[theunartist]

I must have misstated what I'm after. I want to learn how to do these things with these manual focus lenses, specifically. The beginner forum is nice, but has not answered the specifics of using these manual lenses. Where can I read about use of manual lenses...unlocking their potential. I know there has to be more to these than set the aperture, focus and shoot.... Or is that really all that is different with manual lenses verses auto?

If you can manually focus your lens, you will have mastered something special. Focusing is job number #1, so practice.

We really do need to know what kind of camera, Film/dSLR etc? Pretty important part but if you cannot successfully focus your lenses, everything else will not matter... Using a higher aperture will give you greater Depth of Field or with bigger apertures you can use faster shutter speeds to stop action, etc.

Depending on camera, getting the correct exposure is also an art form, using the right color balance helps tremendously but again, let us know what kind of camera this is going on....

[squigglytwigs]

Thank you. I'm using a K-x. And have gotten pretty good at manual focus over the past few months. I've also learned to use ISO somewhat to my advantage.
I have a photographer helping me with camera basics, but she has a different type of camera and auto lenses that are made for her camera. She knows a lot about photography in general, but only as it applies to her equipment.
This is why I came here to learn about the specifics of these lenses.
TIA

[theunartist]

Thank you. I'm using a K-x. And have gotten pretty good at manual focus over the past few months. I've also learned to use ISO somewhat to my advantage.
I have a photographer helping me with camera basics, but she has a different type of camera and auto lenses that are made for her camera. She knows a lot about photography in general, but only as it applies to her equipment.
This is why I came here to learn about the specifics of these lenses.
TIA

Your 50mm lens will allow you to control your Depth of Field, this is a big advantage over most consumer zoom lenses. You can read this article: Understanding Depth of Field in Photography and because you can control the DOF more dramatically with your 50, you'll be able to do some special effects: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/93874...-bokeh-94.html

Just have a good time and post a few images - Rick

[eddie1960]

Pretty much regardless of camera and AF/MF there are only 3 things to understand Aperture/Shutterspeed/iso and how they all interact with one another. they are a triumvirate, if one changes it affects the other 2. MF or AF are moot. AF is a convenience that is very useful but relying on it can cause a poor picture just as easily as it may grab the wrong focus (Particularly on a Kx where you don't have selective focus for instance) The basics of photography all boil down to manipulating the light to achieve your goal. shutting down the Aperture will give more in focus area but require either a slower shutter speed or higher iso (or a combination of the 2) opening up the aperture the opposite less in focus are (good for bokeh shots and portraits and isolating a subject) but will require a lower iso or higher shutter speed or combination of the 2. Upping the shutter speed to stop action will require higher iso or more open aperture - usually the higher iso as an open aperture will make it difficult to capture the moving target if DOF is to narrow)

the Bryan Peterson books are very good for getting a grounding in the basics of light

Composition is a whole separate thing of course :d

All cameras are tools for achieving your vision, learning the basics of light will allow you to use any camera to good effect as you will be able to understand it's strengths and limitations

(BTW i shoot 85+% manual focus unless i need the speed of AF for action and still a large amount on film for that matter too bad your dad didn't give you the old camera that went with the lenses film can be a lot of fun)

[squigglytwigs]

Thanks guys. I'm off to check out the resources you suggest. My "tutor" concurs with learning about light and has given me "homework" to practice those things.
I needed to get a grasp on the manual lens part to help with my homework, instead of just changing settings and shooting blindly.
My ultimate goal is to be able to take great portrait shots, without a studio, necessary for my little clothing design business.

[paulh]

M50/1.7 wide-open:

[eddie1960]

nice to see a sign of spring Paul, i'll shoot one of mine in 2 months

[paulh]

nice to see a sign of spring Paul, i'll shoot one of mine in 2 months

In 2 months it'll already be in the mid-80s here & Spring will be a distant memory . Hope it warms up soon for you guys, tho...

[eddie1960]

mid 80's here with any consistency will be the end of june, though we will get a few days in may

[mglowe]

M 100 2.8

[mglowe]

M 28 3.5

[repaap]

This is also in my Single in march album. Night scene from Finland.

[Deimos]

M 100 2.8

Nice shot!

The post after didnt show up fyi

[burzum]

Great Shot!!!

M 100 2.8

[mglowe]

Nice shot!

The post after didnt show up fyi

Sorry. I don't know what happened!