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Forum: Visitors' Center 10-05-2019, 07:06 AM  
occupation
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 54
Views: 4,842
I've heard that before. The sentiment suffers from a common problem. It sounds true hearing it but fails the real world test. True, I've rarely spoken to professional photographers, and that was 15 years ago when I was in Iraq, and 17 years ago in Kosovo.

I was thinking of the more recent conversations with chefs, artists, mechanics, florists, event planners, and musicians. They really have the passion still for their chosen professions, no question about it. But the more successful they become, the less food, art, whatever they do.

It becomes more customer service, more dealing with taxes and regulations, more budgeting and payroll, more marketing, more of everything it takes to keep a business successful and less about the hands on product making.

I'd like to touch on the customer service for a second. For me, that's the big thing in a few different ways. For anything creative you're trying to sell, be it commissioned or a finished product in a brick and mortar or even online store, it matters not one bit if you think you're products are good or bad. It only matters what your customers want. I can see the creative people's souls dying a little more with every commission they accept. They put out what they'd call trash according to their standards of creativity to keep the lights on. That trash might be a well done steak or the most basic family portraits or generic wedding package no.5 or, in keeping with the theme here, let's get on the dancefloor and do the Electric Slide everyone!

Now, we all have different reasons for doing what we do both for fun and a paycheck. And I'm perfectly willing to admit that what motivates me in either isn't going to be that for everyone. That's why I used first person singular pronouns. After only 40 years of walking this earth, I know myself well enough through both painful experiences and vicariously that when what I like to do becomes what I have to do*, I'm making a trade that leaves me feeling a little empty inside.

You asked me a direct question which I'd like to directly answer. Do I really think great photographers past and present lose their passion? How the hell should I know what they are/ were thinking? But the relatively few professional photographers I've spoken to, it varies. John, a combat photographer and Panama veteran, was perfectly willing to trade safety for the chance to get out and show what it was we were doing while in uniform. Sarah, portrait photographer, saw customers as a means to keep a roof over her head as she took the pictures she wanted in her off time. Phil, sports, loved sports enough that this was a way to stay relevant in his sport, albeit in a different way. And Martin. I don't for the life of me remember particulars, but he could not sit still. After a month in one place, he'd get antsy as hell and almost physically need to move on to the next place. And finally Tommy, a Vietnam war photographer who used his knowledge of cameras and photography to get out of the infantry. He found he liked it well enough and had the resume to rock on with it. Did they have passions for photography? Sure. Would they rather have done other things? Maybe, I never asked. Nor did I ask their feelings about having to take a bad picture well. Nor about the average 3 hours of non photography work for every day shooting. Actually, for some I didn't have to ask, they volunteered their love of accountants and business software.

Now, there's a big difference between running or owning the business and being an employee. And to be honest I wrote thinking of owning or running the business. But at the end of the day it's really only trading one headache for another.

*For creative endeavors like cooking or writing or photography
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 10-05-2019, 06:03 AM  
Tilt Screen or Not?
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 69
Views: 7,147
Interesting question. Do I NEED a tilting or articulating screen? Of course not. I've gone laying in the elements before. Mud, dirt, snow, rocks, and once poison ivy have all had my prone form imprinted in them. As well as climbing up trees, fences, boulders, and a couple times someone up on my shoulders. I can still get down or up with the best of them. It takes a minute longer to get back to normal and I can't get low as often anymore, but I can still do it.

The articulating screen of my k70 has made pictures of kids, beach, dogs, fish in water, certain landscapes, closeups of flora, zoo animals (as a full grown adult male and father, I cannot feel good about blocking children from zoo animals and parades even for a picture) so much easier. Yes, I can take any of these with a right angle viewfinder. But not as easy or comfortable. And those odd times Mrs. Rookie uses it, she much prefers using the screen vs viewfinder.

The other thing with moving screens, be they flippy or articulating, it uses focus peaking. Well, the screen uses peaking whether it moves or not. I've found that has saved me as my eyes are transitioning from hawk to horseshoes. From dead on to close enough. So now when I take pictures of my 2 year old, I'm at eyes level with her, she's in focus, and I don't have to worry about what condition my knees are in after the picture and can still chase her around.

