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Forum: Lens Clubs
10-10-2018, 01:27 AM
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Just got my little nifty fifty today. Wanted something for photographing musicians in low light bar shows, ended up testing on one of my cats!
Lighting was a little brighter behind me at home, so I dropped the iso down a hair, but left everything else how I shoot at shows The first was at f2 and the second wide open. The f2 was just to get some intentional slight under exposure on the first. 1600 iso to prepare for what I intend to shoot, and 1/200 for the shutter. Noise was much easier to clean up than with the kit lens at the 55mm end! I think I'm gonna love this.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-09-2018, 06:22 PM
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That wasn't in the cards for me yet, but the wife is already trying to discuss what I want for xmas...
So maybe in a couple months!
I do need more glass though.... There will be bigger venues in the future. Options, options, options :)
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-09-2018, 04:44 PM
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While I agree on this, with my kit lens, I was mostly at the 55 mm end of the zoom, and found the view to be just about right at a venue that is about average size for around here. I will probably pick up the 35 as well at a later date. Though I really enjoyed the kit lens at the 18 mm end for full band shots, as that took up the second largest portion of shots. It was almost bright enough wide open, if a little soft.
I do seem to go for more half body and three quarter body portrait type shots, which is why I ultimately decided on the 50.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-09-2018, 03:14 PM
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Just got my lens today. Only had a few minutes to test it out, but significantly brighter and sharper than the kit at the same settings, only changing the aperture.
F1.8 may be too wide to have a guitarist plus the whole guitar in focus, but even at 2.8, the isolation and brightness is much better.
I will give ot a thorough test on Saturday.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
10-07-2018, 04:16 AM
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He does have a cool green and yellow thing going on.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
10-06-2018, 01:31 PM
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It was hard getting him to sit still!
Color and grey scale
I really need to up my shutter count! Bought my K-x new right when it released. Only at 1,500 cycles currently. I guess I took it to heart when my instructor said to make each shot count!
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-04-2018, 09:20 PM
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After some internal debate, research, checking photo data, wallet checking, and of course everyone's input... I decided to go with the DA 50. It allowed some budget for replacing the cleaning supplies I had.
I would have had a harder time without the help of people that know cameras. Thank you!
I look forward to sharing my work after I get it.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-04-2018, 12:39 PM
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I am eyeballing a used FA 35mm f2 right now, 218 in excellent condition with the hood and lens caps. Also a Sigma 30mm f1.4 EX DC, but reading, that one is a bit slow on auto focus. That one is 182.
I am willing to bump the budget if the price is right
---------- Post added 10-04-18 at 01:09 PM ----------
Good thing shows aren't that violent around here!
I did get some good shots for personal use of my wife hugging one singer while he was singing.
He also told the crowd to get in close with him and he would hug them, so it was approved before hand.
The heavier music scene around here is close, we all share the same passion for our music, and treat each other like family.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-04-2018, 12:11 AM
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I found a couple fa35 f2s for 218 and 262 respectively in excellent condition. I may talk that over with the wife. Still sorting through piles of used lenses online.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-03-2018, 10:10 PM
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That looks worse than the lighting I was dealing with!
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-03-2018, 09:00 PM
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50-55 is where the kit lens struggles, but at 18 where I can get it as wide as possible is serviceable. Especially with flash. I could find myself rocking the 50 and ask the bands if a flash is ok for a nice full band action shot. No flash was still usable at that point. Anything wider than the 35 is a bit out of budget at the moment.
Looking through the data of the of the shots I took, I was at 55 probably 70 percent of the time, and being able to open up to at least f2-2.8 over being stuck at 5.6 would be a huge improvement. Since the stock lens is was designed for the same sensor type, the difference should be negligible.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-03-2018, 06:07 PM
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-03-2018, 05:27 PM
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Thank you for the insight! I have been looking through used lenses, even considered manual focus with swapping in an inexpensive focus screen, but trying get both would require a bit of lengthy shipping to keep costs down (Chinese split prism). The stock screen is difficult to use for manual.
