[babywriter]

Welcome everyone to the Single In January 2021 challenge!

Theme days:

Thursday, 7th January: LANDSCAPE

Thursday, 14th January: SHALLOW DEPTH OF FIELD

Thursday, 21st January: B/SELFIES

Thursday, 28th January: FOOD

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

Youtu.be

Youtu.be

Attached Images

 

[pepperberry farm]

in... no idea what I'll be shooting with...

[Tsuken]

In

... with my brand-spanking new DA 21 ltd

[robgski]

It's been a while since I participated in SIC with my DA 21mm, but using it for 30 days is not hardship. I will mull it over, like my holiday wine.

---

Last edited by robgski; 12-26-2020 at 02:57 AM.

[Tsuken]

It's been a while since I participated in SIC with my DA 21mm, but using it for 30 days is not hardship. I will mull it over, like my holiday wine.

Yes, I’m certainly getting the feeling I won’t be finding January a chore

[iheiramo]

I'll be there. Current plan is to continue with 50/1.7. Just switch M to F. This seems like a perfect opportunity to compare the two.

Should I read how to use AF with K1ii or just keep it on manual? I think that after two years my camera is still on default settings

[garywakeling]

I'm in, no idea what lens or camera, I feel like a little Q love might be due

[Sandy Hancock]

I'll play again. A good haul of legacy lenses have arrived in the mail recently - M28/3.5, M50/1.7 and A28/2.0

The latter is certainly whispering in my ear. I'm very interested to see how it stacks up against the fabled K28/2.0

[Michail_P]

I’ll try to make it this time. Last month was an up and down thing. I’ll probably go with the 18-55. Just to be sure.

[pepperberry farm]

OK - needing some of the group's experience

I find myself at a crossroads, as far as camera bodies go....

in the past few months, in order to slim things down and make way for new things, I've sold off a K-5 IIs and a K-3 (and even some lenses)....

I still have a K-3.... but find that I am really missing that K-5 IIs....

Don't get me wrong - the K-3 is an absolute workhorse of a camera body, with lots of pro's going for it (and truly, not many con's)....

but that K-5 IIs was just enough for me - ticked all the boxes for a DSLR and just felt "right" in my hands...

some of you have noted that I'm also carrying a couple of Fuji bodies these days and that may be part of this issue - they are lighter and more compact and I know the K-5 body was a bit smaller than the K-3....

I guess the issue, for me, is: do I need all that is a K-3?

[robgski]

do I need all that is a K-3?

Well, I can't answer that, but I do know that if you don't like a certain camera after giving it a fair trial, you should sell it and get what you enjoy using.

---------- Post added 12-26-20 at 10:57 ----------

I’ll probably go with the 18-55.

I think too many people think of the "kit" lens as a poor option, but I really liked my 18-55, it gave good results, and was WR. I only got rid of my copy when I purchased a used 18-135mm WR.

[Cerebum]

In. I have a 40mm limited all calibrated and ready to test

---------- Post added 12-26-20 at 10:18 AM ----------

OK - needing some of the group's experience

I find myself at a crossroads, as far as camera bodies go....

in the past few months, in order to slim things down and make way for new things, I've sold off a K-5 IIs and a K-3 (and even some lenses)....

I still have a K-3.... but find that I am really missing that K-5 IIs....

Don't get me wrong - the K-3 is an absolute workhorse of a camera body, with lots of pro's going for it (and truly, not many con's)....

but that K-5 IIs was just enough for me - ticked all the boxes for a DSLR and just felt "right" in my hands...

some of you have noted that I'm also carrying a couple of Fuji bodies these days and that may be part of this issue - they are lighter and more compact and I know the K-5 body was a bit smaller than the K-3....

I guess the issue, for me, is: do I need all that is a K-3?

You clearly prefer the K5ii so a swap is on the cards. List the pros and cons. That may help you decide

[Chris_K]

In, with the Pentax-A 35-70/4. Originally, I had intended to run it in December but after I purchased the GR 3 the queue got rearranged.

[Riggomatic]

Finally getting around to joining up for the single in challenge! I think I'll start with the K series 24mm f2.8.

[Sandy Hancock]

I find myself at a crossroads, as far as camera bodies go....

You need a K-1 dave