Yeah, I bought a D800e instead... oops.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
John,
Nothing wrong with that except crazy big files that can overwelm a computer. Oh-yeah and you can print mighty big. Mighty high IQ.
I wish my D3X didn't have an anti-alias filter like your D800E.
Wow. Now you are growing "Monsters" too. LOL. After a while you just want to take great images. Call it beast factor because we like cameras that are a bit savage, uncouth, that are not elegant like a point and shoot or a M-body.
Maggie got another call from a casting director, but the way it works is that they reserve your time into a slot, and then they call you at the last moment for the gig. Her one year anniversity of launching her blog is coming up towards the end of the month.
Baby-Dog now has a $38.00 Phermone collar to calm his nerves. The Phermone is released by body heat and is of a nursing female dog to remind him of when he was safe and nurtured. The collar only lasts about a month. Interesting to note that the collar is rather effective and makes him mellow like as if he is stoned on weed.
Also know we kinda overdosed him on boiled chicken recently which we used as a treat for training him as directed by our highly credentialed dog trainer. Our new vet says that he has Stress Colitis, and now we had to change his diet after basically we poisioned him with an overdose of food (chicken) as per directions of our trainer. Probably spent about $2K on our new dog and it hasn't even been six months yet. Basically he is a designer luxury dog at this point. Not your usual dog.
The 4:00 AM thunder and lighning storm this morning forced me to comfort him in his bed for about half an hour. Funny thing is that he is widely known and is kinda famous in the ghetto where I live. Anyways he is doing a lot better and does not attack everything like he use to. Still does not like Pit Bulls though. For those that do not know Baby-Dog he weighs 13.9 pounds and is the size of a large cat.
Cal
Range-rover
Veteran
John you brought another Nikon Wow, this is going to be a Nikon meet for
sure, now with my D2XS I hope you guy's bring some lenses so I could
give this new guy the going though.
Bob
sure, now with my D2XS I hope you guy's bring some lenses so I could
give this new guy the going though.
Bob
Well, I used a Sony A7r which has a similar 36mp sensor...and my 4 year old computer handled them well. I think that's internet BS for the most part (about big files). I have a current computer now, so it'll handle these files in a normal manner.
Yeah, I'm starting to like bigger cameras... they fit in my hand better. AND if I'm forced to use large lenses, then large bodies make sense. Bought a 60mm macro AF-D lens as well.
Damn, it's been a year! good for her.
Well, I don't fit in with RFF anymore, but I like meeting you guys so... please ignore my DSLRs.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Bob,
Here is my F-mount glass: 28/1.4 AF-G; black 45/2.8P AIS (Tessar); 55/2.8 Macro AIS; 58/1.2 Noct-Nikkor AIS.
Let me know what lenses you might be interested in trying. No problem to bring them all.
I'll also have a DK-17 magnifier you can try to see if it works for you. I like it, but for some eyeglass wearers the magnification combined with the high eyepoint finder is too much.
Cal
Isn't yours a D lens Cal?
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
John,
Thanks for the smut and insight.
I think you will find that the heavier cameras are more steady. Sniper rifles are big and heavy for a reason.
I think it is really cool that you are continuing to evolve and do some surprising things. I would have never thought that DSLR's would be good for you.
For me it seems the auto focus lens I have is mighty accurate and blazing fast, and my 28/1.4 G is not as fast as those autofocus lenses with servowave motors. Maggie plans on buying me a 58/1.4 D like yours when she gets the big check from her last modeling gig. To me the rendering when compared to my Noct-Nikkor is kinda similar and only slightly different (more modern). I think the Noct-Nikkor has a more retro look.
This Thursday is the slot for another proposed modeling gig, but so far she did not get the confirmation. In the fashion world it seems that everything is held off to the last minute. Although not likely to get the call, it can still happen. How difficult is this up in the air scheduling to sustain. Not good for anxious people who get crazy.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
John,
Yes. As usual creative people often make mistakes. LOL. Especially older ones.
Kinda scary as one ages. Kinda like a computer with a full hard drive that needs to be defraged badly. You kinda get a blue screen as you search through vast amounts of data searching for the correct neural pathway. Perhaps it is like becoming more childlike and open minded because thinking becomes less rigid.
Perhaps I am becoming more creative in an enlightened way. I also was telling Ben at the last Meet-Up somehow I also am reverting back to those more reckless years of when I was in my teens and early 20's where I didn't think I had much of a future because retirement suddenly becomes a scary place that might not be sustainable as time and health inevidably will run out. At 57 and a half I am worried, and I have decided to basically fight for my life while I still have the fight in me.
