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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
10-15-2015, 06:22 PM
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Thank you all for the kind replies!!
And I do get a lot of "Is that a painting?" from people who view the image.
From the amount of post processing I did to bring out the "details" ,,,, well,,,,,
It does look like a painting,,,, :p
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
09-04-2015, 10:17 AM
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Taken after WAY too many beers and without a tripod. I am still amazed it turned out!!!
ISO: 1600
Focal length: 17mm
Exposure Mode: Manual
Metering: Center-Weighted Average
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Forum: Pentax K-r
04-03-2011, 01:19 PM
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Not a deal breaker. But it does suck!!:mad:
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Forum: Pentax K-r
04-03-2011, 11:54 AM
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While I have not shot with a Metz I have used the 500 and 530 Sigma units and they are quite capable.
Forgot about them. Thanks for the reminder.
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Forum: Pentax K-r
04-03-2011, 11:12 AM
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ukwoody: When I said I would be shooting for myself I did not mean it in the "for pay" sense.
Stefan: GREAT point.
This deal is my way of still being able to enjoy photography for myself first. Money does not enter into any of the buying choices.
My only concern is how much the gear selection costs. Not how much it makes in the monetary sense.
Just the "personal" smile sense,,,,
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Forum: Pentax K-r
04-03-2011, 08:57 AM
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NOTE: This is NOT a 7D for sale post. I think I have a local deal worked out already.
Medical bills and the loss of my partnership with a photographer (wedding gigs. I shot as 2nd) has put me in a position of selling my Canon 7D with it's 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens and Nissin i686 flash.
Some history: I sold my K20 to buy the Canon 7D since the photographer paid me more for my services based on her having an easier time with editing since she didn't have to allow for my Pentax colors vs her 5d MkII colors when she did the editing. Now that that is gone and I am shooting for myself I want to go back to the Pentax system.
The fact that I still have some Pentax manual (prime) lenses makes the decision a no brainer.
Now since this is a "get some money for bills deal" I have removed the K-5 from the buying list since that would result in a lateral (almost no hard cash involved) move.
But being the compulsive "Think about everything you will gain and lose" type of person I wanted to get some perspective from people who have:
A: Done exactly what I am doing and give their real world experience on the results.
B: Have shot with the K-5 and K-R and again, can give real world experience.
Then again, if others are contemplating what I am I would love to get their thoughts as well.
Lens wise I will be seeking either the 18-55mm, 55-300mm combo or the 18-135mm/18-200mm (cost vs. benefit is a factor) lens to add to my primes for walk around fun.
The battery grip is something I want to add simply because I prefer the feel of it on the body based on my past experience with bodies in this size range. But that will be determined on cost. I can always add that later.
Flash wise I am still up in the air. Even my casual shooting has demonstrated how much a 540 unit can whoop up on the 360 from my K20 experience. Then again will the increased ISO of the K-r allow me to use a less powerful speedlite?
So lots of questions ahead of time to ease my buyers remorse that will set in once I have what I have.
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
05-31-2010, 04:03 AM
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WOW! That is expensive. Maybe I'll just stick to the RF-602 system and deal with swapping the transmitter for the 540 flash, if needed.
I am shooting with a K20d.
Thanks for the info.
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
05-29-2010, 08:17 AM
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Does anyone know of a transmitter that allows for mounting of a flash (IE: 540) on the camera?
Example: have your slaves setup in a specific area, but with the choice of firing the "mounted" flash without triggering the remotes via a switch on the transmitter? like wise firing the slaves without or with the "mounted" flash?
In other words a transmitter that has an additional shoe. Preferably with P-TTL.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
05-15-2010, 06:08 AM
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I am going start by saying the Pentax "system" was just a better fit for me. The following will get a bit long winded.
1. Weather sealing. It is SO nice to be able to get out in the elements and not have to concern myself with the equipment as much as I do the subject.
