Manual focus lenses - wide is best

The more I review my gear, the more I realize that manual focus telephoto lenses, especially good quality fast aperture ones, are just a waste of time.  It's not due to the optical quality, its due to focusing.  Using something like an 85mm f1.4 or 135mm f2, it is very difficult to get the focus spot on, especially if the object is moving or relatively close.  If it is both, then forget even trying.  If it is difficult to get an in focus shot, no matter how good the optics are, its very difficult to justify owning.

So, just recently I sold my Nikon 85mm f1.4 Ai-S and Nikon 105mm f1.8 Ai-S, and will sell the Nikon 135mm f2 Ai-S shortly.  I've already purchased the Sigma 85mm f1.4 HSM recently to add to the Nikon 80-200mm f2.8 AF-S I already own.  Both these lenses have fast AF, and the chances of missing a shot are much, much lower.  My hit rate (ie perfect focus) is now about 70%, as opposed to 5-10%.

Wide angle lenses are a different kettle of fish.  Even with a fast lens, like the Nikon 24mm f2 Ai-s, it is much harder to miss a shot as the depth of field is much greater. The Nikon 35mm f1.4 Ai-S though, is trickier, and so I have just replaced this the new Sigma 35mm f1.4.

Sigma 85mm f1.4 HSM, Nikon D600

Children of Light

Every year I shoot Romeo Ciolfi's Christmas plays at the full dress rehearsal.  My photos are published on his Studio Sperenza website and also on Facebook, which is great for the actors to show their friends and family their acting parts.

This year I shot "Children of Light" with the Nikon D600 and used the Nikon 80-200mm f2.8 AF-S and  Nikon 50mm f1.4. I also brought along the Nikon SB-800 flash, however problems with the recent battery leakage meant it decided not to work.

Wedding Weekend

Occasionally I get asked to shoot weddings, or parts of weddings.  I don't like being the main photographer, and usually refuse the job, but I am quite happy to do some support work, as is the case this weekend.  My main role is to shoot the groom and his groomsmen getting ready, so mostly indoor work, with possible candid shots later.  I doubt I'll do too much after as my wife will complain she won't have a date at the wedding!

Which brings me to what gear I should use.  I will take the D600, SB800 and a couple lenses; most likely the Nikon 24-85mm f2.8-4, the Nikon 85mm f1.8 and probably the 50mm f1.4.  This should be enough.  I could take the Nikon 80-200mm f2.8, but it is heavy and I don't want to take too much gear.  I might also be feasible to take the Nikon 20mm f4 as it is so small, but we'll see.

It will be fun getting ready with a new camera, and I am looking forward to giving it a go!

The Woodpecker

There's been a woodpecker that's lived close to our house for a while now, and as spring is here, he's out and about, making noise.  It's often hard to see woodpeckers, even if you can hear them, but today I managed to capture him with the D90 and Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8 with a Nikkor TC 20II tele converter.  This shot is going to win exactly no prizes in the next National Geographic competition, but it was good to see him and get a shot in.  This shot is a very serious crop of the original.

While I had the camera out I shot a few other small birds, with similar results.

 It's for these sorts of shots that it is nice to have a long lens around, even if it doesn't get a ton of use.

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday is the most important day of the year in the Christian calendar, and with good reason.  It marks the day around 2000 years ago that a carpenter's son rose from the dead after being executed by the Roman rulers and Jewish establishment 2 days earlier.  In the process he broke down the wall between God and his people, creating a direct, personal relationship with whoever believes.  Unlike in any other religion, Christianity is marked by what God has done for his people, rather than what people did for their God.  

If you are close to a church this Easter Sunday, I'd encourage you to go.