Bought this 50mm F1.4 AF confirm chip from cjlai (who provided installation.) However because the rear element of the Opteka/Samyang 85mm F1.4 protrudes past the mount, it would push the chip out slightly when focused at infinity, making it unable to mount and cause an undetected aperture.

However, I have filed down the chip using the ridged handle part of one of my screwdrivers! This was way faster than using a nailclipper file!


Ah, clearance!

signither: Nice!

As long as it does not suffer this fate it should be good:
http://www.xkcd.com/695/

zstan: There is art, but this doesn't make sense to me.

hazril: Hmmm.

This post has been edited by albnok: Apr 24 2010, 01:12 AM

Yup - it reports 50mm F1.4 and allows for auto-exposure, Intelligent Preview and SteadyShot. Oh and focus trap with Focus Priority enabled!

This post has been edited by albnok: Apr 24 2010, 01:16 AM

It's in your menu. You can choose Release Priority (shoot even when not in focus) or Focus Priority (shoot only when in focus).

#1 - And now for some mugshots of members of local metal band Dragon Red! Here is Adam.


All shots with the Sony Alpha 900 and Minolta 24-105mm F3.5-4.5(D) at ISO200, F11 - F11 and hard lights from both sides gives a heck load of detail! This is a 100% crop.


#2 - Adam is the guy who runs around stage screaming and shouting, and crooning melodically once in a while. He also does a mean Daron Malakian impression (and he used to have a Shavo Odadjian goatee!)


#3 - How about something more Oakley?


#4 - Camero is the relatively new bassist to a now stabilized lineup.


#5 - I was not introduced to him as Camero though - can you guess what his real name is? Hint: It sounds remarkably similiar, which is fantastic for a glamour name!

#6 - Landslyde, formerly of Poetic Ammo, is the boss. He throws a typhoon of rap!


#7 - Vin Diesel impression.


#8 - Amil is the resident shredder who puts in a healthy dose of chunky riffs, pinch harmonics and melodic solos.


#9 - I remember the days when he had a yellow star-shaped guitar (I can't find the picture so I'm not sure if I can call it a yellow ESP LTD Random Star... but then I remember it being a Kramer.)


#10 - Manshaan backs everybody with a tight drum section.


#11 - So brutal he could double-pedal with his fingers!


#12 - Somehow he looks like the Transformers Movie Megatron here.

achew: All the shots have the flashes at the same angle. They were placed on tripods, on tables on both sides of the room.

If seen from the top, the camera is at 6 o' clock, and the flashes are at 3:30 and 8:30. I also marked where they need to put their feet with masking tape. (If they are too front or back, the shadow is different.)

lwliam: No LOL that's not his real name (he's Malay.)

signither: VERY close!

v1rtual: Be warned that the Minolta x700 is Minolta SR MD mount. In fact, it was the first ever camera with Program Mode (called MPS, or Minolta Program System.)

It was also the last manual-focus Minolta... then came the Minolta 7000 which was the first A-mount SLR, and the first to popularize autofocus, and was a bestseller!

hazril: Nice bokeh on #2! Of course better she be looking at the camera...

fansoption: I like #2 but with deeper DOF.

freddy manson: Would mean more to the caption if #3 showed him standing over a ledge.

fansoption: A benefit of a macro lens is that you can get close and isolate the subject.

I don't think you're isolating the subject. Unless you intended to put the subject and background together to make a story... but I don't see a story, either.

#6 could use deeper DOF too.

By the way, did you put the Full/Limit switch to Limit by accident?

ForlornBrat: What is the story about these shoes?

eddybeh: Use a faster shutter speed - 1/15th of a second at least for posed crowds.

Don't use HSS except for daylight or when trying to disable the pop-up flash's effect on wireless flash shots.

If the ceiling is too high, you just need a large flash diffuser or bounce card.

neo_lam: HSS has nothing to do with it; in fact you'll waste battery power with HSS. Faster shutter speeds can be anywhere between 1/15 and 1/125s also!

e-jump: Congratulations! You've got a nice prime duplet. And yes great RM3700 price!

signither: I don't feel very well after seeing the price of a Canon Powershot A480. RRP RM379! The 5DMkII's retail price is RM9,688 though.

Anyway my friend was thinking of selling his Canon 40D and 24-70mm last year for an A900. However Canon had just adjusted their price and extended the warranty on new units, making him unable to sell his older stuff for the price he wanted.

Question is, are you going to be a slave to pricing? Is the Canon look what you want? I know I don't want the Canon color, bokeh or ergonomics, so even if it was cheap as heck I wouldn't jump at it.

braindead_fr3ak: Welcome back! The yellow book on the right distracts me somewhat as it stands out from the vignetting that is otherwise consistent in the photo.

fansoption: No, FULL is good - I was thinking you can't get close enough because you accidentally set it to LIMIT. LIMIT is for when you're not shooting macro - it will focus faster.

Wonka: What is your style?

As for what to upgrade next, read this article titled "Acquisition":

http://kenrockwell.com/tech/acquisition.htm

booby: You might like the A500 or A550 better as it has a more substantial grip. Guys would generally prefer it. Price is pretty close to the A330/A380 too.

signither: Fortunately, you have not been bitten by the Zeiss bug.

fansoption: Patience and experience. Most macro shooters use manual focus.

Wonka: Then, you don't need to upgrade anything. You already have the focal lengths covered. The most you can add is a tripod or a Cokin Graduated ND filter set... but if you are there at the right time, you don't need filters.

Kul | Mo0: Brand aside, or the funny irony that he rarely ever acknowledges Sony, I do agree with quite a bit of his philosophies.

