Half a year later ... (II)

What has happened?? What went wrong??

By far more serious, however, was the impact that watching the YouTube Channel of Ken Wheeler aka Theoria Apophasis aka The Angry Photographer had.
There are many, who dislike him a lot and to some extent I agree thinking that he could do things in a much nicer way. But as far as I have come to know him through his channel, he really is an expert in lenses and knows, what he is talking about ("compared to what?" is one of his catch phrases).
For me, his older videos about Nikon lenses and lenses for Nikon F mount (unfortunately for me he has now mostly switched to making videos about Fuji) were extremely useful and basically eye openers. I frankly admit I learned really much. The most important lesson for me was to lust less for new lenses that are potentially sharper have image stabilization and a quicker AF and to have a look at and appreciate a. older lenses or b. newer manual only lenses without image stabilization. I always double checked what he said against the information Ken Rockwell gave (and also buyed a few very cheap lenses only on the basis of the information and advice on that website). In most cases they agreed.

So, I decided to put my wish for two of the classic but expensive 'Holy Trinity' lenses - the Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2,8 Di VC USD G2 and the Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2,8 Di VC USD G2 (I bought the third one, the Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD  [the G2 version was not out then] but now think of getting rid of this one) - aside and to give other lenses a try. A pleasant side effect was that I was able to buy for the same price that would have cost me those two lenses a lot more and amongst them some primes.

Taken with Nikon 60mm at f/13, 1/320sec. ISO 100

As a substitute for the Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2,8 Di VC USD G2 I bought some lenses, zooms and primes: Among the zooms are the wonderful Nikon 35-70mm f/2.8 AF and the cheap but great and light Nikon 28-80mm f/3.3-5.6G, among the primes the Nikon 35mm f/2 AF-D, the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 Series E, and the Nikon 60mm f/2.8 Micro AF-D.

Taken with Nikon 135mm at f/2.8, 1/1250sec. ISO 250

As a substitute for the Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2,8 Di VC USD G2 I also bought some lenses, zooms and primes: The zooms are the Nikon 70-210mm f/4 AF and the Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-D, among the primes are the (all excellent) Nikon 105mm f/2.5 AI-S, the Nikon 135mm f/2.8 AI-S and the Nikon 200mm f/4 AI.

Taken with Nikon 75-150mm at f/8, 1/500 sec. ISO 320

I was also able to find a very cheap copy of the Nikon 75-150mm f/3.5, the lens Galen Rowell used to shoot his famous photo 'Rainbow Over the Potala Palace'.

So, for roughly the same price I got a lot more lenses with a lot more possibilities of use. If you now ask me, if I do miss the two originally envisaged lenses, then the short answer is: NO!

Half a year later ... (I)

In March I posted a wishlist of lenses that I would like to have on top of the Nikon 50mm. f/1.8G (that I first bought), also expressing the hope for getting some more prime lense.

Months later, of all the mentioned lenses only the Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD and the Tamron AF SP 70-300mm 4-5.6 Di VC USD were actually acquired. Of these two, the Tamron AF SP 70-300mm 4-5.6 Di VC USD is factually not in use and nearly never has been - it is on a shelf in the cupboard contrary to the Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD that in the beginning was used quite often but now also starts to collect dust. I am thinking about selling both of them.

So one may ask: What has happened?? What went wrong??

The answer to these questions is multiple.

In the beginning I was sure that because of my interest in Macro Photography my first lens would be a Macro lens. I, back then, had either the Tamron F017N SP 90mm f/2,8 Di Macro, 1:1 VC USD or the Sigma 105 mm f/2,8 EX Makro DG OS HSM on the list. After having read/listened to so many different reviews of both lenses, I simply wasn't able to decide, which one I wanted.

Detail of a Hydrangea

At the same time I became interested on the one hand in another Macro lens (the Tokina 100mm. f/2.8 AT-X Pro Macro) and on the other hand also in other options for Macro Photography, namely in the use of extension tubes and reverse rings.
Out of financial reasons - this is still only a hobby - I decided to try extension tubes. Mounted together with the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G the results were simply stunning
So I simply decided to postpone the decision which Macro lens to get, a decision I do not regret until now (see also below)
Btw, a new potential candidate has in the meantime also entered the race, namely the Irix 150mm f/2.8 Macro Dragonfly, making a final decision even more difficult.

Just over two weeks using the Nikon D750

Poppies behind a wooden fence

It has now been two and a half weeks since the Nikon D750 arrived, my first full frame camera.
I had already purchased the nifty fifty Nikkor 50mm f/1,8 lens. I wanted to start with exactly this combination in order to be able to fully concentrate on composition and creativity.

Some blossoms

Without any calibration of the lens I took the first picture of somy poppies behind a wooden fence and I was from the start extremely impressed by the quality of the picture. The photo with the blossoms was even better because the wind made up for the missing calibration. The photos displayed a great sharpness and extreme detail over the complete frame - simply amazing (especially when I compare the quality with my former Sony Alpha 68).



After the calibration the results were even more impressive. I really do like the the results I do get with this combination and it doesn't matter if the objects are close by or further away.

View of the Fuchsturm (Fox tower)

Peach-leaved bellflower

I also like the colours, this camera does produce. So all in all I am extremely happy that I switched my system to this camera.

My wish list of lenses

When my new Nikon D750 will arrive at Tuesday I will only have one lens, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1,8G, so a nifty fifty. I start only with this lens for two reason: 1. Its price is unbeatable (I have never needed until now a f/1,4 or even a f/1,2); 2. It will give me the possibility to really get to know the camera by heart and to enhance my creativity using it (cf. the brilliant two videos by Mike Browne [Part 1, Part 2]).

