a bit of everything…

Wide Angle Macro and the Venus/LAOWA 15mm Macro Lens

Mark: “I think everyone’s understanding of photography would benefit from a little experimentation with adapted lenses. But like a lot of things, uncertainty about adapting lenses — what it actually is, how it works, and the pros/cons of old lenses — is resistance. I put together a video to dismantle this uncertainty and try to make adapted lenses accessible to more photographers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1zOPcSJxsE”

Ray: “With all the exciting new long lenses coming out in the New Year for m4/3, it’s still pleasing to know that you can get some pretty good results with the old, though heavy, 4/3 lenses such as the 90-250mm f2.8 on an E-M1. It’ll be interesting to see how the news ones compare. With summer (in Australia), our most colourful birds have returned to our backyard to provide some Christmas cheer and opportunities for an old lens to do what it does best: http://australianimage.com.au/wordpress/index.php/parrots-rosellas-galahs-and-corellas/”

Dave: “On the subject of recording one’s settings for the OM-D’s, I noticed today that Juan sent you a link for an Excel spreadsheet for the E-M5 MkII. I’ve been working on something similar for the E-M1 for the past few days so it’s an opportune moment to add my contribution. I know Biofos did a spreadsheet for the E-M1 soon after it was released but of course that was V1 firmware, now outdated. There are three parts: the first contains the main menu sections; the second is for the extra information from picture mode settings, etc. and the third part is a sheet you can record lens correction data for any older four thirds lenses that use PDAF. For the first two sections you can record your alternative setting in the ‘Override’ column and also separate settings for each of the four MySets. My offering is in both Word 2003 format (.doc) and MS XPS document writer (.xps). Use the former if you want to record on-screen and possibly print later and the latter to resize as required and print blank hard copies. (download here at WeTransfer)”

Australia Deal:
Boxing Day Sale @ CameraPro.com.au
10% off on all lenses and cameras
Offer till midnight 30th December
Some Olympus and Fujifilm cameras seem offer more than 10% discount
such as Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II w 12-40mm F2.8
Was AUD $1829
Now AUD %1599
Panasonic LUMIX GH4 Body
Was $1393, now $1193 with Bonus 25mm lens worth $299