Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 
Log in or register to remove ads.

Showing results 1 to 25 of 100 Search:
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 07-04-2009, 12:35 PM  
Unbale to get good pictures using 50mm 2.0f prime
Posted By F16
Replies: 20
Views: 5,859
Your shots are not in focus, start there. And then understand that at large apertures like F2.0, depth of focus is very shallow. Try shooting at F4 or 5.6, then compare it to your zoom at the same aperture and focal length and you'll have an equal comparison. P.S. - it looks like you may have used the flash for your zoom shots, making for an unfair comparison.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 07-03-2009, 11:07 PM  
What (feasible) lens is missing from Pentax's lineup?
Posted By F16
Replies: 72
Views: 9,100
Affordable primes
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-25-2009, 10:46 PM  
Tair 11-A
Posted By F16
Replies: 18
Views: 18,087
There are a lot of similar flanged adapters, this is the one I bought - pro M42 to Pentax PK adapter for k10d k100d K110D DS DL - eBay (item 200279278051 end time Jul-20-09 18:59:26 PDT)

The complaints relate to the 'imitation' versions of the genuine pentax adapter, the adapters that work in the same manner but often need a tool to remove the adapter. The version I linked to is even safer and more foolproof than the genuine adapter (no spring, easier to thread/remove, and easily left on a lens). However it does not allow infinity focus as mentioned, because of the flange. Again, depending on the lens in use or the situation, this adapter can work fine - if, for example, I'm using a lens for portraits or close-ups, I grab this adapter (or just leave it threaded on the lens and mount it like that).
Forum: Sold Items 06-23-2009, 02:35 PM  
For Sale - Sold: Tamron-F 1.4X Pz-AF MC4 Teleconverter (TC)
Posted By F16
Replies: 8
Views: 3,832
It will work with SDM, as covered in this long thread - https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/19694-tamron-t...rter-pics.html

This TC is no longer made, hard to find, optically excellent, works with SDM. I have one, it's a great TC and a good price on it.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-23-2009, 02:18 PM  
Tair 11-A
Posted By F16
Replies: 18
Views: 18,087
The genuine adapter is always the first thought, and I also suggest that you should have one. But for longer lenses if I won't be using the lens in a near infinity focus situation, I won't use a genuine adapter (I have a couple of them), I much prefer using my 3rd party flanged adapter. The flange is only .75mm on mine, so it adds very little extension, so the longer the lens, the further it will allow focus and with some long telephotos may even allow infinity focus. With a 135mm lens for example, it will allow focusing out to around 50 feet. It's quicker and easier to use than the genuine adapter and they are very cheap, no spring to mess with, just mount/dismount like a K lens. Obviously if you're using a shorter lens or expect to be focusing near infinity, then you're still going to want to get a genuine adapter. But I now use my 3rd party flanged adapter as often as my genuine adapters.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-21-2009, 11:30 AM  
How is 28-300mm lens for Pentax?
Posted By F16
Replies: 5
Views: 4,717
I have a Sigma 28-300mm 3.5-6.3, 1:3 macro. The current 28-300 Sigma and Tamron lenses have not been around too many years, like any superzoom they have compromises but it's decent optically and it gets its fair share of use when I know I'll be shooting tele to 'standard' angle shots and don't want to be switching out lenses. From examples I've seen performance would be similar to what you'd see in the 18-200mm super zooms, just with much less wide angle and more tele.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-18-2009, 11:51 PM  
Samples from the $5.99 special...
Posted By F16
Replies: 7
Views: 2,152
A magnifying eyepiece would help some, but I think you'd probably find a split prism focus screen more effective, they sell on Ebay for about $30. If you've ever used an older manual focus SLR, you'll know what kind of focusing screen I'm talking about. These focusing screens can cause some metering issues though, so they're not without their downsides. Since you only have 1 manual focus lens, you might want to just try working on your manual focus skills before investing in anything else. I have a K100Ds that I believe has the same viewfinder specs as the K2000, and while it is small and not ideal, even with my less than great eyesight I have decent results with manual focusing. I have plenty of previous experience with older SLRs though, but with a DSLR at least it's not going to cost anything to practice. I'm often letting the DSLR confirm focus, then I will finely twitch the focus ring back and forth a couple times until I think it looks exactly into focus.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-18-2009, 08:13 PM  
Samples from the $5.99 special...
Posted By F16
Replies: 7
Views: 2,152
Saw this lens on Ebay, nice deal but I already have a couple of 28mm lenses I'm happy with so let it go to a better home. :) Looks like it's doing a nice job for you.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-17-2009, 11:46 AM  
How many 50mm should you have?
Posted By F16
Replies: 105
Views: 12,117
For you, I'd say probably keep the M 50 1.4 and the F 50 1.7, since the 1.7 lenses are all the same optically. Having said that, I have the M 50mm 1.7 and it's one of my favorite lenses, awesome focusing on mine, compact, performs great, and also one of the nicest looking lenses I have for what it's worth. Also have an A 50mm 2.0, sometimes I use that when using a flash or when I need a little more convenience. The 50mm 2.0 is a better lens than it often gets credit for.

