Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
05-30-2022, 08:54 PM
|
|
From what I've seen the HD coatings seem like a huge boon in most shooting conditions. The only downside is with the rounded blades if you like starbursts. But even there I think rounded aperture blades are more useful overall.
My 2 cents.
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-08-2018, 11:14 AM
|
|
Another review: Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5x - 5x Ultra Macro lens review
Yes, it's a specialized macro lens. If you haven't got the hang of shooting at 1X magnification, specialized higher magnification lenses will be very challenging. Even if you're comfy with 1X, it's still a jump moving to 2X and beyond.
It's also fully manual, including stopping down the aperture.
It also offers magnification no native Pentax lens can match.
For what it's worth, I've had decent results at 3-4X magnification focus stacking with a Velbon Rail clone by manually spinning the knob. A higher precision automated rail would be more convenient at these magnifications, and starting to get into the realm of necessary as you hit 5X or greater if you want optimal results. I've been contemplating an automated rail & microscope optics to move into 5X and possibly beyond, this lens might be a good stopgap before the wallet aims at microscope objectives, I'll wait for more samples.
Personally, I find these sorts of strange lenses to be exciting announcements. I'm happy there are companies producing niche products like this and ecstatic that they include the K-mount (adapters would be possible, but it's nice if you don't need to!). ---------- Post added 03-08-18 at 01:29 PM ----------
This is a question I've often struggled with. I keep finding smaller and smaller stuff I want to photograph and I ask myself if it isn't just for the purpose of doing it - to overcome a technical challenge with artistry taking a back seat. Is something that's solely a technical exercise worth pursuing? Maybe. But then I look at competitions like this: https://www.nikonsmallworld.com/galleries/photo and I stop questioning whether there is artistic creativity to be had at extreme magnifications and turn to asking what unique things I can bring to table.
Artistry aside, there is also a HUGE educational component to be had here. I absolutely love seeing things I've never seen before, and being able to represent the things I find with a photograph to share with others is always my goal, no matter the magnification involved.
|
Forum: General Photography
08-19-2017, 09:41 AM
|
|
I've recently dipped my toe in the mirrorless waters by way of the (probably dead) Nikon 1 mount. BandH had a hard underwater case for the J1/2 + basic kit lens on a clearance price of $50 for many months and I've been throwing bids out on ebay until one stuck on a white J1 + 10-30mm and 10mm/2.8 kit (white, so it reminds me of my Storm Trooper toys:p). So far, I'd say it's totally worth it for me. Even if the mount is dead, it won't make it work any worse than it does now, and assuming I keep getting along with it I'll look to pick up spare bodies as prices drop even more.
I've wanted an underwater camera for years, the quality of this seems a cut above the sample images I've seen from most of the compacts, with an obvious size disadvantage (the underwater case is comparable to a dslr + tremendously fat kit lens in size). Most of planned my underwater use will be in the spring (frogs are a key target), so but it seems pretty good so far.
I also plan to get a dumb k-mount adapter to use it for macro/close-up video and timelapses. No need to punish my k5iis with thousands of exposures if I'm going to reduce it down to HD video in resolution.
I hadn't really planned on it, but it's been seeing use as a pocketable camera with pretty great quality. I'd pit the sensor against my k100d, and I was always happy with my k100d. My k5iis is wayyyy nicer to use, but for impromtu photos of nieces/nephews, or random outings where I'm not really out to take photos, the J1 easily several cuts above my cell phone for both quality and ease of use (I like buttons and fight with touchscreens). No EVF but the screen manages to be surprisingly workable even on sunny days.
I recently took it on a day trip to an art gallery (in "the big city") and I'm developing a joy of taking pictures of people taking pictures in galleries and the the silent operation + small size is fantastic. Photographing you photographing me by Brian Robin, on Flickr
|
Forum: General Talk
06-26-2017, 04:18 PM
|
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
06-06-2017, 04:19 PM
|
|
|