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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
2 Days Ago
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[moderator hat on]OK folks. Let's put down the dukes before this last misunderstanding gets the thread closed.
Mind you, it doesn't have much life left in it anyway....[/moderator hat off] |
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
3 Days Ago
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You made it to Paignton, and survived?? You really know how to live, Dave! :lol:
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
3 Days Ago
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Checking in on this thread has me confused.
Are cameras:
1) Becoming too clever and easy to use, sucking out the joy of working hard, and making us wish for simpler times.
or
2) Becoming too complicated and hard to use, so that learning and using them is too difficult, and making us wish for simpler times.
… how can the entire camera industry possibly know what to do when this one extremely narrow slice of a very specific sub-niche of a small part of their market can't even agree on how they're doing it wrong?
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
4 Days Ago
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The diversity (and divergence) of comments on this thread show that maybe the original question of the thread rests on a false premise. Perhaps the industry has not lost its way because there is no one way to go.
Some people want more and more resolution while others find a 10 MPix K10D to be adequate (with more pixels just being more of a burden).
Some people want the fastest AF and frame rates while others revel in the enforced delays and constraints of a slower camera.
Some people love the complexity of all the modes of metering, AF, white balance, digital filters, and time lapse controls while others seek simple elegance.
Some people pixel peep and demand corner-to-corner micro-contrast perfection from every lens while others eschew clinical perfection for evocative form and tonality.
Under such conditions no single camera or lens can ever grab everyone's attention or lead the photographic world into the future. And that is because "the future" is not a single destination, it is an ever enlarging world of choices in styles and approaches to photography that foster a diverging range of equipment.
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
5 Days Ago
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First, inventions are not like hamburgers -- they can't be cranked out on an assembly line day-after-day, year-after-year. Once something is invented, it can't be invented again. Each new invention permanently consumes some chunk of the space of all possible inventions. Sensor technology is near the limits of what silicon sensors can provide. Maybe some exotic new sensor technology (and Foveon ain't it) will eek another stop of dynamic range out of the light levels on this planet but maybe not. Physics places an upper bound on basic camera performance.
Second, many of the more recent inventions (extremes in framerates, video, global shutter) arguably only appeal to a niche audience and might actually turn-off some buyers. Sure, the breathless yammering of influencers and pundits tries to make each new feature a must-have, game-changer disruption of the entire industry. But the truth is that most inventions only bump the needle a little bit (and sometimes in the wrong direction like Sony's global shutter A9). Meanwhile, all of the pre-existing cameras ever built still continue to take decent pictures. The point is that each new invention is both even harder to create and even less likely to capture everyone's interest.
Interest in photography has not waned at all. I'd bet that the number of people taking photographs and the number of photographs taken per person continues to rise. It's just that more and more photographs are taken with smartphones. My wife's iPhone 14 Pro is essentially identical to interchangeable lens camera with a bag of three decent lenses (12, 24, and 75mm equivalent focal lengths). Sure, my Pentax cameras offer much more photographic control, a much wider array of lenses, and better resolution and image quality. But the iPhone takes very acceptable pictures under a wide range conditions. (The ratio of smartphone pictures to "real camera"pictures is nothing new -- I'd bet consumer point-and-shoot camera have always dominated the picture-per-year figures.)
There's also a strong segment of photographers (both established professionals and neophytes) who clamor for simpler cameras, not ones with more and more features. They actually want cameras that provide a more direct experience stripped of all the automagical bells, whistles, and shiny bits of technology that were added only for the sake of claiming the camera has more technology. A key part of that segment is in having more focused cameras that do something especially well rather than trying to do everything for everyone.
Personally, I think Pentax/Ricoh are doing alright in this era of over saturation of technology, especially given their limited resources. The monochrome K3 and forthcoming half-frame film camera epitomize the kinds of new products that are more interesting to actual customers. Rather than bloated technological flagships, maybe it's better to create nice sailboats that put the creativity of photography back in the hands of the photographer.
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
5 Days Ago
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The camera industry has always been about cramming the latest viable technology into their boxes and making their boxes out of the latest materials available.
At one time they were made out of wood and leather because that was the best they had. Now they are made from carbon fiber or other plastics, in part to keep costs down but also because those materials are easier to work with (kind of like when they changed from artisan building from wood to stamping brass on an assembly line).
