SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4, Pastel Art I

Cameras and Lenses: Images with a vintage legacy SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4, acclaimed with an exceptional build quality, sharp optical performance, and advanced SMC (Super Multi-Coating), a bright 100mm full-frame equivalent on the Olympus Pen E-P5, Take I.

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Like all Pentax A-series lenses, this very fast standard lens supports P and Tv exposure modes in addition to Av and M. A great value for the money, it is small, light, and priced reasonably. Slightly soft at f1.4, good for creative art. These images were shot with the lens mounted on an Olympus E-P5.

SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4

Photax T-Mount Preset 400mm f/6.3, Take I

Cameras and Lenses: Images with a Photax T-Mount Preset 400mm f/6.3, a fully manual long-tube vintage telephoto lens with retro accolades for its 4-element design, built-in tripod mount, and nostalgic charm, a 800mm full-frame equivalent on the Olympus Pen E-P5, I.

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What a surprise find!.

I was not too sure what I got into when I placed the order for the low-priced offer T-mount 400mm F6.3, believed to be a Tokina RMC, as sold under the Photax name, and also available as an Astranar, Impakt, D&N, Prinz-Galaxy, and many others.

The 4 elements in a 3-groups dual-ring preset 'long-tube' telescope have their fair share of accolades, with most reviewers commenting on its sharpness, and with the fair amount of fungal infection I found within the elements of the lens, a lower contrast threshold.

Olympus E-P5, Photax T-Mount Preset 400mm f/6.3

Had the camera mounted via a built-in tripod mount for these shots (800mm equivalent on the 2x crop sensor), taken wide-open (@ 6.3 of course). Images were post-processed.

HMD Nokia 3.1, Just A Short Hop

Mobile Photography: Images with an HMD Nokia 3.1, an entry-level budget smartphone from 2018, age-old, still beloved, and functional, a constant companion for the short hops.

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Just a short hop, from one station to the other. Compared to my previous outing which was on A Sultry Morning, this one was on a gloriously bright and sunny day. The sun was out bright and sunny, the air was fresh and crisp, and after the morning rush, you were at the station almost by yourself.

Canon FL 50mm f/1.8, First Impression

Cameras and Lenses: Images with a legacy Canon FL 50mm f/1.8, a vintage prime with robust all-metal construction and sharp rendering, a bright 100mm full-frame equivalent on the Olympus Pen E-P5.

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Canon FL-series lenses, which replace the earlier Canon R lens mount, were introduced in April 1964 and were the standard mount for Canon FX (1964), FP (1964), Pellix (1965), FT QL (1966), Pellix QL (1966), and Canon TL (1968) cameras. It was replaced in 1971 with the launch of the Canon FD mount on the Canon F1.

The 50mm 1.8, 6 elements in 4-groups construction, can be found in two iterations, identical externally, but with the optics on the latter optimized for improved performance. The iterations are distinguished by weight - Type I weighs in at 228 grams, while Type II is at 280 grams. These first impression images were shot on Type I.

Olympus E-P5, Canon FL 50mm f/1.8

Canon FL-mount lenses can be used on FD-mount cameras in stop-down metering mode.

Nikkor Ai-S 35mm f/2, A New Look

Cameras and Lenses: Images with a vintage legacy Nikon Ai-S Nikkor 35mm f/2, an exceptionally compact all-metal build, sharp central rendering, and classic mechanical precision lens, a 70mm short-tele equivalent on the Olympus Pen E-P5.

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I acquired another copy of the Nikon Nikkor 35mm f/2 recently, an Ai-S version this time, and took these sample shots just to ensure that the lens is, as expected, an excellent performer equal to that of the Ai version, which I posted a few years back.

Olympus E-P5, Nikkor Ai-S 35mm f/2

The Nikkor 35mm f/2, with its 8 elements in 6-group optics, has been in production since it was first launched in 1965. While the optics formula of the lens has remained the same, the lens body and mechanics have undergone continuous improvements and revisions. The glass also went from a single coat in amber, then blue (-C), and was multicoated for the last three decades. The AI-s version was in production from 1981 to 2005.