2. Shake reduction. As I get older, I am getting shakier. Being able to attach ANY lens I want and have that benefit is a major plus to me.
3. The D90 purchase was a "snap" decision the evening before I was invited to shoot as a second photographer for a wedding. The Sigma SD14 I was using (By the way, the SD14 is a GREAT camera, in a very specific way) was so out of it's element in the lousy lighting the ceremony was shot in I opted to run into Best Buy (15 minutes before closing) on the way home from the rehearsal and snap up a D90 system with a 360 flash.
I will say this for the Nikon system: They have the best flash to camera metering system I have ever used. You could hand that camera to anyone (set in P mode) and even with the 2nd level flash (360) the camera takes good shots. I have previously shot with a SD14, a Canon system (40D with 17-55mm f/2.8 and 580 flash) and none of them can match how well that little D90 did with 2nd level equipment.
And while I knew that my search for first level (Or Pro if you prefer) lenses was going to be as pricey as my Canon experience (I had a 70-200 f/2.8 IS lens. What a lens!) I figured that the Nikon was so good with basic equipment it would be that much better than the Canon for the same price.
I had never read a review of the K20D even though the camera was released 2 months prior to my "snap" purchase.
4. Image quality and detail. Imagine my reaction when Imaging Resource FINALLY did a review of the camera and I had a chance to read about it. The final kicker was doing the Comparometer (I do do pixel peep, so sue me) on high ISO shots between the K20D and the other cameras I have used. The K20D shots had WAY more detail than the D90 did. I am (now) convinced that all the noise (pun intended) about how well the Nikon D90, D300, Dwhatever shoots high ISO comes from the heavy-handed Chroma noise formula they use. Because when they are compared side by side, there was no question the K20D just stomped all over the D90 and my (former) 40D in detail retention.
So while it may take a bit more work and setup to shoot in low light with a Pentax system, you will have more to work with in post processing.
5. Focus speed. The K20D does not focus as fast as the D90 or 40D I have used. But if you have ever used a Sigma SD14 (Don't get me started) and have found a way to work with that level of speed, you will be MORE than happy with the K20D. Do I wish it was a bit faster? Sure. Is it fast enough for me? YES.
6. System upgrades. I am not made of money. My former camera purchases revolved around a bit of luck in a buy/sell arrangement on Ebay that netted me enough money to buy my friend's Rebel 300 and 28-135mm lens over 3 years ago. From there I made VERY calculated purchases that allowed me to upgrade through the Canon system, the Sigma system, and the Nikon system before "discovering" the Pentax system with the K20D as the core. In retrospect, if ANY website had done a thorough review of the K20D before I started my jump from the Canon system I would have never even bothered with the Nikon and Sigma stuff.
7. Price. Which could be stated as value. For the money, I feel the Pentax system gives you the most bang for the buck. However, if Hoya/Pentax keeps raising there price on lenses they are going to negate that advantage rather quickly. But for now they still have that advantage.
And I do get a kick out of trolling the want ads (And Goodwill, believe it or not) for old K mount lenses that are selling for perversely low prices. Someday I will get the adapter that allows me to start trying some of the old M42 screw mounts as well.
8. Control layout. The K20D has the best dual wheel placement of anyone. I can't speak for Nikon since I never shot with a D300, but the Canon system is the absolute dumbest style/layout ever. Forget the fact that the back wheel on a 40D is (for me anyway) in an awkward position for my thumb to find. Putting the front wheel on the same plane as the shutter trigger and so close resulted in more misfires from tripping the shutter than I care to recount. I realize this is a very subjective point, but hey, I am the one who has to use it right?
One area I ALWAYS skip over in reviews is any sentence that has the word intuitive in it. That is the one thing that can't be properly addressed in a review since it is a personal decision as to what is intuitive. This is just a side note and so I digress.
