We went out to feed the chickens and Ella was happy to see Kipper. As you can see I missed the focus in this picture (except for Kipper's nose), and that brings me to the "downside" of legacy lenses. These things have no electronic controls and no auto focus so you have to focus the lens manually and set the aperture by turning the aperture ring on the lens itself.
The reason that these old lenses are so compact is that they don't have all the electronics and couplings and motors that modern auto lenses have. Fortunately, Olympus has built its Image Stabilization system into its digital camera bodies, whereas other manufacturers offer it as an option within individual lenses. This allows me to put a legacy lens on my camera, then tell the camera "ok, there is an old-school lens on you and its focal length is 135mm, so do what you can to help it out." Result: I now have an image-stabilized 135mm lens with a better chance of getting sharp photos even handheld in lower light, despite the fact that no one had even heard of IS back in 1978 when they built the lens! Nice.
I took this picture when Heather was filling up the chickens' water bucket.
I have listed the lack of automation in these lenses as a downside, but I have to admit that I like the extra steps and the extra commitment this requires of me. Stopping down the aperture ring one click at a time seems more rewarding than toggling the value on my lcd screen. Focusing manually slows me down a bit and makes me think a little bit more about what I am doing. I feel like these lenses have moved me closer to the realm of making a picture, instead of just taking a picture.
Having said that, if you are shooting moving subjects like kids playing, the lack of auto focus could be a real pain in the butt. At least we are using these lenses on digital cameras, I can't imagine how sports photographers did it back when they had to develop the entire roll of film.
Ella with a farm cat. I look at this photo and am proud of how tenderhearted she is, and of how she has grown into such an animal lover. But I also can't help but look at it and think, "I hope she doesn't end up giving Cringer worms."
Mason just getting out of the van at the library. We stopped on our way home because it was finally our turn to check out the latest Fablehaven book.
Aside from the first picture, the rest of these were taken with an Olympus 100mm f2.8. I bought the lens based on its good reputation, but I was so impressed with it when I saw these photos that I took the filter off of one of my 50's and threaded it onto the end of this lens, just to make sure that it's extra protected. Kind of like how a parent decides which child sits on the outside seat and which child sits in the safer, middle position. Just kidding, no one really thinks like that, besides, Mason has always sat on the outside so obviously that theory doesn't prove anything.
This is a bush and a tree in our front yard. I took these pictures when we got home from chickens and the library.
Well that's it for tonight but I will try and post a concluding piece tomorrow. Tanis I hope this was helpful and that you are excited to get started. Everyone else, I hope that this wasn't a waste of time for you. Maybe someone will decide that they would like to give this a shot and if so, I'm glad.
But I probably wouldn't have told anyone about the advantages of these old lenses, if I didn't already have a stockpile of them for myself.
- C
4 comments:
Wow, those are some awesome shots!! Seriously love them. Can you find out if my Canon will be able to use one of those lenses? I love it!
Come visit soon...and bring your camera!!!!
WOW I LOVE THOSE PHOTOS! GAAA!!!!!!
I am so glad that you understand your camera. I'm nervous to try an old lense, but your pictures have me pretty excited.
In regards to your previous post (intro): It suprised me how much of a size difference there is between the two 50mm. And I love the picture of your whole aresenal of lenses!
My favorite photos you took were some of the macro shots. I loved the bucket of water that heather was pouring, and even the shot of ella with kipper is great. I know that blur would bother you (because you are a stickler for clarity) -but I liked it. Though- kipper looks like a scary dog;)
Also, I wonder how much time you take to set up or decide which shot you'll take. It makes me want to take more time when I am out taking pictures. I am very much in a habit of snapping away without considering different perspectives. I think I'm not making pictures very interesting.
ALSO: You suck. (This post blows my "SUNSET" and "SUNRISE" post I'd been planning on doing - out of the water!) All those early mornings WASTED!
Wow! I am rereading these posts this morning (because I like to click on Tanis' list of blogs) and I am dying to get a better camera now. I have always loved photography but would love to learn the more intricate details in creating photographic art! Thanks for sharing your knowledge Chad.
Thank you Shauna. And can I say how nice it is to have someone visit because they want to, not because they have to, because they are a relative and they know I am going to quiz them at the next family dinner, and maybe storm out in a huff when it becomes obvious they aren't reading my blog.
To be honest though, I am only just learning about this stuff myself. I sometimes talk like a big know-it-all, but that's just a bad habit that I haven't gotten around to correcting yet.
- C
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