Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Posted by Unknown |
How to Choose a Medium Format Lens

Medium format cameras are the best cameras for portraits and high-quality photography of all types. Aside from the larger negatives and better mechanics of these cameras, the thing that really makes them shine is the quality of the lenses.While the prices have dropped dramatically on medium format cameras because everybody is switching to digital, the lenses still cost a lot. The glass is just as good as it always was and the lenses will work fine on new digital models of the older film cameras.Buying these lenses takes some thought and compromise.

Instructions

    1

    Decide on a budget for lenses. If money is no object, buy new wide-angle, portrait, telephoto and zoom lenses. For a Hasselblad, a 50mm wide-angle lens new will cost about $4,000. Since cost does matter to most people, the equivalent lens can be purchased used for $200 to $500. Prices will vary for other brands.

    2

    Decide what you want to shoot. If you want to shoot just portraits, a lens in the range of 100mm to 120mm will be best. If you want to shoot architecture such as old buildings, a wide-angle lens from 30mm to 60mm will suit your needs. For long-distance work, telephotos from 150mm to 500mm are needed. Most camera systems also have 1.4X to 2X teleconverters available, too, extending that range from 210mm to 1,000mm.

    3

    Look for lenses that will meet your level of work. Since youre shooting with medium format equipment, the quality does matter, but a 30mm lens from Arsat will cost between $200 and $300 for a Pentax 645 or Hasselblad. It's a good deal compared to the real thing from Pentax or Zeiss at $400 to $500 (Pentax 35mm) or $5,000 (Zeiss 30mm), respectively, used. The Arsat is not the best lens on the market, nor is it the sharpest, but it will give full fisheye wide-angle for a lot less money.

    4
    This Hasselblad 500C camera is shown with battered 150mm lens and a 1.4X converter.

    Get a battered used lens. As long as the glass is clear of fog or pock marks and it will focus and allow aperture adjustment, it doesnt matter what the exterior looks like. Yes, a rough looking lens has been put through quite a bit of wear, but usually by a professional photographer. That means such a lens often is well cared for despite its ugly appearance.

    5

    Combine your needs with a zoom lens. Years ago, zoom lenses werent as good as fixed-focal length ones, but that has changed. Instead of having a couple of wide-angle lenses, a normal lens and a couple of telephotos, getting a wide-to-normal lens and a normal-to-telephoto lens will cut down carrying weight, and the amount of lens changing necessary. While zoom lenses can cost more than other single lenses, they will save money by combining several focal lengths.

    6
    This 80-to-160mm zoom lens for this Pentax 645 is clear and spotless.

    Pick up the lens and look through it, both attached to a camera and by itself. A used lens will show spots or dust through a cameras viewfinder. For a clearer look, just look through the detached lens. If you hold it up to a diffused light, you can get a good idea of just how clear it is.


How to Choose a Medium Format Lens

Medium format cameras are the best cameras for portraits and high-quality photography of all types. Aside from the larger negatives and better mechanics of these cameras, the thing that really makes them shine is the quality of the lenses.While the prices have dropped dramatically on medium format cameras because everybody is switching to digital, the lenses still cost a lot. The glass is just as good as it always was and the lenses will work fine on new digital models of the older film cameras.Buying these lenses takes some thought and compromise.

Instructions

    1

    Decide on a budget for lenses. If money is no object, buy new wide-angle, portrait, telephoto and zoom lenses. For a Hasselblad, a 50mm wide-angle lens new will cost about $4,000. Since cost does matter to most people, the equivalent lens can be purchased used for $200 to $500. Prices will vary for other brands.

    2

    Decide what you want to shoot. If you want to shoot just portraits, a lens in the range of 100mm to 120mm will be best. If you want to shoot architecture such as old buildings, a wide-angle lens from 30mm to 60mm will suit your needs. For long-distance work, telephotos from 150mm to 500mm are needed. Most camera systems also have 1.4X to 2X teleconverters available, too, extending that range from 210mm to 1,000mm.

    3

    Look for lenses that will meet your level of work. Since youre shooting with medium format equipment, the quality does matter, but a 30mm lens from Arsat will cost between $200 and $300 for a Pentax 645 or Hasselblad.

