G'day from Australia :)

**Callanish** · 05-17-2019, 05:19 PM

Hi all,

I have a K-50 and had a K-x before that. I live in West Gippsland, Victoria which sadly is starting to lose the country feel as house development encroaches.

I enjoy attempting to photograph the lovely wrens and finches we have, also the various parrots and wedge-tail eagles.
I also do equestrian photography as both of my kids are in pony club and we are also involved in carriage driving. I breed the occasional foal which are fun to photograph

I'm usually on the Auto setting and trying to branch out into Manual and look forward to following the various forums

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

Sandy Hancock · 05-17-2019, 05:28 PM - **1 Like**

Welcome from the not-quite-rural Adelaide Hills!

For the type of photography you enjoy, getting off full auto should improve your images. There is an enormous amount of information here: enjoy

**beachgardener** · 05-17-2019, 08:12 PM - **1 Like**

G'day mate and welcome to the forum

Unregistered User 8 · 05-17-2019, 11:07 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Callanish

G'day from Australia

Right back at ya !!

photolady95 · 05-18-2019, 02:00 AM - **1 Like**

You should feel right at home here as we have lots and lots of Aussies onboard here, you just met three of them but there are tons more still to meet and help if you need it.

So, welcome aboard!! Glad you could join us!

As one mentioned take that K-50 off auto and you'll enjoy it more. I have one too, mine's white and I've named it the White Knight. I use M mode most often (because my first Pentax camera was a K1000 film camera) but have used TAV depending on what I'm shooting, but there is TV, and SV that's better than auto any day.

**robgski** · 05-18-2019, 04:23 AM - **1 Like**

Welcome! I haven't been to Australia yet, but I hope to visit it soon.
I look forward to seeing your pictures!

**PJ1** · 05-18-2019, 05:53 AM - **3 Likes**

G'day from Mosquito Creek. No housing developments encroaching here. Population 1 if I am at home.

Sandy Hancock · 05-19-2019, 02:14 AM

Originally posted by robgski

I haven't been to Australia yet, but I hope to visit it soon.

Do let me know if you're passing through Adelaide, Rob!

**robgski** · 05-19-2019, 08:27 AM

Originally posted by Sandy Hancock

Do let me know if you're passing through Adelaide, Rob!

Thank you Sandy, I am hoping things fall in place for a visit in April of 2020, I will let you know.

**Des** · 05-19-2019, 08:24 PM - **1 Like**

Welcome to PF from another Gippslander. I share your lament about the loss of rural character in West Gippsland. We visit Bunyip and Drouin often and have seen the changes over the years. I think the sign should say, "Drouin - the D is silent".

For all that, there are still many lovely places to visit in the area. And plenty to photograph.

One unsolicited tip for moving on from Auto. For birds and moving horses, try TAv mode and aim to keep the shutter speed (controlled by the front dial) at 1/400th or faster whenever you can. (1/800th makes a big difference for birds hopping around a tree, or 1/1250th for birds in flight.) The shutter speed on your sample shot (1/250th) is too slow. The aperture setting (rear dial) will depend on your lens. Consumer zooms like the DA 55-300 f4-5.8 benefit from narrowing the aperture to f8 if you can. If you have the PLM version, you can get away with wide open more often, which allows more flexibility with the shutter speed. With the K-50, try to cap the aperture at 1600 if possible. You can go higher (3200) in sunny conditions in order to get a faster shutter speed, but in poor light you will get a lot of noise and loss of contrast.

There's a thread here devoted to photos of horses: A horse, of course - PentaxForums.com. You might post there, or on one of the many other subject threads.

**Kerrowdown** · 05-20-2019, 12:51 PM

Welcome to the forum, we're all here to help you... and to spend your money with all of our advice.

**Callanish** · 05-20-2019, 08:18 PM - **1 Like**

Thanks all for the welcome

Thanks for the tips photolady95 and Des, will have a try.
Sadly arthritis has started in my fingers so I find it tricky to change things on the fly.

Thought I would share another photo, weather was drizzly but I am still happy with it

Sandy Hancock · 05-20-2019, 09:54 PM

Originally posted by Callanish

Thought I would share another photo, weather was drizzly but I am still happy with it

Lovely looking part of the world

**robgski** · 05-25-2019, 05:56 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by Callanish

hought I would share another photo, weather was drizzly but I am still happy with it

Bad Weather Makes Good Pictures, the cloud shapes and texture, with hills emerging from the rain/haze make the background much more interesting, and create a better result than a perfect cloudless blue sky would,

**Des** · 05-25-2019, 02:15 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Callanish

Sadly arthritis has started in my fingers so I find it tricky to change things on the fly.

Save the settings you use the most as User1, User2, etc. Then you just need to spin the mode dial. I reserve User1 for birds in flight, because when you want it, you want it quickly!