The number of 50/55mm lenses I have is not even funny. But then I bought all but 1 years ago, just as DSLRs were beginning to be produced, and 50/55mm lenses at that time were generally quite a bit cheaper, as there weren't all these different cheap lensmount adapters around and people were not buying them as fast portrait lenses like many are now. Fortunately they're still relatively cheap, and optically you won't find many that are not good lenses when stopped down at least.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-12-2009, 04:11 AM  
SIGMA 70-210mm f2.8 APO
Posted By F16
Replies: 24
Views: 25,436
Some people like one-touch, some like two-touch. I used to like the separate zoom and focus rings much more, but the one-touch design is growing on me with some of my manual focus lenses. Either way works for me though.
Forum: Sold Items 06-09-2009, 09:36 PM  
For Sale - Sold: Ricoh SLR system, Cokin-A, flashes, lenses
Posted By F16
Replies: 6
Views: 3,050
PM sent ....
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-09-2009, 08:57 PM  
Underdog : Takumar bayonet 28 mm
Posted By F16
Replies: 10
Views: 4,143
I have never seen one of these, though I figure it's probably the same as the M/A/F versions without the SMC coating. Which would mean that I'd expect it to perform well under most conditions, maybe a little less contrast and more prone to flare.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-09-2009, 08:16 PM  
Is it me or there's something wrong with my K300?
Posted By F16
Replies: 19
Views: 5,160
'Usable' is the wrong word to choose. There's nothing wrong with the lens at F4, you just happen to dislike the look a long telephoto at a large aperture gave you. The look will vary somewhat from one lens to the next, but take any 300mm lens and shoot the same shot at F4 and you'll get a pretty similar image with any of them.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-08-2009, 07:45 PM  
Vivitar 2x Macro Focusing Tele Converter: definitive thread
Posted By F16
Replies: 72
Views: 106,732
With a 50mm lens, using the TC at 1:1 will give you about 12" distance from the film (sensor) plane. So you're looking at probably about 5" between the end of your lens to your subject. Just using extension tubes to get to 1:1 on a 50mm, you're looking at maybe 8" to the film plane, and about 2 1/2 - 3" from the front of the lens to the subject. The reason for the difference is the TC is creating a longer lens focal length with the optics.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-08-2009, 07:26 PM  
Is it me or there's something wrong with my K300?
Posted By F16
Replies: 19
Views: 5,160
As you mention, it's just a combination of things at play - shallow DOF even for a distance subject, lighting conditions, plainly visible background and foreground subjects (the water), and the bokeh characteristics of the lens all make for an unusual look.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-08-2009, 07:16 PM  
Pentax 18-25mm Lens at MLB Night Game?
Posted By F16
Replies: 7
Views: 4,057
Yeah, I've just recently started using a DSLR (K100Ds) and have used plenty of film, a lot of it being ISO 400 & a bit of 800, also 1600. So the noise/grain level at 800 & 1600 is not a big problem for me in these DSLRs, though I try to stick to 800 or lower under most conditions. I probably should have used 1600 a bit as it looks quite good on my DSLR and would have given more flexibilty, even 3200 would even be tolerable with these kinds of photos but grain becomes very apparent at 3200. Grain doesn't bother me too much but overall resolution and ability to crop becomes a bigger issue for me.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-08-2009, 05:22 PM  
Pentax 18-25mm Lens at MLB Night Game?
Posted By F16
Replies: 7
Views: 4,057
I was at a Minor League game with good lighting recently, and I was a little surprised at the amount of light. The lighting was a stop or two better than I was expecting anyway. I used a Tamron 70-300m 4-5.6, and about half of my shots were at 300mm / ISO 800 / stopped down slightly to F7.1 to improve the image quality at 300mm, and with SR my shutter speeds were just fast enough to get reasonable results, most of my shots were in the 1/100 to 1/200 range if I recall correctly. AF also held up well, though not surprising considering the lighting. So yes, even the slower super zooms can squeak by with SR and faster ISO speeds. It may come down to a situation where you can shoot wide open at ISO 800, but you may do better to stop down slightly at ISO 1600, sacrifice a little more grain for better lens performance. BTW, in these kinds of situations, seems like the lens is never long enough for some of the shots you'd like to get. The difference from 250mm to 300mm is not great, but if you think you'll be shooting mostly tele shots you could take your 300mm zoom and the P&S for the wider shots.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-03-2009, 08:49 PM  
Lens for bears?
Posted By F16
Replies: 16
Views: 4,039
Lenses in the rented range would probably make him labeled as a 'pro'. You are right that your typical cheap mirror lens is going to be slow at F8, though I think there is a relatively affordable 500mm 6.3 out there sold by Adorama and others, the one review I saw of it sounded ok although any cheaper mirror lens is not going to be great optically.

