Had heard of T-MAX P3200. Heard a lot. Never used it before. Now it came back. Gave it a shot. Heard it had beautiful grain and was great for low light. That about covers it. Continue reading FIRST ROLLS: @KODAK T-MAX P3200
Category Archives: Gear Review
Versatility in lens form: Venus Laowa 15mm f/4 1:1 @laowa_lens
This one line from their website says a lot.
World’s Widest 1:1 Macro Lens.
Was impressed by that alone and the macro samples from a favorable PetaPixal preview and review.
Was impressed further by the built-in shift mechanism. A simple 3 position up/center/down setup unlocked by a lever…
Continue reading Versatility in lens form: Venus Laowa 15mm f/4 1:1 @laowa_lens
SONY A7III: THIS TIME SONY IS SERIOUS. PART 2. Not numbering anymore of these.
Wrote a part one about the Sony A7III thinking there may be one or two more to come and that would do it. Since then I realized something. Will likely be writing about this camera for quite some time. That first post was about feel. Stumped on what to write for part two. It defies categorization. What do I mean… Continue reading SONY A7III: THIS TIME SONY IS SERIOUS. PART 2. Not numbering anymore of these.
Gen II A7 Budget Grip from Powerextra
Since acquiring a camera that would take over daily camera duties I was free to bulk up my gen II A7 camera to accommodate larger lenses, aid in vertical shooting, and add an extra battery.
Had already tried one A7 gen II aftermarket grip and it flat out did not work out. Will not mention the brand as it may have been a bad copy, but I was done with them. Batteries were fine in that grip, but the buttons on the grip itself did not do anything, unfortunately.
Go native! What says you Sony? What do you have for me? How much now? Yeah, my money tree tells me that will not work out… Continue reading Gen II A7 Budget Grip from Powerextra
Minolta Maxxum/Sony A Mount 20mm f/2.8
While “native” native lenses are preferable most of the time I have had very good luck with AF adapted film lenses. In addition to the Techart TA-GA3 I wrote about for KEH I have also enjoyed using the Sony LA-EA4 A mount adapter.
One lens I first had a hard time parting with the money for was the Minolta Maxxum 20mm f/2.8. But then I realized that it was good enough that Sony basically rebranded it as is today new. Then I looked at other similarly spec’d lenses for Sony and other brands… And then I went back and bought it hastily from yon local camera shoppe.
Sony A7iii: This time Sony is serious. Part 1. Feel.
Ok Sony we get it. You mean business this time.
I have long liked Sony. On my gear churn odyssey I have passed by the RX100ii, a6000, A7, the A7ii, most recently the A7Rii (now realizing I have never written a proper review of this camera) and now the A7iii. This was not an impulse buy. When I read the spec sheet of the A7iii this is what I heard Sony say: Continue reading Sony A7iii: This time Sony is serious. Part 1. Feel.
Samyang – Rokinon 35mm f/2.8 – The smallest full frame E mount lens
There is a small, but growing list of lenses that I have bought, sold, and then bought again. Why? Two reasons:
- Left a mount system and then returned needing to pick up my favorites from the last go around.
- I was wrong about a lens.
The Rokinon (Samyang) 35mm f/2.8 fits in the second group.
How was I wrong this time? Thought I would prefer the Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 over the Samyang and having both made no sense to me. On paper the 50mm should have been a slam dunk. Continue reading Samyang – Rokinon 35mm f/2.8 – The smallest full frame E mount lens
New @KEHCamera blog post up: Film Meets Digital: Contax G to Sony E Mount
Love DSLRs. But I chose mirrorless because I love film gear more.
A valid response to this blog title is “What?” Allow me to explain. Or try to anyway.
These are interesting times. A lot of virtual ink is spilled debating between mirrorless or DSLR. Most points made miss the point for me really. Sure, I chose mirrorless. But my choice has nothing to do with a dislike for DSLRs. I love DSLRs. But I love film cameras more.
But, but… Battery life… OVF over EVF… Native lens selection… AF speed… Dual card slots… So on and so forth. Meh. Gladly put up with all of this. (And most of these concerns are being eliminated by the most recent wave of mirrorless cameras. An A7iii will be in my future and it may go down as the industry tipping point.) But once again film tech is what changed my mind.
Why? Continue reading Love DSLRs. But I chose mirrorless because I love film gear more.
My love/kind of unfortunate (Never hate) relationship with Fuji Provia 100F slide film
Not that long ago I tried slide film for the first time. Specifically Fujifilm Provia 100F in 35mm strength. And wow. Everything I heard and saw was true. Beautiful colors and amazing detail.
Wilson then showed me a roll he shot on his Pentax 645. To which I internally responded, “Yes, more of that, please. And thank you.” So a roll of 120 film it is. What to use? First up slide film has only a few downsides: