[pathdoc]

Thank you.

Here's another, well, umm... Christmasy one.

LOL. I sense the malign and mischievous influence of a young lad somewhere between the ages of six and ten. I will show this to Master Seven and Miss Almost Six tomorrow morning; I think they will enjoy it.

"Star Wars Holiday Special, Take Two."

[ThorSanchez]

Actually got the dog to sit still for a moment. As you can see, in many situations, with this lens focus is more of a concept than a reality.

[pathdoc]

As you can see, in many situations, with this lens focus is more of a concept than a reality.

They don't call it an art lens for nothing, baby!

(Do you have a star bokeh plate in for this shot?)

[ThorSanchez]

(Do you have a star bokeh plate in for this shot?)

Oh however did you guess?

[Sandy Hancock]

Mine has been sitting under the Christmas tree for a while, but now it is finally out in the world.
I hear what you're saying about focus being a concept rather than a reality. It's a rather abstract concept at that



Get it right and it can be quite sharp, though.



And stopped down it's like a real lens!



But close in is where it does its best work.

[pathdoc]

And stopped down it's like a real lens!

This is what I've found; by f/8 the worst of the blurriness is gone and even at f/4 or f/5.6 it's not too terrible for an appropriate subject.

But close in is where it does its best work.

Measured from the front of the lens, the MFD is surprisingly short; less than that of the DA 70 Limited. The christmas-light bokeh under those circumstances is nothing short of awesome. I want to get a bit more comfortable with it before I decide whether to single in January; indeed, with outdoor opportunities limited right now, it seems best for me to defer it to spring or summer (northern) and let the Aussies and others in somewhat warmer, greener, leafier places take up the challenge, while posting occasional shots with it here in the meantime.

[pathdoc]

Here is what it's capable of at f/4, on my (surprisingly capable and increasingly oft-utilised) *istDS.



Man, I am so tempted to ditch the K-5 when the K-1 arrives and run with just this camera and the full-frame. Out would go the 18-135; in would come the 28-105 DFA to replace it.

[ThorSanchez]

Two more Christmasy shots, each with a shaped aperture plate.

[ThorSanchez]

Although Sandy Hancock proved the lens can be pretty sharp when stopped down, I had to prove it to myself firsthand. This is with the f/11 circular plate.

[Supakatti]

Here are couple of new dog photos with circular f/5.6 blade. I am sorry about the difference with the white balance:

[Sandy Hancock]

Some more:

[ThorSanchez]

Here are couple of new dog photos with circular f/5.6 blade. I am sorry about the difference with the white balance:

You nailed focus, not easy with this lens.

[Sandy Hancock]

The journey continues with this difficult but fascinating lens.

[ThorSanchez]

A few more from around the house.

[IgorZ]

The journey continues with this difficult but fascinating lens.

Thanks for the photos! Just a quick question: what do you mean by "difficult lens"? Do you find that you need a particular combination of conditions (say, light, background) to get great shots? Or is it just difficult to focus wide open?