Sunday, May 25, 2008

Exhibitions

5th of May 2008, exhibition of "..and the eyes said "SEE!"


24th of December 2007, "Ezogelin Soup" Mixed Exhibition

I have attended two exhibitions during the last 5 months. Had a lot of chance to meet new enthusiasts of photo art. I have sold some photos too, imoprtant for me, not for earning my life but as an honour :)
I have a show two weeks ago, at an club in Izmir with 25 spectators. During the 1 hour show, some photo experts made me sweat with their classified questions. It was hard but enertaining for me to reply all and have applause in the ned of the night :)
See you soon with some D300 reviews...


Lens Review - nikon AF nikkor 20mm f/2.8D

nikon nikkor AF 20 mm f/2.8D (1994 Release) FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS

Focal Length : This is a Ultra Wide FX format lens, so you can both use them on typical SLR 35 mm cameras and D-SLRs. But on a D-SLR camera, it will effect like 30mm.
Aperture: f/2.8 . Seven-bladed rounded diaphragm stopping down to f/22
Optics: 12 elements in 9 groups. No ED glass elements or aspherical elements.
Closest Focus: 25 cm(0r 10 inches)
Macro Ratio: 1:8.3
Filter size: 62mm Non-rotating
Accesories: Lens rear/front caps, Barrel shaped, plastic HB-4 Bayonet Lens Hood (optional) . CL-30S Lens case is optional.
Dimensions: 69 mm diameter. Length is 43 mm.
Weight: 270 grams MY REVIEW ABOUT THIS LENS
The Nikkor 20mm f/2.8 is quite sharp but equipped with some flaws. According to IMATEST results, barrel distortion is 2,3% , very high for field conditions. Vignetting is also high at widest aperture, but not field relevant after f/4. MTF Resolution results are excellent starting from f/4. Chromatic Aberrations are field relevant. (limit is 1 pixel, test results are around 2 pixel)

PAY ATTENTION :
- Very high barrel distortion for a fixed focal length lens.
- Very high CA's for a prime lens.
- A good lens in the film era, but not good for D-SLR's

VERDICT : It is not a cheap lens with a lot of flaws. It's compact and lightweight design can be attractive only.. Recommended (7/10)

MY SAMPLE SHOTS :

Lens Review - nikon AF nikkor 35mm f/2.0D

nikon nikkor AF 35 mm f/2.0D (1995 Release) FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS

Focal Length : This is a FX format lens, so you can both use them on typical SLR 35 mm cameras and D-SLRs. But on a D-SLR camera, it will effect like 52,5mm.
Aperture: f/2,0 . Seven-bladed rounded diaphragm stopping down to f/22
Optics: 6 elements in 5 groups. No ED glass elements or aspherical elements.
Closest Focus: 25 cm(0r 10 inches)
Macro Ratio: 1:4.2
Filter size: 52mm Non-rotating
Accesories: Lens rear/front caps, Barrel shaped, screw-in metal HN-3 Bayonet Lens Hood (not incl.) . Lens case is optional.
Dimensions: 65 mm diameter. Length is 45 mm.
Weight: 205 grams

MY REVIEW ABOUT THIS LENS
The Nikkor 35mm f/2.0 is showing excellent sharpness. Build quality is excellent. According to IMATEST results, barrel distortion is only 0,64% , modorate. Vignetting is almost non-exsistant after 2 stop rule. At f/4, vignetting is not negligible. MTF Resolution results are excellent starting from f/2. Chromatic Aberrations are not field relevant. (limit is 1 pixel, test results are 0,4-0,8 pixel) .f/4 is the sweet point of this lens for sure.

35mm f/2.0 is a very good lens for outdoor candids. Unbelievablely light lens to carry, a monster for AF focus speed. Closesest focus length 25cm is good for detail photographers. I f you do not like to carry heavy equipment, this is your lens.

PAY ATTENTION :
- Has one serious and fatal design flaw that Nikon claims to have fixed as of June 2001 . Lenses produced earlier than this date, have lubricant leakage onto the diaphragm blades. Many of these lenses work without any problem with the lubricant on the diaphragm blades, but may be a disaster for detail obsessives like me :)
- Be careful if you are buying a second hand 35mm f/2D. Check the blades carefully.

VERDICT : It is a very cheap and lightweight lens with very good test results.
Highly Recommended (9/10)

MY SAMPLE SHOTS :

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Megapixel Wars

It is still confusing... Is megapixel everything?

Megapixel comes with dpi (dots per inch). Megapixel is an unit to measure how many pixels per width and length is a photograph. It determines print size !!! that's it.
An example: If a photo is 600 by 800 pixels, it is 600x800=480.000 pixels which is called 0,5 megapixel photo. This size photo can not be printed on a 9x13 paper without any magnifiny on the photo which shows corners of pixel dots.

Megapixel does not show the quality or sharpness of a photo. It only shows how big is the picture...

Picture quality depends on processor, sensor, lens...

If you buy a 3 mp compact camera and think that it will shoot better photos then a small fine jpeg shot (appx 2.5 megapixel) of an D200, you are far beyond reality.

