New Kid on the Block: Hi Everyone. Hailing from western PA (around Pittsburgh, Go Steelers!). I started into photography way back in high school using 35mm rangefinders and moved up to...

Photogdog Loc: New Kensington, PA

Hi Everyone. Hailing from western PA (around Pittsburgh, Go Steelers!).

I started into photography way back in high school using 35mm rangefinders and moved up to SLRs (Minolta SRTs-how old is that?).

When digital started coming into its own, I bought a Canon G2 & I've lost count since then. Currently, I'm using a 5D MKII with a 50D and Sony NEX-5N as back-ups. For set shots, the 5D is my go-to camera; mostly landscapes and city shots. If I'm running out the door, the Sony is the one I grab. I just received the Zeiss 24 f1.8 for it and it's an AMAZING piece of glass!

I just joined yesterday, but I'm already impressed with the wealth of information!

5D MKII w/8-15mm Fisheye

50D w/15mm

50D w/70-300mm

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Welcome to the Hogg. The second shot is the PPG Building. The third must be the 6th or 7th street bridge.

Photogdog Loc: New Kensington, PA

cjkorb wrote:

Welcome to the Hogg. The second shot is the PPG Building. The third must be the 6th or 7th street bridge.

The PPG shot is the building facing the ice rink where they place the Christmas tree. When I took the shot, a security guard was skating & I walked around a sawhorse to get a shot of the main building from the top of the handicap ramp. There was no one else around so I didn't think it was a big deal. Then the guard tells me the cops are probably on their way. I aasked why & he told me that since 911, anyone taking photographs of skyscrapers is suspect so surviellence cameras have been mounted in most of them. I hurried up & got this shot and took off. Sure enough, as I turned the corner I saw the gaurd talking to a couple of patrolmen.

The other shot is the Stanwix Street bridge. I took this one (obviously shopped) at the same time & thought I was going to get run over trying to get back to the sidewalk.

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

The only way you'd be safe taking pics of town is standing on Mt. Washington or the West End Overlook. Now that I look at it, you were standing on the South Side looking toward town, I should have recognized the Stanwix St. Bridge. I had you standing on the North Side.

Bunny-Jean Loc: Wisconsin

Welcome!!!!

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Welcome!

It's customary for the new person to give an "offering" to the first member who mentions the tradition...in this case I need you to put that Zeiss 24 f1.8 in a box and ship it to me asap... :)

rfbccb Loc: Central Mississippi

Welcome, glad you joined.

woodworker236 Loc: Western, Pennsylvania Home of the first JEEP

cjkorb wrote:

The only way you'd be safe taking pics of town is standing on Mt. Washington or the West End Overlook. Now that I look at it, you were standing on the South Side looking toward town, I should have recognized the Stanwix St. Bridge. I had you standing on the North Side.

I am not far from you guys, I am from the home of the Jeep, Butler.

Photogdog Loc: New Kensington, PA

rpavich wrote:

Welcome!

It's customary for the new person to give an "offering" to the first member who mentions the tradition...in this case I need you to put that Zeiss 24 f1.8 in a box and ship it to me asap... :)

Thanks for the welcome! As far as the lens goes, I have to paraphrase the NRA here. "They'll only take my Zeiss lens when they pry it from my cold dead hands!" LOL.

Seriously, this is one wicked piece of glass. Bokeh is nice and creamy when foreground is up close at minimum focus (~6 inches) and lens is wide open. It's not the best for portraits due to the sharpness unless you're going for character effect.

Zeiss 24 f1.8 (f2.8, 1/8", +1.0 EV)

Photogdog Loc: New Kensington, PA

rfbccb wrote:

Welcome, glad you joined.

Thanks for the warm welcome! I'm hoping to learn a lot from you folks.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

creamy isn't the word for that bokeh...it's actually got caloric value!

I almost cut my hand on the sharpness of the subject!

Photogdog Loc: New Kensington, PA

Thanks! I'm in New Ken.

I have a good friend who lives in Butler and he's always been a Jeep nut. He has three (one he drives & the other two are in various states of re-build). He also has a good sized collection of Jeep miniatures including Matchbox Cars, Corgi Toys, etc. He even has some WWII-era carboard models cut out from old cereal boxes and glued together. He keeps them in a nice wooden display case. A guy he met through a gun club offered him $10,000 for the whole thing sight unseen! No way my buddy will ever sell.

Photogdog Loc: New Kensington, PA

rpavich wrote:

creamy isn't the word for that bokeh...it's actually got caloric value!

I almost cut my hand on the sharpness of the subject!

Thank you! After I started playing with the Zeiss, I almost regretted buying the Sony 30mm Macro but for the price, it does a good job & in a pinch it can be used as a 30mm prime.

SEL30M35 (f20.0, 1/60", HVL-F20S on Bounce)

Photogdog Loc: New Kensington, PA

Thank you! I don't have to tell you how beatiful the country is up your way. My Mom's side of the family is from Minnesota. When I was little, we'd spend two weeks every summer visiting them and take trips into Wisconson. I wish I'd have had a camera then!

woodworker236 Loc: Western, Pennsylvania Home of the first JEEP

Photogdog wrote:

Thanks! I'm in New Ken. br br I have a good fr... (show quote)

That's very interesting, but I don't know him.