The K20D Club

Ian Stuart Forsyth · 10-04-2015, 11:06 PM - **4 Likes**

An old photo's on the shores of Abraham lake Alberta

Grimmus · 10-10-2015, 12:43 PM

Originally posted by Ian Stuart Forsyth

An old photo's on the shores of Abraham lake Alberta

Cracking image that first one.

Ian Stuart Forsyth · 10-10-2015, 10:56 PM

Originally posted by Grimmus

Cracking image that first one.

Thank you

Ian Stuart Forsyth · 10-11-2015, 09:58 PM - **2 Likes**

K20d and the sigma 70-200 F2.8

**wtlwdwgn** · 10-16-2015, 08:09 AM

As I've given my K20D to my daughter and son-in-law I guess I won't be posting here unless they send me some images! I'm going to miss it as I had it from brand new.

ChristianRock · 10-17-2015, 05:38 AM

You can always tell them to join the forums

They might catch LBA though...

**wtlwdwgn** · 10-17-2015, 08:27 AM

I think my son-in-law may have caught the Pentax virus!

dads2vette · 10-19-2015, 10:06 AM

Hey folks. I am a dreaded lurker more than poster...sorry about that. I have a K20d a tripod and 60 acres of land in the middle of no place, AZ. There is zero light pollution, ok, next to zero. I swear I can see the milkyway with my unaided eyes. Please! For the love of all that is holy!!...too, dramatic? Someone tell me what in the heck I am doing wrong when I try to a decent shot. This is what I have: k20d, Tamron 75-300mm 4-5.6, Pentax DA 18-55mm 3.5-5.6, good tripod, lots of time and a dwindling amount of patience for myself. I've heard this isn't the best camera to take "stargazing" shots but I prefer to look at this as a learning experience. If I should buy a new or different lens, suggestions would be welcome. As far as light pollution, closest town has less than 400 people and that's 11 miles away as the crow flies and northern AZ has light pollution restrictions.

Thanks, dave

Damian.T · 10-20-2015, 12:00 AM

I feel for you Dave, I can never get a decent moon photo with my K20 either, not matter what ISO or how many seconds / minutes it's open for!

audiobomber · 10-20-2015, 04:55 AM

Originally posted by Damian.T

I feel for you Dave, I can never get a decent moon photo with my K20 either, not matter what ISO or how many seconds / minutes it's open for!

I've never tried astrophotography, but I don't see why the K20D couldn't do a credible job. I suspect technique may be the root of the trouble, possibly exacerbated by the lens.

I have shot the moon. The shutter is never open for seconds. You need to use spot metering and exposure compensation, or manual exposure to shoot the moon, and good tripod technique (solid stand, remote or timed release, SR off). Set the aperture for maximum sharpness.

K20D, DA*300mm & Kenko 1.5X TC, f8, 1/60s, ISO 100. (I wasn't using Lightroom at the time, this could have been processed better):

Arjay Bee · 10-20-2015, 05:24 AM

K20D 1/100s F8 ISO400, with Novoflex 600mm with Novoflex 2x teleconverter taken with remote controller, 2 sec delay, wooden heavy duty tripod. Processed for contrast but uncropped.

Just by way of contrast same setup two years later with same lens on the K3 but without the teleconverter:

Blood moon 2014

normhead · 10-20-2015, 06:08 AM

Originally posted by Ian Stuart Forsyth

An old photo's on the shores of Abraham lake Alberta

Very cool....

kentster · 10-20-2015, 07:27 AM

K20 and Tammy 18-200

Trey45 · 10-20-2015, 07:28 AM

The moon is a light source and should be shot as one. leaving the shutter open for seconds/minutes is going to wash out the image through extreme overexposure. Try ISO 200, F/5.6, 1/250 sec. Use a tripod and remote shutter.

Damian.T · 10-21-2015, 01:44 AM

As daft as it sounds Trey45, I've never considered it that way before!

10-20-2015, 05:24 AM	#251
Arjay Bee Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Horn Island, Torres Straits, Q Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,715	K20D 1/100s F8 ISO400, with Novoflex 600mm with Novoflex 2x teleconverter taken with remote controller, 2 sec delay, wooden heavy duty tripod. Processed for contrast but uncropped. Just by way of contrast same setup two years later with same lens on the K3 but without the teleconverter: Blood moon 2014 Last edited by Arjay Bee; 10-20-2015 at 05:29 AM.

