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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
03-21-2007, 09:31 PM
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I don't feel adequate to give you flash ideas/techniques, but I'm currently learning flash from this guy http://strobist.blogspot.com/ (you've probably known it already) and found it quite helpful, although he would use the flash in manual, and off camera, which is not a problem since 540 can be used wireless. And with your assignment, you might need more than just one flash, dunno ...
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-21-2007, 09:22 PM
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That's probably the more favourable explanation for my problem (my lens sucks, rather than my camera is broken); I'll try other lens then if I've got the chance. Cheers.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-20-2007, 09:02 PM
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-20-2007, 08:54 PM
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I on the other hand am looking for a photography course that I can do part time, preferably by correspondence/home study. After experimenting for about a month, I kinda feel the need for a more structured lesson, especially one that can teach me to make pictures of commercial value. Does anyone ever had any experience with those classes/courses offered on the net?
Data
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-20-2007, 08:48 PM
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Well, I'm glad to hear that from you, it helps preventing me from catching that awfully tempting LBA ... I did order two russian lens jupiter 11a and industar 61 l/z about 3 mths ago, but the seller mistakenly sent me two helios 44, I decided to cancel the purchase for a refund, good thing he was a good honest seller and agreed. I ended up getting FA 28-70/4 and have not regretted it, except that they now cost cheaper on feebay. But for some days before I returned the helios, I tried them on my P3 (I hadn't had dslr at the time) and aren't they a beauty ... those metal really feel good on the fingers.
I'm very new to these metal beauties, I haven't even touched any taks ... :(.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-20-2007, 12:31 PM
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Thanks for your comments guys,
To Cideway and TRog100: I thought that my eyes might not focus well, although I'm more used to MF than AF. I did some test to find out my focusing ability. Both was taken with 28 mm lens (a vivitar 28/2.8 and FA 28-70/4) from about a foot distance with tripod and 2 sec timer. Shot in RAW, cropped 5% on the center, focused on the word 'Bau-', converted to JPG.
The one on the left was taken with Vivitar 28/2.8; at f/4, 1/50; No focus confirmation (and it won't lit no matter how slow I focus), just relying on my eyes.
the one on the right with the shortest end of my FA 28-70/4 at f/4, 1/50; with AF to set on focus confirmation.
Do you think my first shot is not in focus?
To Alvin: I've tried to focus as slow as I can and now I started to think that this might just be a case that 1) my lens copies are bad, or 2) my ist-D copy is bad, or 3) I set the wrong camera setting.
Fortunately, I'm still happy that my Pentax lens is working perfectly, although the oldest I have is the A lens. And I don't often used my 3rd party old lenses anyway because their IQ aren't good, but some time ago I wanted to save money and get some vintage primes for my still life work, so I want to make sure I know how to get the most of my ist-D by using the in focus indicator with those lens. Now. I'll probably just have to save more and stick with contemporary Pentax lens, which probably the safest thing anyway...:confused:
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-19-2007, 11:10 PM
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I heard about that 'FI with S Lens used' option, but I couldn't find that in my ist-D; are you referring to ist-D or your Samsung, which, as far as I know the brother of ist-DL. And I have set the "F stop other than A" on, but my problem is not on the metering but on the focus confirmation.
Yup, Thx anyway
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-19-2007, 10:50 PM
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Hi all,
I've searched everywhere for the answer of my problem, but found no answer. I hope I'm not asking the same question all over again. To make it short:
My ist-D gives focus confirmation on my manual Pentax lens (smcp a 50/2), BUT it does not give any focus confirmation on my third party manual K mount lens (vivitar 28/2.8; image 70-210; sakar 70-300). Is this normal?
I've tried all kind of setting on the menu/custom. Someone on photo.net (Pentax Forum: Pentax Ist D) can even get focus confirmation with a copier machine lens. It just doesn't work for me.
I have also upgraded the firmware to the latest version (v 1.12) so I can meter with manual lens using the green button, but it just fails to give focus confirmation, except with my smcpa 50/2 which works perfectly. Does this mean that the focus confirmation only works with pentax lens?
Thanks
Data
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-19-2007, 09:09 PM
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Hi Shefali, I came across your posting while searching for entry on Sakar zoom. I was given a 75-210 Sakar and have been using it with my film slr Pentax P3 and I'm curious about other people's experience with that lens. Anyway, in my opinion it's a decent lens but I suspect the resolution is not up to dslr's demand. And from what I've heard, many old lenses would yield soft or even blurry images on dslr, and more so on higher pixel dslr like your k10d.
I'm no expert in this, just sharing with you what I've heard about this particular case, and although your Sakar zoom is different from mine, it might suffer from the same problem (a reviewer in Photodo.com even said that Pentax FA 28-70/4 would not perform well in K-10D although in my experience it's a good lens).
Now I'm thinking of the possibility to exploit the softness of my Sakar zoom for portraiture.
Cheers
Data
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
02-03-2007, 09:37 PM
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Hi Ed, I've also been searching the net for info on using a couple of old flashes for mini studio setup. It seems that davemsdn has good experience with this cheap wireless flash trigger. You might find this thread useful (unless you have read it already)
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/2290-k10d-external...ing-wrong.html
Sorry to add more question on this matter, but I'm still wondering if using this radio transmitter trigger will allow ttl flash mode or only manual? Anyone has the answer? thanks
Data
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
02-01-2007, 08:11 AM
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You're right Alvin, it can perform well in subzero temperature, I was the one that can't stand being out in the cold for long :)
I'm still researching and considering about lighting setup, after toying around with worklights I now tend to favour off camera flash (preferably old and used one) along strobist's suggestion. But I still feel uninformed and haven't made any purchase yet. I will probably post this question on the lighting forum later.
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
01-27-2007, 12:52 AM
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Hi everyone, thanks for your welcoming words, I'm really glad to be here. My first name, by the way, is Data (it's true).
Anyway, I just got my ist-d today (my first dslr and right away mounted with my beloved smcpa 50/2) and it is just beautiful - I think Pentax's dslr design is the best ! (compared to other brands I saw in future shop)
Carol, I have yet submitted any picture to the stock agency. I can't wait to post some pictures here as soon as I get my ist d in action.
The weather here is nasty Dan, but sometimes fun. I don't mind ice, but cold wind...brrr....Coming from where I'm from, I found it extraordinary that you risk of being frozen from taking picture outdoor. I wonder if my ist-d can stand subzero environment, the manual doesn't say so though.
Hi Alvin, I'll probably do some still life and portraits (babies, close up, body parts, scene) indoor but with some simple lighting setup (need to learn more about that) in the next couple of months. To me, it's still too cold for landscape or nature photography. I decided to use my budget for DA 16-45 to buy a cheaper lens which I just bought on ebay yesterday, FA 28-70/4 AL for total (s&h included) 99 USD. Based on my web research, it seems to be regarded quite highly both in terms of price and decency in quality.I just hope that it's sharp enough for my ist-d as the agency seems to be so strict on sharpness and low noise pics.
Cheers.
Data
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
01-23-2007, 07:03 PM
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Hello, I'm originally from Indonesia but am currently living in New Brunswick, Canada. My first slr was a second hand nikon fm2 but I had to hang it after the asian crisis made the cost of developing film rocketed. It's gone now.
Then I came to Canada, was handed down a P3 with smcp 50 A f2, sakar 70-300, and image 80-210 from my wife's relative. I only use the standard lens and am loving it although I heard that it's mediocre.
That being said, I consider myself pretty much new in photography but am planning to make some money by selling stock pictures online (istock, etc..). I decided to rely on Pentax line which (based on my google research) offers more backward compatibility, relatively cheaper equipment and sometimes better quality.
My budget is pretty tight. I ordered a used ist-D from KEH, and am now saving to buy a zoom lens (16-45 DA) very soon. If you think I'm making a wrong move with the lens choice, please warn me. I love to learn more about Pentax and I hope that this forum can help me in my new endeavour in photography :)
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