Paw Tracks 12" - 1xLP - 7 tracks sold out nota bene - reissue of 2002 live LP wt different cover released at 300 copies on St Ives Records - Vinyl only label that is part-owned by Secretly Canadian. 40 min 7 tracks live recording of 2001 US tour
2006 - Purple Bottle / Polly
7" white label (covers of S. Wonder and Nirvana)
2007 - Fireworks
Domino 10" s/side pink UK ed
Note that Paw Tracks is an off-shoot of Carpark Records established to release AC's and their side projects
Introduced on Nikon’s first lens-interchangeable SLR, the Nikon F (1959)
F lenses have indexing system via coupling fork. Lens mount ring is full and it is not possible to mount them on most modern (D)SLRs.
Auto aperture indexing (AI) enables automatic setting of maximum aperture (1977)
F-mount ring is cut to provide indexing on mount. Certain cameras (FM, FE, Modified F5) allows mounting both F (but without meter coupling) and AI.
Program auto exposure mode compatibility (1981)
Auto coupling mainly with FA, replaced with CPU on AF lenses.
Aperture information exchange with the camera body through CPU communication (1983)
First P-series lenses - 3 in 30 years - 45/2.8P, 500/4P and 1200-1700/5.6-8P
Nikon F bayonet
Autofocus compatibility (1983)
F3AF - AF not implemented properly by Nikon before 1988 with F4 and F-501.
Manual focus lenses can be mounted on AF cameras only if AI standard or if modified. Won't meter except with high end models (FA, F4, F5, F6, F100).
AF lenses lose coupling fork and cannot meter with older cameras (F, F2, Nikkormat etc.)
Digital SLR cameras compatibility (1995)
Ok D1x is 2001, all lenses focal becomes a 1.5x with smaller than film DX image sensors.
Manual AI standard lenses meter with D200/300/700/3/3x. In addition retain normal focal with full frame (FX) cameras D 700/3/3x. Auto metering capacity restored for manual AI lenses via lens database activated through the menu. Basically you tell the camera which lens is mounted and its minimum f/stop. Works also for matrix metering.
New DSLR entry models (D 40/40x/60) without AF motor get rid of indexing peg. It is possible to mount F lenses (full focus ring) on these cameras. No metering but focus confirmation is available.
F lens converted to AI with official Nikon kit still compatible with original F mount
For more detail on the evolution of the F-mount see link.
Summary of different versions of manual focus Nikon lenses see link.
Many people are anxiously awaiting new cameras from Nikon to be announced at PMA, such as
- D400 - follow on of D300 with 15-16 Mpix and video to match 50D
- D700x - with 24 Mpix as D3x and (?) video
- D5000 or D65 - entry model with D40 chassis, 3" LCD and 12 Mpix D300/90 processor and Image quality, plus live view and video
However, there is no new nikon DSLRs at PMA (Pbay reports).
Instead, Nikon has launched the celebration for the 50th anniversary of the F mount see link.
However, the anniversary falls in June and while certainly a date not to be missed, it is indeed a bit early to celebrate. But they probably didn't want to miss the opportunity at PMA.
What a coincidence, just last week I came across a Nikon F body with FTN finder. It has some marks and scratches but appears in working condition. As with all used mechanical SLR, unless bought with seller's guarantee that the camera has been serviced, it is always safe to check light sealing, exposure times and light meter, etc.
In this case, after replacing the type 625 batteries with a fresh set, the meter has been working on and off. So basically I am still playing with the camera and will soon shoot a roll of film to test it.
It's alive!
Nikon's own definition of the Nikon F
A system oriented, single-lens reflex (SLR) camera with interchangeable viewfinders, finder screens and motor drive capability, and coupled to Nikon F Meter
Talking about system, what I for one would be waiting is a Digital Modul R for Nikon F, like Leica did for the R8/9 model in 2005 (see link). Basically it would be great to be able to mount a digital back on a fine mechanical body such as Nikon's F and F2.
