Tag Archives: lenses

Canada Trip.

by in Leigh Kemp, Photography, Photography equipment and tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Hi everyone,

I’ve given more thought as to what gear to take with me on my trip to Canada later this year, it’s nearly forty years since I last set foot in Canada and I was substantially fitter and healthier back then. I’ve decided to pack my two lightest and smallest lenses my 14mm f/2.5 and 12-32mm f/3.5-5.6 Lumix tiny pancake lenses and Olympus PEN-F camera along with 4 filters and two spare BLN-1 camera batteries and some memory cards which fit comfortably in my small and sturdy Billingham Hadley Digital camera bag. Given the principle nature of the trip is to visit my elderly father and my sister and her family I’m going to do something that I wouldn’t normally do and pack another camera, my lightest, smallest camera, my Olympus PEN E-PL8, as a backup should anything happen to my beloved PEN-F. I’m certainly not going to take the chance of being stuck for the duration of this trip without a camera. I have a small matching detachable add-on pouch for the Billingham bag which is large enough to accommodate the E-PL8 camera, two spare BLS-5/50 batteries and a few additional memory cards. As this pouch is relatively small I’ve fitted my Olympus 15mm f/8 body cap lens. If worst came to the absolute worst then any lens is better than none. It’s not a lens that I’d relish being stuck shooting with for the duration of the trip with its small fixed aperture and poorer image quality but a heck of a lot better than nothing, “any port in a storm” as the old saying goes and a camera without a lens is about as good as a chocolate tea pot. 🙂

As well as the lenses in my camera bag I’m packing three more, my Lumix 20mm f/1.7 pancake lens, my small Lumix 35-100mm f/4-5.6 zoom and an additional backup Lumix 12-32mm lens packed in my travelling tech bag alongside my usual assortment of USB camera battery chargers, charging hubs, cables, card readers, travel adapters etc. etc…The plan being that I can just take out one or maybe two small, lightweight lenses at a time to suit my requirements for the day and still be travelling comfortably light or, if I chose, I could swap cameras and use the E-PL8 for an even lighter and relatively less conspicuous carry especially of a night time. All being well I think this arrangement should work well for me. The 14mm and 12-32mm pancake lenses are, to the best of my knowledge, the smallest, lightest, multi-aperture lenses for the Micro Four Thirds system and, from experience, I’m more than happy using both. If one mounts either of them on the E-PL8 then one really has a pocketable camera.

Kind regards

Leigh

Latest thoughts and ramblings.

by in Leigh Kemp, Photography, Photography equipment and tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Hi evryone,

It’s getting ever increasingly more difficult to get the shots that I want. I’m now down to taking out just one small prime lens and pretty much the lightest of my Micro Four Thirds camera bodies. I started with prime lenses years ago and then bought several zoom lenses including my original travel zoom my Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO lens which is now far to heavy for me to take out. The lens that I need doesn’t exist and in terms of technology probably won’t exist for many years to come that’s a “standard” zoom lens that covers my preferred focal length range, mid wide angle to medium telephoto, as fast, light and compact as a standard focal length prime lens It’s a bit ironical as a standard zoom is what I need nowadays as , with my mobility problems, it avoids having to zoom with my feet or maybe that should be move with my legs but it’s not adequate as a one lens solution as I need a fast lightweight, compact lens for both day and nigh time use. So, the lens that more or less ticks the weight and speed boxes the best and covers most of my requirements albeit with its limitations is my M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8 35mm equivalent lens. I’m missing some shots because my legs get very achy and tired very quickly on leaving the house not to mention painful by the end of the day but at least I’m getting some shots. At the risk of sounding melodramatic I’ve come close quite a few times to considering selling up my gear but something inside always stops me short of doing so.

Filters:

I’m not a big user of filters as I like to do most in post processing but I have narrowed it down to an absolute maximum of four filters that I’m experimenting with taking out and about with me.

Marumi Super DHG circular polarising filter. Not a filter that I need that often but useful on occasions.

Tiffen FusionPOL combined 1/4 pro black mist and CPL filter. I very rarely take portraits of people but it’s handy to have the black mist effect as well as the CPL but, for me, it’s not as useful as my other two filter below for use at night.

Kenko Black Mist #0.5. This filter has a pretty strong diffusion effect and works well if one want the halation to effect the whole image. It has it’s uses in both day and nigh time but I find my last filter give a more pleasing all round effect.

