Readers Comment on Zeiss, MPG Pro Laptop, FW800 Card Reader
Gary VZ writes:
The 1/3 stop animations of the Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 lens are extremely interesting and provide wonderful insight into a number of parameters. Thank you for this service. Without going into the details, the message for me is the importance of a fast and extremely high quality lens for highlighting subjects in a variety of photography settings, most notably landscape photography. Yes, this is Photography 101 stuff but, your images speak louder than any number of books and lectures on the subject.
Thank you for your invaluable service to the imaging community,
DIGLLOYD: I’m glad to hear this is helpful— when I first thought of presenting this way, I realized that it showed an entire feel that is hard to capture except by the animation aspect. Also, though I’m well versed in depth of field (see Making Sharp Images), the ability to compare in the way I’ve show is super helpful in understanding why even f/8 is often inadequate. On the flip side, it’s just as valuable in seeing the visual balance of not having too much depth of field.
On a separate issue, I lost my trusted SanDisk FW800 card reader and they don't seem to make them anymore. Do you know a source? I can't see paying $500-700 for a Sonnet. Do you think there is a Thunderbolt card reader on the horizon?
DIGLLOYD: (I recommended buying extras when SanDisk discontinued it a year ago). I Sorry, I don’t know where to get one, and Lexar also discontinued their FW800 reader. As far as Thunderbolt, when low cost Thunderbolt chipsets appear in 2012, then I do expect a new crop of fast digital camera card readers.
I am extremely happy with my 2011 MPG laptop that you specified for me. Wow is it fast. I got a Mercury-Elite-AL Pro Qx2 with 3.0TB Hitachi's. It's set up in RAID5 configuration and I have much greater confidence in the safety and integrity of my images. David at OWC was great to work with.
DIGLLOYD: the MPG Pro Laptop, especially with the 2.3GHz 4-core Intel Core i7, along with appropriate solid state drive(s) and a good backup can serve well as a desktop replacement. I don’t travel much, so I stick with my MPG Pro Workstation.
Saad G from Saudi Arabi writes
You go through so much trouble testing lenses for us so I thought I will give you my feedback since I recently bought this Zeiss 35 f1.4.
If I were to rely on the reviews and opinions expressed on the net I would not have bought this lens. But I decided to go by your observations.
I never had a 35mm lens because I thought it was boring, but this lens gave me the understanding that some lenses you have to examine and enjoy by it's bokeh, color and character. So this lens turned out to be everything you said and a bit more, plus it made me stop that impulse of always examining lenses on an actual pixel basis.
Steven in Holland writes
I've read your article with much pleasure. I am now the owner of a ZF.2 1.4/35MM myself (finally, i must be one of the first in holland. .)
I am surprised to see the differences between f/1.4 and f/1.6. They are a lot different. And as I have to do a wedding soon I am now sure ithat I must use f/5.6 at least to get the happy pair sharp from the top of the nose to the back of the ears!
I myself find the characteristics of 1.4 the most beautiful I have ever seen. Almost a silky sharpness. Also in my own first tries.
DIGLLOYD: Agreed on the rendering! And it’s probably f/8 or f/11 to get that “happy pair” sharp fully.