This is a 1.6x teleconverter that provide limited autofocus capacity with manual focus Ai/Ais lenses. It is discontinued but can be found for less than 100$ secondhand. The converter works fully only with certain Nikon cameras. It does not autofocus with DSLR (except D2h/x). The optical quality is very good although you lose up to a stop.
I tried it with the F/N 90 and it works pretty well. It won't autofocus over the whole range of given lens. The process is to focus manually to a given range, such as infinity, mid-range or close range and then activate the autofocus for focus fine tuning by pressing slightly the shutter (as for any AF lens). Focus action is quick and there is little or no hunting.
Clearly the TC/manual lens combination is better suited for for tele lenses. It also work with zooms. I find it particularly useful for portraits as normally the subject moves slightly and focus need to be adjusted constantly. And there is also the focal gain of 1.6x which makes a 50 f1.4 a 80 f2 autofocus.
Here I tried the TC-16A with Voigtkander's 75 mm 2.5 which turns into a 120mm.
Here is my own very personal selection of new bands and records that have been recently/will soon be released and/or that will tour and play in Coachella/Primavera spring festivals in US/Europe.
Franz Ferdinand (see my previous posting)
Yeah Yeah Yeah - new album in April (NME says YYY goes disco)
Animal Collective - new album hailed as instant classic
Beastie Boys - rumored new album first semester 09
Prodigy - new album out now (don't expect much)
Grand Duchy - new Frank Black project with his wife as a singer (expectations neutral....)
Arctic Monkeys recording with Josh Homme of Queen Stone Age in "desert Sessions" studio- expect kick ass (new songs played during NZ tour in January)
The View: new album
Art Brut: something new F. Black to produce
Jay Retard: good songs with high replay value
Alela Diane: new album - repeats previous
U2 - zzzzz
Trail of dead - new album (not sure what to expect) - always great live
Of Montreal - may not listen to their records every single day - but really fun and interesting - on its way to new American classics section (see below)
Interesting bands: Titus Andronicus, Crystal Antler, Deerhunter, Crystal Stilts, School of seven bells, Bat for lashes, Secret Machines, Wavves
Mainstream but good: Shearwater, Last shadow puppets, Glasvegas, Lykke li, Department of Eagles,
Worth checking out - but wouldn't start a hunger strike for them: The Bronx, Pain of being pure at heart, Mae Shi, Vivian girls, Gang Gang Dance, place to bury strangers, the drones,
Electro, DJs etc: Presets, the Bug, Squarepusher, Holy Fuck,
Back from the grave section
Expect the worst but may pull out a competent performance live. Of course new material sucks. Nostalgia trip for bands that never really had a huge fan base but managed to develop a influential reputation. The best recent examples are the Pixies reunion tours 2004-2006. Also the Wire new albums and tours are interesting. Best come back is for me Dinosaur Jr.
In this category: A certain ratio, Throwing Muses, the Buzzcocks, Jesus Lizzard, Throbbing Grissle, the X
Totally unknown but worth checking out: Parts and labor, horse feathers, le chat noir,
Not so hot anymore: Band of horses, Fleet Foxes, Beirut, Peter Bjorn and john,
New american classics: Bloc Party, TV on the Radio, Hold Steady, Cold War kids, King of Leon
Really good: Black Mountain, Black Angels, Decemberist, No Age,
Really suxs: Killers, white lies, Anthony and the Johnsons, the kills, Hercules love affair, Ting Ting,
Praised but don't really dig: Calexico, Connor Oberts, Fucked up, Okervil River, Bonnie Prince Billy
New manual lens from Cosina/Voigtlander, exist in Nikon AIS and Pentax KA mounts.
Cosina Japan announced recently the forthcoming release of this new lens part of the SL lenses series aimed at making available to enthusiasts quality manual lenses in various lens mount (for Nikon, Canon, Pentax).
The main characteristics of these lenses are high built quality and material used, metal hoods (provided with lens or optional), high quality glass including aspheric elements in certain cases, diaphragm with 9 blades for better out of focus background (bokeh) rendition. The most recent releases in the series (SL II) include an electronic chip which allows matrix metering and EXIF recording with more recent digital bodies.
