Bill Smith's Photography

 It was an odd winter where we actually got winter the last week and and a half of February and into the first two weeks of March. Granted we're not Northern California where ski resorts have so much snow, you have to dig down to get to the chairlift towers almost. Here in Southern Ontario it's more like a light switch, things warm up. At time writing in mid April temperatures will hit around 20-23c (68-72f), not complaining because it was a really grey January coupled with a rather wet first half of February. So in the end, winter as we all know it for Southern Onario was concentrated.  Camera: Nikkormat FT3, Nikkor AIS 35-105 F3.5-4.5 lens.  Film: Eastman XX, D76 1+1. 

 I was gifted a Nikkor AIS 35-105 F3.5-4.5 manual focus zoom lens from my brother Alex over ten years ago. it was one of those lenses I used once and sat on the shelf as I preferred shooting prime. This winter I mounted it on my black Nikkormat FT3 and it comes up with me to the ski hill for photography on the way up and back and dedicated for that purpose this winter.  Released 40 years ago, the 35-105 zoom lens is very well built glass with 16 elements in 12 groups optical construction and popular among Nikon fans during the 1980s and '90s. These days you can get one for around $100 CAD in really nice condition. As a general walk around and travel lens, this lens does the job nicely, it punches above its metaphorical weight.  The 35-105 zoom is a fun lens to use, especially if you don't want to pack a whole bunch of prime lenses with you, I find you do have to frame carefuly or you will get some distortion. when shooting architecture straight ahead.  If you are sho...