Camera Lenses, totally off topic.

[xjoex]

This is way off topic. But I know there are a lot of folks who like me enjoy taking pictures/photography. I am not the best, I know there are people who can take iphone pics that will blow my pics away. That said, its a hobby and I like it. So lets move on. I now have a lot of lenses. So as a nerd I wrote some code to look through my "keepers" and tell me which lenses I used.


The panasonic 14mm is easy to explain, I leave it on a small DMC-GM1 for mountain biking.

But then I had a "show" and I chose way fewer pics, I used a different set of lenses.


Clearly I like wide angles. I just picked up the 12-40mm Olympus Pro lens and pretty much have only used it or the 9-18 since.

This brings me to the conclusion I should sell some lenses! Since I got the 75-300, I haven't touched the 40-150; which is still a great light cheap lens. I should figure this out...

Just thinking out loud.

-Joe

PS if you want to use the script I wrote, its on google code: https://code.google.com/p/lensinfo/s...se/lensinfo.py

[robin3mj]

Nice!
I did the same thing with my Canon G10 (focal lengths, not lenses) when I was mulling the move to a interchangeable system.
It was actually very helpful in illuminating my preferences- I am also a wide angle shooter. The majority of my best shots were at 24mm or nearish.

This also gave me comfort in ponying up the cash for a Ricoh which is fixed at 28mm.
Regarding my OMD, all I have is the kit zoom and the Oly 17mm/1.8 and the latter almost never comes off the camera.

Are you still getting any use out of the body cap lens?

[xjoex]

The 17mm f1.8 is a great lens, the 25mm has a similar look to it. I like the "feel" of the pics from both of those lenses.

The 9mm BCL is a fun lens, I used it for a while on the DMC-GM1 because it made such a small little package. But I like the 9-18mm more. I'd make you a sweet deal on the 9mmBCL, need a 40-150 while you are at it? We could bundle it.... It'd be a smoking deal.

-Joe

[MarkC]

Lenses might be like bikes - n+1 goes goofy for a while then you figure out what works. Canon shooter:

24mm and 100mm (macro) primes

24-70 f2.8 L (20% of shots! good indoors)

70-200 f2.8 L (80% of shots taken with this lens; at bike races)

1.4 extender (hardly ever used)

Lack a real telephoto but not needed. If something long is needed we can rent it.

[MarkC]

Joe - to go further off topic, and perhaps attract additional dialog (know we have some photography nuts on VS)....

By "feel" are you describing bokeh?

-Mark

[xjoex]

Joe - to go further off topic, and perhaps attract additional dialog (know we have some photography nuts on VS)....

By "feel" are you describing bokeh?

-Mark

75% Bokeh and 25% intangible stuff...

One lens I was totally surprised with was the 75mm f1.8 (150mm FF equiv). My weakness is the getolympus.com outlet site. The price was too good and I wanted to try it, knowing I could sell it for more later. Well, the lens has a feel/look to it that is just amazing. It is not the best for cycling pics as the focal length is picky with a very shallow depth of field. But I absolutely love it.

Do you have some pics online Mark? I post mine over at Pictures From the Mountains .

Cheers,
-Joe

[MarkC]

We use Smug Mug. By we, I mean my wife. Her hobby. I take a few here and there but primary job is to carry the bag.

JanCurran is the main site. Most galleries are "culled" but because there are a lot of bike races she puts up some "not really keepers" because guys like to see themselves from a race.

Here are a few favorites. I'll link smaller res shots but the originals are pretty nice. Good equipment and all that. Can view the original resolution by selecting from the "sizes" button on SmugMug site.


1) This whole series was a hoot. One of our Goldens playing in a couple feet of new snow. Some very nice shots and dogs are always so happy in the snow.




2) Another dog picture from a beautiful girl we lost to cancer at age six.




3) Park City old town. I think she shot this one from the Gambrel Oaks trail head just off of Deer Valley Drive




4) Probably the nicest "action" photo I've ever taken. One of my wife's teammates at the Philly 2-Day classic in 2009. Jan was racing so I had the camera. Karen was absolutely wiped after her race. I think her eyes are closed as she coasts down. That is an Indy Fab frame set btw.




5) Another one of mine. We were taking pictures of the latest puppy and this praying mantis was hanging out on our back deck.




6) Yosemite is a favorite place. Many of our best pictures predate digital and are on slide film. But Jan shot a whole series of stream shots on the way into the park one day early spring and I often go back to look at them. Water was raging and cold.



7) Last one - Park City Point 2 Point race in 2011. About an hour in. Whole gallery for folks here who might want to look for friends. This type of shot is what she specializes in. For some reason, perhaps being a cyclist herself, she just loves to get that close up, individual photo where you can see the effort on the rider's face.




--Mark

[robin3mj]

The 17mm f1.8 is a great lens, the 25mm has a similar look to it. I like the "feel" of the pics from both of those lenses.

The 9mm BCL is a fun lens, I used it for a while on the DMC-GM1 because it made such a small little package. But I like the 9-18mm more. I'd make you a sweet deal on the 9mmBCL, need a 40-150 while you are at it? We could bundle it.... It'd be a smoking deal.

-Joe

I will kindly have to pass. I had the BCL for awhile, and once I got my Ricoh (and newer iPhone, come to think of it), I stopped using it.
If I stick with m4/3 longterm, I will eventually want to get a fast zoom, but I think that's a decision to be made once the anklebiter starts playing soccer, etc.
For now though, you will have to pry the OMD/17mm/f1.8 combo and Ricoh GR from my cold dead hands.

[j44ke]

Heck you could do a lot with just the 12-40. That's effectively a 24-80, which makes it the standard press photos lens. I think Canon's 24-70mm lens is one of their best sellers and that lens is $2000. So it is a highly usable focal length. Add the 75-300 and a handful of fast primes (the old Leica Triad of 28, 35, & 50) for close work and you're done.

[xjoex]

Great pics Mark!

Matt, I totally understand.

Jorn, I'm a changed man since the 12-40 2.8 zoom. I'm thinking the 25, 75, 60 macro( I like macro), and then then 9-18, 12-40, and 75-300. Sell the rest... Its not a bad problem to have.


Cheers,
-Joe

[AntLockyer]

I've got some nice lenses but I can't remember the last time I used anything on my Canon SLRs other than a 28mm prime. I have 1 lens for my Hasselblad and other than wanting a 40mm for it really can't see me buying anything else.