The cure for the common cold. Go out for a walk.

 

Housekeeping first. Several kind people stepped in and attempted to "help" me with my conundrum regarding whether or not to purchase a Fuji 110mm f2.0 lens. To a person they strongly suggested that I do so right away. One reasoned that by not doing so immediately I might be placing the holiday season happiness in peril for my readers. Because of "bitching and moaning." Another suggested/demanded that I go immediately to B&H Photo where the lens is currently available new for about $500 off its usual price. Mostly because it's on sale. A third suggested that I trade in Leicas to buy the lens. 

By the time I read through the offline emails and the helpful suggestions in the comments I realized that I should never again discuss any camera gear that I might want in the future or might be considering more immediately. Never. Not again. 

I think I should get credit for not subjecting my readers to the three month long loan of a Leica S2 and a couple of lenses which I liked but not enough. I sure gave that system a run through though. And I think I've saved these folks a lot of time and rending of cloaks by not discussing various dalliances with other brands of cameras I've played with and ultimately resisted. 

In the future, I think it would only be fair if the impassioned amongst us, the people who are fervent about me acquiring a certain lens or body "right now!" would step up and gift me that particular lens. If my reticence to buy yet another lens is so disturbing it would seem a good way to assuage their obvious angst over my buying decisions. After all, a shiny, new medium format lens is probably only equal to a weekend's sales royalties to a famous writer. Only a small part of a paycheck for a keen executive. Just a drop in the bucket for several of the hedge fund managers that I am certain lurk in the shadows of VSL.

And by "gift me" I mean you should purchase the lens and have it sent directly to me. But please don't expect at any point that the object of desire will be returned to you. That's not how it works.

Just to get this new idea; this new process rolling I'll say right now that I am in love with the idea of owning and using a Leica SL 75mm APO Summicron. I'll make it even easier, here's a link for a vendor with one in stock: https://leicastoremiami.com/collections/sl-system-lenses/products/leica-apo-summicron-sl-75mm-f-2-asph?variant=6069837496358 Now, if you send me this lens in the next few days, new in a box, I'll know you've stepped up and become a serious "patron" and that your "love for photography" is genuine. But if you decide that you don't want to play it my way you can always stick it to me by deciding to choose your own damn lens to send to me. Instead of the one I am begging for. Right? (and yes, I know good writers hate it when we hacks use "Right?" as a gimmick... ditto ellipses. And probably italics as well). Yes, you could decide you know best and send along a lens I didn't ask for or write about. Such as the Leica 90mm APO Summicron SL. Just to be kind, in return, I'll include a vendor link for that one as well: https://leicastoremiami.com/collections/sl-system-lenses/products/leica-apo-summicron-sl-90mm-f-2-asph?variant=6069837725734

I think it's only fair to start begging for stuff in return for the amazing and insightful stuff we've been posting here since the early 2009s. Why the research for nearly 6,000 meaty articles alone is breathtaking. And, as a bonus, you get to see fresh mannequin portraits nearly every darn week. It's not like I'm begging for cash. As an additional bonus I promise to post comments without delay! Try to find that on any other photo blog!!!

So, if you think we'd all be better off if Kirk has his crusty mitts on some chouette (https://lingopie.com/blog/15-french-slang-words-and-phrases-you-need-to-know/#:~:text=Chouette%20(great%2C%20nice%2C%20cool,My%20teacher%20is%20cool.) lens that's a "must review" I'm encouraging you to buy one and send it along. I'll take good care of it. 

But it's only fair to let you know that having been pushed, a bit rudely, it'll now be a cold day in hell before I part with my own tightly held cash and buy that Fuji 110mm. Oh look! Here's one: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1333203-REG/fujifilm_600018568_gf_110mm_f_2_r.html

Knock yourselves out. 

Well. That's it for the holiday housekeeping. 

