Last two moai, from another morning. The weather was very uncooperative so we ended up with only two photos before the cloud covered up. Can't fight Mother Nature...
^ Nice to see Alberta is slowly greening up (assuming that's Alberta). When I was there a month ago it was still all brown.
stanj wrote:
Last two moai, from another morning. The weather was very uncooperative so we ended up with only two photos before the cloud covered up. Can't fight Mother Nature...
So you ended up getting the RF fisheye after all... I was just in Tokyo and Yodobashi had it on display to play with. Another shop actually had stock of the 14/1.4 for USD 1920 tax-free, and it was kind of tempting, but got the 20/1.4 instead (more useful to me than the 14).
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Loved the moss on this guy at that famous place in Kyoto overrun with tourists (like me).
rscheffler wrote:
^ Nice to see Alberta is slowly greening up. When I was there a month ago it was still all brown.
So you ended up getting the RF fisheye after all... I was just in Tokyo and Yodobashi had it on display to play with. Another shop actually had stock of the 14/1.4 for USD 1920 tax-free, and it was kind of tempting, but got the 20/1.4 instead (more useful to me than the 14).
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You noticed that too with Stan.
The 20 became one of my favourite VCM lenses. I like it more than the 24 and I was always a 24 fan over 20-21. The 14 I currently pair up with the 24-105 Z.
The green is a nice change, it seemed we would get warm weather so things could green up, then a snowstorm to stop the greening. The crocuses took a beating this year. 3 storms and heavy wet snow dumps in a two week period.
The 20 is my first f/1.4 VCM prime. I didn't think I would bother with the 35 or 50 because I have the 28-70/2. For event work I prefer the speed and flexibility of the zoom. I traded in my EF 85/1.4L IS and was considering grabbing the 85/1.4 VCM in Japan as a replacement, but no place had it (apparently it's on a 4-month backorder), though apparently it's in stock here in Canada and currently discounted $200, which closes the price gap with Japan tax-free. The 20 has me rethinking my 'no primes' in the 28-70 range. It's nice and small, light, sharp, fast focusing. I played around with the 50 and 85 VCMs at Yodobashi (they had a demo 85 to try, but not buy). I will probably reconsider if Canon releases a 28/1.4 VCM. I'd be able to duplicate my M system walk around kit with VCMs at 20, 28, 50 and 85... I am on the fence about the 85 though. I barely used the EF because 70 and 85 are close and f/2 is generally fast enough. And the 70-200Z is great, even if 'only' f/2.8. Honestly, I'd rather the 85 VCM was a 100/1.8 VCM.
Some with the R5II and 70-200Z from the Sunshine 60 Observatory deck in Tokyo Ikebukuro. It was a sunny afternoon and by the time my wife did her shopping and we got up the the observatory, clouds had rolled in and I watched the last slivers of sunlight disappear in the first few minutes. I was kind of bummed because it was just gray and hazy boring views. A while later some breaks in the clouds appeared in the west and rolled right over us, the shots below are a few from that brief span of visual excitement.
Just to add some context for the previous photo:
It was appreciated that they kept some areas of the observation deck in near darkness for better viewing of the dusk/night skyline with fewer window reflections.
rscheffler wrote:
So you ended up getting the RF fisheye after all... I was just in Tokyo and Yodobashi had it on display to play with. Another shop actually had stock of the 14/1.4 for USD 1920 tax-free, and it was kind of tempting, but got the 20/1.4 instead (more useful to me than the 14).
I believe it was you who teased me about it here, as did one of my friends, so of course I ordered it. I didn't want it to be great, but A/B testing it against the 15/2.8 was pretty clear at 15 (14), so I kept it. It came in handy with the stars. I wish I had it in Norway for the aurora because when we were there it was the strongest activity in 23 years and they were everywhere, every day, and it was hard capturing it with the (then Sigma) 14.
The 14 is phenomenal. I dropped mine (and the R5m2) onto a rock the first night in Chile (it fell out of the tripod mount), before I could even take the first photo with it. Incredibly lucky, I destroyed the built-in hood but not a scratch on the glass, and it still works perfectly. I'll wait a bit until I can expect parts to be readily available and then I'll send it in.
The 20 is the more "general purpose" lens, of course I have it too (and used it on some moai), but for stars the 14 is a huge hit and worth every penny.
rscheffler wrote:
The 20 has me rethinking my 'no primes' in the 28-70 range. It's nice and small, light, sharp, fast focusing. I played around with the 50 and 85 VCMs at Yodobashi (they had a demo 85 to try, but not buy). I will probably reconsider if Canon releases a 28/1.4 VCM. I'd be able to duplicate my M system walk around kit with VCMs at 20, 28, 50 and 85... I am on the fence about the 85 though. I barely used the EF because 70 and 85 are close and f/2 is generally fast enough. And the 70-200Z is great, even if 'only' f/2.8. Honestly, I'd rather the 85 VCM was a 100/1.8 VCM.
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I was of similar mindset with the VCMs given I have the 28-70, 50 1.2 and 85 1.2 DS. In the end I liked the vcm's I had that I decided to complete the set. I am glad I did, it makes for light weight option kits.
Rumor has another VCM is coming. 28,100 and 135 have been mentioned though a 135 is least likely.
stanj wrote:
I believe it was you who teased me about it here, as did one of my friends, so of course I ordered it. I didn't want it to be great, but A/B testing it against the 15/2.8 was pretty clear at 15 (14), so I kept it. It came in handy with the stars. I wish I had it in Norway for the aurora because when we were there it was the strongest activity in 23 years and they were everywhere, every day, and it was hard capturing it with the (then Sigma) 14.
The 14 is phenomenal. I dropped mine (and the R5m2) onto a rock the first night in Chile (it fell out of the tripod mount), before I could even take the first photo with it. Incredibly lucky, I destroyed the built-in hood but not a scratch on the glass, and it still works perfectly. I'll wait a bit until I can expect parts to be readily available and then I'll send it in.
The 20 is the more "general purpose" lens, of course I have it too (and used it on some moai), but for stars the 14 is a huge hit and worth every penny....Show more →
Guilty!
Now slightly regretting not snagging that 14 in Tokyo... But only slightly. Glad to hear it's living up to expectations and that you were very lucky that first night with it.
A couple photos flying out of Haneda right around 6pm. I really prefer sitting at the window exactly for this reason. But my wife wanted to... As a result I couldn't get any wide shots flying over Tokyo Bay with Mount Fuji in the background with the sunset. Kinda wishing we had the bigger 787 windows rather than 777, but there were probably technical reasons why it was a 777. Still very cool to see and it was the best view of Fuji we had while in the Tokyo area. All the other days were either hazy or cloudy.
rscheffler wrote:
Kinda wishing we had the bigger 787 windows rather than 777
I actively avoid flying the 787 whenever possible specifically because of the photochromatic windows. They're a pain in the ass to shoot through, have an impact on the image quality even when "open" and sometimes the crew won't allow you to control them. A350 or 777 all the way.
