A couple of observations...

Sanjay Sen · Feb 14, 2010

The widest focal length that I had used was 28mm, that is, until I got the CV Super Wide-Heliar 15/4.5! First off, it is indeed quite a challenge (for me, at least) to compose with a lens that wide. I use the 15mm viewfinder that comes with the lens, mounted on a Bessa-L. Last week I got the first roll back from the lab, and I found that I'd managed to get my fingers, shadow, or some other object in nine out of the thirty-seven frames! I am pretty sure I didn't notice anything in the VF, so I have to be extra careful when using this lens and VF. I just finished the second roll today, so I am hoping I didn't spoil any more frames.

Secondly, the first roll referenced above was Kodak E100VS, expired in April 2001. This was part of a bunch, (about 70 rolls) of expired film I bought for ten bucks on Craig's List. I haven't cold stored these rolls, and I am pretty sure that the seller hadn't either. Anyway, this was a fun experiment and the colors are quite interesting! I have attached a few images -- shot on expired Kodak E100VS, with the aforementioned 15mm lens (some deliberately with the camera not level).

I am interested in hearing your experiences with this lens -- composition, subject, etc., -- or any other super-wide lens on 35mm. I am also interested in hearing about your experiences shooting expired color film/slides, if you like to do so.

tomalophicon · Feb 14, 2010

The first shot doesn't really grab me, I think it appears too cluttered or something.
The second 2 are awesome. The 3rd I reckon is the best of the bunch. I love the sky. The blue haze sort of adds to it.

nate.m · Feb 15, 2010

I used to shoot a 12-24mm sigma lens on a full frame 35mm digital body... The most interesting pictures will be the ones with a strong foreground element. A bunch of clouds in the sky will also add drama to the image. People will always look strange at this perspective, so I'd stick with more nature-y shots. I liked to get low and very close (2 ft or so) to a foreground element, drop the f stop for a lot of dof and click away!

Sanjay Sen · Feb 15, 2010

I am still experimenting with the perspective of such a wide lens. The first image has an interesting texture/grain in the sky, probably due to the expired film not being stored properly (?). However, the effect seems to have been lost when I attached the image.

sun of sand · Feb 15, 2010

28mm for me so no help from experience
but that dont stop me

I like the second photo you attached best

3rd is maybe better than 1st
I actually find the 1st easier to look at but the 3rd is maybe on the road to somewhere better
1st photo with a longer focal length cropped to top and bottom of two center trees is a good shot IMO
two trees/two gate things/two distant trees with circular opening between

framing with branches is done well

KenR · Feb 15, 2010

I agree that the 2nd photo shows off the lens at its best. IMHO, the other two have too much dead space and need to be cropped (or the 28mm lens.)

Sanjay Sen · Feb 15, 2010

I am interested in hearing your experiences shooting with an ultra-wide lens (and also with expired color film/slide).

Tim Gray · Feb 15, 2010

I love my 15mm. I put it on and just start snapping. It's a fun street photography lens too. Put it on 1-1.5m and just go.

I lost the finder though over Christmas and need to get a new one.

2F/2F · Feb 15, 2010

For the way I see things, 28mm is the widest lens I use when I do not want the wideness of the lens to specifically be a "part" of the shot.

I use 24mm and wider when I want the wide field of view to specifically be noticed, for various purposes.

I find little use for my 17mm Canon, though when it is used well, it is great!

A 15 or a 17, etc. is the kind of thing with which I might take 10x as long to go through a roll than with any other lens. It is not something I ever have on my camera unless I also have some other cameras with me. Only on a few occasions have I ever shot through a whole roll with my 17mm in one "sitting".

17mm Canon FD on Delta 3200 (Skanky Dave Chapelle-style Michael Jackson impersonator at the Motown museum right after Jackson's death). (Uncropped, but I will crop it when I print it.)

17-40 Canon, at 19mm, with 1.3 crop factor (25mm equiv. AOV). I got what I wanted in the end, but I had to trim a few loose objects from the edges to do it, and I also made it a more fat aspect ratio.

