Vintage Sunset

I sometimes forget how enjoyable photography can be. I focus too much on the kit, the goal and the sharpness of the finished image.

I need a dose of simplicity to remind me why I love it so much. I have the antidote to this and its vintage manual lenses. Yes, my camera body is super whizz bang fabulous but it needs a lens to see, to convert its whizz bang-ness. I’ve heard the lens described as the eyes of the camera. The lens converts the possible to the actual.

Yesterday evening, we took a stroll in the tops above our home town/village. The setting sun was spectacular, the temperature perfect (for me at least). I took my Canon R5 and two 40+ year old Pentax prime lenses with me. My all time favourite lens, the Pentax M 50mm f/1.7 and my second favourite, the Pentax M 100mm f/2.8. Compared to my native Canon lenses, they are tiny and simple. They are however really well made, solid metal lenses with superb optics that seem to stand the test of time. I have used them on many different brands of camera body, always reliable, always a pleasure.

The joy of using manual focus lenses is for me twofold. Firstly, the act of actually having to nail focus by turning the focus ring and choose the aperture on the lens connects me with the process of photography. Secondly, you have far greater control of what you are focusing on and how much you want in focus. Autofocus lenses are fabulous at quickly latching on to a subject but can get easily confused by a complex scene or challenging light. Sunsets, especially when you are shooting into the sun, have caused problems for me in the past when using modern autofocus lenses. Sunsets as a rule, don’t require lightning fast focus but do need a level of precision. It’s better to take your time and focus manually so you can decide what you want as your subject.

We spent about an hour up there and I thoroughly enjoyed the walk and photography. In truth, I needed to be persuaded to go as this current heat is sapping my energy and enthusiasm. I’m so glad I went. The Canon is a true beast of a camera and compliments the lenses perfectly. The modern thinking is that you need the latest, most expensive lenses to get the most out of the R5’s 45mp sensor. I actually think it’s far more accommodating and forgiving than the experts say. It certainly makes for lightweight kit.

I’ve recently slimmed down my Canon lens collection and my experience last night, makes me wonder if I could use older lenses more in the future. I hope you like the photos as I was really happy with many from the shoot. It felt as if the hit rate was higher than normal and I was slightly more considered than if I were using native Canon EF or RF lenses. Don’t get me wrong, there is still a professional need for good autofocus lenses but for pure enjoyment and a feeling of having made a photo rather than taking one, my old Pentax win hands down.

Mirror Or Not?

I’m an experienced chop and change merchant. I have extensive knowledge and experience of switching camera brands and systems. The only digital format I haven’t tried is medium format and that’s mainly because I can’t afford to. If someone gave me £10,000 to buy a camera system, I would seriously contemplate medium format. As it is, my budget is very limited. I rely on selling and trading to get the gear I use. About four months ago, I moved to Canon DSLR from micro four thirds Panasonicville. I wanted to rekindle a love of DSLR cameras and how they work. The Canon native glass is top notch, even the budget end 50mm f1.8 and 40mm f2.8. The autofocus and shutter systems are very quick. They don’t have IBIS but a few of the lenses have OIS so it’s there if you need to steady things.

I have spent the time since, using DSLR’s and mainly, loving them. There are a few drawbacks but on the whole, the shooting experience is very satisfying. I have mainly used mirrorless cameras in the past as I like to occasionally use vintage film lenses but the disadvantages of mirrorless are rarely talked about. The battery life is invariably worse, the start up time is slower and autofocus isn’t always as quick as with DSLRs. The camera world is nearly all mirrorless nowadays and the major brands (Canon and Nikon), have ceased to bring out new DSLR models or lenses. Everything is mirrorless with both having to create a whole new line of lenses to suit new mounts.

I recently sold one of my DSLR bodies to get a Canon EOS R mirrorless camera. It was the first full frame model Canon brought out and is a great starting point for them. it has its drawbacks but every camera I have ever owned had them. My dalliance with Leica full frame was great but not without its woes. I wanted to stay with Canon and have the ability (with an adapter), to use my existing EF glass. It connects flawlessly and works very well on the EOS R. Yes, the old problems with mirrorless are present on the EOS R but on the whole, I really like using it. I do think Canon have the best menu system of any manufacturer I have tried and it crosses over from DSLR to mirrorless, without missing a step.

My two camera system is now a Canon 6D Mark II and the EOS R. They are both lovely to use and similar in the quality of image they produce. I can’t decide as to which I will use for video work as the specs are similar. I have shied away
from looking at the R6, R5 or R6 II, as I’m not entirely sure I need IBIS as yet. Is the DSLR a dying breed of camera, probably? Are they irrelevant to today's photographers, no. The flagship Canon 1DX Mark III is an astonishing camera, that can often outperform most of the current Canon mirrorless cameras. It is far tougher and has a massive shutter life expectancy.

I know I have done these sort of gear centered reviews before and then gone and switched. I’m not telling you to go Canon or that I love them like no other. I haven’t ever explored the mysterious world of Sony full frame and there may come a day when I do. I do think using DSLR’s, is a very joyful thing and they are capable of producing stunning images, despite their ageing technology. As mentioned earlier, I do use old film lenses on occasions and we are talking 40-50 year old lenses. The images you can capture with these can be as good as any modern lens. Many filmmakers use vintage glass as they produce a more ‘filmic look’. Sharpness and precision are nice but not the be all and end all. Just because your camera is older than five years and may have a mirror, it doesn’t render it obsolete. Maybe there is a place for the continuance of DSLRs ? Maybe to harness what they do really well with what a modern mirrorless camera can achieve, is the way forward?