Sigma Zoom-γ 21-35mm f/3.5-4, The Twin Towers

Analog Diary: Film photography favorites, image making with a Sigma Zoom-γ 21-35mm f/3.5-4, framing the Petronas Twin Towers.

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I was at the location of the Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur, recently with another camera, but found that the 28mm wide-angle zoom I had on the camera wasn't wide enough to capture both of the twin-tower elements in a single frame as I would like it to be. The decision to visit the location again, with another camera, was the better choice.

For the second visit, I took the ultra-wide-angle Sigma Zoom-Gamma 21-35mm F3.5~4 mounted on the Olympus OM-2SP, and I was able to capture the set of amateurish images I was looking for.

Launched in 1979, the one-touch Zoom Gamma 21-35mm lens was the world’s first wide-angle zoom, an area that Sigma continues to excel in today. The lens was a solid metal and glass construction with 7 elements in 7 groups, and comes complete with a built-in floral hood, and a rotating front element with a diameter of 67mm.

While I have used the lens only occasionally, initially for image samples with the lens adapted to the digital Pen E-P5, and then only of late, I do have high regard for the lens - for its built quality, the zoom range it offers, images it renders, and its worth as a keeper.

Olympus OM-2S, Sigma Zoom-γ 21-35mm f/3.5-4

The lens, which is almost a rarity, came almost complementary with the purchase of an Olympus OM body. By itself, listings of the lens on auction sites are far and few in between. You may, instead, find more instances of the follow-up Sigma Zoom-Gamma II 21-35mm F3.5~4.2 being offered in the listings or something that will cost you an arm and a leg in the form of the Leica Vario-Elmar-R 21-35mm F3.5~4 Asph.

Olympus OM-2S, Sigma Zoom-γ 21-35mm f/3.5-4

These images were shot on a roll of a recently expired Kodak ColorPlus 200, post-processed on Olympus Viewer 3 (OV3), and print sharpened on Google NIK Sharpener Pro3.

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Nikon Zoom 310 AF, Compact, Cute, and Capable

Analog Diary: Film photography favorites, image making with a Nikon Zoom 310 AF, rounding up on the day trip to the Twin Towers.

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My third and final post on the Twin Towers, which I visited on a couple of occasions recently. While the first two posts were images shot with an AF Nikkor 28-70mm F3.5~4.5 and a Sigma Zoom-Gamma 21-35mm F3.5~4, these here today were with a Nikon Zoom 310 AF compact.

The cute and petite Zoom, when launched in 1994, was the world's most compact Zoom; it was even smaller than the Pentax Espio AF, which I was shooting with a couple of weeks prior. The diminutive shape came with an equally diminutive viewfinder, which requires me to adjust my gait as to the way I bring the camera up to my eyes when framing an image.

With these criticisms aside, and within the limitations of its 35-70mm lens, the Zoom 310 AF is capable, as you can see from the images posted here, of capturing decent images across its zoom range. The camera comes with a programmed electronic shutter and is fitted with a 35mm/F3.5 to 70mm/F6.5 four-element in four groups lens.

Nikon Zoom 310 AF

As a very handy carry-around, the camera is also one of the more robust and solidly built AF compacts that I have had experience with over the past few sessions. The Zoom 310 AF might, in the end, be a good choice as a take-along for one who is always out and about and only has minimal carry space.

Nikon Zoom 310 AF

p.s.
Our condolences to the family of Cesar Pelli, the architect of the Petronas Twin Towers, who passed away peacefully on July 19, 2019, at the age of 92.

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Nikon F801s, AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 D

People And Places: Film photography favorites, image making with an AF Nikkor 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 D and Nikon F801s, in the gardens of Suria KLCC.

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I was in the waterscape forecourt of the Petronas Twin Towers, KLCC, with the AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 D, but realized that the lens was not wide enough for me to pull in both of the twins into a single frame. While planning for another session with another lens that might be able to capture what I wanted, I spent some time at the location and managed to come up with the other images.

The AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 D was a new addition to my collection, and it worked rather well mounted on the Nikon F801s. Images were sharp and clear, with good contrast, and look to be a good performer if you are looking for a standard zoom that has a wider front end.

AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 D

The lens is quite a handler as well, with both focus and zoom control rings being reasonably smooth. This is aside from the front element that rotates during focusing, which makes the use of a polarizing filter rather awkward. Autofocusing is operated by a slotted drive screw operated by the camera.

Nikon F801s, AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 D

The AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm 1:3.5~4.5 was also Nikon's first hybrid aspherical lens, has a 9-blade diaphragm, and is compact enough to be used with a camera's built-in flash even at 28mm. The lens feels solid with its good-quality polycarbonate and metal mount construction.

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