Nothing has changed in that regard.
The camera industry isn't losing it's way, it's on the same path it has always been on.
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
5 Days Ago
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From Wikipedia:
Betteridge's law of headlines is an adage that states: "Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no."
I'll add that discussions about Kids These Days / People Are Doing It Wrong / Why Don't They Just will simply be an echo chamber and can be safely ignored.
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
03-30-2024, 09:44 AM
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A week or so ago I wrote about acquiring a Rollator-style walker to cope with some balance problems I have. It is an all-terrain model with pneumatic tires. At the time all I had was a product photo from the seller's website.
This post is to show some photos of the Rollator in use. The other day I took it out for a full-blown test. I loaded it up with more gear than I would ever take at one time and then headed out for a two mile wander around a small lake at the local state park. The path varies between gravel and dirt and some grass, and it while it was flat, it was not smooth. The Rollator passed with flying colors.
The gear I packed for this included my photo bag packed with a K-3// camera body and 4 lenses and a Sirui travel tripod; a full-sized Benro tripod; and a Sigma 150-500 along with a gimbal mount. In other words, a bunch of stuff. Here are some photos that show the Rollator both packed and in action.
I am thrilled with this whole set-up. It will give me more opportunities than I have had in a while. If anyone reading this has some mobility issues, this might be something to explore.
This photo shows the camera bag on the front of the walker. I used 2 snap hooks to hang it. The snap hooks are attached to the walker with zip-ties and stay on all the time.
Here is the full-sized tripod mounted on the other side of the Rollator. I used 2 gear-ties (giant tie-wraps) for this and they worked perfectly.
Here I am sitting on the walker's seat and using the camera. This worked great; better than I expected.
The tripod set up with Sigma ready to shoot some wading birds and water fowl. Notice the tripod is set low so I can sit while taking while taking pictures.
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Forum: General Photography
03-30-2024, 10:08 AM
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I definitely prefer....both.
For travel my go-to heads are Acratech. Some years ago DPR did a test and found that (at that time) the Acratech held better than others. This has been my experience, using a 645Z) and I have 2 of them (great deal on a used one, then got the other which had better features for me). They are lighter than other heads with the same holding power/weight rating.
But for most of my pro work I use a geared head, the heavier sibling of pan-tilts. Very precise movements are possible with ease, which is not something that can be said for ball heads, which can be precisely adjusted but not with ease (but YMMV applies).
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
03-27-2024, 02:36 PM
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I almost always have my camera set in Manual mode when I resort to flash. That way if I want to adjust something that is auto, it will only be on the flash if at all. Not that it is wrong for other users to do something else, that is just the way I use my flash light a majority of the time. It seems to work well and is a relatively simplified set up.
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
03-27-2024, 03:21 PM
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The best way to think about this is that EC is the way the photographer tells the exposure system that the subject is NOT the proverbial 18% gray. Bright subjects need positive EC to increase the exposure. Dark subjects need negative EC to decrease the exposure.
Even if the subject matter is 18% gray, EC can be used for highkey or lowkey effects that intentionally over- or under-expose the subject for artistic purposes.
In the case of fill flash, different ambient and flash EC settings may be needed if the ambient-lit background and flashed foreground have very different tonalities (e.g., a black cat in front of a bright white backdrop) of if the photographer wants to enforce some level of over- or under-exposure for the two elements of the scene.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-25-2024, 03:38 PM
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[LIST][*]
Point(s) of order:
- The Sony is not a lousy little camera.
- The Nikon's were not ever intended to chase toddlers
- Focus point "right on the edge of the frame" is ....an odd need.
- "Modern capabilities"---I rather think it's horses for courses. I haven't any need for the things you seem to---and that doesn't mean I'm going to try to convince you to get a 645Z.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-25-2024, 07:46 AM
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I have always been a bit mystified by people having difficulties with Pentax in general photography situations. I've never had these problems. Now, I don't do BIF or sports (like soccer, etc...). Indeed, if that was my bag I'd probably use a different system because Pentax is probably a step behind (although we have motor sports shooters here who seem to do quite well....). But for general purpose imaging I don't see the problem with Pentax in my experience---which includes shooting side by side with a 5DmkIV in lower light. Oh, indeed the Canon was quicker...and often wrong. From that shoot the usable images all came from my Pentax.