K&F Concept Shimmer Diffuser 1 filter. Unlike the black mist filter this filter is much more subdued, the halation is localised to light sources and hardly noticeable in daylight. I like this filter for nigh time use as the effect it a lot more subtle that black mist filters.

Software:

I’ve just invested in upgrading my DXO PureRAW software to the latest version 6. I’m a fan of DXO’s lens correction profiles which apart from lens distortionc correction it also includes corrections for lens-specific global sharpness and, vignetting as well as chromatic aberration correction option and, in my opinion, the best noise reduction out there and now incorprorating the DeepPRIME XD3 denoising tecnnology, The latest version also includes saving as compressed DNG format.

Kind regards

Leigh

Olympus M.Zuiko 9-18mm f/4-5.6

by in Landscape, Leigh Kemp, Photography, Photography equipment, Travel and tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Hi everyone,

I’ve owned this lens for quite a few years now and never really written much about it. With its 18mm-36mm full-frame equivalent focal length range it makes a great travel/walkabout lens if one likes taking street shots, landscapes, architectural and interior shots. Its very small and light at 154 grams and 49.3mm when in it’s collapsed transit position as shown above. Some may not like its plastic construction, although it does have a metal lens mount, or its switch to lock the lens. You don’t use the switch to extend the lens it is used when one wants to fully retract the lens and lock it in this position. It’s also not a very fast lens at f/4 at its widest and f/5.6 at its tele setting but it is very sharp and extremely versatile. It covers the popular full-frame equivalent wide angle focal lengths of 21mm, 24mm, 28mm and 35mm. As a useful bonus the lens accepts 52mm filters and the lens hood is a bayonet-fitting aftermarket one from JJC at a much lower cost than the proprietary one from Olympus, I refuse to pay £30 for a bit of plastic when they should be included with any lens. I can thoroughly recommend this lens for any Micro Four Thirds system users wanting to get a compact, lightweight ultra-wide angle lens at an affordable price especially if, like me, you find one second hand at a good price. Here’s a few shots I’ve taken with this lens. Over the years I’ve taken some of my all time favourite shots with this lens.

Kind regards

Leigh

Billingham Hadley Digital camera bag, first thoughts.

by in Leigh Kemp, Photography, Photography equipment, Travel and tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

HI,

I took delivery of my new camera bag. The bag, is, as I knew it would be, superbly well made. It’s in excellent condition without a mark on it, a great second hand buy. One of the two internal dividers was missing but that doesn’t bother me for the price paid and they do spares if I choose to get more. A brilliant added bonus was the inclusion of the matching SP40 padded non-slip leather shoulder pad which, if bought as an accessory, is quite expensive. The big appeal of this bag, apart from the excellent quality of materials and manufacturing, is the extremely well padded plush interior with padded top, the good-sized front pocket which holds quite a bit and its weather proofing and it should be perfect for my day-to-day requirements, also no more zips, velcro and fiddling around fitting and removing rain covers!. I chose to try it for size with my Olympus PEN-F camera fitted with my M.Zuiko 12-45mm zoom with lens hood attached and it fits very well as the bag has some height to it which is another reason why I wanted it. Below a few shots of the bag and contents, if I was packing for a lengthier trip I’d probably squeeze in a small USB power bank and an extra spare camera battery into the front pocket and additionally pack one of my small, fast standard prime lenses in the main compartment if I get another padded divider.

PEN-F camera with 12-45mm lens attached, small four filter pouch, neoprene pouch containing lens brush, lens wipes and microfiber cloth, filter wrench as I’ve started to use filters more frequently of late, Tile Mate bluetooth tracker, spare camera battery plus two extra SDHC cards in a waterproof battery case, small cheap MP3 player and bluetooth ear buds as I occasionally like to listen to some music on my travels.

Kind regards

Leigh

I bought a Billingham Hadley Digital camera bag.

by in Leigh Kemp, Photography, Photography equipment, Travel and tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hi,

