I sadly lost my mum on November 1st this year (I lost my dad sixteen years ago). She was 90yrs old and had been diagnosed with a lymphatic cancer. The cancer didn’t help but her death certificate states she died from frailty and old age. She didn’t suffer, she wasn’t on any medication at all, and spent her last few weeks, quite content, in a local care home following a fall at home.
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I’ve been shooting on and off with vintage lenses for a couple of years now. I always enjoyed using them but I didn’t really stick with it. I think it’s probably because I was prioritising shooting stock images, which need to be tack sharp. To that end using my modern Fujifilm lenses, with auto focus and coatings that have superb flare and glare control made more sense. There’s more on my drift into using vintage lenses in a previous blog – Vintage lenses and Flickr
So, since finding a new groove with these old lenses I decided to invest in some well regarded classics. I already own a superb an Auto Takumar 35mm f2.3 so I decided to buy another Auto Takumar, the 50mm f1.4. I sought out the early version of this classic which has eight elements and none of the flare control coatings the later lenses came with. I bought the lens on Ebay for £214. Much more expensive than any of my other vintage lenses but it’s been a superb investment.
I’m still getting to know the new lens. I used it on a recent trip to Marrakesh but, whilst we were there I made use of the photo opportunities to try out my other vintage lenses, so it didn’t get as much use as it should have done. I have a couple of other 50mm vintage lenses but this Takumar is proving to be a favourite amongst those.
The 50mm Auto Takumar is not quite my overall favourite vintage lens because the Takumar 35mm f2.3 is awesome and a more useful focal length on my crop sensor X-T5. Also, after much research, I have just bought a vintage Canon FD 55mm f1.2 which should prove strong competition for the Takumar. They all bring something different though and I’m hoping they’ll compliment each other and add another dimension to my images.
All images: ©Stephen Hyde 2007-2025 – All rights reserved.
We took advantage of some really good, late booking, holiday package prices to take another trip out to Marrakesh last week. For us, November is a great time to visit Morocco. The temperature is a really nice 21C during the day. We needed a jacket in the early morning and evenings but we had clear blue skies most days with a bit of cloud bubbling up in the late afternoon. The cooler weather means less visitors so, although the main tourist attractions could be busy, generally everywhere was a bit quieter than in the warmer months.
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We’ve just returned from a weeks break in Marrakesh. We’re regular visitors here and every time we go I wonder where my images might come from. I needn’t have worried, I came back with far too many pics for one post.
Continue readingTina has set this weeks Lens Artist Challenge and has helped by giving us the dictionary’s short and simple definition of the word ephemeral – “lasting for a very short time“. Her original challenge post can be found here. Ephemeral is not a word I was familiar with until now.
Dubai chocolate has been all the rage over here this year. The story of its origin is told here on Wikipedia – Dubai Chocolate. It’s really expensive to buy in the UK. Chocolate prices are high anyway but a 145g bar of this retails for £9.99 in our supermarkets. Around $14. I wouldn’t be sharing a bar that size with anyone!
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It’s been a while since I posted for Dan’s Thursday Doors. I’ve been taking door pics for the challenge so here’s a catch up post from a trip the Rethymno, Crete, Greece back in September.
Continue readingFollowing this weeks Lens-Artist Challenge on WP I was scrolling through some of the challenge posts. One of these was from /ˈsnæp.ʃɒt/. On Keith’s blog (it’s well worth spending some time there) I found a reference to taking pictures with a Game Boy console using a Game Boy Camera.
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A year or so ago I invested in a Fujifilm XF80mm F2.8 Macro lens. It’s an expensive lens to buy new, retailing at over £1000 in the UK. I bought mine second hand from MPB for about £600. It was advertised as mint condition and I wasn’t disappointed, it was like new. I buy all my lenses, used, from MPB these days and I would wholeheartedly recommend them.
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We’ve had a tiny round cactus plant at home for about five years or so now. I think it probably came home with us as one of a pack of tiny cacti from Ikea. I’ve never really bothered with it and it normally sits, out of the way, on a book shelf, at the back of the kitchen. It’s in a really good warm, light position.
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Steve Hyde 