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

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.

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.

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.

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`