This photo of my wife’s old Mercedes 320SLK ( she still misses that car) was made in a local park using a Casio EX-F1 and the camera’s 16×9 ratio capture mode. Exposure was 1/640 sec at f/8 and ISO 200 in Aperture Priority (Av) mode. It was temporarily parked between two “No Parking” signs, so I “temporarily” parked it, jumped out, and made a few exposures before jumping back in and motoring on.
As I mentioned, Mary missed that car and for her birthday this year I found her a replacement—a 2006 Mercedes-Benz 350SLK with 48,000 miles on the odometer. This car aka the R171 features a number of revisions compared to its predecessor above. The R170 has a 30mm (1.18-inch) longer wheelbase, increased length (2.8-inches) and width (2.5-inches.) It has a seven-speed automatic transmission, adaptive two-stage airbags, head/thorax side airbags and a revised roof mechanism that deploys in 22 seconds, 3-seconds faster than her other car with a more compact folded roof increasing trunk storage by 2.2 cu ft.
This new photograph was also made at a (different) local park using a Olympus EM-5 Mark I with Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II R lens at 14mm. Exposure was 1/15 sec at f/16 and ISO 400 in Aperture Priority (Av) mode.
The fully galvanized bodywork features 19 percent improvement in static bending and 46 percent improvement in torsional strength with the roof down, also features a 3% improvement in aerodynamic efficiency, with a Cd value of 0.32. The design has been aerodynamically optimized to minimize interior draft with the top retracted and is amazingly quiet with the top down, even without the optional windblocker, and even at highway speeds. Never driven or rode in any convertible like it.
Economic considerations forced the sale of her old 320SLK, and she hopes that she can keep driving the 350SLK for a long time.