Monthly wrap up x-posted from November SIC thread:
I'm done for the month and what a month it was. I shot and posted on time. ATM I feel like it was one of my best based on quality of the shots. I put more effort into finding shots than typically and I did find a lot of new targets. Also visited some of my old favorites to reshoot them and I think I managed to improve those shots. The November weather in Finland ain't the type we usually consider good for photography. Days are short, usually grey. and often misty. There's not much colour visible anywhere. So it's pretty much made for monochrome
M50/1.4 delivered what I expected. I shot most of the month wide open, as that is were this lens shines over f1.7 version. Apparently I can't remember exactly anymore, but I think 6/30 were stopped down. M50/1.4 could be sharper wide open, but for sure I find it perfectly useable. Sometimes bokeh gets too busy due to bubbles, but on the right light and background it's nice and creamy. Stopped down it delivers nice landscapes, but this was not a month for those shots.
I can see the advantages DFA*50/1.4 has over this, but truth is that only photographers see it or more importantly care about it. Still I plan to upgrade at somepoint to satisfy my own need for perfection. Until then M50/1.4 will do nicely.
I bought Capture One 23 during the month. Having skipped the previous upgrade the important new features for me were panorama and HDR stitching that was introduced in v22. I tried to play with these features during the month and panorama seems to work pretty well. Even on multirow Brenizer method stitches. HDR works, but this month there really wasn't need for it. Dynamic range of K1ii was enough to cover the scenes I had available and I was able to lift from the shadows the exactly same details as I produced with HDR. I need to inspect this further.
Capture One is an expensive program, this time the upgrade was 207€, but still less than 9€/month on 2 year upgrade cycle. There are cheaper options available, but I really do like the files it produce and I'm used to working with it, so can't let go.
Full album:
Pentax M50/1.4 November Monochromes | Flickr
My favorites from the month: