[zkarj]

I try to convince my wife what you say about photography when she asks why I can't just go for a walk without taking a backpack of camera gear. My excuse, "I need exercise, and some extra weight will use more energy."

The camera gives you a perspective and purpose that can otherwise be lacking. Exercise without cameras... or music or podcasts, or even a phone. Coffee without milk or sugar. Steak without salt or pepper. Wine in a paper cup. There is much that is not necessary but we do for enjoyment, and... the more we can enjoy the simple things the better, I say.

[Arpe]

As ever, the tragedy of everyday life continues despite world-changing events. I can only guess at the extra hardships caused some by lockdowns and travel restrictions.

My last 15 months or so would have been challenging in any case but at least the pandemic hasn't materially changed how we dealt with it, and in some cases actually improved it (working from home has its advantages, even though I hated it in the beginning).

This summer largely passed me by due to health issues, but when this last Sunday dawned fine and calm (yes, in Wellington) I thought "Now that I am fit again, I'm going to make the most of this". I grabbed my camera gear, hopped in the car and just "went out". I went to the airport (of course) but nothing was moving so I went to Zealandia in the hopes of finally seeing some tieke and photographing them. In the end, I didn't take that many photos and many were not that good, but I did get a few decent enough to publish.

But the best part of this story is that while photography was the original goal of the outing, I wasn't as disappointed as I usually would be with the marginal success, because the outing itself was magical. Tieke were everywhere, as well as korimako, popokatea, tui, kaka, riroriro, piwakawaka, and toutouwai. In one spot I saw all of those except kaka (which were audible elsewhere) in the space of 5 minutes.

In some ways photography is like golf. While you can spend many hours perfecting your swing, or your camera technique, other times it's just an excuse to go for a nice walk.





Narrator: And then he went back to the airport. Of course.

Nice, I must go back sometime, only been the once quite a few years back.

[richandfleur]

Nice, I must go back sometime, only been the once quite a few years back.

Likewise, has been a while.

[Ducatisti]

As ever, the tragedy of everyday life continues despite world-changing events. I can only guess at the extra hardships caused some by lockdowns and travel restrictions.

My last 15 months or so would have been challenging in any case but at least the pandemic hasn't materially changed how we dealt with it, and in some cases actually improved it (working from home has its advantages, even though I hated it in the beginning).

This summer largely passed me by due to health issues, but when this last Sunday dawned fine and





Narrator: And then he went back to the airport. Of course.

Chin up! Do what the doctors tell you.
I broke my back in two places way back in 2004. They only found the 2nd fracture in 2016 so all the pain I kept complaining about was entirely justified.
Perhaps if they'd fixed it in 2005 when the fused the first one; I wouldn't be on ACC now!
2 spinal ops in 2005 (fusion and decompression), one in late 2016 to fuse the old break, 2 slipped discs with discectomies in 2019 that didn't work followed by another slip in the same place last year and another fusion last December. Pain is life and, although I can't manage my 4x5/5x7 monorail in nature, I can manage any of my other cameras.
I've been working on ways to take great shots with smaller and smaller cameras: 35mm microfilm and super slow colour neg film (1.5 asa). Half frame cameras using the same films. 16mm cameras and now, the Pentax Auto 110 kit.
It's a real joy to have an SLR camera, three lenses, a flash, 3 close up filters and spare film all in a lens box about the size that would fit a 24-70mm Zeiss AF lens!
The Auto 110's are fine for fun but realistically you wouldn't shoot anything critical with them. Travel shots; yeah! Lansdcapes? Nah!
However, that said, I have a Viscawide-16 swing lens pano camera that shoots 10x46mm negs on 16mm film. Using microfilm; that works pretty well and 8x37" prints are a real possibility!
So take the pills, do the physio, live with the pain and understand it's life telling you you're still alive. Get out and shoot whatever you can!

