Hin's Photo Corner

2011-10-27 Posted by Hin Man

Minimal focusing distance is at 1.5 feet/0.45 meter

#1

A 55mm f/2.8, Fuji Acros 100, 2400 dpi scan

#2

A 55mm f/2.8, Fuji Acros 100, 2400 dpi scan

#3

A 55mm f/2.8, Fuji Acros 100, 2400 dpi scan

#4

A 55mm f/2.8, Kodak Tri-x 400, 2400 dpi scan

reversed in scanning, forget to flip horizontally

#5

A 55mm f/2.8, Kodak Tri-x 400, 2400 dpi scan

reversed in scanning, forget to flip horizontally

Impressions & Notes

Lens is smaller and lighter than my FA 45mm f/2.8
It competes in usage with 45 mm and for landscape I like the wider view in 45. However, it is an odd thing that I do sometime prefer the normal view in this lens for street shooting and on candid with portraits
I find the lens sharp with the test images that I have so far
My lens hood in 58mm size is too deep and I can see vignetting towards corners in some of my test shots.

2011-10-26 Posted by Hin Man

This is a blog post to wrap up my short experience with my past broken Rolleiflex Automat MX-EVS. It is sad to report that I have sold my Rolleiflex to a new owner.

Taking Lens with Zeiss Opton Tessar 75mm f/3.5

The Rolleiflex has its own characters and charm and it is quite solid in construction and I especially like its film winding crank. Unlike the Yashica, the advancement of film and shutter click can easily be felt.

I got mysterious soft and Holga-like pictures when I tested it with a roll of Ilford Delta 100. Pictures seem to be soft and out of focus all around. I looked through the lens and time the shutter in different settings and initially I couldn't figure out the issues. I discussed the Holga-like and soft pictures with others and I learned a bit about the camera along the way. It is not normal with my copy of Rolleiflex.

#1

#2

#3

#4

I learned it from others that the Zeiss Opton Tessar 75mm f/3.5 lens is quite a sharp lens and my test shots are just not normal. Possible causes of the problems

Taking lens and viewing lens are not in the same focal plane.
The taking lens front element has been reversed by previous ownership or someone did a poor job of re-assembly of the taking lens in a CLA service

And checking at the back of the Tessar lens gives evidence of the later with re-assembly of lens with scratches around the lens retaining ring.

I see the pictorial diagram about Tessar in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tessar

According to wikipedia

A Tessar comprises four elements in three groups, one positive crown glass element at the front, one negative flint glass element at the center and a negative plano-concave flint glass element cemented with a positive convex crown glass element at the rear

It is likely that the double-concave element second from left is misplaced or reversed in the previous re-assembly.

Related:

2011-10-21 Posted by Hin Man

Wanting to get a portrait lens, I bought a Pentax 645 LS 135mm f/4.0 LS a while ago to complement my use with the Pentax 645N. And what appeals me most is the use of leaf shutter. According to PDF documentation on leaf shutter in PentaxImaging, the built in leaf shutter on the lens won't work on 35mm full frame bodies with the 645 K adapter. It was my wishful thinking that the leaf shutter might magically work on Pentax digital which has its limitation on 1/180 sec. synch speed.

The lens has a LS setting for 60, 125, 250 and 500 on the lens front. Once engaged in LS setting, one has to cock the LS ring for each shot; otherwise, the curtain will be down and not flip up upon shutter release.

I learn it from other experienced user that the timing of the sync on the body terminal is with the focal plane shutter on the body which is not the same sync timing as the one on the lens. That is why there is a sync terminal(PC socket) on the lens to sync flashes when the lens shutter is in use. There is an accessory which is a hot shoe with a sync cable - the shoe goes into the camera and the sync socket into the lens.

Though I have not used any flash with the lens, the LS lens won't work in TTL mode like other 645 A lens. When leaf shutter is used, I do need to get two accessories like a hot shoe and a sync cable to connect between the hot shoe and the sync contact on the lens. I will go about finding these two items in eBay for future trial

Here are few test shots that I did a while ago with Pentax 645N and Kodak Tri-X 400

#1

#2

#3

#4

Impressions & Notes

The lens has surprising performance for me when I use it like a regular non-LS lens.
I like the handling and small size of this leaf shutter lens. It is not much bigger than the A 75mm f/2.8
It is a good addition when I want to pair this lens with the the 75mm and use this longer focal length for portrait and candid.
I currently don't have the accessories to try out the leaf shutter with a flash. I have been spoiled by digital with instant feedback on flash pictures and easier correction in re-shooting. I doubt I will have a easier time to work without TTL and that I have to use all manual setting on the flash and the lens leaf shutter setting. It is a challenge to be planned and worked out for next report.

2011-10-16 Posted by Hin Man

#1

Exploratorium with Tamron SP 24-48mm f/3.5-3.8 adaptall-2 (13A)

1/125 sec, f/6.3, 48mm, iso 160, -0,7 Ev

#2

1/40 sec, f/8.0, 24mm, iso 100, -0.7 Ev

#3

1/15 sec, f/5.6, 48mm, iso 400, -0.7 Ev

#4

in San Jose The Tech Museum Area

1/400 sec, f/7.1, 30mm, iso 100, -0.3 Ev

#5

1/30 sec, f/8.0, 24mm, iso 100, -0.3 Ev

More in Exploratorium Flickr Set

Impressions & Notes

The Tamron zoom surprises me in terms of sharpness and ease of use in the museum with a very dark tone.
Auto white balance in my K20D has given me problems in indoor setting and I turn most of the shooting into B&W monochrome
My replacement of a metal lens hood seem to do a better job in contrast and flare control than my previous plastic hood.
The zoom is pretty compact for its range but it still can never out-do the Pentax limited primes. However, the lens is quite satisfactory to use when I pick it for the weekend outing in The Tech Museum of San Jose and Exploratorium in San Francisco.

Related:

2011-10-07 Posted by Hin Man

I am doing some soul searching on my 645N gear. I initially got my 645N and started with only one lens with A 75mm f/2.8 which I love dearly. I later got FA 45mm f/2.8 and A 55mm f/2.8 which I also grown to love. I use more with the 45mm for the wider view but the 55mm gives sharper pictures. And I repeated my past mistakes with LBA, I bought gear too fast and before I know it, I have acquired LS 135 f/4.0 and later with A 120mm f/4.0.

FA 45mm f/2.8 -- #2 to keep
A 55mm f/2.8 -- ? not sure, like its sharper images but it competes with 45
A 75mm f/2.8 -- #1 to keep
LS 135mm f/4.0 -- ? not sure, I love the size and images
A 120mm f/4.0 Macro -- ? not sure, like its macro but I don't shoot enough macro on films

I need to think through for #3 candidate to keep. I know that the 120mm is likely the best candidate to keep but I have least use of macro on films. I am not sure if the 150mm f/3.5 will fit me better as a 3 lens set up in 45, 75, 150. I like the size of the 135 and it is much easier to hand-hold and quite alright for portrait. The LS feature got me into the LBA thinking but I have not put it into real use. And I wonder how my LS 135mm f/4.0 compares with A 150mm f/3.5 in sharpness and handling.

The main reason for trimming is finding enough fund for my digital upgrade for Pentax K-5 as I do more digital than film. But I plan to keep the 645N as digital bodies come and go and the good film body and lens are hard to come by in reasonable price.

I only have about 5 test photos just finished development from Dwayne's photo. I did my scanning last night with my flatbed on Canon 8800F. Most of my test shots are overexposed along with other shots from my A 55mm f/2.8 in a test roll with Fuji Acros 100. I did the post processing in LR.

#1

A 120mm f/4.0 macro, fuji acros 100, 2400 dpi

#2

A 120mm f/4.0 macro, fuji acros 100, 2400 dpi

#3

A 120mm f/4.0 macro, fuji acros 100, 2400 dpi

Impressions & Notes

My test shots are not doing the justice for this wonderful macro lens. All are hand-held test shots and I did it in a rush
The lens is sharp and I think I will get great bokeh and color when I have a chance to try it on color film
The lens is heavier than my other 645 lens that I have used. Though I have not tried it, others have used it to a great extent for portrait use. I have the LS 135mm f/4.0 and I will prefer the LS lens for portrait as it is easier to hand-hold the LS lens.
The focus throw allows great precision while providing ease of focusing. This lens reminds me of the wonderful macro experience with Pentax SMC 100mm f/4.0 1:2 Macro in K-mount

2011-10-05 Posted by Hin Man

This lens has grown on usage for my family weekend trips to The Tech Museum of San Jose with Pentax K20D

#1

Fun with Pentax DA 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 fish-eye

1/250 sec, f/5.6, 13mm, iso 400, -0.7 Ev, hand-held

#2

1/250 sec, f/5.6, 14mm, iso 400, 0 Ev, hand-held

#3

1/15 sec, f/3.5, 10mm, iso 800, 0 Ev, hand-held

#4

2 sec, f/7.1, 10-14mm, iso 100, 0 Ev, tripod
I zoomed during the long shutter

#5

0.5 sec, f/4.5, 10mm, iso 100, -0.7 Ev, tripod

#6

1/6 sec, f/4.5, 10mm, iso 100, -0.3 Ev, tripod

Impressions & Notes:

Lens gives a wide perspective that works well in the museum
Distortion can be a problem on architecture building but I use it for the fun factor and the wide perspective
The auto white balance indoor on my K20D is not so pleasing and I turn most of my shots into black and white

Hin's Photo Corner

Pentax 645 A 55mm f/2.8 Test Shots

Rolleiflex Automat MX-EVS

Pentax 645 LS 135mm f/4.0

Exploratorium with Tamron SP 24-48mm f/3.5-3.8 adaptall-2 (13A)

Pentax 645 A 120mm f/4.0 Macro Test Roll

The Tech Museum with Pentax DA 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 fish-eye

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