So, I went to swim practice on Saturday morning feeling great. I went with B. to lunch on Saturday feeling pretty good. But by evening I had a drip down my throat and felt a bit...puny. When I woke up on Sunday morning it was evident that I have become the victim of the "common cold." One of mans' most popular viruses. I spent the day (ill advised!) reading Clive Cussler's novel, Black Wind, which locked me into my favorite reading chair, trying to get through 522 pages before a late dinner. Not a bad book. But when you have a cold you tend to be...picky. 

I was reading one of Mark Greany's Gray Man Series novels later that night and was struck by the idea that even the most popular of writers could use a bit more research. Seems his hero is using electro magnetic limpit mines to blow up yachts. But he is doing so by attaching the mines under the water line using the electro magnetic powers of the mines to attach to the aluminum hulls. Yes, he makes a point of describing the attachment points as "aluminum hulls." That's when the dripping nose started for me.

This morning B. went out for a quarantining walk and left me to my own devices. I was going to microwave something for breakfast but nobody bothered to tell me that the microwave had recently stopped working. Apparently another one is winging its way here with all due dispatch. Amazon's email suggests it will be here this evening. But that didn't solve my breakfast issues and with the cold symptoms moving on to a cough I wasn't excited about pulling out pots and pans and exercising my rusty cooking skills. 

I made a point of shaving before I left the house. Apparently, when I don't shave and my hair is all over the place, and I wear that old dull, green sweat shirt with a worn collar and a few holes in it, the people at my favorite coffee shops and taco houses assume I am currently unhoused and in distress and give me those benevolent looks. You can see pity in their eyes. Waiting to see if I'll bring up a handful of change with which to pay for my coffee. (True story, when I walk down by UT there is a coffee shop and when I go there and order a coffee and a pastry one of the young women who staff the counter always rings up my pastry as half price. I asked her why and she told me she knew times were tough and anyway they sell the pastries for half price after five p.m. Of course I'm usually there sometime in the morning). 

They seem surprised when I use an iPhone to tap-to-pay. And then, because I seem to have a need to prove them wrong I leave a big tip. Massive tip. That'll teach em. 

Anyway, when it's 60° outside and it's a sunny day I convince myself that a long walk will do me good and that the rampant vitamin D splashing around all over the place will, in fact, be medicinal. I drove to downtown with my _______ camera and a 50mm ______ lens and headed over to Torchy's Tacos for a bacon, egg and cheese taco. Again, I got the look when I asked for water... But I had to, since their coffee just flat sucks. 

Protein and fat acquired I was ready to walk along and photograph. Today I did one thing differently than I usually do. I shot with the _______ camera set to Jpeg fine+DNG. I wanted to shoot black and white Jpegs ---- well, just because --- and I also wanted to have a color file available for images I wanted to shoot BECAUSE they existed as color and attacted me with their color. Some would pooh-pooh this but I think it's perfectly fine to change gears depending on the circumstances of your art object. Right?

Below I've posted some photos so you can see how well the ________ camera and ______ lens perform together. And in some instances I've posted both the black and white Jpeg and the color file just to show how the color affects the perception of the subject in an entirely different way. 

I don't know whether is was the cool, fine air or the walking, or the medicinal nature of casual photography but for the whole time I was walking through downtown all of my cold symptoms vanished. Gone. Nose clear. Throat happy. Chest un-coughed. It was wonderful. 

I came home to wash the studio floor and finish setting my space back up again. I have an old friend/long time client coming over tomorrow afternoon for a portrait. I'd like the space to be sparkling when he arrives. We're very close to achieving that now. 

One bit of joy. While typing this; somewhere between my 7th and my 13th rewrites, the Amazon truck pulled up and the driver delivered a new microwave oven to my front door. Hallelujah! You don't miss your microwaves till your emitter runs dry. 

note: If your "donation" of a fine lens or "must have" camera body requires a signature upon delivery kindly drop me a note and let me know to expect it. I'd like your "donation" to be as seamless as possible. Thanks! 

Not sure the Christmas tree in front of the State Capitol works so well in black and white.

