OM, I've become a Zuikoholic!

[pggunn]

For me , OM really shines in B/W. I can't seem to get color right , maybe it's because I only have access to cheap color negative films.

I'm with you there. I seem to have better luck in black and white with my OM's, but I do like Kodak Portra VC. It does work well for portraits (duh, Portra!), rendering skin tones pretty accurately while otherwise giving saturated colors, but I don't use it for just portraits.

This is the last shot from the last roll of Portra I shot about a week ago in the Greensboro Arboretum with the OM1-md and 50/1.4, wide open. The oof areas aren't just from the shallow depth of field - there was a bit of a morning breeze as well. I was on my way home and wanted to finish the roll so I could get it developed. This was the best shot from the roll I think. Wish I had shot thirty-five more exposures right there!

 

[Frontman]

I love my OM kit, and I never go anywhere without it. I began with the OM4Ti - 50/1.4, and enjoyed the camera and the pictures I got from it immensely. Since then I have added the 24/2.8, 28/2, 35/2, 40/2 (the smallest of the lot), 50/1.8 (my favorite), 55/1.2, and the 90/2 macro. I also have a 35-70/4 zoom, and the 75-150 zoom.

I can't say enough good about the OM line of cameras and lenses, and if I could have choose only one kit to carry, it would have to be the OM kit (sorry to my Leica, Canon, and Nikon gear...).

OM4Ti, 40/2 Zuiko, Fuji Acros

 

[pggunn]

Have you tried Ektar 100 or Portra VC? These are pretty good film🙂

Here's one with Ektar 100 and OM1/50mm f1.8 @ 1.8:

Dacookie Man,

I didn't mean to ignore you in my earlier post, especially since your post re Portra prompted my reply, but was called away suddenly by domestic duties (my wife.)

Very nice work there. I haven't tried Ektar but intend to soon.

I visited your Flickr site. Enjoyed it very much so far and have only seen about the first one fifth so far! You have a lot of nice work there! I especially like your portraits and food shots, and you have some very nice shots of your OM1 and 50/1.8! Some good landscapes/ cityscapes too! Very nice!

 

[pggunn]

Trius,

Thanks for your posts with Kodachrome, Agfachrome and Portra! Nice photos and useful examples of different color rendering using different films. I don't know if it's just me, but even though the first, the Kodachrome, is a bit out of focus and not that colorful inherently, I like it the best. In fact, I like it very much!

I've never put too much value on technical excellence anyway. There's no doubt that a photograph that is properly focused (whatever that is) and exposed (again, whatever) has a better chance of being a good one. However, as far as I'm concerned, good composition is by far the single most important element of a good photograph, and for some reason or another I'm especially enamored of photographs that display technical flaws, but are wonderful, nonetheless, by virtue of composition, mood, subtle color, whatever - that certain je ne sais quois. That one has a lot of quois!

Thanks,

Gregor

 

[Trius]

Gregor:

Merci, mon amis.

I deliberately focused on the treeline in the background. I was specifically thinking of/emoting the Group of Seven ... do a Google search.

In a former life I may have been Emily Carr.

 

[Trius]

minimal brassing

What's the fun in that? 😀😀😀

 

[nikku]

What's the fun in that? 😀😀😀

The fun is that I get to be the cause of the brassing!

 

[Trius]

Duh, you got me!!!

 

[pggunn]

Gregor:

Merci, mon amis.

I deliberately focused on the treeline in the background. I was specifically thinking of/emoting the Group of Seven ... do a Google search.

In a former life I may have been Emily Carr.

Wow! I had never heard of the Group of Seven. I guess that's just one example of the extreme provincialism that handicaps my perception of this wonderful world! I was particularly stung by several quotes like these I found on my search:[SIZE=-1]

At this time many people considered the Canadian landscape ugly and unworthy of being painted. They were proved wrong however over the next decade by the Group of Seven.[/SIZE]

from - [SIZE=-1]http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/canadian/The-Group-of-Seven.html[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]

And this one:

[/SIZE]In 1919 they began to call themselves the Group of Seven, and by 1920 they were ready for their first exhibition. Prior to this, many artists believed the Canadian landscape was either unpaintable or not worthy of being painted.

from - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_of_Seven_(artists)

Sounds like you Canadians are a bunch of fauves! Thanks for the art lesson! And I mean that with the utmost sincerity!

Greg

PS Tomorrow I will do a search on Emily Carr. Just now I don't have time, but I can hardly wait.

 

[dacookieman]

Dacookie Man,

I didn't mean to ignore you in my earlier post, especially since your post re Portra prompted my reply, but was called away suddenly by domestic duties (my wife.)

Very nice work there. I haven't tried Ektar but intend to soon.

I visited your Flickr site. Enjoyed it very much so far and have only seen about the first one fifth so far! You have a lot of nice work there! I especially like your portraits and food shots, and you have some very nice shots of your OM1 and 50/1.8! Some good landscapes/ cityscapes too! Very nice!

Hey there, hehe, no worries, you definitely need to attend to the missus. I understand, because my girlfriend gets very impatient when I'm surfing RFF and she calls me.

Thanks for dropping by my site, you definitely have to try Ektar, its kinda slow but with the right light, you can do wonders. Sides you have the f1.4 zuiko on your side, shouldn't be a problem.

Am very touched by your comments, I haven't heard from everyone abt my work in a loooong time. Your words motivate me to make more pictures for myself and others to enjoy.

