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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
01-04-2011, 10:43 PM
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Shot at Kirby Cove at just north of the bridge on December 15 2010 at 5
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Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
03-17-2009, 05:11 PM
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I hate to miss this, but Saturday I have a shoot in Oakland....maybe next time.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-16-2009, 01:32 PM
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For all those worried about my interpretation of crop factor. I've been corrected on this many times. But I think my way of saying is just fine
It just seems obvious to me that the focal length remains the same but the field of view covered is varied by the "Crop Factor". Notice that I said; "LIKE" having an 870mm 4.0 lens. This is because the field of view is cropped to a view presented is similar to that of an 870mm lens at that same lens to subject distance, while angle of view and the aperture (DOF) remains the same. Also another possible advantage gained is that you’re using the center of the lens and therefore you may see less edge distortion depending on the lens.. I stated things this way so as not to confuse anyone into thinking that the image is actually cropped.
If I take a 10 megapixel image and crop it by a factor of 0.5, I have lost half the data and half the pixels. The image is smaller it is no longer a 10 megapixel image and it can only be printed at half the size of the original. On the other hand an image, created by a lens and camera body combination that has a crop factor of 2, that 10 megapixel image will have half the area of view of a lens of the same focal length with a crop factor of 1. However, in order to “zoom in” without loosing data and pixels, and staying with a 35mm lens on a 35mm camera body, you would need a lens with the longer focal length.
While a 6x7 300mm lens mounted on a 2/3 sensor digital camera body may not produce an exact 870mm focal length image, for the money it’s a darn close cousin.
If anyone can find a better shorthand way of describing this relatively simple rule of optics please tell me.
As for the tilt lens, while I have never used a tilt only lens on a camera I have used the tilt shift on a 4x5 field camera many years ago. So while it may be out of my budget presently, the thought of experimenting with it for those few dollars does look inviting.
Years ago I picked up a reversing ring for my 50mm f1.4 just to play with it as a macro. Flipping tings around on the fly wasn’t all that easy, but back then, “on the fly” wasn’t always that fast or easy. The 50mm got trashed when it fell up in the Sierras, and the ring went in some trade. These days for macro work I don’t experiment anymore, I use a Vivitar Series I 105mm lens. It has a great bokeh, and is built like a tank. But a long lens tilt, I do wonder what that would be like.
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Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
02-16-2009, 11:27 AM
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OOPS, Sorry about jumping the gun. If I have a vote then of the places listed;
Point Reyes 4
Fort Point & GG Park 3
Marin Headlands 3
Alcatraz 2
I vote Fort Point & GG Park.
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Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
02-14-2009, 12:47 PM
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Any Saturday would be fine. Now there's the issue of what time of day. Before noon would be my suggestion but personally I have all day. I just find that for some folks if they get involved with something early in the day they will often times pass on events scheduled later in the day. (to tired, run out of time, distracted)
So how about the second Saturday, 9:30 AM at the Ferry Building in the city. We could attack the place with macros and mid range zooms. Nobody would know how to act with a dozen flashes poping all over the place. Assuming we have a dozen pentaxians attending.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-14-2009, 11:49 AM
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Yikes!! That means that the "Takumar SMC 300mm 4.0 Lens for Pentax 6x7 Camera" a on Ebay (~$220.00) would be "like" having an 870mm 4.0 lens. And the the SMC Pentax 67 6x7 SHIFT 75mm 4.5 Lens also on ebay would be a "tiltshift" 200mm currently bidding for $130.
Oh and the addid cost of an adaptor ring.....Too bad I just spent all my allowance on studio strobes.
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
02-13-2009, 06:30 PM
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First, a pro can get a great shot with a five dollar Kodak point and shoot from Walgreens if that's all there is to work with. It's not about the camera, it's always the eye behind the lens. What makes you a pro isn't how much training you've had but how well you use the tools placed in you hands.
I think most commercial photography school training programs teach from the Nikon or Canon platforms, so those who have gone to classes and seminars are "encouraged" to buy that equipment. I know that this is true for seminars offered by Calumet.
