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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
08-26-2009, 04:05 PM
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a ND will help, you could also use a reflector to add some fill if the conditions/setting is right. Fortunately, creativity and imagination cost less than than a HSS flash. But a HSS flash does make things easier
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
08-24-2009, 10:35 AM
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Forum: Photographic Technique
07-21-2009, 02:26 PM
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I use a old backpack/laptop bag with a camera insert for going from point A to B. I'll have my 24-135mm mounted as my walk around lens (which has a 77mm front element). I sometimes have a sweatshirt or lihgt jacket over my arm to cover my camera and draw less attention to it.
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
07-03-2009, 05:56 PM
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A short length of 4 conductor thermostat wire and a 250k Ohm pot from Fender Guitars ( audio taper pots ) and I have manual control of my 283. Unfortunately the socket needed for making this into a unit is a Vivitar only item.
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
07-02-2009, 10:14 AM
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I managed to score a couple Vivitar 283s on eekbay. Cost was under $20, but it took over a month to find such a deal.
Have you called any local shops to see what they have in their bargain/used bins?
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
07-01-2009, 02:51 PM
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I use the Zing hand/wrist strap combined with the "stock" Pentax neck strap. It is a comparable combination to what I've used in the past, for just what you described.
Also, if your local shop has a used section, you might peek through it to see if there is a "close enough" option in there.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-29-2009, 01:00 PM
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I don't think I'm in your "league" for buying lenses, but here are my current "wants".
Pentax 12-24 - a "super-wide" to go with my walkabout
A Pentax 85mm prime, with an "A" setting. I love this FL for portraits, but I want to be able to "shoot and move"
A Sigma 120-400 or 170-500 zoom for wildlife.
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
06-23-2009, 03:36 PM
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Sounds like my recent ebay win. The grand total was under $14 for 2 Chinese made 283s. Trigger voltage on both is under 9 volts and 3 cords included (1 coiled and 2 short PC cords).
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-22-2009, 07:59 AM
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I used a Sigma 17-70 for awhile until I picked up a Sigma 24-135. Both do well as walk around lenses for me, with me using the 24-135 more often for it's wider range. I don't think you would go wrong with either one of these.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
05-17-2009, 08:52 AM
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For me, it was my $15 135mm/2.8 SMC "A" lens.
Now if I were only better at manual focusing.
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
05-16-2009, 09:59 PM
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I've had good luck with them in my Vivitar 283's. But as usual, your mileage may vary.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
05-12-2009, 07:24 PM
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Try some of the demos from Lightzone, Bibble, ACDSee Pro, and Adobes offerings (Photoshop, Elements and Lightroom).
I found ACDsee to be best for my needs, but you may like one of the others more.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-29-2009, 11:22 AM
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And as I said on another forum, both Pentax and Olympus users are often treated as "red-headed stepchildren" when it comes to photography.
I never cared much for Canon cameras, but if someone gets great shots from one and is comfortable with it, good for them. Same for the other brands as far as I am concerned. Use what you are comfortable with and shoot.
Back to the topic; I am not aware if the program shift on Canon or Nikon allows the aperture or shutter speed to remain "set" when conditions change.
I have heard some Nikons can do something similar, but it requires some form of menu diving. I just prefer the way Pentax implemented it.
edit: Yes, now you are on the right track. I often use it as my default so I can control DoF on a portrait, yet switch to Tv to capture a fast moving subject at the flick of a wheel.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-29-2009, 10:45 AM
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When I asked about this, I received a "deer-in-the-headlights" stare. Also, when lighting changes, the camera acts as if it is in Av or Tv(aperture or shutter speed remains where it was set) until modes are changed or the green button is pressed.
Now this may be in other brands, but apparently not well known amongst the salespeople in the various camera shops I've been in.
And sorry if the "canikon" comment offends you. I was referring to those who think Canon and Nikon are the only two viable choices when buying a camera.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-29-2009, 08:29 AM
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Program is my default mode for that reason. It was also why I could not stay away from Pentax, tho the CaNikons did their best to convince me otherwise.
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
04-28-2009, 11:09 AM
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A couple things I've tried and use are;
report sleeves/page protectors diffuser - normally hold letter sized pages and are stiffer than most plastic bags.
Deli bowls "lightsphere"- check your local market or deli for plastic translucent soup/salad bowls that resemble tupperware. Cut the top to snugly fit your flash and viola.
Have fun
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
04-27-2009, 01:35 PM
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If you could find a way to make a "swivel-base" to contain the parts, that would be sweet! I've seen swivel optical triggers on eBay. Maybe one of those could contain the part,
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-16-2009, 12:18 PM
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I seem to have slightly better AF and SR performance, with less hunting on my slower focusing lenses. AF "lock" seems quicker as does MF confirmation.
Yes, it could all be a placebo effect. It also could be some K20Ds were better calibrated "out-of-the-box" than others. That could explain the wide variety of reports about improvements.
Either way, nothing seems to have become worse from the update.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
04-14-2009, 01:33 PM
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I picked up a Sigma 24-135mm for around $150 from fleabay. It does what I need it to do. Now the urges for that 12-24 are starting.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
04-14-2009, 08:02 AM
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For outdoors, Polarizer! Not the cheap ones either!
A good quality Circular Polarizer (CPL) will do a lot for getting it right in-camera.
Next would be Nuetral Density Graduated filter.
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Forum: Do-It-Yourself
04-13-2009, 03:44 PM
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I used Elmer's spray tack and a couple of phone books (as a makeshift "press") to put mine together. Cost about $10 for the materials, half of that was the glue.
I'm considering a few other designs. But this does spread/difuse the light pretty well.
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
04-13-2009, 07:55 AM
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I LIKE IT! As long as it is stable and does not interfere with getting the shot, use it. Weight=stabilty uless you are hiking some distance to get to your subject.
Just my 2 cents
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
04-01-2009, 05:41 PM
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Thanks for the review jots.
I've been looking for just such a device for backing up and off-loading cards. I had considered the Epson and Wolverine alternatives, as well as a netbook to do some field editing. This seems to be more suited to what I originally wanted, a big "bucket" to dump my photos in.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-01-2009, 09:24 AM
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I usually buy the better Tiffen or mid-range Hoyas. Whichever I can get a better price on
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
03-30-2009, 10:11 AM
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Sounds like you may be needing 2 lenses.
I have the Sigma 70-300 APO Macro which does ok for macro shots and is a decent tele. But may leave you too much of a gap between 55-70mm.
You might try the Pentax 55-300mm for medium to long telephoto shots and get a Raynox Macro filter/lens to do macro shots. The Raynox 250 would work on both the kit and the 55-300 using the adapter that (usually) comes with it.
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