I returned to the woods on Tuesday and was greeted with MUCH better conditions.
I can’t go so far as to say it was a beautiful day; that would be a lie; it was dank AF, but all the ice was gone from the trails, and it made for a much easier lumber than on Monday.
I felt like I needed to mix things up a bit, so I took an old Lester A. Dine 105mm f/2.8 manual focus macro lens that I was gifted by the grandfather of one of B’s soccer teammates about 5 years ago.
I’ve been using Lester off and on since, and despite a stiff focus ring, it is one of the sharpest lenses I have ever used (WHEN I nail focus or at least come close). I find it hard to do handheld macro with Lester, but it’s still fun to use and practice photography with. NOTE: Focusing SHOULD be way easier due to the manual focus assist on the Z mount cameras, but sometimes mine decides it doesn’t want to display for me (or I can’t see it, which is entirely possible) and that is frustrating.
Anyway, I took the lens out for a 4.80-mile hike on Tuesday, took a few photos, and had fun in the woods. It was swell.
Using Lester really makes me want a longer focal length Z mount f/2.8 or f/4 lens for hiking, perhaps something in the 105mm to 150mm. I dig the Lester, but it’s HEAVY, impossible to carry on a lightweight trail pack, focusing is a chore, and it requires and bag to carry, which feels a bit awkward whilst lumbering.
I enjoyed the lens so much I even used it to photograph my Soiled Turkey Sausage Egg and Cheese sammich I made for breakfast today for no reason what-so-ever.
Hope to get some more miles in on Wednesday.
Later.