PS: i enjoyed looking through your stream as well, esp the body paintings🙂


Here's a portrait (somewhat) using Ektar:

 

[Trius]

Wow! I had never heard of the Group of Seven. I guess that's just one example of the extreme provincialism that handicaps my perception of this wonderful world! I was particularly stung by several quotes like these I found on my search:[SIZE=-1]

At this time many people considered the Canadian landscape ugly and unworthy of being painted. They were proved wrong however over the next decade by the Group of Seven.[/SIZE]

from - [SIZE=-1]http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/canadian/The-Group-of-Seven.html[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]

And this one:

[/SIZE]In 1919 they began to call themselves the Group of Seven, and by 1920 they were ready for their first exhibition. Prior to this, many artists believed the Canadian landscape was either unpaintable or not worthy of being painted.

from - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_of_Seven_%28artists%29

Sounds like you Canadians are a bunch of fauves! Thanks for the art lesson! And I mean that with the utmost sincerity!

Greg

PS Tomorrow I will do a search on Emily Carr. Just now I don't have time, but I can hardly wait.

Greg: You're welcome, and I'm delighted you enjoyed the "art lesson"!

I have seen originals from the Group of Seven at the McMichael Gallery in Kleinberg, Ontario (which is the main repository for Group of Seven works,) and the Tom Thomson Gallery in Owen Sound, Ontario. I am by no means an expert, actually I have relatively little knowledge of specific works. But they move me deeply, especially, of course, seeing originals displayed.

If you are ever in these parts, it is worth your while to seek them out, or perhaps a travelling exhibit will someday be closer to you. I think if you contact the McMichael, they may have information about exhibits in the Eastern US or mid-Atlantic, or direct you to museums that might have some pieces in their permanent collections.

 

[Armoured]

Even better is Go7 country

Even better is Go7 country

If you are ever in these parts, it is worth your while to seek them out, or perhaps a travelling exhibit will someday be closer to you. I think if you contact the McMichael, they may have information about exhibits in the Eastern US or mid-Atlantic, or direct you to museums that might have some pieces in their permanent collections.

National Art Gallery in Ottawa also has an excellent collection. Best of all is to head up to Georgian Bay country and see it in person.

 

[reiki_]

Is there a way to justify buying another 50mm/f1,4 lens just because this one would have a serial number >1million ? 😀

 

[pggunn]

Is there a way to justify buying another 50mm/f1,4 lens just because this one would have a serial number >1million ? 😀

Sure! At the very least you need a spare! And I have heard about the different ways each renders. Even if it's just rumor (it's probably not) or subtle, there's another justification - independent research!

I ordered my >1,100,000 from KEH. I called their toll free number, waited about two minutes, talked to a guy and told him what I was looking for and completed the transaction in about three minutes. EX grade with caps. It looked brand new and I've really enjoyed it. Now maybe I need to get a <1,100,000 and do some independent research myself!

 

[pggunn]

Trius and Armoured,

Thanks for the info. I've been reading quite a bit about the group of seven and Emily Carr the last to evenings. I was astounded. It's a shame they aren't better known south of the border. Of course, maybe I'm just ignorant! Well, actually I guess I've already proven that!:bang:

I love Emily Carr's tree paintings and the philosophy, or maybe more accurately, her feelings about them. I especially enjoyed this site:

http://www.svreeland.com/fl-paintings.html

It presented some of her paintings along with passages from her books. I think I feel a photography project coming on. I majored in horticulture and landscape design but wasn't well received at the time because I favored using native plants and a more naturalistic style that didn't sit well with suburbanites. I'm a tree lover!

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

buy some film instead or spend the money on a day out shooting 😉

A day out shooting costs almost nothing, you can buy the lens and go shoot. As for film, the lens cost me $80 on ebay when I bought mine. It takes a while for most to go through $80 worth of film. If you want something you get it. Thats the only justification you need. Seriously, we're not talking about buying a new 50mm Summilux ASPH, its $80. I don't get the people who have to harp on everyone who wants to buy something with the silly suggestion to go out shooting instead. Do both.

 

[dacookieman]

A day out shooting costs almost nothing, you can buy the lens and go shoot. As for film, the lens cost me $80 on ebay when I bought mine. It takes a while for most to go through $80 worth of film. If you want something you get it. Thats the only justification you need. Seriously, we're not talking about buying a new 50mm Summilux ASPH, its $80. I don't get the people who have to harp on everyone who wants to buy something with the silly suggestion to go out shooting instead. Do both.

I've been searching for weeks, i dont think u can get a high 1.1k serial number for 80USD, maybe around 150USD. The last 50mm f1.4 (5xxxxx) one went for 101USD. Prices are soaring now🙁

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I've been searching for weeks, i dont think u can get a high 1.1k serial number for 80USD, maybe around 150USD. The last 50mm f1.4 (5xxxxx) one went for 101USD. Prices are soaring now🙁

Wow. I have two of them, I paid $80 for one and the other was $75. I got them two yrs ago though, haven't paid attention to what they cost now. If someone paid $101 for one with a 6 digit serial they paid WAYYYYYY too much. I had one in that serial range about 10 yrs ago and it sucked compared to the >1,100,000

 

[dacookieman]

Wow. I have two of them, I paid $80 for one and the other was $75. I got them two yrs ago though, haven't paid attention to what they cost now. If someone paid $101 for one with a 6 digit serial they paid WAYYYYYY too much. I had one in that serial range about 10 yrs ago and it sucked compared to the >1,100,000

If you have future plans to part with one of them, you should know that you have a very ready and keen buyer here😀 That is me! hehe.

 

[nikku]

though i havn't seen one for $80! if it was $80 then its possibly ruff (or mouldy lol) and you would be much better off with a sub 1.1m anyway..truth be told hardly anyone if anyone can tell the difference between them if given a blind test

Look on KEH.com for a BGN grade 50/1.4. It will probably be listed for something like $60. Call them and ask what the serial number is. If it's higher than 1.1 million, order that lens. That's what I did, and I got an optically perfect user 50/1.4.