Year Long Project Nears an End

I began the B&W Sprouts project near the end of December last year. It will end sometime in December this year. The plan was to document, in black and white images, the communities that comprise what was known as "the sprouts" at the time of the revolutionary war. 

Anticipating the end of the project, I spent some time over the past few days in the communities looking for scenes that might not already be covered or were covered differently. Today, I used the Minolta 200mm lens which I hadn't yet used for the project.

Saratoga Ave., Waterford, NY
RF 24-105mmm f/4L at 24mm, f/5.6, 1/350 sec., ISO 100

Lock E2, Waterford, NY
RF 24-105mmm f/4L at 35mm, f/5.6, 1/750 sec., ISO 200

Waterford Harbor
RF 24-105mmm f/4L at 24mm, f/11, 1/500 sec., ISO 200

Cohoes Music Hall
Minolta MD 200mm, 1/2000 sec., ISO 100

Cohoes Music Hall Building
Minolta MD 200mm, 1/3000 sec., ISO 400

Cohoes Falls, Mohawk River
Minolta MD 200mm, 1/1500 sec., ISO 200

Canon's Current Normal Lenses

As I await the release of the Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 STM lens next month, I wanted to post a summary of Canon's various current options in "normal" lenses in the 45mm to 50mm range. The only option I currently own is the RF 50mm f/1.4L VCM lens introduced in 2024. Other lenses in the RF mount are the 50mm f/1.8 STM and the 50mm f/1.2L USM lenses.

Although it is the older SLR and DSLR EF mount, the EF 50mm f/1.2L USM lens is the one I think is most comparable to the new 45mm lens. This is why I've preordered the new 45mm lens. The EF lens can be used on R series cameras with an adapter. I used it on a Canon R6 for a time back in 2023.

These lenses differ from one another in size, weight, build quality, image quality, maximum aperture, control features, element design, number of aperture blades, focus motor type, degree of weather sealing and cost. You can see a comparison chart at DPReview.com here. Keep in mind that DPReview is not known for the accuracy of its specifications.

The easiest difference to show visually is lens element design. I'll start with the two double Gauss design f/1.2 lenses then the other three 50mm RF lenses in order of cost.

RF 45mm f/1.2 STM
2025
9 aperture blades
no weather sealing
$470

EF 50mm f/1.2L USM
2006
8 aperture blades
weather sealing
$1,600

RF 50mm f/1.8 STM
2020
7 aperture blades
no weather sealing
$240

RF 50mm f/1.4L VCM
2024
11 aperture blades
weather sealing
$1,550

RF 50mm f/1.2L USM
2018
10 aperture blades
weather sealing
$2,600

Some of the cost (and quality) differences between the lenses are the manufacturing method of the lens elements. Ground elements are more expensive than molded elements and glass molded elements are more expensive than resin (plastic) molded elements. The most expensive of these lenses uses a lot of ground elements and glass molded elements. The new 45mm f/1.2 uses a resin (plastic) molded aspheric element, one reason it is less than a third the cost of the EF lens and less than a fifth the cost of the RF 50mm f/1.2L lens.

Not Closed But Closed

As the federal government "shutdown" appears to be ending, it's time to reflect on what impact the now six week long situation has had on the federal government entity I directly interact with, Saratoga National Historical Park. 

My role as a park volunteer is to walk the trails at the battlefield portion of the park, assist visitors with directions or answer questions, report incidents or issues, etc. I also help out with photography at the park.

Since October 1, the visitor center has been closed and all events cancelled or relocated. This included an encampment weekend coinciding with the second battle of October 7. Also cancelled was the fall lecture series which brings in speakers on topics of relevance to the park. I was most looking forward to a presentation detailing the lives of enslaved African (American) laborers at the time by Dr. Shanleigh Corrallo.

All interpretive staff, among others, have been without work or pay for the past six weeks. 

The park, however, was not closed. The gate at the entrance to the tour road remained closed to vehicles but cyclists were still able to ride the ten mile route. Horses were able to utilize the horse trail. The road was kept clear of leaves, etc. by a bare bones maintenance detail. The trails remained open for hiking and on some weekends the parking lot was full. 

I spent 22 hours at the park over this time and have shared images from those visits. Here are some photos from what may be my final two visits during the "shutdown" as our thoughts turn to the multitudes of people who will now struggle with obtaining, maintaining and/or paying for health care as existing federal subsidies end on January 1st.

11/4/25
RF 24-105mm f/4L at 105mm, f/11, 1/350 sec., ISO 100

11/4/25
RF 24-105mm f/4L at 24mm, f/22, 1/500 sec., ISO 800

11/4/25
RF 24-105mm f/4L at 24mm, f/22, 1/180 sec., ISO 800

11/4/25
RF 24-105mm f/4L at 35mm, f/11, 1/250 sec., ISO 200

11/6/25
RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/2, 1/4000 sec., ISO 100

11/6/25
RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/8, 1/125 sec., ISO 400

11/6/25
RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/11, 1/500 sec., ISO 200

Standard Time Sunrise

Conditions weren't good for the final daylight savings time sunrise yesterday but I hoped for better on this first day back to standard time. I hadn't been to lock E5 for a sunrise in over a month and as these are the final couple of days of navigation for the year, the "reflecting pool" will be drained before too long.

Here are some from today's foggy sunrise.

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 28mm, f/8, 1/125 sec., ISO 400

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 24mm, f/8, 1/125 sec., ISO 400

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 98mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 200

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 45mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 24mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 105mm, f/4, 1/6000 sec., ISO 250

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 105mm, f/8, 1/1500 sec., ISO 100

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 35mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 100