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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-27-2020, 09:15 AM
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Is it necessary to make fun of members opinions? I fail to see the wisdom in mocking members. It's not cool. I'm sure you didn't intend any malice, but it doesn't come across that way. Let's just respect one another's opinions without descending into mockery. Thanks. Graham
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
09-02-2020, 10:32 AM
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Forum: Lens Clubs
08-29-2020, 09:10 PM
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I like the image. Thanks for posting it!
Your image was just the nudge I needed to run the last Polyphemus related stack I took in May.
As I walked by our river birch I saw a piece of bark that looked a bit big. Closer inspection revealed this moth. I took a few stacks, and only got one that was usable. Her movements, though not visible to me, were enough to make editing the stack a long tedious process. I did not disturb her for the wing shot as I thought she was pumping up her wings. You can see the one is quite wrinkled. It may not have inflated properly, as I found when I edited the image that she previously laid eggs. I tried after dark for a couple of stacks with flash, but she was more active, and was unable to assemble an image. I wound up using the images to make a flickering video of her movements.
The next morning she was gone, so I took stacks of her eggs. The two egg images are from two different stacks. The last stack I enlarged 200% and sharpened to show detail of the eggs. It is 3200x1800 at 200%, posted here at 1600x pixels.
All images taken with the K-1. The moth image was taken at 200mm. The two image stacks of the eggs were taken with a Zongyi Freewalker Series 20mm F2.0 4-4.5x Super Macro. Our database has it listed as a Mitakon brand, but it is the same lens. It is a totally manual lens. I did not record aperture and magnification data. They recommend F2 for best detail, and not to go beyond f8, even though one can go to f16. When I picked it up a few minutes ago, the aperture is set at f5.6, well into diffraction territory. The trade-off is that I am unable to advance in small enough increments manually at F2 to make a decent stack, so I live with some diffraction. The aperture is clickless. It's basically an inexpensive microscope lens for your camera. A Nikon Plan Acromat microscope objective adapted for work with a Pentax lens can cost twice as much.
Polyphemus Moth with Eggs
Polyphemus Moth Eggs
Polyphemus Moth Egg Detail |
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
08-25-2020, 04:41 PM
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Fwiw.... every group of people sitting around a camp fire mostly talk drivel... but it is a thing people like doing.... even when they are not cold. May I kindly also suggest..... that this need to close threads based upon some judgement that nothing new is being added be reconsidered a bit.... assuming there is no nastyness.... let people just chat a bit....
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
08-25-2020, 11:53 AM
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I'm going to post one last time and then I'm out for a while from the forum. I'm saddened by the tone of the posts from many who say that they are saddened by the brand bashing. Stating how important a flippy screen or tilting screen is to you is not brand bashing - it's also clearly a feature in quite a few "flagship bodies INCLUDING the K1. The right way to respond to those who are upset about it is to either ignore them or state your thoughts about how to influence the future of Pentax bodies. The wrong way is to belittle and make small those who say they want such a feature. My other brand cameras all have flip or tilt screens - until I had one, I didn't see the reason for it. Now I have some regret that my K-3 does not and the KP - despite the lack of some features - is very appealing to me for this reason. However the Knew is also quite appealing and I'm sad that Pentax(Ricoh) has put me in this position when the addition of the screen would have solved this for me.
Read your own replies in the thread and ask yourself - did I treat that person with respect and dignity or did I make them feel small and stupid. If the latter is true - your the problem and I wish you would find a way to make your point without taking other people down a notch.
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
08-13-2020, 07:35 AM
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I have a live in Sherpa for carrying much of what I take on hikes. I leave the heavy lenses at the campsite, so rather than the D FA*50/1.4, I go with the A50/1.2 or A 50/1.4. instead of the D FA* 85/1.4 I take the 77LTD, that sort of thing.
It makes it easier on said Sherpa. I use a Feisol Traveler tripod, which seems rigid enough and is pretty light.
Here's a picture of the previous Sherpa loaded up and ready to go. The present Sherpa looks pretty much the same.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-28-2020, 04:24 AM
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As I just said: "proof by analogy is fraud".
