At 18:47 2/14/98 -0800, Jeff Robertson wrote: >Does anybody on this list have any experience with PC lenses, namely the >Nikon 28 and 35mm. I am looking at buying one and would appreciate any >input on their quality etc.
Jeff and folks: I have owned the Nikon 28mm PC for a number of years and use it maybe one or two times a year. It's primarily an architectural lens, though I've used it for railroad photos when shooting from a high vantage point -- with the lens shifted downward. Most people who own these lenses say that if you're going to get one, get the 28mm. The 35mm is simply not wide enough for most situations where you are shooting buildings (interiors or exteriors) -- which is what the lens is designed for. Technically, this is an excellent lens. The problem is that it is a preset -- not automatic -- diaphragm lens. You need to use it on a tripod. (I know, we should always use a tripod, but then that's not always practical. In some buildings, getting permission to shoot with a tripod can be a major hassle, while those shooting without one are generally ignored.) A type E focusing screen with the grid lines is also essential for composing with this lens. (I like these focusing screens for general purpose work, anyway.) The 28mm PC is a large heavy lens. That's probably the main reason I don't use it more. It's another large/heavy piece to lug along. Of course, for certain situations, nothing else will do. At f3.5, the 28mm PC is about a stop slower than my 24mm 2.8 and two stops slower than my 34mm f2.0. (Of course, if you're using a tripod, then lens speed is usually not a major factor. Used it once to copy a painting for someone. The large painting was hung high on a wall in a high-ceiling room at a library. Moving the painting just to photograph it would have required a crew of several people. By mounting the camera on a tripod head clamped to the top of a tall ladder and using the shift to get the painting reasonably square, I was able to produce a decent rendering. The client who wanted the photo for a book and who had tried to photograph the painting herself was amazed, to say the least. -- Ernest -- Ernest H. Robl, Durham,NC,USA Stock photography; photojournalism; writing Specializing in transportation and travel subjects for more than 25 years. mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone +1 (919) 286-3845 Fax +1 (919) 286-1696 http://www.robl.w1.com "I'd rather be on the train." At =NS milepost H-52. Intermodal Container FAQ: http://www.robl.w1.com/Transport/intermod.htm -> SPORRS: Serious Photographers of Railroad Related Subjects -> Web Site: http://www.anet-stl.com/acphotog/sporrs -> Message © SPORRS® 1998 - All Rights Reserved