Lost to monochrom is the very manly, very Texan pink banner across the bottom.

Light reflected off a building sign and projected onto a city street. 

There used to be department stores along Congress Ave. 

This was the site of Yarings. Their closest competitor was

Scarboroughs, just down the street. Now both adapted to 

office space. 

Boy o' boy!!! That _______ lens is really good at handling flare. 

My first real attempt at macho mannequins. Robots at the ready.

 I do know about the lymphatic system in the human body but I have no idea what 

"Austin's First Lymphatic Experience" might be. Maybe a new beauty treatment 

with which they enlarge your lymph nodes? Not sure that's a good thing.

Dining room table clutter. B. is pretty tolerant about one camera at the end of the kitchen table. A bit unsettled when two cameras nest there for several days. And downright spitty about four or five camera vying for my attention as I decide which way to go from day to day. If you send along a 75mm APO you'll help a lot because I'll want to choose a Leica SL2 body for at least a full month. You know, to try out the lens properly. That means putting away all the other contenders.

The common cold lingers. It's a race against time. Will I be well enough to swim tomorrow's morning workout? Will I make it to noon practice instead? or will I be sidelined until Wednesday?

currently taking bets over on my betting channel...

Portrait of Renae.

 This was originally shot on a medium format film camera. The original image was printed on a double weight photo paper which was then toned in selenium. The exif info for this file shows the originating camera as an Olympus digital but that was just the camera used to copy the print and translate it into a digital file. 

The image was lit with one large soft box using electronic flash. The edge print is not a digital construction but is the inner edge of the frame of the film holder which was filed down to allow a small margin of the film edge to show. 

Since I used a simple metal file and I'm not always precise the effect of the filing is that the holder has variations in dimensions and smoothness. The negative was also partially diffused for part of the print time under the enlarger which accounts for the soft edges and whatever ghosting you might see.  Each print made with my Pictrol(tm) diffuser is different; unique. The device was not mechanically attached to the enlarger but was hand held and moved during parts of the overall exposure. 

This is the style of portraiture that I have always liked best. 

Do you want a very well corrected, very fast, short telephoto lens for your medium format camera? Well then, don't get a TTArtisan 90mm f1.25. But......

I've been mucking around with full frame cameras for months now and, except for work, have been ignoring the GFX 50Sii that I bought mid-Summer. The camera is great. The sensor is great. The problem is with me. I just can't seem to pull the trigger and buy the lens I really should use with this system. That would be the 110mm f2.0. Rave reviews everywhere and at a full frame equivalent of 88mm it would seem to be the perfect choice for me. But for some unknown reason I'll continue to waste time and money looking for a "miraculous" low cost alternative while trying to convince myself that lens "X" or lens "Y" is just as good as the 110mm, if only I just put more elbow grease (and post processing) into the mix. 

The sad reality is that the Fuji GF 50mm lens and the 35-70mm kit lens are both really good performers; just not at the right focal lengths for me. So far I've mostly wasted money and time buying first the TTArtisan 90mm f1.25 lens and then the Mitakon 135mm f2.5. Both are available in both Hasselblad and Fuji medium format mounts. That would strongly imply that these lenses would be suitable for those camera systems. That they would cover the full frame of the MF sensor well. But....nope.

So, if perfect lens geometry is important be sure to pass on the 90mm. And, if zero vignetting is a must then consider both of these lenses as abject failures. Profound failures. I know this for sure now because I spent hours walking around yesterday photographing with the GFX 50Sii + 90mm, and another few hours staring at the resulting files in Lightroom and wondering just how much tolerance I really have for mostly crappy lenses versus just spending the money to buy the right stuff the first time. 

