The GXR with aps-c zoom

[Tom Caldwell]

Still takes an interesting shot - late autumn before the heavy rain set in. Those fluffy clouds are a portent of something serious about to happen.

 

[Blow-in]

Nice composition and exposure. Looks like rain to the left of the island. It's a real treat to see a pier, most of the piers in the UK are long gone.

Richard

 

[Ripbab]

The aps-c zoom has great optics, sadly I could, or did not want to get on with a powered zoom.
Produces classy shots though.

 

[Tom Caldwell]

Nice composition and exposure. Looks like rain to the left of the island. It's a real treat to see a pier, most of the piers in the UK are long gone.

Richard

It is "a Jetty" here - once a commercial port with a railway line down the middle and steam driven cranes mainly to load hardwood timber in the later days. The rails and cranes have gone and they lopped about half the length of it and spent M$1 doing all the piles up - looks like the piles will need replacing again fairly soon - I hope the tourists like the walk.

I haven't used the A16 aps-c zoom much since I bought it - I was looking to get "a set" of modules whilst they were still to be had. This lens tends to over expose a bit unless watched - I took these in B&W and recovered from the DNG file. I must admit I really like the rendering. This module has a thumping big lens but it is not heavy and easy to use - I think I will use it more.

Later autumn here and it is still 20C. That rain cloud out there was only playing the fool, the real serious rain was on its way down the coast - we must have had 300mm over a couple of days - still wall to wall cloud but it isn't raining. Not cold either - no need for a fire.

Tom

 

[Tom Caldwell]

The aps-c zoom has great optics, sadly I could, or did not want to get on with a powered zoom.
Produces classy shots though.

Thanks, this is not a module that I thought I would be attracted to either but it is very comfortable to use in practice. I am all into proper controls on the lens barrel as well but somehow the A16 zoom seems quite natural to use. During processing I had a look at the detail and it is quite sharp. I must use it more.

I have set all my modules up to work with a screen viewer that I call the VEfinder. It is magnetic and clips on to a little mount I have made up which is attached by double sided tape - it does not interfere with the tripod mount and the double sided tape allows the mount to be removed.

I will take some pictures of the gadget. I have made different mounts for my Panasonic GM1 and Pentax Q and the GXR mount fits in reversed position on the GR. One VEfinder clicks on/off all cameras.

I forgot to take the VEfinder with me for this shot but I managed all right despite the bright light.

Tom

 

[riccadonna]

Would love to see VEfinder. A16 module has no doubt excellent lens but the ergonomics couldn´t convince me. As mentioned lack of manual zoom and the size were the cons. Both things could be easily done, see f.ex latest compact retracting zoom on Pentax S2.
Looks like you missed the fourth pollard on the right with a person sitting on it, if there was any, of course.

 

[Tom Caldwell]

Would love to see VEfinder. A16 module has no doubt excellent lens but the ergonomics couldn´t convince me. As mentioned lack of manual zoom and the size were the cons. Both things could be easily done, see f.ex latest compact retracting zoom on Pentax S2.
Looks like you missed the fourth pollard on the right with a person sitting on it, if there was any, of course.

No, only three wise monkeys

I will make some effort to show off my VEfinder. It is based on the same principle as the commercially available Clearviewer. I have several of these and they work well on the GXR, GRDIII/IV and the Pentax Q. I found it useful to the point of essential on the GXR-M and Pentax Q but hardly necessary on the GRDIII/IV. I use the hotshoe mount variety which is simple to slip on and off and packs into a very small space. When I bought the Panasonic GM1 with no hotshoe the tripod mount version of the Clearviewer I found too bulky/fiddly and always there. It compromised the tiny form factor of the GM1 which is is most sought after feature and reason for being.

In the end I decided to make my own and improve on the Clearviewer. As a result I (eventually) devised a small on-camera fixed mount to which a folding viewer arm can be attached magnetically. A simple click on click off procedure. As I now had my own design (initially for the GM1) I made up mounts for the Pentax Q and GXR as well. Now the identical design single viewer type works across several camera body platforms. Getting the mount for the GXR "correct" was quite difficult but I succeeded in making one that was positioned correctly and did not obscure the serial number plate. I also found that the same mount when fitted in reverse was suitable for the GR. Lots of work and design to get it "just right".

Short of time at the moment but I should demonstrate it to the forum. I have no desire to make them commercially. They are made with my new-learned machine shop "skills" by an ex-professional accountant using a tiny very basic milling machine and many hours of labour. The sort of thing if taken up by a proper manufacturer could be punched out in hundreds per our by a repetitive manufacturing process. It would be possible to make them using 3D printing using proper drawings and equipment. The lens could be better found as the one I found complete with mount arm is on the strong side of necessary.

The above image was taken without VEfinder help on a bright day as I had forgotten to take my little lens arm with me.

Tom