MISSION:

Snapshot Voyager is about my own personal photography journey. I am always looking to try something new, inquisitive as to how it works, and to the end results I might achieve.

Saturday 31 March 2012

Sony NEX 5n - Worth the call


As I was still a little dubious about some of the issues with the NEX-7 (image sensor corner softness and colour casting with adapted lenses) I had been thinking about upgrading my NEX 3 to either the NEX 3c or an NEX 5n to get the new 16mp sensor, which had got very good reviews.  I had done some looking around and almost bought a 3c, when my Dad arrived for a visit.  He was thinking of getting a mirror-less camera and really liked the NEX, so knowing that I was looking to upgrade, he offered to buy the NEX 3 off me and look for a kit 18-55mm lens at a later stage.  He wanted to use it as both a point and shoot for general pics, and also to use with an adapter for his Pentax K mount and M42 mount collection.

While he was here, I kept my eye out in the classifieds for a replacement, but nothing was coming up.  The day Dad was leaving to go back to Australia, I called Henrys Outlet Centre and found they had open box NEX 5n's for $105 off new.  I've never seen a NEX 5n on sale before (and I thought they were sold out), so on the way to the airport, we stopped off and picked one up, complete with the kit lens.  I kept the 5n body, and Dad now has a nice NEX 3 with a 18-55mm lens, so it all worked out very nicely.

Sony NEX 5n with Leica Summitar 50mm f2 at f2, ISO 3200

Friday 30 March 2012

Fuji X100 - Ottawa Landscapes


During my recent trip to Ottawa I had the opportunity to walk around the Parliament buildings and shoot.  The X100 is a joy to use in this situation.  The snowy scenes were very slightly under exposed (maybe 1/3 stop), but otherwise the camera was excellent.




I wish I shot this frame about 15 seconds earlier.  It would have bee great to get the lady in the red coat on the right side of the frame.

Wednesday 28 March 2012

Fuji X100 - The benefit of stopping down for close ups


The only time that the 23mm lens on the X100 isn`t razor sharp is at very close focus with a wide open aperture.  Here`s a couple of substantially cropped shots of a rose centre, both shot at ISO 1600.

The first, shot at f2, is noticeably soft, but still quite acceptable.  The second, shot at f8, is razor sharp.  

Fuji X100 - f2, no flash

Fuji X100 - f8 wé flash


For the second shot, I ran out of light at f8 so I had to use the flash.  Very close up the flash doesn`t perform well, cropping the top and bottom of the shot from light.  I suspect that the bottom part of the shot was shaded because of the accessory hood adapter.

Tuesday 27 March 2012

Up in the Attic


Tomorrow I am shooting Romeo Ciolfi's latest play "Up in the Attic".  Most years I shoot the final dress rehearsal for Romeo, but this time is the first without the excellent D700 and 80-200mm f2.8 combination that I have had in the past.

This year I have to make do with the D90 and I am a little worried about light as the D90 is really only OK up to ISO 1600, and from there gets too noisy.  I am not really sure which lens I will use, but I have decided to take the 35mm f2 for general pre-performance portraits, and the Nikkor 85mm f1.8 and 80-200mm f2.8 along for the performance itself.  I suspect that the 80-200mm may be a little long, but I've decided to take it anyway.  The 85mm should be fine, but I won't be able to get close headshots with this lens.

I also taken a weird back up lens - the Nikkor 18-200mm VR.  I can use this lens for pre-performance stage shots at 18mm, and I am somewhat curious to see how it performs during the performance itself.  Sure I won't be able to isolate subjects as well, but VR will be good in low light.

Also in the bag is spare batteries, the SB-800 flash for pre-show portraits and the grip for the D90.  A complicating factor is that I recently injured my shoulder mountain biking, so I am wondering how I will be for shooting, especially with the heavy Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8.

To see "Up in the Attic" see times and location at http://www.studiosperanza.ca/

Here's some shots from "Born for This" from late 2010.







Monday 26 March 2012

Fuji X100 - Black and White



Another interesting film simulation feature is the Yellow and Red filter modes for Black and Whites.  Its a very cool  idea, so I decided to try it out on a trip to the park.  I used standard B&W, then B&W `R``, then B&W `Y `.  Frankly I can`t really tell a lot difference between them, though the sky with `R`is a little darker.  Overall I``m not really sure how useful this will be. 

Sunnybrook Park - Fuji X100 - B&W std

Sunnybrook Park - Fuji X100 - B&W `R`

Sunnybrook Park - Fuji X100 - B&W `Y`