Zuiko 50mm f1.8 on NEX 6

I have a collection of old lenses from film cameras that I have acquired over the years. You can buy these lenses quite cheaply now, and they are very usable on a Sony NEX 6 camera. Of course you don't get  image stabilisation or auto focus, but for many subjects this isn't a problem.

The NEX 6 has an electronic viewfinder, with dioptre correction for users of specs, and allows approximately 5 x and 10 x magnification of the image, so precise focusing is relatively easy. There is also a focus peaking feature, but I prefer to use that at its minimum setting as it can give false positives, and also obliterate sections of the image, making composition more difficult.

I recently ran a quick test of 4 old lenses, all standard 50mm jobs from the past. Pentax f1.4 and f1.7 and Olympus Zuiko f1.4 and f1.8. My findings were a little surprising as the cheaper f1.7 and f1.8 glass outperformed their f1.4 stablemates as far as sharpness at f5.6 was concerned.

The Olympus lenses both performed better on the NEX than their Pentax cousins in this limited test.

Here's an example of the Olympus Zuiko 50mm f1.8 in action. Not a very interesting subject I fear, the bus garage in Hexham. Click on the photos for a bigger image.

The overall view at, from memory, f8, and from the camera's record 1/60th at ISO1600

The 100% crop. You can read the word Plaxton at the bottom of the number plate.

This 50mm f1.8 Zuiko lens was bought, with camera attached, for £10. It's comfortably sharper than the zoom lens supplied with the NEX camera, but, nothing like as convenient to use.

Kern Morris at Whitley Bay Playhouse

Prior to the start of the folk meets street dance "The Lock In" performance, Durham based Kern Morris were invited to do a warm up act outside the theatre.  We could have done with some warmth as it was very cold, and of course quite dark, but the Morris people put on a super display. Full marks to the musicians for playing with frozen fingers!

The Lock In was great. We enjoyed all of the varied routines that we were treated to, but the supercharged traditional rapper dance was quite incredible, with unbelievable speed, energy and accuracy, and not a drop of blood spilt. I have never previously found Morris dance to be edge of seat exciting, but this was something else.  

If you get the chance, see this show! 

NEX 6 Sigma 19mm Nissin Di622 flash.

The Sage etc

We had to go into Gateshead this afternoon and decided that a walk along the riverbank and crossing over to Newcastle might be an idea. Wrong, it was bitterly cold, overcast and windy. We made it into the Sage concert hall and were delighted to find a free midday concert in progress.

The group calling themselves Sleeping Dogs performing within the atrium of the Sage. Very good indeed, we stayed to listen

People enjoying a coffee with friends. I wonder is that Garry Jenkins of wind energy fame sat on the right?

I wasn't the only photographer in there! Must give thanks to wor lass for pointing that one out.

You get a better class of graffiti adjacent to the Sage, local hero  "Wor Bobby" Robson.

Sony NEX6 Sigma 19mm and Sony 55-210 lenses.