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Forum: Lens Clubs 08-05-2021, 01:56 PM  
Theory on DA 35mm ltd 'greatest lens ever' (?) tag
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 865
Views: 228,684
A few shots from this spring, using the HD DA 35mm on an adapter with aperture control with the Olympus OM-D EM-5 mark iii. Mostly more or less wide-open. This lens works very well for this usage, though I've also picked up a Panasonic 30mm f2.8 macro for the convenience of AF and usually use that for work.

The Olympus has proved ideal for work use (as an ecologist who takes notes mainly with my camera, sometimes in rough weather conditions, and does a lot of video work for public outreach), but for photography on personal time the 20mp 4/3 sensor really just isn't satisfying even compared to the old K-5 sensor. The reproduction of tonality and color is inferior, and in particular I can rarely get greens to look "right" to me. Most of my subjects are mostly green. So while I let my Pentax gear sit on the shelf for a while to give the Olympus a fair shake, I'm definitely going back to the Pentax for personal projects, probably bringing along the Olympus for telephoto and video- if Pentax ever comes out with a camera that can do video reasonably well, I'd be able to think about ditching the Olympus, but it's been a game-changer on that front.

P4170239 by rootshaveapulse, on Flickr

P4170339 by rootshaveapulse, on Flickr

P4170062 by rootshaveapulse, on Flickr

P4170131 by rootshaveapulse, on Flickr

P4280188 by rootshaveapulse, on Flickr
Forum: Lens Clubs 04-08-2021, 09:40 AM  
Theory on DA 35mm ltd 'greatest lens ever' (?) tag
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 865
Views: 228,684
I've left and come back (or usually just partially left) many times- trying out different systems and lenses is something I enjoy, and usually manage to trade sideways by buying and selling used without having to spend much money (this is the second K-5 I've owned). For a while I was even using an M 50mm f4 macro with an adapter on a Nikon V1 (also tried it on Pentax Q but the crop was just too much). I think the 35 Ltd will do very nicely on m4/3, and so will the M 50mm f1.7 I've had since at least 2008. Ironically, I've always used the M 50 with an old rubber Olympus OM 85mm f2 lens hood (also a nice fit on the F 35-70) left over from my film days- in which I had a Pentax K1000 and Olympus OM-2. So, really this is the continuation of a long dual love I've had for both Pentax and Olympus OM cameras.

No doubt there'll be some nice results from the 35 Ltd on m4/3 to share in this thread. I certainly don't expect the 12-45mm zoom to render as beautifully as the 35, but I do expect it to be a very practical lens for my needs. I put in a lot of mileage on foot, so the small size is important, and have increasingly been shooting video for projects at work. And optically it does seem a lot better than standard zooms available for Pentax and other APS-C systems- I think this is the kind of thing where the smaller 4/3 format really has its strengths.
Forum: Lens Clubs 04-08-2021, 08:15 AM  
Theory on DA 35mm ltd 'greatest lens ever' (?) tag
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 865
Views: 228,684
Agreed that flowers always looks great with this lens. As a botanist in the field this lens has been living on my K-5 95% of the time- perfect focal length, even if almost every review of macro lenses in this range seems obliged to suggest it's an awkward focal length for macro usage. We're not all shooting flighty bugs- for my work the extra context and depth of field make 30-35mm perfect, 50mm a decent compromise and 100mm a bit longer than ideal.

Unfortunately something's gone wrong with the quick-shift clutch in my lens. Maybe I was just too assertive with it, or maybe it got knocked against something the wrong way. Autofocus is essentially not working with my K-5, which is having no trouble with other lenses. Mounted on the camera with the camera off, it behaves strangely- you can turn the focus ring to extend the helicoid, but it refuses to turn back in the other direction. While the camera is on and struggling to make it turn, if I turn the ring manually the clutch will catch and let it autofocus. All around not an ideal way to work.

