There are all kinds of focus in this world: today’s to-do list, plans far into the future, politics, family, work, and so on. Today, as I set out on a sunrise walk, my focus was on photography and, more specifically, on practicing with a new lens.
It’s actually an old lens, though. It was one of my dad’s for his Minolta camera back in the 1970s, and I asked him for it a few years ago after I found it languishing in a drawer. I found an adapter to mount it with my Sony A7 and then I realized it was all manual and I had no idea what to do with it. So it sat in my drawer for a few years.
Today, though, I do know what to do with it. I’ve spent the last year practicing focus and shutter speed and reading histograms and it paid off. I put that MInolta lens on the A7 and went out looking for the golden hour light this morning and these photos are what I made.
The Minolta a big lens, and it has an old-timey, softer focus to it than newer lenses. I like the shots a lot and it was great to see that working at my photography skills is paying off.
(Side note: All three of these photos were taken within a 10 minute period of time, that’s how wildly diverse the foothills of the Sierra Nevada are.)
You’ve got to learn your instrument. Then, you practice, practice, practice. And then, when you finally get up there on the bandstand, forget all that and just wail.
Charlie Parker
The artistic quality of the photos is exceptional. Makes me want to paint them. Thanks
Annie, what are the specs on the new(old) lens? Thanks, curiosity got the better of me.
It’s a ROKKER-X zoom lens, 58mm, made in Japan. It zooms from 2 feet to infinity, with f-stops from 1.2 to 16. You have to focus and set the f-stops manually, so the histogram display really helps see what lighting you’re going to get with the settings you have chosen. You can read more here: http://www.rokkorfiles.com/Lens%20History.html and scroll down to the section titled “Typical MC Rokker 1972…” which looks like the one I have, but the descriptions don’t line up 100% on what the front ring says.
Thanks for the info. I’ll call you soon to hear the whole story. I have some old lenses of Dad’s and I would love to learn how to use them.
Love the photos and the story. Yet another nod to Dad for his hobbies and love for seeing things that he passed on to us. Thanks for spending the time to learn how to use the lens.
I could instantly notice the old timey feel of the lens. Love the photos. Reminds me of my time in California. Thank you for spending the time on the blog.
Thank you, Cliff! It does remind me of the California of my younger days, back when everything didn’t seem to be on fire. The golden-brown hills just say home to me, every time.
Lovely!