Take a look at photos taken with any 10mp full frame camera and a 14mp APS frame camera and tell me if you can tell which camera took which picture. I doubt anyone can argue a difference. If you like thae equipment you are using then you'll do a good job with it. If you don't like it then without delay find the one that fits. ;)
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Forum: Photographic Technique
02-13-2009, 05:55 PM
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On the fly Vivitar Series I 105mm on a K20D
If you want to see the hairs just zoom the screen to 200%
Smokin'
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Forum: Site Suggestions and Help
02-13-2009, 12:58 PM
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Okay, so are there any stats, like the average number of posts per x time period?
How many posts today comapred to this date last year?
:cool:
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Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
02-13-2009, 12:41 PM
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Hi Gary,
I'm a newbie, but your idea to meet is great. So we could start off with someplace simple and relatively centrally located like the Ferry Building or Jack London Square. And as things progress we could start planning the future meetings at other locations.
Also, most of the camera retailers in the area push the Canon and Nikon brands, do you know of an area retailer that focuses on the Pentax product line? If there is such a place we could see if they would be interested in participating.
particlebeam's deviantART gallery :D
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
02-13-2009, 11:13 AM
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Hi, Preventfires,
First; Thank you for your service. I work in an oil refinery and the first responders there are a, well trained, couragous group.
I'm also new to this forum, and I live in Benicia.
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
02-13-2009, 10:54 AM
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Hi Srivatsa,
I'm new too, I live just a bit to your north in Benicia CA, it's near Vallejo.
I'm having a blast with my K20D that I got last summer.
What kind of stuff have you been shooting? Is this a major hobbie for you or juat a passing interest?
I'm just beginning to shoot fashion models for fun, but I still have a lot to learn....NO NOT NUDES...My wife would kill me.
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
02-13-2009, 10:44 AM
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Hi folks,
Another newbie, with questions, crazy ideas and helpful advice from time to time. For more than 40 years I've been no stranger to a camera, the first were Mamyia and Yashika but eventually I moved to a Pentax K1000 and then on up to a 645 shooting mostly landscapes, for some unknown reason avoiding people. In 2002 I moved to digital with a Sony F727 and then the 828. I used these cameras to produce very large prints on an Epson 9600 printer.
Last year I decided that when I retire from industrial electrical control and instrumentation, I would begin a new career in photography. At that point I needed to think about what system I would use for the next few years. With due diligence i began looking at the various systems available and Pentax won out on three very important counts; A quality brand I knew and trusted, price point and image stabilization in the camera body rather than the lens (that made a big difference).
In 2008 I picked up a K20D and 4 lenses, (macro, wide, portrait, and tele) to cover most of my anticipated needs. Recently I began studying studio lighting and in a few days a new set of 3 studio lights will be delivered. (I'm still looking for a portable background support systems, suggestions welcome)
In November I was invited, for the first time ever, to shoot two fashion shows, What a blast. And with that contact with the fashion/glamour world I'm hooked on learning the techniques and creating a style. I don't expect to be any Nigel Barker, just to have a bit of fun shooting aspiring models. I think this is a good stepping stone towards event photography like weddings and such.
Okay it’s not supposed to be an autobiography so…The end. :o
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
02-12-2009, 10:37 PM
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You may know all this but just in case:
Looking at the manual http://www.pentaximaging.com/files/manual/Web_AF540FGZ_Eng.pdf
Page 48 to 54 cover wirless mode. If you want to shoot in manual mode be sure to follow the directions to set the flash to Slave Mode SL2 page 52.
Slide the Settings Switch up, press the LCD Panel light button for 2 seconds, SL1 will show in the display. Press the Select Button (S) to select SL2 Press the LCD Button to finish the setting. Set the camera and flash to the same channel and you are ready to shoot in manual mode. Besure to press the M/C/S Button to set the flash in slave rather than master. page 46.
I find the directions for the various flash modes are not very easy to figure out. It would be nice if Pentax would publish a set of manuals for the various camera/flash combinations, but there really isn't a simple way to make that happen. The best advise is to make the manuals bedtime reading for a few days and then toleave it on the nightstand for review. If you practice anything for 21 days it is likely to become a habit. I have been using my camera for about 5 months now and I still have to open the manual every time I want to try a new setup.
Hope this helps
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