Another Mixed Day
Since getting the S5 I have had some mixed days.
My first cage, the Andoer one did not fit (screw would not align).
Today I got the basic Smallrig one and all is good. The left side was a little light on holes for a handle, but I have managed with an adjustable one.
I also recieved the L mount TTArtisans 35 f1.4. This is only recommended in APS-C mode and I got it for some character video.
First up, the lens feels tight and smooth, very tight on the mount in fact. The focus ring is small and set well back, so a little adaption will be required. It also turns the same way as the Pana lenses, so a little win.
Wide open focus is easy enough to get, except I think the actual depth is shallower than the actual indicator…indicated. I managed to get the bottom of the lens in focus, but the top is slightly out, not totally accurate to the red fringe I saw.
There is some CA, but that is part of the magic and I will take it for the slightly funky, “silky” look of its rendering.
Bokeh is gorgeous, really gorgeous. It is fun, freeing even to be looking for softness, character (i.e. applied flaws) because for video, that is like gold and secondly, because I have a ton of “perfect” lenses already, which can get boring. I am even ok with the horrendous vignetting wide open in full frame mode (it’s not too bad stopped down). Like the little Pen antique lens, it is full of gorgeous “creative considerations”.
$100 well spent.
A small setback is the K to L mount adapter I got from Urth same delivery. It refuses to give me anything other than a “lens not correctly connected, do not push lens release button while using” indicator and feels like it will just slip off if I am not careful. I think the hole is possibly not large enough or is slightly mis-aligned.
$50 poorly spent.
Win some, loose some.