M3 and X100 side by side

Many people talk about the classic lines of the Fuji X100, and often have been asked about the 'film' camera I was using, so I decided to put it side by side to the Leica M3 for a visual comparison.  What struck me was how similar the details are, as follows:

1) Knurled dials

2) Vulcanite finish

3) Very similar looking optical viewfinders

4) Lever controls on the front of the camera, with arrows showing direction of operation

5) Same standard hot shoe (M3 is actually a cold shoe)

6) Silver paint top and bottom plates

7) Manufacturer label on the top plate

8) Silver lenses with knurled focus and aperture rings (though reversed - Leica has aperture at the front)

9) Same style shutter release with screw in remote cable release capability

The differences are few.  The Leica has more lever controls on the front, while the Fuji has a flash, and a modern button and switch visible.  

No wonder only trainspotters notice that the Fuji X100 is a digital camera.

PS:  The Leica is on the left...

Nikon D7000 Back Focusing Issue

A few days ago I sold a guy a tele-converter I had, and after the transaction was completed we chatted for a while.  He was telling me that the Nikon D7000 he had caused him all sorts of consternation with back focusing issues - ie the camera would tell the lens to focus behind the subject that the focus point is on.  He eventually had to take it back to Nikon for a major warranty repair.

Quite coincidentally, that night some friends had asked us over for dinner.  They had just bought their daughter a new D7000, and on close inspection, few shots were critically in focus.  Remembering what the guy I had met earlier that day had said, I did an experiment between my D600 (which I had brought along) with the Sigma 35mm f1.4 at f1.4, and then swapped the lens over to the D7000.  The D7000 focus was way out.  In the crop of the shot below of the text on the wine bottle, it was completely unreadable on the D7000.  

Nikon D600 with Sigma 35mm f1.4 @ 1.4

We then looked on the internet and found all sorts of articles on this issue.  I then suggested that they take the camera back to where they bought it and request it be fixed under warranty.  It was good to be able to diagnose this problem for them as they were wondering what was happening.

Dodge and Burn for Summer

Through the website "Phoblographer" I stumbled across a company called Dodge and Burn that makes T-shirts with classic camera prints.  There's a variety available, including a Canon 7 with the amazing Canon 50mm f0.95, a Rolleiflex, a Leica M3, a Hasselblad SWC and a Nikon F.  My favorite is the Leica IIIc and the Nikon SP rangefinder.

Seems to me that these would make a great gift for the Photog from the long suffering significant other when a Leica Noctilux M gets struck off the Christmas list.

Take a look at their site here.

Nikon D2X and Tamron 90mm f2.8 macro

Sony NEX wide angle - Sigma 19mm f2.8 vs Voigtlander 21mm f4

A few weeks ago I snow shoe'd through the Serena Gundy Park and took both the Sony NEX 5n with the Sigma 19mm f2.8 and the Leica CL with the Voigtlander 21mm f4.  I decided to bring along my Leica M to NEX adapter and do a quick test on the  to see if I could see any difference between the two lenses.  I reasoned that I should use f5.6 on both lenses, as it was not the maximum aperture for both lenses, where performance would be weakest.

Just off centre, where I took these crops, the performance of both lenses at f5.6 is outstanding, easily out resolving the 16MP Sony sensor.  No difference, from what I can see.  A quick check of the outer areas of the photo also revealed no discernible difference.

Which leaves me with one conclusion, for $100, the Sigma 19mm f2.8 is a damn fine lens.

CROP - Sigma 19mm f2.8

Sigma 19mm f2.8

CROP - Voigtlander 21mm f4

Voigtlander 21mm f4

DX lenses on Full Frame

Pardon my "against the grain" theory, but I have this feeling that a DX lens could be used very successfully on full frame, providing you don't mind a bit of cropping.  As DX lenses heavily vignette on Full Frame, the photographer must then work around this.  Therefore a square or panoramic frame could work well.  Even using a program to correct vignetting that isn't totally lost, is useful.

On full frame, DX lenses operate like full frame lenses in terms of depth of field as the sensor determines this.  Just that they heavily vignette.  My theory is that a great DX lens can shoot outstanding photos on full frame, with just a bit of cropping.

I am thinking of purchasing either a Nikon 35mm f1.8 or a Sigma 30mm f1.4 to try this out.  Full frame lenses in this focal range are expensive, but I am wondering, if you are prepared to crop, will these lenses give you great performance as well.  A theory to be tested soon.

Nikon D2X, Tamron 90mm f2.8 macro