Trial Run - Lensbaby Muse Double Glass

So, with the F1 fever gaining momentum on the island, more of these models are on display on retail fronts. A few caught my eyes yesterday while exiting a giant electronic mall and the Lensbaby Muse was quickly used to dispatch them. Aperture 2.8 was used. Full manual. 1/50 second, ISO set at 200.

About Lensbaby Muse

The double glass optics option of the Muse gives user a higher taken down rate of decent tilt-biased images. The ability to focus fast and loose is what I like best about this model. You basically tilt, pull or push the extensible lens barrel to get sharp focus on your subject. And of course, everything is manual. So, don't drive it like an automatic transmission automobile.

Now, the lens comes with four aperture discs, from F/2.8 to F/8. And the loading of these interchangeable discs ultimately determine the aperture you will shoot your Lensbaby with. Whatever makes you happy, you can go get the telephoto kit or wide-angle kit to bring the 50mm focal length wider or narrower.

The trial run will begin today...

New Definition of Fun - Lensbaby Muse!

Yup, you heard me. Fun is one of the key ingredient to fuel your passion in photography. And what better way to fuel it than to get the Lensbaby Muse Glass Optics!

It was seriously for fun that I got this lens this week, and the selection process was quite straight forward. The muse option is the cheapest entry point. Both the Composer and Control Freak has a higher price point, hence taking some fun out of the whole equation. Moreover, all lensbaby optical characteristics are identical.

But of course, within the Muse comes two flavors - plastic or glass optics. My initial test soon concluded that the plastic option are just too soft for the liking. Not a single point is sharp! I would say the glass option is a good start point for most.

At $150, you can't really go wrong with it.

Top Choice - Nikkor 35mm F/1.8G

As the statistics show, I cannot agree with you more, that the Nikkor 35mm F/1.8G forms the most coveted lens in every DX camera owners' mind. It's a wonderful, sharp lens, with much resolving power to spare, and of course a very modest price tag.

In fact, I got mine the day it was launched! It's low light performance negate the dire need to carry your strobe around, and her prime lens characteristics simply rocks. O yes, did I mention the lightning fast focusing strength? Most of us who handled the lens was pleasantly surprised how fast and quiet the focusing is.

So, if you are still hesitating on purchasing one, you should stop whatever you are doing and go get one. From where I am, stock are flowing in and I can begin to see proper stocks everywhere.

What Constitutes Fun Lenses?

On my radar, there's only two categories of lenses that can be considered fun to me - Fisheye and Tilt shift. All others are serious fun, and no way close to light fun.

Firstly, our Nikon D90 already has a fisheye retouch function built-in and can practically turn any normal image to a fisheyed image. So, that's already half the fun there. So, unless you find fun in exaggerated perspective, fisheye lens will be fun in her own ways.

Now, don't think for a moment I can afford the Nikkor PC tilt shift lenses! They practically can cost my right arm and left leg to bring home...ouch! I am talking about a cheaper alternative, something in the zone I can call fun...

Nikkor 60mm F/2.8D in F/5.6

SB-900 off camera on the left angled 45 downward.

Zeiss Planar ZF T* 50mm F/1.4 Lens Resolution

So, you want a lens that put the MTF50 chart upside down? Then, get the Zeiss 50mm then. At the ideal aperture of 4.0, you are churning out a resolution rating of 2319 (center) and 2044.5 (border) from this baby, resolution enough to put full frame sensor leashed on chains!

Yeah baby! Groovy! Flower power!

Ideal Aperture to Shoot for Highest Resolution

Numbers don't lie and its what I go for in evaluating a pre-lens purchase nowadays. And with the MTF50 charts helping along, you can't go very far off the tangent. Avoid lens with ratings below 1950 for center!

Nikkor 18-105mm F/3.5-5.6G VR

Ideal Aperture to Shoot - 5.6 (at 24mm)

Resolution Count (at ideal aperture size) - 2204 (center) / 2074.5 (border)

Notes - O yes, at 24mm, this Nikon D90 kit lens outperform even the Nikkor 18-200mm! So, don't think for a moment its a mediocre glass you've got there.

Nikkor 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6G VR II

Ideal Aperture to Shoot - 5.6 (at 24mm)

Resolution Count (at ideal aperture size) - 2119.5 (center) / 1945.5 (border)

Notes - N/A

Nikkor 35mm F/1.8G

Ideal Aperture to Shoot - 4.0

Resolution Count (at ideal aperture size) - 2173 (center) /1990 (border)

Notes - N/A

Nikkor 50mm F/1.8D

Ideal Aperture to Shoot - 4.0

Resolution Count (at ideal aperture size) - 2250 (center) /1852 (border)

Notes - Surprise, surprise, surprise! This little fellow claims the trophy in achieving the highest resolving power among the whole lot!

Nikkor 60mm F/2.8D Micro

Ideal Aperture to Shoot - 5.6

Resolution Count (at ideal aperture size) - 2157 (center) /1979 (border)

Notes - N/A

Nikkor 70-300mm F/4-5.6G

Ideal Aperture to Shoot - 5.6 (at 70mm)

Resolution Count (at ideal aperture size) - 2123 (center) / 1886 (border)

Notes - N/A

Never Say Never with Sigma APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM

If you don't try, you will never know. And that's what I did today during lunch - try out this monster lens from Sigma. You be the judge, one shot at 150mm and another at 500mm. When you use non-Nikkor lens, you basically loose the 3D Matrix Metering II edge of the Nikon D90. Both handheld with OS set to mode II (active).

