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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 12-13-2020, 08:17 PM  
Unexpected result of using a zoom lens
Posted By GR Jim
Replies: 34
Views: 2,514
Yup. That's what I decided to do. Truth be told, I haven't done much stitching of images for myself in a non-academic setting and I know how to do it in Photoshop. I also know of ICE and other similar programs, although I haven't used them yet. My stitching experience comes from scanning large artwork in pieces, combining them, and printing the results on a large-format printer.

---------- Post added 12-13-20 at 08:31 PM ----------


Yeah, that's the point. I've seen far too many photos of sunny places that have a flat, nearly colorless appearance due to the effects of strong sunlight. I need the nuances of shadow and rich colors that are difficult to capture in mid-day. You can see quite a lot of beauty in the desert and scrub land of the American southwest if you work hard and smart enough to eke it out. The 'golden hour' is good for that, but I'll be on a pretty tight schedule and I won't have the luxury of coming back to a particularly striking place to wait for nature's perfect lighting. Thus I need to resort to certain optics like ND filters to make it all work.

I truly respect Ansel Adams' art. He had incredible patience and waited long hours in just the right places, like a predator waiting next to an animal trail, for that perfect moment to capture. He managed to snag the perfect image with all those subtle nuances in truly challenging conditions.
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 12-13-2020, 09:49 AM  
Unexpected result of using a zoom lens
Posted By GR Jim
Replies: 34
Views: 2,514
Actually, yes. That's why I'm not heartbroken to go with a 17-50mm zoom. I always put my shots through post and I'm pretty good with Photoshop. I teach it in the university where I'm a professor. So creating panoramic scenes is no big deal to me. I'd much rather go with edge-to-edge sharpness than with a larger field of view. That's why I ultimately chose the Tamron over the Sigma 10-20mm I was originally going to get. According to user reviews, the Tamron is reasonably sharp across the entire frame at 17mm when stopped down a bit. Since I'll be really testing this lens in Arizona in the desert and all that sun, I'll be stopped down quite a lot. In fact, I just purchased a 10-stop ND filter that will be on that lens pretty often, I think. Since in my experience, bright sunlight bleaches out the landscape, I'll be able to recover some color if I open the aperture more. Plus, the K-70 has some great effects and scenery modes to help if necessary, although I don't use too many gimmicks with my shooting.
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 12-11-2020, 12:08 PM  
Unexpected result of using a zoom lens
Posted By GR Jim
Replies: 34
Views: 2,514
Thank you everyone for your explanation, viewpoints, and wise words. I didn't expect such a long thread. But basically, this 17-50mm lens is a starting point for my system as I'm starting over in my photography life after leaving film shooting. I now see what to expect with future lenses. I think the Tamron is a great lens and it has very good reviews, both by professionals and down-to-Earth users, but it's still a zoom. I have always favored prime lenses before, especially Nikon primes. I was looking for an ultra wide angle prime for expansive landscape photography in Arizona and couldn't find anything I liked that was affordable, so I compromised with a zoom. But I think photography, as in life, is a bunch of compromises anyway.
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 12-11-2020, 07:41 AM  
Unexpected result of using a zoom lens
Posted By GR Jim
Replies: 34
Views: 2,514
Hello,

These are probably very silly questions that show my inexperience with digital photography, having mostly lived in the film camera world.

I just recently purchased a K-70 and a Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD (non-VC to get a sharper image), thinking I'd get the uncropped equivalent range of 25.5-75mm, mild WA to mild Telephoto. However, after mounting the lens on the camera body and doing some practice shooting at the lens' 50mm focal length, I noticed both in the viewfinder and in Live View that the image is the same as I see it without the camera. Shifting my eyes away from the camera to the actual subject (a house across the street, shooting from within my home office), I do not see a mildly zoomed-in image. It's as if I were shooting a film camera with a 50mm 'normal' lens rather than a 75mm mild telephoto which I had expected.