A pretty recent episode happened when I went to drop off a camera at Nippon Camera Clinic by the Flat Iron Building. Realize that over the years I have gone there frequently, but I couldn't find the location this one time. I kinda freaked out because I felt disoriented.
You here about people who leave their house and somehow disappear. I kinda start freaking out thinking, "Is this it?" I scurry home and find an old Nippon reciept and call the number even though it is 6:00 PM and they were likely closed, but someone answered the phone. I discovered that they moved uptown due to a rent increase. LOL.
I was pretty relieved.
Anyways I'm in a time warp that leads back to NYC in the seventies.
Cal
Range-rover
Veteran
Thanks Cal, That 28mm F1.4 lens would be sweet to see.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Bob,
It is an impressive lens. It features a metal body with a black crinkle coated finish. Looks kinda evil. 72mm filter size and about the size of an 85/1.4 AIS short telephoto. Brutally sharp wide open and more rare thn my Noct-Nikkor. Only 7,333 ever made.
Cal
robert blu
quiet photographer
Hi Cal, I find always interesting reading about your creative process, your gear, your thoughts.
But now I have a question, getting older I'm becoming more curious
How do you know how many exemplars of your lens have been made, like the 7,333 you mentioned?
Just curious! Have a good time
robert
But now I have a question, getting older I'm becoming more curious
How do you know how many exemplars of your lens have been made, like the 7,333 you mentioned?
Just curious! Have a good time
robert
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Hi Cal, I find always interesting reading about your creative process, your gear, your thoughts.
But now I have a question, getting older I'm becoming more curious
How do you know how many exemplars of your lens have been made, like the 7,333 you mentioned?
Just curious! Have a good time
robert
Robert,
I have a boring day-job where I kinda work unsupervised with internet access. Basically I pass the time doing research and this is how I discover interesting smut about gear that often leads to discovering odd once in a lifetime finds, bargains and mispricings.
Here are a few: I bought my Noct-Nikkor at believe it or not at B&H for only $2499.00; I bought a chrome 90 Macro Elmar for only $1850.00 also another mispricing at B&H; I also bought a 50 Rigid at B&H for only $499.00.
At Adorama I found a Rollie 3.5F "Whiteface" for $999.00. Basically was a shelf queen that I could not even put a roll of film through because of jamming. I sent this camera to Harry Fleenor (the best) to get overhauled and a Maxwell screen upgrade and still came out way-way ahead.
I also own the rarer chrome version 43/1.9 Pentax-L "Special" that is the only Pentax lens made in LTM.
Since I live in NYC and both Adorama and B&H have unconditional return policies it almost costs nothing to exploit my boring job in a exploititive manner. Kinda like day trading stocks at work and getting away with it. BTW I am known for day-trading cameras and lenses.
Basically I'm good at data mining. I'll try to find and relocate the source of the 7,333 number of Nikon 28/1.4's evermade. I'll likely repost in a few minutes. LOL.
The number of prints made on my "new" 7800 (1802 Pre-Calzone) is out of the service menu of my printer. I'm mighty proud that I "mined" a 428 page service manual off the internet for free. The added bonus is that I also downloaded and printed a hard copy at work which took a lot of time and saved me a lot of money as far as paper and ink. LOL.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Robert,
So far the number 7,333 elludes me, but I will relocate it because I'm stubborn.
On a thread on Photo.net titled "28mm F1.4 worth the money" one poster writes "less than 10K worldwide."
On Nikkor AF28mm F1.4D-review/labtestreport that dates to Tuesday 27 January 2009, "just above 7000 units were produced."
Tomorrow I do a search that compares the discontinued 28mm 1.4 against the new current 24mm 1.4. I think this is where I got the concrete number.
As I remember about 11K Noct-Nikkors were produced.
Cal
So far the number 7,333 elludes me, but I will relocate it because I'm stubborn.
On a thread on Photo.net titled "28mm F1.4 worth the money" one poster writes "less than 10K worldwide."
On Nikkor AF28mm F1.4D-review/labtestreport that dates to Tuesday 27 January 2009, "just above 7000 units were produced."
Tomorrow I do a search that compares the discontinued 28mm 1.4 against the new current 24mm 1.4. I think this is where I got the concrete number.
