pictogramax
All-Pro
- Location
- Zemun, Serbia
For more than two years I'm shooting NEX3 and legacy glass, manually focusing of course. Although I've tried several lenses, most of my images are shot with Minolta 45mm f2.0 (but mostly at f2.8). I just love the handling of that lens and the creamy look it gives.
Although I don't mind focusing manually for my personal "arty" stuff (I enjoy it actually), I rarely go on my loved photo-explorations. Just not enough time for it. What I try to shoot regularly, though, is documenting the growing of my daughter. I got skilled enough to be able to get nice shots, especially with her (as she knows it takes me a bit to get it right) and I'm relatively satisfied with the results I'm getting. But more and more I'm asked by parents of her friends to snap their kids also, and document the ballet classes or else... Getting the running kids in the heat of a birthday party is tough So I'm thinking of adding an auto-focus combo again.
What I found out is that I hate changing lenses and I don't really like zooms. I develop a "feel" of a single focal length if I use it frequently enough and then I zoom with my feet faster than I decide what focal lens of my zoom to use I'm gravitating towards the "normalish" FOV, somewhere in the 40 - 60 mm range. My Minolta 45mm (around 70mm with 1.5 crop factor) often feels a bit too long, but I don't have the other option, so I learned to work with it. I spiced this novel-like post with several examples of NEX3 + Minolta 45mm combo.
On top of all that, I don't tend to spend really large chunks of money on my gear. So I made a short-list of camera/lens combinations I'm interested in (all of them being older models or on sale). But these are not only different focal lengths, but also different sensor sizes, so I got curious about how much of DOF control I would be loosing or gaining by going in each direction. If someone shot with these (or similar) combinations and systems, I would love to hear your opinions of differences in actual use.
By the table I made (posted on the end of this long rambling) you'll be able to tell what cameras and lenses I shortlisted. The obvious and least expensive option is to just add Sigma 30mm f2.8 to my NEX3. I would get AF, wider FOV and a slightly smaller package by loosing the adapter for the lens. The other NEX option, 35mm f1.8 OSS is more tempting, but too expensive for me. Not only it costs a lot by itself, but also cannot be purchased here so special-ordering and customs really put it out of my league.
While researching I found out that I could get something even better than Sigma, a 30mm f2.0 for Samsung NX. It's a stop faster and almost half in size compared to Sigma 30mm (which are both big pluses). And I would stay in APS-C camp that way. Samsung NX1000 with a 20-50mm kit lens is on sale here; it's a smalish lens for a kit zoom, and has just the right range for me. The whole NX system seems relatively affordable compared to others.
Another not-so-big combo would be Panasonic G3 and 20mm f1.7 lens. I specifically mention G3 from m4/3 camp as I have one with me for last couple of days; a friend offered to sell me his (I'm testing it with 14-42 kit zoom). I expected to like it a lot, as I once briefly played with it in store, but after a bit of time some skeletons came out of the closet. No actual live-preview or working histogram in M mode is a big downturn for me, as I prefer shooting manually. I managed to come to terms with aperture priority and exposure compensation, but it's more of a "forced fix" than pleasure. I really thought that mirrorless is all about WYSIWYG, but apparently not for Panasonic designers :-( Even more disturbing are, at least to me, somewhat "weird" Panasonic colors, always having some pinkish/magentish tinge to them. I shot in several ambiances I know well and it is rather constant, as compared to both my NEX3 and Nikon D70. So although I thought it would be on top of my list, day by day it falls to the bottom place.
Last but not least is Nikon V1, also on sale here. That was, to cite Steve Huff, a camera I expected to hate, for it's "smalish" sensor and "anti-manual" user interface. But researching it after Sue got one, and playing with it in shop, left me enamored. With 18.5 (a 50mm equivalent) it would be small but hefty, fast and silent camera. While discussing with myself would I sacrifice DOF for all the other benefits of Nikon 1 system I found this review of 18.5 lens by Craig Litten:
The Nikon 18.5 f/1.8 CX Lens Review for the 1 Series by Craig Litten | STEVE HUFF PHOTOS
I liked the portrait samples and it inspired me to use DOF calculator for the first time. If I used it correctly, it seems that, in spite of smaller sensor, but because of longer focal length, it would give similar DOF control to both m4/3 20mm f1.7 and APS-C 30mm f2.8. A different field of view, I know, but similar DOF control. Am I getting it right?
