Guys, Remember when I joined the list, I complained that the optics for my MZ-S had this flimsy plastic feel, and that I missed the sturdyness of my zuikos? It was followed by an interresting thread about if the "feel" had any significance on the pictures - or if I was just being superficial and gear-oriented, and that as such it was really me being "flimsy" :)
I had a Pentax 28-80 (or some such beast), where I was not quite happy with neither the optical nor mechanical or tactile qualities. So I acquired the 24-90, which satisfied my expectation for optically good - but did little for the "flimsyness" :( Well, folks, I've found the solution to my problem. A while ago I acquired the 77mm limited. With the Zuikos, the 85mm f2 was always my favorite, however that has found its rival in the 77mm limited. I'm impressed by the optics, and it feels even more sturdy than the zuikos :) So I went ahead and recently got myself the 43mm and 31mm limited as well....:) Those two gems are still working on getting on comfortable in the camera bag, however they seem to like their new home, and I am sure that they feel welcome. I'm brought them all along to a trip to San Francisco, and thus just shot a roll of Portra 160VC with each and had 1h processed at Walgreen. Thus far, I've learned that (i) the "bokkeh" of the 43mm indeed is interresting but the lens is tack-sharp, (ii) that the 31mm is amazing even fully open - ohh, and (iii) that Walgreen's 1h processing really takes 3h (and they do not apologize!), that (iv) they have a hard time getting the prints even close to acceptable quality (what stain? We don't care about stains on prints, that's normal for prints...) and (v) that Portra VC colors are really wasted on Walgreen. I discovered that the 31mm is very usefull for taking pictures when wading through the crowds to get from my hotel to the convention center. It's been very different to visit SF this time as compared to previously, and various unexpected photo-opportunities presented themself.... On the topic of the 31mm, I cannot help to think that this lens is smartly designed: the way the lenscap fits on over the hood is just the right way for a wide-angle. It allows a "slim" pol-filter to stay on and still permit the hood to be mounted. Most "slim" filters work very badly with the snap-on lens caps - this lens is just smart :) Now, I just need to use the lenses some more to learn about their strengths and (if any) shortcommings. I've got a weekend off, and am planning a small trip up north-east CA (Clear Lake etc..) It's nice to get some time for photography. Other than a few test-shots, the two newcommers have been laying idle at home since I got them. This is their first trip, and I aim at giving them a good workout. Question, though: how the heck do you guys mount Cokin P-filters (or Lee or whatever square filter format you guys use) on the 31mm? It seems to be "mission impossible". --thomas ps: I managed to get the limited in black - looks much cooler on a black body :) psps: A colleague has bought the Pentax Optio S, and he was kind enough to bring it along to AND let me fonde it. Wow, that's a small gem too, I could almost be tempted to get a digital by that S. pspsps: Yeah, with reference to the first section of this mail, I am probably just being flimsy :)
