New Lenses

[dixonduke]

A couple of weeks ago I ordered me the new 35mm 1.8 DX lens from B&H. It finally showed up (back ordered) today. I think I am going to like it. I am digging the BOKEH and how crisp the shots are compared to the 18-200mm VR.

http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/620062556_ocwtL-L.jpg

But the impulsive, unplanned purchase this week was a
SIGMA 50-500mm 1:4-6.3 APO DG HSM D EX (http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3307&navigator=3)

Long story, but while working up in eastern Oklahoma this week, I happened upon a steal of a deal IMHO ($350.00), and figured I would scoop it up. It came with the original box, case, receipt, and a UV Filter. Typical story of someone else needing quick cash more than the needed the lens.

Any way, meet my new super telephoto lens.

http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/617383745_b5dpc-L.jpg

These are not special shots, but they are the first shots I have taken with the new lens. Taken from my hotel window. Hand held and late in the afternoon.

50mm
http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/620056689_wEnSA-L.jpg

500mm
http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/620058228_D8Q9d-L.jpg

Now the challenge is to figure out a way to carry all of this stuff on the bike on my road trips..... :ponder::shrug:

[Kit_McConnico]

You're going to need bigger panniers.

[turbopiper]

You better mount it to the top of your helmet, 'cause if you mount it on the side you'll get a crick in your neck...:lol2:

Ted

[Gilk51]

I think you are going to enjoy that one, Duke... :sun:

[STScott]

I know I love my 150-500 Sigma!!!

[M38A1]

SWEET!

I'm finding out the limits of the 18-200VR myself. :doh:

[Sully]

I'm betting that if you can just get on the roof of some tall building in Houston, you could get all the FMs in southeast TX.

[jhansen]

A
500mm
http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/620058228_D8Q9d-L.jpg



Just what are the fake owls for? Scaring the pigeons?

[jimculver]

That looks like the 70-200 f2.8 VR lens. If so, you must have held a gun to the person's head! That lens new is about $1900. But it is my bread and butter lens for sure.

[Richard_]

Congrats on the new lenses. The bokeh on the 35mm f1.8 is very nice.

[poser]

Just what are the fake owls for? Scaring the pigeons?

my father-in-law has them on his beach house, they keep seaguls away

[tricepilot]

Just what are the fake owls for? Scaring the pigeons?


The one on the right is real.

It's keeping an eye on gas prices.

:shock:

[Tourmeister]

SWEET!

I'm finding out the limits of the 18-200VR myself. :doh:

Hmmm... looking to off load it? :trust:

[M38A1]

Hmmm... looking to off load it? :trust:

I'm thinking the Mrs. will get it next. Don't get me wrong - it's a good lens. Just not uber-tack-sharp like I'm wanting right now.

.

[Tourmeister]

When I was last in a Best Buy some weeks back, I noticed that the lens had gone UP by over $100 since the last time I had checked...

[M38A1]

When I was last in a Best Buy some weeks back, I noticed that the lens had gone UP by over $100 since the last time I had checked...

B&H w/free shipping $680
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/408518-GREY/Nikon_2159_18_200mm_f_3_5_5_6G_ED_IF_AF_S.html

Best Buy $785 and you pay sales tax
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7642544&type=product&id=1134697746225

Precision Camera/Austin $800
http://www.precision-camera.com/product/2159

.

[gotdurt]

Duke, what you got is often referred to as the "Bigma", and has a very good reputation; nice deal.

I'm thinking the Mrs. will get it next. Don't get me wrong - it's a good lens. Just not uber-tack-sharp like I'm wanting right now.

Maybe you know all this, but in case you don't... One thing to consider is that Nikon uses very liberal anti-aliasing filters, which makes the images appear soft, but they respond very well to sharpening; it took me a while to get accustomed to this. So, lenses are actually sharper than they appear... However, consistent "uber-tack-sharpness" will only come from a good prime.

[M38A1]

Maybe you know all this, but in case you don't... One thing to consider is that Nikon uses very liberal anti-aliasing filters, which makes the images appear soft, but they respond very well to sharpening; it took me a while to get accustomed to this. So, lenses are actually sharper than they appear... However, consistent "uber-tack-sharpness" will only come from a good prime.

I think the Nikon 18-200VR is basically a good lens for the price. Yet some of the work I've seen coming out of the Canon glass, and specifically the 70-200VR f2.8 of Nikon just blows the 18-200VR away. That and a Nikkor 105Macro are on my wishlist at the moment to take the place of the 18-200VR.

When you say 'prime', you are referring to fixed focal lengths only, correct?

.

