50mm
cute cats
My friends often cat sit and have liked after a number of cute cats. This one was a cutey. Just like all shy models, cats need a while to get used to a camera and I didn't have much time to introduce myself. Even though this isn't the most relaxed cat picture, I do like the cute cat and the look of my 50mm.
Making a Mario statement
This suit is made by Oppo Suits and is certainly an attention grabber!
I need a bit more practice with face paints but he seemed convinced.
A 50mm wide aperture lens is a kit essential. The Canon 1.8 is so cheap that it would be better as part of a set than the standard 17-50mm. It is most DSLR users' introduction to bokeh and can be addictive. For most photographers, the €1000+ 50mm 1.2 L lens is completely out of reach and while there are cheaper choices from other makers, every Canon photographer has to take the 50mm f1.4 which you can get around €200 used on eBay.
It is great in a lot of ways: wide open, relatively high number of aperture blades so the bokeh highlights are not like squished pentagons (like the 1.8), full time manual override, distance scale on the top, and it's light and did well on any camera.
But all of this comes with a dark side: The one major construction defect this lens has is the front focus ring that extends when you focus something up close is so weak, just a little pressure in a bag is enough to push it out of shape.
This happened to mine over 2 years ago. It got slightly crushed then refused to work. I thought I had destroyed it for good so invested in a Canon 85mm 1.8 instead. But I always missed the close focusing ability of the 50mm. I searched around on YouTube and found a few repair videos. I followed the instructions, took my lens apart, gently coaxed the metal back to shape and then reassembled the lens. When I put it back on my camera, the focus send to work but when taking a shot an error came up saying something about the lens connection. I figured I had probably broken one of the delicate data cables inside the lens so back in the cupboard it went for another year.
I was considering selling some old equipment recently and found the lens in the cupboard looking dusty. I got a bit nostalgic and wondered if I had the skill to finally fix the lens (or pay somebody else to), so I watched the videos on YouTube again and opened up the lens. It didn't take me long to spot that one of the data cables want sitting completely in the socket! I reassembleded the lens and to my relief and surprise, it started working again!! So this year I'm going to get re-acquainted with my nifty fifty but a word to the wise:
Always store this lens with the focus set to infinity. This reduces the chance of going through what me and many other Canon 50 1.4 owners have already been through!
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Vivaldi
where did all the time go? I've been a bulb waiting for spring. Also, I sold my Canon 1DS ii only to realise I missed it and ended up buying a mark iii. There really isn't anything like the feel of a big heavy camera! Here's to new birth of creativity for 2019!
Hanami
David
Jens
I stopped to take a photo of Jens as he was walking in the same direction as me and I spotted a sea shell attached to his rucksack. The shell is worn by people who have done/are doing the camino walk in Spain. Jens had done it 2 years ago and was now walking the rest of the route through Germany. We had a quick chat and wishes each other a "bon camino" before going on our ways - it made me wish to have time to do more walking and exploring too!
Alishia
I saw Alishia reading a book by the river and thought she would make a perfect photo subject. I was glad she said she would let me take her photo and also keep her glasses on. I was less glad that I can see my legs in the reflection but couldn't get out of the way!
Pavel
I'm glad I back tracked and crossed back over the road after seeing Pavel making his way further along the path by the river I normally take to get to work. It turns out Pavel spent 2 months hitchhiking around Spain and was just on his way back to Poland. I am a bit jealous of his courage and freedom and the experiences he must've gained from the trip. Hope you made it back safe!
Alex
I had wanted to ask how a man in an England shirt survives in Germany as my 3 are tucked away in shame at the bottom of my cupboard. Oddly enough, Alex turned out to be German and can change into a shirt with much more stars on it any time he likes.
cold water, lemon, mint leaves, chunks of fresh ginger and some sunlight - perfect on a hot day
the Ironmen squire
http://www.ironmenandseverngilders.org
darling buds of December
I have been researching about a particular retro lens for a few years now and thanks to the advent of modern mirror less DSLRs made by the likes of Sony, the demand for it (and the price) has been on the rise for the past few years.
the Canon 50mm 0.95 dream lens dividing opinions and relationships for the last 50 years
The Canon 50mm f0.95 lens is a one of a kind as the first mass produced lens to beat f1.0 from what I have read and Canon haven't tried to repeat since so it has the same heritage as ridiculously fuel-guzzling American muscle cars of the same era. It's a mighty chunk of glass that can suck light in better than most modern optics except maybe a leica or two but the thing that makes it loved and hated about as much as Marmite is its look in the photos it produces. It has a smooth bokeh that I personally find as entrancing as thickly spread Marmite on my toast for breakfast and part of its appeal for me is that it isn't a perfect lens. It hasn't benefited from digital construction or the latest computer tech to make it transmit light is cleanly as a modern optic but it does have soul and fortunately it isn't radioactive unlike some other lenses of its generation. Any imperfections make it what it is and whenever I see any images by this Canon dream lens, I can't help but want to make similar images too.
So when I saw this lens up for sale at a relatively cheap buy it now price on a net auction site I knew I had to risk it. I figured even if it was scratched or mouldy I could sell it on without a loss as I have seen even cracked copies of this lens go for a high price. (I owe a couple of people for helping me get this lens as it's been sitting in Japan waiting me to check it out for a few weeks and had to persuade my partner it would make it's money back and more when sold)... And the wait was totally worth it!
It's the cleanest lens I have ever seen second hand with not even a scratch and it's over 50 years old. The camera sold with it was labeled as just an extra but it's also as perfect and untouched a camera as could be expected. Now I just need to put some film through it to see if it works but I'm super cautious of touching either of them let alone taking them outside.
The lens is numbered 10007 which I'm sure appeals to Bond fans but according to my research means it's also the 7th lens ever made on the production line and the lowest number I could find (even the lens featured in the original catalogue is numbered higher). So now I'm stuck with a tough decision. I hoped this lens could be an investment that I wouldn't mind selling on after a few months use, but now I can't see myself parting with it at all as I will never find another like it again... BUT How am I going to explain that to the better half?