Thanks for adding your thoughts and experiences!
Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Although I don't mind focusing manually for my personal "arty" stuff (I enjoy it actually), I rarely go on my loved photo-explorations. Just not enough time for it. What I try to shoot regularly, though, is documenting the growing of my daughter. I got skilled enough to be able to get nice shots, especially with her (as she knows it takes me a bit to get it right) and I'm relatively satisfied with the results I'm getting. But more and more I'm asked by parents of her friends to snap their kids also, and document the ballet classes or else... Getting the running kids in the heat of a birthday party is tough So I'm thinking of adding an auto-focus combo again.
Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
What I found out is that I hate changing lenses and I don't really like zooms. I develop a "feel" of a single focal length if I use it frequently enough and then I zoom with my feet faster than I decide what focal lens of my zoom to use I'm gravitating towards the "normalish" FOV, somewhere in the 40 - 60 mm range. My Minolta 45mm (around 70mm with 1.5 crop factor) often feels a bit too long, but I don't have the other option, so I learned to work with it. I spiced this novel-like post with several examples of NEX3 + Minolta 45mm combo.
Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
On top of all that, I don't tend to spend really large chunks of money on my gear. So I made a short-list of camera/lens combinations I'm interested in (all of them being older models or on sale). But these are not only different focal lengths, but also different sensor sizes, so I got curious about how much of DOF control I would be loosing or gaining by going in each direction. If someone shot with these (or similar) combinations and systems, I would love to hear your opinions of differences in actual use.
Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
By the table I made (posted on the end of this long rambling) you'll be able to tell what cameras and lenses I shortlisted. The obvious and least expensive option is to just add Sigma 30mm f2.8 to my NEX3. I would get AF, wider FOV and a slightly smaller package by loosing the adapter for the lens. The other NEX option, 35mm f1.8 OSS is more tempting, but too expensive for me. Not only it costs a lot by itself, but also cannot be purchased here so special-ordering and customs really put it out of my league.
Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
While researching I found out that I could get something even better than Sigma, a 30mm f2.0 for Samsung NX. It's a stop faster and almost half in size compared to Sigma 30mm (which are both big pluses). And I would stay in APS-C camp that way. Samsung NX1000 with a 20-50mm kit lens is on sale here; it's a smalish lens for a kit zoom, and has just the right range for me. The whole NX system seems relatively affordable compared to others.
Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Another not-so-big combo would be Panasonic G3 and 20mm f1.7 lens. I specifically mention G3 from m4/3 camp as I have one with me for last couple of days; a friend offered to sell me his (I'm testing it with 14-42 kit zoom). I expected to like it a lot, as I once briefly played with it in store, but after a bit of time some skeletons came out of the closet. No actual live-preview or working histogram in M mode is a big downturn for me, as I prefer shooting manually. I managed to come to terms with aperture priority and exposure compensation, but it's more of a "forced fix" than pleasure. I really thought that mirrorless is all about WYSIWYG, but apparently not for Panasonic designers :-( Even more disturbing are, at least to me, somewhat "weird" Panasonic colors, always having some pinkish/magentish tinge to them. I shot in several ambiances I know well and it is rather constant, as compared to both my NEX3 and Nikon D70. So although I thought it would be on top of my list, day by day it falls to the bottom place.
Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Last but not least is Nikon V1, also on sale here. That was, to cite Steve Huff, a camera I expected to hate, for it's "smalish" sensor and "anti-manual" user interface. But researching it after Sue got one, and playing with it in shop, left me enamored. With 18.5 (a 50mm equivalent) it would be small but hefty, fast and silent camera. While discussing with myself would I sacrifice DOF for all the other benefits of Nikon 1 system I found this review of 18.5 lens by Craig Litten:
The Nikon 18.5 f/1.8 CX Lens Review for the 1 Series by Craig Litten | STEVE HUFF PHOTOS
I liked the portrait samples and it inspired me to use DOF calculator for the first time. If I used it correctly, it seems that, in spite of smaller sensor, but because of longer focal length, it would give similar DOF control to both m4/3 20mm f1.7 and APS-C 30mm f2.8. A different field of view, I know, but similar DOF control. Am I getting it right?
Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Thanks for adding your thoughts and experiences!