Risespray 11/2.8 Fisheye: My experience

I already have the Зенитар (Zenitar) 16/2.8 fisheye lens. And this copy is quite good [optically]. But I like the Risespray 11/2.8 (for Sony FE/E) better.

It has better resolution and is generally nicer. Although it also has mechanical weaknesses. My copy had to be repaired right after I bought it. But now it is ready for use (with some play in the focusing mechanism).

Unlike the mirrorless TTArtisans 11/2.8, the Risespray has 10 aperture blades and good sunstars.

The Risespray has a good image quality at f/2.8.

At close objects, the background blur starts to be visible (still here is a very short focal length).

The closer you get, the stronger the blur.

When the subjects are quite small, you can see the specific design of the diaphragm. At f/2.8, the polygons (decagons) in the blur appear as if the aperture were closed.

(crop 1:1)

But this is hardly a drawback.

By the way, this lens has a short minimum focusing distance: 170mm from the sensor plane. The front optical element is very close to the subject (about 65mm).

See also related notes:

• Risespray 11/2.8 Fisheye: Samples [1] - FF (2024-02-05)

Image albums:

• Risespray 11/2.8 Fisheye

Flowers

Sony a7c (24MP, FF) + Pentax K 35/3.5

Image albums:

• Nature

Samyang AF 35/2.8 FE: My first AF lens for Sony

I didn't have any autofocus lenses for the Sony a7c (24MP, FF). I thought about buying one, but didn't plan to. But by chance I saw the Samyang AF 35/2.8 FE on sale for only $130 (new). It was the cheapest full-frame autofocus lens on the market for the Sony FE (even if looking used).

I can't say it's my dream lens. But it's small, lightweight and the focal length suits me, so I bought it.

(lens with the original "hood" attached)

It's really new (unused) but from old stock. I tested it out, it works.

By the way, f/2.8 on a full-frame sensor is equivalent to f/1.9 on a sensor with a 1.5x crop factor.

The design is 7 elements in 6 groups, 7 aperture blades.

The filter thread size is 49mm. And 40.5mm with the original "hood" (included).

Unfortunately, since the lens was made some time ago, it has the old v.04 firmware, while v.07 is now available:

It is impossible to update the firmware of the Samyang lens on the camera, you need a separate lens docking station. This is a drawback of the Samyang lenses.

First of all, I liked the electronic interface of the lens: EXIF information (model, focal length, aperture), data for IBIS, profile application.

See also related notes:

• Samyang AF 35/2.8: Lens station (2025-05-15)
• Viltrox AF 20/2.8: Firmware update (V1.1.2) (2024-11-16)
• My AF lenses for Sony FE (2024-10) (2024-10-07)
• Viltrox AF 20/2.8 (FE): Ultra wide angle autofocus lens (2024-08-31)
• Samyang AF 35/2.8 FE: Samples [1] - FF - f/2.8 (2024-06-22)
• Poor extension tubes (MF Sony FE) (2024-05-03)
• RockStar/AstrHori 35/1.8 (Sony FE/E): Full-frame lens (2024-03-06)
• Pentax K-m vs Sony a7c: Size comparison (2024-03-04)
• Pentax K-m: Manual focus lenses (2024-01-23)
• Staeble-Werk Choro R 35/4.5: My experience [1/3] (2023-12-09)
• Cheecar FF 35/1.4 II: Full-frame lens (2023-09-23)

Image albums:

• Samyang AF 35/2.8 FE
• Sony a7c

Angarsk: 40 years of the Angarsk Construction Department (1948-1988)

Some time ago I scanned an album dedicated to the 40th anniversary (1948-1988) of the Ангарское управление строительства (Angarsk Construction Department).

In the album there were photos of Angarsk from different years. And I added some more of my photos taken from the ground (September 2023).

(see also sets of 12 photos 1975, 8 cards 1974, 12 cards 1974, 10 views 1956, 16 cards 1986, 10 panoramic cards from 1969, 10 cards from 1969)

Disclaimer: My photographs are nothing more than a documentation of reality.

1. 

2. Dwelling dugout.

3. Yurts.

4. The first building of the construction department.

5. The first building in town.

6. The construction department.

7. The "Победа" (Pobeda/Victory) movie theater.

8. The first child care center in the town.

9. Koshevoy Street.

 

10. Entrance to the town (Lenin Street).

11. K.Marx Street.

12. Leningradsky Prospect.

13. A complex of buildings on Socialist Street.

14. The central covered market.

 

15. Market interior.

(equirectangular panorama)

See also related notes:

• Angarsk: 12 photos from 1975 (and 2023) (2023-08-07)
• Angarsk: 10 photo card set from 1969 (and 2023) (2023-07-26)
• Angarsk: 10 panoramic photo set from 1969 (and 2023) (2023-07-13)
• Angarsk: 16 photo card set from 1986 (and 2023) (2023-07-01)
• Angarsk: 10 views from 1956 (and 2023) (2023-06-17)
• Angarsk: 12 photo card set from 1974 (and 2023) (2023-06-01)
• Angarsk: 8 photo card set from 1974 (and 2023) (2023-05-21)

Image albums:

• Angarsk

Samsung NX2000: Screen buttons (MF+, Custom)

While exploring the features of the Samsung NX2000, I didn't understand how to zoom in when manually focusing with a non-electronic lens. Usually on NX cameras, this is done with the OK button, but there is no such hardware button here.

In fact, I decided that there is no magnification option at all under such conditions. But that's not so bad. Under such conditions, the MF(+) button appears on the screen:

Pressing it is equivalent to pressing OK.

Among the on-screen buttons, there is also the [C]ustom button. On the NX2000 it is configured exactly like the hardware Custom button on the NX300:

In general, my first impression is that the NX2000 is very close to the NX300.

See also related notes:

• Samsung NX2000: cheap 20MP camera, welcome (2023-07-05)

Image albums:

• Samsung NX

Bolshoe Goloustnoe (September 2008)

Lake Baikal, Bolshoe Goloustnoe. September 2008

Pentax K10D (10MP, 1.5x crop factor) + DA 18-55/3.5-5.6 AL (i.e. first version) @ 18mm (28mm equiv.)

Image albums:

• History

Noname [OEM] 50/1.1 FF: My experience [3/3]

(see part 1)

When shooting small subjects, the f/1.1 aperture blurs the background to make it look smooth.

Almost no bubbles, etc.

See also related notes:

• Noname [OEM] 50/1.1 FF: My experience [1/3] (2023-09-01)

Image albums:

• Noname [OEM] 50/1.1 FF

Noname [OEM] 50/1.1 FF: My experience [2/3]

(see part 1)

I don't yet know if the claimed f/1.1 is true, but it does allow you to blur the background of even fairly large subjects.

I have a feeling that f/1.1 is a usable aperture.

Background blur is generally quite smooth.

Again, I like the performance of this budget lens at f/1.1.

See also related notes:

• Noname [OEM] 50/1.1 FF: My experience [1/3] (2023-09-01)

Image albums:

• Noname [OEM] 50/1.1 FF