9. Prime lens quality. I never shot a prime on the D90, but I did (50mm f/1.8 and 85mm f/1.8) on the 40D. I recently picked up an old, discontinued FA 50mm f/1.7 and am still just blown away by the shots I get. And this in comparison to going through some of my old Canon "prime" pictures. Maybe I am getting better with practice and that's why the shots I am now getting are so much better than ALL the old shots taken with a different primes/systems. I'll try getting drunk or banging my head against a wall and then shooting more shots to see if that is the difference. :lol:
But the shots from that "old" lens are enough for me to consider selling my Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 and getting a FA 35mm or a Sigma 28mm f/1.8, or (GASP) a 31mm limited.
But that will have be another windfall deal since my day to day income and expenses won't allow an outright purchase. And with the downturn in the economy, the photographer who employs me as a gopher/2nd shooter hasn't had as many jobs/bookings so the side income has become scarce.
So to put a (much) shorter answer to your original question: The D90 is better at firing from the hip and getting a "usable" image than the K20D. But if you take the time, and use experience to take the shot, the final image will yield a better result coming from the Pentax.
Any other question? :p
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
05-14-2010, 03:38 PM
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I was going to jump in and say the D90 would be a closer model to compare instead of the D5000. But you beat me to it with a better comparison.
I did own the D90 Nikon and while there are some things I will miss from that platform, I have not looked back since buying the K20D
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-01-2010, 08:22 PM
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And in all seriousness:
GREAT shots. My hats off to you for the ingenuity.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-01-2010, 08:21 PM
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For the sake of argument let's consider that PentaxPoke did not give the actual reason so I can post the wise-ass response:
So he can get his camera back! :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-10-2010, 09:31 AM
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Thanks for the tip. I'll try and give it a whirl this weekend.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-10-2010, 08:12 AM
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Just to be clear: I am asking if anyone knows if the K20d's metering system (In spot and center weight) follow the focus point if you select something other than center?
Also, thanks for the replies and suggestions.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-10-2010, 07:27 AM
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I did a (albeit quick) search and could not find a specific answer to this question so here we go:
When I shoot people, I usually aim for the eyes using the center focus point and then (while keeping the button half pressed) recompose for the shot. This seemed (using global metering) to be the quicker than selecting a focus point for different types of people shots and changing the focus point to the different framing.
But a thought occurred to me: What if I am shooting a high contrast (Wedding dress, dark background) scene and I want to use center weighted or spot metering to expose for the dress, or make sure the face is properly exposed? Leaving the focus point at the center and aim first, compose second, would screw up the metering, depending on the area differential.
Now I suppose I could use the handy green button, but if I knew the spot metering followed the selected focus point, I would not have to worry about the exposure for the desired/selected area.
IE: aim for the dress, expose for the dress. or aim for the eyes/face, and I know that will be properly "lit".
Or am I just over thinking the whole thing?
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Forum: Sold Items
03-10-2010, 06:33 AM
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pm'ed about a package deal.
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Forum: Sold Items
03-10-2010, 06:17 AM
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pm'ed and standing 2nd in line for the sale.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-04-2010, 09:43 AM
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Hey Will,
Thanks for the reply and giving your preference.
The reason I was asking was, I recently picked up a (My first FA prime) FA 50mm f/1.7 lens and I am blown away by the shots I can achieve with it. The difference in shooting with that vs my Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 was almost as big a revelation as the first time I shot and viewed a picture on a Dslr vs a point and shoot camera.
Maybe not that big, but you get the idea.
So now I am on a mission to score additional primes to (maybe) replace my 17-50mm zoom.
My biggest needs for more primes are for my wedding shoots. Let me state that I am not the primary photographer but an assistant to the main photographer. My job (Aside from being a gopher) is getting the scene shots that the main person can not. IE: Before the cermony I shoot the groom and groomsmen preparing, during the ceremony I become the "church mouse" catching whatever looks like a good shot from the far corners or balcony, and then staying 45 - 90 degrees off the main photographer's shoulder to get post ceremony/reception shots from a different angle.
