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.

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

I bought an NEX-5 a while back. Loved the size and build, hated the menus. I think Sony underestimated the market. The camera has advanced amateur/semi-pro backup potential with controls geared for the point & shoot crowd. How many P&S types buy an interchangeable lens camera?

I was waiting to trade in on the 7 & then Thailand went underwater taking Sony's main production facility with it. Supposedly, they're starting to become available now (BHPhotovideo says March 1 with the kit 18-55). Anyhow, I couldn't wait & traded up to the 5N. GREAT camera!

I had the 18-55 & the 16mm pancake from the 5 bundle along with some Lensbabies. I have since picked up the wide angle and fisheye converters for the 16mm, the 30mm macro and just took delivery of the 24mm f1.8 Zeiss.

The customization of the 5N's soft touch buttons and control wheel is very user friendly. I rarely have to manually go into the main menu setup to make adjustments (a couple extra buttons would be nice, though).

IQ is VERY acceptable to excellent depending on the lens. I'm not really thrilled with the 16mm image quality, but I guess Sony wanted to provide a lens that would make the camera "pocketable". However, the conversion lenses are worthwhile additions, especially the fisheye (see photo). That said, the image quality with the 18-55mm and the 30mm macro are quite good. The 18-200mm is very good. It's a little heavy for the camera but the extra weight along with the IS keeps images sharp.

The Zeiss lens is simply outstanding! Sharpness and color rendition really makes the images pop. I read a comment in one review of this lens that it's so sharp, it shouldn't be used for portraiture because it's very unforgiving. I found this out over the weekend at my older son's birthday party. I took the attached shot of him with his girlfriend. The shot turned out OK only because they're young so their skin is smooth and clear. I don't know if I would try this again with someone older unless I was going for the effect. The bokeh is very pleasing and comes out best with the lens wide open and the foreground at the minimum focusing distance (~6 inches). My only complaint is that it doesn't come with IS. I guess the thinking is that the lens is so fast and the focal length is relatively short so stabilization isn't necessary. The problem is that the lens is so sharp, just about any camera shake shows up unless the shutter speed and/or ISO is kept relatively fast and high, respectively. At low ISO, the old rule of thumb that minimum shutter speed should be no lower than the reciprocal of the focal length goes right out the window (e.g. don't shoot slower than 1/100" with a 100mm lens).

I was pleasantly surprised with the 30mm macro. For the price, the lens really delivers. I took some shots of miniatures that came out fairly well, although the depth of field is somewhat narrow even stopped down (see photo).

Two other items I added to the mix: the OLED viewfinder (I'm 55 and farsighted. I can't get arms lengthened any further) and the HVL-F20S strobe (stronger than standard unit, bounce capability and "sees over" the 18-200mm.

Hope this helps.

16mm w/Fisheye Conversion


24mm f1.8 Zeiss


30mm Macro