[Tourmeister]

What is BOKEH? :scratch:

[M38A1]

What is BOKEH? :scratch:

It's that really cool shallow depth of field fuzzy look behind the subject that almost takes on it's own life. Most of it is via short DOF but it can be manipulated/added in via post-processing.

[jimculver]

I had a 18-200 which my daughter ended up with. Since I do the photography for The Promise in Glen Rose and it is all at night, no flash, no tripod, I use only f2.8 lenses. Nikon 17-55 f2.8, 70-200 VR f2.8. Really hard to do better than these lenses, but they are very pricey. The wider the aperture, the more it is gonna cost. These lenses are a constant f2.8 regardless of the focal length. www.promisepictures.com

[47wing]

BigMa is an awesome lens.

Watch the camera mount on the back. The internal screws have a tendency to come loose due to the weight of the camera. Then your camera will wiggle. It is 100+ bucks to have it fixed. I have been told my hand carrying it around is what caused the loosening.

Keeping on the tripod is best.

[dixonduke]

I am excited to get the BIGMA out and start shooting with it. Thanks for the heads up on mounting screws.

Jim. Those are great photos. No flash and No tripod, you must have arms and hands of steel. I did not see any motion blur at all and to think that you are just shooting with the available light (and production lighting) is impressive.

As for the Nikkor 18-200vr lens, I still enjoy it a lot. My biggest problem with it, is not with the lens but with me. I still find myself leaving the ISO at 100 and aperture at f8 or so, and forget to change it as the lighting changes. And when you zoom out with the lens, I adjust my shutter speed for exposure I end up with a good amount of blur. In bright light it does really well. But it is not as sharp as the new 35mm 1.8.

I think that my Christmas present to myself will be a super wide lens (prime) and that should pretty much round out my "collection" for some years to come.

[jimculver]

There are images taken that are blurry, you just will never see them! :) I go to all of the rehearsals too, so know what to anticipate throughout the show. And then you still have to try to catch your subject during a momentary pause or at least a slowing down! As for the arms of steel, not at all. I have just learned over the years to become a tree at the moment that I take the shot. I don't even breathe at that moment. It is an acquired skill I think, I taught my wife to shoot several years ago and she has done very well with the D90 cams and the same lenses as I use. On the other hand, I have a friend that just cannot seem to figure out night shooting!

I carry a little D40 on the wing with a 24-120 VR lens and although it is not a great low light lens, it is a good all around unit. With the Nikon it becomes a 36-180 mm lens.

Hope that my long replies don't bore you! I am pretty passionate about my photography as you might have guessed!

[dixonduke]

Not bored at all! Keep it coming.

This photography bug has bitten pretty hard, maybe one of these days we can meet up and you can share some of your tips, I will buy lunch of course!

[dixonduke]

I got me another one... Well, I had it ordered when I ordered my 35mm months ago, and about gave up on it, until it arrived a couple of weeks ago.

Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X 116 Pro DX
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/images345x345/554036.jpg

It is taking a little getting used to, because it will capture my toes with shooting strait on....

I was maybe 4~5 feet away from my car in this shot... (just a snapshot to show my parents the car), lots of things wrong with the photo, technique wise. But it is straight from the camera. I like the color and contrast of the lens.

http://duked.smugmug.com/Photography/New-Lens/New-Car-1/744566326_vS6TM-L.jpg

Taken tonight. Less than 2 foot away from the white box. All I did was straighten the horizon in this shot, otherwise it is unmolested.

http://duked.smugmug.com/Photography/New-Lens/New-lens-1/744567137_eSaqv-L.jpg

[gotdurt]

When you say 'prime', you are referring to fixed focal lengths only, correct?


Sorry, I somehow missed this... yes, I meant fixed focal lengths.


I got me another one... Well, I had it ordered when I ordered my 35mm months ago, and about gave up on it, until it arrived a couple of weeks ago.

Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X 116 Pro DX
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/images345x345/554036.jpg

It is taking a little getting used to, because it will capture my toes with shooting strait on....

I was maybe 4~5 feet away from my car in this shot... (just a snapshot to show my parents the car), lots of things wrong with the photo, technique wise. But it is straight from the camera. I like the color and contrast of the lens.

http://duked.smugmug.com/Photography/New-Lens/New-Car-1/744566326_vS6TM-L.jpg

Taken tonight. Less than 2 foot away from the white box. All I did was straighten the horizon in this shot, otherwise it is unmolested.

http://duked.smugmug.com/Photography/New-Lens/New-lens-1/744567137_eSaqv-L.jpg

Nice! I have the 12-24 version and absolutely love it; it stays on my camera about 90% of the time. I read that the 11-16 is better where CA is concerned (non-existant), and am considering swapping... but I don't want to lose the 24mm reach :-? I use it for Architectural work though and not having to remove CA in the workflow would be nice...