Somehow I imagine you have insect spray with a custom sticker. Show us!

DIY fisheye with a peephole lens!

http://cow.mooh.org/2010_04_01_captinnod_a...234985035923550

Hmmm I didn't think of using a single-element lens - the lens needs to be able to focus very close in order to use this peephole.

Gouki: The GGS screen protector alone should do the job.

In fact I was using the PCK-LH4AM for my A900 until it got scratched up pretty badly so I switched back to the GGS. I bought the GGS the moment I got the A900, then removed it for the PCK-LH4AM, then went back to the GGS. The GGS doesn't scuff so easily.

Wonka: I have no idea since I'm not a tripod person - my 2 tripods (and 1 broken-head tripod) are all RM40 and below, for flashes only.

zstan: As long as it is the Minolta AF 50mm F1.4, then it's good.

There is a Minolta Rokkor/SR/MD 50mm F1.4 which is manual focus.

freaky_deity: The Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.5 EX DC Macro was RM1500. The Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM is RM1850.

This just in - another leak at a bar! This time, the supposed Sony NEX-3, a compact Interchangeable Lens Camera!

Picture taken from:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/26/sony-gi...compact-interc/

Note the top flips up to reveal an accessory connector (probably for electronic viewfinder, flash or even a supposed optical viewfinder!)

There appears to be a screw mount instead of Minolta's classic quick-release (which is a shame). It seems that the add-on flash is fastened by tightening the knob.

The flash looks too small to be powered by AAA batteries - perhaps it will take power from the camera.

On the plus side, it has stereo microphones!

The 16mm F2.8 pancake looks a bit long. I hope this is not the case.

It looks like the mount sticks out a fair bit... so I am not so confident of it achieving the 20mm back flange distance that the Micro Four-Thirds mount has. The shorter the back flange distance, the more lenses can fit, of other mounts.

Supposing the lens filter size was 49mm (as rumored) and the width of the filter measured is 133 pixels, the maximum thickness of the camera from mount to rear is 95 pixels. This means a maximum thickness of 49mm/133*95 = 35mm.

However if I measured from the lens mount to the accessory connector's screw I get 56 pixels, letting the flange distance be 49mm/133*56 = 20.6mm!

This is, of course, give or take parallax error.

Mounts with shorter back flange distances, can accept lenses with longer back flange distances, using an adapter without any glass, thus keeping all the image quality.


And now, for another shot from a while ago, from a future Sony Alpha 700 replacement with AVCHD video recording.


This is a future entry-level Sony Alpha also with AVCHD video recording. Yes it has a mike, and AF/MF switch on body, meaning it will still support screw-drive lenses.


This is from a trade show - note how important movie recording is on these new compact Alphas, to warrant its own button.


Meanwhile, in other mounts, I spotted this at Pikom PC Fair 2010 - the Olympus Micro Four-Thirds 9-18mm F4-5.6! Supremely compact for an ultra-wide angle. It's no bigger than your standard 50mm F1.4!


And here's the Samsung NX10 with the Samsung 55-200mm F4-5.6 OIS and an external flash.


The NX10 fits the Samsung 30mm F2.0 pancake better. This is a hollowed mock, though.


The Epson V300 Photo, a really affordable film scanner! This goes for under RM500.


Warga emas.


Guitar Hero 5, coming up for World Cyber Games! Are times exciting or what?

freaky_deity: OS, HSM (for A-mount and K-mount) and a weaker close focus (22cm, 1:2.7x maximum magnification) compared to the 17-70mm F2.8-4.5's 20cm and 1:2.3x maximum magnification.

This post has been edited by albnok: Apr 27 2010, 10:41 AM

terence88: It's alright. The tree in the back 'clashes' with her hand somewhat.

clivengu: As long as it has enough controls that is relevant, it's good - the Konica Minolta 7 Digital had even more buttons and knobs than the A700!

Braynumb: No, pasting it in Google right away tells you it's an APS-C lens. Yes there is a Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM for Sony - I've tried one. It's just Shashinki that doesn't stock Sony well.

Flash exposure is affected by:

Aperture, ISO and shutter speed but only in HSS mode.

Ambient exposure is affected by:

Aperture, ISO and shutter speed.

Braynumb: There's the Sigma 17-35mm F2.8-4 EX DG and Tamron 17-35mm F2.8-4 and Sigma 15-30mm F3.5-4.5 which counts as an ultra-wide angle for FF.

However the Sigma 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 EX DG is the only one that reaches 12mm on a SLR format.

There is also a Voigtlander 12mm F5.6 for Leica M mount.

mastering89, that is a great deal! Good catch on the clouds.

ieR: Finally, a glamor shot! Congratulations on your A550 by the way.

zstan: Corny, and the flare is a bit low-contrast, but... it works.

freaky_deity: Any lens works for portraits. They just give different perspectives.

The 30mm on APS-C, however, gives a very natural angle of view that works for walkabouts. There is also the Sony 30mm F2.8 DT SAM Macro for under RM800.

clivengu: Nice #1! I like how you incorporate shadow. Also like the straight lines of #3, true to being an interior designer LOL. Of course #4 could have deeper DOF to have the text all clear.

Wonka: I already posted it a long time ago. In short - yes it's good, very sharp, only downside being SAM (again, posted about this before.)

eddybeh: Yes got at Studio Zaloon in Pudu Plaza.

zstan: Yes I know the flare is Photoshopped which is why I asked for a higher contrast version.

This post has been edited by albnok: Apr 28 2010, 10:04 AM

LOL her statement is wrong.

"Guys who take photos of PC fair girls are perverts"

Correction:

"Guys are perverts"

Ah, better!