So am I missing something with the whole cropped sensor technology? Do you think the lens is defective and not giving me the entire zoom range out to 50mm (75mm cropped)? How can I verify the proper functioning of the lens zoom range?

Any assistance I can get with this would be greatly appreciated.
Forum: Pentax Price Watch 12-03-2020, 03:53 AM  
Big price cut for K-70 at Adorama
Posted By GR Jim
Replies: 25
Views: 2,557
Boy, that was quick. But I'm sure it's just an initial trial to see how the demand looks. I'm confident the camera will be back on sale soon for the Christmas shopping season in Adorama, B&H, Walmart, etc.
Forum: Pentax Price Watch 12-02-2020, 06:22 PM  
Big price cut for K-70 at Adorama
Posted By GR Jim
Replies: 25
Views: 2,557
Yeah. "Temporarily on back order" now. Too bad.
Forum: Pentax Price Watch 12-02-2020, 04:23 PM  
Big price cut for K-70 at Adorama
Posted By GR Jim
Replies: 25
Views: 2,557
I just checked Adorama and I now see that the camera with the free accessories kit is back in stock and still at $346.95.
Forum: Pentax Price Watch 12-02-2020, 03:34 PM  
Big price cut for K-70 at Adorama
Posted By GR Jim
Replies: 25
Views: 2,557
Maybe you can get a K-70 as a backup?
Forum: Pentax Price Watch 12-02-2020, 02:50 PM  
Big price cut for K-70 at Adorama
Posted By GR Jim
Replies: 25
Views: 2,557
I'm glad I ordered mine early this morning. It's currently on its way to me.
Forum: Pentax Price Watch 12-02-2020, 09:17 AM  
Big price cut for K-70 at Adorama
Posted By GR Jim
Replies: 25
Views: 2,557
Just based on price, the K-70 would be the entry level, I think.
I believe Adorama, and probably other businesses like it, are clearing some K-70s out as they stock up on the K-3 III model. I wouldn't be surprised if the KP would also be discounted. B&H hasn't followed suit yet, nor has Walmart.

Now the search begins for discounted lenses...

---------- Post added 12-02-20 at 09:19 AM ----------


Yup. Make sure you scroll down the list in the Adorama site and select the free accessory kit option. That's what I did. Then select free shipping, which is expedited.
Forum: Pentax Price Watch 12-02-2020, 07:53 AM  
Big price cut for K-70 at Adorama
Posted By GR Jim
Replies: 25
Views: 2,557
Glad to help! It's an especially good offer, especially considering that the only free shipping option is expedited 1-3 days.
Forum: Pentax Price Watch 12-02-2020, 06:51 AM  
Big price cut for K-70 at Adorama
Posted By GR Jim
Replies: 25
Views: 2,557
I just found a big price reduction for the K-70 (black body only) with basic accessories kit for only $346.95 at Adorama. I'm finally pulling the trigger on this one!

