New macro lens (oh, and new camera)!

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I like my cameras to be robust, having spent a few years (admittedly a lifetime ago) as a semi-pro using high end/medium format gear. it’s not that it makes you a better photographer, but there’s a feeling of comfort that comes with using a proper tool that you know isn’t going to let you down. Anyway, with that in mind I traded my Canon EOS 500D for a 50D a couple of weeks ago, and I have to say I’m delighted with it. I’ve forsaken video output for a tough manganese-alloy body and pro build quality, and to mark it’s arrival I also treated myself to Canon’s EF-S 60mm macro lens. It makes a perfect portrait lens too (equivalent to a focal length of 96mm on a 35mm camera; having a prime lens makes a nice change from the normal zooms; and it’s great for… watches!

Anyway, here’s a few very early shots with the 50D/60mm macro set-up (a couple of which have already been posted under the MKII Kingston review below). It clearly has potential, and I’ll be posting some more, no doubt, over the coming weeks/months.

El Primero. Just because…

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If I could only have two…

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Down to four watches at the moment, plus a Casio that’s on route from the US. It’s a tiny number compared to some, and less than I’ve had of late.

But if I could only have two…

Less is more.

The never ending journey

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You know, when I wrote that “State of The Collection” post just one month ago, I thought then that I’d just stay with the watches I owned & loved, and that the desire for change had diminished to negligible proportions.

Yeah, right!

I’m saying nothing.

Striking 10th… the Zenith of my collection

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The Zenith El Primero Striking 10th really was one of my very few grail watches, but at £7000 I couldn’t ever imagine myself buying one. To find one brand new, and at 50% discount, is simply unheard of and there was no way I could let the opportunity slip, even though it didn’t come at the best of times if the truth be told.

Most people will know that for many years Rolex used this movement in their Daytonas, albeit in a slightly modified form. What’s less well known, though is that the Zenith El Primero was the world’s first automatic chronograph movement, and it was actually released on an unsuspecting world in 1969. Back then, it looked like this (with thanks to Panofsky on TZ-UK):

Anyway, what is effectively a reissue of this iconic watch has been made in limited edition of… yes, 1969! This one is actually number 644, and looking at the dial you can see that the original tachymeter has been replaced with a ten-second centre chrono counter. This is to reflect the 10 beats per second/36,000 beats per hour of the movement, and watching the chrono hand sweep around the dial is a joy. In fact, the watch is a joy in it’s entirety.