Ron Scheffler – Photographer – Hamilton Ontario Canada

Just added several posts to the TechTalk section comparing various rangefinder lenses on the new Sony NEX-5N camera:

Sony NEX-5N with select ultra-wide rangefinder lenses – high-rez samples

There has been a lot of discussion about how well the new NEX cameras will work with wide and ultra-wide angle rangefinder lenses. Apparently the NEX-3 and 5 did not work well with many, resulting in color shifts and smearing in to the edges and corners.

Continue to see comparison photos of the Voigtlander Ultra Heliar 12mm f/5.6, Voigtlander Super Heliar 15mm f/4.5 and Zeiss ZM 21mm f/2.8 Biogon.

Click on photo above or here to continue to the article.

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Sony NEX-5N with Voigtlander and Zeiss rangefinder lenses – part 2 – a couple 35mm options

To continue with the test of rangefinder lenses on the Sony NEX-5N, next up are two 35mm lenses, simply because these are two that I use on the Leica M9:

Zeiss ZM 35mm f/2.8 C-Biogon
Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.2 Aspherical VM II

Click on photo above or here to continue to the article.

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Sony NEX-5N with rangefinder lenses – part 3 – 50mm – Zeiss vs. Sony

The next installment of my NEX-5N test compares the Zeiss ZM 50 Planar against the Sony SEL 50mm f/1.8 lens for the NEX system.

Click on photo above or here to continue to the article.

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Part four, to be posted, will examine samples from the Voigtlander Heliar Classic 75mm f/1.8 and the Leica Summarit-M 90mm f/2.5.

This is a multimedia story I did for OpenFile Hamilton:

Nathan Kanya had an unusual childhood, though he is quick to downplay it.

Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he lived in Lubumbashi until the age of 6, when he and his family left for France in search of a better, safer life.

After about five years he and his family relocated again, this time to the United States for a couple years before finally settled in Hamilton during his teens. Kanya’s early childhood love was soccer, but he traded it for football, playing at Cathedral High School in Hamilton, in the OVFL for the Steel City Ironmen and on a scholarship for the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds before returning full circle to Hamilton, signing with the CFL’s Tiger-Cats prior to the 2011 season.

Please watch the ‘video’ for the full story and photos:

And a few of my favourite photos from the story:

Canada Day Fireworks – Hamilton

Hamilton’s Canada Day fireworks display, launched from Bayfront Park as seen from the T.B. McQuesten High Level Bridge on York Boulevard.

It was the first time I watched the fireworks from the bridge. It’s a good perspective and my goal was once again, as with the Victoria Day fireworks last year, to try to get some people in the photos. Instead of doing what might initially seem logical by positioning myself right up against the railing overlooking Hamilton Harbour, I instead went to the other side of the street and found a position about 4 feet up on the side of the bridge. This allowed me to get some of the water in the image and nice firework reflections to separate the spectators from the dark background. Otherwise it was technically very similar to the Victoria Day post, but because I was closer this time, I shot fairly wide with a 50mm lens.

My intention was to stay in one spot with one composition. The reason was to facilitate editing the images in Final Cut to allow smooth dissolves and zooms. And the display lasted only about 15 minutes, so there simply wasn’t much time to try multiple locations. This is one of those things where you get one shot each year, weather permitting, and it has me already considering other locations for next year.

Crops of some of the better images:

Elizabeth May and Green Party visit Hamilton from Ron Scheffler on Vimeo.

Here’s another slideshow, this time from last weekend’s visit to Hamilton by Elizabeth May at a Green Party rally on Locke Street, told from the perspective of Karen Gerum, a Dundas resident exploring options for the upcoming federal election on May 2nd.

This piece was for OpenFile Hamilton.

James Street North reaction to Harper and Ignatieff visit from Ron Scheffler on Vimeo.

I did a ‘man on the street’ type photo essay/interview yesterday along James Street North for OpenFile coinciding with the campaign rallies within an hour or so of each other in Hamilton by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff.

Audio clips in the slideshow are from lifelong Hamiltonian Jim Stuart, Lola Sorinmade, a double major biology and psychology student at McMaster University, and Graham Cozzubbo, a theatre and opera director.

I’ve been in Munich for a couple weeks and today enjoyed Fasching (Carnival) with many people dressed up for the celebration in outlandish costumes. Photos to come…

The photos here are from the weekend.

M9 & Zeiss ZM 21mm f/2.8