Interesting results

Yesterday, I went out to get some stormy skies photography, and brought the 7DmkII paired with Canon 400mm f/5.6 prime lens.  Don't get me wrong, it's a good lens, but without stabilization, I found most my photos had some variation of motion blur, as it was low light, focusing on a distant subject, hand held. Not the best lighting for a non IS lens.

Today, I took the 400mm, mounted it on the Kipon EF to MFT adapter, and put it on an Olympus OMD EM1.  I swear this lens and body were made for each other.  Even though the lens is an f/5.6 on a full frame, the equivalent on the EM1 is an F/2.8.  Couple that with the in body stabilization, the lens being Non IS is no longer an issue.

You have to remember this when using this combination, because if you don't your images will probably be a bit dark, and when shooting at ISO 800 or above, that can lead to excess noise.  You will see 5.6 flashing in your viewfinder. You have to ignore that. I know, goes against everything you’ve learned.

I shot this at f/6.3 +0.7, ISO 800, 1/120 exp. 

The image is sharp, colors are great, and even the bokeh is sweet.

(Soon to be) On the road again...

Wing and I are heading up to the Pinnacles, in Cervantes W.A. Since the weather is a bit dicey, I have opted to take weather sealed (can go under running water without a problem) Olympus EM1 with two equally weather sealed lenses.

Also bringing the Canon 5D3, 100-400 and the 8-15mm fisheye, which is weather resistant, meaning  long as its not a Noah and the Ark fable of rain, I can be out in the rain and it will be ok. 

Will also be bringing Lumix 100-300 just in case of bird photography, as I have been told there have been many sightings of raptors/birds of prey around there. Not weather sealed, but as long as I'm careful, it will be ok.

Kipon Mount Adapter for Canon EF

I put a crow bar into one of my savings accounts and purchased a Kipon Mount Adapater, so I could use the most excellent Canon L glass with the Olympus EM1 body.

I did notice that it is slower to focus than it would be on the Canon Body. I expected that, the same things happens when you use the Olympus 4/3 adapter on the MFT body.  What I didn't expect that unlike when I use the 1.4x L adapter with the 100-400 mkII L, with the Kipon, there was no difference in the focus speed. IOWs it wasn't any slower than using just the Kipon adapter. And unlike when you use the 7D2 with the 1.4x adapter, you don't lose all the focus points, being 'stuck' with the center one ony.

What really surprised me is you don't lose the autofocus when using the Canon 2xmkIII adapter, although it does become a bit 'nose heavy'. I would suggest using a monopod when using the 100-400 with the 2x extender.

Image quality:  So far so good! I took many photos of the bees in the blossoming agave. The images are just as good, if not better, than when I used the Lumix 100-300 (Sorry, Panasonic), but I am using L Glass. 

Zooming in, clear sharp image.

 

Olympus TCON 17X for Stylus 1 Review

Let me say right off the bat, I have used tele-converter lenses before, on my Lumix DMCFZ50. So I do know they have some quirks and limitations. Onto the review. The Tele-Converter attaches to the Stylus 1 with the CLA13 adapter. The Tele Converter lens has a handy rubber grip on it, as putting this on your camera will make it a bit front heavy.

Went into Stylus 1 menu settings and set up one of the buttons to turn Tele converter on or off.  The tele-converter allows you to maintain a constant f/2.8, meaning you can keep the aperture wide open, or stop it down to the camera's max of f/8.0.
Two things that I really have a problem with: Tele-Converter has no lens hood available, nor is there a way for you to protect the front element with a filter. No thread. What I ended up doing was using a 77mm Hoya UV filter, and a silicon wrist band to hold the filter in place.



The images are below, are the same ORF file, processed with different software, then resized to 50%. Photo was deliberately taken in the worst possible lighting, back lit, bright sky. Full zoom, at the top of a tall tree. I felt if the lens could manage this with a reasonable quality as a result, it augers well for 'ideal' conditions.
Processed with Adobe Camera Raw, then opened in Photoshop. Purple fringe removal action, adjusted levels.

ORF processed with Olympus Viewer 3, then opened in Photoshop. Purple Fringe removal action, adjusted levels.

I found that the Olympus Viewer 3 handled the raw file colors somewhat better, but both could really use some more color adjustment. The OV3 one is a bit too cyan, and the ACR has a bit too much magenta. Details on the birds, considering the distance, and lighting, impressed me. Does this equal having a telephoto lens on a camera body? No, but it does allow for a wider use of the Stylus 1.

Now for an image of something rather mundane, but under more 'ideal' lighting. Part of the walk way. ORF Processed in Adobe Camera Raw, opened in Photoshop, levels adjust only. No purple fringing issues, and details are amazing. If you wanted you could count the grains of sand, and how many ants are walking across the brick.

100% Crop of Lorikeet in top of a gum tree. Straight from camera, no processing at all done.


Adjusted with Purple Fringing removed.

Will the tele-converter take as clear sharp photos as body mounted lenses? Seeing as it's being used on a camera that starts out by having a small sensor, no, probably not, but it does take good ones. Is it worth getting? Oh hell yeah, but I would really like to see Olympus come out with some sort of lens hood or 'clip on UV filter for this nice piece of glass.

Annoyance: Companies that can't grasp the fact it's a GLOBAL economy, and GeoBlock.

Case in point: Olympus Australia, the micro 4/3s accessories. The Accessory Port and Hot Shoe covers are easily lost. You can't find them on the Olympus Au site at all.

You can, however, find them on the Olympus USA site. BUT you can't buy them if you're in Australia, even with a drop mail address because you have to have a US *billing* address.

Also, in Australia, the price is double for these items, and that's not because of exchange rates. (Accessory Port cover, $7 US, was $15 AUD. With exchange rate, at the time we needed accessory port cover, it was almost at parity).

So, either quit the GeoBlocking, or keep the ^$%%#*%#%# items in stock!