sony 30mm macro sample images

sony 30mm macro, a set on Flickr.

This is a set of photos taken with my 30mm 2.8 macro lens - the SAL30M28.. As a macro lens it's ok, it doesn't have the working distance of a longer focal length lens but it's very sharp.

New lens - Tamron SP 70-300mm f4-5.6 Di USD Lens

This lens is on it's way to me, it's to replace my broken Sigma 70-300, the sigma stripped it's focus gears and isn't worth paying to get fixed. It also had fairly poor image quality so even if it still worked I would have been considering replacing it. The old Sigma has the same aperture as the new lens, the new lens however should have much better image quality and also much faster auto-focus thanks to it's USD focus motors.

I haven't decided what I'm going to do with the sigma yet - they do sell for about £10-£15 broken on ebay - there is enough of them breaking that I'm able to make this prediction.

When the new lens arrives I'll do some side by side comparisons of the two lenses to show the difference in IQ.

I'm also considering selling my minolta 100-200mm f4.5, when the sigma was working I hardly used the minolta, IQ was a touch better on the minolta but because the sigma has a much greater range that was the one I kept in my camera bag.

perfect effects 8 - grunge strong filter

For a limited time onone software's picture effects 8 is being given away - see link below
www.ononesoftware.com/landing/pe8offer/

I've been having a play with it, the first photo here is straight out of camera, the second one is with the grunge strong effect added.

restoration sign, a photo by GaryDavidson on Flickr.


restoration sign perfect effects 8 - grunge strong filter, a photo by GaryDavidson on Flickr.

DIY camera/flash mount

Ok, so I half cheated, I bought the ball mount. It was from ebay and cost less than £5 so there is no way I'm going to build one. I'll also confess to cheating with the other half as well, I didn't make the clamp. I already had it but I had to drill the hole a bit bigger to fit the bolt through. So yes all I really did was bolt one to the other.

It's not perfect, a DSLR is too heavy and moves about a bit, but it will work fine for a compact camera or for a flash. I was thinking about drilling a new hole further up the clamp but there is supporting plastic on the inside that I don't want to drill out, I think it will weaken the clamp too much. Instead I'll keep an eye out for a better clamp to use.

I gatecrashed an autotest today to fill a few hours, this was part of the HERO LEJOG rally 

what is HERO?

basically anything over 30 year old is allowed in

what is LEJOG

entry starts at £2500 so it should come as no surprise that something like this is was the first car through

add in a few of these 

and that many of these I haven't counted them all

how about some big old mercs

I liked this SAAB

there were about 3 or 4 golfs

a one headlight wonder

proper mini

a much more down to earth porsche

some old rovers

a few random others

So, are these cars rare enough for you? No, then get ready to say "epic fucking spot" a few times.....

enjoy