THAT is an interesting comparision ...

While mkallstrom's conclusion that there is greater detail with "the full frame Canon" than with an m43 camera MAY be accurate ...

IMO, it would have been nice to have seen the images shot at f8 with the Panasonic lens & then "cropped" & compared OR the Tamron shot at f4 on the Canon and/or m43 body because it is NOT clear to me that the the Full Frame is the reason for the greater detail vs. the two f-stop difference in the test exposures.

As made-and-presented, the test may be considered to be more of an uneven comparison of the lenses rather than a comparison of the sensors ...

Because the test author (mkallstrom) admits that he stopped the Tamron lens down to f8 & only stopped the Panasonic lens down to f4 with DOF being the reason despite all the shots appearing to be at-infinity shots ...

And so, it probably would ALSO have been nice (?) if the test had also shown the concurrent effects of the Tamron lens on the m43 body when shot under the same conditions.

FWIW. I agree that the BBB provides a "meaningless endorsement."

FYI. I had occasion to contact the local BBB two times about two separate, local vendors about 20 years ago ...

The nice lady who answered the phone was surprised that there was a problem with the vendors & she tried to dissuade me from filing complaints.

I nonetheless asked about their process for filing a written complaint & received their forms. I subsequently sent in my complaints in writing even though I suspected that they were destined to be put into File 13.

I suppose that it is possible that if enough people complain about a vendor, then it may be possible that the BBB simply won't sell them their endorsement; but, the BBB will not go to bat for you, the consumer, in any visible way.

In other words, as suggested, the BBB "seal of approval" is a bought-and-paid-for endorsement ...

That is, the BBB is a club which vendors can join.

BTW. If you catch one of your local TV consumer reporters at the 'right time' (that is, when they have nothing else which may be more glamorous to investigate) then they may take up your cause.

If you want a caveat, then I think that you may only need to be aware that when you go to remove your SD card 'adapter' that you may only grasp the Micro SD card (the first time, at least) ...

So, a minimal amount of thought may be necessary ...

OR, you could certainly leave the SD card adapter in-the-camera.

Okay. I'm an inquiring mind ...

Do you really want a Zoom lens OR would one-or-two single focal length lenses (e.g., 100mm + 200mm) be better for the type of photography that you anticipate?

Would two-or-even-three separate lenses cost less than the one Zoom lens?

I'm just asking because it seems that EVERYONE (that's hyperbole, of course) seems compelled to lugging around a Zoom lens when I reckon they are more-often-than-not using the lens at its maximum focal length.

If you want a fast lens with the shallowest DOF, then buy a 300mm f2.8 lens ...

OR, a fast 85mm lens ... there should be one with an f1.4 aperture.

FYI. Due to the shorter flange-to-focal-plane distance which Canon lenses have, a Canon lens will NOT be able to focus at infinity when mounted on a Nikon camera body ...

And, THAT is why you cannot effectively use a Canon lens on a Nikon camera body.

If there isn't the "(download)" option beneath the pictures, then it was because 'I' didn't/don't know how to make that possible ...

You can "right click" (with your Mouse) on the immediate, on-screen images & then SAVE those images to your computer ...

BTW. You/Anyone can download Irfanview (freeware) & replicate the process.

Maybe PENTACON SIX lenses match the threads + flange-to-focal-plane distance ...

BTW. Very nice image.

FWIW. Obviously, it would be beneficial if he-or-you had the original negative ...

Regardless, with comparatively unsophisticated software, the "sharper" the image appears ON-SCREEN the more pixelated it becomes ...

So, prints may look dodgy ...

Here are three re-processed images with Irfanview ...

sharpened x 2


sharpened x 3


sharpened x 4

FYI. Look at the two buttons to the lower left of the LCD screen ...

There should be two icons which look like "magnifying glasses."

Press the lower of the two ...

Hopefully a highlighted rectangle will appear on your screen.

Pressing the 'arrows' on the control wheel which surrounds the "OK" should move the rectangle up-and-down & left-and-right on the LCD.

EITHER (¿?) pressing the "OK" button OR possibly pressing the "magnifying glass" button, again, should enlarge the rectangle to fill the screen ...

OR, possibly, pressing the button with the "magnifying glass" + "grid" will enlarge the image ...

I don't know ...

YOU may have to do some trial-and-error to figure out the actual sequence; but, it shouldn't take too long to access the function IF that is what the "magnifying glass" icon represents!?!

FWIW. You could certainly put an external, physical EYEPIECE MAGNIFIER on the camera ...

OR, check to see if there is an electronic magnification "function" which will allow you to view a limited portion of the frame which can be viewed on the LCD on the camera's back ...

THAT's one of the functions on my m4/3 camera bodies (both Panasonic & Olympus) which I stumbled on which I might have become aware of earlier if I had taken the time to read-the-manual!

YOUR Nikon D90 may have a similar function.

That's an EXCELLENT article ... :thumbup:

Thanks for posting the link.

FWIW. Many m4/3 users gush about how great their lenses are ...

If you are worried about how the enlarged images will be, then ONE (but, cetainly not the only) consideration is the slightly smaller size of m4/3 sensor.

For about $120 +/- you can buy BOTH a slightly used m4/3 camera body (< $100) PLUS a 'dumb' lens adapter (< $20 from one of eBay's overseas sellers) AND THEN try your current Nikon lenses on whichever m4/3 body you choose.

There are m4/3 lens adapters for almost every type of post-War lens mount used -- by my reckoning, the German Praktina lens mount & Russian Start lens mount are the two obvious exceptions.


Initially, if you don't like the prints, then you will know it is the sensor and not the lens BECAUSE you will be using your current lenses (focused manually).

If you don't like the m4/3 camera body, then you will be able to re-sell the bought-used camera body for close to what you paid for it.

BTW, if you are going to use alternate lenses then I recommend an Olympus body, initially, because all of Olympus m4/3 camera bodies have image stabilization within the camera body -- a good thing -- whereas only Panasonic's most recent m4/3 camera body has image stabilization. Panasonic chose to put the image stabilization in its lenses.

I have BOTH an Olympus & a Panasonic m4/3 camera body. The Panasonic has features which the Olympus doesn't have, and vice versa.

Both benefit from adding a simple (< $10) "thumb grip" ... but, the thumb grip precludes using an EVF.

The 'video' button on both cameras is inconveniently located (i.e., it is in a prominent place) if you don't want to use the camera to record videos.

An off-the-shelf Canon-of-any-vintage to Minolta lens mount adapter would be almost impossible to come by because the the flange-to-focal-plane distance of the Canon lenses & Minolta's 35mm lenses.

For Canon lenses, the distance is 42.0 mm for their 35mm lenses & 18.0 mm for Canon's APS-C digital lenses ...

BUT, for Minolta the distance is 43.5 mm.

While Canon's EF lens mount has a flange-to-focal-plane distance of 44.0 mm, I suspect that a 0.5 mm adapter is highly unlikely!!!

So, if you REALLY want to mount any of your Canon lenses on your Minolta bellows then you should consider my original suggestion & plan on a DIY modification.

I'll bet that you are correct with regard to buying an old Minolta lens!


Based on my past experience, either a set of close-up lenses or a suitable (e.g., 5mm-to-10mm) extension tube would probably be better than using bellows.

FWIW. MY recommendation is to simply use an enlarging lens for close up work when using most bellows if an individual does not have the good fortune to own a Macro lens.