I was considering looking into repair options (which would cost more than the great deal I got on the lens in the first place) when I noticed that Olympus has finally made the standard zoom I've always wanted in their new 12-45mm f4, which achieves 1:2 near-macro at all focal lengths, is WR, tiny, and optically impeccable. The new 20mp 4/3 sensors are also at last completely adequate with a much better noise floor than their earlier sensors. So I've ordered the OM-D E-M5 iii with the 12-45 f4. I can sell my K-5 and other lenses. But what to do with this beautiful little HD DA 35 Ltd with faulty autofocus?

Inevitably, I would want a macro prime to use with the Olympus. Their 60mm f2.8 looks great, but is longer on 4/3 than I'd prefer. Their 30mm f3.5 checks the right boxes but honestly seems a little boring from the samples I've looked through- nothing distinctive about its rendering. There's a Panasonic 45mm that looks nice, but is expensive. So for the time being, I also have a Pentax K to micro 4/3 adapter with aperture control on the way. I look forward to seeing how this lens does on the Olympus. In the meantime, here's a nice shot from this past summer- cropped to the equivalent area of a micro 4/3 sensor.
Forum: General Photography 12-17-2020, 08:22 AM  
In the pocket carry around camera.
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 54
Views: 3,983
Ha! That's refreshing. I'd have been open to any attempt on Normhead's part to explain what he apparently really meant, but I guess it can remain one of those eternal mysteries that keeps life spicy.
Forum: General Photography 12-15-2020, 10:50 AM  
In the pocket carry around camera.
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 54
Views: 3,983
Yes, I think my reply made it clear that the answer to your first to question was "no."

I've bought and tried a lot of lenses and figured out enough about what makes some of them keepers for me, and others not so much, as well as how that relates to qualified information from other observers, to be able to bring a little more to it than "blah blah blah." I don't formally test, but I do shoot hundreds of frames per day for much of the year. As far as confirming my biases- if the gear gives me what I'm looking for, that's the point, right? If not, it gets sold and I try something else. Sometimes I'm surprised by what does or doesn't work best for me, but trial and error yields some insights so by now I have a better idea than not as to what I'm looking for before I buy. That is the basis of my recommendations in this thread asking for other users' recommendations.

Is your bias that no one can learn anything by experience that would be more useful to them than a random poll of other people who may have totally different needs and preferences?
Forum: General Photography 12-15-2020, 10:02 AM  
In the pocket carry around camera.
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 54
Views: 3,983
I know what I see is not necessarily what others see, but if I'm buying gear for me, what I see is what matters. The democratic approach is not the approach I would use here, especially when I review things like what images get the most votes in our regular contests.

The GR lens has a distinctive rendering. So does the 31mm limited. Not everyone in a particular poll (especially if it's a controlled test-shot comparison, which may not highlight the lens's strengths or how they might apply to the user's intended real-world subjects) is going to select the 31mm as providing the best images, as it does have its technical flaws. Not all users are looking for or even sensitive to those differences in rendering, and those differences aren't relevant or even beneficial for every shooting situation. I'd value one thorough review by a perceptive observer (like this one: Guest Review: Pentax SMC FA 31mm f1.8 Limited - phillipreeve.net) over a hundred blind polls.
Forum: General Photography 12-15-2020, 08:57 AM  
We've all seen it, we all knew it happens.
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 61
Views: 4,052
I agree with those sentiments entirely. I put myself at a lot less risk in the backcountry now than I did when I was young and relatively unattached, though I'm glad that I had some of those experiences at the edge of death when I was younger. Because of them I'm better equipped to keep myself safe in some of the high-risk environments my work puts me in.

