Manual Focus Candids

Manual Focus Candids · 10:04 PM

Was fooling around with a couple old manual focus lenses during my goddaughter's birthday party. Both lenses surprised me.

Both shots - SR on, handheld, resized for screen using Windows Image Resizer Powertoy, no retouching otherwise. Primarily 60W incandescent lights with a bad mix of fluorescents.

1 - K series Pentax SMC 55mm f/2 lens. ISO 800, 1/30 sec, f/2, no flash. Incandescent WB.

2 - Gemini MC Auto 135mm f/2.8 MF (1:5 macro) lens. ISO 800, 1/20 sec, f/2.8, no flash. Incandescent WB.

roentarre · 02-03-2007, 10:17 PM

Hi Alvin.

The first shot has a good neutral tone to it given there is a lot of tungstun light around. The cute little daughter is more in focus comparing to the dad, I presume?

Good old lenses can be as good as any newer version lenses. That is why we all like pentax lenses

Alvin · 02-03-2007, 10:41 PM

Originally posted by roentarre

Hi Alvin.

The first shot has a good neutral tone to it given there is a lot of tungstun light around. The cute little daughter is more in focus comparing to the dad, I presume?

Good old lenses can be as good as any newer version lenses. That is why we all like pentax lenses

Thanks, Roentarre.

The baby girl was actually a guest at the party. The gentleman holding her is the host of the party and the father of my goddaughter. The host was actually dancing a bit with the baby and I had the lens at f2 for single person candids. It was tricky to get both of them in focus since both were moving a lot so I chose the baby. I was thinking of cranking to f2.8 for a second shot but didn't get the opportunity.

The old lenses are great finds - too bad they are on loan. I don't know if the owner of these lenses are willing to give them up after he sees these pics - I think he might just pick up a used DS/DL body and bolt the lenses on it -

Prizmatic · 02-04-2007, 04:53 PM

Hi Alvin!

Work above a composition... Do series of photographing if has not developed while " sensation of creation of a photo "... Also do not look through the received photos during photographing...

The best regards!

"Erased a hieroglyph" - the link "Photobie" for those who wants to have the free-of-charge editor working with plug-ins of Photoshop (which much too free-of-charge).
(I for the "accessible" software for creativity...)

**Heinrich Lohmann** · 02-04-2007, 08:08 PM

Two wonderfull memories

**Sailor** · 02-04-2007, 09:49 PM

Very well done. The second one could be on a magazine cover!

Jerry

Alvin · 02-05-2007, 02:02 AM

Thank you for the comments. I have to return the lenses soon in a couple days. I think I might try to pick myself a manual focus 50 mm of my own and try it out and see if I can borrow the 135 mm again from time to time until I can afford my own.

Photochop · 02-05-2007, 02:28 PM

I like the feeling I get from the second photo. They're very natural. I wonder what was so funny.

Alvin · 02-05-2007, 03:08 PM

Originally posted by Photochop

I like the feeling I get from the second photo. They're very natural. I wonder what was so funny.

I'll explain the story behind the photo.

My two friends pictured here are expectant parents. The people around the table were joking around because of the way the man was handling a baby. The baby girl was just passed to over to him and he had an akward moment (part of the baby's head is seen at the bottom of the frame, but she's in the picture above).

I'll see if I can post up the "before" pic so you can see how the baby's expression - she had this quizzical look to her face - sorta like a "Who are YOU?" sorta look. I don't want to embarrass my friends though. I'll ask them first before posting it.

**NaClH2O** · 02-05-2007, 03:34 PM

It's a really great shot Alvin. Nice framing and spot on focus. I probably would have tried to get both in focus and muffed it badly. I find doing candids (or any people really) hard.

NaCl(flowers are so much easier, and they don't move around)H2O

Alvin · 02-05-2007, 04:02 PM

Thanks Salty!

I love doing candids. I don't really like showing embarrassing shots though. Some of my family members have begun calling me "Papparazzi" because I always have a camera at a family gathering.

Those same family members have also started calling my camera the "big gun" because they all have P&S cameras. I don't know about that classification yet - the man in the first shot has got a Panny FZ-30 and that thing can get some amazing distance shots! It also trounces my camera in size because I have no lenses that are big enough to outsize it yet. Oh man...this is feeding my LBA and lens envy - ouch!

Prizmatic · 02-06-2007, 05:17 PM

Hi Alvin!

It то.что I promised - " my iron "

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The best regards!

Alvin · 02-06-2007, 09:11 PM

Prizmatic, That's some old iron there and quite a huge lens! I'll find my father's little camera and post it here this weekend.

