Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/06/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]"Zeissler, Mitch" wrote: > > All... > > I recently picked up a used 135 APO and am slowly getting familiar with it. So far I have not had many opportunities for candid portraiture, but have been practicing instead on flora. Below is a link to the best shot I recently took of some irises at a local aquatic plant / pond / koi center: > > http://members.aol.com/zeissler/private/images/images/Scan284a.jpg > Specs for the shot are: M6/135 APO, Portra 400 NC @ EV 220, 1/1000 @ f/5.6 > > I am very pleased with the bokeh and painterly color rendition of this image, as it reminds me of the watercolor images I used to create many years ago and is similar to the imagery I can get with the Noct. > > As far as immediate observations of the 135 APO are concerned, I really like the weight savings it has over the 1974 135 f/2.8 goggled version I'd been using and that it isn't as bulky; not only does my back appreciate it, but I can hold it up for very long periods without my arms tiring. Most of the shots I've taken with it appear to be much cleaner than those I took with the goggled version, as if some lens flare has been removed. I do miss the framing of the goggles, though; even with my M6 0.85 and the 1.25x magnifier. I don't find the half stop difference between the two [f/2.8 vs. f/3.4] to be significant; both are *way* too slow to be used handheld at slow shutter speeds in low light with slow emulsions. The SF20 bounce setup I cobbled together works as well with it as with the goggled version. > > Any comments are appreciated. > > /Mitch HI Mitch! The out of focus yellow stuff in the foreground makes it look like it was shot though a glass window. There is a vertical drip effect on the yellow which adds to that effect. But i like the shot and love the lens which i use myself. Someday I'll be using mine with a dedicated .85 M7 with 1.25 magnifier screwed in the eyepiece from behind. But in the meanwhile I've done OK with just a .72 M6. Mark Rabiner Portland, Oregon USA http://www.markrabiner.com - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html