The Nokia analogy isn't more valid than the Kodak one (people often being clueless about what Kodak did, I wonder about Nokia, too...). Pentax isn't a market leader failing to transition towards a disruptive technology; mirrorless cameras don't add the kind of capabilities and versatility to a standard phone, as the smartphone did. We're talking about a small player trying to make DSLRs into a comfortable niche, while the alternative - the mirrorless market - being extremely crowded and difficult to compete on.
But those invalid analogies make us better understand what's the main danger Pentax is facing: propaganda.
People are and will be told how DSLRs will surely die (insert more fake analogies, film vs digital, horse drawn carriage vs modern car), by actors playing with people's emotions to make them fear being left "behind". Can Pentax overcome this, and advertise the advantages of a SLR?
Can they make the SLR cool?
I would rather see at least one camera maker serving the needs of those who want a DSLR.
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Forum: General Photography
07-26-2020, 03:11 PM
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I shoot a fair amount of landscape and while a spectacular lens might be useful, one can do very credible work with lenses that are fairly ordinary. In order of priority, the ingredients for a good landscape photo might be listed as follows:- Subject...A compelling subject makes things easy and being within distance to shoot is prerequisite. Being there and being there with a camera is how one gets photos.
- Vision...The art of seeing what you wish to capture helps you address the (hopefully) compelling subject. Don't give up with just one shot. Do what you can to creatively exhaust the subject in terms of composition and perspectives.
- Light...Bad light or the wrong light can defeat even the most expansive vision applied to even the most compelling subject. If the light is dull, then one is limited to a subdued treatment. Much as we try, it is hard to add contrast or color in PP when the original light does not support either. Don't ignore the beginning and end of day, those times bring treasure.
- Gear...Good gear is helpful as might be focal lengths to support one's vision. While it is nice to have a wide angle for landscape (18mm for APS-C should cover most cases), some subjects require a narrower field of view, sometimes a lot narrower. A good tripod is pretty much essential. Learning to use one is a bit of an art in itself, but something worth mastering. Megapixels? Format? I do most of my work with a K-3 (24Mpx APS-C), but also shoot 35mm film scanned to the equivalent of about ~26Mpx (depending on film). I would probably be happy at 16Mpx and shot for about seven years withe the 10Mpx K10D. They all work.
Back to lenses and focal lengths. The image below was shot at 35mm with my walkaround zoom. It was explored on Flickr and is one of my favorite shots. It was shot from an established trail-served viewpoint in the Columbia River Gorge. DPR did several shots from the same point in their review of Pixel Shift on the K-3II, but I like my version better.
Pentax K-3, Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.0 (C)
The next shot was made with the same lens, but at 70mm from the side of Steptoe Butte in the Palouse Hills of Eastern Washington. I was shooting from near the top the day before at 200mm. This one was also explored on Flickr.
Pentax K-3, Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.0 (C)
The day before, the next photo would have been impossible; all the mountains were shrouded to their bases in cloud. Twelve hours later and we have clarity and glorious light to support the very compelling Dome Peak in Washington's North Cascade mountains. This one was taken (handheld) on Fujichrome slide film using a Tamron 28mm f/2.5 Adaptall-2 lens, probably similar generation to your 24mm BBAR.
Ricoh XR7, Tamron 28/2.5 (02B), Fujichrome 100
Taken with a 10Mpx K10D with my early-80s vintage Tamron 70-150/3.5 zoom at about 120mm, this photo of Bridal Veil Falls in Yosemite Valley is a favorite of mine. It was taken hastily on the shoulder of the road as the clouds cleared enough to provide drama in the light. I print this one at 13"x19", just fine.
Pentax K10D, Tamron 70-150/3.5 (02A)
And finally, one taken in the mid-1970s with my first serious camera mated to a barely adequate 50mm lens, but the light fit the subject and I was happy with the result.
Ricoh Singlex TLS, Auto Rexatar 50/1.8, Kodachrome 64
I am fortunate to have lived in areas of exceeding natural beauty, but took many hundreds of reasonably good landscapes using a store-brand fast 50mm and nothing more working with fairly mundane countryside. From 1982 until 2007, I shot film with the Tamron 28mm, a Pentax-M 50/1.7, and the Tamron 70-150mm zoom and a couple of cheap tripods. The last shot above is of a stream used mostly for irrigation in an area of pea and onion farms.