All lenses are totally manual and are for full format cameras, but of course compatible with DX cameras - and you can actually meter with entry level bodies (D40/60). The position of the focusing (front) and aperture (back) rings is compatible with Nikon standards. Cosina finally got rid of the coupling fork - which I personally always found annoying. The lenses cannot meter with older film cameras like the Nikkormat, but probably can still be used with stop down metering.
The Skopar 20mm f3.5 has standard 52mm filter ring. A dedicated hood is also produced and available separately.
Announced Japanese price is 55.000 Yen, which correspond to 460 Eur/550$. However, street price in US should be lower possibly around 400$ or less (estimate). In Europe, comparable SL II series lenses retail at 349 Eur.
So the question is, do we need this lens? In principle you can still get a Nikon 20mm f 2.8 lens new in manual AIS or AFD version. Both lenses are optically identical and only their body construction differs, the AF being plastic to allow focusing motor operation. They have optical correction for close focusing (CRC) with minimum focus distance of 2.5 cm. Glass has normal Nikon coating. Filter is 62mm. AIS version has metal filter threat and can mount metal hood. The AFD version uses a bayonet plastic hood.
The lenses are sharp but have distortion inevitable for such a wide angle. However they retain light and compact features, weighting less than 300 gr. Both lenses can be found new for around 500$ each. The AF version is more plasticky and the AF motor is quite noisy and can be subject to focus hunting (may also depend on camera AF). Frankly for this type of lens I don't see the need for Autofocus mechanism as it has a very high Depth of Field and so it is possible to use it in hyperfocal mode most of the time. Basically, at f8 everything should be in focus from 2 meters to infinity. So the AIS version should be a better choice because it gives you a better Depth of Field scale, and no distraction from focus hunting. Also as it is built more solidly, this version may have more collectable value.
So having two lenses, the Voigtlander and the original Nikon AIS, what can be the respective advantages.
The Cosina is even more compact weighting just 200gr. It uses Nikon standard 52 mm filters. It is one stop slower which many people will consider as a negative point but which in fact allows better corrected glass in general. The fact that it also includes an aspherical element would also lead to think that on paper the Scopar should have better controlled distortion.
On DX, the lens becomes the equivalent of 30mm.
The Nikon AIS is a bit heavy, relatively speaking. You have to carry additional 62mm filters, which BTW should be the pricier slim type as the front lens is quite prominent and you risk vignetting with other filters. Hood is also wide, larger than lens barrel.
Cosina lens appears more compact as the front lens itself is of a smaller diameter which allows mounting the hood in a way that it should not exceed the lens barrel facilitating storage. These features (weight, filter, and hood) make the lens very compact and ideal for travelling. The Depth of Field scale could be more detailed but at least it exists.
For close photography, the Cosina closer focus is 0.2 m although given the CRC correction on the and wider opening on Nikon AIS, the latter would appear better suited.
So overall, this new lens is certainly welcomed and can make an interesting contribution to the serious amateur’s set of equipment. That said like often with Cosina releases of classic design lenses for SLRs (be it under Voigtlander or Zeiss brands and without touching upon the issue of Leica M compatible lenses), these lenses are well built but they don't differ significantly from Nikon's primes.
Also a criticism which is often made by reviewers is the relatively ancient conception of the lens which basically makes it a marginal improvement over classic designs. Because basically, this lens seems inspired by the classic Nikon 20mm AI which existed in f4 and then in f3.5 max aperture version.
The Nikon 3,5 version was actually a more complex design with 11 lenses in 8 groups compared to Cosina's 9 lenses/6 groups. However, Cosina comprises an aspherical element which simplifies lens design. Upgrades of the Cosina over classic 3.5 AIS are inclusion of CPU (although limited use with advanced bodies D200/300/700/3/3x where lens data can be input via menu or programmed Func button) and said Asph lens.
Question marks remain edge performance, distortion, chromatic aberration, coma, resistance to flare etc.
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