Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
1 Day Ago
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An interesting comparison but I long ago decided just to use them and develop a feeling for each - whether I liked it or not from the feel and the results. I know from my experience that the 1.7 is hard to beat in terms of cost, size and image quality but the 1.4 can also be very good, even wide open.
Given sample variation and precision in focusing a valid comparison is very, very hard to do.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
04-10-2024, 10:50 AM
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Well the only photos I took with my Pentax cameras in March were real estate and ski photos. The real estate ones are nothing special so it's back to skiing, lol.
This is very similar to the previous month's favorite with the same skier and even the same run! Slightly better conditions this March day which ended up being one of the season's best ski days with its mix of sun, fresh snow, and cold temps that kept the snow skiing well. The sparkles in the air were the icing on the cake!
K-3iii & DA 40
I also got some landscapes I liked but with my GFX kit.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
03-05-2024, 01:30 PM
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Another ski shot for February. My friend Josh on a recent powder day at Crested Butte.
My long time jacket I've used to carry my camera had a zipper failure so I used the DA 40 (instead of my usual 20-40) so I could carry it in a different jacket. Worked fine but I wish it was WR for this use.
K-3iii & SMC DA 40 |
Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
04-06-2024, 07:53 PM
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Utterly dismal participation from me (again...) but I kept up with taking photos - and have just this morning uploaded the rest of the month (9th onwards, believe it or don't).
Fave is probably this: Eternity by Occasionally Focused, on Flickr
Though I'm also a fan of a rainbow and the light here on That Tree: Rainbow by Occasionally Focused, on Flickr
Still absolutely loving the lens. Don't know if I have anything more or different to say about it though. As with any lens I've ever put on a camera I'd like closer focus xP ... but realistically there's only so much you can have all at once.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
04-02-2024, 02:52 PM
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Unfortunately March pretty much fell apart. Just too much going on and not enough time. I did try my best to get photos in but when you goto into work at 7:00am and do not get home until 8-9pm it makes it really hard.I have decided to take April off. I have already missed two days. Now about that FA 20 2.8. Once again I had a lens that caught me off guard. For the size and weight of the FA 20 2.8 you really cannot fault it. It is sharp in the center at F2.8, no problem. From F6.3 on it is just sharp everywhere. The sweet spot seems to be F6.3-F8. I do not regret buying this lens and I definitely can see if getting more use. I will say that 20mm on FF is a bit interesting. At times it seems to wide and other times not wide enough. I found myself taking a lot more steps forward and backwards with this lens. That may be the reason I enjoyed the Tamron 17-35 so much back in February. I will add that I never tired of shooting with the FA 20. On the K-1 it was just nothing but a joy to use. I never tried it on the K-3 simply because I have a DA 21 Limited.
A few from my short month. |
Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
03-31-2024, 04:24 PM
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A decent month with the K-120mm. This lens has a long focus throw (~330°), and can sometimes be a challenge going from close focus to long distance in a hurry. Better planning from the user helps with this.
Other than that, this is a gem of a lens to play around with...back in the cabinet for now.
Some samples from the month: Setting by David Riggs, on Flickr Bridge by David Riggs, on Flickr Foggy morning 1 by David Riggs, on Flickr Sparkling yard by David Riggs, on Flickr
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
03-31-2024, 10:43 AM
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I had a great month with the HD DFA 100/2.8 macro. The focal length suits me well and the lens performance is great. I like the wide-open sharpnes - not 'clinical' but enough to feel comfortable with it. The only downside would be focus hunting - at times the lens can go along its whole range in search for focus. Otherwise - a very pleasant to use. Some of my faves are below. Thank you all for your kind company this month. |
Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
03-31-2024, 04:20 AM
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Yes very hard but ... I think you had a great time ;) ---------- Post added 03-31-24 at 01:25 PM ----------
Looking at your photos I do not doubt the quality and versatility of this magnificent lens, a long time ago I would have really liked to try this lens but I am a 50mm or larger lens.
Good job this month! ---------- Post added 03-31-24 at 02:13 PM ---------- Well, this is the end.
I have to say that it has been years since I did this monthly challenge and I have felt comfortable and not very forced to shoot. 100mm is a focal length similar to the 85mm, which is the one I use the most (canon FD 85mm f1.8), with the penalty of a considerably slower iris but with the advantages of macro (although it is not 1:1).
The plastic condition and the slow focus are not a problem for me, I use it manually, that and its low weight (220 gr.) makes it a portable and fun lens.
The image quality is sufficient for me but it has something that I don't like at all, which is that vignetting in the form of a lateral linear gradient in some photos with strong frontal light.
Even so, the lens has passed the test and I will not sell it.