Pentax K-70 DSLR Body, Black
Forum: Post Your Photos! 11-09-2020, 10:58 AM  
Misc Praetorian Guard
Posted By GR Jim
Replies: 3
Views: 468
Excellent creative work with the red lighting. It lends itself well to the overall mood of the figure.
Forum: Post Your Photos! 11-09-2020, 10:56 AM  
Night M42 with Astrotracer
Posted By GR Jim
Replies: 35
Views: 2,037
You manually moved the camera during the shots? That's amazing how sharp it still came out. Nicely done.
Forum: Post Your Photos! 11-09-2020, 10:54 AM  
Nature It must have been raining cats...
Posted By GR Jim
Replies: 14
Views: 528
A wonderful shot. The kitty is almost too large to fit.
Forum: Post Your Photos! 11-09-2020, 10:52 AM  
Travel Nature in the city
Posted By GR Jim
Replies: 12
Views: 436
What a gorgeous shot! It looks like it was taken at the golden hour, which beautifully highlights the subject.
Forum: Welcomes and Introductions 11-09-2020, 10:51 AM  
Hi everyone
Posted By GR Jim
Replies: 11
Views: 481
Hello, Marius. It's great to have you onboard. I'm also looking at various Pentax items like the K-70 and various lenses.
Forum: Pentax Lens Articles 09-19-2020, 09:59 AM  
Beware cheap "circular" polaizers
Posted By GR Jim
Replies: 34
Views: 62,532
OK. So after some more research, I found that K&F Concept is a Chinese company and I suspect that the low prices will probably reflect low image quality, so I'm taking them out of the running. The Kenko Puro line is now my top choice for good quality filters.
Forum: Pentax Lens Articles 09-13-2020, 08:07 AM  
Beware cheap "circular" polaizers
Posted By GR Jim
Replies: 34
Views: 62,532
I've been researching UV and CPL filters for a while now and K&F Concept filters have caught my eye. Does anyone have any experience with them? I'm particularly interested in the effect the green glass coatings have on the final image.
Forum: Welcomes and Introductions 09-10-2020, 05:43 AM  
Looking forward to some great discussions
Posted By GR Jim
Replies: 13
Views: 931
Hi Tom,

Thank you. That's a good reassurance. I'm glad you're finding both the 20-40mm and 15mm so useful. Another lens I just became incredibly interested in is the Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5. A refurbished copy is available from KEH Camera. I came across a user review of the lens in this forum with some amazing photos and I was convinced. Although it's somewhat slow for astrophotography, the K-70 will overcome that with its great low-noise feature and star tracking. I've never stacked photos before, so that will also be in my game plan.

---------- Post added 09-10-20 at 05:44 AM ----------


Thanks, Sandy. That one is on my list too so I'll keep an eye out for great deals for that lens.

---------- Post added 09-10-20 at 05:45 AM ----------


Arizona is already calling for me! I can't wait to get there.

Thanks!
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 09-07-2020, 05:44 PM  
Landscape lens question
Posted By GR Jim
Replies: 26
Views: 2,335
I'm absolutely amazed not only with your photographic skills and the creativity you put into your work, but with the IQ of the Sigma 10-20mm lens. They're still out there for a reasonable price (used) and now I'm seriously considering getting one for my new K-70. I need a good lens for astrophotography and wide landscapes. From what I've seen of that lens in action, it fits the bill quite well. Thanks for the photos!
Forum: Welcomes and Introductions 09-06-2020, 07:07 PM  
Looking forward to some great discussions
Posted By GR Jim
Replies: 13
Views: 931
Hi PJ1. Since I joined I've been doing a ton of research about what appears to be a "unicorn" lens...a beautiful fictional creature. I don't want much; just perfection ;-) Anyway, I need a lens that is f2.8 at the slowest, ultra wide (12mm to 15mm), tack-sharp across the entire frame, minimal distortion and CA, and costs less than $500 US. A Pentax/Ricoh-built lens is preferred, but I've owned other brands over the years and I'm impressed with Sigma and Tokina. I've never owned (or afforded) Zeiss or any of the other German lenses.

I will be using it primarily for wide vista landscapes (Grand Canyon, for example) and astrophotography. While I'm in Arizona, I can't pass up the chance for Milky Way shots in the clear desert night air.

The 20-40mm is not wide enough for me, both for landscape and astro work. I've been looking deeply at the Sigma 17-70mm f2.8 to 4 (the new generation), but it suffers from softness and significant CA and distortion. The Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II LD appears good, and it's more affordable, but it has wonky focusing problems with accuracy and inconsistency. It would be too unreliable as my primary glass.

Unfortunately, my original option of the Pentax 14mm f2.8 has too many poor professional reviews. The other lens I was looking at, the Pentax 50mm f1.8, is still a viable option for me, though. Like I said earlier, I won't be shooting much at 75mm (equivalent).

