MAMIYA 645AF | Baker Beach

It's slow season right now for weddings, so lately I've been able to dabble more in film and instant film.

Lately I've started developing and scanning my own black and white 120 film, too! Here are some images from a little meet up at Baker Beach with Tomasz and Amy!

I was hoping for a nice sunset, but the fog works too.
Mamiya 645AF | Kodak TMax400

Fuji X100/X100S 50mm Equivalent for $35

By now, it's pretty clear that when I travel and bring a digital camera, it's usually the Fuji X100S.

The only thing Tyler and I have usually griped about it is that it's not the greatest focal length for some nice portraits occasionally. The widest I'll usually go for an up-close portrait is a 50mm.

We didn't want to buy another small camera system just for that focal length capability (such as the Fuji XPro1 or a Sony A7R). $$$$$$$

After we saw that Fuji posted a photo showing a new teleconverter lens for the X100/S, we simply didn't want to wait for that.

After googling for a while and hunting on eBay, Tyler found a fantastic and affordable combination to get that 50mm look on a X100/S for just $35. (Don't forget you'll also need the little adapter ring needed to use a lens hood with the X100/S).

He found a 1.5X teleconversion lens for about $30, and a 49mm-58mm step up ring for about $5. Granted, the lens is a little difficult to find so cheap. He saw one go for £1 and another for $80-100.



For what it is, I think it's a fabulous deal. We just wanted to use it for some quick portraits occasionally. Granted, the image quality falters towards the edges of the frame, and I'm sure the one Fuji comes out with in April or May will be better quality and perfect on the edges (but of course, more $$$).

However, for what it is, I can't complain. Autofocus still works too! Best to use it in the EVF mode since the size of the lens blocks a lot of your view in the OVF. Check it out yourself here (and see the degree of slight distortion towards the edges) -



Standing at the same distance, image on the left was shot with the teleconversion lens, image on the right is shot without it.

It's great in the center of the frame, but starts to warp at the edges of the frame. Here's another example: Note the white edge of the doorway next to Peanut.



Updated to add another example of the edge distortion/prisming effect:



Anyway, I'm excited to use this! It's a fabulous set up for what it is, and I still can't wait to see the teleconversion lens Fuji comes out with later this year.

UPDATE! More photos and thoughts here: http://anniehallphoto.blogspot.com/2014/07/fuji-x100x100s-50mm-equivalent-update.html

Instax 210 | Pinnacles National Monument

A few Instax frames from a day at the Pinnacles National Monument. I'll be uploading more images later once I get my rolls developed.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park

For my birthday, we visited the Big Basin Redwoods State Park! We went on a weekday, which was great since we encountered less than 10 people throughout our time there. It was just us in a grand space of green. All images shot with the Fuji X100S.