The TL;DR answer is its like cruise control on my car. I don't NEED it. But it's nice to have in the circumstances it's meant for.
Forum: General Talk 09-26-2019, 02:57 PM  
What music are you currently listening to?
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 11,001
Views: 751,598
I've been listening to a lot of Irish folk music lately. It's peppy and jaunty so it keeps me alert on my motorcycle, but doesn't encourage such behavior as hard rock does. And since it's about the history of Ireland, it's sufficiently sad and depressing for someone who came up on the 90s Seattle sound.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 09-25-2019, 04:07 AM  
Vintage/ antique store lens advice
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 12
Views: 1,204
Thanks everyone for the replies. That's some good advice everyone gave. I never thought of the older lenses being easier to fix. Probably because that's a bit beyond my skills and abilities at this point.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 09-23-2019, 06:59 PM  
Vintage/ antique store lens advice
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 12
Views: 1,204
I think I've seen the pin. A long skinny piece shooting up for no reason? That's a good tip. And yeah, I'm not ready to try and deal with haze or fungus. And I'll be leaving the credit card at home, just dealing with cash.

I'm hoping to find a nice 50, 35, and a longer telephoto. Possibly a macro. But I'm not going to turn down the right wide angle. I'll see what's available and have fun doing it.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 09-23-2019, 03:41 PM  
Vintage/ antique store lens advice
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 12
Views: 1,204
Hey everyone! So at the end of the week, Gettysburg has this big huge sidewalk/ antique sale. I'm hoping to score a deal or two on vintage prime glass for my K70. I have the screwmount to K adapter. And I have been deep in the reviews pages. It looks like there weren't really any dogs. Just some better than others.

It looks like it comes down to condition. Is it as simple as throw it on the camera and see if it works? See if it'll focus and I can stop it up and down, make sure it can mount. Obviously take a picture or two to make sure the blades work. But what else should I be looking for?

I've just never done this before, gone out looking for old lenses to buy and use. Looking to avoid anything lemon flavored if I can help it. Any tips are appreciated. Thanks!
Forum: General Talk 09-21-2019, 05:53 AM  
Is DPReview just Hopelessly Anti-Pentax?
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 61
Views: 4,751
A couple years ago when I was looking at which mount to buy into, I read all the sites. Canon has these amazing features! Nikon has those! Pentax has many of them, plus legacy lenses and weather resistant and minimum of three digits less! Our pick is Canon. Our pick is Sony. But that's mirrorless. Shut up and get it!

I never understood that. Now don't get me wrong, I do realize Nikon and Canon bring many good things to the table. For example you can buy one in a store. But I could never understand how when you're reviewing bodies and systems and you lay it out on paper, Pentax really punches above their weight. My K70 is more an advanced beginner camera than entry level. And they'd all but admit it. Now go buy the Canon. Click the damn link!

As far as the forums, talk about a turn off! Not a good place to have a differing opinion. Group think or dogpile, your choice. I'm not going to say toxic, but I could certainly see where others may reach that conclusion.

Part of my problem is me. I have my own criteria and those influencers who's names I never bothered to learn, to say they were unimportant to me is giving them a bit more credit than they deserved. I'm just curmudgeonly enough to be unimpressed by their sphere of influence.
Forum: General Talk 09-20-2019, 03:47 PM  
Your latest acquisition
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 27,110
Views: 2,080,758
That's my most used lens. You'll love it.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 09-20-2019, 03:10 PM  
"Ricoh/Pentax has no plans to announce a new camera this fall"
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 869
Views: 62,905
There's still a couple pages left to read, but in case this this hasn't been addressed yet, I'd like to take a stab.

If Pentax were only Pentax, I'd agree with you. Or if cameras were camera and not small computers with lens mounts. But cameras are small computers. Pentax is in fact a part of Ricoh, who do all kinds of interesting optical things. It's not out of the realm of possibility to adapt one technology to another.