In both of these cases, I was not looking through the viewfinder, and ended up needing to crop. The wide lens allows this sort of "slop", with the drawback being that you usually need to crop a bit to neaten the thing up.

sun of sand · Feb 16, 2010

Sanjay Sen said:
I am interested in hearing your experiences shooting with an ultra-wide lens (and also with expired color film/slide).

not to
you know

but you mentioned having a time finding good compositions using YOUR lens
so whether I've used one or not myself I can still try to help by pointing out which of your compositions I like best and why
If I stink with an ultra wide that ain't gonna help you none
better perhaps to show you where you IMO haven't

My first post was more about why i liked what i liked but felt it too lengthy and trimmed

firecracker · Feb 16, 2010

The widest I go now is 20mm for 35mm film. I used to use a 17mm lens and had fun with it, but that didn't last that long...

But for the most part, 28mm does the job. 35mm is fine. 50mm, I have to move around quite a bit, but it's fun to do that.

janezek · Feb 16, 2010

I am also a big fan of ultrawides.
Here are some of my attempts with Sigma 12-24 on HP5 at 800 ISO:
http://www.janez-pelko.com/html/celovnik1.htm
and 15mm fisheye on DX:
http://www.janez-pelko.com/html/trubar.htm
I use expired films often for cross processing, look at the first four photos here:
http://www.janez-pelko.com/html/vijavaja.htm

Sanjay Sen · Feb 16, 2010

janezek said:
I am also a big fan of ultrawides.
Here are some of my attempts with Sigma 12-24 on HP5 at 800 ISO:
http://www.janez-pelko.com/html/celovnik1.htm
and 15mm fisheye on DX:
http://www.janez-pelko.com/html/trubar.htm
I use expired films often for cross processing, look at the first four photos here:
http://www.janez-pelko.com/html/vijavaja.htm

Very interesting, thank you for sharing! I loved the images from the cross-processed expired film, especially the first and third ones. Very well done. I should try cross-processing some of my expired rolls. Thanks for the idea!

Sanjay Sen · Feb 16, 2010

firecracker said:
The widest I go now is 20mm for 35mm film. I used to use a 17mm lens and had fun with it, but that didn't last that long...

But for the most part, 28mm does the job. 35mm is fine. 50mm, I have to move around quite a bit, but it's fun to do that.

35mm is my most-used focal length in small format now, it used to be 50mm before I started using the 35mm. I sometimes go down to 28mm. 15mm is way too wide for me, and I am just having fun experimenting with it now.

Sanjay Sen · Feb 16, 2010

sun of sand said:
not to
you know

but you mentioned having a time finding good compositions using YOUR lens
so whether I've used one or not myself I can still try to help by pointing out which of your compositions I like best and why
If I stink with an ultra wide that ain't gonna help you none
better perhaps to show you where you IMO haven't

My first post was more about why i liked what i liked but felt it too lengthy and trimmed

I appreciate your comments. Thank you! What I meant to say was that I would also like to hear of your -- and others -- experiences.

janezek · Feb 18, 2010

Cross processing is also interesting because each film gives you different results. There are no good or bad films, you just have to find the right film for your purpose. It takes some time to test various films, but it is fun. At the end you'll find your favourite combinations.
Differences are much bigger than B&W film/developer combinations. And here you have basicaly only two developers C-41 and E-6.

elekm · Feb 18, 2010

I had that lens and used with the Bessa-L. I sold it this year, because I had a different 15mm setup.

Anyway, I've come to think of the 15mm (and the 12mm) as "specialist" lenses. Meaning ... that I don't really think of them as everyday lenses for most photographers. The field of view is incredibly wide, and off-axis shots become apparent very quickly.

They can be fun too use. They tend to vignette, especially with slide film. And as others have learned, you really have to watch your fingers and knuckles.

But good effort with the lens. Definitely a focal length that requires a lot of practice.

I think when we shoot this lens, we tend to visualize one thing when we're shooting. But the final product often isn't what we saw when we photographed a scene.

A couple of observations...

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