So, as pertains to the 90mm f1.25, what are my gripes? The universal black marks against this lens are threefold. First, it weighs a ton. Well, more like three pounds but that might as well be a ton if you are working a full day with this beast, handheld. Second, the vignetting is just awful. Amazingly bad. Stunningly bad. When I tried building a profile for this lens I found that +75 in the vignetting controls in Lightroom was just almost good enough. Really, +90 to +100 would be better. And here's the crappy deal with vignetting in a simply designed lens like this --- the amount of vignetting is variable and depends on the aperture setting and the distance setting. I guess that's true for a lot of lenses but this one goes from really dark but soft corners near wide open aperture settings to really dark but harder edged corner vignetting as you stop down. The final flaw is the easiest one to fix; mostly. It's the presence of a bunch of barrel distortion. You can correct most of it with a +7 or +8 increase in the distortion controls in post but you should also be aware that there are still mostly unfixable touches of "mustache" distortion that are not tamed by the magic of software corrections in most programs. 

One hopes that someone (Adobe or TTArtisan) will make a lens profile for this pudgy beast that actually fixes some of this stuff. But I think the market for the lens is so small that this will never happen. 

My next question, if I were a potential buyer, would be: "Are there any "pros" to this lens? Any conceivable reasons to buy and use one? 

Well, yes. 

Even wide open, at the center of the frame, the lens is very sharp. Stop it down to f5.6 and it's sharp everywhere. (But why would you carry around a three+ pound, ultra-fast lens if you need to shoot it at f5.6 to make it work? If you are shooting objects or scenes near infinity the lens works fine even at f2.0 and f2.8; except for the far corners. You'll still have to fix vignetting and distortion but in all fairness most lenses for current mirrorless cameras (Leica Q2 and Q3 included) lean heavily on in-camera software to make a lot of corrections to their lenses. A lot!!! The only difference, really, is that this particular 90mm is left to its own devices in use rather than being saved by intricate software fixes. If you had a "go-to" profile for this 90mm in your post processing program it might be a bit more popular. And perhaps more people would be walking around with bulging biceps from hand holding it all day long...

I keep the lens because I think it can be redeemed as a portrait lens. I've been using it to make controlled portraits with for a while and I actually have come to like it in these applications. I crop the images in camera to either the square or the 5:4 or 7:6 aspect ratios and the vignetting mostly goes away, along with a percentage of the frame. If you are a 3:2 fan you'll mostly remove the vignetted corners in that crop as well. The distortion correction of +7 works fine for all portrait work. A little, tiny bit of residual mustache distortion doesn't destroy portraits. 

It was a lovely afternoon here in Austin, Texas yesterday. Neither too warm nor too cool. Partially sunny but with fun clouds passing by. I took the lens out to see if I'd been blaming my own poor technique on the lens or if the lens was really as bad as I remembered. I shot a lot of frames. I walked a lot of steps. I took my time focusing and generally used the magnification feature to make sure things were really sharp. 

Here are some examples from the time spent with the lens. Please note that most of the frames have been mostly (but not completely) corrected for vignetting. The lens is fairly color neutral and I do like the center portion of most images shot with it. Just don't buy one for use as a precision architectural lens; especially if you intend to use it wide open. And copy work? Forget it. There are better options. Really. 

The one thing this lens is really good at is doing portraits with a wide open aperture and letting the background just vanish. That's its special feature. And that's probably why most people who buy one and keep one do so. It's a great look --- when it all works.

I'm in love with the Texas skies. When they behave as I'd like them to. 

I'm including this image because it's a great example of the center sharpness even when using the lens with the aperture at its maximum of f1.25. I focused on the center type and by the time I get to any corner it's just so out of focus. This was also shot at near the closest focusing distance. 

Fairly sharp at f4.0. Very usable.

this was shot long after the sun set and is a good example of a situation in which 

f1.25 can come in handy. The exposure was ISO 800, f1.25, SS= 1/13th. That's 

a pretty dark use case....

this was shot to show the bokeh of the lens at wide apertures. 

Notice the "cat's eye" bokeh in the corners. 

The sky changes so quickly just before the sun is gone over the horizon...

Holiday lighting at the Seaholm Power Plant. 

Same as every other year.