Best Lens to Take Videos on Nikon D90

Of the six lenses I possess today, two are FF-ready primes. Prime lens often bears the strong traits of speed, sharpness and good value, and such positive traits are also excellent candidates for video recording on the Nikon D90.

Here, I attached a short ant colony migration clip that I chanced upon in one of the park I frequent, but it simply shows the sharpness, clarity of the Nikon D90 movie mode with the Nikkor 35mm F/1.8G glass. Enjoy!

Watch Ant Colony Migration in Web Series | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Download the full video via veoh player to see video in full native resolution.

A Walk in the Park

I just hope all those who has placed order for their Nikkor 35mm F/1.8G has received them with the recent worldwide replenishment of this severely backordered glass. It sure is a joy to shoot with one, every now and then, with her lens characteristics being identified as sharpest among many other top Nikkor lens.

Here, we have a maturing lizard being photographed this morning in my exercise routine...as crisp as it can go I would say!

About Zeiss Lens

So, you are eager to own your first Zeiss lens with the Nikon D90? And wonder how it will be like. Let's call this a preliminary, prior to me actually getting it and shooting with it. But first, there are a few huddles we need to cross.

Huddle #1 - Manual Focus

Living in the age of autofocus, Nikon D90 owners are only forced to manual focus under video mode or specific image shooting moments where hunting is inevitable (e.g. shooting through a fence), and my experience tells me its not exactly a walk in the park. A lot of practice is recommended when you get that Zeiss glass.

Huddle #2 - Image Quality Review

Well, I am not too worried about this if I am doing it right, that is! The shallow DOF of using a big aperture can ruin every shot you take in an amateurish hands. Again, tons of practice is advised.

Huddle #3 - Assume Command and Control

It won't be that hunky-dory point and shoot situation anymore, as you attempt to hunt down that subject you wish to take manually. Imagine attempting to perform the AF-S or AF-C mode with your hands! But on the bright side of things, you will also no longer be subjected to the camera decision to allow shutter release. It will fire at your command every shot!

Huddle #4 - Price

At slightly a higher premium for only some model of the Zeiss family (e.g. Zeiss 50mm F/1.4), this can ultimately affect your decision on actually using them at all! If you ask me, I am personally looking only at the 50mm Zeiss lens at this point in time (to replace my Nikon 50mm F/1.8D).

About Carl Zeiss Optics for Nikon D90

So, its about glass you say, and not so much of the body that makes superb pictures? In my quest to obtain higher quality images, I am just beginning to realize this important fact versus a new body purchase. But, if that's the case, we ought to review our whole philosophy of shooting with Nikkor lenses only! Coz, there's a badder boy in town, and they are not from Sakura Japan, but rather, from Benz Germany.

As testified all over the Internet, the Zeiss lens eat Nikkor lenses for Breakfast and piss on their pants for lunch. And I have yet to find a single soul on planet earth that has something bad to say about them! And hey, they are not exactly that expensive too, demanding only a small premium over Nikon's!

Now, how's that for supper?

Super Zoom On a Budget - Part II

Nikon D90 with the Sigma 150-500mm lens

Super Zoom On a Budget

Like some of you, I have been hunting for a super long zoom lens for less than a grand for sometime now, and I think I just found one finally! Not surprisingly, with that price point, it's obvious it will not be from Nikon. But rather, its the new Sigma Sigma 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS!

If there be any assurance, I also found a fair collection of Flickr shots taken of this lens with the Nikon D90, and it really blew me out of the water! My impression of Sigma has all along been lukewarm. But can this really be it? Or am I hallucinating?

Nikkor 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6G Versus Nikkor 17-55mm F/2.8G

One would think for a moment, that this is a totally absurd article, to attempt to pitch a Nikkor super zoom with a pro lineup glass. But to my surprise, it's in fact, one of the hottest topic on the Internet too!

Let's face it, the Nikkor 18-200mm is not exactly that affordably priced, with its net value pegged at the price of the Nikon D5000 body. And here we have the Nikkor 17-55mm F/2.8 glass, which is priced at twice that premium. Naturally, one would ask the same simple question of - What exactly are we getting for that extra grand?

This review also began partly because of my desire to evaluate the Nikkor 17-55mm F/2.8 lens for my Nikon D90, while really wanting to know exactly how big the difference a pro lens lineup would really make against my Nikkor 18-200mm lens.

Details wise, I reference you to a decent comparison of both lenses on a Japanese web site [here]. You be the judge. Personally, I see only marginal difference between them! Very interesting findings indeed!

Egyptian Scarab Beetle

A memento from Egypt, shot again with the Nikkor 60mm F/2.8D with available light.

Coke Is It with Nikkor 60mm F/2.8D!

Believe it or not, you can really do some wonders with the Nikkor 60mm F/2.8D. May it be a coke can or a coke vending machine. Can you tell? Perspective wise, its very close to the 50mm lens'.

Trial Run II - Nikkor 60mm F/2.8D

Noteworthy discovery - As you close in on your subject with this lens, so does your DOF gets shallower! A few attempts may be needed to obtain focus on what you wish to be in focus!

Trial Run - Nikkor 60mm F/2.8D

As usual, a trial run is fast becoming a tradition for each of my new lens. Here, my trusty watch is used to demonstrate how close I can get before it starts focus hunting. Interestingly enough, this lens has a unique behavior in determining her aperture, and its not what we wanted it to be (like say a Nikkor 50mm), but rather, is dictated based on the actual distance we are focusing on!

Performance is as seen on this image. A picture paints a thousand words here.