Opteka 85mm f1.4
Posted 11/03/2010 - 14:33
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Lovely colours and nice lighting!
I just love the short dof, but I don't know if I could manage the 1.4. I have enough problems at 85mm/1.8!
I just love the short dof, but I don't know if I could manage the 1.4. I have enough problems at 85mm/1.8!
Tim
AF - Pentax K5, Sigma 10-20/4-5.6, Tamron 17-50/2.8, Sigma 30/1.4, Sigma 70-200/2.8, Tamron 70-300/4-5.6
MF - Vivitar CF 28/2.8, Tamron AD2 90/2.5, MTO 1000/11
Stuff - Metz 58 AF1, Cactus v4, Nikon SB24, Raynox 150, Sigma 1.4x TC, Sigma 2x TC, Kenko 2x macro TC, Redsnapper 283 tripod, iMac 27”, Macbook Pro 17”, iPad, iPhone 3G
Flickr • Fluidr • PPG • Street • Portfolio site
Feel free to edit any of my posted photos! If I post a photo for critique, I want brutal honesty. If you don't like it, please say so and tell me why!
AF - Pentax K5, Sigma 10-20/4-5.6, Tamron 17-50/2.8, Sigma 30/1.4, Sigma 70-200/2.8, Tamron 70-300/4-5.6
MF - Vivitar CF 28/2.8, Tamron AD2 90/2.5, MTO 1000/11
Stuff - Metz 58 AF1, Cactus v4, Nikon SB24, Raynox 150, Sigma 1.4x TC, Sigma 2x TC, Kenko 2x macro TC, Redsnapper 283 tripod, iMac 27”, Macbook Pro 17”, iPad, iPhone 3G
Flickr • Fluidr • PPG • Street • Portfolio site
Feel free to edit any of my posted photos! If I post a photo for critique, I want brutal honesty. If you don't like it, please say so and tell me why!
Posted 11/03/2010 - 16:00
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Nice to see it being put to good use. It's a surprisingly good lens, especially for the money. I think it would be a great portrait lens on full frame, but I found it just a little too long for what I wanted on APSC. That said, I got some great shots out of it, even at f1.4 after a while. You're right though - it takes work. Enjoy!
Jon
Jon
Posted 11/03/2010 - 16:15
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Ken, that's a stunning shot, especially considering the challenges presented by the DOF.
I have been thinking of getting this lens (or one of the 8 or so variants carrying different names), and shots like this really are food for thought.
I have been thinking of getting this lens (or one of the 8 or so variants carrying different names), and shots like this really are food for thought.
If you can't say something nice about Pentax, you won't say anything at all.
Apparently.
Apparently.
Posted 11/03/2010 - 16:25
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It must take a very special skill to use it at 1.4 as the DOF is so very narrow. I think I would find it too hard to use effectively. The 70 at 2.4 is pretty narrow but nothing like this.
Mike
Mike
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You can see some of my shots at my Flickr account.
You can see some of my shots at my Flickr account.
Posted 11/03/2010 - 18:01
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Thanks for the comments. No lighting skills involved at all, just exposure ones
I put the vase on a black floor with the miniature roses lit by window light and set the camera to underexpose by 3 stops to bring the the image way down the 'D log E curve', if that term still appies in digital, to crush the blacks. In other words, underexpose to the limit of getting away with it.
Nice to have a third hand lens that looks brand new, Jon and Mike-P.
There are some amazing shots on a Flickr group taken with the various versions. At the moment, though, I'm on a 12:1 success ratio just in nailing focus which is why I'll buy an FB magnifier.
I put it on a film body yesterday which seemed easier but the proof will be in the negs.
My thinking in buying it was threefold; firstly, as a portrait lens, secondly as a lens to use in theatre dance productions thereby giving me a higher shutter speed but, thirdly, I want to feel challenged! Its too easy to slip into comfort zones.
I put the vase on a black floor with the miniature roses lit by window light and set the camera to underexpose by 3 stops to bring the the image way down the 'D log E curve', if that term still appies in digital, to crush the blacks. In other words, underexpose to the limit of getting away with it.
Nice to have a third hand lens that looks brand new, Jon and Mike-P.
There are some amazing shots on a Flickr group taken with the various versions. At the moment, though, I'm on a 12:1 success ratio just in nailing focus which is why I'll buy an FB magnifier.
I put it on a film body yesterday which seemed easier but the proof will be in the negs.
My thinking in buying it was threefold; firstly, as a portrait lens, secondly as a lens to use in theatre dance productions thereby giving me a higher shutter speed but, thirdly, I want to feel challenged! Its too easy to slip into comfort zones.
Ken
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -
Posted 11/03/2010 - 18:56
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This is a magical shot. I've never heard of the lens: seems like a most interesting one to use and, as Ken says, challenging.
Regards,
Andrew
Regards,
Andrew
Best wishes,
Andrew
"These places mean something and it's the job of a photographer to figure-out what the hell it is."
Robert Adams
"The camera doesn't make a bit of difference. All of them can record what you are seeing. But, you have to SEE."
Ernst Hass
My website: http://www.ephotozine.com/user/bwlchmawr-199050
http://s927.photobucket.com/home/ADC3440/index
https://www.flickr.com/photos/78898196@N05
Andrew
"These places mean something and it's the job of a photographer to figure-out what the hell it is."
Robert Adams
"The camera doesn't make a bit of difference. All of them can record what you are seeing. But, you have to SEE."
Ernst Hass
My website: http://www.ephotozine.com/user/bwlchmawr-199050
http://s927.photobucket.com/home/ADC3440/index
https://www.flickr.com/photos/78898196@N05
Posted 11/03/2010 - 19:52
Link
I wonder whether a split image screen (Katz Eye or similar) may also help? I may be tempted to do that before getting the magnifier, but then I have glasses and find the magnifier is not great when wearing them.
Posted 12/03/2010 - 00:21
Link
awsome shot
Posted 13/03/2010 - 15:23
Link
bwichmawr wrote:
This is a magical shot. I've never heard of the lens: seems like a most interesting one to use and, as Ken says, challenging.
Regards,
Andrew
Andrew, they are branded with various names including Vivitar and Samyang. The Samyang optical co. make a quirky range - might go for their fisheye.
This is a magical shot. I've never heard of the lens: seems like a most interesting one to use and, as Ken says, challenging.
Regards,
Andrew
Ken
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -
Posted 13/03/2010 - 15:24
Link
JonSchick wrote:
I wonder whether a split image screen (Katz Eye or similar) may also help? I may be tempted to do that before getting the magnifier, but then I have glasses and find the magnifier is not great when wearing them.
You've reminded me I have a split image screen in the DS so I'll give that a try.
I wonder whether a split image screen (Katz Eye or similar) may also help? I may be tempted to do that before getting the magnifier, but then I have glasses and find the magnifier is not great when wearing them.
Ken
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -
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6724 posts
20 years
Glasgow,
Scotland
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -