About Fokuspoint

Cat in a Window
Olympus E-510 | Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 | 28mm (56mm) | 1/80 sec | f/4 | ISO 100

Times change, and so do favorite pastimes. One thing that has never changed for me is my love for photography. There might have been times when I only used a phone camera, but the passion remained.

Just like soccer, photography is life.

I fell in love with photography at a relatively young age. My first camera was a hand-me-down Agfa Optima III, a fixed-lens point-and-shoot from the 1960s. Eventually, I upgraded to the Revueflex AC2, which I used for many years until the light meter began to fail. The lure of autofocus was strong, and I got a Canon Elan that had it. Exciting times! At some point, I transitioned to digital photography, which I discuss further in my digital camera journey, if you’re interested.

I don’t have a single preferred motive. While I appreciate those who do, I enjoy capturing a variety of objects. However, I do tend to focus on certain subjects—pun intended. I have a fondness for photographing bokeh, whether wild or smooth. I also find flowers quite captivating; their colors and details are simply lovely. Flowers, or plants in general, pair beautifully with bokeh.

After we had a Carolina mantis, affectionately named “little dude,” living in our backyard for a while, I became intrigued by insects. They are fascinating creatures, although I prefer to keep them outside. 

Looking at Myself
Self Portrait with iPhone 15 Pro Max
Hipstamatic

The Current Gear

A whole lot of stuff accumulated over the years. Most of it is vintage and, I have to say, quite remarkable.
I do have albums for most of my lenses and cameras in my Flickr account.

Digital Cameras

  • Fujifilm X-E1  (Converted to Infrared Super Color IR 590nm.)
  • Fujifilm X-E3
  • Fujifilm X-T5
  • iPhone 15 Pro Max

Film Cameras

  • Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta C with CZJ Tessar 10.5cm f3.5, Medium Format Rangefinder (120), 1937
  • Holga (120), 2006
  • Pentax Spotmatic SP, SLR (135), M42, mid/late 1960s
  • Vivitar XC-3, SLR (135), M42, 1978
  • Zeiss Ikon Contax II, Rangefinder (135), CRF mount, 1936
  • Kiev IIa, Rangefinder (135), CRF mount, 1956
  • Kiev 4a, Rangefinder (135), CRF mount, 1963
  • Mir, Rangefinder (135), L39, 1959
  • FED-2b (135), L39, 1960-1963

Autofocus Lenses XF Mount

  • Fujinon XF 16-50mm f2.8-4.8 R LM WR
  • Fujinon XF 55-200mm f3.5-4.8 R LM OIS
  • Fujinon XF 35mm f1.4 XF R
  • Fujinon XF 60mm f2.4 R Macro

Manual Lenses XF Mount

  • Brightin Star 35mm f0.95
  • Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO
  • Lensbaby Composer Pro II and Edge 80, Sweet 35, Sweet 50, Double Glass (original)
  • Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2, Double Gauss design
  • Voigtländer Macro APO Ultron 35mm f2
  • Voigtländer Nokton 50mm f1.2, Sonnar Formula
  • Rokinon 12mm f2.0 NCS CS
  • Rokinon 100mm f2.8 Macro

Manual Lenses Varying Mounts

  • Auto Revuenon MC 50mm f1.7 (PK)
  • Auto Revuenon 55mm f1.4 (Tomioka) (M42)
  • Auto Sears 55mm f1.4 (Tomioka) (M42)
  • Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 58mm f2 (10 Blades) (EXA)
  • Helios 44 58mm f2 (13 Blades) KMZ (M39/M42) – Biotar design, 1950s
  • Helios 44-3 58mm f2 MC BelOMO (M42) – Biotar design, 1985
  • Jupiter-11 135mm f4 (M39/M42) – Sonnar design, 1962
  • Meyer-Optik Görlitz Zebra Domiplan 50mm f2.8 (M42) – Triplet design
  • TTArtisan 75mm f1.5 (M42) – Biotar design
  • TTArtisan 100mm f2.8 (M42) – Triplet design
  • Voigtländer Talon 85mm f2.8 (M42) – Triplet design, Projection lens

