|
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
01-11-2022, 07:14 PM
|
| |
I would like to nominate this photo
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-11-2022, 06:29 PM
|
| |
Have you played with the AF fine adjustments settings? If so and you still have issues, you may have a bad copy, or if you bought used, maybe a damaged lens. Or the Samyang 35 is super sharp and maybe an unfair comparison
I have 2 DA* 16-50s (both bought used) one is screw drive with faulty weather sealing the other is SMC. Both take great photos once their limitations are understood. At 40-50mm 2.8 they're a little soft (more so if the subject is around 10ft/3m away, which seems to be a difficult spot for this lens to focus) but still usable and at 3.2 they're great. That said, if the sun is in front of me at all, I'm at 2.8, 40-50mm, and I'm trying to take a picture of something about 10ft from me, the picture is pretty much guaranteed to be unusable without serious luck and post-processing.
When got the first one, I was disappointed with the sharpness and CAs but after making the AF fine adjustments, and learning its strengths and weaknesses, I find it's on my camera more than just about any other lens other than the 43mm.
Comparing pictures taken on the 16-50 with the 43 at f3.2... With the 43, I can crop significantly if I want to. With the 16-50, I need to frame it right because cropping highlights the lens's limitations. Your comparison with the Samyang might not be reasonable.
|
|
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
12-28-2021, 11:44 PM
|
| |
It's breaking the rules. but I'd take the two standard DA* zooms (they can be found used in the $300 neighborhood). Just did a short European tour and had just the two of them. The ability to shoot at night with reasonable shutter speeds and ISO saved a number of shots. They fit easily into a Tenba 10" top load cube which fits in a backpack and comes with a pack-away shoulder bag. I was able to keep my change of clothes/toiletries in the bottom of the backpack with the cube on top.
To stay in the rules: DA* 16-50. 80% of my photos were with it.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-09-2021, 07:39 AM
|
| |
My wedding/family portrait kit is the DA* 16-50 & 50-135 and 43. Upgraded from the k30 to KP last year. I haven't had any issues with autofocus on the DA* (I bought both used for under $400 each). For portraits, the 50-135 and 43 are my go-to lenses. I also have a 20-40, which I'll be selling soon because the weight/size savings isn't significantly different from the 16-50 and I prefer the 16-50 rendering.
Regarding getting the k70: Consider getting a used k3ii instead. The shutter is so much quieter.
|
|
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
07-06-2021, 08:20 PM
|
| |
Found this little guy at the playground. Camouflage doesn't work as well when you wave and draw attention to yourself.
|
|
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
06-01-2021, 06:51 PM
|
| |
I would like to nominate this photo
|
|
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
06-01-2021, 06:50 PM
|
| |
I would like to nominate this photo
|
|
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
06-01-2021, 06:50 PM
|
| |
I would like to nominate this photo
|
|
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
06-01-2021, 06:49 PM
|
| |
I would like to nominate this photo
|
|
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
06-01-2021, 06:49 PM
|
| |
I would like to nominate this photo
|
|
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
06-01-2021, 06:48 PM
|
| |
I would like to nominate this photo
|
|
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
06-01-2021, 06:46 PM
|
| |
I would like to nominate this photo
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
05-18-2021, 07:19 PM
|
| |
I found my 16-50 used (with working SDM) for around $350 about 4 or 5 years ago. Probably my best lens purchase. Sharpness, color, rendering, etc. are all fantastic. I was initially concerned because of all the negative reviews but I've been very happy. Maybe if I'd paid around $1000 as it was new I'd be disappointed because I'd expect perfection, but $350 was a great price. When I travel or work, I take the 16-50, 43, & 50-135. With that travel kit I've got all my bases covered, except a macro (debated on the 35 vs 43).
It is heavy. I stay away from 25mm, and 45mm because I get a bit of distortion - but everywhere else, it's great. Also, there are definitely times I wish I had extra reach without changing lenses but I'm sure that would happen no matter what.
|
|
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
05-14-2021, 09:38 AM
|
| |
I would like to nominate this photo
|
|
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
05-14-2021, 09:36 AM
|
| |
I would like to nominate this photo
|
|
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
05-07-2021, 03:24 PM
|
| |
Spring tulips with a wonderful Russian lens.
|
|
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
05-04-2021, 02:16 PM
|
| |
I would like to nominate this photo
|
|
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
05-03-2021, 06:55 AM
|
| |
It's in Terelj National Park, Mongolia.
Here's the google maps link
Google Maps |
|
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
05-02-2021, 08:00 PM
|
| |
I would like to nominate this photo
|
|
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
05-02-2021, 07:58 PM
|
| |
I would like to nominate this photo
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-27-2021, 10:08 AM
|
| |
I have both. The 43 is my favorite lens and is almost always on my main camera. It pretty much only comes off when I need to grab a DA*.
I leave the 40xs on my backup body for when my wife wants to use a "real" camera. If the xs is ever broken I'd replace it with the HD limited because the tiny lens cap is super annoying and gets lost too often.
That said, there's a $300-ish difference between the two. That's not insignificant.
|
|
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
04-22-2021, 09:10 AM
|
| |
This is Turtle Rock on a particularly miserable morning.
|
|
Forum: General Photography
04-19-2021, 03:07 PM
|
| |
I print photos for family via Walmart's online photo site. It works well and allows me to "send" prints to people all over the country cheaply. I've had success (except when I accidentally let Walmart "touch-up" the photo) with everything up to 8x10. I haven't tried anything bigger with Walmart as my wife can print up to 12x18 for $.50 at work if it's for personal use. It's $8 for that size via Walmart; they go up to 24x36 for $19. Based on the quality of the 8x10 from Walmart, if the export settings are right in Lightroom, they should turn out really well. However, regarding the canvas prints, I agree, they seem to always look a bit off.
Also, before she passed, I used chatbooks to send a small (6x6 and 60 pages) book to my grandmother every month or two. It was around $10 per book. I created a private insta account that it would pull from. Whenever it got 60 new photos it would print and send. She wasn't on social media and it was a dead-simple way for me to help her experience her great-granddaughter growing up. Now my mom has a pile of photo books that she cherishes.
|
|
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
04-01-2021, 07:04 PM
|
| |
I would like to nominate this photo
|
|
Forum: General Photography
03-31-2021, 07:48 AM
|
| |
I second the suggestion of the fa43. Wonderful little thing!
|
