Domke F5XB

This is a small camera bag that is suitable for rangefinders and the new compact system mirrorless camera like my OM-D.

I was pleasantly surprised that I could put 5 lenses including a Fullframe lens like the Nikkor 85mmf1.8. The OM-D was fitted with the grip and the beauty of all m4/3 fixed-focal lens (small, light, large aperture and sharp) are shown in the photo.

If an external flash is required, one of the lens will have to give way.

Other accessories like the torch, extra battery, filter and a gunshot sling are actually inside.

It is made of soft canvass material and I got it at a used price.

It is a well design camera bag. It looks rugged, stealthily and really small in size. The overall look of this camera bag doesn't look like a camera bag at all.

I personally preferred the brown coloured version but settled with this olived colour as it is available at a good price.

Highly recommended bag for people who love portability and ruggedness.

Bokeh comparison Nikkor 85mm f1.8 and Olympus 60mm f2.8

Modern lens or classic lens?
Modern lens best asset is the auto focus that will help the photographer to shoot fast and accurate.
A classic manual lens like hte Nikkor 85mm f1.8 need some patience and skill.
Nevertheless, both are great lens. Here are a comparison of 2 lens shot at wide open.

1) Nikkor 85mm

2) Olympus 60mm

3) Olympus 60mm which the Nikkor 85 can never do it unless with close-up filters or extension tube

Nikkor 85mm f1.8 AI

This is a 1977 lens from Nikon Manual SLR days. Have been eyeing this large aperture 85mm lens for awhile. Got it at a reasonable price. The adapter to mount this Nikon F mount to m4/3 seems to be on the high price in Singapore. About 3times more than the ebay. I still got it to cut short the shipping time which may take 2weeks to 1month.
My initial test is positive. It is sharp wide open and bokeh is creamy. Some old manual lens may require to stop down to f2.8 to get reasonable sharp image but this lens is sharp wide open which I am happy about.

Here are some home-made bokeh test.

1) F1.8

2) F2.8

3) F4

4)f5.6

5) f8

6) f11

7) f16

8)f22

Had a realtime shooting with this classic lens.
Here are some of the samples. Mainly in f1.8 ISO200

DIY macro lighting arm

I was planning to buy the Olympus LED macro arm to see if this setup will help my macro photos where some angles may not be suitable for conventional flash.

I came across a recommendation to use a twin LED lights for reading and glue a flash cover onto it. With this, a retractable LEB twin light was made. I use it to test and works well.  The LED twin lights is bought from Ebay at $5.00. The Flash cover only cost $1.00. Total cost is $6. Compared to the original Olympus Macro Arm that cost about $90.00.

The arm is good for shoot like situation where the Jumping spider was hidden in between the leaves. If a conventional bounced flash is used, there will be shadows etc.