Eye-level's Area 52

Eye-level

Banned
OK I am doing a Project 365 a little differently because I shoot film. So one roll a week for a year and I'll throw up a few snaps from each roll. I'm going to work on people pictures this year.

So here we go developed today shot a few days ago using a Nikon FE with 50mm Series E. All you digital folks PLEASE take a look at this native AIS economy grade Nikon Made in Japan lens from the late 70s.

1.jpg


2-2.jpg
 

Rick M

Senior Member
Very sharp! There is a difference in the visual impact between digital and the stuff some of you old guys use (film) :).
 
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Ruidoso Bill

Senior Member
The older lenses are keepers, the new ones are optically great lenses, just cheaper construction and materials but they work fine. My oldest prime is my 24 mm and I love it.
 
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Eye-level

Banned
These are jpegs of a low resolution scan! Most of the newer lenses are superior formulas and optical coatings and the such so they are better however they are no where near the quality of construction (metal and helicals etc) as the older Nikkors. There are a handful of legacy lenses though that blow away their modern counterparts.

In terms of visual impact yes there is a difference with film vs digital but in just the past year or two digital technology has made it possible to replicate just about any film shot and as we near 25 megapixel sensors the main advantage that film has held for so long is falling by the wayside. There is also a notable difference between film and other films...the closest digital equivalent to this probably would be white balance???

I'm definately a hybrid type of guy although currently I am only using film. I would love to have a D300 or D90 or even D5000 and that is in the cards towards the end of next year. First I need to get a few more legacy lenses for the F2 and they are rather expensive. I've said it before and I'll say it again the greatest single thing about Nikon cameras is the F mount. You can still use these old lenses on modern bodies. Many of the non AI (and not compatible) lenses can be had for peanuts and an AI conversion is just 25 bucks plus shipping and handling which makes them compatible. I have a internet buddy who just bought an old pre ai nikkor 135mm/3.5 (which is a sonnar BTW) for $2.50 and I am not joking!!!

As for the Series E 50/1.8 that made the pics above I bought my copy on ebay along with a Nikon EM camera for $40. I threw the camera away! This is a native AIS lens so it will work on any DSLR that anyone on this board is shooting with. With an effective focal length of 75mm walla presto instant portrait lens that is razor sharp...$40 bucks....see what I mean???
 
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Sambr

Senior Member
Nice captures Eye-Level You are a man after my own heart, my very first Nikon was "Black bodied" FE with 50mm 1.8 series E lens, my other lens was a 70-210 I still have the 50 the 70-210 sold it with the FE years ago.(wish I had today)
 

Eye-level

Banned
I am on week 3 and I have a roll of Fuji 200 loaded right now with half of the roll done. Looking at maybe monday before I have the snaps posted. Until then thought I would share a few pictures of the gear. Here is the F2 and Gossen Luna Pro lightmeters.

F2DE1.jpg


Lightmeters.jpg
 

Eye-level

Banned
Wow, a blast from the past! Brings back memories. My son would say "what is it " or "where do you plug in the USB" :)

I very frequently get the young child who wants to look at the back of the F2 right after I have taken their picture... :)

That rig above is a 1975 model originally a Photomic. I added the DE1 and keep the old photomic head on a beater F2 that I have. I've owned it a little over a year. It came from Canada and the eyelevel finder came from Kevin Camera...the Series E 50 I've had for like three years it is the original "plasticky" model...the Series E is probably circa 1979...the Luna Pro is old like the 60s old...the Luna Pro SBC is 80s stuff I think reknowned for it's ability to measure extremely low light levels....

Hey I was born in 1970...the Nikon F ruled the world!
 
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RickSawThat

Senior Member
I'm just old enough to have used many of these great pieces of equipment. I studied photography back in the days of actual film at Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara on a 4x5 View Camera :) (at least that's what they made us use the first year - then we moved on to smaller formats)

Ah the good old days of Kodachrome 25 and buying film in bricks of all the same emulsion number so the colors and exposure value would match roll to roll....
 

Eye-level

Banned
For week three there are a few new things going on...first yet another focusing screen test this time with the H2 screen which is just amazing you'd just have to see it to believe it. Second thing I ran out of good film so I had to go buy some Fuji 200 from Wal Mart. It's not to bad but it isn't great either...sort of grainy weird colors etc...at any rate just another 12 bucks for 26 exposures (expensive huh? :) ) for some run of mill portage from my somewhat dull life...LOL

I have no idea what happened with the second picture???

MrBernard-1.jpg


Andy-1.jpg


Duck.jpg
 

Eye-level

Banned
I'm gonna buy a digital body I just haven't figured out which one exactly yet...probably a D5000...maybe as soon as a few weeks from now. Why a D5000 you say? Because it is basically a D90...
 

fotojack

Senior Member
I'm gonna buy a digital body I just haven't figured out which one exactly yet...probably a D5000...maybe as soon as a few weeks from now. Why a D5000 you say? Because it is basically a D90...

The sooner you get one, the sooner you'll get into its learning curve. Good choice on the D5000, although I'd get the D90 myself if I had those two to choose from. My personal preference is still a D300. I'm hoping to win the lottery so I can actually get one. :)
 
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