GAS GAS: Please Share your Latest Acquisitions Big and Small

I’ll definitely report back. This is the first manual focus native mount lens from any of the Chinese manufacturers that has caught my interest for m4/3. I should receive it in about a month.
I had the 7artisans 25/1.8. It was okay, but nothing to write home about, and the aperture ring liked to try and fall off. But a ~46mm f1.4 is a really interesting proposition to me. The thing I'd like the most in a third-party manual prime is just an accurate focus scale on the lens.
 
Oh lord. I apparently can’t say no to anything if it’s only $30
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I still have floppy’s, but can’t say I have a drive any more. Guess I’ll need to buy a usb floppy drive next 🙄
 
I’ll definitely report back. This is the first manual focus native mount lens from any of the Chinese manufacturers that has caught my interest for m4/3. I should receive it in about a month.

It sounds very cool, like Andrew, I'm curious to see and hear how it pans out.

I bought a TTArtisan 50mm f/1.2 for my XPro3 a few months ago, and the lens is actually superb: very well built, and both sharp but also rendering with some unspecifiable qualities which more than justified the lens's almost embarrassingly low purchase price. TTArtisan makes excellent lenses.
 
Well, well, well ... I hate to say it, but I think my personal copy of the Z 40mm f/2 is a dud. I can't say if that was the case initially (I doubt it) or has something or everything to do with whatever happened during the repair job it's been to, but it's really unacceptable - and irritating, because whatever I do, I'll end up having to send it back to Nikon again.

I just compared it against the Z 35mm f/1.8 (a sharp lens) and my old(!) Nikon 50mm f/1.4 AF and even older Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AF. The latter two went on the FTZ and had to be focused manually (using magnification).

The Z 35mm f/1.8, predictably, produced an image that was really sharp at the point of focus (using AF) while the Z 40mm f/2 was decidedly murky, with major haloing and a strange orange-y colour cast, but little by the way of loCA - I got similar results in AF and MF with this lens, btw. The old 50mm lenses, crucially, both showed considerably worse loCA, but clearly better central sharpness.

That goes against almost everything I've seen and read about the lens coming from reviewers, even my most trusted ones - with the notable exception of LensTip who said the Z 40mm f/2 wasn't really *better* than the 50mm f/1.8D at least wide open - and that lens has the same optics as my 50mm f/1.8 AF. But my lens is *worse* by an obvious margin, wether focused close or in the distance.

During today's outing, I wasn't able to get a satisfyingly sharp image out of it - the f/2 shots in the middle to far distance were all unusable, and the close-up stuff was all marginal. I noticed that already while out: Sharpness/contrast at the AF point was obviously so bad that the camera showed trouble focusing - something that usually just doesn't happen with primes in daylight. And while I didn't pixel-peep then, now, on my computer screen, it's blatantly obvious that everything further away than perhaps a meter or so that I tried to focus on is just shimmering, no sharp edges whatsoever; closer stuff is a tiny, tiny bit better, but unsatisfactory as well.

Not good. I'll have Nikon Switzerland try and sort it out - and, depending on the result, I'll either return or swap the lens (or keep it if it's cured - but that may be too much to hope for).

It's most probably "just" a (really) bad sample. I really hate it when that happens (who wouldn't), but also have to say that it's basically a first in more than 35 years I'm a Nikon user. Statistically, it had to happen sooner or later - but it's still disappointing, especially since I had (have!) high hopes for this lens.

M.

EDIT: Sorry for the shoddy typing and editing ... had to correct the odd mistake ...
 
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Well, well, well ... I hate to say it, but I think my personal copy of the Z 40mm f/2 is a dud. I can't say if that was the case initially (I doubt it) or has something or everything to do with whatever happened during the repair job it's been to, but it's really unacceptable - and irritating, because whatever I do, I'll end up having to send it back to Nikon again.

