stevesurf

Hi folks, is this the lens that some of you are using on the X series?
 
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1080298-REG/rokinon_rk8ms_fx_8mm_f2_8_2_fisheye.html
 

Nice.
 
Coming from an M9, I will say that the Leica "doesn't" really have a menu as it is so simple. So, the XPro menu system would seem "overwhelming", yes.

This is actually what I like about Ken Rockwell - I know it's crazy, but I really like that he has very high expectations for manufacturers in future iterations of their cameras - to keep pace.  This is why, a great deal, he says to stick with what you have, unless certain things really attract you.
 
That said, I love my XPro2, together with both Leica and Fuji glass.  I just simply find Leica cameras simpler, but not necessarily more capable.
 
 
M9, M8, MM, 50 Lux 1.4, 35 Lux 1.4, 16-18-21 Tri Elmar

This is actually what I like about Ken Rockwell - I know it's crazy, but I really like that he has very high expectations for manufacturers in future iterations of their cameras - to keep pace.  This is why, a great deal, he says to stick with what you have, unless certain things really attract you.
 
That said, I love my XPro2, together with both Leica and Fuji glass.  I just simply find Leica cameras simpler, but not necessarily more capable.
 
 
M9, M8, MM, 50 Lux 1.4, 35 Lux 1.4, 16-18-21 Tri Elmar

***** Open Thread ****
 
feel free to add any fisheye images taken with Fujifilm cameras.
 
lens: Rokinon/Samyang/Bower 8mm Fisheye













 

Not my first fisheye, so I think it will continue getting considerable use. The reason, is that I am not using it to shoot typical "fisheye" shots, but much more as a superwide or panoramic lens that has curvature which I don't emphasize. I have tested it using the X-Pro1's sweep panorama, and stitching worked! I have also tested stitching in the new version of Adobe Camera RAW with dramatic results.

I find it does very nice interiors with all four walls, when shooting from a corner. Landscapes are quite dramatic as well. Photoshop CC has tools that can pretty much straighten everything, but for the most part, I don't bother.

That lens woks great on portraits. There are many versions of it and much variation from copy to copy. I am sorry to hear that you weren’t happy about yours Johan. I was just lucky with this, a lens with no coating and riddled with some  little transparent impurities on the lens rear elements which might be droplets of something or even minuscule specs of glass dust, they are translucent.
 
So much for “ clean" lenses!
 
The depth of field is not only shallow at a relatively open aperture ( and much more completely open), but  as you will see it is very sharp at 2.8... but only where it was focussed ( eyebrows and eyes) but tip of the nose and ears are out of focus.
 
As for price, yes, it is true that some lenses which you can use on mirrorless cameras ( such as the Olympus) are very expensive now while a few years ago you couldn’t give them away, but there are still many street markets and charity shops where you can luck out, yet, especially in central and East-Europe there were truck loads of these more humble lenses, although they have their own rarities as well, but I am not a collector, and some people kept them well and used them until not so long ago on analog cameras, instead of having been chucked out as many did in the West.
 
So, yes, all manner of “ zebra” lenses are NOW sold at relatively high prices ( always lower than a new lens) simply because they are old and look the retro part and you get the paradox of people shooting with the latest technology in “ film” ( camera bodies are in fat the film you shoot with)  and the oldest one in glass.
 
So people argue the maximum result obtainable from a raw converter and then use the camera with one of these lenses. But that is another thread altogether.
 
I am not proposing to use these lenses for everyday photography, although yesterday, I took a portrait of my father in law and just before he was just sitting with my wife talking about  his administration that my wife helps him with and I quickly shot a picture of them two together which was very nice indeed.
 
By the way the adapter that I’ve used in this case is a “ dumb” adapter ( one that doesn’t do anything els than adapting bayonet with the M42 thread of the lens) by K&F. So the  full frame focal length equivalent of a 50mm is 80mm, which makes the humble 50mm one of the ideal focal lengths for a portrait although for some reason now people have taken to shoot portraits with much longer lenses.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Personally, I really like the Super Takumar 105mm F2.8 with a focal reducer, it really gives a smooth bokeh in my book.
 
This exemple is about as unprocess as it can be:
 
Super Takumar 105 F2.8

It's pretty amazing how consistent Fuji is; one of the things I really like about Leica as well.

So far its great!  
 
Looks good with my old X10
 
G

In the last few days some members have been showing their enthusiasm for their new bokeh monsters which they bought, and why not?
 
After all we are all proud of our purchases and there’s nothing wrong in showing them off on this forum, it’s one innocent pleasure we all take next to our hobby or professional interest.
 
I did wonder though if I would ever find any reason, in my heart and or pocket, to buy a very expensive new lens in order to get the creamy “ bokeh” which all manner of people talk about these days.
 
Of course buying a lens that has an incredibly open aperture value could be done in order to shoot things at the limit of visibility because of incredibly low level of light, but, given the incredible performance at high ISO of modern camera I rather doubt that that is necessary, so one buys these lenses for the effect they give, which isolate the subject for the background.
 
So I shot a picture of two with my cheap ( and I really mean cheap charity shop prices category! ) Göerz Meyer Orestor f 1.8 ( at 2.8) with the K&F adapter.
 
Yes it is an old lens, and yes it doesn’t have the same feel of a modern lens but it ain’t half bad!
 
Given the results I am rather happy with this bokeh