Yeah, my
new toy needed a field testing. No need to guess, Kirillov was the best of all
obvious options.
Equipment.
Nikon D750,
standard kit lens AF-S Nikkor 24-85 mm 1:3,5-4,5G SWM VR ED (actually, not kit,
it was purchased independently) and an old, judging by its serial number,
produced in early 1990s, lens Nikkor AIS 28 mm 1:2.
A human factor
intervened, of course, – as a result of lack of skills with full-frame cameras I
made several mistakes, including errors with white balance settings, nonetheless
results are sometimes impressing. In particular – and especially! – my old lens
worked its best. Manual mode was the only option available with it and I see no
problem with that, since this mode is used extensively, I should even state
typically, in 95% of cases.
Now let me tell
you what happened. My first destination was a village situated right opposite
of Kirillov, across Siverskoye lake, – alas, I forgot its name. Lazy to check on
maps. A road, I should say, was far from being worthy of that name – good for biking,
not for driving a city car. Be careful and listen if there is somebody ahead
driving the opposite direction. The road is mostly one-way with very few places
to diverge. At a village one is advised to park a car somewhere near postboxes –
you will see them. Refrain from running a risk of driving any distance further,
since there are no turning-points, except for one somewhere in the very end of
a street.
The locals
are friendly. Despite all shoreline being in fact private (not legally, since
the law stipulates that 10 m strip from the high-water level can’t be owned by
private persons), photographers are allowed to take their shots from private
mini-beaches. Just ask their owners.
Now, the
first attempt. St. Cyril of Belozersk monastery view from the opposite side of
Siverskoye lake. Standard lens, f13, 1/30s, as for filters, I don’t remember
now, probably, CPL+gradient grey, by the way, this camera and lenses are disinclined
to let quirky stunts with two filters application. Earlier, on a DX-camera, I easily
used a couple of filters, typically CPL+gradient grey, and had no problems with
white balance, but either this full-frame device or its optics dislike this
combination or new 72 mm filters are low quality, but here the combination of
two filters inevitably gives out the same white balance mistake. Or I
misunderstand something. Look at this one. White balance? Yeah. Well, may it be
pastel-like. This trial shot is worth existing.
Next, the
old Nikkor AIS starts its play. F11, 1/50s, CPL+gradient grey, hence the same
white balance mistake. But let’s leave it aside. How the old device draws! Look
at those outlines! Good old-style drawing!
The village
seemed hospitable, thanks all who gave me their route guidelines.
Our next destination
is situated in the town. That place is popular among artists and photographers,
so be ready to find it full of visitors like you. First, the kit lens. F13,
1/50s, CPL+gradient grey, And again the same enrooted error. No, it dislikes
filters combination.
Our good
old friend keeps on surprising. It draws well, keeping its trademark reputation.
F11, 1/30s, filters totally forgotten, of course. CPL was definitely there, may
be, something else.
St. Cyril
of Belozersk monastery, southern view. It’s a peninsula across a bay from the
monastery, You should drive a bit southwards, when a hospital is seen on your right,
take a right turn, again a right turn, then left, pass by the national park management
office – cars may be left there, if the peninsula road is overcrowded – and you
are here. Quite suitable for city cars.
It’s a kit lens,
f13, 1/60s, 24 mm focal distance. Well done, praiseworthy. Bot there is something
more to achieve.
The same
lens, f13. 1/30, 35 mm focal distance. Cheers for myself, but that is not all.
It’s coming
in. Nikkor AIS outperforms all! Look at these drawing and mild colours! Well,
it does its duty. Shots aren’t identical: f16, 1/30s and f16, 1/25s. As we see,
the lens’ performance is best at f16, but don’t be allured: in a dusk this aperture
value easily produces nasty polarization circles.
Conclusions.
Except for
the abovementioned human factor errors, the results were satisfactory. My old
Nikkor AIS played its best. Old, but unsurpassable.
