The Photography and Camera Thread

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On this latest trip I brought along a Potensic Atom drone. Just learning how to do video and photos with it but it works very well. The gimbal camera head and auto gps stabilization works wonders. The image quality is surprisingly good for such an affordable drone. I’m very impressed at the performance/price ratio.

I don't know if this is a thing over there, but here amateur fishermen have started using drones to take their baited fishing line out hundreds of meters and drop it in a good spot. I must have a go one day.
 
Let's rokkiN !

Modding a Nikon AI Nikkor 135mm f2.8 only by reversing the last lens element, e.g. the one next to the camera mount, is technically very easy and a fun and rewarding experiment. All you need is a spare/junk 135mm lens and some kind of lens spanner. First unscrew the lens holder element, then unscrew the ring holding the lens element within the lens holder. You may apply some acetone or isopropanol onto the thread to soften potential securing glue. Have a look here for lens dismantling techniques. Then reverse this single lens element, and reassemble everything together again.

By that mod, you will mainly get spherical aberration, more or less, depending on the diaphragma setting. The following sample pictures have been shot with a DX camera (D200) at different apertures between F2.8 and F8.0. You will note a steady decrease of aberrations from F2.8 until F8.0. Not shown here, at F11 diffraction begins to blur the image in an unpleasant way. Overall sharpness in the center of the picture at 8.0 will geat close the one of an unmodified lens, but still remains a bit lower.


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F2.8
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F4.0
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F5.6
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F2.8
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F4.0
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F5.6
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F8.0
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F4.0
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F4.0
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Here is a unique Nikon Z mount lens: 35mm F/1.4 imaging Raman spectrograph that I made that clips on to a Nikon mirrorless. The Z62 has a back illuminated sensor that is supposed to be very good in low light.

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Image of spectrum of LED lightbulb using 36 fiber optic probe.
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The edge filter blocks all light shorter than 535nm to allow use of 532nm Nd:YAG freq doubled laser.
 
I've joined the dark side. For my vacation trips, I decided that I would travel as light as possible. So, I bought a small carry-on suitcase and ditched my heavy camera equipment.

After my research, I concluded that a Google Pixel phone could replace my camera and laptop computer. Luckily, Google has just introduced the Pixel 9, so the Pixel 8 phones have dropped in price.

So, I bought a Pixel 8 Pro, and I'm very happy with my decision. I feel so free without having to deal with all the gear.
 

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Nice photo. There are times when a camera is obviously superior for a lot of reasons but I admit to only using a phone on numerous occasions. At this point I think grabbing a quality P&S size camera is good. They fit in your pocket slightly thicker than a phone and the good ones basically do not have limits on features typically used.

Sony RX100 VII is pretty darn nice. Ricoh GR series is also classic amazing P&S, it is even smaller than the sony. 4" x 2.29" x 1.68" Sony and 4.3 x 2.4 x 1.4" Ricoh.

I have a Yashica T4 which has a great lens, it is film, and not as small as the digitals but barely larger. One of my favorites however is the Olympus Stylus for shape and pocketability. The price has gone whack on some, mostly the mju model. Here is the thing, I would recommend B&W because I have seen so many stunning photos with that combo. Sadly mine is gone, I let a girl borrow it and it never came back and she never compensated me or mentioned it. It went on a long bike trip with another friend and the photos were more than worth letting it being borrowed.
 
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I gambled on using my new Pixel 8 Pro phone as my vacation camera, and I'm glad I did. I'm adjusting to the procedure of taking a picture, and I'm getting better at it.

I haven't checked the results on a big screen yet, though zoomed in on the phone, the resolution looks good.

One interesting thing about the Pixel phones is the AI editing suite. I tried the "remove people" function, and it works amazingly well. Just push a button, and it's done.
 

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I got a manual AIS to Z adapter and it lets me use my 135mm F/2 and 50mm F/1.2 lenses. The focus peaking feature makes MF very accurate.
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Here is a shot with 135mm F/2 wide open hand held. ISO1250 1/50 sec. Downsampled with screenshot else the file is too large to post. It’s a sharp lens (look at eye reflection) and all else blurred from the huge aperture at 135mm.

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I now have the Viltrox 40mm F/2.5 and 20mm F/2.8 full frame AF lenses for Z mount. Both very nice lenses at budget prices. Sharp photos with great color rendition and AF is very snappy and accurate.

The 40mm F/2.5
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The 20mm F/2.8 is same external mechanicals as 40mm.

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Both have metal lens mount and USB-C for firmware updates.

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Very compact and easy to carry:
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Handheld shot using 40mm lens while walking. ISO1250, F/2.5 at 1/10 second.

This looks like the entrance to a wormhole. It’s actually the outdoor boardwalk at the RIO shopping center in Maryland. We go here to go to the Sportrock gym.
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40mm ISO400, 1/100 sec at F/4.5
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I have a fascination with large medium format rangefinders. Never had one but think it would be way cool. Anyone have experience with the Fuji GS645S with 60mm F/4 lens (similar to 35mm FL FOV).

https://www.filmshooterscollective....ji-gs645s-review-herb-kateley-7-28?format=amp

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These are available for about $500 used. The sample images from above website look great.

There is a 45mm Wide angle (28mm FL equivalent FOV non rangefinder variant - zone focus) and the images look great:

https://filmcameraheaven.com/fujica-645-wide/

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And then there is a folding normal 75mm F/3.5 lens variant.:

https://mrleica.com/fuji-gs645/amp/

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I really like how the aperture, shutter speed, and focus are all controlled from 3 rings on the lens. Plus it is a leaf shutter so very quiet and can sync flash at any shutter speed.
 
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The Bronica RF645 is an awesome interchangeable RF MF camera. I have heard people say that it has an even better rangefinder (image brightness and quality of focusing) than a Leica M.

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What is interesting is that even though it is a manual camera, there are electrical contacts on the lens mount. Probably electronic controls for the leaf shuttering the lens?

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I guess Mamiya 6 is same way with electronic contacts.

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