I haven't taken so many photos since before the pandemic, my wife and this challenge have helped me pick up the camera again and have a good time. Now I will play with my new toy (xiaomi 14 ultra) and I will be back another month. DSC03428 - Single in March 24 by Michi Joel, en Flickr DSC03493 - Single in March 24 by Michi Joel, en Flickr DSC03652 - Single in March - Pentaxforums by Michi Joel, en Flickr DSC04053 - Single in March - Pentaxforums by Michi Joel, en Flickr DSC03925 - Single in March - Pentaxforums by Michi Joel, en Flickr DSC03757 - Single in March - Pentaxforums by Michi Joel, en Flickr DSC03995 - Single in March - Pentaxforums by Michi Joel, en Flickr DSC04069 - Single in March - Pentaxforums by Michi Joel, en Flickr
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
03-30-2024, 11:48 PM
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Well a month is finally done with one of the hardest lenses I have had to use for the challenge. When I started Sandy warned me it would feel like a long month and he was right. The limitations of a narrow focus range and central focus point were a bit challenging. Anyway I still made it through and am happy with some of the shots. Kenworth Close by Gary Wakeling, on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2pFxkoK][img]https://live.sta egg swirl by Gary Wakeling, on Flickr eh su close by Gary Wakeling, on Flickr
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
03-29-2024, 05:39 AM
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As I am leaving today for holidays and take only film camera with me, I posted last march photo. And my summary of the month... same as always :D 20-40 is great everyday lens. Really, I think it is best DA limited that Pentax created. Not too big for a zoom, great IQ, well, great everything.
As for photos, I think I like those below most. See you all in may, when I post my scanned film ;) |
Forum: Lens Clubs
03-25-2024, 09:50 AM
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
03-19-2024, 08:34 AM
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@iheiramo—I'm sorry for not replying; I did not see your post. You're welcome and thanks for your response!
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Forum: Lens Clubs
03-17-2024, 03:30 PM
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Wochenmarkt by Jason Doss
Pentax K-1 mII and Pentax-M 35mm f2.0 at f5.6, 1/350s, and ISO 400 ---------- Post added 17th Mar 2024 at 16:31 ---------- Statue by Jason Doss
Pentax K-1 mII and Pentax-M 200mm f4.0 at f8.0, 1/125s, and ISO 560
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
03-17-2024, 01:19 AM
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it is part of the GFX maneuver....
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
03-15-2024, 05:58 AM
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HD DFA 100/2.8 macro - a fantastic lens, sharp with a nice bokeh; the focal length suits me well and a macro feature is incredible. The only downside I can think of is the focus hunting - sometimes it can go all the way to 1:1 searching for focus. Another vote for K3-3 with a focus limiter ;)
Apart from that - a fantastic lens. Very pleasant to use.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
03-15-2024, 05:48 AM
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yep - it was mentioned above.....
mid-month check-in!
the SMC A 645 55mm f2.8 is just a wondrous lens - wholly competent, easy to use.... great glass is just that: great glass...
what's happened here though is my own fault - I rented a Fuji GFX 50S II and became smitten with it - so I'm in the process of selling three camera bodies, seven lenses, and various bits to accommodate buying one camera body....
that process, however, leaves me with no camera body to complete the month with the A645/55, so I'll be finishing the month with the F-E-T 17mm f4
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
03-15-2024, 03:44 AM
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It would have to be in the summer when we have better weather. The lens certainly is small enough to take pretty much anywhere.
I may give it a shot this summer. Sure would be a change from all these wide angles.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
03-14-2024, 05:13 PM
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For inspecting photographs, I really like FastRawViewer. It is very fast indeed, allows to quickly switch between raw, embedded JPEG and external JPEG views, can display the degree of raw over and (configurable) under-exposure, show highlights or shadows, apply exposure correction etc. - everything to check the quality before editing, or to be happy with JPEGs. File operations (move, rename, copy ...) work on both JPEG and RAW combined, including sidecar files. I use it as a 2nd stage in my workflow, after the tool that copies files from cards into my "sorting" area, keeping track of already copied ones and saving a backup copy to the NAS and before importing the keepers. I like FastRawViewer so much that I actually use it under Linux via Wine (a Windows compatibility layer), even if it comes with a little usability penalty on the file dialogs.
To view JPEGs and create albums on Windows, we're still using Picasa, but it is now somewhat of a secondary cataloging solution. I primarily use Darktable. Luckily they nicely co-exist, as long as you take care of the new location in the other catalog when moving stuff around.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
03-14-2024, 07:00 PM
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So this showed up today. I have wanted a copy of this lens for more years than I care to admit to. I had an A* 300 F4 back on my Super Program. Unfortunately I sold most of my film gear towards the end of the film era figuring I would never use any of it again. This one popped up on Ebay for a good price and in decent shape. It has both caps and even has the tripod foot. Glass is clean and clear of any haze or fungus. Overall it is decent shape for a lens that has not been made since 1991. I was taken back by the size. I really was expecting something larger. This is easily a handheld lens. It is smaller than my DA*60-25 and not much bigger than the DA*50-135. I hope the weather is decent enough this weekend to get out with it.
Pentax F- 300mm 4.5 ED[IF]-1 by Michael, on Flickr
I have serious doubts I could ever do a Single with a 300mm prime though.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
03-09-2024, 05:52 AM
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a couple of days in and, yeah, I want one....
roughly the same size and a smidge lighter than a K-1, a MF sensor with all the juicy things that Fuji does to color science.... I'm completely smitten....
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
03-08-2024, 03:58 AM
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My shot from 6th hit explore: |
Forum: Lens Clubs
03-06-2024, 03:36 AM
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