Posted on 26th March 2010 by admin in Lens reviews
14-24mm, adaptors, filter, filter holder, graduated neutral density, kit, Lee, Lee Filters, lens, nikkor, nikon, wide angle
LEE Filter Holder for Nikon 14-24mm Lens
LEE Filters are developing a new Holder System specifically designed for use on super wide angle lenses.The SW150 Filter Holder has been designed to initially fit the Nikon 14-24mm lens, but will also be adapted to fit on other super wide lenses after its initial launch.
The SW150 has two filter slots that take either 150 x 150mm standard filters or 150 x 170mm graduated filters. The holder also rotates, allowing greater control on the positioning of any graduated filters. There are currently no plans for a polarizer for the SW150, due to the fact that the polarization effect is too difficult to control on lenses with such a wide field of view.
The SW150 attaches to the lens via a purpose built collar. Each lens will have a collar attachment specifically designed for that lens. Custom fittings based around standard LEE adaptors ring sizes will also be a future part of the System enabling the SW150 to be used with other lenses.
The SW150 is currently in production and should be available from LEE Filters dealers from June 2010. If you would like to be informed when the holder is available please email the following address mail@leefiltersusa.com This email address is only to register an interest, no responses will be given via this address until the product becomes available.
Filert Holder for Nikon 14-24mm Lens from LEE
Posted on 9th February 2010 by admin in Lens reviews
24mm, f/1.4, lens, nikkor, nikon, ultimate, wide angle
Johannesburg, South Africa, February 9, 2010 – Nikon today announces a class leading ultra-fast aperture wide angle lens, the AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED. Designed for professional reportage and landscape photography, the new lens features a ground-breaking optical design for Nikon’s range of class leading FX-format DSLR cameras.
The Ultimate Wide Angle Lens - The New 24mm f/1.4 from Nikon/Nikkor
Ryan Harington, NPS Manager, Nikon South Africa says: “Despite the award winning success of NIKKOR zoom lens such as the AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED, many photographers enjoy working with the shallow depth of field and bright viewfinder image of fast aperture prime lenses, and we are sure this will be widely embraced by the photojournalism community.”
New NIKKOR optical design
The AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED features a unique optical design which provides improved image quality, with minimal distortion and excellent edge to corner sharpness especially at wider aperture settings. The new optical system combines Nikon’s exclusive anti-reflection Nano Crystal coat, ED glass and aspherical lens elements to deliver brilliant, high contrast image quality with minimised distortion and aberration. The f/1.4 aperture and nine blade rounded diaphragm contribute to render images with stunning NIKKOR trademark bokeh.
Discreet and Durable
The lens boasts a dedicated Silent Wave Motor for smooth and discrete autofocus operation, and is built to last with extensive use of magnesium in its construction, and weather and dust sealing, including around the mount. The AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED comes complete with dedicated secure fitting hood HB-51, and soft pouch and will go on sale on March 16, 2010.
Specifications
| Focal length |
24mm |
| Max/min aperture |
f/1.4 / f/16 |
| Lens construction |
12 elements in 10 groups (with two ED glass and two aspherical lens elements, and Nano Crystal Coat) |
| Picture angle |
84° (61° with Nikon DX format) |
| No. diaphragm blades |
9 pcs. (rounded) |
| Closest focusing distance |
0.25 m/0.82 ft |
| Filter/attachment size |
77mm |
| Diameter x length |
Approximately 83 x 88.5 mm |
| Weight |
Approximately 620 g/21.9 oz |
Posted on 9th September 2009 by admin in Lens reviews |Reviews
1200mm, canon, f/5.6, hands-on, lens, review, super, telephoto
Yes you heard right 1200mm of lens. Weighing in at 36.4 lbs and measuring just over 2.5 feet long this lens will give any wildlife photographer wet dreams. It has no image stabilisation (IS) will break even the toughest photographers back, has a hefty price tage of $120,000 and will make any bank managers heart skip a beat. This lens gives new meaning to the word Telephoto lens.
Watch a hands on video review of this lens – HERE.
The Canon EF 1200mm f/5.6 Super Telephoto Lens. Watch the hands on video review.
Posted on 1st September 2009 by admin in Articles |Insects |Macro |Magaliesburg |South Africa
Africa, bees, birds, butterflies, gardens, human, Insects, lens, Macro, spring
If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant and if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome ~~~ Anne Bradstreet (1612 – 1672)
Spring has arrived in full force in South Africa, it’s the 1st of September and already we are set for day time temperatures reaching near 30 degrees. As Spring returns so does a plethora of life return to our gardens and there is no better time for Photographers in South Africa to get their Macro lenses dusted off and get crawling around in their gardens. Macro photography is one of the most enjoyable forms of photography.You can also get started in Macro Photography without breaking the bank.
A Banded Bee Captured in Flight Near a Salvia clevelandii x leucophylla Flower. From Mitchell Krog's Macro Photography Collections. (Copyright Mitchell Krog - All Rights Reserved)
Only once a photographer has crawled around their garden for a few hours with a Macro lens do they realise how much life is in the garden normally unseen to the human eye and the more you start crawling around as a photographer the more you actually see. Of course it goes without saying don’t go sticking your fingers into dark places and watch out for spiders and snakes. With Macro Photography it is quite essential to learn to use flash to freeze action and ensure sharper images. There are many ways of doing this. You can use a standard flash unit attached to your hot shoe or you can make yourself a bounce card to force the light down towards your subject. The best way however is to purchase a Macro Ring Flash unit which sits around the lens itself and pushes light directly onto your subject.
A Mantis/Stick Insect Photographed in the Dead of Night using Macro Flash Techniques. From Mitchell Krog's Macro Photography Collections. (Copyright Mitchell Krog - All Rights Reserved)
The night time garden is full of life, most insects come to rest at night and this is one of the best times to get out and photograph them as it does not involve you chasing them around the garden in the daylight. This however requires that you absolutely positively need to have flash lighting to assist you.
If you are relatively new in photography and have wanted to experiment with Macro photography there is no better time to get started. A good quality Macro lens is relatively affordable and Macro ring flash units are also not too badly priced either. I can assure you that Macro photography is very addictive but also very enjoyable and rewarding and you get to appreciate a whole part of life that most people do not take notice of.
A Bee in Flight Coming in For Landing on an Aloe mutabilis Flower. From Mitchell Krog's Macro Photography Portfolio. (Copyright Mitchell Krog - All Rights Reserved)
Watch out for more Macro Photography Articles and Image from Mitchell Krog
