February 11, 2021

Hard. To. Focus. covid-19: day 325 | US: GA | info | act

My latest lens acquisition, the Takumar 2.5/135 is a stunner. It’s all metal and glass, and it feels like it. It actually feels pretty balanced on the SL, but—man—is it hard to nail focus. I hope I get better as I practice, but many of my practice shots were, uh, shaky and blurred. I guess the longer the lens, the more difficult it is to work.

The weather is predictably shitty. However, I did take some shot before my model got out of school.

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Not too interesting, and I even missed the focus by a hair on the first shot, but they each show the potential of the lens. It’s a bit lower in contrast, but the bokeh is very nice in both shots. After I picked up Henry we tried some more. Initially, out of about 10 shots, I got two I liked.

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With the help of the ring light, I think these are better. The lens is great when I get the focus right. And finally I decided to set up the Rotolight Neo as an accent to try a couple. By this point my model was losing his enthusiasm, so I only got a couple, though the lights really helped me get the focus.

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Yes, these are experimental, but I think the first one works well. I think the second shot would have been better had I raised the Rotolight a bit to shine down on his hair. For the third image, I shown the Rotolight on the wall behind him.

I like the lens, though it will take some practice. Now if it would stop raining.

Leica Camera and Lens Information

📷: Leica M8 (09/2022–) • Leica M (Typ 262) (01/2017–12/2020) • Leica SL (Typ 601) (12/2020–). Leica Lenses: Leica Summicron-M 2/50 (Typ IV) • Leica Summicron-M 2/35mm ASPH (Typ V). Other Lenses: Asahi Super-Takumar 1.4/50 8-Element • Asahi Super-Takumar 1.8/55 • Asahi Super-Takumar 2.5/135 • Canon 1.4/50 LTM Helios 44m-4 2/58 • Industar 61 2.8/55 • Jupiter-8 2/50 • Jupiter-9 2/85 • Konica Hexinon AR 1.8/40 • Meyer-Optik Görlitz Trioplan 2.8/100 • Olympus Zuiko 2.8/24 • Olympus Zuiko 2.8/28 • Olympus Zuiko 1.8/50 • Olympus Zuiko 2/85 • Vivitar 2.8/28 • Voigtländer Nokton Classic 1.4/40 MC • Voigtländer Ultron 1.8/21 • Voigtländer Ultron 2/28. Processed with Capture One Pro.