One Lens Challenge at the V & A

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5,986 posts

10 years
Surrey, England

Link Posted 12/10/2018 - 15:02

I still enjoy that age-old challenge of photographers, to take only one prime lens out and try to "work" a location with it. You know, the old "zoom with your feet" thing! Also If I'm trying to squeeze some photography in around work then there is the added advantage that I can tuck the camera and one lens into my work bag, no need to carry a camera bag on the trains as well.

Last week it was the Tamron Adaptall 135mm F2.8 (the version from around 1974) that I put up to the challenge, at the V & A Museum (mainly around the new Exhibition Road entrance). This lens is always fun to work with, as when set to its auto-aperture setting it functions as a K or M type, so green button metering all the way ......

The Exhibition Road entrance is a extreme mixture of old and new, modern and classic in design styles .... so much variety in such a small area....

All with the Pentax K7, gripped, most at f2.8 or F5.6, ISO 200-800 .....

1. On the way along Exhibition Road

2. The entrance to the museum, Sackler Courtyard (the modern)

3. The Classic

4. The Modern again

5. A Mixture ....

6. One for the Visitors

7. The Visitor

8. A Portrait .... or is it a selfie? Who's the subject ...

Thanks for your interest and any reponses that come to mind

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Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver

Last Edited by McGregNi on 12/10/2018 - 15:14

RobL

Member

2,558 posts

8 years
Warwickshire

Link Posted 12/10/2018 - 15:28

I like these a lot, especially no. 7; don’t know about no. 8 though, what is a xatnep camera?! Impressive how the 40 year old lens performs.

LennyBloke

Member

6,150 posts

15 years
Worcestershire

Link Posted 12/10/2018 - 15:30

That's a super set Nigel - and a great example of the single lens challenge - you've shown how to use the 135 really well, flattened perspective, oof backgrounds, thin focus plane, and even an imaginative self portrait

LennyBloke

derek897

Member

2,322 posts

9 years
Wicklow Ireland

Link Posted 12/10/2018 - 15:46

Nice sharp, colourful set.
I have spent a day in Dublin with a 135mm as my only lens for the day, and I found it refreshing.
I think it's a great focal length for walk about.
Makes you think about the shot more.
Good shooting sir. 👏👏👏

I know what i like, If not always why.

McGregNi

Member

5,986 posts

10 years
Surrey, England

Link Posted 12/10/2018 - 16:31

RobL wrote:
..... don’t know about no. 8 though, what is a xatnep camera? .....

Don't know, must be a really ancient one, like from around 2009! Lucky for me guys, the K7 is holding up....

Thanks Rob, glad you liked them.

Last Edited by McGregNi on 12/10/2018 - 16:49

stub

Member

1,950 posts

12 years
Manchester

Link Posted 12/10/2018 - 18:41

Super stuff.. Its always made about the lens. Quite rightly,, But that K7 never gets the accolades it deserves...
Well done Its nice of you to show us northeners "Darn sarf"...

K-1Gripped K-1 ungripped K-5ii K7 Various lenses

Stuart..

Aitch53

Member

401 posts

9 years
St Aines

Link Posted 12/10/2018 - 19:52

McGregNi wrote:

RobL wrote:
..... don’t know about no. 8 though, what is a xatnep camera? .....

Don't know, must be a really ancient one, like from around 2009! Lucky for me guys, the K7 is holding up....

Thanks Rob, glad you liked them.

Oh... I thought it was a Russian copy of a Pentax...

SteveH!

Some people call me 'strange'.
I prefer 'unconventional'.
But I'm willing to compromise and accept 'eccentric'.

MrB

Member

1,680 posts

11 years
Herts, England

Link Posted 12/10/2018 - 20:16

Another creative and interesting set, Nigel. It shows what great results can be achieved even with a camera and lens that precede the HOCIR era.

Cheers.
Philip

McGregNi

Member

5,986 posts

10 years
Surrey, England

Link Posted 13/10/2018 - 08:07

LennyBloke wrote:
That's a super set Nigel - and a great example of the single lens challenge - you've shown how to use the 135 really well, flattened perspective, oof backgrounds, thin focus plane, and even an imaginative self portrait

Thanks, it's a good way to force some thinking when framing and positioning, that's for sure. That old 135mm has been one of my best finds, in a scondhand shop complete with the adaptor. Because it has the manual/aito aperture switch, it gets more use with basic manual extension tubes for macro things.... Very versatile!

walkeja

Plus Member

1,006 posts

19 years
Lichfield

Link Posted 13/10/2018 - 10:58

I notice that your dominant eye is your left, just like me.

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derek897

Member

2,322 posts

9 years
Wicklow Ireland

Link Posted 13/10/2018 - 11:09

walkeja wrote:
I notice that your dominant eye is your left, just like me.

Nope,
that's a reflection

I know what i like, If not always why.

McGregNi

Member

5,986 posts

10 years
Surrey, England

Link Posted 13/10/2018 - 13:16

Yeah, that's my closed left eye. It was a very shiny sign with a mirror surface.

Looking again, if I'm going to keep doing this sort of self portrait with such a sharp lens I think I will need to search for a new tool in PhotoShop ....."Wrinkle Blur" !!

alfpics

Member

1,934 posts

18 years
nr Brighton

Link Posted 13/10/2018 - 22:02

Nice set with no 7 for me; the tiling behind the lady has a slight optical illusion effect. It could be sloping away or (almost) curving back over her - to my eyes anyway

Some discipline to stick to the one lens/ focal length!

Andy

Last Edited by alfpics on 13/10/2018 - 22:03

Sry

Member

1,124 posts

4 years

Link Posted 13/10/2018 - 22:31

McGregNi wrote:
it's a good way to force some thinking when framing and positioning, that's for sure.

For sure indeed. I have an M135 and I just don't know what to do with it. I simply makes me quite uncomfortable (which can be a good thing, if one can harness that discomfort in some way - I haven't yet).

#1 and #4 work for me here (#1 for the composition and the bird/underground story, #4 for the dynamic abstraction). I'll try to keep these in mind for inspiration if/when I put that lens back on my camera...

pschlute

Member

4,926 posts

16 years
Surrey

Link Posted 13/10/2018 - 23:13

These are really good Nigel. 4 5 and 7 shine for me

Love the V&A. Used to visit a lot but have not been for years

Peter

My Flickr page

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