Canon AE-1 Program

My mom has been shooting digital for a while now, but I was reminded the other day of her old camera, a Canon AE-1 Program, bought in 1984 for $219. I can't remember if hers is black & silver, or all black, but at any rate, it looks like this:






















I called her up and asked her if she'd bring it to me next month when they visit. She said she would, and I am so excited.

I'm interested in experimenting with it a bit because I've been thinking a lot about full-frame DSLRs lately, in all of my obsession about upgrading from my 350D. I have no idea what it feels like to shoot with one -- people talk about the DOF being better, etc., but I have a feeling that there's just a different kind of atmosphere about it that people like. And I remember my mom's pictures with the AE-1 Program looking so gorgeous, and not for any particular reason.

This isn't the best example, but it's one of the only ones I actually have on my computer --




















About three years ago, I scanned in a bunch of our old photos from when we were kids -- I'm on the right, here, and that's my mom and brother.

What I would love to do with this cam is put in some black and white film and just take a roll of portraits. I just have this feeling that it's the perfect film camera for portraits. I also think it wouldn't be too bad at some landscapes. Ken Rockwell says to use it in "Program" mode (a.k.a. "professional," a.k.a. "auto"), which I believe is how my mom used it. It will be tempting to mess around a bit, though, and see what I can see, but now my photos will cost something, as opposed to the free digital images I've been so used to.

I won't have it in my hands until the end of March, but I'm doing some research now in preparation.

(And no, I haven't forgotten about my new 85mm. We're traveling this weekend, and I hope to find a few chances to use it the way I want to use it.)

85 1.8 arrived, testing

Right before our "historic" snowfall started -- the second one of the season already -- my 85 1.8 arrived. I've never really tested a lens before, and I don't usually read many in-depth tests of lenses myself, but I wanted to try this one out. So, I tested it for sharpness and focus last night at a few apertures between 1.8 and 5.0. All of the shots were at ISO 400. I tried to focus directly on the second (middle) "A" on "SARASA." All shots were hand-held, and these are small crops of larger scenes.

f/1.8, 1/125 sec:



















f/2.0, 1/125 sec:



















f/2.5, 1/80 sec:





















f/3.5, 1/40 sec:





















f/4.0, 1/30 sec:





















As you can see, the image starts to get pretty fuzzy around f/4.0, but we're also looking at a significantly decreased shutter speed. I would like to do this same test outside, in sunshine, at ISO 100. Wonder what those results would look like. Thanks to The Great Blizzard of 2010 (not trademarked :)), it will be several days before I'm able to try a test like that.

At any rate, I'm extremely pleased with the sharpness at 1.8. The focus seems to be spot-on. I don't have a lot of experience evaluating lenses, and when I read about the problems people describe with new equipment on photography sites like dpreview.com, I get worried that I should test X, Y, and Z before being satisfied with the lens. But I consider "field use" the real test -- does it take the photos I want to take and perform as expected? Again, thanks to the arrival of The Great Blizzard, it will be a few days before I know the answers.

Meanwhile, on with testing ;)

Here's one of the first shots I took after getting the lens on my 350D. It was taken at ISO 400, f/1.8, 1/250 sec:




















And here's a small crop:






























Now, the first thing I notice in this crop (other than the noise in the image thanks to the ISO) is a bit of what I believe is called chromatic aberration (CA) -- the purple coloring on the top of the piece, and anywhere the light is shining directly on it. The conditions for this shot were a little funky, as you can see from the full image above -- the container is sitting directly under a lamp, which is basically providing the only light for the scene. I don't know if that is contributing to the amount of CA I'm seeing here, or if this is a "flaw" of the lens at f/1.8 (and maybe the higher ISO has something to do with it?).

Anyway, the good news seems to be that it's pretty sharp (at least to my eyes). I believe I focused on the horizontal cross-piece, where the two "wings" curve around to. Considering the cropping I've done here, and the limited capabilities of my 350D's 8 megapixels, the image seems to be evidence of a sharp lens -- even at f/1.8.

I'm pretty pleased with my amateur tests, but I'm more excited to get outside and use it -- as soon as this snow stops!

Come onnn, Feb. 9

Canon is supposed to make some announcements on February 9 about new DSLRs coming out this year and new lenses/upgrades.

I cannot wait.

First I thought I definitely wanted a 135L. Then I thought I wanted the 16-35L. Then I thought I wanted the 35L. Then yesterday, I was sure that I had decided on the 85 f/1.8. I decided to write this post because tonight, I seem to be wandering back over to the 135L camp.

I have a growing prime lens addiction, and I really want to see what a Canon "L" can do. I think my dilemma might be between quality and useful focal length. I was pretty sure about the 85 1.8 because it seems like the right next prime focal length for my kit; I think the 85 would be a nice prime for street portraits. However, I have read more good things about the 135L image quality than I can remember. And that little "L" is taunting me. I wonder what it can do for me?

My goal in the future might be to have the 35 / 85 / 135 combination. (Putting aside for a moment the fact that I've already "messed" that up with the 50 ;) ha!) Another consideration: If I stay with crop bodies, is that the best trio for me, or would it be better on full frame? If I stay with crop, could I do the 35 / 50 / 85?

Oh my.

Well, here's a shot I took on the street with the trusty 50:































I like this shot. However, it's about a 2/3 crop from the original photo, maybe 3/5. An 85mm focal length would have gotten me closer right out of the camera, right? Should I care that I can't afford the 85L? Should I go ahead and invest in primes that I can afford, figure out what focal lengths are most useful to me, then upgrade them to Ls as I get the money?

I'm too tired from that to even talk about camera bodies. 60D? Fast-forward thirteen days, please.

More street scenes

I tried my hand at "street" photography for a second time yesterday on my lunch break. Although, these photos should probably be categorized as "architecture" since they have few to no people actually in them :) I'm still scared to get in strangers' faces with my camera. The first photo below is one of the only ones with people in it. Settings are ISO 100, f/5:



















I liked the symmetry of the two figures on the L and the R. I would have taken the frame down to the sidewalk if I could have, but I was shooting with my 50mm, and when I backed up enough to get the sides and the top of the building in the frame, there were two parking meters right in the bottom center of the picture -- where the door is. So I cropped those out because they were ugly.

I also had no idea how the white of this building would look. I think I've done okay, but I don't really have much to go off of other than my own eye. As I said, I took these on my lunch break, so it was about noon, and the sun was high, clear sky. That light isn't excellent for most photography.

Here's another store front. There are some really interesting-looking (& colorful) buildings in Old Town. Settings are ISO 100, f/5:






















I think I may have gotten a little out of control when adjusting the red tones on this one. It's so hard to tell what a photo actually looks like when you're moving it from program to program, where colors are rendered differently. I had no idea what this would look like on the web.

Ah, well -- excuses, excuses, right? I processed all of these in Lightroom (the beta). I'm trying to remember to use Lightroom instead of DPP from now on because I want to decide if I'm going to buy the full version when the beta is yanked. I do like LR... I like the amount of control it gives you, even if that sometimes makes it difficult to know when to stop adjusting! And it has the "straighten" tool, which DPP doesn't offer for some reason. I use it a lot :)

Also, a Wish List update: I may have changed my mind about what lens I want next. I really want to replace that kit lens, no matter when I get a new camera body, so I might go for the EF 24-70 f2.8L next. It's currently $1,277 on Amazon.com. I'm hoping to get it before March if I do end up going to NYC.