Of course sooner or later (rather sooner) I will start to purchase other lenses. The selection of available lenses is of course extremely overwhelming. Luckily, most of them are simply too expensive for me to come into question (therefore there is not a single other Nikon lens on the list) ...

So, the following is my (realistic) wish list:

- As a wide angle lens either the Sigma 12-24mm f/4 DG HSM Art or the Tamro 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD (difficult choice - more ultra wide angles [which I appreciate] vs. more speed).
- As a normal range standard zoom the Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2,8 Di VC USD G2.
- As a tele-zoom either the Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2,8 Di VC USD G2 (very expensive but fast) or the Tamron AF SP 70-300mm 4-5.6 Di VC USD (cheaper and more tele).
- As a ultra-tele-zoom either the Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6,3 Di VC USD G2 or the Sigma 150-600 mm f/5-6,3 DG OS HSM Contemporary.
- As a macro lens either the Tamron F017N SP 90mm f/2,8 Di Macro, 1:1 VC USD or the Sigma 105 mm f/2,8 EX Makro DG OS HSM.

Of course, some more prime lenses would be nice too.

Nobody said that photography is a cheap hobby ...

Switching my camera system from Sony to Nikon

The time has now arrived that I will switch (I do not want to call it: upgrade) my camera system.

I own (and shoot until now with) the Sony α68, which has an A mount system. I also have a wide variety of lenses: Sigma 8-16mm f/4,5-5,6 DC HSM, Sigma 18-35mm f/1,8 DC HSM | Art, Sony DT 16–50 mm f/2,8 SSM, Sony 35 mm f/1,8 SAM, Sony 50 mm f/1,8 SAM, Sony 85 f/2,8 SAM, Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD and the Sigma 105mm f/2,8 EX DG OS HSM Macro.

That is indeed quite a good collection (improvements upwards are of course easily possible), so one could ask, if I have gone crazy to give this all up. This seems even more madder because I in fact do like the Sony system and the lenses are great.

So why switch away from Sony?

The reason is in fact quite simple. I started to get unhappy with the performance of the Sony α68 in low light; from ISO 1600 upwards the quality of the pictures deteriorates, from ISO 3200 the pictures are not presentable anymore. Normally, the most logical step would be to upgrade the camera. The only possible camera, in view of my wish that a camera upgrade should result in a full frame sensor camera, would be the Sony α99 II. However, this is quite an expensive camera, out of my reach. And there is another huge disadvantage: the A mount. It seems that the Sony A mount system is dying - the new lenses of Tamron and Sigma are now quite often not produced anymore with an A mount; cf. e.g. the Sigma 50-100mm f/1,8 DC HSM | Art or the Sigma 150-600mm F5,0-6,3 DG OS HSM Contemporary. So, sooner or later I would have to switch away from the Sony A mount system anyway.

One could now say: Why don't you switch to the Sony E mount system? The reason is quite simple - for me the Sony E mount system is simply way too expensive and I would have to use adapters, which I dislike (it is a bit strange if you have expensive lenses in my opinion).

Switching to?

So I want to change. Two conditions had to be fulfilled: the next camera should be full frame and the camera should have a clear price structure. After a long and painstaking search the result was in the end quite clear: The only viable choice is then a Nikon D750. I have ordered that camera now. At the same time I bought a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50 mm f/1,8 as a first lens. I hope that this is a good combination to start with the new system.

I will keep you posted!

A weekend near Bullay ...

From 27.04.-29.04 I had the pleasure to attend a conference (Arbeitsgespräch zur historischen Lexikopgraphie) at the Marienburg near Bullay. From the hill, where the Marienburg is built on, one has a nice view on the Moselle. As photography was therefore not the first purpose I travelled light and had the Sony alpha 68 with only one lens with me, the Sony DT 16-50mm F/2.8.SSM (a nice lens giving good quality; a review van be found here).

View on the Marienburg and the Moselle from the Prinzenkopfturm

A particular nice view on the Marienburg and the Moselle can be found from the Prinzenkopfturm.
One can even have a view from this tower without being there because it has a webcam.

The Marienburg from below

The Marienburg itself lies beautifully surrounded by an immense number of vineyards. The region is famous for producing good wines. It was nice to see that the vines in the top row were shaped

Heart shaped vines

in the form of a heart.

But most impressive was the general view on the Moselle. The weather changed between sunny and cloudy and both gave the viewer an ever-changing play of light and shade. Another photo that I like a lot with an interesting cloud pattern can be found here.

A view from the Marienburg with nice light

I hope that you did enjoy this small gallery and wish you all a nice time making interesting photos!

Welcome to Roland Schuhmann Photography

My schapendoes Felix

Hi all!

My name is Roland Schuhmann and I am an amateur photographer based in Jena, Germany. In my main profession I am a historical linguist, working on the "Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Althochdeutschen" at the Saxon Academy of Sciences in Leipzig.
One of my main hobbies besides taking care of my now nearly 14 year old schapendoes with the name Felix (von der kleinen Nierwaldvilla) is photography. I mainly take landscape/nature photos, try macro photography and sometimes city photography.

My camera is (now) a Sony α 68.

You can also follow me on Facebook and Clickasnap.

I invite you to join me on my journey in photography and would welcome your feedback.

Best wishes,
Roland.