Having time to do a bit of a deeper dive with the 180/2X combo on the SL2, I’m being reminded of some of what I encountered with it when I used it intermittently last year. It’s quite a list of niggles, prompting me to consider possible alternatives for the combo. First of all, there’s no…

A decidedly less whimsical aspect of gear acquisition syndrome . . . Just as the photographic needs of people who use gear change over time, so do those of people who purvey such gear—and not always in a good way. In most Western settings, a regular customer at the very least becomes a welcome sight…

Back in the ant farm for a few days, I fished the 180 APO and APO 2X out of the dry cabinet, unsure about whether I wanted them along for the next segment. This afternoon afforded a chance to test them on a couple of known targets, very demanding ones for a such a relatively…

In spite of its humble origins, the 7artisans 18mm f5.6 got the “Asoke” test the other day. Over the years I’ve shot a zillion ultrawides on this busy metropolitan intersection, which reveals any quirks and flaws a lens may have. So how did the $80 ultrawide do? Well, it definitely shows some quirks. The nice…

Out with the R7 and RF 100-400mm last week, for the first time in about a month, as soon as I had my first bird in sight, the camera quickly fritzed up. Then the lens control ring wouldn’t open the aperture from f/11 to f/8, when I had never set it to f/11 in the…

After recently switching around some glass, I started to think what option I might like for 21mm. When I came across a Leica option that has internal distortion, just like the Sigma 17mm I ditched last year, I started to sour on the idea, realizing that during the four months I traveled with that lens…

A local mall currently has a photography expo in one of its exhibition halls, so I stopped by to have a look. It’s nice to see that cameras are making a sort of comeback. Panasonic had a nice display and it was the first time I’d seen an S1R II, of some interest because it…

As has been mentioned more than once here, the necessity of doing frequent lens changes in inclement weather last year led to the acquisition of an R 28-90mm. And as I subsequently came to realize, while carrying a kilogram of lenses in my bag is negligible in terms of weight, I particularly don’t like a…

Back on civilized turf, “civilized” being defined as any location with a few decent camera shops, I actually spotted a Sigma BF in a shop window. It was surprising, as it appears a good bit bigger and boxier than the TL, with which some reviewers have compared it. Whatever the case, an EVF-less camera is…

Having learned the hard way that thoroughly washing vegetables before eating is often not enough to stave off food poisoing (toxins grow inside some) in Vietnam, I’ve had some unwanted time indoors these past few days while getting back on my feet. Recently I’ve been reviewing the photos I took while I was walking the…