Passport Progress, New Lens, and 🔥
I applied for an expedited new passport today. The process took about 15 minutes and cost $300. They said my new book and card should arrive in 2-3 weeks. It used to take 4-6 weeks, but they’re doing it faster now. The lady at the post office takes a pretty good portrait. If it came with health insurance, she might consider a career in photography. Next, I have to learn about travel visas and how to get a few.
In other news, I have a new lens. It’s a Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 XF. I wanted to try out the 56mm focal length but was reluctant to spend over $1,000 on the XF56mmF1.2 R WR. At $250, the Viltrox was a whole lot easier on the wallet. As it turns out, 56mm on APS-C is fantastic for the streets. It gets you in close but not too close.
I regret not going all-in on the Fujinon. The Viltrox is well-built and takes lovely photos, and while I like it very much, it definitely doesn’t have the sharp focus or ability to capture fine detail I’m accustomed to with my Fujinon lenses. However, I do enjoy the nostalgic look and feel of the captures. For example, below are some photos I took on the scene of a small house fire this afternoon.