Back in the late 70s I bought one of the first Billingham 550 model camera bags ever made eagerly waiting weeks for it to be made and delivered as they were on lengthy back order such was their demand. It was a great bag, pretty large, quite heavy, but aged about twenty I was able to carry a lot more weight than I can now, it was really beautifully made and, at that time, it ticked all the boxes for me for a camera bag. It certainly wasn’t cheap even then given what I earned in those days but it was such a quality camera bag, it just screamed quality the second that one laid one’s eyes on it. I’ve been looking for a small camera bag specifically for a trip that I’m planning for later this year and I re-discovered their bags and I found one of these second hand at a very tempting price so I’ve ordered it. For my minimalistic requirements carrying just a small micro four thirds camera, one or two small lenses and a few essential accessories, spare batteries etc., I think that this bag will fit the bill very nicely. It’s pretty nigh impossible to find a bad review of Billingham camera bags, they’ve been making bags for fifty years and my experiences back then would bare this out completely. A quality UK product made from top quality materials, multi-layered waterproof canvas without the need for a separate rain cover, protective well padded interior and dividers with leather and brass fittings, arguably the best made and longest lasting camera bags that money can buy and the perfect stylish but still discrete companion to compliment my passion for retro-styled cameras and lenses 🙂 with the added bonus that to anyone not in the know it doesn’t look very much like your typical camera bag.

External Dimensions: W210mm (8¼”) x D130mm (5⅛”) x H210mm (8¼”) Internal Dimensions: W180mm (7⅛”) x D100mm (4″) x H170mm (6¾”) Capacity: 2.50 litres (0.09 feet³) Weight: 0.47 kgs (1.04 lbs)

Kind regards

Leigh

Revisiting manual focus lenses.

by in Leigh Kemp, Photography, Photography equipment, Travel and tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Hi all,

Just lately I’ve dug out my TTArtisans manual focussing lenses, my 17mm f/1.4 and my 35mm f/1.4. It’s been a long time since I only packed manual focus lenses. Whilst I fully appreciate the value of autofocus especially when it comes to ultra quickly nailing focus, there’s something about manual focusing. It hard to put into words exactly but it’s not a hinderance given my typically slow-paced landscape photographic interests where I’m not capturing fast action or have the need to zone-focus. Not only has it taken me right back to my film days but most importantly it has slowed me down and somehow concentrated my mind and involved me more in the shot. Of the two lenses I surprisingly prefer the longer focal length which equates to 70mm in full frame terms. They both have their quirks but this gives them some character, they’re not the “sharpest tools in the box” and, if edge-to-edge image quality is absolutely paramount, then “these aren’t the lenses you are looking for” 🙂 but, for the price, they’re a lot of fun and a good buy. I decided to pair them with my old, largely redundant, Olympus E-PL5 camera in order to make things as compact and lightweight as possible. I’ve fitted step up rings and lens hoods to suit my preferred filter size of 58mm.

I call this my “Silver Machine” 🙂 Olympus E-PL5 and TTArtisans 35mm f/1.4 lens.

Kind regards

Leigh

The joy of small, lightweight cameras and lenses.

by in Leigh Kemp, Photography, Photography equipment, Travel and tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Hi all,

Lately I’ve been drawn more or more towards my smallest cameras and lenses such as my Olympus Pen E-PL8 camera. For many years now I’ve realised that I hate carrying heavy kit, what’s taken me a lot longer to somewhat reluctantly fully come to terms with is that it’s not just a case of likes and dislikes but that I can no longer physically do so. Fortunately my photographic interests lend themselves to small cameras, small lenses and a small camera bag to carry my gear in and that, for me, has always been the beauty of the Micro Four Thirds system it’s what first attracted me to it and as my physical health has changed I’m more than glad that I did so. Just about all modern cameras and lenses are extremely fully-featured and capable of producing excellent results. The system is also blessed with an excellent selection of very small and lightweight lenses which suit my purposes pretty much exactly.

I always chuckle when I hear terms like “entry-level” and “kit lens” used to describe gear made for casual usage and suited for “noobs” and those who don’t take their photography seriously. In my opinion they’re more than often hyped-up marking terms designed to make one feel the need to upgrade to more expensive gear in the belief that more expensive gear makes better photographs or at least that’s how it’s often perceived as if the person behind the lens doesn’t figure in the equation. I’ve got a 4ftx3ft framed landscape picture on our living room wall which has all the detail that one could want taken on a 16 MegaPixel sensor-equipped “entry level” camera 🙂 . It’s not about the gear, it’s about what one “sees” and how one uses it. If I take a shot that I’m not happy with it’s me that’s at fault, not the camera or the lens’ fault.

If one takes the EPL-7 or E-PL8 and similar cameras for example they have just about all the day-to-day features than one could ever want unless, understandably, some genres such as wildlife photography, astrophotography, sports photography etc. demand the use of more specialised gear. Sure many models like the E-PL8 have just an LCD screen, something that I personally don’t like, but add on the optional Olympus EVF and it has the best of both worlds just like it’s bigger and more expensive brethren. It’s metal-bodied, small, lightweight, beautifully styled, discrete and unobtrusive and doesn’t scream overly expensive and, when fitted with a small lens like one of the pancake prime or zoom lenses, it becomes pocketable!. The E-PL10 even has an electronic shutter which is a feature that I use frequently when I’m shooting HDR but, for some reason best known to Olympus, they dispensed with the ability to fit an add-on EVF so I personally wouldn’t buy one purely for that reason.