I daresay a lot of this has to do with the user and getting the camera dialed in.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-25-2024, 04:05 AM
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Those, plus the odd few who want to let us know how great the other brands are by comparison :p :lol:
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-24-2024, 02:38 PM
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I rather think you're heading for disappointment with A N Other camera make – doesn't matter which one. All cameras need proper time learning to use them effectively, even the latest mirrorless wunderkind. Otherwise, where do all the badly-focused photos of cats taken with {insert really expensive camera & lens combination} come from? I used to think my elderly DSLR just wasn't up to the job, but with time discovered the real problem was 3 inches behind the viewfinder.
Of course if you got an influencer/YouTube licence, you'd know perfectly how to nail everything immediately on unboxing the new shiny. :p
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-24-2024, 02:51 PM
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I think all new cameras released since 2015 have a hidden menu setting, "Influencer mode: On / Off". If only we could figure out the button combo to access that, everything else would fall into place :D
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-24-2024, 12:30 PM
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you have just confirmed my comments, you are comparing technologies that are 10-12 years apart, to be blunt, you comparisons and expectations are unfair. Stating how bad a brand is, but not even comparing similar generations of technology. Sorry but thats the way i see it.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-24-2024, 12:09 PM
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Thanks, it is. It gives me a broad and more personally informed perspective to draw on rather than just "I read it somewhere on the internet so it must be true".
I've never used Canon except for a single shoot with a borrowed 5D-somthin' three or four years ago so I can't really comment on them with any authority. The OP may be 100% spot-on for his wants.
But funny enough, today, I spent time shooting with the K3III on a daybreak hike, with a Pixel 8 Pro doing backup duty, and followed that up with some extended camera time on a Nikon Zf and Sony a9.
Busy shutter finger today with the wife out for lunch and shopping with the girls. I think they may have invited Al Kohall to tag along :)
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
03-24-2024, 10:13 AM
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AI also stands for "Artificial Illiteracy"
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Forum: Film Processing, Scanning, and Darkroom
03-19-2024, 07:30 PM
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That could be another cause of band type flashing but in this OP's case the band is in exactly the same place on each frame which indicates it happened while the film was parked waiting for the next shot to be taken. Also with a film canister light leak, the density of the damage usually changes toward the center of the film wrap because light has to go through more layers of film to reach the center resulting in less flashing at the core.
I think the first two responses were spot on.:)
At least this flashing mark didn't wipe out the entire frame and most of the image was intact.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-16-2024, 04:22 AM
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I think what people complain about with the Pentax DA line up is that they have one lens in each focal length not 3. Their expectation for a full lens line up would be a full DA Limited line, then a DA line of cheap lenses and a DA* line of expensive ones.
Of course all they would buy is the cheap DA ones, but their expectation.......
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
03-14-2024, 06:36 AM
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Since 645 is already a half-frame 6x9, would this be a quarter frame? :p
-Eric
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
03-07-2024, 02:11 PM
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There are very few Edit KAF2 compatible TCs
---------- Post added 03-07-24 at 04:13 PM ----------
[/COLOR]
There is a big difference between the shooting aperture at F14 and the wide open aperture at F14. The camera focuses wide open at F2.8 and then stops down to shoot
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-06-2024, 04:15 AM
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More snappin' less yappin'
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-20-2024, 06:02 AM
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I don't want to start an argument or join in an existing one, but I have to point out that Zone V in the zone system is not halfway on any histogram. Zone V is the midtone in the actual real world scene in front of you -- things like grey stone, some types of wood, dark skinned people. Meanwhile, Zone VIII in the zone system is the lightest tones in the real world scene in front of you that you want to capture with some visible detail. If you want to meter for Zone VIII you use a spot meter, which will give you a Zone V value, then you add three stops to get an exposure that puts those tones in Zone VIII. That's just the way it works, and it's the same with both film and digital cameras.:)
When considering the tones in the real world scene in front of you using the zone system, it's also necessary to consider how you will develop and print the negative or process the raw file, so that ultimately you can translate those real world tonal values into a photographic print.
Your demonstrations of an 11 stop range in digital photography are interesting, but they've got nothing to do with the zone system.:)
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