bstrom650

The camera pix are pretty... can't shoot everything wide open, though. The flower shot is worth working on...love that feeling.

great ideas and samples, Philip. I've got the 44M (M/Auto) 58/2 coming from overseas and am looking forward to creating many wonky bokeh shots. We need a Wonky Bokeh category on the forum to encourage the use of cheap European lenses! Not...

Reviews at Dyxum put this item in the good sample/bad sample category - it runs well at 300mm and some other focal lengths - the bane of many Maxxum lenses. My 100-200 Maxxum is a similar experience. Those first three shots are awesome - I'm glad you got a good one.

Only posting this to prove that with a little skill and indirect sunlight, you can get decent shots with that little plastic wonder. I know I was surprised. The detail on the back of his wings is remarkable. Even the bokeh is quite pleasing.

Here's another one... same idea.

After a somewhat accidental visual find one day, I have been pursuing a new perspective in shooting the old architecture of Knoxville, TN. The goal is to 'flatten' the three dimension look of a scene by compressing the DoF in hopes of confusing the viewer of what's in front and behind, etc. Seemed to work well enough that I have shot a series of them - this is one of the first ones. I think I used my Bower 35mm - getting no EXIF data is a real pain! Anyway, I'll post some more later...

Spent a day in the mountains earlier this year shooting this Samyang variant with my a65. Simply put, it is a fabulous lens. I like these optices for several reasons: - Wide open performance is above average - One stop down produces excellent results - Declicked aperture ring is so easy to change - Much improved build for a budget lens I had a Rokinon 85mm several years ago when I was shooting Nikons and that earliest version was not sufficiently well made - the focus helicoid got gritty and loose. These later versions are more refined and robustly built. Focus is fingertip smooth with no play. I treat like a Zeiss and it gives me images that look like one! With the 'updated' CS versions now costing more for essentially the same lenses, this bargain brand is moving into mainstream territory. They may be a pricier one but still represent an excellent buy compared to native and premium third party glass. I will also post some more 35mm images as well as some from my 85mm Samyang and 16mm Bower.

I also have a sweet 135/3.5 SMC Takumar. Sharpest glass in my kit. Like many Taks, you have a full range of useable apertures from wide open to at least f16 on most of them. I generally use mine on a tripod but with an inexpensive MAF M42 adapters you can focus/shoot very accurately handheld at a swift enough shutter speed. Bokeh is a search effort. Find the right aperture/distance relationships and it does well with homogenous backgrounds. Few lenses do well with detailed areas when producing their Bokeh. Shopping for these optical bargains is an art in itself. Go after the later SMC versions, not the Super Taks. Some Taks have specific numbers on their Auto/Manual switches that represent the optical formula. Research these numbers to get the cream of the crop.

You're not serious - do you have an issue with lenses being ripped from your camera bodies? As a shooter since the mid-60's everything was made of metal and lasted until now. It was expected. Pople are returning to the glass of yesteryear for that build quality. Don't have a meed for a 'quick relaease' lens mount yet...

That sensor would make any lens look good - stunning shot! I'm done with APS-C for good - next camera is a FF Sony. Sell the car, sell the house, sell the dog....

Do you get any lens auto functions with the a7, like open metering/aperture stopdown or focus confirmation?

Hmmmm.... there's a strong showing on the A mount side. Wonder how many customers Sony will lose if the E mount takes precedent. If the Asian popularity is any indication, we better watch developments more before we buy going forward.

Hi, y'all! Just jumped over from Nikon to the Sony revolution. Bought an a65 earlier this year to get into video a bit and am loving the smaller size/weight over traditional DSLRs. Am glad to see Sony on the boil for better tech and all but their business model prevents me from making a big investment in what might be obsoleted tech. Will just coast along until a more firm future emerges. Attached is a shot of my own Rollbar video grip that can also carry my Tascam DR-60 recorder. Have collected up a few legacy lenses and am having fun learning video techniques. Will keep an eye on this forum and the rumors site for news and other info...

Those are some mighty pretty buffalo - like the look that lens gives. Is this available in A mount?