Manual RF Lenses M39 Mount

  • Industar-26m 52mm f2.8 – Tessar design
  • Industar-50 50mm f3.5 Collapsible – Tessar design, 1964
  • Industar-61 53mm f2.8 – Tessar design
  • Jupiter-8 50mm f2 – Sonnar design, 1963
  • Jupiter-9 85mm f2 – Sonnar design, 1961

Manual RF Lenses Contax RF (CRF) Mount

The Jupiter line is complete for my Contax/Kiev cameras. These lenses are more affordable than their LTM counterparts or their original Zeiss versions. While I have lost interest in the Leica Thread Mount system for the time being, I am interested in acquiring one or more of the original Zeiss lenses.

  • Helios 103 53mm f1.8 – Biotar design, 1984
  • Jupiter-3 50mm f1.5 – Sonnar design, 1963
  • Jupiter-8 50mm f2 – Sonnar design, 1956
  • Jupiter-8M 50mm f2 – Sonnar design, 1980
  • Jupiter-9 85mm f2 – Sonnar design, 1961
  • Jupiter-11 135mm f4 – Sonnar design, 1960
  • Jupiter-12 35mm f2.8 – Biogon copy, 1985
  • Voigtländer SC Skopar 25mm f4 – Tessar design, 2001
  • Zeiss Opton Biogon 35mm f2.8 – Sonnar formula, 1950ies

Filters and Adapters

  • Fujifilm Macro Extension Tube MCEX-11 and MCEX-16
  • Lens adapters from Fotasy, K&F, and Lanai
  • Lensbaby macro kit and macro converters
  • B+W Polarizer Filters
  • Hoya R-72 Infrared Filter (720nm)
  • Kolari Pro Gen 3 850nm Infrared Lens Filter

Other Hardware & Accessories

  • Vanguard Alta Pro 264AT Aluminum Alloy Tripod (heavy)
  • Vanguard VEO 2 S 265CBQS Travel Tripod Kit with 5-Section Carbon Fiber Tripod (not so heavy)
  • Vanguard SBH-100 Ballhead (modified for an Arca Swiss plate)
  • VEO 2 BH-50 Compact Ball Head
  • Sunwayfoto GH-PRO II+ 3-Way Geared Tripod Head
  • Dot Line Adjustable Camera Platform (6.0″)
  • Olympus FL-50 Flash, Sunpak 383 Super Flash
  • Gossen Luna Pro Lightmeter
  • Hedeco Lime Two Lightmeter
  • KMZ Universal Revolver Turret Viewfinder 28/35/50/85/135mm
  • TTArtisan 35mm Optical Viewfinder
  • Zeiss Ikon Contameter 1343 for Contax I and II
Zeiss Ikon super Ikonta C
Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta C 531/2 (1937)
Photographed with the Auto Revuenon 55mm f1.4 (Tomioka)

Previous and Dormant Gear

Digital Cameras

Film Cameras

  • Agfa Optima III
  • Agfa Super Silette, Rangefinder (135), 1950s
  • Canon EOS 100
  • Revueflex AC2

Digital Lenses

  • Fujinon XF 18-55mm f2.8-4 R LM OIS
  • Fujinon XF 23mm f1.4 XF R
  • Olympus Zuiko 11-22mm f2.8-3.5
  • Olympus Zuiko 14-42mm f3.5-5.6
  • Olympus Zuiko 14-54 mm f2.8-3.5
  • Olympus Zuiko 40-150 mm f4-5.6
  • Olympus Zuiko 50-200 mm f2.8-3.5 SWF
  • Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG

Other Hardware & Accessories

  • Epson Perfection V700 Photo

iPhones

Filters and Adapters

  • Nikon T5 Close-Up Lens