April Fools 2024 | Talk Thread

And we're off!!

Just checked - the RD-175 has 2 times crop. That 1000mm becoming a 2000mm.... Respect!

Edited by addy landzaat - 02 April 2024 at 18:21

addy landzaat wrote: Just checked - the RD-175 has 2 times crop. That 1000mm becoming a 2000mm.... Respect!

I did pull out the 1000mm f8 to test feasibility. The lens does register and does AF. With a single line AF sensor, I wouldn't say that it is easy to use. Lots of hunting and high contrast needed for AF lock. However the heft of the RD-175 does act as a nice counter-weight on a gimbal mount.

MF is even more challenging with the 2x crop, especially coming from someone who almost exclusively has shot FF and had nice big viewfinders. The only information in the tiny viewfinder is an AF confirm "dot" which goes from o to (o) when focus is achieved. Otherwise, no other information. No AF point, no shutter speed, f-stop, or EV information. Pretty rudimentary. Since the front end of the camera is a 500si, I would be curious to know if the film body has the same lack of information in the view finder. Amazing how far we have come in 29 years.

My comments on a random selection from Day 1:

gregja - subtle shapes and tones to kick off
Harm vb - Brilliant image It took me a while to even see the cat! My pick of the day
Phil Wood - Nicely on topic and framed well Phil
pegelli - Simply charming, and another on topic for Easter
C_N_RED_AGAIN - As an aviator I admire all aircraft but the A10 was an acquired taste . Really looking forward to seeing you collect the various nose graphics this year.
addy landzaat - I had to look up OV fiets to understand the significance of the bike, and now it makes sense
alpha_in_exile - an intricate piece of work is crying out for a lick of paint

A great start to this year's challenge and I'm looking forward to seeing and commenting on lots more

bonneville wrote: addy landzaat - I had to look up OV fiets to understand the significance of the bike, and now it makes sense

There is even a dedicated Wikipedia page in English, wow, didn't know. But yes, it is a backbone of Dutch transportation and you see them everywhere.

darosa wrote: addy landzaat wrote: darosa wrote: A Minolta AF 1000/8? Ah, April Fools' Day There is a Sigma 1000mm f/8 APO lens in A-mount. Ok, but the AF bit is for April Fools then 😁

I quite assure that it is real and does AF. I totally get the skepticism. The lens is rare and extremely low production volume in Minolta AF mount. It took me over 10 years of searching to find the one I have, so it is far less likely to see one in the wild than a Minolta 600mm f4. There is a lot of confusion on the web about the lens in that there was an early MF only version, and a subsequent AF version and the two get mixed and are all around rare in any mount. Nobody has put up a review here, and I mean to, but just haven't gotten around to it for any of my lenses.

AF is useless on the RD-175, but works well on the a99ii. Here is a photo taken with an a99ii for April Foolishness 2022.

ffrolvaag wrote: I quite assure that it is real and does AF. I totally get the skepticism. The lens is rare and extremely low production volume in Minolta AF mount. It took me over 10 years of searching to find the one I have, so it is far less likely to see one in the wild than a Minolta 600mm f4. There is a lot of confusion on the web about the lens in that there was an early MF only version, and a subsequent AF version and the two get mixed and are all around rare in any mount. Nobody has put up a review here, and I mean to, but just haven't gotten around to it for any of my lenses. AF is useless on the RD-175, but works well on the a99ii.

Thanks Franz for the 'explainer'! It's quite a collector's item, then; especially in combination with the RD-175. I hope you will find the time to correct the Dyxum database on this lens. Not many will seek this one out, but perhaps all the more reason to get it right!