Gear In Review

2015-03-03 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: Canon, Canon EF, Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L, Fujifilm, Fujifilm XF 56mm, gear, Leica, Leica 75mm, Olympus, Olympus M4/3, Olympus mirrorless, Olympus OM-D E-M5, Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II, Panasonic

I’m heading out in a day or so towards Lone Pine and Death Valley, this time with an eclectic mix of gear:

• Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM. Even though the Canon 5D Mark III is only 23 megapixels, that’s enough to characterize it as a breakthrough, or not.
• Fujifilm X-T1 with Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 and Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 APD. I want to evaluate just how the apodization of the APD variant performs. My intent it to publish a variety of aperture series with both lenses.
• Leica 75mm f/2.4 Summarit-S. This is the revised and just out 75mm “budget” lens from Leica for Leica M. Budget meaning about $2150 ha ha. Does anyone care about this lens? Not sure how much effort it is worth. The silver version is quite handsome and comes with two different lens hoods (small and large).
• Olympus OMD E-M5 II digital camera, the new model with the claimed 40 megapixel resolution derived by shifting its 16MP sensor and combining 8 shifted images for true color. (I’m grumpy that my E-M1 apparently is not going to be upgradeable to support this feature). Megapixels are just numbers; I concern myself with reality, meaning actual detail, not how many dots are produced. Of course, if such a feature works well, I wish to see it appear in a 50MP Sony A9 or similar. Well, back in 2013 I suggested this should be possible with the Pentax K5 IIS (or K3), but AFAIK it has not happened.
• Panasonic Leica 15mm f/1.7 ASPH DG Summilux for Olympus or Panasonic Micro Four Thirds lenses. My original work with it showed a horrific focus shift at close range; this go-round I’ll shoot it at distance and see how well it performs. The 25mm f/1.4 Summilux is terrific, and the 42.5mm Nocticron is the best MFT lens out there in my view.

In addition, I am taking my three Sigma DP Merill cameras along with a Really Right Stuff pano bracket, with the intent of doing a few ultra-high resolution stitched images. I have a few suitable subjects in mind. I love the way the Sigmas record texture and grit and the real feel, real deal of natural subjects.

It’s not too late to schedule a photo tour with me sometime in the March 8-12 range.