I just compared it against the Z 35mm f/1.8 (a sharp lens) and my old(!) Nikon 50mm f/1.4 AF and even older Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AF. The latter two went on the FTZ and had to be focused manually (using magnification).

The Z 35mm f/1.8, predictably, produced an image that was really sharp at the point of focus (using AF) while the Z 40mm f/2 was decidedly murky, with major haloing and a strange orange-y colour cast, but little by the way of loCA - I got similar results in AF and MF with this lens, btw. The old 50mm lenses, crucially, both showed considerably worse loCA, but clearly better central sharpness.

That goes against almost everything I've seen and read about the lens coming from reviewers, even my most trusted ones - with the notable exception of LensTip who said the Z 40mm f/2 wasn't really *better* than the 50mm f/1.8D at least wide open - and that lens has the same optics as my 50mm f/1.8 AF. But my lens is *worse* by an obvious margin, wether focused close or in the distance.

During today's outing, I wasn't able to get a sharp image out of it - the f/2 shots in the middle to far distance were all unusable, and the close-up stuff was all marginal. I noticed that already while out: Sharpness/contrast at the AF point was obviously so bad that the camera showed trouble focusing - something that usually just doesn't happen with primes in daylight. And while I didn't pixel-peep then, but now, on my computer screen, it's blatantly obvious that everything further away than perhaps a meter or so that I tried to focus on is just shimmering, no sharp edges whatsoever; closer stuff is a tiny, tiny bit better, but unsatisfactory as well.

Not good. I'll have Nikon Switzerland try and sort it out - and, depending on the result, I'll either return or swap the lens (or keep it if it's cured - but that may be too much to hope for).

It's most probably a (really) "just" bad sample. I really hate it when that happens (who wouldn't), but also have to say that it's basically a first in more than 35 years I'm a Nikon user. Statistically, it had to happen sooner or later - but it's still disappointing, especially since I had (have!) high hopes for this lens.

M.
That's a real bummer Matt. I've had a couple of lenses from other makers end up duds over 40 or so years. It is really disappointing when it happens.
 
This was a couple of weeks ago, but I got my Nikon Z100-400mm delivered on Christmas Eve. I put in a pre-order the day it was announced but thought I wouldn't get it until February. Well done Nikon! I will get to try it out next week on some butterflies...assuming that my flight doesn't get cancelled, and the weather is decent.
Did you get a Z9 to put it on?
 
I just won a mint Pentax K200D with the kit 18-55 lens for an absolute steal. I’m excited for the big ol 10mp CCD, and the fact that this is my first Pentax. I’m sure I’ll be asking for some lens advice over in the Pentax forum at some point.

Congrats, Chris! The K200d is a great camera and its CCD sensor produces fine images. Surprisingly, the 18-55 zoom is quite good for a humble kit lens. But where the camera really seems to shine is with some of both the DA and FA smaller primes, especially the 'Limiteds', many of which are surprisingly affordable and all of which are extensively reviewed and commented upon over at PentaxForums. I think my favorite may be the smallish almost pancake-sized DA 21 Ltd, whose FOV of 31.5mm is wider than the traditional 35mm view, but narrower than the ubiquitous 28mm perspective. If I just could have one and only one lens on a Pentax body, I think the DA21 would be my choice.

Look forwards to seeing your images with it :)
 
Congrats, Chris! The K200d is a great camera and its CCD sensor produces fine images. Surprisingly, the 18-55 zoom is quite good for a humble kit lens. But where the camera really seems to shine is with some of both the DA and FA smaller primes, especially the 'Limiteds', many of which are surprisingly affordable and all of which are extensively reviewed and commented upon over at PentaxForums. I think my favorite may be the smallish almost pancake-sized DA 21 Ltd, whose FOV of 31.5mm is wider than the traditional 35mm view, but narrower than the ubiquitous 28mm perspective. If I just could have one and only one lens on a Pentax body, I think the DA21 would be my choice.

