HarveyG

Vivitar VIV-500-6.3 500mm f/6.3 Mirror Lens

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Christmas 2009. A new Vivitar 500mm f/6.3 DX Series 1 Mirror Lens. I’ve always been fond of them.

A lightweight (1.4 lb – 651 g) manual focus, multi-coated, catadioptric (reflex), fixed aperture “Super” Telephoto which, despite the “DX” label, can be used on full and small frame DSLR sensors as well as on regular 35mm film SLR’s. On the D90, with it’s DX sensor and 1.5x crop factor, that’s an effective 750mm! Make sure you are a good 15+ meters from your subject unless you want to shoot that Lion’s eyeball. These mirror lenses can be attached to virtually any (D)SLR using common T-Adapters. My first set of images can be found at the end of this post. You deserve to see what some lens manufacturers may not want you to see and thus why reviewers (and others) often unfairly malign these marvellous mirrors…

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Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 EX DG

Today I became the proud owner of a Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 EX DG for Nikon AF-D.
Sigma MSRP $1100 US
Initial Street Price $499 US
Final Street Price $349 US (December 2009)
The full frame (Sigma’s DG Technology) lens that is effectively a 42-105mm f/2.8 on the D90′s DX sensor. Ideal for daily and portrait work. Sigma have for years made outstanding lenses. This one is no exception. This lens has sadly been discontinued and replaced by the slightly wider 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG with MACRO. (MSRP $1400 US! Initial Street Price $569 US December 2009)
Here are it’s technical specs from Sigma’s own website recorded for posterity before they take it down: A review will be posted here in due course. (continue reading…)

Nikon D90

After over 25 years of SLR’ing, I was thrust into DSLR with a surprise Fathers Day gift from? Nope, not my son; my own Father!

I also thought that was weird but wasn’t about to challenge his OOB thinking! Especially when I unwrapped the gift to find that trademark gold Nikon packaging and the bold letters “D90″. I did offer to swop him for his older D80 but he refused. I had toyed with buying into DSLR for some time and had up till now managed to get away with pocket digital cameras for most of my quick and nasty work but I was getting ready to purchase Canon equipment, due in part to my supplier contacts in the IT industry and some good deals and a strongish Rand. (continue reading…)