I'm writing about the Pentax K10D that had the most influence on my photography. I bought the camera in early 2007. Up until that time I didn't take a lot of pictures not because I didn't like photography, but because of the cost of film and getting the pictures developed.

With the K10D that all changed. I was able to shoot away and get instant feedback on the camera and also critique the photos on the computer. Of course moving into the digital age, I had to learn some photo-shopping skills as well, which I am still working on.

Pentax K10D + Tamron AF 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 Di II LD

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I got my first DSLR-a Pentax-only four years ago. To make it work for me, I bought gear and I sought help from friends, from blogs and from forums like this one. Eventually, a very simple lens taught me to use my camera. That lens was the smc PENTAX DA 50-200mm F4-5.6. I had the WR model. I feel this is the thing that has had the biggest positive influence on my photography.

The smc PENTAX DA 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED WR is a medium telephoto zoom lens. It has Pentax's Quick-Shift Focusing System, ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass, and is available with or without weather sealing. It is just 3.1 inches (79.5mm) in length (when not zoomed) and weighs only 10.1 oz (285g). The retail price for the WR model is around $250 and the non-WR versions (the same lens optically) are less than half of that used.

This lens covers a wide range, is easy to own and takes pretty nice photos. However, is not exceptional. The 50-200mm is actually a little hard to use and that is how it helped me.

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Hello to all fellow Pentaxians,

I have discovered, like so many users of the Pentax-DA 70mm limited lens, the joy of such a small gem of an optic. Whilst many have waxed lyrical of it's clarity and resolution, I'd like to say how it has made my photographing of my kids a real delight. It has given me the focal length to get close, but also keep my distance so as to not 'interfere' with what they might be doing.

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Nearly thirty-two years ago, my father bought a camera. It was a Pentax MX 35mm SLR with a Pentax 50mm f/1.4 prime lens. He had been taking pictures for quite some time, and even had his own makeshift darkroom, but he did not own an SLR yet. The Pentax MX was worth two months of his salary at the time, but he still decided to go for it, for I was about to be born. Today, I am going to write about that camera. If you are wondering how that ancient piece of equipment affected my photography, read on.

Me

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Cyberlink's Photo Director 2011 is a photo cataloging and editing software program much like Adobe’s Lightroom, but it is more user friendly, easier to learn and less costly. Like Lightroom, Photo Director 2011 includes a Library mode where photographers can access all of their photos, rate the best pictures from a shoot and add keywords for a rapid search. Photos can also be exported and shared online at Flickr and Facebook.

In the Adjustment mode, Photo Director offers a complete set of editing tools for white balance, tone, levels, and sharpening, and also includes numerous presets that can quickly change, improve and add to a photo's impact. As a bonus, the online website offers many more preset freebies. In short, Photo Director is a superb tool for photographers. I find it helps with my work flow immensely.

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In January 2001 I bought my first digital camera and immediately a paradigm shift occurred in my photography when I transitioned from analog to digital.   My new digital camera, an Olympus Camedia D150 held multiple advantages over film as I had more creative control, instant feedback and substantial cost savings in the hobby I love.

A very small LCD back with minimal information.  The menu selection was very simple and the viewfinder was used for composing your images.

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The "piece" of photographic equipment that has been the most influential on my photography would be my extreme macro setup. My interest in macro photography was piqued by browsing macro photos online and wondering, "Why can't I do that?". I was quite stunned with how amazing even the simplest everyday objects looked when magnified - even something as common as a zipper or a screw (shown below). None of the images in this post are cropped or post-processed. The only thing I've done is shrink them to allow me to post them here (please click on the thumbnails to see the full size!).

Zipper	Earring
Chewed Screw	Threading a Needle

So I began trying to use my 55-300mm DA L to take macro photos, this was before I really appreciated the nuances of photography and had an understanding of why the 55-300mm wasn't working the way I wanted (very long minimum focusing distance!). I found a Praktica 80-200mm M42 macro lens at a garage sale for 20 bucks, so that was the next step. This still wasn't enough and I found a used Pentax-M 100mm macro lens locally, so I bought that. Then I tried using teleconverters, close up diopters, extension tubes, and I still wasn't happy! This led me to using reversal rings. I put my 55-300mm kit lens onto the camera and reversed my 18-55mm lens onto it. This led to some amazing magnification, however the plastic body construction caused some "wobble" and made it extremely difficult to focus. What is particularly interesting to note is that anybody with the Pentax K-r kit and both kit lenses can achieve this with a 2 dollar reversal ring from ebay!

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This blog post is an introduction to the Asahi Pentax Auto Extension Tubes designed for K mount lenses with “Auto” aperture control (contrasting the manual M42 style apertures).  The Auto Extension Tubes have the aperture linkage built into each of the three extension tubes, so that it is possible to focus with wide open apertures which then stop down to the desired setting on shutter release.  The tubes I own were acquired through a common internet auction house, they can be found on the second hand market, and at independent photography equipment dealers who handle second hand gear.  They differ in quality from newer “K-mount Extension Tubes” which have no aperture diaphragm control, have low build quality, but are easily found new.  Trust me; you will want the authentic variety.  The build quality is superior and well worth the search.

Pentax K-r + DA 50-200mm + AF 540 FGZ

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