Reading about the guy at Crater Lake yelling expletives at the rescuers obviously sounds ridiculous- but then I think to the emotional memory of my first time being stuck in a situation where I experienced absolute mortal terror like that. I can see how that sensation could stimulate someone who was raised to be a bit more entitled or attached to their pride to behave in such a seemingly ridiculous way towards his rescuers. I'd hope that after it was all over and that guy came down from that terror that fills your body the experience would impart some humility. Those experiences certainly did for me, though my drive was always simply to explore the wild landscape, with no need (or opportunity, back then) to impress via social media. Maybe they'd have a different effect on someone more attention-driven. I was also never in a position to be rescued- it was calm yourself down and calculate your risks, or surrender to gravity.
Forum: General Photography 12-14-2020, 10:25 AM  
We've all seen it, we all knew it happens.
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 61
Views: 4,052
At the other end of NY state, one of my most frequent haunts is a gorge called Zoar Valley, which is pretty notorious for people falling off cliffs and dying, usually once or twice a year.

Marked trails? No such thing there really except in a couple limited areas. Always have to treat wild landscapes with respect, and even then accidents still happen to the most capable and skilled outdoorspeople. For the general public there's often a mismatch between the appeal of these places (especially now with endless instagram selfies) and an awareness of their risks and how to navigate them safely.

I find myself less and less inclined to think or say snarky things about the victims. We are fragile humans on a naturally hazardous planet, we can all think we're too smart to get hurt until suddenly we discover otherwise.
Forum: General Photography 11-25-2020, 05:36 PM  
In the pocket carry around camera.
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 54
Views: 3,983
I have to disagree! I consistently think images from the Ricoh GR series look better than those from the fixed-lens 28mm equivalent Fujis (and that one Nikon). It really just does have a singularly excellent lens with a unique visual signature. I really enjoyed having one for a bit, my problem with ownership of any of these large-sensor fixed lens cameras is the high ratio of purchase cost to what you lose when the lens motor, shutter, or some other component dies and bricks the camera. Fatal lens motor problems in the GR and GR II become much more common after about 11k shots based on at least one (admittedly small) poll. Busier times of year I can fire that many frames in a couple weeks, so I've finally resigned myself to living with DSLRs for the time being after all.

The pocket camera that leaves me with is the Panasonic LX3, which I bought last year, and would still recommend- even over the LX5 and LX7. The latter cameras have faster operation, slightly faster lenses and more bells and whistles, but the LX3 lens is crisper and its RAW files at base ISO more pleasant and detailed to my eye. For something like $60 on ebay I think it's hard to beat the value. The Ricoh GXR with S10 unit is optically its equal or a bit better and better-featured with much more flexible RAW files, but is about twice as bulky.
Forum: General Photography 11-16-2020, 12:36 PM  
Roger Cicala: why I don't use an MTF bench to test my own lenses
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 36
Views: 2,421
Having read through many formal and informal lens tests, when my DA 14mm arrived I was well-prepared to go out and shoot with it in a way that would compensate for its strong field curvature. When not adjusted for, that field curvature can absolutely ruin shots. A lot of user reviews of the lens suggest it has poor corner/edge sharpness, which is simply not the case when used in a way that controls for that field curvature. I'd call this a case where the lens would have a better reputation if more users were reading controlled technical tests to understand the lens's characteristics in order to get the best out of it.

Having that kind of information to work with before committing limited funds to a piece of glass is valuable, "true artistry" aside- because no, the applications for which I take photographs cannot be served by the broken bottom of a coke bottle. Photography is sometimes an art, sometimes a tool, and sometimes both.
Forum: Pentax Medium Format 11-15-2020, 06:22 PM  
CCD Advantage??
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 22
Views: 3,111
I've come to think the differences may have more to do with the bayer filters than CCD vs CMOS technology specifically. Having only ever shot RAW, I definitely see differences in how pretty much every camera I've used renders color, including shooting the same lenses across K10D, K20D, K-x, K-5, and K-3 ii.

The profile BigMackCam developed to make the K-3 look closer to the K10D also needs tweaking to produce similar results with files from other CMOS cameras, again suggesting this varies sensor to sensor (or filter array) and not just between the two technologies.

