After upgrading my micro 4/3 camera to the E-M10 Mark IV, I kept thinking that it would be fun to get a tiny lens for my EPL-5, which I bought back in like 2013. In comparison to the E-M10, it’s a tiny camera, and has always been easy to pack for taking pictures. Unlike cell phones, cameras have a long shelf life, and there’s a thriving market for used cameras due to their usability well after newer models have replaced venerable models. Despite having a newer camera, I can still find a useful life for older kit.
Poking around on B&H led me to find this super-cheap lens. I’ve usually browsed fast prime lenses, but farting around with my iPhone 16 Pro’s Camera Control button, and taking a lot of heavily bokeh’d pictures, I realized the sweet spot is probably in the 2+ aperture range. I asked Copilot about a few lenses that I was ogling, wondering which would be a stark departure from my Panasonic f/1.7 prime.
This lens takes up almost no extra space; it’s about the same size as a lens cap. It needs a lot of light to take good pics, and I’m finding it a challenge, in a welcome way, to capture pictures worth keeping. It’s fun to take pictures and then have to wait until I get home to see the results, contrasted with the immediate gratification of using a phone camera.
There’s something about the color on this lens that makes pictures look older. There’s a faded, tan character to them that I find pleasingly nostalgic. Some of the pics I took of Aaron’s Mini Cooper are emblematic of this:
I took some golden hour pics at a couple of our favorite local wineries and a nearby restaurant that we all love.
Coda Rosa
Rhonda and I tried a bottle of their Pinot Grigio prior to dinner at the Franklinville Inn for her birthday last night. It was an interesting spot for sure, with an engaging manager and furry friends.
Sweet Amalia
Rhonda and I celebrated her birthday at the Franklinville Inn last night, but the party continued this afternoon, with some wine and shellfish at the excellent Sweet Amalia.
Fiesta Friday at Bellview
We had a sip and some cheese Friday night in lieu of dinner proper.
Aaron’s Mini Cooper S
I snapped a few pics of Aaron’s Mini at the office. I drive it a couple of days a week while he’s at school. Hey: I gotta help out where I can.
All in all, it’s been a lot of fun to take this whacky lens with me and take some pictures.