[OzzRod]

Welcome everyone to this month’s Single Challenge.

Aim of the Game:To use the same lens each day for a month, posting one picture captured each day with that lens. The picture must be captured with a Pentax lens coupled to a camera body of your choice (including Pentax/Ricoh), or a non-Pentax lens provided it is coupled only to a Pentax or Ricoh body. (Taking other pictures with other cameras/lenses is fine, but these won’t be eligible for this Challenge).

Commenting: Posting your pictures allows other participants to comment on them. Conversely, it’s hoped that you will comment on those of other members. Please don’t be shy if you don’t have much photographic experience or are a Forum newbie - your personal reactions to photographs are as valid as anyone else’s. It’s a very friendly group and with regular commenting, you’ll soon be enjoying the camaraderie.

The rewards: It’s great fun. You’ll learn heaps about how your chosen lens can perform and you’ll see what other members achieve with their selected lenses - sometimes the same one you’ve chosen. In the comment banter you’ll pick up many tips on photographic technique generally, including post processing. As the month progresses it often becomes quite demanding (it’s a challenge, remember) but you’ll always be encouraged by other participants. Worried about LBA? - this game doesn’t help you fight it!

How to participate:

1. First you need to join the Group to be able to post pictures; you only have to do this once. The group’s name is “Monthly Photo Challenges”. You’ll find a clickable link on that forum page to join.

2. You’ll need to have your pictures stored in an on-line album. This could be the Pentax Forum, or others such as Flickr, Picassa etc. You actually post a link to the picture in your album into the daily picture thread.

** If you are linking to a Pentax Forum album, you’ll find advice on how to post elsewhere in the Forum and in the FAQs below. One of the Challenge’s stalwarts, patjp, has also prepared a short video on how to do this - it’s on YouTube

You Tube

You Tube

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** If you are posting a link to Flickr, just click on the sharing icon near your selected picture and a window will open displaying the BB code. Copy it and paste into the Single in (month) Challenge thread in the Pentax Forum.

Each day, you’ll see a new thread of pictures grow and by clicking on each you should be redirected to the photographer’s parent album where you will be able to add a comment and read those of others. When you post each day’s picture to the Pentax Forum, please specify the camera/lens combination underneath your picture eg K5 & DA15 Ltd - this makes it easy for others to note what combo you’re using.

The thread you’re painstakingly reading now is the Discussion Thread for Game > Single in (month).
This is separate to the picture posting thread referred to above and you’ll probably want to subscribe to the Discussion one to keep up with activities and develop a rapport with Challenge members. It’s the place where you can ask questions, offer advice, share concerns, suggest improvements, and often just participate in general banter related to this month’s challenge.

So there it is. It is easier than it might seem at first. If you miss a day, don’t worry. If you have any problems, please ask. We’re a very friendly, forgiving, international bunch. Come and try!

FAQs: Finally, Zorglub has kindly posted a FAQ collection here …. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/groups/102-monthly-photo-challenges/711-faq.html

[severalsnakes]

Is it time already!? :-D I'm in, I'm in!

Rokinon 85/1.4? Brand new A70-210/4? M100/4 macro? (The Access 35-70/2.5-3.5 is approaching its day in the sun, but not yet...)

[mtux]

I will probably continue my SOOC theme maybe in color this time.
The lens, hmm, I recently purchased a M135/3.5 because the seller accepted my offer, LOL. But now I know I can't keep it because of storage issue. (My drybox is almost full)
So will probably do a single in with it and let it go...

Going from 21 to 135 will stretch some things inside me.

---------- Post added 09-25-14 at 11:34 AM ----------

Rokinon 85/1.4? Brand new A70-210/4? M100/4 macro?

I would vote for Rokinon.

[Sagitta]

I'm actually debating giving the SI a whirl, busted camera or not. I picked up an old 300mm prime and I've been itching for an excuse to use it. If people don't mind seeing some ugly damage in my shots for a month, I may be game to try it.

[g026r]

I'm in. No idea what with yet, but I'm in.

Maybe my Helios 44-2? Or maybe my Tamron Adaptall 28/2.5 that doesn't work right when set to the A setting, which means green button metering.

(I got burnt out in August, but I've since spent most of September waiting for this thread to be posted. )

---------- Post added 2014-09-25 at 00:26 ----------

I'm actually debating giving the SI a whirl, busted camera or not. I picked up an old 300mm prime and I've been itching for an excuse to use it. If people don't mind seeing some ugly damage in my shots for a month, I may be game to try it.

I say go for it.

[OzzRod]

Very encouraging to see the quick declarations of interest in the new month.

I'm going to give my Super-Takumar 105mm f2.8 (M42) a workout.

[Sandy Hancock]

100 this month, 70-200 before that, then 50, a month with the teleconverter, 58, and 15-45 on the Q. It was back in January when I last Singled a lens of normal focal length or shorter. I'm over telephotos

And the only lens I own which has not been given the Single In treatment is.... an old manual 135/3.5

I'm tempted to go with the 21 though, or something fun like the 03 Fish Eye. We'll see in a few days.

[kdf9511]

I'm in but don't know witch lens yet. It's either the ole M series 50mm f2 or the manual Tou/Five Star 28mm f2.8 I picked up last weekend.

[jimr-pdx]

If I can manage this I will go da40 or m85 f2. Or maybe the Vivitar 28 makes more sense with trees going gold? Hmmm.... one week to decide

[utak]

I'm going to try a SMC Pentax 'K' 135/2.5....it'll be a daily weightlifting workout.

[mtux]

Just ordered a set of 9mm/16mm/30mm extension tubes and a couple of male-male 49mm-49mm and 49mm-55mm rings to use my shorter lenses in revers on the M135/3.5 during October. (My first time trying extension tubes)

150cm MFD is way too long for my taste and love for macros

[Sandy Hancock]

Which reminds me - I have recently acquired a 49mm reversing adaptor, so I might revisit the A50/1.2 (on a 52-49 step-down ring) or the FA43 for macros.

[mtux]

Oh, I do have one of them, maybe will use it too.
But I can't chase bugs with a reverse mounted lens like some of guys here, working distance and Dof is too short. :/ I wonder how can someone do it?

[Tsuken]

I'll be in, no doubt, but it'll be a lens repeat. The only one I haven't yet repeated is my Soligor 35mm. Other option I'm tossing up is my Sigma 30mm 1.4 again (it'd be the third time for the Siggy ... I hope I don't get drummed out of the Single challenge for repeating lenses too much. :P)

[severalsnakes]

I'm actually debating giving the SI a whirl, busted camera or not. I picked up an old 300mm prime and I've been itching for an excuse to use it. If people don't mind seeing some ugly damage in my shots for a month, I may be game to try it.

What is this "ugly damage" you speak of? Either way, if you're wanting to take pictures, you should definitely join!

Sandy: Fish eye on the Q? That would be sweet! I'd like to see it.