For about $200-250, you could pick up both a cheap 500mm/8 & 70-300mm zoom and sell one if you find it does not fit your needs. While the mirror lens will be slow, as I mentioned you can still get sharp images at a pretty slow shutter speed with some kind of bracing - I think that a beanbag or something similar will allow a good number of usable results in the 1/30-1/60 range. A good mirror lens like the Tamron could be considered, but may be out of your price range.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-02-2009, 11:08 PM  
Tokina AT-X 16.5-135 DX
Posted By F16
Replies: 20
Views: 10,263
That's too bad, I've always liked Tokina but I guess they feel that the extra inventory needs for retailers makes it easier for them to just go with the 2 biggest brands. I wouldn't think that their reasoning has to do with high costs of maintaining 4 lensmount systems in production.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-02-2009, 10:06 PM  
28mm Lens test: Three Vivitars and Two Pentaxes
Posted By F16
Replies: 24
Views: 8,318
The turning front element does seem unusual on a prime. I have the 'K13' version, it does not have the turning element. Maybe that was one reason for changing the design, hard to make sense of this many variations. The lens looks nearly identical except for the 'MC' on the front and also the focus throw appears shorter on the K13, about 100 degrees. The coating on this lens looks really nice, perhaps that was another change.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-02-2009, 09:55 PM  
28mm Lens test: Three Vivitars and Two Pentaxes
Posted By F16
Replies: 24
Views: 8,318
I thought you were harsh when I read your first comments on the F28/2.8, now it makes sense why you were harsh, the T93 does not fare well against the others. The F 28/2.8 is very solid all around, for some reason the 28mm M/A/F seems to have a relatively high variable in opinions. Sharper 28mm lenses can be found I'm sure, but I think it's a reliably good lens overall.

