Lens Flair

The view from the train station in Poprad (Slovakia) where we were waiting for the train to Prague

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A couple of weeks ago I attended a photography workshop day in one of the big parks not far away from me, where there are lots of red and fallow deer. While we were mostly taking pictures of the stags, this is actually my favourite picture.

 
I was on a long photo trip through Oslo a few weeks ago, followed a river named Alna that runs through the city. I was packing light and had just the Olympus 12-200mm lens with me, so not the greatest lens in performance as soon as the light goes bad.

On the trip I found this squirrel, with an acorn. I didn’t have much time here, a second and a half tops, so quick snap at maximum focal lengt.

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Olympus Mju I (Infinity Stylus for the Americans here), Kodak ColorPlus 200. I got the camera from flea market for €10, battery included. (Even if the said battery says use by 2013, oops.) The film cost me €9.41, developing and scanning the film €9, so the whole 'experiment' ended up costing me just shy of €30. Overall, I'm satisfied with the roll of film.

These are called 'Rockets', probably some of the most famous and polarizing buildings in Zagreb. A prime example of socialist brutalism. I tend to be in the group of people who like them, but I get why they often get so much hate. I took the opportunity during blue hour today (I aimed for golden hour, but that's a rather short time frame these days), and finished the roll of film with shots of these.

I also have pictures of a communist monument, but I'll leave that for another day. (Those who follow me on Instagram will see that probably tonight.) Taking this roll of film was very nerve-wrecking, as not only was the camera untested, but I also have little experience with film photography. I'm so glad most of these shots turned out fine.
 
From yesterday's bicycle ride: the old bridge over the Elbe between Harburg and Wilhelmsburg in the sunset. There are two more modern briges to the right for car traffic so this one is only open to walking and cycling.

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The last shot taken with my 200-500mm lens (at 700mm with the 1.4x TC). It'll no longer be my main lens now I have the 180-600mm. I love the way his eye is still very much fixed on me.

 
Nice, the 180-600 looks like a sweet unit. I assume it works well with the teleconverter, too. Do you have yours in hand already? It's still preorder-only around here.

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It's -35C here today, so our regular upside-Downy Woodpecker is looking real fluffy!
 
Nice, the 180-600 looks like a sweet unit. I assume it works well with the teleconverter, too. Do you have yours in hand already? It's still preorder-only around here.
Yes, I ordered it on Monday and received it on Tuesday. I was very lucky to find a supplier here that claimed to have stock on Monday afternoon, which seemed odd because they were showing pre-order only the day before. I guess someone's order came in but they had made multiple pre-orders and received a lens already. People did this for the Z9 too. Hoping to try it out this weekend.

It apparently works well with either Z mount TC, I don't have one of those yet as I was using the F-mount 1.4x. Maybe I should've tried to get a Z mount TC back then, there's a lot of confusion about whether it works or not. The Z 1.4x TC is on the shopping list, if I think I still need it. The 2.0 TC would result in a maximum aperture of F/13 at the long end, so I doubt I will get one. As tempting as 1200mm is...
 
I need to do a proper photodump into my wildlife photography thread, I'm really enjoying the 180-600 and have basically concluded that I don't need a TC. Probably. Anyway, flying squirrel!
 
I still haven't got around to updating that thread yet, but here's another different squirrel I got on the same day as the one above. Possibly my cutest ever shot.

 
Trying to use a manual-focus telephoto film lens on a mirrorless body (first-generation Olympus E-M5) is somewhat fun but ultimately frustrating.
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