Look forwards to seeing your images with it :)
Thanks for the info. I’ve actually very quickly zeroed in on that exact lens! I was curious about the quality of the kit lens, as the sigma 17-50 2.8 is pretty affordable for a 2.8 and could make a nice upgrade. I don’t plan go nuts, just a nice standard zoom and a single prime (probably the 21mm) should do it.
 
Thanks for the info. I’ve actually very quickly zeroed in on that exact lens! I was curious about the quality of the kit lens, as the sigma 17-50 2.8 is pretty affordable for a 2.8 and could make a nice upgrade. I don’t plan go nuts, just a nice standard zoom and a single prime (probably the 21mm) should do it.
Yep, I was going to mention those DA Ltd lenses myself. Will probably cost more that the outlay for the camera but will definitely be worth it.
 
and the fact that this is my first Pentax
My K200D, too, is my first digital Pentax. It's my extreme weather kit now.

I have just acquired an Olympus 60mm macro at a really good price. Of course, it is sharp but so are all Olympus lenses. The peaking on this lens is excellent!
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One of my first shots and I posted this on the Vision 2022 challenge for this day. I had to stop because a member of the family started having headaches due to the flash.
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I finally have the things needed for a PC upgrade. Having separately sourced the processor, motherboard and some new thermal paste, I should be about ready to make the switch. I am hoping the operating system doesn't need to be reinstalled - I've read conflicting accounts of whether you need to redo the OS when replacing a motherboard, but if I read between the lines correctly, only some prebuilt rigs where the OS is tied in with a license that is somehow associated with the MB, or something? I don't really know. It seems to me like the hard drive would still boot normally. I am hoping so since my hard drive situation is a little complicated: a 12GB SSD holds the OS, and my libraries are on a striped set of SSDs totaling around 1.5 TB. I don't want to mess with any of it.

When complete, I will have an i5 10400F, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, various SSDs and an ancient but serviceable 750Ti. I'd like to increase my RAM but my MB format (mini-ITX) is limited to two sticks, and I don't want to spend the amount necessary for two 16GB sticks.
 
My K200D, too, is my first digital Pentax. It's my extreme weather kit now.

I have just acquired an Olympus 60mm macro at a really good price. Of course, it is sharp but so are all Olympus lenses. The peaking on this lens is excellent!
View attachment 286589

One of my first shots and I posted this on the Vision 2022 challenge for this day. I had to stop because a member of the family started having headaches due to the flash.
View attachment 286591

Nice lens, Timo, congrats!
And I really really like the fly shot.
Since I'm basically clueless about macro photography in general, but curious also: what type of flash did you use to get this shot?
 
I finally have the things needed for a PC upgrade. Having separately sourced the processor, motherboard and some new thermal paste, I should be about ready to make the switch. I am hoping the operating system doesn't need to be reinstalled - I've read conflicting accounts of whether you need to redo the OS when replacing a motherboard, but if I read between the lines correctly, only some prebuilt rigs where the OS is tied in with a license that is somehow associated with the MB, or something? I don't really know. It seems to me like the hard drive would still boot normally. I am hoping so since my hard drive situation is a little complicated: a 12GB SSD holds the OS, and my libraries are on a striped set of SSDs totaling around 1.5 TB. I don't want to mess with any of it.

When complete, I will have an i5 10400F, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, various SSDs and an ancient but serviceable 750Ti. I'd like to increase my RAM but my MB format (mini-ITX) is limited to two sticks, and I don't want to spend the amount necessary for two 16GB sticks.
If there’s one thing Windows has done better since 10, it’s accommodating significant hardware changes without a reinstall. You will have to reactivate, but if you’ve signed in with your MSA, the license should hopefully transfer digitally. That said, you might have trouble if you have a RAID array though. Chances are the controller on the motherboard is different. I’d make sure all that is backed up somewhere and ready to restore, but backups are essential part of having a PC anyway.
 
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