Steve
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
07-20-2020, 07:31 AM
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I do not use GPS, WiFi or Video, I'm only interested in the basics - taking pictures - and the Pentax K-3 delivers and has delivered since 2014 - and will hopefully do so for many more years. So for me the Pentax K-3 'still rocks'. A camera that will probably go down in history as a 'classic' (Pentax) camera - a legend in Pentax's long line of quality cameras that are capable of producing high quality photographs.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
07-12-2020, 08:10 PM
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After what you said for the eyes, I hope and wish you all the best, we know very well how important the sight is in every aspect of social life (even more so for a photographer).
You seem to me a very reasonable person and I hope you have not misunderstood me, in real life I am quite precise I don't like to leave anything to chance that what I can do.
Again a wish for your lens and especially for you. Ovvero, ti auguro un prolungato sodalizio con l'obiettivo che guarda caso ci unisce spero nel bene anzichè nel male.
Best wishes, Mario
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Forum: General Photography
03-02-2019, 07:50 PM
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Exactly. There are plenty of selfie addicted mature and old adults on social sites. I actually believe that selfie editing causes less damage than cruelly detailed modern cameras and modern glass as is. It's not like in film era, digital resolution makes imperfections which are not that visible to the naked eye, big and even scary.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
07-25-2018, 10:02 PM
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thanks for the comment eaglem
---------- Post added 07-25-18 at 10:03 PM ----------
thank you for commenting reh321 there quick little guys !
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thanks dave I always enjoy seeing them
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thank you for commenting sjwoodworth , photo's where taking off shore of Cape Breton Island Nova Scotia
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thank you for commenting pichaser
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-24-2018, 10:32 AM
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Just as a few examples... all of these are taken hand held with no flash, just walking around, no planning, just snap snap.
This one below was shot in horrible lighting at f2.8 with a K-1 and a 24-70 zoom.
This one below was shot at f5.6 with a crop sensor.
Below was shot f4 with a crop sensor.
At the end of the day I am in love with the K-1. It gives way better low light capabilities and allows faster shutter speeds. You can take good shots with any camera, but the K-1 gives you a lot more flexibility in low light situations.
Here is one (below), full frame K-1, manual focus at f1.4.
Below is one, f8 with a crop sensor.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-19-2018, 02:06 PM
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Forum: Pentax Forums Giveaways
06-30-2018, 04:05 PM
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That was lame. Making the contest about hitting a button, having a faster trace route, etc. is just plain frustrating IMHO.
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Forum: Lens Sample Photo Archive
06-19-2018, 01:40 PM
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I've been using my DA*300 a lot lately for birding but today I busted out the old 77, which is my favorite for hummingbirds. Violet green swallows are simply too small and too ridiculously fast to track with 300mm. It took a fair amount of time, plenty of misses and a few decent frames, but finally got what I was going for. This is our resident baby-momma on final approach to the nest with a mouthful of breakfast for the kidlets. She's comin' in hot.
 coming in hot by Kevin Rosinbum (Eyewanders Foto), on Flickr
K-3 | FA 77
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
06-03-2018, 10:13 PM
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Great photo, but not related to the theme :( Otherwise fantastic!
(not a nomination)
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Forum: General Photography
05-28-2018, 11:11 AM
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Hi guys
Thanks for all the support, my eyes are fine, other than allergies, therefore my inability to get sharp pictures with my M42 lenses is down to me being clueless! Ah well. OK, where's that sun? Because I am not repeating that, ever!
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
03-24-2018, 10:16 PM
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I took this today. 100% natural light. What do you guys think?
It's my friend's hyperactive 3 year old.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
03-22-2018, 11:15 AM
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
03-18-2018, 07:49 AM
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Over the last few day I had seen signs of an Owl on the ground. Yesterday after sundown I took the dog out and looked up. Not much light but I was able to snap a few shots.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
03-23-2018, 09:39 AM
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Forum: Lens Clubs
03-19-2018, 02:59 PM
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My starburst-lens :)
Pentax KP:
Wuppertal / Germany (suspension railroad)
same location
I love this starburst-effect
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Forum: General Photography
03-23-2018, 05:34 AM
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Just thought I would add this Rufous-collared Sparrow. They are common across South America north to Mexico.
 Chestnut-collared Sparrow by Steve, on Flickr
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Forum: General Photography
03-20-2018, 08:03 AM
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