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kds315*
Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 16497 Location: Weinheim, Germany
Expire: 2021-03-09
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 1:35 pm Post subject: Mike's Seven Laws of Lenses... |
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kds315* wrote:
First Never sell a good lens.
Second When evaluating lenses, look at the pictures, not at the lens.
The Leica Lens Designer's Precept (apocryphal): The only way to test a lens is to use it for a year. Everything else is a shortcut.
Third You can make successful photographs with any lens, no matter how bad.
...And The corollary to the Third Law: You can make terrible photographs with any lens, no matter how good.
Fourth You get no extra credit for using a technically excellent lens.
Ctein's Axiom: If you can't see it, it doesn't count.
Fifth You can never spend too much money on a lens.
Corollary to the Fifth Law: If a lens works for you, it doesn't matter how little you spent for it or how little it might be esteemed by others, it's still the right lens.
Sixth The proper number of lenses to own is the intersection between the sets "all the lenses you need" and "the lowest possible number."
(Another way to say this is "enough but no more.")
Seventh All lenses give their gifts.
((from MIKE JOHNSON's Blog)) _________________ Klaus - Admin
"S'il vient a point, me souviendra" [Thomas Bohier (1460-1523)]
http://www.macrolenses.de for macro and special lens info
http://www.pbase.com/kds315/uv_photos for UV Images and lens/filter info
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kds315/albums my albums using various lenses
http://photographyoftheinvisibleworld.blogspot.com/ my UV BLOG
http://www.travelmeetsfood.com/blog Food + Travel BLOG
https://galeriafotografia.com Architecture + Drone photography
Currently most FAV lens(es):
X80QF f3.2/80mm
Hypergon f11/26mm
ELCAN UV f5.6/52mm
Zeiss UV-Planar f4/60mm
Zeiss UV-Planar f2/62mm
Lomo Уфар-12 f2.5/41mm
Lomo Зуфар-2 f4.0/350mm
Lomo ZIKAR-1A f1.2/100mm
Nikon UV Nikkor f4.5/105mm
Zeiss UV-Sonnar f4.3/105mm
CERCO UV-VIS-NIR f1.8/45mm
CERCO UV-VIS-NIR f4.1/94mm
CERCO UV-VIS-NIR f2.8/100mm
Steinheil Quarzobjektiv f1.8/50mm
Pentax Quartz Takumar f3.5/85mm
Carl Zeiss Jena UV-Objektiv f4/60mm
NYE OPTICAL Lyman-Alpha II f1.1/90mm
NYE OPTICAL Lyman-Alpha I f2.8/200mm
COASTAL OPTICS f4/60mm UV-VIS-IR Apo
COASTAL OPTICS f4.5/105mm UV-Micro-Apo
Pentax Ultra-Achromatic Takumar f4.5/85mm
Pentax Ultra-Achromatic Takumar f5.6/300mm
Rodenstock UV-Rodagon f5.6/60mm + 105mm + 150mm
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pdccameras
Joined: 23 Aug 2009 Posts: 826 Location: Putnam, CT
Expire: 2014-08-11
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 1:50 pm Post subject: |
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pdccameras wrote:
Well said!!!
And if it's not too presumptuous, may I add to this venerable list a slightly paraphrased version of the oft repeated McKeown's Law:
"The price of an antique camera (or lens) is entirely dependent upon the moods of the buyer and seller at the time of the transaction. "--James McKeown
All the best,
Paul _________________ Canon 5D Mii, Canon 40D, Canon 350D IR, Sony A7 Mii, Sony Alpha-6000, a ton of lenses: AF & MF and too many cameras to count, all formats: 110 - 4x5. |
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kiddo
Joined: 29 Jun 2018 Posts: 1101
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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kiddo wrote:
Well, i can assure you all that 'till now , i've only followed the first and the last rule.....what's next? |
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wolan
Joined: 30 Jun 2015 Posts: 576 Location: Zurich
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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wolan wrote:
_________________ https://www.flickr.com/photos/149089857@N03/ |
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fiftyonepointsix
Joined: 30 Apr 2017 Posts: 292
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 7:21 pm Post subject: |
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fiftyonepointsix wrote:
My Wife's advice-
If you like it, Don't sell it.
If you use it, Don't sell it.
If you do not like it, and you do not use it, then sell it.
I have way too many lenses that I like, using them all is no easy task. Last weekend was sent rebuilding a J-3 mount to house a 1953 KMZ J-3. This weekend- Canon 100/3.5 LTM that needed the element behind the aperture replaced.
Brian |
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Lightshow
Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3669 Location: Calgary
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 5:13 am Post subject: |
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Lightshow wrote:
Another rule: If a known good performing lens doesn't perform well on your current digital body, don't sell it to find another because you will likely be upgrading your body in 2-4 years and may regret selling that lens. Hopefully this happens less and less as sensors become better and better.
It's surprising how many of those rules ring true. _________________ A Manual Focus Junky...
One photographers junk lens is an artists favorite tool.
My lens list
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lightshow-photography/ |
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DConvert
Joined: 12 Jun 2010 Posts: 901 Location: Essex UK
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 10:21 am Post subject: Re: Mike's Seven Laws of Lenses... |
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DConvert wrote:
kds315* wrote: |
First Never sell a good lens.
Second When evaluating lenses, look at the pictures, not at the lens.
The Leica Lens Designer's Precept (apocryphal): The only way to test a lens is to use it for a year. Everything else is a shortcut.
Third You can make successful photographs with any lens, no matter how bad.
...And The corollary to the Third Law: You can make terrible photographs with any lens, no matter how good.
Fourth You get no extra credit for using a technically excellent lens.
Ctein's Axiom: If you can't see it, it doesn't count.
Fifth You can never spend too much money on a lens.
Corollary to the Fifth Law: If a lens works for you, it doesn't matter how little you spent for it or how little it might be esteemed by others, it's still the right lens.
Sixth The proper number of lenses to own is the intersection between the sets "all the lenses you need" and "the lowest possible number."
(Another way to say this is "enough but no more.")
Seventh All lenses give their gifts.
((from MIKE JOHNSON's Blog)) |
Having to live within a budget, (i.e. not having endless money) I have to disagree with the fifth. It's rather easy to spend too much money on a lens! I do however very much agree with the corollary, and agree, yes there may be times when spending a considerable amount on a lens is worthwhile, even if I'm not going to spend over a thousand on any.
The second & seventh are my reasons for not complying with the sixth. More than enough is needed to find out which are the right ones. This will take several lifetimes to home in on. I freely admit I should sell some of those I don't feel suit my styles and a few of the duplicates too. |
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D1N0
Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 2483
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 10:54 am Post subject: |
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D1N0 wrote:
Always buy zooms because you get more glass for less money. _________________ pentaxian |
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Pancolart
Joined: 04 Feb 2008 Posts: 3693 Location: Slovenia, EU
Expire: 2013-11-18
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 11:12 am Post subject: |
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Pancolart wrote:
There is an unwritten rule everybody follows but none would dare say: buy cheap, sell expensive. _________________ ---------------------------------
The Peculiar Apparatus Of Victorian Steampunk Photography: 100+ Genuine Steampunk Camera Designs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B92829NS |
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Gerald
Joined: 25 Mar 2014 Posts: 1196 Location: Brazil
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 12:00 pm Post subject: |
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Gerald wrote:
I would add the following "law":
"No matter how many lenses you have, each picture is taken with just ONE lens."
Corollary: "The more lenses you have, the less you use each one on average." _________________ If raindrops were perfect lenses, the rainbow did not exist. |
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D1N0
Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 2483
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 12:52 pm Post subject: |
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D1N0 wrote:
Gerald wrote: |
I would add the following "law":
"No matter how many lenses you have, each picture is taken with just ONE lens."
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Unless you use a lens for a macro reverse shot on the one attached to the body. _________________ pentaxian |
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luisalegria
Joined: 07 Mar 2008 Posts: 6627 Location: San Francisco, USA
Expire: 2018-01-18
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 1:24 pm Post subject: |
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luisalegria wrote:
I like #2, 3 and 4.
You can make good use of any lens.
The difficulties in making pictures are many, and lenses, no matter how good, help with few of them.
Personally, I need time much more than I need lenses. Its easy to order a lens, and get it in your hand at night, to fiddle with, but far more difficult to get a few hours in decent light around interesting subjects. _________________ I like Pentax DSLR's, Exaktas, M42 bodies of all kinds, strange and cheap Japanese lenses, and am dabbling in medium format/Speed Graphic work. |
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kiddo
Joined: 29 Jun 2018 Posts: 1101
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 2:15 pm Post subject: |
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kiddo wrote:
May i add that, it isn't easy job finding a very good lens for cheap nowadays.....and if there is one announced,there are many buyers behind it. Of course,the secret would be to buy cheap, and in case one doesn't like it,sell it quickly and trying not to loose money (cannot say the same thing with the AF lenses, most of the times, it's about loosing money,as there are so many deals that are braking any rules of market). |
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jamaeolus
Joined: 19 Mar 2014 Posts: 2913 Location: Eugene
Expire: 2015-08-20
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 7:09 pm Post subject: |
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jamaeolus wrote:
I'm pretty sure rule six should be "One more than is currently in your collection...." _________________ photos are moments frozen in time |
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kiddo
Joined: 29 Jun 2018 Posts: 1101
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 9:47 pm Post subject: |
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kiddo wrote:
Rule of the day :" next lens is gonna be my last one" |
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Lloydy
Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 7776 Location: Ironbridge. UK.
Expire: 2022-01-01
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2019 10:56 am Post subject: |
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Lloydy wrote:
luisalegria wrote: |
I like #2, 3 and 4.
You can make good use of any lens.
The difficulties in making pictures are many, and lenses, no matter how good, help with few of them.
Personally, I need time much more than I need lenses. Its easy to order a lens, and get it in your hand at night, to fiddle with, but far more difficult to get a few hours in decent light around interesting subjects. |
You speak the truth Luis, I have lenses that have sat in storage for years that I've used once to 'test' in the graveyard behind our house and thought "that's OK, I'll give that a serious workout" - then I forget about it. _________________ LENSES & CAMERAS FOR SALE.....
I have loads of stuff that I have to get rid of, if you see me commenting about something I have got and you want one, ask me.
My Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/mudplugga/
My ipernity -
http://www.ipernity.com/home/294337 |
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spleenone
Joined: 26 Dec 2009 Posts: 1130 Location: Slovakia
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2019 12:05 pm Post subject: |
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spleenone wrote:
Happened to me more than once: I only buy it and try then sell it. At last kept it due it was more than good. _________________ Shoot on analog mainly with
Nikkor glass
then Pentacon6TL for squares
and Fujica GL690 in case of 6x9
Carpe diem! |
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e6filmuser
Joined: 12 Nov 2010 Posts: 489 Location: Reading UK
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Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2019 12:56 pm Post subject: |
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e6filmuser wrote:
Gerald wrote: |
Corollary: "The more lenses you have, the less you use each one on average." |
The story of my life. I have several I have yet to use. _________________ Dedicated to using manual focus lenses with digital. Equiped for photography from macro to panoramic & from ultra-wide to extreme telephoto. Mostly shooting outdoor macro. Experienced entomological taxonomist. |
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e6filmuser
Joined: 12 Nov 2010 Posts: 489 Location: Reading UK
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Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2019 1:00 pm Post subject: Re: Mike's Seven Laws of Lenses... |
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e6filmuser wrote:
kds315* wrote: |
Corollary to the Fifth Law: If a lens works for you, it doesn't matter how little you spent for it or how little it might be esteemed by others, it's still the right lens. |
Similar:
If your subject is transient, the lens on the camera is usually the best one. _________________ Dedicated to using manual focus lenses with digital. Equiped for photography from macro to panoramic & from ultra-wide to extreme telephoto. Mostly shooting outdoor macro. Experienced entomological taxonomist. |
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KEO
Joined: 27 Sep 2018 Posts: 756 Location: USA
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Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:25 pm Post subject: |
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KEO wrote:
At the end of 2018 I imposed a moratorium on me buying lenses. Even though each lens teaches me a little more, and all of them are valuable, I had to ask myself whether or not I needed any more to take the pictures I want to take, and the answer was definitely not. That's going to be my litmus test in the future. I may buy more lenses again, but they're going to be lenses I buy with a specific purpose in mind, or lenses that fill specific gaps in my arsenal. |
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kiddo
Joined: 29 Jun 2018 Posts: 1101
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Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2019 10:49 pm Post subject: |
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kiddo wrote:
KEO wrote: |
At the end of 2018 I imposed a moratorium on me buying lenses. Even though each lens teaches me a little more, and all of them are valuable, I had to ask myself whether or not I needed any more to take the pictures I want to take, and the answer was definitely not. That's going to be my litmus test in the future. I may buy more lenses again, but they're going to be lenses I buy with a specific purpose in mind, or lenses that fill specific gaps in my arsenal. |
Would you miss buying a very good lens you always like it for very cheap? Even if you don't particularly need it? That's the question, as i believe very good lenses for less money are3 not to common...so ,who's the one that would skip the oportunity? |
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Sjak
Joined: 29 Sep 2017 Posts: 696
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Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2019 11:36 pm Post subject: |
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Sjak wrote:
KEO wrote: |
At the end of 2018 I imposed a moratorium on me buying lenses. Even though each lens teaches me a little more, and all of them are valuable, I had to ask myself whether or not I needed any more to take the pictures I want to take, and the answer was definitely not. That's going to be my litmus test in the future. I may buy more lenses again, but they're going to be lenses I buy with a specific purpose in mind, or lenses that fill specific gaps in my arsenal. |
I also have a purchase-stop now. The last few lenses were bought with a specific purpose (gathering a small range of soviet K-mount glass)
Now saving money for some trips to put some of the lenses to work
kiddo wrote: |
Would you miss buying a very good lens you always like it for very cheap? Even if you don't particularly need it? That's the question, as i believe very good lenses for less money are3 not to common...so ,who's the one that would skip the oportunity? |
Spending a little on each perceived opportunity can still cost a lot in the long run. |
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KEO
Joined: 27 Sep 2018 Posts: 756 Location: USA
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Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2019 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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KEO wrote:
Sjak wrote: |
KEO wrote: |
At the end of 2018 I imposed a moratorium on me buying lenses. Even though each lens teaches me a little more, and all of them are valuable, I had to ask myself whether or not I needed any more to take the pictures I want to take, and the answer was definitely not. That's going to be my litmus test in the future. I may buy more lenses again, but they're going to be lenses I buy with a specific purpose in mind, or lenses that fill specific gaps in my arsenal. |
I also have a purchase-stop now. The last few lenses were bought with a specific purpose (gathering a small range of soviet K-mount glass)
Now saving money for some trips to put some of the lenses to work
kiddo wrote: |
Would you miss buying a very good lens you always like it for very cheap? Even if you don't particularly need it? That's the question, as i believe very good lenses for less money are3 not to common...so ,who's the one that would skip the oportunity? |
Spending a little on each perceived opportunity can still cost a lot in the long run. |
Oh, if I found a great deal on a lens I really wanted, I would still buy it of course (I don't mind spending money on good ones that will hold their value or even appreciate). I'm just not out actively seeking more lenses at the moment.
At some point time spent collecting and testing more lenses detracts from time spent using the lenses you already have to create the kind of images you want. I already have around 70 lenses; accumulating more isn't going to help me achieve my goals.
Right now I'm more concerned about figuring out lighting techniques and some other tricks to make the kind of art I have in mind.
That doesn't mean I don't love getting new lenses. I know how enjoyable it can be get a new one and try it out (and maybe take it apart and clean it). |
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Sjak
Joined: 29 Sep 2017 Posts: 696
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Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2019 9:46 pm Post subject: |
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Sjak wrote:
KEO wrote: |
At some point time spent collecting and testing more lenses detracts from time spent using the lenses you already have to create the kind of images you want. I already have around 70 lenses; accumulating more isn't going to help me achieve my goals.
Right now I'm more concerned about figuring out lighting techniques and some other tricks to make the kind of art I have in mind.
That doesn't mean I don't love getting new lenses. I know how enjoyable it can be get a new one and try it out (and maybe take it apart and clean it). |
For me, collecting lenses and camera's is mostly unrelated to my photography. Probably at least 75% of all my pictures from the past 6 month were taken with 1 lens (Jupiter-3) / 1 camera (M Monochrom) |
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KEO
Joined: 27 Sep 2018 Posts: 756 Location: USA
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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2019 9:39 pm Post subject: |
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KEO wrote:
Sjak wrote: |
KEO wrote: |
At some point time spent collecting and testing more lenses detracts from time spent using the lenses you already have to create the kind of images you want. I already have around 70 lenses; accumulating more isn't going to help me achieve my goals.
Right now I'm more concerned about figuring out lighting techniques and some other tricks to make the kind of art I have in mind.
That doesn't mean I don't love getting new lenses. I know how enjoyable it can be get a new one and try it out (and maybe take it apart and clean it). |
For me, collecting lenses and camera's is mostly unrelated to my photography. Probably at least 75% of all my pictures from the past 6 month were taken with 1 lens (Jupiter-3) / 1 camera (M Monochrom) |
I can understand that. I don't consider myself a collector of lenses. I'm a user and learner. I shoot with a different lens every time I go out and compare the results.
I'd love to get a dedicated monochrome digital camera one day. Seems like a great idea for a product. |
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