(And BigMackCam, thanks- my default LR profiles are based on your original CCD-mimic profile)
Forum: Video Recording and Processing 11-06-2020, 05:28 PM  
Wooooot,... 4K !!!
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 94
Views: 10,198
My understanding is that it does. I intend to replace my K-5 with a K-5 IIs eventually for the lack of AA filter and lower-light AF.
Forum: Video Recording and Processing 11-06-2020, 12:17 PM  
Wooooot,... 4K !!!
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 94
Views: 10,198
The K-5 series does have mechanical SR in video, I bought my current K-5 specifically for that and the uncompressed footage. I use it regularly, it does affect the audio unless you plug in an external mic, but otherwise it works pretty well.
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests 11-02-2020, 06:53 PM  
Sunrise on sleeping Dragon
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 12
Views: 398
This image has that little something extra, and I like the unconventional crop.
Forum: Ricoh GR 10-29-2020, 09:18 AM  
GR Secret Technique: Wide-Angle Macro with Daytime Flash
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 2
Views: 1,298
The 10-17mm focuses a lot closer than the 15mm and I was using that for a while. I just didn't really like the way it handled color and microcontrast (something the GR lenses excel at). The challenge with a DSLR is using flash and high shutter speed at the same time- I haven't had one of the flashes with HSS but that would probably work.
Forum: Video Recording and Processing 10-29-2020, 09:16 AM  
Forest Ecology video made with K-5
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 10
Views: 15,224
Thanks everyone.



The bird in the background is a raven. They've only returned to the area in the last decade or so, along with the eagles. I was lucky that one flew over when there wasn't an airplane going overhead- I had to stop and wait for planes to fade into the distance many times, or just sub out audio from some clips to go with the best visual clips. The bit with the raven is one of those cases.

So far the M 50 is my favorite to shoot video with. I also shot a bit with the 10-17mm for another project which was very interesting, and definitely a challenge.
Forum: Ricoh GR 10-28-2020, 03:51 PM  
GR Secret Technique: Wide-Angle Macro with Daytime Flash
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 2
Views: 1,298
Vitis aestivalis, Niagara Gorge by rootshaveapulse, on Flickr
For all the love the GR series get for street shooting or a go-anywhere pocket camera, there are other styles of shooting for which these little cameras may be among the best solutions on the market. I photograph plants- often small plants, at that, and I like to present them in their physical context. At the same time, I don't want them to visually disappear against a busy backdrop. So, I need to focus close, frame wide, and have some means of isolating the subject.
Liatris cylindracea, Niagara Gorge by rootshaveapulse, on Flickr
With its impressively short close-focus distance for an APS-C camera when equipped with the wide-angle adapter, the GRs are a stealth entry in the "Wide-Angle Macro" category. I'm hard-pressed to think of a similar setup that doesn't get a bit crazy on size and weight, or even cost, with the Laowa 15mm macro really the only near-equivalent- focusing a bit closer, but strictly manual, not cheap, and large.
Solanum sp, Niagara Gorge by rootshaveapulse, on Flickr
The GRs in this setup can offer some DOF isolation for very closeup subjects, but this is not always ideal. And with slightly larger subjects (often things like wispy grasses) DOF isolation is not possible and the subject is easily lost against the background. Here, the leaf-shutter of the GR cameras makes the difference, enabling very high flash sync speeds. Lighting up the foreground and using a high shutter speed to underexpose the background increases the visual distinction, so that even those delicate grasses can stand out against a complex scene on a sunny day. The GR III is probably best at this, since on the GRII and presumably GR as well there's little control over flash intensity- and you will want an external flash. I used the AF200. Using the GR II, I usually had to stop down just a little more than preferred to avoid blowing out the foreground (internal ND on, of course).
Panicum virgatum, Niagara Gorge by rootshaveapulse, on Flickr
I found this a fun technique to work with. It's not suited to every subject and can be tricky to compose correctly to make it look good, but I like it. I no longer have a GR and hope I can use a similar technique with my K-5 and soon-to-arrive DA 14, but of course that doesn't focus quite as close and it's a much larger setup to carry around.
Elymus trachycaulus ssp. glaucus, Niagara Gorge by rootshaveapulse, on Flickr
All photos of interesting species of plants in the Niagara River Gorge at Whirlpool State Park in NY, just downstream of Niagara Falls. The unique habitat and geology of the Niagara Gorge results in a unique array of flora, including many rare and endangered plant species. One of the projects I'm involved in at work focuses on habitat restoration that will ensure the future of these species in the gorge, where aggressive invasive species have started to take over and crowd out habitats.
Solidago juncea, Niagara Gorge by rootshaveapulse, on Flickr
Solidago ptarmicoides, Niagara Gorge by rootshaveapulse, on Flickr
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests 10-28-2020, 10:02 AM  
A Luna Moth Comes to Rest
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 3
Views: 295
I met this Luna Moth (Actias luna) deep in a rich, biodiverse swamp habitat in western NY state. It was clinging to vegetation on a low hummock and unwilling to move, even when picked up. Presumably, this moth had fulfilled its life cycle and had found a place to take its final rest and rejoin the cycle of death and rebirth.
Forum: Ricoh GR 10-28-2020, 09:28 AM  
Ricoh GR Hands-on and Lots of Photos...
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 855
Views: 224,283
I've come to believe the GR + WA adapter is one of the very best Wide Angle-Macro options on the market (no doubt even a touch better with the GR iii). As a botanist who's always striving to portray very small subjects within their habitat context I really loved this combo. I shot these with the GR ii + adapter. I couldn't stomach the thought of this pricey combo suddenly becoming worthless due to the eventual lens motor failure so next I'll see how the DA 14mm does as a stand-in, but I'm sure it won't quite match the GR performance, and is of course much bigger and heavier.