[NZ_Ross]

The Auto 110's are fine for fun but realistically you wouldn't shoot anything critical with them. Travel shots; yeah! Lansdcapes? Nah!
However, that said, I have a Viscawide-16 swing lens pano camera that shoots 10x46mm negs on 16mm film. Using microfilm; that works pretty well and 8x37" prints are a real possibility!

Have you thought about using a Pentax Q digital camera, very light, lenses are really light and you can adapt your 110 and the tiny C/D lenses to them as well. The Q gives ok results too.

[Ducatisti]

To be honest, I'm not much enamoured of digital, it's too easy and, with abundant quick apps, to easy to change a photograph into a work of graphic design.
I still have a Sony A7R and lots of lenses but most of them are used on my Minolta Alpha 7 film camera.
I really only use digital when a job demands it such as an event where I have to apply media with images right away.
I prefer the work for of film which focus the mind more AND allowed for some element of surprise if using oddball films.
Take a look at my Flickr account: it's almost all film based.
https://flic.kr/p/2kKLHZ1

[GUB]

Was I mad?
Av price US$1500 in reviews and none on Ebay at the mo.

Attached Images

 

[MarkJerling]

Nice buy!

[Kiwizinho]

Was I mad?
Av price US$1500 in reviews and none on Ebay at the mo.

I saw it, and was tempted, but...
Thankfully I didn't bite, otherwise it could have made a bidding war that only would have benefitted the seller.

[GUB]

I saw it, and was tempted, but...
Thankfully I didn't bite, otherwise it could have made a bidding war that only would have benefitted the seller.

As you can see I was close to my limit - $800 - but that is something the competitor doesn't know.
How ever it is nice to have a competitor in that you know you are not alone in your madness!
I figured this was my only chance to get a good birding lens for the K-1.
The nearest I have (in viable lenses) is a K 400 and comments are pretty clear about a gain from that.
Plus AF to boot. The reviews suggest it is quite effective.
I am a manual focuser on the whole but I have been aware when with other photographers with long lenses that they get the shots I miss.

[NZ_Ross]

As you can see I was close to my limit - $800 - but that is something the competitor doesn't know.
How ever it is nice to have a competitor in that you know you are not alone in your madness!
I figured this was my only chance to get a good birding lens for the K-1.
The nearest I have (in viable lenses) is a K 400 and comments are pretty clear about a gain from that.
Plus AF to boot. The reviews suggest it is quite effective.
I am a manual focuser on the whole but I have been aware when with other photographers with long lenses that they get the shots I miss.

Looks like a very nice lens. I had a good look at it too, but decided not to bid. I am pleased someone here has picked it up

[GUB]

Looks like a very nice lens. I had a good look at it too, but decided not to bid. I am pleased someone here has picked it up

It would have been a bit of an overlap with that big zoom of yours too wouldn't it?

[NZ_Ross]

It would have been a bit of an overlap with that big zoom of yours too wouldn't it?

Definitely, which is why I didn't bid. Saving my $ for the K3 III at this stage - I think that will be my purchase for the year

[GUB]

Well it passes the Rex test wide open. Focuses snappy.

The seller was using it on a K-1. Nice to know there is at least one in Palmerston Nth!!

[NZ_Ross]

Well it passes the Rex test wide open. Focuses snappy.

Very nice

---------- Post added 26-03-21 at 08:46 PM ----------

It would have been a bit of an overlap with that big zoom of yours too wouldn't it?

Just a quick update on the big zoom - it is within 4 to 8 weeks of being fixed and fully functional. The fix has been a fair while being organised, tested and part replaced, which has involved specialist 3D printing. Current status is replacement prototype part was printed and test fitted. Some very minor adjustments were needed, and these are back with the 3D design/print shop. I am expecting the final part soon, which will then be fitted, and it will be all good to go.

I will write up the process and what was done etc, as it is quite interesting and also something I suspect doesn't happen that often with lenses. I will share that here on Pentax Forum

I will also let you know when the lens is fully functional again.

At this stage it seems that getting the lens functional will coincide with the K3 III availability, which might be very good timing for some of the photos of birds that I have planned :-)

Cheers

Ross