So while maybe there isn't a team of 35 East German engineers designing lenses anymore, why do you think the 3 left couldn't figure out something from another product that would transfer? Or is it Ricoh wouldn't let them?
Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges 09-18-2019, 03:39 PM  
Caption Contest Caption Contest through Sept 25 2019
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 17
Views: 1,577
Baby duck yoga instructor motivating her beginners class.
Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups 09-17-2019, 03:43 PM  
It may not be " your father's Buick "- how things change for the ________________
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 20
Views: 1,856
That's good advice, Bob. Also, lace up the hiking boots. If you're willing to go further than the crowds, sometimes your sweat is rewarded.

There should also be a If You're In My Area type thread. Post local honey holes around where you go.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 09-17-2019, 03:40 PM  
"Ricoh/Pentax has no plans to announce a new camera this fall"
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 869
Views: 62,905
Looks good! Might be just the excuse I need to get the lens stretcher so I can use my aps-c glass in FF mode. 😜
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 09-17-2019, 03:37 PM  
Are we really THAT rare?
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 7,240
Views: 984,990
More K mount for me?

Alex, I've only ever seen one real live Leica in my life. And the clerk wouldn't take it out and let me play with it. I do know I can buy two of my (pretty used) motorcycle for the price of a body. I've always wondered, is it there? Like, I don't care what exactly I'll never experience. I just want to know yeah, I'm missing out on something special.
Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups 09-17-2019, 02:50 PM  
It may not be " your father's Buick "- how things change for the ________________
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 20
Views: 1,856
Reminds me of when I went to visit family in New Hampshire one September. I brought my best landscape lenses for the trip as I've heard such wonderful stories about New England fall foliage. I was excited to see for myself. "Absolutely not! No way on God's green earth are we going to the mountains! What is [bad word missing R] wrong with you?! If you think I'm spending my Saturday surrounded by lost tourists [bad word with extra R] our roads you have another [word I've never heard before, but from context I'm guessing a New English insult] thing coming!" To be fair, my aunt was right about the tourists [bad word with funny accent] all over the place. But once we found an off the beaten path spot, it was all worth it.

I didn't know about the NPS sending that out. Anything that gets people outside I'm in favor of. And, as a rugged Pentaxian, I'm confident I can hike further to get to quiet spots.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 09-17-2019, 02:37 PM  
"Ricoh/Pentax has no plans to announce a new camera this fall"
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 869
Views: 62,905
With or without optional 35mm film capabilities?
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 09-16-2019, 04:09 PM  
Is this sharp? - Pentax DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WR
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 31
Views: 2,526
They look sharp enough to me. The sharp parts.

I'll be paying attention to this thread. I'm teaching myself how to work with longer focal lengths myself. Tripods are you friends. Yeah, I don't hike with one either. But I do hike with a beanbag or bandana. I'm not above using a stump, rock, or child's head to rely less on my rock steady hands. I don't see effects of that in yours though.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 09-16-2019, 04:54 AM  
"Ricoh/Pentax has no plans to announce a new camera this fall"
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 869
Views: 62,905
Not sure if it works the same in this industry, but I know the AKC leans heavily towards Labrador retrievers in everything they compete in besides the show ring because that make up the bulk of registered dogs. Perhaps because Canon is still the big dog, so to speak, they'll continuously get good press. Whereas Pentax, being far from its former status, wouldn't matter so much to reviewers.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 09-15-2019, 10:08 AM  
"Ricoh/Pentax has no plans to announce a new camera this fall"
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 869
Views: 62,905
Besides autofocus, video, and a handful of FF lenses, where is the need for something new? Yeah, there's camera bodies getting long in the tooth. But those bodies can (and do) go toe to toe with other makers in the same class. Unless autofocus, video, and professional level support are that important to you, what are we champing at the bit for? Another lens for the sake of another lens?

Yes, shiny new toys are lots of fun. And maybe that's it. Just something new and shiny and different to spend legal tender on. Make yourself feel like you're moving forward. And I really do see that a new something is concrete proof that Ricoh is standing by the brand for a little while longer. For someone who just dumped money into a system, yeah, that's pretty important.

