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shutterpuppy · 03-26-2008, 10:39 AM

Hey Everyone,

I'll be going to the Dallas show next month and I only want to take one lens with my k100d, either the 18-55 mm Pentax lens that came with the camera or my newly acquired Sigma 70-300mm zoom, I have no idea what kind of light source the convention center will have. Since I'm very new to the k100d and heard about the poor tungsten quality in it's W/B setting, Is this the fault of the standard lens or the camera? What settings and/or lens would you recommend for this visit.

Thanks in advance
Barry

jshurak · 03-26-2008, 10:45 AM

Originally posted by shutterpuppy

Hey Everyone,

I'll be going to the Dallas show next month and I only want to take one lens with my k100d, either the 18-55 mm Pentax lens that came with the camera or my newly acquired Sigma 70-300mm zoom, I have no idea what kind of light source the convention center will have. Since I'm very new to the k100d and heard about the poor tungsten quality in it's W/B setting, Is this the fault of the standard lens or the camera? What settings and/or lens would you recommend for this visit.

Thanks in advance
Barry

Take the kit lens. I have both of those lenses and that sigma will be really tough to use indoors. Your going to want to use the wider lens. Plus its faster. As for white balance, don't worry about the lens, take a couple test shots using difference W/B settings and use the one that looks the best. Or you can shoot RAW and not worry about it....

drabina · 03-26-2008, 11:26 AM

Kit lens would be better with its wide range starting at 18mm. I doubt you need anything longer than 50mm at the autoshow unless you want to take makro pictures of individual parts. An external flash would be recommended as the built-in flash is not that powerful.

Mechan1k · 03-26-2008, 11:32 AM

Car shows you will need as wide as possible. If it is indoors you may have issues with lighting (or lack of).

shutterpuppy · 03-26-2008, 12:47 PM

Originally posted by Mechan1k

Car shows you will need as wide as possible. If it is indoors you may have issues with lighting (or lack of).

I'm content with shooting at ISO 800 if the quality is better than my old Fuji s8000fd which was lousy at that setting, how is the auto W/B setting with mixed lighting? Thanks everyone for your advice.

Barry

**Canada_Rockies** · 03-26-2008, 01:07 PM

Originally posted by shutterpuppy

I'm content with shooting at ISO 800 if the quality is better than my old Fuji s8000fd which was lousy at that setting, how is the auto W/B setting with mixed lighting? Thanks everyone for your advice.

Barry

If you shoot RAW, you can correct the lighting balances in post processing. At something like a car show (or any indoor display type function), I would think this would be the only way to go.

If you attempt to use the in camera white balance fine tuner, you would be spending all your time tuning the white balance. The mixed lighting means that each car, and probably each side of each car, will have a different lighting mix, which would require you to set the balance for each shot. You could conceivably have a mix of tungsten, halogen, fluorescent (and different fluorescents), mercury arc and the Lord only knows what all else, not excepting coloured gels!

In post processing, you can look at an image and make the white to be white. A lot more work, yes, but the only way to get acceptable colours.

bbpa103 · 03-30-2008, 01:23 PM

Barry. Consider a circular polarizer to cut down on undesired glare but be aware of possible vignetting at the 18mm end. Ken.

Oceanic · 03-30-2008, 02:08 PM

Kit lens. Some areas might be brighter than others, but you will most likely being using alot of flash.

Maybe Ill see you there haha.

m8o · 03-30-2008, 04:49 PM

I just went to the show in NYC last weekend. Don't bother with the 70-300mm ; just take the 18-55mm. If the show is frequented by the mass of people anywhere near the number of people @ the NYC show, you'll often be at the widest range of the zoom.

I took the Pentax 12-24mm f/4 and Voigtlander 125mm f/2.5 with me. The 12-24mm was on the camera 95% of the time if not more. Other than some 'artistic' shots taken with a wide aperture (see my post in the POTW #3) playing with in and out of focus areas, carrying the long lens was a total waste.

**pentagor** · 03-31-2008, 12:24 AM

Originally posted by shutterpuppy

I'm content with shooting at ISO 800 if the quality is better than my old Fuji s8000fd which was lousy at that setting, how is the auto W/B setting with mixed lighting? Thanks everyone for your advice.

Barry

About W/B setting. If you're shooting jpegs, take a white piece of paper and set the W/B at the place of shooting. That's the best way to do it. Of course if you are shooting without the flash.

ftpaddict · 03-31-2008, 01:26 AM

A fast wide zoom or prime. Since your kit is wider, go for that one.

shutterpuppy · 03-31-2008, 07:19 AM

I'll just take the basic 18-55 lens and experiment with the W/B, BTW..how good is the Auto W/B on the k100d?

Barry

ghost · 03-31-2008, 10:04 AM

Originally posted by shutterpuppy

I'll just take the basic 18-55 lens and experiment with the W/B, BTW..how good is the Auto W/B on the k100d?