So, in my opinion, anyone looking for small, lightweight camera gear to carry around for genres like landscapes/cityscapes, portraiture, walkabout street photography and when travelling these cameras and lenses make excellent sense and anyone used to habitually carrying heavier kit will find the experience nothing short of liberating, I certainly have ever increasingly grown to do so.

Kind regards

Leigh

Long time, no see.

by in Corfu, Leigh Kemp, Photography, Photography equipment, Travel and tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Hi everyone, hope you’re keeping well,

Well, it’s been quite a while since my last post. I just haven’t been able to get out and get any shots. Firstly my health hasn’t been that good, then there’s the weather which, with relatively few exceptions, seems like its been raining every day for months. We’ve also had and are still repeatedly having very high winds and we’ve had local flooding. I’m also reliant on public transport which is few and far between in this part of the World and financially it’s been a tough time. So, putting it all together, there have been very few days when I’m feeling up to it, the weather’s been sufficiently favourable and I’ve had the funds, usually one, the other, but rarely all at the same time. Notwithstanding all of this, we’ve booked a much-needed short holiday return visit to the beautiful Greek island of Corfu which we’re both very much looking forward to after last year’s disastrous week-long trip to Malaga Spain which saw me confined to our hotel room for days on end with a nasty bout of food poisoning resulting in very few opportunities to get any shots or, for that matter, do pretty much anything else.

Pontikonisi, Corfu – Olympus OM-D E-M1 I and M.Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 lens.

Naturally my thoughts have recently turned to which gear to pack. I considered taking my smallest, lightest camera, my PEN E-PL8 but decided that, for a few extra ounces I’ll take my much-loved, much-travelled and much-trusted OM-D E-M5 II camera principally for it’s weather-sealing, faster maximum shutter speed (particularly useful in very bright conditions and when shooting HDR) and electronic shutter. The large eyepiece I fitted some years ago after my laser ops in both eyes that resulted in halos in bright light. Regarding lenses, I’m typically going to travel light with only two lenses, my Lumix 12-60mm f/3.5-f/5.6 (24mm to 120mm equivalent) weather-sealed lens for general shooting and my Lumix 20mm f/1.7 for low light/interior and evening use. Both of these lenses have great image quality and have travelled with me on several previous trips abroad as well as in the UK particularly my Lumix 12-60mm which has the useful bonus of extra telephoto reach, punches well above it’s cost and weight and is significantly lighter when compared to my other “standard” zooms. All of this along with a few small accessories: spare battery/s, rain cover, lens wipes and CPL filter in one of my very small Manfrotto camera bags, another of my best buys at £8.00 UK each. 🙂

I’ve only splashed out on one new item a new camera strap by Tarion (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0194X71JQ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details) for which I paid the less than princely sum of £9.00 UK 🙂 seen here attached to my E-M5 II. The strap is pretty wide at approx. 1 3/4 inches, nicely made, it’s classic styling is esthetically pleasing and, most importantly of all, it should spread the weight and prove comfortable in usage. I’ve fitted my Peak Design type connectors and buckles to the strap enabling quick release. Worth noting that the strap does come with triangle rings which is a nice touch if one requires them. It’s funny how one’s tastes/needs in straps change over the years as one’s age, gear and physical condition changes, think neck and back pain 😦 . I did notice that they show a less secure method of attaching the strap than I’ve been using for years. For anyone wanting to adopt a more secure strap fastening method, if they don’t already, I suggest looking at this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_paXysiGsxs&ab_channel=ShotKit I did contact their support and, to their credit, they responded quickly and positively,

I have so many different types of straps and for that matter camera bags, which have worked well for me at one time or another but not so now. I’m thinking I should have a stall in the local market selling used camera straps and bags. 🙂

Olympus OM-D E-M5 II camera, bottom-opening leather-like half case, Tarion strap, Panasonic Lumix 12-60mm and 20mm lenses. The 20mm has a 46mm to 58mm step up ring fitted to act as a lens hood and also allow my 58mm CPL filter to be fitted without adding very much bulk to a very small, compact, pancake design lens.

Take care, best wises,

Leigh