But seriously, I'm looking through the Pentax catalog, including some vintage glass gems, and I can't see what should be there that isn't. Perhaps not to the level as others, but for the cost to performance certainly. There's something I'm not seeing in this mountain that looks to be built on the foundation of a molehill.
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 09-15-2019, 09:50 AM  
Micro Four Thirds Club
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 6,127
Views: 526,379
I'm a Pentax user, she's a phone photographer. I'm coming to realize any other system camera will be for me than her. She'd probably get great use from a Canon Elph something. P mode, easy file transfer, nicer pics to upload than an iPhone. Anything beyond that is, well, buttons she'll never* use. Me, I have a serious, I guess prejudice, against Canon. They're great for snapshots, but not much more**. But then, I'm looking at a point and shoot for her. I had thought maybe for the same outlay of an intermediate level P&S, maybe a MFT with kit lens. Or at least I could justify it.

*Never in her current interest, knowledge, or skill set.

**I know in my head that's horribly untrue, but sometimes you can't tell the heart anything.
Forum: General Talk 09-15-2019, 09:39 AM  
Your latest acquisition
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 27,110
Views: 2,080,758
Third party. Just a little $25 Amazon adapter for taking through antique stores and flea markets. Mrs. Rookie lives antique stores. I'm not expecting diamonds hiding on the shelves, but if it'll help me score a bit of jade, I'm happy. And if nothing else it'll give me something to look for while I'm with her.
Forum: General Talk 09-15-2019, 05:05 AM  
Your latest acquisition
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 27,110
Views: 2,080,758
Grabbed from Amazon a screw to K mount adapter. Spent a chunk of yesterday in the lens review database seeing which m42 primes were the good ones (all of them it turns out).
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 09-13-2019, 04:41 PM  
"Ricoh/Pentax has no plans to announce a new camera this fall"
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 869
Views: 62,905
You know, I am actually pretty happy with the pace of Pentax's releases. They don't put out a ton of mediocre products a year for the sake of doing it. They don't pass off firmware updates as new models. They're the quiet guy who doesn't talk until he has something to say.

For me, my k70 is a better camera than I am a photographer. My sad little collection of flea market lenses (and my 15mm Limited) serves me well enough. If it doesn't, the used market is always there. And every once in a while, a treat of a brand new lens. The camera itself is a Sherman tank. It's the klr650 of cameras. And it sits nicely in its own little spot of advanced beginners. When it's time to upgrade, we'll see what's out. Maybe a K mount mirrorless?

As a hobbyist with a family and bills and other interests, I am part of the problem. Yeah, you got me for life, but I'm not spending a ton of money.

Anyways, I don't particularly care directly about a new camera*. I'd love to see a different surprise. Maybe kick ass firmware updates? Maybe they're selling in brick and mortar stores in the US? They don't right now. A couple government contracts would be cool. I think we're just a bit early for another go at the k-01. But if it's nothing, then at least it won't be a time waste something.
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 09-12-2019, 02:57 PM  
Micro Four Thirds Club
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 6,127
Views: 526,379
Just by what's on paper, without handling any of them, I'd rather the Oly, with it's in camera stability. But the Pany has that rangefinder sexy about it. Looks easier with a pancake lens to slip into a pocket.

I really am thinking about adding another system. Half for Mrs. Rookie to upload better photos of the kids to Facebook, making the iPhone moms jealous of her pics. Half to slip into the motorcycle jacket. If it has to hang on my neck or go in a bag, I may as well take the DSLR.
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 09-09-2019, 03:46 PM  
Micro Four Thirds Club
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 6,127
Views: 526,379
A couple years ago, when I got my k70, I was going back and forth like mad between a Pentax DSLR or an Oly MFT platform. I think(?) I make the right choice for me, but I've always wondered which shade of grass I traded for. Seeing these pics, there was no bad answer.

So now I'm thinking about a little Panny and zoom lens. Something that can ride in a cargo pocket or the big pocket of my favorite motorcycle jacket. I also like the idea of swinging into a Best Buy with a wad of cash and walking out with a new accessory. Something that can be Mrs. Rookie's point and shoot when it's not in my jacket.

Dammit guys!
Forum: Photographic Technique 09-09-2019, 02:54 PM  
Macro The one that got away
Posted By RookieGuy
Replies: 17
Views: 1,533
So it's not just me?
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