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10-04-2015, 11:06 PM - 4 Likes	#241
Ian Stuart Forsyth Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Somewhere over the rainbow Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,531	An old photo's on the shores of Abraham lake Alberta

10-10-2015, 12:43 PM	#242
Grimmus Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Newcastle (Aust.) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 348	Originally posted by Ian Stuart Forsyth An old photo's on the shores of Abraham lake Alberta Cracking image that first one.

10-10-2015, 10:56 PM	#243
Ian Stuart Forsyth Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Somewhere over the rainbow Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,531	Originally posted by Grimmus Cracking image that first one. Thank you

10-11-2015, 09:58 PM - 2 Likes	#244
Ian Stuart Forsyth Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Somewhere over the rainbow Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,531	K20d and the sigma 70-200 F2.8

10-16-2015, 08:09 AM	#245
wtlwdwgn Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Billings, MT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,851 Original Poster	As I've given my K20D to my daughter and son-in-law I guess I won't be posting here unless they send me some images! I'm going to miss it as I had it from brand new.

10-17-2015, 05:38 AM	#246
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,910	You can always tell them to join the forums They might catch LBA though...

10-17-2015, 08:27 AM	#247
wtlwdwgn Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Billings, MT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,851 Original Poster	I think my son-in-law may have caught the Pentax virus!

10-19-2015, 10:06 AM	#248
dads2vette New Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 3	Hey folks. I am a dreaded lurker more than poster...sorry about that. I have a K20d a tripod and 60 acres of land in the middle of no place, AZ. There is zero light pollution, ok, next to zero. I swear I can see the milkyway with my unaided eyes. Please! For the love of all that is holy!!...too, dramatic? Someone tell me what in the heck I am doing wrong when I try to a decent shot. This is what I have: k20d, Tamron 75-300mm 4-5.6, Pentax DA 18-55mm 3.5-5.6, good tripod, lots of time and a dwindling amount of patience for myself. I've heard this isn't the best camera to take "stargazing" shots but I prefer to look at this as a learning experience. If I should buy a new or different lens, suggestions would be welcome. As far as light pollution, closest town has less than 400 people and that's 11 miles away as the crow flies and northern AZ has light pollution restrictions. Thanks, dave

10-20-2015, 12:00 AM	#249
Damian.T Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Bolton, next to a large park Posts: 131	I feel for you Dave, I can never get a decent moon photo with my K20 either, not matter what ISO or how many seconds / minutes it's open for!

10-20-2015, 04:55 AM	#250
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by Damian.T I feel for you Dave, I can never get a decent moon photo with my K20 either, not matter what ISO or how many seconds / minutes it's open for! I've never tried astrophotography, but I don't see why the K20D couldn't do a credible job. I suspect technique may be the root of the trouble, possibly exacerbated by the lens. I have shot the moon. The shutter is never open for seconds. You need to use spot metering and exposure compensation, or manual exposure to shoot the moon, and good tripod technique (solid stand, remote or timed release, SR off). Set the aperture for maximum sharpness. K20D, DA*300mm & Kenko 1.5X TC, f8, 1/60s, ISO 100. (I wasn't using Lightroom at the time, this could have been processed better):

10-20-2015, 06:08 AM	#252
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by Ian Stuart Forsyth An old photo's on the shores of Abraham lake Alberta Very cool....

10-20-2015, 07:27 AM	#253
kentster Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Bremerton, Washington Posts: 287	K20 and Tammy 18-200

10-20-2015, 07:28 AM	#254
Trey45 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Dismal Swamp, NC, USA, Earth. Posts: 173	The moon is a light source and should be shot as one. leaving the shutter open for seconds/minutes is going to wash out the image through extreme overexposure. Try ISO 200, F/5.6, 1/250 sec. Use a tripod and remote shutter.

10-21-2015, 01:44 AM	#255
Damian.T Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Bolton, next to a large park Posts: 131	As daft as it sounds Trey45, I've never considered it that way before!