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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
01-20-2023, 11:20 AM
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Yes but $5500 of 10 years ago was like $10 000 now, after two years of inflation. Medium format prices decreased substantially compared to the price of spaghetti, especially used MF cameras.
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
05-31-2022, 11:25 AM
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I totally disagree with what I hear here.
Yes, of course, people taking their own pictures with their Iphone or other cellular have a very negative impact on professional activity.
Nevertheless this is, in my opinion, just the result of progress. But if you look closely to what happened with the sound...
Bakelite records, then vinyl, then tape, then HQ disc, mp3, a.s.o. There is absolutely NO DOUBT about this: if you listen to digital, then numeric music you hear the difference.
In the same idea, if you look at argentic pictures and numeric ones, you see the difference. And taking picture with an Iphone or an "obsolete" Pentax, Nikon, Canon, Leica, you name it, you will catch what is industrial and what is artisanal. An there will be customers of artisanal work FOR EVER. Because it is pure, genuine art.
Perfection is boring, and all I see on tiktok , these perfect photoshopped pictures, will die slowly. Just imagine what Kardachian will look like in twenty years without photoshop!
People have to understand that there is no perfection without scratch. And old Ladies may be fantastic models for pictures with their wrikles. THis does not depend on your camera, but on your talent.
So sad, Tony Northrup, that you feel obsolete. YOU ARE NOT, and have to be sure of that.
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
05-26-2022, 01:14 PM
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You push the button, we do the rest, would make a catchy slogan for someone.
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
05-07-2022, 02:23 AM
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Since I've looking into large format film cameras, 8x10", I think the viewfinder thingy on digital cameras is a joke. On an 8x10 view camera, you can the picture almost as it will be on the print, upside down. On a digital camera, whether it has an EVF or OVF, it's like looking at the world through a door locker hole.
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
05-06-2022, 05:04 PM
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Hi,
I have come to the conclusion that with the current offerings, I'd prefer the 645Z over the Fuji 50s of either mk-I or-II. Now,. I'd greatly prefer the 100 (not the 100s) but that price tag is above my pay grade. And, I am getting by with a 645D with limited CCD, so any body with the Sony 50 MP sensor is an improvement. But, given I'd be using my Pentax lenses on whatever I get, the 645Z makes the most sense for me.
And the price tag on that Roberts unit is pretty much what I think a used one should go for. So, is that the definition of 'nothing' we're discussing? Not that I have even that to spend right at the moment.
I have a Nikon D1H I paid $5k for when it was the newest thing. It's now worth all of $50 - and it still works as it should! That's my definition of 'nothing'. :P
Stan
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Forum: Film Processing, Scanning, and Darkroom
01-05-2022, 11:29 PM
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I know what cheap instant coffee does to high carbon steel. I can only imagine what it can do to flimsy film ;)
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Forum: Pentax K-3 III
06-24-2021, 08:52 AM
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Although under the "cons" column in the review summary, they mentioned: "Limited lens lineup"
Which, obviously to us Pentaxians, is a PRO -- the DA and FA Limited lens lineup is the REASON we shoot Pentax!
:-)
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-09-2021, 11:06 AM
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A few years back I was a little bit obsessed with the edge sharpness in pictures taken with my 16-85 zoom, or lack of in my slightly decentered example. No matter what the subject of a picture taken with this lens I would find myself zooming to 100% to see how blurry it was.
I then read an article which pointed out that if you are obsessing over edge sharpness and other lens defects in a picture then your photo just isn't that interesting. Who ever looked at a photograph by the likes of Joseph Kudelka, Cartier-Bresson or Robert Frank and examined the edges or corners over the main subject? In fact, if you do they often aren't that sharp...
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
12-11-2020, 04:54 PM
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While like almost everyone, I am very excited about the new K-3-III. But it seems a number of people have expressed their concern about what they consider as necessary "features" that will apparently be missing on this hot new camera. It really is a matter of perspective (well, isn't much photography a matter of perspective?).
Here are my thoughts about some of the things that seem to have some folks exercised – thoughts from the perspective of a 78 year old. :)- One Card Slot – No problem. I probably can't last more than about 8GB max.
- Weather-resistance – No problem. I'm not allowed (and don't want to be) out in the rain any more.
- Tilty-Screen – No problem. I no longer take photos if the camera isn't right in front of me.
- No GPS – No problem. If I wander too far, someone will probably send out a Silver Alert.
If I have any one real concern about the new K-3-III, it is that I hope they finally bring it to market before I reach 80! How many little teasers can an old man take? :D
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
10-28-2020, 06:39 PM
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I'm not one to post pics here...there's too much talent in this group! But today I had a willing model by the pool while testing this Carl Zeiss 58mm f2 Biotar T on an old K20D. What a great lens... sorry it's sold already.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
10-22-2020, 06:16 AM
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Another cat, fa77
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
10-14-2020, 02:52 PM
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Perhaps this shot will help demonstrate this effect further. This one is not medium format. In fact, it's a HUGE angle of view (nearly 180 degrees) achieved by shooting with two Nikon D800Es side-by-side, each with a 14mm lens on. The files from each camera were layered as usual for star trails, then stitched together to produce this insane view. Because it's so wide, it does show clearly what I mean.