One tip: on mine, I've found that using autofocus in cases where you want good depth of field will yield bad results when you aren't expecting it. the subject will be sharp, but everything behind it won't, even with a small aperture (larger f#). For 12mm, I've found that leaving the lens on manual (not the body) with the focus set 7' to infinity (depending on the shot and distance to subject and desired DOF) will have incredible DOF and sharpness, even with items as close as a couple of feet away. This is where the hyperfocal is on the lens. Also, there's no need for an aperture smaller than f11, and f8 will work in most cases. Beyond f11, diffraction begins to show and the DOF actually seems to degrade.

Wide is addicting, enjoy it :thumb:

[dixonduke]

Thanks for the tip on the focusing.... I will put that to use as I get more comfortable shooting with this lens. And yes, you are right, the wide views is somewhat addictive.

[M38A1]

Dang it Duke!

Just when I think my 'list' is where I want it, you go and mess it up for me. I'm torn between superwide, macro and highquality zoom at the moment.

Oh, and thx for the input on dgrin. :trust:

[STScott]

Dang it Duke!

Just when I think my 'list' is where I want it, you go and mess it up for me. I'm torn between superwide, macro and highquality zoom at the moment.

Oh, and thx for the input on dgrin. :trust:



Superwide is very addictive!!! :eek2:

[M38A1]

Superwide is very addictive!!! :eek2:

I'm about to find out..... Mrs. M38A1, aka:Santa ordered the Sigma 10-20mm f/4 yesterday. :sun: I, er..... Santa wrestled with f/4 vs f/2.8 glass and opted for the f/4 simply because he figured f/2.8 will have such a shallow DOF and I'd most probably shoot f/8 most of the time anyway. We'll see.....

.

[STScott]

I don't know....I like the DOF at 2.8:

http://www.scottbromleyphotography.com/Family/Kendo/IMG4411/443264739_ED2wY-L.jpg

[igo-wfo]

Is it just the reflection or does Kendo have a gold/metallic toofus?
(Lower right)

[STScott]

It is silver.....good looking doggie bling!!!

[dixonduke]

A few from tonight

D90, 11-16mm (Shot at 11mm, f.28, iso 400, flash (http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=749149015&ImageKey=Yh2e3)) SOOC
http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/749149015_Yh2e3-L.jpg

D90, 11-16mm (Shot at 11.5mm, f.28, iso 1250, flash (http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=749146423&ImageKey=9PXoV)) SOOC

http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/749146423_9PXoV-XL.jpg

D90, 11-16mm (Shot at 11mm, f2.8, iso 400, flash. This one I cropped and played with the levels a little bit at my attempt at post processing.

Mom & Dad just about at having their fill of my taking their picture.

http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/749147621_xSduR-L.jpg

[jimculver]

What flavor of lense is that? I have the 10.5mm f2.8 Nikon fisheye but I do like this too!

[dixonduke]

What flavor of lense is that? I have the 10.5mm f2.8 Nikon fisheye but I do like this too!

Its this one...

Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X 116 Pro DX
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/images345x345/554036.jpg

I would love to see some shots from your 10.5 fisheye!

[dixonduke]

More Fun With The New Lens from this weekend...
http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/750607358_w67Uc-L.jpg
EXIF (http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=750607358&ImageKey=w67Uc)

In the spirit of full disclosure, I did crop the above shot and played with it in lightroom some before uploading it. It is now just about a 1:1 crop (100% crop) from this pic...
http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/750616443_D5ZoH-L.jpg

Cropped only...
http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/750608397_qvi4Z-XL.jpg
EXIF (http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=750608397&ImageKey=qvi4Z)

Did nothing... SOOC
http://duked.smugmug.com/Photography/New-Lens/20091225-DSC7301-Edit/750613198_hErBo-L.jpg
EXIF (http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=750613198&ImageKey=hErBo)

[STScott]

Duke....you sure you don't want to teach the class in Jan?

[M38A1]

I think your Tokina is mucho-better than the Sigma from what you've posted. At 10mm, my Sigma 10-20 almost has a fisheye characteristic on the edges. I'm shooting downtown Austin today and plan on bringing it so I'll post some shots up this evening.

What is most apparent is you've got straight edges on vertical objects whereas mine curve out.

.

[igo-wfo]

Duke....you sure you don't want to teach the class in Jan?

I vote for including him in the instructors!

Crazy dog eyes in that first pic! :clap:

[jimculver]

I will get some images (haven't done any really recently) with the 10.5 fisheye and post them.

