Chin's entry of the day with Nikki.


"Have you ever had that moment when the Muse visits?
Inspired by Donald Jean, I squatted and waited
Somewhere in the back alleys of Little India
For the right person or subject to come by

After watching many walk past, nary a soul could be seen when I got into position
And waited
Biting back frustration and turning it into humble amusement

My knees creaking, sweat bead on my forehead, gathering enough rivulets to stream down my neck
The camera and its lens wavered in my hand, growing heavier by the second
My sight through the viewfinder dancing like a whirling dervish under the hot sun

*I imagine if I had the cojones, I'd go back in the night and wait, for that stranger to walk under that streetlamp. But of course, I care too much for Nikki."

Chin, I think, says it all about this adventure:


"I think this cannot be said enough:
Ben you are an incredibly generous person.

Everyone (and I exaggerate not) I have met exclaims in shock and amazement when I first let them know of Nikki’s adventure.
The chorus of chatter recycle the same litany of phrases and questions, eyebrows going from low to raised high as one goes down the list:
What if it goes missing?
Or someone decides to keep the lens?
And declares it missing?
How do you know these people?
Do you *know *these people?
You’ve never met any face-to-face?!

Then the kicker comes, when informed that the lens was not bought by all of us, but contributed by a member of our group, from faraway Sydney, Australia.
Imagine the wailing of women, howls and shrieks accompanied by the beating of breasts.
Cries of disbelief – without financial ownership, who’s to say, chaos and anarchy will rule!

There are dark days when I lose grasp on my principles - to believe in the innate kindness of man (Rousseau/Kant)
Then the thought that the lens in my hand was entrusted to me by a collective of internet forumers, brings warmth to my heart
And the world feels righted on its axis once again."

More from Chin today.

"Saw him from the upper floors

Killer stare, stately pose almost regal

I hurriedly rushed down the stairs to catch one at eye level."

"But when I did, the courtyard proved a distance too far to cross

I could feel his eyes just boring into me from the other side

And I stood, half-hidden by the escalators

Activated liveview, shaky shaky liveview and pretended to be snapping something else." 

Thanks, Chin, for your latest installment!

Here's Chin's (Zichar) next entry. This time taken with the lens mounted on his D700.

Chin writes:

"I had made a short list of things to shoot with a 85mm
On top of that list, the condominium 3 streets away - the Heliconia
A long exposure perhaps, the skies streaking off its tip
Until I mounted the lens on my camera and took a peek through the viewfinder
And found that I could just about peer into the living rooms of residents there...
Oh well, with so many pinpricks of lights, an experiment in bokeh balls will have to do..."

"Almost didn't make it for my shoot, had some last minute engagements, managed to squeeze in some. Only had her, my one and only attached, thinking this is the best way to force myself and not cop out using another lens. 'Hey if I need wider, I'd just stitch' - famous last words before stepping out the door.


After a whole day out, my thoughts are, shooting with an 85mm is a challenge if you're not used to the focal length!
I've made up my mind: I'm a wide-angle kinda guy, no two ways about it. There were so many times when I could have cried out for even a 50mm (I daren't mention the 14-24mm here, heresy?)"

"Here's one from the afternoon, from a shop lot that was demolished. Wouldn't have guessed it from the facade, the front wall and doors were still left standing, but for a slight tear off the newspaper-layered green glass front door.

Was reminded of Seinfeld's monologue:

That’s why when they have construction sites, they have to have those wood panel fences around it, that’s just to keep the men out. They cut those little holes for us so we can see what the hell is going on.

I would have walked right through just to take a closer look...

And though it was odd to have to cross the street just to get the appropriate comp, I waited, for the door to open, and quickly took a snap."

Do you think Chin (Zichar) likes this lens?


"I could perhaps, just continue to take pictures of it and not with it!
Just caught myself, chin resting on open palm, gazing at its beautifully crafted rings
Those metallic curves, the luster classy not gaudy
Its overall condition simply amazing, all the more considering its age
Turning the focus ring, it's so smooth, like a layer of Crisco was applied to its inner mechanism" 

Chin, aka Zichar, has received the lens, aka Nikki, from Ben (Bruni). This adventure has really started!. Below is a beautiful shot of Nikki taken by Chin. More images taken with this lens will follow later.

Chin writes:

"In a blatant attempt to disguise my age, I'll boldly proclaim ... the eagle has landed!

Not often do I break out my fine dining set and cutlery, not to mention my macro flash set ... here's Nikki!"

Phew....Catastrophe averted! Just got an email from Chin as an update on Nikki.


"Just needed to share (and vent) here. Spent my last 40mins wrangling with the postal service agents. I scheduled for a pick up later this evening via their website sometime last night. 


Called today to confirm... and was told they can't locate the package, status unknown showing on their computer systems! My heart skipped a few beats, honest. Good grief, even before the adventure had begun??!!!


Took some firm and forceful persuading to go higher up the call chain until I could get someone to check at their processing and sorting facility... although admittedly my tone bordered on pleading at times.


Was so very very very happy when the guy on the line (he sounded just as happy I think) half-yelled, we found it! Collective sighs of relief at the postal center I'm positive...


Picking it up in 5 hours. Phew!"




Thanks, Chin, for taking action!

The first leg of the journey has started with Ben shipping the lens to Chin (Zichar) in Singapore. We're all looking forward to the images you make, Chin. Good luck! 

The lens we will be using is the Nikon 85mm f1.8HC. This lens was generously donated by Ben from Australia. Ben's user name is bruni.

This first shot is of the lens itself, sitting on the ground in front of the Sydney Opera House. What a great image to start the blog!

Here are three more shots of the lens.

The next several shots are from the actual lens while mounted on Ben's newly acquired D800.

Thanks Ben, for getting us started on this great adventure!

More to come.

This blog was started to document the journey of a Nikon lens around the world! The entries in this blog will come from Nikon manual lens users from around the world. The lens, which the group has started to call "Nikki" is a Nikon 85mm f1.8HC. It was loaned out for this endeavor by Ben (Bruni) of Australia. Many thanks to Ben! 

This lens project and subsequent blog came about because of a thread started by Curtis Grindahl on the Fred Miranda Forum entitled "Manual Focus Nikon Glass". When he started the thread because of his love of these old lenses, little did he know that it would end up with such a huge following. Everyone that contributes to this thread has the same love for the Nikon manual focus lenses and the use thereof. 



Chin (Zichar), says it all when he writes:


"I think this cannot be said enough:
Ben you are an incredibly generous person.

Everyone (and I exaggerate not) I have met exclaims in shock and amazement when I first let them know of Nikki’s adventure.

The chorus of chatter recycle the same litany of phrases and questions, eyebrows going from low to raised high as one goes down the list:
What if it goes missing?
Or someone decides to keep the lens?
And declares it missing?
How do you know these people?
Do you *know *these people?
You’ve never met any face-to-face?!

Then the kicker comes, when informed that the lens was not bought by all of us, but contributed by a member of our group, from faraway Sydney, Australia.

Imagine the wailing of women, howls and shrieks accompanied by the beating of breasts.
Cries of disbelief – without financial ownership, who’s to say, chaos and anarchy will rule!

There are dark days when I lose grasp on my principles - to believe in the innate kindness of man (Rousseau/Kant)

Then the thought that the lens in my hand was entrusted to me by a collective of internet forumers, brings warmth to my heart
And the world feels righted on its axis once again."



All of the images in this blog will be taken by the members of this thread. Hope you like it!