More with Mr. Meyer and his Optik.

[cdifoto]

On the 10D again.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/meyeroptik/2007-02-27-023.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/meyeroptik/2007-02-27-022.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/meyeroptik/2007-02-27-020.jpg

[adam75south]

man that looks cold out there. i'm surprised how sharp this thing is. have you done any side by sides with the 70-200 to see the difference?

[coldrain]

These lenses seem to really inspire you, Don. These photos have a very nice and melangolic/sad atmosphere about them. Very nice.

[cdifoto]

man that looks cold out there. i'm surprised how sharp this thing is. have you done any side by sides with the 70-200 to see the difference?

It looks colder than it is. I was out in a regular sweatshirt. Everything is melting though unfortunately (fortunately?). I might compare someday but to be honest it's not something I'm anxious to do. They're in 2 different leagues, IMHO.

[RichNY]

They're in 2 different leagues, IMHO.

Could you share your thoughts on this

[cdifoto]

These lenses seem to really inspire you, Don. These photos have a very nice and melangolic/sad atmosphere about them. Very nice.

I was just responding that on the other thread. Somehow they're inspiring. I don't know why but they do make me want to go out and shoot. Maybe it's the newness or just the fact that they're different lenses but I never feel this way with autofocus. AF is easy and all but it breeds laziness...and carelessness. At least in me.

[cdifoto]

Could you share your thoughts on this

I don't think I can really explain it. The L is mass produced, heavy, expensive, and a multi-coated zoom with 8 blades and autofocus. The Meyer was probably mass produced but not to the extent of the L since it was 40 some years ago, fairly light but still meaty, inexpensive, and a single coated prime with 15 blades and manual focus.

I don't know enough about the Meyer to know if it was a top end lens in its day or a low grade that happened to have a lot of aperture blades.

What I do know is the Meyer has smoother bokeh and still renders sharp detail but lower contrast...and being single coated it's more susceptible to flare. The L has higher contrast, choppier bokeh (but as we all know still good) and sharp detail without being as flare prone.

[adam75south]

I was just responding that on the other thread. Somehow they're inspiring. I don't know why but they do make me want to go out and shoot. Maybe it's the newness or just the fact that they're different lenses but I never feel this way with autofocus. AF is easy and all but it breeds laziness...and carelessness. At least in me.
i understand, i feel the same way when i get what i want out of a certain picture. you know that YOU did that and that's cool. but i just don't know about manual focus. i'm not sure i could be as accurate as the AF lenses can...and let's not even think about sports...hell, even weddings for that matter.

[adam75south]

but the fact that it's an antique just kicks ass.

[cdifoto]

i understand, i feel the same way when i get what i want out of a certain picture. you know that YOU did that and that's cool. but i just don't know about manual focus. i'm not sure i could be as accurate as the AF lenses can...and let's not even think about sports...hell, even weddings for that matter.

I won't be using it for weddings or sports anytime soon. No way in hell. I'm not quick enough for that, and this particular lens has 360 degree rotation of the focus ring from minimum to infinity. Takes awhile to get from one end to the other. The prosumer bodies aren't really up to the task either.

There are AF-confirm adapters available though that activate the in-screen focus point lightup if you pay $60-70 or so for one on eBay. They seem to work quite well from all accounts I've heard. Not sure how it actually works from a technical/electrical standpoint.

These lenses will primarily be just for personal use and/or portraits when I have time to focus manually.

[24Peter]

I won't be using it for weddings or sports anytime soon. No way in hell. I'm not quick enough for that, and this particular lens has 360 degree rotation of the focus ring from minimum to infinity. Takes awhile to get from one end to the other. The prosumer bodies aren't really up to the task either.

There are AF-confirm adapters available though that activate the in-screen focus point lightup if you pay $60-70 or so for one on eBay. They seem to work quite well from all accounts I've heard. Not sure how it actually works from a technical/electrical standpoint.

These lenses will primarily be just for personal use and/or portraits when I have time to focus manually.

Well I think the point is, you're excited about taking pictures with it. So it seems like $89 (?) well spent. When I first got my Panasonic FZ20 and then when got my XT I felt that way: I would take photos of dust on the window sill because I was so excited to shoot. I still love taking photos, but some of that passion (I mean who shoots dust? :confused: ) has wained. But I'm hoping a new body this year will reignite things. So thanks for that reminder Don of what it feels like to be really excited about something. :)

[cdifoto]

Well I think the point is, you're excited about taking pictures with it. So it seems like $89 (?) well spent. When I first got my Panasonic FZ20 and then when got my XT I felt that way: I would take photos of dust on the window sill because I was so excited to shoot. I still love taking photos, but some of that passion (I mean who shoots dust? :confused: ) has wained. But I'm hoping a new body this year will reignite things. So thanks for that reminder Don of what it feels like to be really excited about something. :)

Yep I needed a transfusion and it seemed to work. I'd be willing to sell my 85mm if I didn't need it for poorly lit sports. I could do without it as far as portraits are concerned. I think a new body is what you need right now. That XT's really been through a lot.

