Fun Pictures with Sony . . . .

[Quentin_Bargate]

Quentin: Wow! - that lens is lovely.

.

Its sort of magical...I don't like the bokeh of the Ziess 24-70mm, and the 85mm F1.4 is good, but the 135 STF is something else. Of course no autofocus is a disadvantage, but actually when I checked I think I got more in focus doing it manually than I would with autofocus. Anyway, when first took photogrpahy seriously, there was no such thing as autofocus.

The 135mm STF is just..different.

Quentin

 

[Quentin_Bargate]

And lest one forgets, the Zeiss 24-70mm is pretty versatile. Still no Photoshop, so this as a jpeg straight from SilkyPix without further post processing or sharpening.

 

[Braeside]

Thanks Quentin. I agree about the CZ 24-70's bokeh - it is sometimes a little strange and wiry. I do have other zoom lenses with better bokeh, but generally they are less sharp than the Zeiss is. The STF looks like the bees-knees for bokeh - a very specialised lens for sure.

Look forward to seeing some more shots from it in due course.

 

[nautilus]

Some spring colors made with the baby Zeiss 16-80.

 

[jonoslack]

Thanks Quentin. I agree about the CZ 24-70's bokeh - it is sometimes a little strange and wiry. I do have other zoom lenses with better bokeh, but generally they are less sharp than the Zeiss is. The STF looks like the bees-knees for bokeh - a very specialised lens for sure.

Look forward to seeing some more shots from it in due course.

Hi David - Quentin
I have mixed feelings about the bokeh . . I agree that sometimes it's spikey . . . but in lots of circumstances I think it's pretty good, and often (especially for close up stuff) I think it's lovely.

 

[Braeside]

One of the nice things about the 135 is that it does focus down to a couple of feet - so you can do the sort of shots you've been showing very easily.

So, I think you'll agree, resistance is futile (and the price may go up soon!). Warehouseexpress in Norwich had one left the other day

Good news Jono, resistance now broken down and have ordered a mint used one from LCE for £799 with 12 months warranty. :toocool:

Now I need a bigger bag

 

[jonoslack]

Good news Jono, resistance now broken down and have ordered a mint used one from LCE for £799 with 12 months warranty. :toocool:

Now I need a bigger bag

Oh bollocks . . . I just wasted £246 . . and I really like LCE too - which branch was it from?

. . . .erm . . . what I mean is
CONGRATULATIONS
:ROTFL:

 

[Braeside]

Oh bollocks . . . I just wasted £246 . . and I really like LCE too - which branch was it from?

. . . .erm . . . what I mean is
CONGRATULATIONS
:ROTFL:

Hi Jono, it was the Worcester branch, I was looking for any bargain Minolta wide angle primes and chanced upon the CZ on the main LCE webpage.

Spoke to the sales guy and he told me it was one they sold themselves to a guy that is always swopping systems, can't think of anyone like that. :ROTFL:

 

[Braeside]

Some spring colors made with the baby Zeiss 16-80.

Lovely blossom, the 16-80 was my favourite lens on the A700 .

 

[jonoslack]

Spoke to the sales guy and he told me it was one they sold themselves to a guy that is always swopping systems, can't think of anyone like that. :ROTFL:

Hah!
First you injure me by getting a lens for £250 off . . . . then you insult me about changing systems!

Hah!

I have to admit to a brief and unfulfilling Nikon period from Feb to September last year. Apart from that I claim extreme loyalty . . . erm . . Olympus since the E1 (with a small, ill-conceived 6 months interregnum for the D2x). . . Leica since the arrival of the M8, and Sony since the A900 cropped up.:lecture:

 

[Braeside]

Hah!
First you injure me by getting a lens for £250 off . . . . then you insult me about changing systems!

Sorry Jono, it wasn't you in particular I meant That'll teach me to cast aspersions.

I better not mention the other bargains I found in the past

I was just going to write that if you need any 8GB 266X CF cards I found a place that has them at £17 each, but I checked back this morning and they have all gone. I managed to get a stack of them last week for the up coming trip.

If I see any bargains in the Minolta 200mm front I'll let you know.

 

[jonoslack]

Sorry Jono, it wasn't you in particular I meant That'll teach me to cast aspersions.

:ROTFL:
The cap was fitting, so I was wearing it . . . and then complaining

I better not mention the other bargains I found in the past

It's always worth looking - to be honest I've tended to buy new for everything except lieca, but I'm probably wrong.

I was just going to write that if you need any 8GB 266X CF cards I found a place that has them at £17 each, but I checked back this morning and they have all gone. I managed to get a stack of them last week for the up coming trip.

If I see any bargains in the Minolta 200mm front I'll let you know.

I've got plenty of CF cards - work means that I always need a laptop wherever I go, and, to be honest, I don't blast millions of shots. I have a 16gb card in the A900, I don't think I've ever used more than 5gb at one shoot.

I'd be very grateful for info if you see a 200mm though . . .

 

[Braeside]

My plan about the multiple 8GB cards was to keep the shots on them and also backed up on my portable hard drive/ reader while on the trip, I hate trusting just the hard drive. I agree on a normal day I have never filled a card, but on holiday I may take quite a few HDR autobracketed series and so on, so could use up a lot of space quickly.

I normally buy new also, but being a Scotsman do keep an eye out for the best prices. Frequently though I have found out afterwards about some bargain that I missed, or the price has come down, however you win some, you lose some.

 

[Braeside]

I'd be very grateful for info if you see a 200mm though . . .

PM sent

 

[APY_JR]

One from me!

Albert

 

[jonoslack]

ALBERT!
Lovely to see you here - and what a fine shot, I'm sure their parents will be overjoyed!

For those who don't know Albert, he was a stalwart of the Kodak SLR forum at dPreview (the most civilised and useful forum on the site).

A pro working mostly on huge landscapes and a large group shot specialist . . . together with pictures of his own beautiful girls.

What's more he's a real Gentleman!

 

[dhsimmonds]

Welcome to the Forum Albert and a great "people" image to start what I hope is many more!

Jono, this is now surely the most civilised and useful forum on the web!?

 

[APY_JR]

ALBERT!
Lovely to see you here - and what a fine shot, I'm sure their parents will be overjoyed!

For those who don't know Albert, he was a stalwart of the Kodak SLR forum at dPreview (the most civilised and useful forum on the site).

A pro working mostly on huge landscapes and a large group shot specialist . . . together with pictures of his own beautiful girls.

What's more he's a real Gentleman!

Hi Jono!

Thanks for the warm welcome and I appreciate your most kind words & praise!

You've always been a wonderful & positive guy no matter WHERE I've run into you on the boards

This site is fortunate to have you as a member!

Albert

 

[APY_JR]

Welcome to the Forum Albert and a great "people" image to start what I hope is many more!

Jono, this is now surely the most civilised and useful forum on the web!?

Hi Dave!

Thanks for your welcome and I will try and contribute as much as I can!

From the posts I've read so far... this DOES seem to be a great gathering of some wonderful photograpers! (the most civilized!)

Albert

 

[Quentin_Bargate]

Albert, is that really you???

I guess us pixel freaks tend to migrate to the same places. :ROTFL:

Lovely group shot too.

Quentin