, Chaotic.  Regardless of time of day, at least where we stayed (West 32nd st. and 6th Ave), people are everywhere.  It was even worse around Time Square.  Definitely a huge change from the relatively tame and slow Toronto.

On the phone -- NEX-5N & Sony E-16mm f2.8. Click for larger.

Hot Dog Vendor - NEX-5N & E16mm f2.8. 

I brought five lenses with me: E-16mm f2.8, E-18-55mm Kit lens, OM 24mm f2.8, OM 35mm f2, and Voigtlander Nokton 40mm f1.4.  I ended up using only the two Sony auto focus lenses, but mostly just the 18-55mm kit lens.

I find the 16mm f2.8 lens more enjoyable to use, especially in low light (night time).  It's perfect for street shooting, though it's slightly too wide for this purpose.  To me, the optical quality is quite acceptable as a travel lens.  On the other hand, I am less happy with the 18-55mm kit zoom lens.

Tiles for America - NEX-5N & 18-55mm Kit lens. Click for larger.

The distortion at the wide end on the kit zoom lens is horrendous, if you shoot RAW and don't have the lens profile (correction) turned on.  The wide end, unfortunately, is the most used focal length in travel.  When I first looked at the pictures I shot, I couldn't below how bad they are.  Fortunately, Lightroom has a lens profile for this lens and it corrects the distortion quite easily.

Lower Manhattan - NEX-5N & 18-55mm kit lens. click for larger.

At the long end, the distortion is not as objectionable.  The lens is actually quite sharp, but the distortion really destroys it.  Even with lens correction, it's not perfect.  There are other good qualities this lens has: small, light, and has image stabilization.  It's a good choice for travel, but I think (or hope) the 18-200mm ultra zoom is better for travel and should be optically better, at least (hopefully) better at distortion control.

Statue of Liberty - NEX-5N & 18-55mm kit lens.

Pan Alive! 2012

Pan Alive! is an annual steel pan competition in Toronto. This year, the event was held at the Lamport Stadium.  My older sons Dillon and Ryan joined the steel pan camp this summer and they were playing in the Jesse Ketchum Pan Vibrations.  It was fun and the music was great.  If you like steel pan music, be sure not to miss next year's competition.

Steel Pans - Canon 1D III & EF 16-35mm f2.8L II. Click for larger.

JK Pan Vibrations Playing -- Canon 1D Mark III & EF 16-35mm f2.8L II. Click for larger.

Energetic Player - Canon 1D III & EF 85mm f1.2L II & f1.4. Click for larger.

Player for the Metro Dome Group - 1D III & EF 85mm f1.2L II @ f1.4

Loving the Rollei HFT 50mm f1.8 Planar

Bike -- NEX-5N & Rollei HFT 50mm f1.8 Planar QBM Mount

I have been shooting with this lens for the last few days.  Not a lot of pictures, but have taken it with me when I am out and about.  Amazingly sharp lens with beautiful colours.  It's truly a bargain for a Zeiss designed lens.  It's well made too.

Rollei Planar 50mm f1.8 HFT - Sample Picture

Fat Bastard Burrito - NEX-5N & Rollei 50mm f1.8 HFT Planar. Click for larger.

I see this Rollei 50mm f1.8 HFT Planar as a sister lens of the more popular Contax Carl Zeiss 50mm f1.7 Planar.  I think it deserves better than what most people give it credits for.  It's sharp, has got nice colours like the Zeiss.  Oh wait, they are both Zeiss lenses!  The Rollei Planar is a Zeiss design licensed to Rollei, just like Contax lenses were licensed by Zeiss, so there is no secret that pictures from the Rollei 50mm f1.8 Planar show traits of Zeiss lenses.

The reason the Contax 50mm f1.7 Planar is more popular is due the mount.  It can be used with Canon DSLRs via adapter where the Rollei QBM mount is difficult to be made focused to infinity on the Canon.  With the popularity of the EVIL cameras, this is no longer a problem.  Both mounts will work fine on all the EVIL cameras.  If you want to try a Zeiss lens, buy the Rollei 50mm f1.8 Planar.  It's much cheaper than the Contax 50mm f1.7, and they are equality good lenses. You will not regret it.

Makinon 24mm f2.8 [MD] - Couple of Sample

Makinon lenses are among the cheapest you can find.  For all the Makinon lenses that I have tried, they are just average in optical quality, similar to most third party lenses from the same era.  As far as I know, they never made anything exotic, either in focal length, or large aperture.  But, don't let that stop you from enjoying them.  They are fine when stopped down at f8/f11.

The Kormann House -- NEX-5N & Makinon 24mm f2.8 [MD] @ f5.6. Click for larger.

Street Crossing -- NEX-5N & Makinon 24mm f2.8 [MD]

Pentax Macro-Takumar 50mm f4 - A Brief Look

So much for the EOS M Canon EVIL camera.  I was kind of expected that it wouldn't be a revolutionary camera, but still a bit disappointed that it has nothing really that stands out from the mirrorless crowd.  Oh well, back to photography.

There are two versions of this Takumar lens: the original pre-set aperture that has a 1:1 magnification ratio, and the later version that has a 1:2 (half life size) magnification ratio.  I have both of them, but don't use them much, partly because they are pretty slow lenses.  Using them on DSLRS with mirrors make the view finder very dark.  Of course, mirrorless cameras don't have this problem.

Twins -- NEX-5N & Macro-Takumar 50mm f4. Click for larger.

The copy of the Macro-Takumar I have is very well used.  There is a bit of play between the mount and the focusing ring, possibly a screw is loose inside, after decades of use but it still focuses smoothly.  In terms of image quality, I know of no macro lenses that are optically bad at close up. This Macro-Takumar is extremely sharp for what it was designed for - close ups, even wide open at f4 it's very good, but depth of field at this aperture is very thin at macro range.  While it's not surprising the lens is optically good at macro, but I find it also very sharp at intermediate distance and at infinity.

Playground -- NEX-5N & Macro-Takumar 50mm f4. Click for larger.

One thing I am not a big fan of is aperture blades that have a saw-tooth like shape when stopped down a little.  This shows up in the out of focus areas.  I like more rounded shape.  The later version of the lens fewer blades but more rounded shape, which I like better.

Sunflower -- NEX-5N & Macro-Takumar 50mm f4. Click for larger.

After many decades, this lens performs almost as good as most modern macro lenses.   The only area where the lens shows its age is the coating (flare) and contrast, especially at larger apertures.  This particular version of the lens does not have the famous Super-Multi-Coating.  Due to its small maximum aperture, it's best used on mirrorless cameras.  Next time we will look at the sister lens, the S-M-C 50mm f4 macro.

Downtown Towers -- NEX-5N & Macro-Takumar 50mm f4. Click for larger.