Alvin · 02-06-2007, 09:46 PM

Photochop, here's the picture I promised to post earlier. The man has just approached the baby to try to pick her up. This was taken a couple frames before the 2nd photo was taken.

Sorry, I couldn't get the focus right on this one and was guessing at the exposure (I was thrown off by the white shirt on the left.

Gemini MC Auto 135mm f/2.8 MF (1:5 macro) lens. ISO 800, 1/25 sec, f/2.8, no flash. Incandescent WB.

Alvin
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02-06-2007, 09:11 PM	#13
Alvin Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,517 Original Poster	Prizmatic, That's some old iron there and quite a huge lens! I'll find my father's little camera and post it here this weekend. Last edited by Alvin; 02-06-2007 at 09:47 PM.

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02-03-2007, 10:17 PM	#2
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	Hi Alvin. The first shot has a good neutral tone to it given there is a lot of tungstun light around. The cute little daughter is more in focus comparing to the dad, I presume? Good old lenses can be as good as any newer version lenses. That is why we all like pentax lenses

02-03-2007, 10:41 PM	#3
Alvin Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,517 Original Poster	Originally posted by roentarre Hi Alvin. The first shot has a good neutral tone to it given there is a lot of tungstun light around. The cute little daughter is more in focus comparing to the dad, I presume? Good old lenses can be as good as any newer version lenses. That is why we all like pentax lenses Thanks, Roentarre. The baby girl was actually a guest at the party. The gentleman holding her is the host of the party and the father of my goddaughter. The host was actually dancing a bit with the baby and I had the lens at f2 for single person candids. It was tricky to get both of them in focus since both were moving a lot so I chose the baby. I was thinking of cranking to f2.8 for a second shot but didn't get the opportunity. The old lenses are great finds - too bad they are on loan. I don't know if the owner of these lenses are willing to give them up after he sees these pics - I think he might just pick up a used DS/DL body and bolt the lenses on it -

02-04-2007, 04:53 PM	#4
Prizmatic Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: RF Posts: 97	Hi Alvin! Work above a composition... Do series of photographing if has not developed while " sensation of creation of a photo "... Also do not look through the received photos during photographing... The best regards! "Erased a hieroglyph" - the link "Photobie" for those who wants to have the free-of-charge editor working with plug-ins of Photoshop (which much too free-of-charge). (I for the "accessible" software for creativity...)

02-04-2007, 08:08 PM	#5
Heinrich Lohmann Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Airdrie, Alberta Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,097	Two wonderfull memories

02-04-2007, 09:49 PM	#6
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,203	Very well done. The second one could be on a magazine cover! Jerry

02-05-2007, 02:02 AM	#7
Alvin Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,517 Original Poster	Thank you for the comments. I have to return the lenses soon in a couple days. I think I might try to pick myself a manual focus 50 mm of my own and try it out and see if I can borrow the 135 mm again from time to time until I can afford my own.

02-05-2007, 02:28 PM	#8
Photochop Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Toronto, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 455	I like the feeling I get from the second photo. They're very natural. I wonder what was so funny.

02-05-2007, 03:08 PM	#9
Alvin Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,517 Original Poster	Originally posted by Photochop I like the feeling I get from the second photo. They're very natural. I wonder what was so funny. I'll explain the story behind the photo. My two friends pictured here are expectant parents. The people around the table were joking around because of the way the man was handling a baby. The baby girl was just passed to over to him and he had an akward moment (part of the baby's head is seen at the bottom of the frame, but she's in the picture above). I'll see if I can post up the "before" pic so you can see how the baby's expression - she had this quizzical look to her face - sorta like a "Who are YOU?" sorta look. I don't want to embarrass my friends though. I'll ask them first before posting it.

02-05-2007, 03:34 PM	#10
NaClH2O Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bronx NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,631	It's a really great shot Alvin. Nice framing and spot on focus. I probably would have tried to get both in focus and muffed it badly. I find doing candids (or any people really) hard. NaCl(flowers are so much easier, and they don't move around)H2O

02-05-2007, 04:02 PM	#11
Alvin Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,517 Original Poster	Thanks Salty! I love doing candids. I don't really like showing embarrassing shots though. Some of my family members have begun calling me "Papparazzi" because I always have a camera at a family gathering. Those same family members have also started calling my camera the "big gun" because they all have P&S cameras. I don't know about that classification yet - the man in the first shot has got a Panny FZ-30 and that thing can get some amazing distance shots! It also trounces my camera in size because I have no lenses that are big enough to outsize it yet. Oh man...this is feeding my LBA and lens envy - ouch!