Difficulty in doing anything, including getting onto forum

peterboshoff · 01-02-2018, 07:10 AM

Been doing a bit of astrophotography with Pentax Spotmatic 35mm film camera, 30 years ago. I now have a Pentax K100D Super camera with a Sigma DG 70 - 300 zoom lens as well as the original 50 mm lens. No problem taking automatic photo's, but endless problem taking manual photo's. For one - I can't see what I am shooting - Can you only see that in the viewfinder? What are the manual settings for general photography eg Sun, cloud and snow?

Then how do you photograph the moon with manual settings specifically with the Pentax K100D super, with step by step instructions?

**newmikey** · 01-02-2018, 07:21 AM

Use a tripod, zoom in close with your 70-300mm. Switch your camera to Manual mode and your lens to manual focus. Your exact exposure will vary according to the conditions, but in manual exposure mode start with ISO800, a shutter speed of 1/250 sec and an aperture of f/5.6. Adjust the ISO or aperture until you can see detail clearly in the surface. Avoid using a slower shutter speed as you tweak the settings. This will result in the moon blurring.

**newmikey** · 01-02-2018, 08:44 AM

Originally posted by C_Jones

When doing stars using your live view mode along wiith manual focus is a good method.

As far as I can remember from my own K100D-Super, it did not have live view.

C_Jones · 01-02-2018, 08:49 AM

If the user has access to live view mode it is useful, in this case though, as you have said, the K100D Super may not have it.

Last edited by C_Jones; 01-02-2018 at 08:56 AM.

**UncleVanya** · 01-02-2018, 09:09 AM

You can play back shots after taking them, but I don't recall being able to compose then on the k100 series via the lcd. That's not surprising as the sensor is a ccd one which tends to be too slow to output live images due to limited data channels.

skierd · 01-02-2018, 09:14 AM

The “general settings” for the K100D are the same as they were for your Spotmatic, except your ASA film speed is now ISO and can now be set by you in-camera.

Generally yes, you would be using the viewfinder on a DSLR to compose an image just like you did on your spotmatic. The K100D does not have live view, which allows you to view the image on the back screen, so you have to use the viewfinder.

**Kerrowdown** · 01-02-2018, 09:29 AM

Welcome to the forum, I hope these replies have resolved your issues.

Adam · 01-02-2018, 09:32 AM

Originally posted by peterboshoff

Been doing a bit of astrophotography with Pentax Spotmatic 35mm film camera, 30 years ago. I now have a Pentax K100D Super camera with a Sigma DG 70 - 300 zoom lens as well as the original 50 mm lens. No problem taking automatic photo's, but endless problem taking manual photo's. For one - I can't see what I am shooting - Can you only see that in the viewfinder? What are the manual settings for general photography eg Sun, cloud and snow?

Then how do you photograph the moon with manual settings specifically with the Pentax K100D super, with step by step instructions?

The K100D super doesn't have live view, so yes you have to use the viewfinder.

The most critical part is getting the focus right, which can be a challenge. I look at the edge of the moon, and if that isn't enough, do trial and error.

The shutter speed should be fast enough, and don't stop down more than 1 or 2 stops to avoid reducing ambient light.

Do note that the K100D super is pretty archaic tech by modern standards, so it will require patience, similar to a film camera. That said, the same photographic principles of getting the right exposure and focus apply, so you should feel mostly at home

**interested_observer** · 01-02-2018, 10:35 AM

As others have posted, the K100 does not have liveview - but with it being dark, it's not going to be worth much. So, I would do this....

Lens - Use the 50mm wide open - f1.4, or f1.8, or f2.....

Raw - shoot raw and not JPG

Focusing - Go out earlier in the day and focus on something about a mile or two away. Take some tape and tape down the focus ring and put the body in manual focus.

Exposure time - use the rule of 500 ..... 500/(focal length) or about 10 seconds to start out.

ISO - go about as high as you can go. ISO 800 should be good for a low, but when framing push it up to as high as you can go ISO 3200. Take an image and then review it on the back to see if you are getting the framing you desire. Adjust and review again, until you are satisfied. Then turn it down to about 800 to lower the noise and start shooting.

Tripod - You are going to need a tripod and an external shutter release.

Stacking - You can take as many images as you wish. Then take them and feed them into a software program like DeepSkyStacker or StarStaX. They are both free downloads. You don't have a tracker to move the camera with the movement in the sky, so just keep the camera fixed and take 20, 50 or so images. Then load them on your PC and feed them into one of the software utilities. They will automatically align the images and stack them together - and produce a single result which is the summation of all of the individual images.

Software - StarStaX

DeepSkyStacker - Free

It is going to take some trial and error to start to get what you want. The K100 is somewhat limited on ISO levels.

You might consider doing star trails as a first step. This is just letting the shutter stay open for a very long time 60 seconds and longer.

