Oooh I have been long out of the game we have with my equally camera-addicted sisters, but now I am back. Back in the game. And the rules are …
Some amazing friends photographers from around the globe have taken the vows to photograph more often in normal daily situations. And we shall post these life stories on our blogs – last Friday of each month. (At the end of this post is a link to another photographer who participated and she’ll be linking to someone else. It’s a whole big circle of stories in pictures. Click through and enjoy!)
I have bought a lens (for technically oriented readers Nikkor 135/2.0) about 2 years ago – and returned it after one shoot because it was faulty. It took me another year to get that lens again. It’s supposed to be the greatest Nikkor portrait lens, so of course it’s something that I needed … ehm … wanted. I have been having a love/hate relationship with that lens ever since. Normally when I am shooting, about 95% of my images are in sharp focus exactly where I intended it. With the 135mm baby it was around 50% and sometimes less. Anyone who has ever seen me working knows that I am chronic overshooter, but hey, this meant lost images that I didn’t want to lose.
Finally last week I decided to take the lens to a hospital (JAS Tekniikka) and took my camera for cleaning and check up at the same time. As you would expect those people did some magic in the ESD zone and now I seriously love love love my 135mm. Moral of the story is that you should not wait to get things fixed, they won’t get fixed by themselves.
Meanwhile … I had a discussion with a dear friend (an insanely talented photographer Amber Andersson) in very early morning hours one day. Still the same night I asked on FB if someone could lend me a 70-200mm/2.8 zoom to test. You see, based on my discussion with Amber it seems obvious that it’s another piece of equipment that I absolutely need … ehm … want. And here another friend, geographically in much favorable proximity, offered his help (thank you, Ilkka N.!). At lunch Ilkka gave me a long speech about how heavy the lens is and how it caused him backpain. Pche, I thought, I have handled some heavy stuff and by the way, I am in shape! Then he handed me over the beast of a lens … I had to take one camera body, two lenses and a flash out of my camera bag to fit that 1 (one) lens! 
And so today’s story is about me testing the 70-200mm lens. Always an adventure, testing new equipment. And this beast/baby/miracle lens is definitely quickly becoming my favorite one. Except … I might need a new camera bag … ehm … suitcase.
Click through the whole circle (I am always ahead of the time in the European zone, so wait for it till Friday afternoon). The next part of the chain is a story by the always amazing Amy Lenhart. Enjoy your Friday everyone!