As I remember about 11K Noct-Nikkors were produced.
Cal
robert blu
quiet photographer
Thank Cal for your answer.
robert
robert
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Robert,
I google searched "Nikon 28mm F1.4 production" and found the original citation at https://lightingtheway.wordpress.com/.../product-review-nikon-28mm-f1.4-lens/.
Yesterday I also found a secondary source that confirms that exact number. Also I verified that more Noct-Nikkors were made than 28/1.4's.
Only 7,333 28/1.4's were produced over a ten year period. Interesting to note that like the Noct-Nikkor it is optimized for shooting wide open and was particularly designed for night landscape photography and astrophotography. Like the Noct-Nikkor is has low coma and ghosting from bright light sources.
Creatively these lenses are great for a shooter like me who lives in Madhattan, and understand that I use this glass on a Nikon D3X that basically I got for free (my girlfriend, "Maggie" bought me the camera to shoot her for her fashion blog).
Cal
POST SCRIPT: I got to a dead page, but if you click on the link on the bottom right my reference comes up, and you'll get the page I originally tried to link.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
GEAR ALERT: Last month I bought a Fuji 100/3.5 AE that basically is a time capsule back to 1974. This lens offers AE metering, has an extended shutter speed range, and most importantly offers EBC multicoating for a modern look. All other lenses built for the "Texas Leica" are single coated. I paid $239.00 and that included shipping from Japan.
Currently this lens is with Frank Marshman to either get repaired or modded. Plan "A" is to have the lens repaired if possible. The battery check works, but the shutter speed confirmation does not. Frank thinks I either have a dead or dying CdS cell, or remotely it could be the aperture switching is funky. Parts are long discontinued and the only parts available are ones that are used/salvaged.
Plan "B" is to transplant the EBC multicoated glass into a standard 100/3.5 lens barrel without the AE function. Oh-well. The important thing here is to have a single coated version and a multicoated version for retro and modern looks. BTW I already own a standard single coated version.
Presently Frank just got back from vacation and still has to open the parcel I sent him to evaluate. On one hand having AE would be mighty cool, but on the other hand the simplicity, reliability, and the long term durability makes me favor plan "B," the transplant.
If I go the transplant route I favor the retro looking chrome first version of the lens and also the latest lens housing that features the rubber checkered focusing ring since I'm building a custom lens, or rather having one assembled from parts.
Cal
Currently this lens is with Frank Marshman to either get repaired or modded. Plan "A" is to have the lens repaired if possible. The battery check works, but the shutter speed confirmation does not. Frank thinks I either have a dead or dying CdS cell, or remotely it could be the aperture switching is funky. Parts are long discontinued and the only parts available are ones that are used/salvaged.
Plan "B" is to transplant the EBC multicoated glass into a standard 100/3.5 lens barrel without the AE function. Oh-well. The important thing here is to have a single coated version and a multicoated version for retro and modern looks. BTW I already own a standard single coated version.
Presently Frank just got back from vacation and still has to open the parcel I sent him to evaluate. On one hand having AE would be mighty cool, but on the other hand the simplicity, reliability, and the long term durability makes me favor plan "B," the transplant.
If I go the transplant route I favor the retro looking chrome first version of the lens and also the latest lens housing that features the rubber checkered focusing ring since I'm building a custom lens, or rather having one assembled from parts.
Cal
SuperUJ
Well-known
Well, I don't fit in with RFF anymore, but I like meeting you guys so... please ignore my DSLRs.
Funny how things go, John. I finally completed my off-loading of my Nikon DSLRs. I am left with only a F6 for my Nikkor glasses. Will have to bring another RF to balance things out in our meetings.
John
SuperUJ
Well-known
I am glad that you mentioned it. I've just got a Rollie 2.8C as a gift from a friend who had not touched it for 30 years. It's on the way to be Fleenored.
John
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
John,
Are you going to have a Maxwell screen installed? If you want or like a brighter screen now would be the time to have it installed. Harry sells them. BTW Harry is the only one I would trust to work on my Rollie.
How long for the turnaround. Way back when I was told 12 weeks ans after 12 weeks like clockwork it was shipped. My 3.5F remains quiet and smooth. I often have to try to advance the film to verify that the shutter tripped because my camera is so silent. It was about 6 years ago when Andre brought his Rollie to an early-early Meet-Up, and soon thereafter I secured my Whiteface.
Harry is clearly the best.
Cal