The circle you can see to the right is due south (because we're in the southern hemisphere!); the left hand side of the shot is looking nearly north.
[IMG] CombinedStarTrailsFromFiles_DSC0577-623And1882-1928Step8SpotSMALL by Ed Hurst, on Flickr[/IMG]
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-12-2020, 01:51 AM
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In case you shoot portraits using central composition there is no need of sharp edges or corners. But if you like shooting f1.4 and recompose e.g. the face to the area near the corner, then sharp corner is must for quality, detailed image. Or simply try to shoot whole height portrait with FA 50/1.4 and look to details near the edge. I think you will be disappointed. But DFA*50/1.4 will do the job.
Good sharpness near the edge is advantage if you shoot with face detection AF (it works almost near the edge of the frame) and position the face not in the center of the frame, because good sharpness near the edge is achieved due to no or very few spherical aberrations. This same could be said about phase detection AF points that are closer to the egde even Pentax AF system has just 33 points. But who knows, how much AF points will be in next models.
I agree that less or no spherical aberrations of DFA* 50/1.4 could be the reason why this lens produces different pictures compared to FA 77 Ltd or other older 50-55 mm lenses, but you still can achieve 3D pop using better lighting.
DFA* 50/1.4 @f1.4
 K1MG1263-Edit-2-Edit-Edit by MG Mindaugas, on Flickr
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
10-03-2020, 09:04 PM
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Catching up on my Yellowstone-area mini-project from 2015, pre-645z. On that trip (I just had a day--the last day the park was open before winter, and cold, snowy, and rainy, depending on elevation), I use the 67 some and my Canon 5D quite a bit (mostly because it could deal with the moisture). I won't show the latter, of course--this is a Pentax forum.
I showed an image from this series a couple of years ago, but these four are new. Film was Kodak Extar 100, scanned in a Nikon 9000ED using Vuescan. The skies were heavy and dark, and the shutter times long. But I have a robust tripod. I worked on them with Photoshop 5.5 back then, but now went back over them with the current version, and really do appreciate a better range of tools in the current version, particularly access to the Camera Raw filter from within Photoshop.
Early Snow at Craters of the Moon NM, 2015.
Snow on Fall Colors, Craters of the Moon NM, 2015.
Isa Lake Mostly Frozen, Yellowstone 2015.
Smoke Mountain, Yellowstone, 2015
Rick "who had to change his P67 battery with freezing fingers and snow blowing into the car at Craters of the Moon" Denney
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
09-29-2020, 06:55 AM
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
10-04-2020, 01:04 PM
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I think it would be plenty close enough for most of us using the system.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
10-02-2020, 07:01 PM
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FA 31:
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Forum: Lens Clubs
09-30-2020, 07:15 PM
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kodak colorplus200......ZX-L....fa77
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
09-30-2020, 01:14 PM
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With film cameras unless they used buttons the shutter speed was set with the top dial, easily turned with the index finger. The exceptions would be bodies using buttons and the *ist, Ignoring the *ist it would seem logical to follow previous designs to have the shutter speed set by the index finger.
But since this can be changed in the settings to suit your tastes it doesn't really matter. What matters most is that the controls are for the most part well placed.
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
09-30-2020, 08:26 AM
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I wouldn't call it wilderness. Third party lenses are not very desirable (with few exceptions) and sell primarily on price. There are enough cheap lenses to be had for Pentax new and used....
Whats needed are more Pentax lenses.
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
09-22-2020, 12:23 PM
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The answer is "yes" but it's not a "medium format" lens issue. Instead, it's a general problem with putting any lens made for a larger format camera on any smaller format camera.
In this case, it was a full-size 645 lens on a crop-factor 645 camera. You have a lens designed to cover a 56 mm x 41.5 mm film frame but the sensor is only 44x33. Light from the full-size image is being collected by the lens and entering the camera, mirror box, etc. Light from the extra parts of the scene reflect off surfaces inside the camera and look like flare. But the 645Z viewfinder isn't showing that part of the scene. (If you've removed the petal hood of the 35mm, things wold be even worse!)
Looking at that shot, it seems extremely likely that full outdoor lighting was visible to the lens just below the furthest rafters.
TL;DNR: A lens for a larger format sitting on a camera for a smaller format pulls in a lot of light from parts of the scene that are not visible in the smaller format camera.
The solutions are: 1) adding a smaller petal hood optimized for the smaller format; 2) using only lenses optimized for the format; 3) paying attention to bright elements that lurk just outside the viewfinder but that are visible to the lens.
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
09-15-2020, 05:19 PM
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Pentax 645, A 120mm Macro & Delta 100
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
09-12-2020, 04:25 AM
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Forum: Lens Clubs
08-31-2020, 02:26 AM
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There's a plantation where we used to walk a lot when the kids were small, but about 5 years ago it was bought, and now you can only go through it on a single fenced off bridle way. My wife found this stone on the path that seemed to be protesting (a nice bit of biblical imagery:)) - this is on the K-1
 stoney scream by Graham Hobbs, on Flickr
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
08-20-2020, 07:37 PM
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