01-02-2018, 07:10 AM	#1
peterboshoff New Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Driffgield Posts: 1	Difficulty in doing anything, including getting onto forum Been doing a bit of astrophotography with Pentax Spotmatic 35mm film camera, 30 years ago. I now have a Pentax K100D Super camera with a Sigma DG 70 - 300 zoom lens as well as the original 50 mm lens. No problem taking automatic photo's, but endless problem taking manual photo's. For one - I can't see what I am shooting - Can you only see that in the viewfinder? What are the manual settings for general photography eg Sun, cloud and snow? Then how do you photograph the moon with manual settings specifically with the Pentax K100D super, with step by step instructions?

01-02-2018, 09:32 AM	#8
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	Originally posted by peterboshoff Been doing a bit of astrophotography with Pentax Spotmatic 35mm film camera, 30 years ago. I now have a Pentax K100D Super camera with a Sigma DG 70 - 300 zoom lens as well as the original 50 mm lens. No problem taking automatic photo's, but endless problem taking manual photo's. For one - I can't see what I am shooting - Can you only see that in the viewfinder? What are the manual settings for general photography eg Sun, cloud and snow? Then how do you photograph the moon with manual settings specifically with the Pentax K100D super, with step by step instructions? The K100D super doesn't have live view, so yes you have to use the viewfinder. The most critical part is getting the focus right, which can be a challenge. I look at the edge of the moon, and if that isn't enough, do trial and error. The shutter speed should be fast enough, and don't stop down more than 1 or 2 stops to avoid reducing ambient light. Do note that the K100D super is pretty archaic tech by modern standards, so it will require patience, similar to a film camera. That said, the same photographic principles of getting the right exposure and focus apply, so you should feel mostly at home Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

01-02-2018, 10:35 AM	#9
interested_observer Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tumbleweed, Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,707	As others have posted, the K100 does not have liveview - but with it being dark, it's not going to be worth much. So, I would do this.... Lens - Use the 50mm wide open - f1.4, or f1.8, or f2..... Raw - shoot raw and not JPG Focusing - Go out earlier in the day and focus on something about a mile or two away. Take some tape and tape down the focus ring and put the body in manual focus. Exposure time - use the rule of 500 ..... 500/(focal length) or about 10 seconds to start out. ISO - go about as high as you can go. ISO 800 should be good for a low, but when framing push it up to as high as you can go ISO 3200. Take an image and then review it on the back to see if you are getting the framing you desire. Adjust and review again, until you are satisfied. Then turn it down to about 800 to lower the noise and start shooting. Tripod - You are going to need a tripod and an external shutter release. Stacking - You can take as many images as you wish. Then take them and feed them into a software program like DeepSkyStacker or StarStaX. They are both free downloads. You don't have a tracker to move the camera with the movement in the sky, so just keep the camera fixed and take 20, 50 or so images. Then load them on your PC and feed them into one of the software utilities. They will automatically align the images and stack them together - and produce a single result which is the summation of all of the individual images. Software - StarStaX DeepSkyStacker - Free It is going to take some trial and error to start to get what you want. The K100 is somewhat limited on ISO levels. You might consider doing star trails as a first step. This is just letting the shutter stay open for a very long time 60 seconds and longer.

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01-02-2018, 07:21 AM	#2
newmikey Site Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,287	Use a tripod, zoom in close with your 70-300mm. Switch your camera to Manual mode and your lens to manual focus. Your exact exposure will vary according to the conditions, but in manual exposure mode start with ISO800, a shutter speed of 1/250 sec and an aperture of f/5.6. Adjust the ISO or aperture until you can see detail clearly in the surface. Avoid using a slower shutter speed as you tweak the settings. This will result in the moon blurring.

01-02-2018, 08:44 AM	#3
newmikey Site Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,287	Originally posted by C_Jones When doing stars using your live view mode along wiith manual focus is a good method. As far as I can remember from my own K100D-Super, it did not have live view.

01-02-2018, 08:49 AM	#4
C_Jones Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,088	If the user has access to live view mode it is useful, in this case though, as you have said, the K100D Super may not have it. Last edited by C_Jones; 01-02-2018 at 08:56 AM.

01-02-2018, 09:09 AM	#5
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,407	You can play back shots after taking them, but I don't recall being able to compose then on the k100 series via the lcd. That's not surprising as the sensor is a ccd one which tends to be too slow to output live images due to limited data channels.

01-02-2018, 09:14 AM	#6
skierd Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Fairbanks, AK Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,472	The “general settings” for the K100D are the same as they were for your Spotmatic, except your ASA film speed is now ISO and can now be set by you in-camera. Generally yes, you would be using the viewfinder on a DSLR to compose an image just like you did on your spotmatic. The K100D does not have live view, which allows you to view the image on the back screen, so you have to use the viewfinder.

01-02-2018, 09:29 AM	#7
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,819	Welcome to the forum, I hope these replies have resolved your issues.