Originally posted by robgski

Bad Weather Makes Good Pictures

Rob started a wonderful thread which proves this point: Bad Weather Makes Good Pictures - PentaxForums.com

05-18-2019, 02:00 AM - 1 Like	#5
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	You should feel right at home here as we have lots and lots of Aussies onboard here, you just met three of them but there are tons more still to meet and help if you need it. So, welcome aboard!! Glad you could join us! As one mentioned take that K-50 off auto and you'll enjoy it more. I have one too, mine's white and I've named it the White Knight. I use M mode most often (because my first Pentax camera was a K1000 film camera) but have used TAV depending on what I'm shooting, but there is TV, and SV that's better than auto any day. Last edited by Sandy Hancock; 05-19-2019 at 02:16 AM. Reason: Spelling lesson ;)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Australia Day Sale! Take 50% Off Lowepro & Joby!	AndreH	Pentax Price Watch	4	01-24-2019 07:15 AM
Pentax Australia Boxing Day sale has started - 15% off	Tas	Pentax Price Watch	18	12-26-2018 02:54 AM
G'Day from Australia	Bayfella	Welcomes and Introductions	7	06-20-2018 09:09 AM
Pentax Australia - 15% off for Father's Day	Tas	Pentax Price Watch	6	08-26-2017 08:41 PM
Hi from Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.	smiffy2150	Welcomes and Introductions	10	01-15-2017 08:15 PM

05-17-2019, 05:28 PM - 1 Like	#2
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	Welcome from the not-quite-rural Adelaide Hills! For the type of photography you enjoy, getting off full auto should improve your images. There is an enormous amount of information here: enjoy

05-17-2019, 08:12 PM - 1 Like	#3
beachgardener Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,842	G'day mate and welcome to the forum

05-17-2019, 11:07 PM - 1 Like	#4
Unregistered User 8 Closed Account Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,694	Originally posted by Callanish G'day from Australia Right back at ya !!

05-18-2019, 04:23 AM - 1 Like	#6
robgski Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,799	Welcome! I haven't been to Australia yet, but I hope to visit it soon. I look forward to seeing your pictures!

05-18-2019, 05:53 AM - 3 Likes	#7
PJ1 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Toowoomba, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,484	G'day from Mosquito Creek. No housing developments encroaching here. Population 1 if I am at home.

05-19-2019, 02:14 AM	#8
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	Originally posted by robgski I haven't been to Australia yet, but I hope to visit it soon. Do let me know if you're passing through Adelaide, Rob!

05-19-2019, 08:27 AM	#9
robgski Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,799	Originally posted by Sandy Hancock Do let me know if you're passing through Adelaide, Rob! Thank you Sandy, I am hoping things fall in place for a visit in April of 2020, I will let you know.

05-19-2019, 08:24 PM - 1 Like	#10
Des Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Victoria Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 6,423	Welcome to PF from another Gippslander. I share your lament about the loss of rural character in West Gippsland. We visit Bunyip and Drouin often and have seen the changes over the years. I think the sign should say, "Drouin - the D is silent". For all that, there are still many lovely places to visit in the area. And plenty to photograph. One unsolicited tip for moving on from Auto. For birds and moving horses, try TAv mode and aim to keep the shutter speed (controlled by the front dial) at 1/400th or faster whenever you can. (1/800th makes a big difference for birds hopping around a tree, or 1/1250th for birds in flight.) The shutter speed on your sample shot (1/250th) is too slow. The aperture setting (rear dial) will depend on your lens. Consumer zooms like the DA 55-300 f4-5.8 benefit from narrowing the aperture to f8 if you can. If you have the PLM version, you can get away with wide open more often, which allows more flexibility with the shutter speed. With the K-50, try to cap the aperture at 1600 if possible. You can go higher (3200) in sunny conditions in order to get a faster shutter speed, but in poor light you will get a lot of noise and loss of contrast. There's a thread here devoted to photos of horses: A horse, of course - PentaxForums.com. You might post there, or on one of the many other subject threads.

05-20-2019, 12:51 PM	#11
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, we're all here to help you... and to spend your money with all of our advice.

05-20-2019, 09:54 PM	#13
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	Originally posted by Callanish Thought I would share another photo, weather was drizzly but I am still happy with it Lovely looking part of the world

05-25-2019, 05:56 AM - 2 Likes	#14
robgski Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,799	Originally posted by Callanish hought I would share another photo, weather was drizzly but I am still happy with it Bad Weather Makes Good Pictures, the cloud shapes and texture, with hills emerging from the rain/haze make the background much more interesting, and create a better result than a perfect cloudless blue sky would,

05-25-2019, 02:15 PM - 1 Like	#15
Des Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Victoria Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 6,423	Originally posted by Callanish Sadly arthritis has started in my fingers so I find it tricky to change things on the fly. Save the settings you use the most as User1, User2, etc. Then you just need to spin the mode dial. I reserve User1 for birds in flight, because when you want it, you want it quickly! Originally posted by robgski Bad Weather Makes Good Pictures Rob started a wonderful thread which proves this point: Bad Weather Makes Good Pictures - PentaxForums.com