    Enhance your photography skill,The Top Secret Photography Techniques

    . It's a good deal compared to the real thing from Pentax or Zeiss at $400 to $500 (Pentax 35mm) or $5,000 (Zeiss 30mm), respectively, used. The Arsat is not the best lens on the market, nor is it the sharpest, but it will give full fisheye wide-angle for a lot less money.

    4
    This Hasselblad 500C camera is shown with battered 150mm lens and a 1.4X converter.

    Get a battered used lens. As long as the glass is clear of fog or pock marks and it will focus and allow aperture adjustment, it doesnt matter what the exterior looks like. Yes, a rough looking lens has been put through quite a bit of wear, but usually by a professional photographer. That means such a lens often is well cared for despite its ugly appearance.

    5

    Combine your needs with a zoom lens. Years ago, zoom lenses werent as good as fixed-focal length ones, but that has changed. Instead of having a couple of wide-angle lenses, a normal lens and a couple of telephotos, getting a wide-to-normal lens and a normal-to-telephoto lens will cut down carrying weight, and the amount of lens changing necessary. While zoom lenses can cost more than other single lenses, they will save money by combining several focal lengths.

    6
    This 80-to-160mm zoom lens for this Pentax 645 is clear and spotless.

    Pick up the lens and look through it, both attached to a camera and by itself. A used lens will show spots or dust through a cameras viewfinder. For a clearer look, just look through the detached lens. If you hold it up to a diffused light, you can get a good idea of just how clear it is.



  • Digital Photography Basics: learn how to build a digital SLR ...

    photo.net/equipment/building-a-digital-slr-system

    Get expert digital photography basics and learn how to build a digital SLR system at Photo.net.


  • How to Choose the Best Color Contact Lenses

    ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Choose-the-Best-Color-Contact-Lenses&id=...

    Oct 29, 2005 Decided to change your eye color with colored contacts and dont know which ones to choose? Find out what the color contacts market has to offer and which ...


  • Color Contact Lenses - How to Choose the Right Colored Contacts

    www.allaboutvision.com/contacts/colors.htm

    Learn about the 3 types of colored contact lenses; which color type works best for you; and whether you need a prescription for color contacts.


  • Medium Format Lenses Buy, Compare & Review Adorama

    www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=itemlist&cat1=Cameras%20%26%20...

    Buy, Compare & Review Medium Format Lenses at Adorama.com. The best combination of quality services, vast selection, knowledgeable staff and competitive


  • How to Choose a Digital Camera eHow

    www.ehow.com Electronics Cameras Digital Cameras

    Modern digital cameras offer the convenience of immediate feedback, more editing power than you'd get in an old-fashioned darkroom, and there's no film to develop.


  • How to Choose a DSLR Camera

    digital-photography-school.com/how-to-buy-a-dslr-camera

    DSLR Cameras are increasingly becoming a type of camera that is in the reach of the average photographer as prices fall and as manufacturers develop more user ...


  • Pentax 645 Medium Format Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens

    www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/...645-Medium-Format-Lenses.html

    About SMC Pentax 645 Lenses: SMC Pentax 645 Lenses are medium-format lenses that can be used on Pentax 645 bodies, as well as on Pentax K-mount bodies with the ...


  • Best Medium Format Film to Scan - PopPhoto Forums

    forums.popphoto.com/showthread.php?375616-Best-Medium-Format-Film...

    What is the best medium format negative film to scan? I would like film to use for ... I've never been totally satisfied with any color neg film scanned. Transparency ...


  • How to partition and format a hard disk by using Windows XP

    support.microsoft.com/kb/313348

    Jun 07, 2013 Describes how to partition and format your hard disk when you install or upgrade to Windows XP.


  • Pentax US offers mail-in rebates on 645D medium-format DSLR

    www.dpreview.com/.../03/...645D-medium-format-DSLR-and-select-lenses

    Pentax US has announced mail-in rebates on its 645D medium-format DSLR and select Limited series lenses when purchased with the K-5 IIs DSLR. Buyers of the 645D

0 comments:

Post a Comment