Now in "Church mouse" mode I primarily use a Sigma 35-135mm AF lens which (For what it is - f/3.5-4.5) is quite sharp and gives me great latitude in framing my shots.
But for the post ceremony/reception I have found that my 17-50mm pretty much lives in the 24-33mm range. I reviewed the last 4 weddings I shot and looked over all my (several hundred) "keepers" and determined that either the 35mm or the 28mm would suffice my prime needs.
Quality issues aside, I am glad you prefered the 28mm over the 35mm since I was thinking it is always easier to step forward, rather than (since walls and people tend to limit) backward movement.
So I guess my next mission is finding a Sigma 28mm. The following one is determining if I should sell the 17-50mm. Heck with that sale I could (almost) convince the Mrs. I need both! :p
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-03-2010, 07:26 PM
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I am considering both of the lenses you mentioned. Since the original thread is 1.5 years old I am guessing you have come to a conclusion?
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Forum: Sold Items
02-22-2010, 05:16 PM
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pm'ed about the lens. I want it.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-22-2010, 02:43 PM
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As tempting as this is I just can't see justifying the upgrade. My K20d is humming along quite nicely.
Besides I would prefer to wait for the K30d/whatever model.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-21-2010, 11:58 AM
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None of the above
Most of my reasons have been posted (by others) elsewhere in this thread. Not in the market right now, I am covered with what I have at present, etc.
I have been guilty of jumping brands the last 3.5 years. While I am not made of money, I have been very lucky in the results of purchasing on sale, and not losing much (in some cases not at all) on the resale.
I originally (digitally speaking) started with the Canon 300D and a 28-135mm IS lens. Not that I was looking to buy into the whole dslr thing. A friend was upgrading and offered it to me for a fantastic price.
It only took a few shots to get hooked.
Over time I upgraded in the Canon line, tried a Sigma SD14 and some assorted lenses, sold off everything and made a (albeit hasty) snap decision to try the Nikon D90, and finally moving into the Pentax system I have been with for over a year.
I shot Pentax (Spotmatic) back in the 70's before marriage and children (And yes, I am REALLY kicking myself about some of the stuff I could have hung unto for present use) so when I read about the K20d and saw the value in the Pentax lens line up I made (what I thought would be) a final move into the Pentax system.
I still believe that dollar for dollar their is no camera that matches up to the K20d feature set and abilities.
But the lens pricing has me thinking about the future. That is a component that does have an impact on future purchasing concerns.
I have also been working as 2nd photographer on wedding/event shoots. The position is more of a gopher/can't be in 2 places at once so take a shot for alternate perspective, etc. so the pay is minimal. The photographer is using a Canon 5D MkII and a bevy of "L" glass and has suggested that if I ever were to switch back to Canon I would have the opportunity to utilize some of her lenses. This is more of a running line of humor between us.
So I am not holding my breath over that offer. The friend who sold me his 300D made the same comment and while there was some lens swapping going on initially, it always was with angst over what would happen in the event of beakage.
And eventually we both started shooting in different areas so our inventory was just not compatible for swapping.
But it does get me thinking about future equipment purchases.
And it also makes me wish I would have forgone eating 15 months ago when I could have bought a DA* 50-135mm AND a FA 50mm f/1.4 for less that what the damn 50-135mm goes for right now.
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Forum: Sold Items
02-15-2010, 03:18 PM
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Forum: Sold Items
02-14-2010, 06:28 PM
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-21-2010, 03:19 AM
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Thanks for the quick replies. And sorry about my extended delay.
Based on what you folks have said I did not send the camera in. After the shoot this weekend I will send it in. The issue with the front wheel has only occurred a couple times in the past few weeks. While it is an annoyance, it does not prohibit use (except in full manual) of the camera.
The K-x does intrigue me as a backup/lowlight use body. Heck, maybe I can convince the wife what a great present I just bought her! ;)
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