CAPTURE NEW HORIZONS

Ever since I got the Fotodiox adapter to attach Nikon lenses to the Fujifilm X-Pro1 I have been waiting to try out the Nikon 80-200mm f2.8 AF-D with the 2x converter to make the lens an effective 240-600mm f5.6.  I did have the opportunity to try the combination this afternoon at Tyningham beach but when we got there the light was far from ideal. I had to push the ISO to 1000 to make sure I had a fast enough shutter speed for the focal length as I was hand holding the camera.  Now the newly acquired Fujinon 55-200mm has optical stabilisation and autofocus but the Fotodiox adapter means that there is no AF and the lens doesn't have VR anyway. Bearing all this in mind, I am pretty pleased with the following two images, both taken at the long end of the zoom range. The biggest problem was keeping the lens steady enough to focus accurately. With the long focal length and the high wind sweeping across the beach I have to admit this was pretty frustrating. This isn't a le...

Two days ago I posted a review of the Fotodiox adapter so that Nikon F mount lenses can be fitted to the Fujifilm X-Pro1.  My first test was with the Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8 AF-D ( HERE ) and yesterday I got to try out the Nikkor 50mm f1.4 AF-D on the X-Pro1 during the Christmas Lights Switch On celebrations in Edinburgh. The Nikon 50mm f1.4 AF-D fitted to the Fujifilm X-Pro1 with the Fotodiox Adapter The Nikkor 50mm f1.4 is another stunningly sharp lens from Nikon and like the 80-200mm it is a 'D' lens, which means it has an aperture ring to set the f stop manually.  This is important for use with the Fotodiox adapter as the newer 'G' type Nikon lenses wont work because they don't have the aperture ring. Because the X-Pro1 is an APS-C sensor the 50mm becomes an effective 75mm f1.4 when fitted to the Fuji.  The Japanese manufacturer is launching a Fujinon 56mm f1.2 next spring so the Nikon is almost a perfect match for the new X-Series lens, which I am lookin...

I've been using the Fujifilm X-Pro1 for the past month and I haven't enjoyed my photography so much since I bought the Fuji X100 12 months earlier.  The only issue I have with the X-Pro1 is the lack of a long telephoto lens.  The longest lens I have is the 60mm f2.4, which is the equivalent of a 90mm telephoto; it's a great lens but I sometimes wish my Fuji system had a bit more pulling power.   Fuji have provided the X system with a telephoto zoom, the 55-200mm f3.5 / f4.8 R LM OIS and I will be testing this lens next week for three days. I will be showing the results on this blog. However my Nikon kit has one of the best short telephoto zooms in the world, the Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8 AF-D.  I bought this lens brand new in 1996 for £1600.00 and it has been a faithful companion ever since. I've bought and sold plenty of SLRs / DSLRs in the past 18 years but I've never felt the need to upgrade the 80-200mm because it is still optically the best lens I own and it ha...