I did find a couple 28s, albeit on the upper end price wise, but mostly 50s. Some great condition manual 50s of various speeds for dirt cheap too.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-03-2018, 04:22 PM
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I don't know if I would ever use the 50 wide open, but my kit lens at max zoom of 55mm sticks to a smaller aperture of f5.6 or so at the widest. Can't remember as I don't have it with me right now. At the 18mm end, when it opens up to 3.5, it works much better. I could get good shots with that, but it was only useful for full band or, if standing close extra close, 2 members.
Maybe the 35 would be enough, and wide open should keep the background out of focus enough...
Still reading through the links posted, taking it all in.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-03-2018, 03:51 PM
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I did not find those. Thanks!
Been using my phone for research and some things got to funky to figure out.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-03-2018, 03:35 PM
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First off, I read plenty of vs for these lenses in many forums found through google, but non had suited my needs, so I apologise for making another :)
After getting back in to photography, I picked up the strong desire to do concert photos. On my first outing, I learned just how hard it is with a kit lens!
So I started looking at the da 50 and 35 lenses to get sharper low light photos. But as it's been about 10 years since I've used a camera with a fast lens, I'm stuck on which one I would need first, which would help the most.
My camera is a K-x I bought right when it came out. And majority of what I will shoot will be metal and hard rock/punk bands, typically fast movers, in poorly lit bars. Some of which with a lot of neon beer signs as backlights, some with a couple dim overhead lights. Most cramped and up close and personal.
Most of my shots on my first outting were shot between half and full zoom, so about where both lenses would sit. Camera stuck on 3200 iso or lower in manual. The couple shots with flash turned out great, but I want to refrain from using it. Without, it was hit or miss on photos being clear, or soft and noisy after correction in post.
I do want better low light capability which pushes me towards the 50, but I also want to be able to get at least from the artists thighs and up, as they have a lot of expression in the legs with how they stand and move, making the 35 look like a better option. But I am not sure if it wide open would be enough in some bars.
I do also want to lower my iso and/or use less post processing to correct exposure as that added a lot of noise. Another benefit from either I found, is keeping crowd members out of focus, as I had quite a few funny looking faces popping up around the bands! Some could not be cropped out.
I can get the 35 right now for 90 bucks new as well. But I will eventually buy both. Just can't decide where to start.
To make things more fun, I do want to get one to my door before the 13th as my own band has a gig out of town, and I want to bring the K-x to shoot the other bands.
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
10-02-2018, 09:25 PM
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Good to hear!
I do want both, but need to decide soon on if a max of f2.4 is enough for my current needs. I do like the approximate look of it through the kit lens.
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
10-02-2018, 04:03 PM
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Thanks!
I am looking at lenses right now. Something faster like the DA 50mm f/1.8 or the 35 f/2.4.
Its about the only thing I need.
I do miss the old Pentax film camera I used throughout high school. If I can find a good deal on one, I may have to snag it.
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
10-02-2018, 02:05 PM
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I just got through reading some responses in another forum where I had shared some terribly low light concert photos, half the people there said the camera was bad and I should upgrade it... Even though it was operator error on the exposure and having to correct it in post boosted the noise.
I thought they turned out fine for what they were. An old dslr on a kit lens :lol:
Perhaps my favorite
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
10-02-2018, 02:01 AM
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Awesome! I'm glad to have found a forum that still has love for "outdated" equipment. It has served well and still works like it was new.
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
10-01-2018, 09:03 PM
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Hi, I Cameron. I started up photography in high school, and picked up a kx back when it came out. I still love the thing. I also learned on old Pentax film slrs back in school.
I had been on a long hiatus from photography due to life/work, but now that I have time, I have been getting really in to concert photography.
Though after my first try, while I got some photos that I, and the bands, are happy with, I have realized I need some new lenses. I look forward to relearning what I knew, and learning what I didn't.
Thanks for having me, and thanks for a forum dedicated to the camera brand I grew up with.
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