So I'm still looking for that WA lens. Maybe I'll use different unicorn bait, or a bigger net. Any advice from users of WA lenses with the K-70, used for landscape and astrophotography, would be greatly appreciated.
Forum: Welcomes and Introductions 08-31-2020, 06:42 AM  
Looking forward to some great discussions
Posted By GR Jim
Replies: 13
Views: 931
Thank you very much, Sandy. I've been looking at that 20-40mm lens for gap-filling and it will definitely be on my list after I return from the trip.

---------- Post added 08-31-20 at 06:46 AM ----------


Thank you, Peter. I look forward to seeing everyone else's work with their Pentax cameras. I just have to poke around the forum and get to know it. Once I start using the K-70, I'll post a few images. After the trip, there will be quite a few more.

---------- Post added 08-31-20 at 06:47 AM ----------


Thanks,ffking. I look forward to those discussions.

---------- Post added 08-31-20 at 06:51 AM ----------


Thank you, Martyn. I'll be needing a lens like the 20-40mm as I wander around my home state of Michigan after the Arizona trip. My interest in photography has been resurrected after being largely dormant in the past few years while I pursue my Ph.D. and remain busy teaching university students (I'm a computer technology professor).

---------- Post added 08-31-20 at 06:55 AM ----------


Oh, I'm sure I'll be getting more lenses. For this first trip, though, I wanted to remain highly transportable and to prove a point to myself that I can remain "minimalistic" for once. I've always been one to lug around a lot of gear, which gets in the way and adds too much stress to traveling. I also wanted prime lenses rather than the zooms I usually prefer, just for the sheer quality of the images. But once I'm back, it's no-holds-barred.

---------- Post added 08-31-20 at 06:58 AM ----------


Thanks, aslyfox. I'll check out the marketplace when I get a chance.
Forum: Welcomes and Introductions 08-30-2020, 08:11 PM  
Looking forward to some great discussions
Posted By GR Jim
Replies: 13
Views: 931
Hi everyone,

I'm Jim, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. I just joined the Pentax forum tonight for a couple of reasons: 1) to gain insight into the use of Pentax gear specifically and how to use it for certain types of shooting, and 2) to chat with others who are enthusiastic about the Pentax brand.

I'm an old film shooter using exclusively Nikon equipment up to this point. I primarily shoot landscape and nature scenes, although I get a little creative at times with some street scenes. I've won some awards at art shows, done some professional work with conventional photography and giclee art, been annoyingly behind my camera when on vacations, blah blah blah. I'm sure many of you can empathize with that. But what prompted me to join this forum is the firm decision I made to purchase a Pentax K-70 (after I sell all my Nikon camera and lenses on eBay). What prompted that was another decision I recently made to spend my 40th wedding anniversary celebration in Arizona...with my wife, of course. I split my childhood between San Diego and Hawaii (Oahu) and got to know and fall in love with Arizona. My wife has never been there and she agreed to my "bucket list" trip to get back to my childhood a little and visit Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Meteor Crater, Petrified Forest, the Hopi reservation, and other places for a week. In fact, we're taking an Amtrak train down there, which should also be exciting. I decided that I need to get rid of my old Nikon film gear and get a good, modern, and very capable DSLR for the trip. I thought about going with a Nikon DSLR but thought I'd check the alternatives and found the K-70. I was totally blown away with its quality, features, and relatively affordable price for the body and glass. It's head and shoulders above the Nikon 5300 that I was originally considering.

To keep things light and simple, I'm only getting two lenses for the trip...the Pentax 14mm f2.8 prime and the Pentax 50mm f1.8 prime. Since 90% of my shooting will be wide open landscape shots, those should suffice with the 1.5x crop factor. But any advice I can get on using the camera and lenses for razor-sharp landscape shooting, plus some astrophotography out in the desert, would be great. In the coming year, I look forward to some good discussions along that vein. I also purchased the eBook for the K-70 after joining the forum, so that's a start.

Anyway, I've rambled on far too long. I'll just wrap it up by saying 'Hi' and I'm glad I'm here.

Regards,

Jim
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