Reviews written by Charliepersol

Leica Elmarit-R 28mm f/2.8

Pros: Lively yield, low distortion.

Cons: I can't find any.

Opinion: Never loved the 28 mm as a focal length. This lens made me change my mind. I use it on the Leica R4/R6 and I find it really exciting: contrasted and with very reasonable distortion for the focal length. Vivid and natural colors. Excellent construction. I can not make too technical considerations, I have not had the opportunity to do even too many tests, I have only taken photographs for the pleasure of making them and it came naturally to me to use both this lens and with other equivalents of other brands it has never happened to me and in some cases I have replaced with a 20 or a 35 mm.

sent on November 16, 2021

Nikon AF 180mm f/2.8 D ED IF

Pros: Beautiful rendering of colors, perspective, blurred, three-dimensionality. Light.

Cons: I can't find any.

Opinion: I bought this used lens because I needed a telephoto lens paying very little. A real bargain. Light and with surprising quality, I use it a lot to take sports photographs (horseback riding) where it is really exceptional for the rendering of colors (the ground, the hair of the animals, the clothes of the conductors). It is bright and the focal length is well suited for indoor and fieldside use. Sometimes I add a focal length duplicator, but for my needs 180 mm is enough. Also good for portraits. The contrast is there but it seems to me not too violent.

sent on November 16, 2021

Nikon AF 28mm f/2.8 D

Pros: Compact and lightweight. Good optical quality.

Cons: The quality is good but it has never seemed to me a reference goal. Which is not exactly a con.

Opinion: This was the lens that came standard as "Normal" with the Kodak DCS 510 that I used to make tile catalogs in the mid-90s. I immediately replaced it with the 60mm micro because it was definitely unsuitable for photography of rectangular objects from close range (although it was not disastrous, let's be clear: the distortion itself is contained) It has however remained in my film kit as a wide angle and does its job honestly. Maybe it is not my favorite lens, I say in general also because I am more inclined to the use of short telephoto lens, but it is still more than suitable for occasional use in particular for "ambient" photos, where it is necessary to embrace a wider field giving dynamism to the image. In short, it is a wide angle and does its job honestly. I find it just a bit "flat" in the yield. Not very lively compared to others that I am inclined to use more frequently both of the same brand but with other focal lengths, and of another brand but the same focal length. In any case I would not give it up.

sent on November 16, 2021

Nikon AF 60mm f/2.8 D Micro

Pros: Contrast, uniformity of yield, control of perspective.

Cons: It might be a bit cumbersome.

Opinion: I bought this lens in the mid-90s to take photographs of tiles and ceramics for the catalogs of a well-known brand. I used it on one of the first digital cameras available, a Kodak that mounted a digital sensor on Nikon N90 body. I therefore needed a lens that did not introduce distortion and could faithfully render the colors and texture of the products. After a few years I took the F90 body on film and used this lens as the main one to take photographs of everything, especially portraits or travel. I then used it on a Fuji S3 always with great satisfaction and now on an F4 again on film. I haven't done professional photography in decades but this is one of those lenses that I will never sell. It has a natural and three-dimensional rendering, with a beautiful contrast. It's a bit chubbly to get very close to small subjects without making shadows but it's really well done.

sent on November 16, 2021

FujiFilm S3 Pro

Pros: Simplicity of use, chromatic rendering.

Cons: A little old-time, slow. Autofocus a little dancer, small display and little readable.

Opinion: I bought it used to replace my body Nikon F90 deceased and resuscitable only at a high price. I Had several lenses for which I was comfortable with a digital body with Nikon mount. I find it extremely comfortable, immediate and of good quality. Being accustomed to the F90, the occasional madness of the autofocus give me little discomfort, overall it works better also because it is enough to move the lens without changing the frame to solve problems. The focus Lock Button helps, but it's in a slightly odd position for me. The Grip is very comfortable and so the quick management of the essential functions. To make a little ' meditated photos is still very good, for the photos really sporty maybe it is a bit ' lentina, but still acceptable. It Remains a professional machine, so even if objectively exceeded by more modern machines is able to give considerable satisfactions. In particular for portraits or photos of the environment that do not require extreme enlargements of cropped areas: better to completely fill the frame. I use it mainly with a Micro Nikkor 60 that allows really nice portraits, and then with the Nikon 180 and 28. I used it often also with retroreflecting, Chinon 500 and MTO 1100 to take pictures of the Moon. Overall I think I have made a great deal at the time, to use still now as a good film machine.

sent on March 30, 2019