I have several 28mm lenses also, and I'll likely do some sort of 'shootout' eventually as well. I have a Pentax 28mm/2.8 A, Sigma 28mm 2.8 A mini wide II, A Vivitar 'K13' 28mm 2.0, not to mention several M42 28mm lenses. I guess you can never have too many 28mm lenses :rolleyes: . Should make for a good comparison.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-02-2009, 09:00 PM  
Lens for bears?
Posted By F16
Replies: 16
Views: 4,039
A 500mm F8 mirror - it's cheap, it's a long focal length to stay far away, and it's small and lightweight so that you won't be slowed down when running from the bears. Ok so obviously I was joking, although it might not be a terrible idea considering your budget and if they're far enough away that you need a lens that long. More serious advice might also be something like the Tamron or Sigma 70-300mm, though they are not going to be much longer than your 18-250mm. I have the Tamron 70-300mm LD 1:2 macro for Pentax, and have one of the very similar older Sigma 70-300mm 1:2 for Canon EOS, they're average optically at the long end but I really like them nonetheless, the 1:2 macro feature alone is worth their low price at times. You could add a 1.4x/1.5x TC as ivoire mentions, quality will not take a huge hit and in good lighting AF will be slow but probably useable. Another option in your price range could be to pick up a manual focus 400mm 5.6 or 300mm 4 off of Ebay or the marketplace if one comes up. If they are relatively close, a MF 70-210 3.5/4 could be another option for cheap and give you a little faster lens. Regarding usable shutter speeds, with a 300mm/SR/elbows braced, you can probably get some decent shots down around 1/30, it will be hit & miss but decent bracing will really help over simply handholding. Use a bean bag or something similar and you may gain another step in usable speeds. You may get tagged as a 'pro' if you bring in a 400/5.6 or 300/4, maybe so even with a 70-300mm with the lens extended out to 300mm. I had someone stop me from taking photos at an event when I was using a 100-300mm lens extended, of course if it was a mirror lens they wouldn't have cared...
Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing 06-01-2009, 11:10 PM  
Do I alter photos too much?
Posted By F16
Replies: 28
Views: 4,694
Looking at the initial 2 photos, to me the left photo looks slightly unnaturally high in contrast & saturation to my eyes, at least on my monitor. The right photo, while high in contrast and saturation, looks more natural. The 2nd set of photos both look unnatural to me. So if you want a 'natural' look, I think you have gone past that point with 3 of the 4.

Having said that, none of this really means anything, depending on what you want out of your images. While I usually prefer photos that fairly accurately depict the scene as I saw them (and that is probably the case with your friend as well), that doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with creating images that are altered to the point of having an 'unnatural' look to them. I'm rarely a fan of heavy altering of photos as it becomes something other than 'photography' at some point, but some excess contrast and saturation is relatively minor stuff if that's the look you're after. I think with the 2 photos here, the high saturation and contrast works fine, the first two look better to me but there isn't a right or wrong and I don't think you've PP'd to the point of making your photos look 'bad'.

I do see some people that post images where they overdo most of their images in contrast, saturation, and sharpness to the point where they have a terribly unnatural look to them. At that point, I think they're doing an injustice to many of their own photos, but again if that's what they want...
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-01-2009, 06:08 PM  
16-45 and 16-50: One must go
Posted By F16
Replies: 18
Views: 3,134
I'd probably also look into the 17-70mm if I was in this situation, though it depends a lot on how the lens is typically used.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 05-27-2009, 02:39 PM  
Need guidance for a portrait lens
Posted By F16
Replies: 6
Views: 3,129
You have a good, affordable portrait in the 50mm/2.0 A, on the 1.5 APS-C crop it makes a great short telephoto portrait. Your 70-210/4 also has a very good reputation, it's not as fast so it can't give quite the level of shallow DOF/selective focus, but should be good optically and cover a great range for portraits. So you already do have 2 good lenses for portraits. I'd also suggest looking at the Jupiter 9 85mm/F2.0, It is a preset aperture lens that you can buy in M42 screw mount and use with an adapter. I find that preset lenses work well on DSLRs, it's a little soft wide open which is ok for portraits generally, and stopped down to 2.8 it already gets quite a bit sharper. With 'M' and older lenses, you can't use the built-in or dedicated P-TTL flash, so if you want to use flash you'll want to get a cheap older auto thyristor flash with its own sensor. The 85mm + 1.5 crop creates about the same view as the traditional 135mm, a common 'long' portrait. You may also like to try a 135mm 2.8, you can buy them for dirt cheap & they are almost always good optically. For some it may be too long for portraits with the 1.5 crop, but sometimes a long lens works well for portraits. I would try setting your 70-210 to the 85mm, 100mm, and 135mm settings and see if one of those really fits your style, if one of those settings does then maybe go for a prime in one of those settings. Nothing wrong with a zoom, though primes are nice as you'll get a faster aperture and a more compact, easier to handle setup.
Search took 0.01 seconds | Showing results 1 to 25 of 100

 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:32 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top