Campanula rotundifolia by rootshaveapulse, on Flickr

Carex aurea, Niagara Gorge by rootshaveapulse, on Flickr
Forum: Video Recording and Processing 10-28-2020, 08:00 AM  
Forest Ecology video made with K-5
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 10
Views: 15,224
I've been producing short videos for the conservation organization I work for over the last year. At first I was shooting with a lower-end olympus mirrorless with decent results, but I really wanted to work with my Pentax lenses and when Andrew Reid over at EOSHD noted that the K-5 might produce the nicest 1080p you can get in a cheap used body other than the Panasonic GH2 I picked up another K-5 without hesitation.

I'm still getting the hand of how to get the best results from it. It's certainly best on a tripod but the SR does respectably for handheld shots, and a cheap shotgun mic improved the audio though it's still not great. A fluid head for the tripod is definitely on my shopping list- panning up trees is something I'm bound to keep doing for similar videos in the future. The footage is great, though. This video is the first I've made exclusively with the K-5, as part of our fundraising to protect a special forest site. Lenses used were the M 50mm f1.7, F 50mm f2.8 macro, and DA 50-200mm. Edited in Filmora.
















You Tube



Forum: Video Recording and Processing 10-27-2020, 04:04 PM  
Wooooot,... 4K !!!
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 94
Views: 10,198
If it goes back to mechanical stabilization like the K-5 that'd be great. I've been getting some good use out of my K-5 for video lately, some of the nicest 1080p you can get at today's used prices, and the SR doesn't work miracles but it really does help. Between the compression and digital SR I wouldn't want to shoot video on any of the later models.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 08-20-2020, 04:57 AM  
New Flagship from Pentax??
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 25
Views: 3,144
Of course. Most AA batteries available in 2089 are nuclear powered. No problem.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 08-15-2020, 08:13 AM  
New Flagship from Pentax??
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 25
Views: 3,144
In 2089 it will be very important for new cameras to have fixed LCD screens. I mean, we can live with articulating screens, but think of all the advantages you're missing out on without a fixed screen.
Forum: Sold Items 07-30-2020, 11:51 AM  
For Sale - Sold: DA 35mm Ltd
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 7
Views: 1,590
Lens is still available, feel free to PM.
Forum: Sold Items 07-29-2020, 11:20 AM  
For Sale - Sold: DA 35mm Ltd
Posted By er1kksen
Replies: 7
Views: 1,590
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