Flowers 2014

[Birma]

Nice shots of the visitors, Viewfinder

[sury]

Thank you Andy. Nice visitors you have there Ray. Nice capture too.

Sury

[Birma]

Flowers in the hedgerow. Hawthorn blossom, also known as May Blossom. It has been really spectacular this year.


2014 Boynes - May Blossom by Birm, on Flickr

A99 and 135 STF

[sury]

Andy,
I don't know what is more delightful, the flowers or the bokeh...

Sury

[Birma]

Thanks Sury

[mvanrheenen]

That STF has such yummie bokeh... that would be so sweet a lens. Unfortunately I won't use it enough. The missus has the Olympus Zuiko 50 f/2 Macro which is a stunning lens with beautiful bokeh too, but isn't mountable on A-mount without a glassless adapter

[sury]

Mark,
I thought you have a Nex too? I know Andy is killing me with that 135.
I have 24f2 that I have not used much. May be I should trade that with
delta $ for a 135.

Sury

[mvanrheenen]

Had is the apropriate word sury. I traded my Nex3 and lenses for a RX100 when it was brand spanking new in Europe. Still find it a good trade.

I feel the same about the STF, that's a real creammachine and a big wannahave for me. Well, the 500 f/4 is the biggest wannahave, but that's a bit more expensive

Mark

[Birma]

Funnily enough, I haven't tried the STF on my Nex 6 yet. Perhaps something to try over the long weekend here.

It does have some disappointing aspects for such an expensive lens. The hood does not fit easily or smoothly and the focus ring is only ok; not as good/ smooth as those on my old MD lenses. However, when I look at the images on my monitor then I forgive it everything .

[sury]

Yeah, sure. Rub it in, Andy.

[mvanrheenen]

sury

It's weird for a manual focus lens to have been designed with an awkward focus ring.

[sury]

Thank you Mark. Now I know why I did not buy that lens. It is that focus ring thingy.
Still
Given that lens being relatively slow at f4.5 and its strength being bokeh, is that a
"limited" use lens? In the sense that you would need good light due to speed, and to
get that kind of bokeh you are either taking close ups or portraits. Right?

Sury

[Birma]

Hi Sury, I suppose any telephoto prime is limited to a degree. The lack of AF may put some off. However if you like portraits and flowers shots then it is perfect .

Here are a couple if flower shots with the 70-400 instead. More wild flowers from the meadow.


2014 Boynes - Purple and Yellow by Birm, on Flickr


2014 Boynes - Buttercups 1 by Birm, on Flickr

A99 and 70-400 mk 1

[sury]

Andy,
It is amazing how beautifully you capture those meadows.
MF is not an issue for me. I have equal number of MD/M42 lenses to be turned off by
MF. My question was more about the "typical" shooting scenarios. That 70-400 is a beautry
too. Given your switch between a Zeiss 135 and a G70-400, I could not bring myself to say
it is the photographer not the camera/lenses per se. Just kidding.

Sury

[sury]

Here is one with 70-400G inspired by Andy's latest landscape image. Probably a crop on right
might help. Just wondering.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/eubgvK]