New Gear : Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM Lens (Part 1 of 2)
This is me putting the cart before the horse, well the lens before the camera is more like it. I finally pulled the trigger and bought the Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 G Master lens. Wait, don’t I shoot Nikon, and isn’t this lens for Sony’s mirrorless camera system? Yes, it is. So have I switched over to Sony? Not exactly, I intend to stay with Nikon, I just decided to go mirrorless, and Sony got my attention.
This is me putting the cart before the horse, well the lens before the camera is more like it. I finally pulled the trigger and bought the Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 G Master lens. Wait, don’t I shoot Nikon, and isn’t this lens for Sony’s mirrorless camera system? Yes, it is. So have I switched over to Sony? Not exactly, I intend to stay with Nikon, I just decided to go mirrorless, and Sony got my attention.
firstly though, here’s a little bit on this lens and why I have been leaning more towards prime lenses moreover than zooms, which I have been using for years, and importantly my choice with this particular lens...
Prime lenses are known to be significantly sharper than zoom lenses; (I think so). Simply because they don’t have the extra glass inside that moves in order to zoom. As a result, you get a better quality image due to less diffraction and distortion, and with that, the debate over this is ongoing with many photographers. I will admit, they [zooms] do offer a bit more convenience when applying focal lengths to your subject. Such as when I was shooting events, now I am more looking into studio and environmental style portraiture.
According to the specs, the Sony 135mm F/1.8 G Master features 13 elements in 10 groups, it also has a near-circular 11 shutter blade diaphragm, the most used in the Alpha lens series. It weighs in at a hefty 2.1 pounds, with a length of 3.52 x 5″ with an 82mm front filter. more can be seen at the link below:
SEL135F18GM Specifications | α Lenses | Sony US
So with this out with the old gear and in with the new, I’ve gotten rid of most of my zooms, I do have one more zoom lens I am debating whether to part with; My trusty Nikkor 80-200mm F/2.8, and like with my other departed gear over the years, I’ll just take those funds and invest in more prime lens, I’ve been looking at the Sigma Art series for some time. I am still on the fence on which Sony mirrorless body I want; Sony a7 III or the a7r III. That is a blog for another time.
All still images by Brian Cade Photography
The Thousand Year Flood: 2016
As we approach the 2-year anniversary of the "thousand-year flood" that occurred on June 23, 2016. I thought I'd share some of my images from my ride home through Harts Run in Caldwell West Virginia to White Sulphur Springs.
Shot with my LG G5 Smartphone: My Rolleiflex MX series TLR and the film I shot on my dresser, it would be a month or so till I was able to send it out to be developed.
Shot with a LG G5 Smartphone: Part of the Greenbrier golf course in White Sulphur Springs (right) It had gotten worse as I drove on route 60.
Shot with an LG G5 Smartphone: Center of town, the river had breached the barriers to the right and was pouring into the neighborhoods, the area behind the tree line (right) fared far worse since it sat much lower. The road directly in front of me is the one I needed to take to get home, Howard creek had already breached the barriers along the road, and the lower lying area just on the other side of the tree on the right, 23 homes were destroyed and 6 lives were lost.
Shot with my Roleiflex 6x6 TLR: Section of road at route 60 and 92.
Shot with my Rolleiflex 6x6 TLR:Several vehicles were washed away downstream and found themselves in the park.
Shot with my Rolleiflex 6x6 TLR:The area where many homes were destroyed, I found this bicycle that someone had stood back up, it was the only thing still intact.
Shot with LG G5 Smartphone: this image was taken in 2017 atop the bridge of Howards Creek, I thought I'd include it to show just how high the creek had risen.