[RichNY]

I think a new body is what you need right now.

And a cleaning lady for those window sills ;) :D

[cdifoto]

And a cleaning lady for those window sills ;) :D

I see a "Maid" photo series in Pete's future....and hopefully ours too! :D

[24Peter]

I see a "Maid" photo series in Pete's future....and hopefully ours too! :D

Best I can do right now... (kind of a maid's outfit :o )

http://photos.imageevent.com/24peter/upload2/large/IMG_2572edit.JPG

[cdifoto]

Not bad for such short...uhh...notice. :D

[adam75south]

oh my dayum, i'd hire her in a heartbeat. peter, you got the full series on that one?

[24Peter]

oh my dayum, i'd hire her in a heartbeat. peter, you got the full series on that one?
Yes - I've got about 500 pics of Misty ;) But as you may have seen in an earlier thread, there are some shoots I just can't post in the usual places these days. After all I've got a reputation to uphold ya know... :rolleyes:

[cdifoto]

After all I've got a reputation to uphold ya know... :rolleyes:

Yeah ya don't.

[adam75south]

yea well i think i'm pretty much in love with her by now.

[24Peter]

yea well i think i'm pretty much in love with her by now.
Me too. :o You can hear her in my next short film. She does the voice over for a telephone customer service representative. We start shooting tomorrow. I should be done editing in a couple of months and will post the film on-line.

[adam75south]

Me too. :o You can hear her in my next short film. She does the voice over for a telephone customer service representative. We start shooting tomorrow. I should be done editing in a couple of months and will post the film on-line.

be sure and let us know when it's done...and by us, i mean me. tell me she doesn't smoke.

btw, i've actually watched one of your films...i think about a dude typing a story and running around and hiding. i can't remember, it's been a while.

[24Peter]

be sure and let us know when it's done...and by us, i mean me. tell me she doesn't smoke.

btw, i've actually watched one of your films...i think about a dude typing a story and running around and hiding. i can't remember, it's been a while.

Misty doesn't smoke - she's very natural and wholesome. ;)

You can see some of my videos here: http://www.youtube.com/24peter

I know this is getting OT and we're hijacking Don's thread, but video equipment is as big a black hole as camera equipment: I just spent $500 on a wireless mic system and am looking at buying one or maybe even two new HD video cameras this year (both Canon BTW ;) )

[adam75south]

eh, don made like 8 threads for this lens, he'll be ok.

a couple years ago, i thought i'd make a stunt dvd, went half on a canon gl-2 with a friend of mine. read a book on premiere pro, and two others on after effects. and what did i do with it? nothing. nothing at all.

we sold the gl-2 and that's how i bought my light kit and my light meter.

[RichNY]

and am looking at buying one or maybe even two new HD video cameras this year (both Canon BTW ;) )

Are you leaning towards the new HV20 or do you need a single chip solution?

[24Peter]

Are you leaning towards the new HV20 or do you need a single chip solution?

Actually the HV20 is a single chip. I'm thinking of that one as a "B" and travel camera. My "A" camera would be the three chip XH-A1
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=RedirectAct&fcategoryid=326&modelid=14061&URL=http://www.usa.canon.com:80/consumer/controller?act=SecondRedirectAct&nav=second&fileURL=http://downloads.canon.com/cpr/software/video/XH-G1_A1_brochure.pdf&type=DNLD (IE 7 people may need to hold down the "ctrl" key when clicking on this link...)
Gets me all wet just thinking about it... :D

[forno]

That looks expensive Peter:eek:

[24Peter]

That looks expensive Peter:eek:

Well that was kinda my point... HV20 is a consumer-grade camcorder but it does do 24p in 1920X1080 which is cool; List is $1099 I think. The XH-A1 is a pro-sumer grade camera - you can get one for around $3600. So... a couple of those plus the 5D or it's replacement (my patience is growing thin though so I may not wait) along with a 24-105 F4 L and perhaps a 70-200 F4 IS, well you can see it's an expensive year for moi. :(

[adam75south]

Well that was kinda my point... HV20 is a consumer-grade camcorder but it does do 24p in 1920X1080 which is cool; List is $1099 I think. The XH-A1 is a pro-sumer grade camera - you can get one for around $3600. So... a couple of those plus the 5D or it's replacement (my patience is growing thin though so I may not wait) along with a 24-105 F4 L and perhaps a 70-200 F4 IS, well you can see it's an expensive year for moi. :(

wow. so video comes first for you.

i still love that girl. that body is perfect.