5 Frames with a 7Artisans 35mm f/2 Lens – By Ong Sien Hong

Sien Hong replied:

Comment posted: 14/05/2019

Haha never been much of a writer. The upcoming silver 7Artisans 35mm f/2 made me reminisced the time I had with the black 7Artisans 35mm, thus sharing 5 frames of it.

Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 14/05/2019

I thought it made sense, but I have tweaked it a bit now - is it better, Mark?

Sien Hong replied:

Comment posted: 14/05/2019

Thanks Hamish. :D

Sien Hong replied:

Comment posted: 14/05/2019

Hi BC, thanks for the feedback. My thought process when I first contributed the article for 5 frames was that it never meant to be a comprehensive review. There is a link on Hamish initial review. The article is not meant to encourage or discourage someone to buy/sell a particular lens. The idea is that any lens has the potential to capture wonderful photos and in this case applies to this budget 7Artisan. I personally am not a very technical photographer, I see frames in my mind as I walk around the street and I put up a camera to shoot it, it could be f8 or f/2.. if the frame in my mind is "a pop up subject and bokeh all over", I will take f/2, and if the images came out as I see it in my mind... the lens did its job. But as you suggested, some information on each frame would have been helpful.

BC replied:

Comment posted: 14/05/2019

Thanks for your reply, Sien, You say: "The idea is that any lens has the potential to capture wonderful photos and in this case applies to this budget 7Artisan." 1-Don't you think that "wonderful pictures" have more to do with the photographer than the equipment? I think we can probably all agree on that. If any lens has this potential then why discuss them? I do not know how a lens "can do its job" if you have no idea of its settings and if (and it is not a if here) the lens has no idea about your intentions?!? One thing that I have learnt, in order neither to waste time, nor energy, nor money (which can go fast with film and prints), as well as not being disappointed with the results, is that I had first to know and understand what my camera and film and lens could do in order first to choose the right combination for the right project, second to anticipate ("visualize" some would say) the result before I pressed the release-button. Less up-hazard, better results at least the mistakes are mine and I cannot accuse the optics not to have done their job (how can they not do what they are supposed to do at a chosen aperture anyway?). I think one of the great goals in photography is first to train your mind to see how the tool sees and then let your mind be creative with it. Just a thought.

Sien Hong replied:

Comment posted: 14/05/2019

HI BC, some lens just needs more exposure than others, that's all. Photography is not complicated, the tools are a matter of few dials. It is always about the photographer. The person behind the camera. I noticed a contrast of "philosophy", to me, first train your mind to see images (the composition of photos), then work out how your tools could assist you, then again, my thoughts stemmed from the fact that my genre of photography is street. Someone who does landscape I imagined might have a different thought process.

BC replied:

Comment posted: 14/05/2019

Well Des, I'll keep my eyes (and mind) open too (thence no Blimey for me, I do not know how you expect "poor old Hong" to get that expression by the way, so if you value his efforts n English play with them too. Actions are always better than words). Well, in any case, second or third language is certainly not the point here (English is definitely not my first language either) and if being thoughtful and trying to scratch the surface of things to go a little further in how we practice and enjoy what we do becomes problematic... we may have a problem ;o) What do you mean by "democratise" by the way? I do not see the masses behind us. If something is doing that these days it is the cellphone, don't you think?

Sien Hong replied:

Comment posted: 14/05/2019

Come on BC, Des just being polite. English my first language btw, we are bilingual in Singapore.

Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 15/05/2019

It’s not confusing. He owned the lens in black but would have preferred it in silver. Ended up upgrading to something else, but has a policy of only owning one lens. Now the 7Artisans is available in the colour he originally wanted, he has GAS for it, despite owning a lens that he feels is better

Ham-and-eggs replied:

Comment posted: 15/05/2019

It is really confusing. You conceded it wasn't straightforward or to the point by editing the article after another commentator noted it didn't make much sense. The edited version still isn't clear. It doesn't read at all like the author sat down with a clear idea of how to get his point across and how to best do it, which is what a clear and well-written article does. To add to the confusion, and with all due respect to Sien, the article isn't interesting. I searched for the point, and I had to have it explained to me, because I was looking for more than what was actually there. Had it been an insight into Sien's motivations for GAS (be that self-critical of consumerism or self-justifying of YOLO, for example) or a comparison of the 7artisans and the Voigtlander on the same camera with an angle to "what is 'good'" or "what is 'value'" or "can you even tell" it might have been a little thought provoking. To be honest, the most interesting thing here is why the author insists on "one camera, one lens" - not a common philosophy, and certainly contains far more of an insight into his habits and beliefs of what photography (or at least camera ownership) is about than a twistingly written account of GAS for a redecorated but otherwise identical reissue of a common lens. A well thought out article on that would be much better and generate a lot more interest and debate. I like 35mmc. It's because of that fact that I have expectations of a quality and a different perspective from professional/industry magazines and websites, not in spite of it. But this article just wasn't clear and it was confusing.

Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 15/05/2019

The original edit was purely a linguistic one, I didn't change the point of the post at all. The point of the post is simply a reflection on GAS for a previously owned lens. It made sense to me as it is something that happens to me as someone who buys and sells a lot of gear. I try something review it, sell it, have cause to remember it later on and then wonder if I should buy it again. I tell myself I shouldn't for my own reasons, but Sien Hong's reasons are that he doesn't like to own more than one lens... however tempting it is. It is a passing reflection, just like many of the 5 frames posts are. You have over-thought it to the point that you have written almost as much as the original post on the subject and caused Sien Hong to email me to apologise for the post. If you don't get it, fine, it's not for you, but this level of commentary seems disproportionate. Can we leave it there, please.

Sien Hong replied:

Comment posted: 20/05/2019

Thank you TL1234