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meet at 10:30 AM.

For details go back up a few messages

Start charging your batteries.
Put a card in the camera.
In the morning as you are leaving, "test" your camera to see if you remembered to put both items in it (I do this every time out).

Bring your camera.

Charged 'em last nite! I'm ready!

Hi everyone,
That was a really nice time this morning. I enjoyed seeing everyone's gear and I learned a lot. Here are a few photos. I stuck with the soft focus lense, so they are a little abstract.



A special thanks to Special K for the tour of the Huntington Gardens. I look forward to doing that again!
Kindest regards,
Ethan

I had a great time, too! Haven't been there in many years and didn't appreciate it when I was there. Now I want to return and see all the things i missed today. The 100 WR macro gave me pause, as did the DA 18-135 - thanks for bringing them. We have got to get together again sometime, that was worth the drive.

Hardly a tour - more like..."let's go over there". Too bad we missed most of the Chinese activities.













Looking forward to seeing Larry's group shots.

It was fun meeting with the local California Pentax Users, I had a great time.
We met outside the Huntington Library on World Pentax Day, and it so happened to fall on the weekend the Huntington was celebrating Chinese New Years, so there was plenty to see as you can tell from the pictures above.
Forum members in attendance included Ethan (Harmonica2), Kyle (Special K), Harriet (mtngal), Ruben (Roob-N-Boots), Chuck (Chuckp8) and myself Larry (Crewl1) along with Dan (mtngal's hubby.)
On my way out that afternoon I ran into another Pentax user Zachary who didn't know about the meetup but wants to join us for the next one.
One of the highlights of the day was getting to see and try out other lenses that folks brought to share.
Between the group we had pretty much the full line of DA*, Limiteds (both DA and FA), F, and some manual film era lenses.
One of the coolest ones I tried was Ethan's 85soft as well as his 70LTD , along with a few others like Ruben's F28, Kyle's Tammy 70-200, Harriet's FA31 and 77 (wow!) and Chuck's 43 and 60-250.
Thanks everyone for bringing them out, now my LBA is bubbling up again
After posing for our group photo I had a great time seeing the Huntington as it was my first visit, and along with the Chinese New Year activities made for a great World Pentax Day.
I look forward to the next one, hope more of you/us can make it!
Group with DA21

Group with FA31

Group with DA10-17FE

Chuck

Harriet

Kyle

Watercolor painting

Dragon dancers

Tai Chi demo

Detail of ancient Chinese mirror

You all are way too fast and I love the pictures that have been posted so far, I haven't really gone through my pictures yet. I know what you mean about LBA - I really like the 100 WR Macro. It's the last thing I need, but it really is nice handling.

Here are three and a crop of one that perhaps you would find interesting.





slightly cropped:



and cropped a lot:

It was a treat to meet everyone, if only for a few minutes. I do like the idea of more destination photography field trips... and I love the pics posted so far.

Here are some of my shots from the day. I really like to desaturate, so several shots below are faded on purpose.

The LA Pentaxians...








From the gardens...






... but of course, my favorite shot that I took on World Pentax Day was of my beautiful girls...



Thanks again to everyone who was able to meet up and I look forward to next time!

Cheers,
Chuck P.

A couple from the garden:

Palm Garden:



Chinese Garden:



Taken with the DFA 100WR Macro - that is ONE sweet lens, love the bokeh. Makes my LBA really act up, would LOVE to own this lens!



On the other hand, my Vivitar Series One 105 Macro is no slouch:



Thanks for suggesting a great location, one that we'll return to again (too much to see and do for one morning). And I'll always be up for another trip somewhere else just as photographic.

Cool shots Harriet! (I sent you a PM, let me know if you got it.)
Larry

Got it and answered it, now that I have the info. Annoying when work gets in the way of my hobby...

Wow! Great photos!
How I really wish I was there.
Looks like you all had a great time.
I hope I will be available for the next one 'coz I also want to meet you guys.
It looked like it was a very successful meet-up and successful Pentax day for the California group!
Congratulations to everyone!

No sign of the OP, alelynh...

Wow looks like it was a great day, I just saw the thread.......I hope there are many more of these meet ups...I will be alert this time.....it is good to know there are more Pentax users close to share and learn...cheers everyone!!!!
PS
Whoever organize the next one please let me know.