Here are some charts to understand better.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Lens Review - nikon AF nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

nikon nikkor AF 50 mm f/1.4D (1995 Release) FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS

Focal Length : This is a FX format lens, so you can both use them on typical SLR 35 mm cameras and D-SLRs. But on a D-SLR camera, it will effect like 75mm.
Aperture: f/1.4 . Seven-bladed diaphragm stopping down to f/16
Optics: 7 elements in 6 groups. No ED glass elements or aspherical elements.
Closest Focus: 45 cm
Macro Ratio: 1:6.8
Filter size: 52mm Non-rotating
Accesories: Lens rear/front caps, HR-2 Lens Hood optional . CL-30S Lens case is optional.
Dimensions: 64.5 mm diameter. Length is 42.5 mm.
Weight: 230 grams

MY REVIEW ABOUT THIS LENS
The Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 has a small barrel distortion of 0,50% , relatively high but nothing to worry in field conditions. Vignetting is very well controlled even at widest aperture setting of f/1.4. At f/2.8, vignetting is negligible. MTF Resolution results are excellent between f/2.8 - f/8. At wide apertures, center resolution id very good, but extreme borders are soft. Chromatic Aberrations are very well controlled. only at f/5.6-8 increases but still not field relevant.

PAY ATTENTION :
- Lens hood is optional.
- Lens has not silent motor, maybe disturbing
- Length change during focusing is annoying
- Corner resolutions are low at widest apertures
VERDICT : It is a lens you must carry in your bag for no light conditions. At least i do so. It has small defects but still an indispensible lens you have to carry in your lowepro. Highly Recommended (9/10)

MY SAMPLE SHOTS :

Friday, February 29, 2008

Lens Review - nikon AF nikkor 85mm f/1.8D


nikon nikkor AF 85 mm f/1.8D (1994 Release) FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS

Focal Length : This is a FX format lens, so you can both use them on typical SLR 35 mm cameras and D-SLRs. But on a D-SLR camera, it will effect like 127,5mm.
Aperture: f/1.8 . Nine-bladed rounded diaphragm stopping down to f/16
Optics: 6 elements in 6 groups. No ED glass elements or aspherical elements.
Closest Focus: 85 cm(0r 12 inches)
Macro Ratio: 1:9.2
Filter size: 62mm Non-rotating, Rear Focusing
Accesories: Lens rear/front caps, Barrel shaped, screw-in metal HN-23 Bayonet Lens Hood . CL-15S Lens case is optional.
Dimensions: 71.5 mm diameter. Length is 58.5 mm.
Weight: 380 grams

MY REVIEW ABOUT THIS LENS
The Nikkor 85mm f/1.8 is extereme sharp with showing NO flaws. Build quality is excellent. Lens glass quality is very high. According to IMATEST results, barrel distortion is only 0,03% , also not negligible in lab conditions. Vignetting is almost non-exsist, even at widest aperture setting of f/1.8. MTF Resolution results are excellent starting from f/1.8. Chromatic Aberrations are not field relevant. (limit is 1 pixel, test results are 0,2 pixel)

85mm f/1.8 is a very good lens for indooe and outdoor portraits. Portrait photographers, this lens is "the lens" you must keep in your backpack.

PAY ATTENTION :
- Screw-in metal lens hood is not so easy to use.

VERDICT : It is a cheap lens with very well build quality, all test result are excellent. It is a flawless lens with lightweight and compact design. Highly Recommended (10/10)

MY SAMPLE SHOTS :

Lens Review - Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G II DX ED

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6G II DX ED(2006 Release) FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS

Focal Length : 18-55mm focal range (3.1x zoom) for use in a popular range of focal length with compact and light weight. (equivalent to a 27-82.5mm lens in the 35mm format)
Aperture: f/3.5 at 18 mm, f/5.6 at 55mm. Seven-bladed rounded diaphragm stopping down f/22 (18 mm) to f/38 (55 mm)
Optics: 7 elements in 5 groups. That includes one ED glass element (shown in yellow) and one aspherical element shown in blue.
Closest Focus: 28 cm(0r 1.0 feet) throughout the entire zoom range.
Macro Ratio: 1:3.2
Filter size: 52mm - rotating
Accesories: Only rear/front lens caps. Barrel-shaped HB-33 Bayonet Lens Hood NOT INCLUDED !!! .
CL-0715 Flexiable Lens pouch NOT INCLUDED !!!
Dimensions: 70.5 mm diameter. 74 mm length.
Weight: 205 grams

MY REVIEW ABOUT THIS LENS
I have tried this lens for a week on my friend's D80 in Taiwan. It came as a kit lens. Frankly speaking, this lens' resolution surprised me during all the short time i use. But, its rotating front unit stuck me to use it with joy.

Wide angle has a lot of barrel distortion. At wide open aperture, this lens has a lot of vignetting and Chromattic Aberrations. But, but, but... This II version of 18-55mm is quite high resolution graphs even at slowest apertures... Very hard to believe !!

I may recommend this lens only for those with very tight budget. But, this lens will answer your resolution needs perfectly if you do not care about barrelling affect and vignetting at slow apertures.

PAY ATTENTION :
- No focus scala. Might be confusing for the ones who are used to or working manual focus usually. At 18mm, there is quite high positive barrel distortion
- This lens' weakest point is this: Resolution loss in the extreme corners at wide apertures. But, the resolution is EXCELLENT at the center.
- Vignetting is seen only at widest apertures at 18mm, rest is very good.
- Chromatic Aberrations are exceeding 1 pixel limit, even 1,5 pixel. Only 55mm end has no problem. Trouble...

VERDICT : If your bugdet is very very tight, this lens will not let you down. But after a while, you will start to feel the need of an upgrade. Mechanical quality is week and too much plastic feels poor. Among the low budget kit lenss, this lens has the highest point by means of price/performance graphics. NOT Recommended (6,5/10)

MY SAMPLE SHOTS :