Olympus Trip 35

The Trip 35 is a 35mm compact camera, manufactured by Olympus. It was introduced in 1967 and discontinued, after a lengthy production run, in 1984. The Trip name was a reference to its intended market – people who wanted a compact, functional camera for holidays. During the 1970s it was the subject of an advertising campaign that featured popular British photographer David Bailey. Over ten million units were sold.^[1]

The Trip 35 was a point and shoot model with a 40mm f2.8 lens, solar-powered selenium light meter, and just two shutter speeds. In 'A' mode, the camera operated as a Program automatic, choosing either 1/40th sec or 1/200th sec. The camera could also sync with flash, and had a range of aperture settings, from f2.8 to f22. In flash sync mode the shutter was set at 1/40. Apart from a simple four-positionzone focus system, and an ISO setting from 25–400,^[2] the camera had no other photographic controls. The camera had a Prontor-Compursync connector and a hot shoe. Its lens was a coated Zuiko 40mm f/2.8, with four elements in three groups.

The camera had an ISO range of "only" 25–400, but this was acceptable, as films faster than 400 were uncommon and not of high image quality. 25 speed allowed the use of Kodachrome, while 400 speed allowed use of Tri-X and similar fast materials under low light.

Earlier models, from the first few years of production, had a maximum ISO speed of 200.

The four-element Tessar lens, still impressive today, gave high-quality images. If used with modern film emulsions, the results can be very good.

The use of a selenium photocell to select the shutter speeds and aperture let novices use the camera as a "point & shoot", with good results obtained most of the time. And no battery was needed to power the camera, an important consideration when travelling where batteries might not be available.

The lack of more than two shutter speeds was not a problem. At 1/200 and f:22 with 400-speed film, the camera could deliver correct exposure in full sunlight, while at 1/40 and f:2.8, correct exposure could be obtained under bright fluorescent light, without a flash.

The aperture could also be adjusted to cope with sunny/dull conditions etc., so again this allowed for better results, but in low light conditions, with perhaps a smallish aperture (for long depth of field), the camera would probably set itself to the lower speed of 1/40th, so camera shake was a possibility if higher-speed film was not used.

Ricoh KR-5

The KR-5 is one of a series of SLRs for 35mm film made by Ricoh, all accepting K-mount lenses. (Later models include the KR-5 Super, KR-5 Super II, etc.) The original KR-5 was introduced in 1978, and in some markets it is designated the Ricoh XR500.

The original KR-5 is the first in the series, from about 1979, and is the most limited. Its standard lens only offers a speed of f/2.2, and its range of shutter speeds is 1/8–1/500th sec. plus B, with flash sync at 1/60th sec. or lower. Two 1.5v silver-oxide batteries are needed to power the light metering circuit, which has a match-needle indicator in the viewfinder. The wind lever must be pulled away from the body to switch on the meter and unlock the shutter release.

The ground glass screen is provided with a diagonal split-image spot surrounded by a microprism. The KR-5 has a hot shoe but no PC terminal.

GamiLight BOX 21 flash diffuser review

GamiLight BOX 21 (best flash diffuser rating: 8.60) is a new portable softbox from Gami Light Concepts, a Malaysian manufacturer of hot shoe flash accessories. With its size of 8.5"x6" (21.5cm x 15.5 cm), BOX 21 is suited for on- and off-camera flash photography applications. It is built after its big brother, SQUARE 43, using the same high quality materials. Both diffusers share the same design principles including detachable front screen, silver lining, snap system, and being able to fold flat.
BOX 21 folds flat, and it is easy to fit in your gear bag. It actually has few snap buttons inside to ensure that it stays flat when folded.

Zeh Bounce pop-up flash reflector review

Zeh Bounce from Zeh Photographic is a reflector for the built-in (pop-up) flash of your SLR camera. Pop-up flashes usually produce unpleasant results because they are small in size and positioned very closely to the lens axis. Zeh Bounce redirects the light from your pop-up flash towards the ceiling, which creates more natural results since the light source is located above the subject.

Yongnuo YN-565 EX Flash Review

Finally the new Yongnuo YN-565 EX has arrived in the Speedlights.net office! Buying a flash is a quick thing thanks to the internet. What’s very time consuming is the testing, reviewing, and the writing process itself.

Which is why I’ll do it differently this time – this review gets published now, and will be updated and completed over time so that you don’t have to wait forever before the whole text comes together.

Here’s the full review program – available parts as of now are linked from the table of contents:

http://library.nu/

http://library.nu/

Photo Tip: Left of Center

Creative Spark: Left of Center

As a photographer, it is tempting to see the world through your viewfinder as you would when simply looking at a scene in normal life - i.e. from eye level with the subject up smack dab in the center of the frame. While this mimics how we normally look at things, and achieves the admirable goal of giving the subject prominence, I want to share with you a way to create more dynamic and engaging photographs.

Our natural inclination is to place a subject in the middle of the frame. I call this 'bulllseye' composition and it can result in rather uninteresting images.

Photo Tip: Five for Five

How many times have you taken what you were sure was the perfect shot, only to be disappointed when reviewing your work later on the computer? There's the trashcan you didn't notice in the corner; the stranger's elbow jutting out behind your subject. And why did that tourist have to step into the frame? These image-wrecking situations are easily avoided - if you notice them before you press the shutter button.

It's easy to be so preoccupied with capturing an interesting subject set in a stunning locale that you ignore small but distracting details like the out of focus pole jutting out from the bottom of the frame.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens Review

Canon currently has four 50mm lenses in production, the EF 50/1.8 II, the EF 50/1.4 USM, the EF 50/2.5 Macro and the EF 50/1.2LUSM. There are also two others which are no longer current: the EF 50/1.0L and the original EF 50/1.8.

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM, (compare prices), is the current premium 50mm lens. It’s larger, faster, heavier and much more expensive than any of the other production lenses.

The lens uses a ring USM with full time manual focusing, incorporates an 8 blade circular aperture for smooth background blur and is supplied with a lens hood and carrying pouch. There is a distance scale and there are DOFmarkings.

As you would expect from an “L” series lens, it’s sturdily constructed and has an optical design of 8 elements in 6 groups, with a large rear aspherical element made of high refractive index glass to minimize aberrations.

G. Banyak