[arv]

Kitty (DA*55)

[wtlwdwgn]

Another goose on a rainy day. K-3, DA* 300 f/4, 1/1000 @ f/8, ISO 6400, PP in LR 5.3.

[cbope]

Here are the first few images from my new DA* 16-50.










I really like the results so far, the micro contrast is very good, it's sharp and colors are very nice. Only two weaknesses so far, it's a bit soft wide open at 16mm (but decent at f/4) and flares when the sun is on the front element. Neither are deal breakers in my opinion. It makes a very nice walk-around lens. I put off this purchase for almost 2 years but now I'm a proud DA* club member.

50-135. Performance photograph from rear of theater.

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Last edited by Brooke Meyer; 12-03-2014 at 09:17 PM.

[cbope]

50-135. Performance photograph from rear of theater.

Very nice. How did you handle the noise at ISO 3200? Looks very clean.

Very nice. How did you handle the noise at ISO 3200? Looks very clean.

There isn't a lot of noise at 3200 on K5's or K5IIs. 3200 is my starting point for dance rehearsals & performances. I have ten's of thousands of examples over 4 years on my event site. If I print one large, its typically maybe some ACR adjustment and default settings of Noiseware in PS. 6,400 and 12800 takes a little more effort but having been trained and thinking like a painter, it suits me. The attached examples are 6400 and 12800 respectively. Both of these were also made from rear of theater with a Sigma 100-300/4. I keep it on a loose ball head and the 50-135 is on my shoulder. 50mm gives me the entire proscenium which is important to tell the story. The 50-135 is optically better.

[Rondec]

A couple of DA *55 shots.

[leungclj]

DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

Full Size


DA* 16-50mm f/2.8

Full Size

[narual]

My 60-250 arrived last week. Finally had an opportunity to take it out of my back yard and give it a try.

Wow. REALLY need a tripod with this compared to the 50-135. Most of the photos I took, even at 60mm, weren't in good focus. Lens is heavy so my hands shook a bit, I think.

But the ones that came out came out pretty well. *Lots* of purple fringing though, at least on the ones I took at f4. But I mostly fixed that in Lightroom.

[Rondec]

One with the DA *55




and one with the 16-50

[calicojack]

Hey Rondec,
You certainly are great at getting truly impressive clouds and/or sky effects.

[elpolodiablo]

DA*16-50

[johnc]

DA*16-50

Very nice indeed, diablo! Funny, but this is the kind of scene I might have expected the 16-50 to struggle with a little, handled with aplomb!

Mine has been serviced and I would say the performance has definitely stepped up a notch. I am getting sharper images in AF - I am pretty sure the AF was (when not failed) fouling a little especially at longer FLs. Looking forward to trying more now, the minor frustrations I was having with the lens have dissolved.

[Rondec]

Hey Rondec,
You certainly are great at getting truly impressive clouds and/or sky effects.

Thanks. I tend to under expose a stop specifically to get detail in the sky.

[wtlwdwgn]

Excellent interior image Diablo!

Rondec, I watch the blue channel in the histogram as that's the one that usually blows the highlights. I still expose to the right as far as possible to prevent noise in the shadows. You did get a dramatic sky though.