[babywriter]

Welcome everyone to the Single In July 2020 Challenge!

Theme days:

Monday 6th July: MESSY

Monday, 13th July: TEXTURE

Tuesday, 21st July: B/SELFIES

Monday, 27th July: SHADOWS

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), a non-Pentax lens provided it is coupled only to a Pentax or Ricoh body, or a Pentax-Ricoh point&shoot camera. (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 (Singlein.m4v)

** If you are posting a link to Flickr, just click on the sharing icon below 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 …. The FAQ - Monthly Photo Challenges - PentaxForums.com


Video below was created by patjp

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Attached Images

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[Sandy Hancock]

I'm planning to participate with the DFA* 85/1.4

It's actually now looking unlikely to arrive before 1st July, but I'll weigh in ASAP. In the meantime, I'll use one of my other 85mm lenses (or all of them if that's OK ).

[pepperberry farm]

and I am in..... still deciding on the lens, however....

[garywakeling]

Sandy any 85 will do until the DFA arrives, mine not due until after the 20th July so perhaps the DFA70-200 or 67 M*400, I have had enough wide angles after the last 2 months, time to get closer with a tele.

[Minimonster]

I'm in. Hopefully my new lens will arrive in time...

[Tsuken]

Sigma 30mm f 1.4 for me. I Singled it on the KP back in February, but didn’t “feel” it. I’m approaching it now with a different mindset, so we’ll see how I find this go at it.

[iheiramo]

I'm planning to participate with the DFA* 85/1.4

It's actually now looking unlikely to arrive before 1st July, but I'll weigh in ASAP. In the meantime, I'll use one of my other 85mm lenses (or all of them if that's OK ).

Whatever, as long as we get DFA*85 shots ASAP

[iheiramo]

My journey to M world is near the end. Two to go and in July it's M200/4.

[garywakeling]

My journey to M world is near the end. Two to go and in July it's M200/4.

Speaking of 2, it was 2 years ago that I started on this single in challenge, July 18. It feels odd not taking a photo every day now, thanks for the inspiration over that journey Ismo. Looking forward to the M 200, it seems to come up often at very reasonable prices.

[zubzubadoodle]

I'm tempted to go wide in July with a Vivitar 17/3.5, or possibly long with the Meyer-Optik Orestegor 200/4.

[robbiec]

I'm in with the DFA*70-200/2.8 - Really want to figure out this one. At least I can take it out during inclement weather and as I've been primarily a prime user for the last 8 years so will deffo take me out of my safe zone. Anyone want to recommend me a good tripod head that works with this combo?

[iheiramo]

Speaking of 2, it was 2 years ago that I started on this single in challenge, July 18. It feels odd not taking a photo every day now, thanks for the inspiration over that journey Ismo. Looking forward to the M 200, it seems to come up often at very reasonable prices.

Only 2 years? Feels like you've always been here. Maybe because I haven't been here much longer. 3 years at the end of August. And thanks for compliment.

M200 is cheap. It probably is quite common and nothing special in sharpness which explains it. Bokeh is probably its best feature with that M series rendering. Personally I've already replaced it with Tak 200/3.5, but I give it this one more go.

[Sandy Hancock]

Whatever, as long as we get DFA*85 shots ASAP

As it turns out, I emailed Pentax Australia and was dismayed to hear that they are not expecting their first shipment until 20th July.
As such I have asked for my pre-order to be cancelled, so I can re-order it with the current 15% discount voucher

So no DFA*85 in July I'm afraid. I can only hope it arrives in time for my birthday on the 22nd. Then bring on August!

As such, my thoughts are now turning to other lenses; I'm happy to take requests. The more interesting options include:
K 15/3.5
K 30/2.8
Lomography Lomogon 32/2.5 Art (probably the front runner)
K 85/1.8
F 85/2.8 Soft
K135/2.5 on full frame (done on APS-C years ago)
DA* 300/4.0 on full frame (done on APS-C years ago)

I'm not going to consider 645 lenses because I'm planning to sell out of that whole system.

[iheiramo]

As it turns out, I emailed Pentax Australia and was dismayed to hear that they are not expecting their first shipment until 20th July.

The horror!

[robgski]

I'll probably use the DA 40mm LTD on the K-1, a combo I know pretty well, and enjoy.

It was recently repaired, I'd better test it out soon so I know it is serviceable.
If not, I have an M40mm pancake that I wasn't too impressed with on the K-1 years ago, but I didn't really give it a fair evaluation.

Anyone want to recommend me a good tripod head that works with this combo?

I like the ball head that came with my Manfrotto BeFree tripod, easy to manipulate, locks in tightly.

I'm not going to consider 645 lenses because I'm planning to sell out of that whole system.

That is a surprise!