Recent content by grotty

First DSLR was a Canon 350D with the (woeful) 18-55 kit lens. A good friend bought me the Canon 100 2.8 macro as a gift — chalk and cheese compared to the kit lens.

I've just returned from a five week trip around Europe. Our family of four in a converted poptop VW T5. It was a bit tight for space of course, but awesome. We took both a drive away awning and a simple canopy awning, only used the drive away once as it was too much hassle as we moved regularly...

A bit melodramatic, don't you think? I'd interpreted it as a mildly amusing anecdote.

Dipping my toe in too. I was deciding between the mark I and mark II, and went for A7II plus 35 2.8, both used (from WEX and LCE respectively). I wanted a compact setup to take away on an upcoming five week trip — looking forward to having a play.

You got a new A7III plus the 55 1.8 and extra battery for £1630? That's more than a reasonable deal, it's a steal.

Love the first one. Wouldn't look out of place on a Motocross Action cover.

For anyone interested, it turned up today, and my first impressions are very good. Seems nicely built, a good weight and nice resistance on the focus and aperture rings (perhaps a bit too much resistance on the focus ring) Had a quick play with the only available subject and had a relatively...

I've just ordered the samyang 50 1.2 on a whim, anyone had any experience with this lens? I've read a couple of mixed reviews. It's also my first proper manual lens, but the the Fuji's seem to make it fairly painless (I've practiced with MF with some degree of success).

I'm aware of the first thing people do, hence my comment about how many must get chucked out. If it's not now, it used to be law that bicycles needed to be supplied with pedals that had reflectors, as I said. I think that's probably enough on the pedals, now, no need to edit your post and add...

I'm clearly one of those that haven't caught up. In my defense, I haven't bought a new bike for about four years, but I have a box full of pedals, reflectors and bells in the garage.

Actually they do - I think legally they need to be supplied with pedals that have reflectors fitted - but they're the cheapest of the cheap and never get used. I can't imagine how many pairs of those pedals get chucked away every year...

I've not owned or tried it — and it's not 50mm either — but have you considered the Nikon 58 1.4? I've seen some very nice images made by that lens.

Plenty of good kit suggestions here. Also worth noting that even with the very best body and lens combo, you still need to have good technique in terms of shooting and processing low light/ high ISO images — I've shot plenty of howlers at low light/high ISO with very capable kit...

His slightly younger 'little bro'...

Yep, he's also 14. His 'bro' (another border) is 12 and is considerably less sedate.