[dixonduke]

I think your Tokina is mucho-better than the Sigma from what you've posted. At 10mm, my Sigma 10-20 almost has a fisheye characteristic on the edges. I'm shooting downtown Austin today and plan on bringing it so I'll post some shots up this evening.

What is most apparent is you've got straight edges on vertical objects whereas mine curve out.

.

Oh my lens will give pretty bad edge curve too. I think that your Sigma is going to be one of your favorite lenses going forward.

I am still learning and by NO MEANS claim to know what I am talking about.

One tip, which is harder to do than you think, is to keep the camera/lens combo LEVEL to what your shooting. You will see what I am talking about when you go outside. Go to the front door of your house, take a picture of the doorknob from 5 feet away. Take it while standing up with the camera at head height. Then sit on your front walk and take the same picture of your doorknob but from the height of your knees. Stand back up, and then stoop to where the camera is level/on same plane, with the doorknob and take the picture. Compare all three. You will see that lens curve is dramatically reduced in on one of the shots. Also on my Tokina, the curve is reduced if I back off the 11mm stop just a little bit. EXIF will show it as 11.5mm, although there is no 11.5mm selector on the lens, I just roll it back just a little from its stop. (if this makes sense?).

I have only been shooting with my wide angle lens for a month or so, and the first week of shooting with it was very frustrating, although now, I am starting to really have some fun with it.

[Skillet]

I reckon all the purest will object to more post-processing ... but there is a really nice program that will correct for barrel distortion and fisheye effects after the fact. Kind of like having a tilt-and-shift lens!

PTLens (http://epaperpress.com/ptlens/)

For example ...

original
http://billit.smugmug.com/photos/517969042_zqaNc-M.jpg

corrected
http://billit.smugmug.com/photos/517960055_oodxJ-M.jpg

Cheers,

Ben

[M38A1]

Duke,
I learned a LOT today with that lens and you are spot-on. If one is perfect in the x and y axis all is good, but start pointing up or down, left or right and WOWZER does the image change. It's sort of cool to see what can be done. So I'm digging it again. ;-)

About 9 of us spent the afternoon around the Capital and downtown today. I've got a bunch of shots to go through but I'll get a few up soon.

Ben,
Thx for the link/tip. I'll have to check into that.

.

[M38A1]

Duke, you mean like this? lol.......

Same exact spot, same camera settings but 10 vs 20mm straight out of the camera except for resizing and orientation for effect.

D90, f/8, 1/500 sec, ISO 200, 10MM
http://m38a1.smugmug.com/Other/20091227-South-Congress/20091227a-058/751923117_4cTo6-M.jpg

D90, f/8, 1/500 sec, ISO 200, 20MM
http://m38a1.smugmug.com/Other/20091227-South-Congress/20091227a-057/751922999_TRoUZ-M.jpg

[dixonduke]

That lens is tack sharp!

I take it your photowalk went well? Love to see more of your captures.

[M38A1]

That lens is tack sharp!

I take it your photowalk went well? Love to see more of your captures.

Straight out of the camera and only resized in post.
http://m38a1.smugmug.com/photos/swfpopup.mg?AlbumID=10786441&AlbumKey=hG25m

.

[dixonduke]

Man there are some really good shots in there. Why not start a new thread and show us your favorites... Real quickly mine are in no specific order.

Magnolia Cafe Neon
Texas Chandelier
Stained Glass & Christmas Tree
Cut Glass Front Door
Chair with Tacks
The second door hinge
Walk leading up to capitol entrance
Moon over capitol
The bronze cannon
Sidewalk & Christmas lights

[M38A1]

Man there are some really good shots in there. Why not start a new thread and show us your favorites... Real quickly mine are in no specific order.

Magnolia Cafe Neon
Texas Chandelier
Stained Glass & Christmas Tree
Cut Glass Front Door
Chair with Tacks
The second door hinge
Walk leading up to capitol entrance
Moon over capitol
The bronze cannon
Sidewalk & Christmas lights

Thanks for the comments. Most of the outdoor shots were in a shaded environment where the sunlight wasn't direct, thus sort of 'flat' in my opinion. I'd start another thread, but my smugmug account is busy while I upload a slideshow for a local riding group. :doh: I might have to do that when it's done, much like the first walkabout I did when I got the new body.

.

[bluedogok]

I reckon all the purest will object to more post-processing ... but there is a really nice program that will correct for barrel distortion and fisheye effects after the fact. Kind of like having a tilt-and-shift lens!
The funny thing about "purists" is most do not want to admit that all the work like that was done in a darkroom as well in the past. Adobe Photoshop is just a "modern" darkroom. We did a bunch of those tricks in the darkroom to reduce the Z-point convergence on perspectives in architectural photography.