This is an older photo done with my D70. It was taken at dusk on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. They have extensive flower gardens on the Canadian side. The light levels were getting low. I used the 18-70 kit lens. That was a very good lens its biggest problem was a tendency to vignette wide open.

I took out the Nikon f4 for a test drive yesterday. This is an amazing picture taking machine. It is a big bulky massive camera. Operating it is very similar to older mechanical cameras, you have to set the aperture on the lens there is a shutter speed dial. I set in aperture priority and almost forgot to check the shutter speed before taking a picture. I used aperture priority for years and I was most comfortable with that mode yet I have been using full program with digital. They big full bright viewfinder is always great to work with. Now we have to wait until I get the film processed to see what I captured. There is always a revelation when you spread it out on the light box. We will have to wait and see.

30mm Sigma

I am sending the lens back. I tried some more shots and nothing was in focus. The picture of Gypsy must have been a lucky mis focus.

Gypsy

Just a quick grab shot to make sure the Sigma works. I was using it wide open to check the depth of field. I am impressed, sharpness is not an issue color and clarity look good the shallow depth of field is another tool in the arsenal. Using a fast standard lens is much different than using a slow zoom. You have to move your feet more and try out different compositions rather than stand in one place and fiddle with the zoom. Moving your feet changes the spatial relationship between objects, it changes the perspective.

This is Gyspy my dog model. She and her predecessor are my models when I am trying out a new toy. They work cheap.

Sigma 30 mm lens

The Sigma came UPS yesterday. Due to prior commitments I was unable to unpack until midnight last night. It is a much more substantial lens the Nikon kit lens. It is bigger and heavier than the Nikon 50mm F1.8. It focuses fast and with the HSM almost silently. I need to get out and snap a few pics to see how it performs but life looks like it is in the way for the next few days.