Barry

from my experiance, I did not have to experiment with the white balance at the car show I went to this winter. The camera will give the W/B pretty well on the show floor. If you see anything major on your LCD while your shooting, adjust accordingly, but you should be fine!

the bold font does not help at all. (in my opinion)

03-26-2008, 10:39 AM	#1
shutterpuppy Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dallas Texas Posts: 319	Which Lens/Settings To Use For An Upcoming Auto Show Hey Everyone, I'll be going to the Dallas show next month and I only want to take one lens with my k100d, either the 18-55 mm Pentax lens that came with the camera or my newly acquired Sigma 70-300mm zoom, I have no idea what kind of light source the convention center will have. Since I'm very new to the k100d and heard about the poor tungsten quality in it's W/B setting, Is this the fault of the standard lens or the camera? What settings and/or lens would you recommend for this visit. Thanks in advance Barry

03-31-2008, 07:19 AM	#12
shutterpuppy Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dallas Texas Posts: 319 Original Poster	Thanks Everyone!!! I'll just take the basic 18-55 lens and experiment with the W/B, BTW..how good is the Auto W/B on the k100d? Barry

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03-26-2008, 10:45 AM	#2
jshurak Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: philadelphia Posts: 626	Originally posted by shutterpuppy Hey Everyone, I'll be going to the Dallas show next month and I only want to take one lens with my k100d, either the 18-55 mm Pentax lens that came with the camera or my newly acquired Sigma 70-300mm zoom, I have no idea what kind of light source the convention center will have. Since I'm very new to the k100d and heard about the poor tungsten quality in it's W/B setting, Is this the fault of the standard lens or the camera? What settings and/or lens would you recommend for this visit. Thanks in advance Barry Take the kit lens. I have both of those lenses and that sigma will be really tough to use indoors. Your going to want to use the wider lens. Plus its faster. As for white balance, don't worry about the lens, take a couple test shots using difference W/B settings and use the one that looks the best. Or you can shoot RAW and not worry about it....

03-26-2008, 11:26 AM	#3
drabina Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 525	Kit lens would be better with its wide range starting at 18mm. I doubt you need anything longer than 50mm at the autoshow unless you want to take makro pictures of individual parts. An external flash would be recommended as the built-in flash is not that powerful.

03-26-2008, 11:32 AM	#4
Mechan1k Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,891	Car shows you will need as wide as possible. If it is indoors you may have issues with lighting (or lack of).

03-26-2008, 12:47 PM	#5
shutterpuppy Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dallas Texas Posts: 319 Original Poster	Originally posted by Mechan1k Car shows you will need as wide as possible. If it is indoors you may have issues with lighting (or lack of). I'm content with shooting at ISO 800 if the quality is better than my old Fuji s8000fd which was lousy at that setting, how is the auto W/B setting with mixed lighting? Thanks everyone for your advice. Barry

03-26-2008, 01:07 PM	#6
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Originally posted by shutterpuppy I'm content with shooting at ISO 800 if the quality is better than my old Fuji s8000fd which was lousy at that setting, how is the auto W/B setting with mixed lighting? Thanks everyone for your advice. Barry If you shoot RAW, you can correct the lighting balances in post processing. At something like a car show (or any indoor display type function), I would think this would be the only way to go. If you attempt to use the in camera white balance fine tuner, you would be spending all your time tuning the white balance. The mixed lighting means that each car, and probably each side of each car, will have a different lighting mix, which would require you to set the balance for each shot. You could conceivably have a mix of tungsten, halogen, fluorescent (and different fluorescents), mercury arc and the Lord only knows what all else, not excepting coloured gels! In post processing, you can look at an image and make the white to be white. A lot more work, yes, but the only way to get acceptable colours.

03-30-2008, 01:23 PM	#7
bbpa103 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 169	Barry. Consider a circular polarizer to cut down on undesired glare but be aware of possible vignetting at the 18mm end. Ken.

03-30-2008, 02:08 PM	#8
Oceanic Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dallas Posts: 65	Kit lens. Some areas might be brighter than others, but you will most likely being using alot of flash. Maybe Ill see you there haha.

03-30-2008, 04:49 PM	#9
m8o Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 40°-55'-44" N / 73°-24'-07" W [on LI] Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,092	I just went to the show in NYC last weekend. Don't bother with the 70-300mm ; just take the 18-55mm. If the show is frequented by the mass of people anywhere near the number of people @ the NYC show, you'll often be at the widest range of the zoom. I took the Pentax 12-24mm f/4 and Voigtlander 125mm f/2.5 with me. The 12-24mm was on the camera 95% of the time if not more. Other than some 'artistic' shots taken with a wide aperture (see my post in the POTW #3) playing with in and out of focus areas, carrying the long lens was a total waste.

03-31-2008, 12:24 AM	#10
pentagor Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia Posts: 495	Originally posted by shutterpuppy I'm content with shooting at ISO 800 if the quality is better than my old Fuji s8000fd which was lousy at that setting, how is the auto W/B setting with mixed lighting? Thanks everyone for your advice. Barry About W/B setting. If you're shooting jpegs, take a white piece of paper and set the W/B at the place of shooting. That's the best way to do it. Of course if you are shooting without the flash.

03-31-2008, 01:26 AM	#11
ftpaddict Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Yurp Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,666	A fast wide zoom or prime. Since your kit is wider, go for that one.

03-31-2008, 10:04 AM	#13
ghost Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Barrie, ON Photos: Gallery Posts: 174	Originally posted by shutterpuppy I'll just take the basic 18-55 lens and experiment with the W/B, BTW..how good is the Auto W/B on the k100d? Barry from my experiance, I did not have to experiment with the white balance at the car show I went to this winter. The camera will give the W/B pretty well on the show floor. If you see anything major on your LCD while your shooting, adjust accordingly, but you should be fine! the bold* font does not help at all. (in my opinion)*

Which Lens/Settings To Use For An Upcoming Auto Show

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