¡Feliz Año 2009!

Nikon lenses on Canon EOS

It is possible to mount Nikon lenses on Canon EOS bodies with a simple adapter ring that can be found online. All Nikon lenses become mechanically compatible. Only Nikon G lenses are less practical to use as they have no diaphragm ring (not to mention Nikon S rangefinder lenses). Apart from that all Nikon lenses can be mount bot those with F ring (uncut) and AI/AIS/AF/AFD.

Nikkor S auto 50mm f1.4 on Canon EOS 50D

Of course, you have to focus manually and contrary to Nikon bodies, Canon does not provide focus confirmation. However it provides metering. Lenses focus beyond infinity. So overall, this require a bit of attention and is not as carefree as leaving the AF kit zoom all the time. Results may vary in terms of quality of the images produced depending on the lens used.

With 50D, being a cropped sensor camera, the lenses that are most interesting to use are Macros or fixed tele (200 f4). On 5D, being a full frame camera, one can use nikon wides, 50/1.4, vintage 85/1.4, etc. One interesting feature of EOS 50D/5DmkII is the hability to use live view function for fine tuning the focus (not for action photography). Another approach is to use hyperfocal and rely on auto-ISO function given the good high ISO performances of the cameras.

F-35B - USMC Trials

So DoD finally came around to the idea of getting the original Yak 38...

F-35B land VTOL trial




YK-38 sea deployment





YK-36 Trials

LUMIX G1

Ok by now everybody has seen or at least heard about this camera.

It's cool (it comes in red if you want it), compact and delivers good images.

So where is the catch?

No optical view finder - replaced by a electronic one

No prism means no glass - lighter body and less costs

First impressions

Its an improvement compared to bridge cameras but still if you have a nice LCD on the back (which is movable) maybe you don't need at all the viewfinder.

Size - I like the compact camera body and the design, but frankly I hold it with my three fingers (not that I have particularly large hands). In general, I favors using additional battery grips which provide better handling especially with large lenses. For using the G1, I would immediately look for the grip - which btw is not foreseen.

The G1 is aimed at being used with compact lenses, but still despite appearances, the camera is not that compact. Canon G10 is more compact - but it has a built in lens which cannot be replaced, so its not an SLR. But 450D and even its lighter version the 1000D have more resolution has an optical view finder with mirrors and everything (ok don't expect High Point) and sells for less. Pentax KM is also an interesting camera and holds better in the hand.

In fact, probably in this league of cameras, the rangefinder type (such as G10 which is the grand nephew of the Canonet) seems better suited for descreet, available light, quality lens photography. The Lumix is rather based on a video camera design, hence electronic view finder, movable screen, and contrast detection autofocus.

The funny thing is that it does NOT have (yet) video capacity. Panasonic displayed a prototype of an HD capable G1 which will be available in 2009. A full HD version may not be available before 2010. Even then, it will remain to be seen which functionalities the lens will retain when shooting video.


The only "concessions" to SLR design are the use of a mechanical shutter and the use of interchangeable lenses, which with the adoption of the new micro four/thirds format are more compact than ever.

First conclusions

Its a novel design which builds on the bridge cameras legacy of combining features from videocam and SLRs.

The camera seem to deliver, according to various commentators, a good level of image quality which position it above the average compact digital camera and among the medium high level of the most recent consumer DSLRs.

Strong points

Image quality

compactness

Live view and in lens Image Stabilisation

LCD panel is large and moving

More questionable points

Has a lot of videocam genes but... no video

Price - you can get a D60 with double lens kit for the price

New lens (sub?) system

Not that compact compared to G10, 450D or Pentax KM

LUMIX G-1 Lenses

G1 and any other Micro Four Thirds camera can also take any regular size Four Thirds lens through the use of the DMW-MA1APP adapter (see photo enclosed).

However, most of the functionalities of other 4/3 lenses will not work on G1.

Panasonic is not such a big producer of photo lenses, maybe they are even made by others. Therefore I don't know what is the rationale for creating a new range of lenses which is not compatible, given shorter back focus distance, with other cameras using the same bayonet.

However, some nice combinations are possible...

G1 with Leica 25mm lens 4/3 mount + micro 4/3 adapter

Leica R 100mm f2.8 macro Elmarit on G1 with R to 4/3 adapter and micro 4/3 adapter

Panasonic plan to release at least three more lenses in 2009; a 14-140mm f/4-f.5.6 OIS, a 7-14mm f/4 and a 20mm f/1.7 (see prototype on display at Photokina).

The lenses like all 4/3 lenses have a x2 crop factor - so the 20 is a 40mm slightly lower than a normal lens.

Who said pancake?!