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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
10-11-2021, 03:29 PM
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Woohoo, looking forward to the 4th amigo!
The 31 is simply not wide enough.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-15-2021, 01:29 PM
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I think the flare test images for the FA43 are a better judge of starbursts than the dedicated starburst test.
Based on this review If I were buying new limiteds today, here are my preferences:
31 - SMC
43 - SMC
77 - HD
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-22-2020, 05:45 PM
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Hi taita, thanks for using one of my photos as an example, I'm flattered!
I'm sure you've already looked at the technical data on each of the photos you've posted, but I'll offer an objective analysis and say that you can probably rule out the 18-135/zoom that some of the others are recommending. The zoom may be good for determining which particular focal length of lens you want to buy (I think that is a debatable premise personally, but I'll concede the point for simplicity), but it is clear your interest is in some nice wide open f/1.4 shenanigans with an ability to stop down modestly (f/4-5.6) and get some razor sharp images on occasion. Doesn't really match the profile of any affordable zoom lens.
Now, I love my DA* 55, and I think you should probably save up the money, wait for a good deal, and get one for yourself, but while you're doing that... go out and push that M 50 f/1.7 to the limits!
Leave the 28 at home for a few shoots. DA*55 may be an autofocus lens but you absolutely need to always practice in manual focus (AF will miss, I wasn't actually trying to focus on that light pole!), really acquaint yourself with the focal length (I consider 50 and 55 close enough to be the same) and make sure you're comfortable with everything before moving into the 55. Basically, build up some skill and confidence with the old glass, and it will make you extra appreciative when you get the new one. :D
I cut my teeth in this focal length with an M 50 f/2, and then FA 50 f/1.4, before upgrading to DA* 55. I spent years with the first two lenses, so I don't think there was really a strong correlation with increased skill when I got DA* 55. You're absolutely correct in your observations - it does have a 3-dimensional quality that other lenses do not. Despite my skill level being relatively high at the time, getting "keepers" was much easier with the DA* 55 and I was smiling at the results more often.
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edit: I give two thumbs-up to the 21 Limited too. The most painful part of moving to full-frame is that I could/would not use that lens anymore. Anyways, that's for later, I think 50/55 is your starting point, and you can also use DA* 55 on full-frame if you ever decide to leave APS-C.
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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
01-08-2020, 07:18 PM
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Wow, FedEx got the thing here in 18 hours, I'm impressed!
Happy to report the lens has PASSED the cat test...
 by
Wide open at the MFD.
It's still on sale, so go buy it!
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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
01-06-2020, 08:01 PM
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Order placed! Thanks for sharing.
Sigma 12-24 hasn't been playing nice with my K-1, AF and auto-aperture issues. Shouldn't be a problem with this Irix :)
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
03-21-2018, 05:13 PM
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Oh, that's good news. I was worried they might send my camera on a 2 month U.S. tour again. The upgrade has just become MUCH more appealing. :)
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
10-22-2017, 05:34 PM
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I don't use it.
I think I have it set to do ISO or EV comp, but years of using *ist DS, K-7, then K-5 have burned the old method into muscle memory. It also doesn't help that it is much harder to turn than the regular e-dial.
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
09-24-2017, 07:41 PM
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LBA Day! Three new lenses (five actually), but these three are the main event. One portrait from each, a 135, a 150, and a 200. All wide open IIRC.
Meyer Optik Gorlitz Orestogor 135mm F2.8 Preset
K 150mm f/4
M 200mm f/4
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-16-2017, 06:09 PM
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I'll put in another vote for the M. I've owned both lenses. First the Samyang, then I got the Pentax to replace it. Samyang often disappointed wide open - need to stop it down to f/2 for good results. Sure the bokeh was plentiful at f/1.4, but whatever was "in focus" wasn't very sharp, and there was lots of green CAs on the edge of the bokeh discs that weren't very appealing.
So if I'm going to have an 85 f/2, then I'd rather a tiny SMC coated variety instead of a big heavy f/1.4 I need to stop down.
The M 85 is a tiny little thing, well constructed, and makes great images at f/2.
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
09-10-2017, 10:58 AM
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Discovered that my DA* 50-135 + Kenko 1.4x MC4 combination produces amazing flare patterns with faraway point light sources. Check them out, particularly the last two :)
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
08-09-2017, 05:31 PM
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Pixel-shift image with DA* 50-135 + Kenko 1.4x TC:
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
07-27-2017, 05:03 PM
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Nope, it's a full frame lens.
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
07-26-2017, 11:15 PM
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Excellent shots from you too! I wish we had some old steel cruising around like that. :)
I have the regular EX DG variety of the Sigma 12-24, f/4.5-5.6. No HSM.
Here's a few more I did today with it:
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
07-25-2017, 09:58 PM
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Got lucky by checking ebay while a Sigma 12-24 was available! Some initial shots...all at 12mm except the last, which is at 14mm.
12mm, wide open:
f/10
f/11
f/8
f/11
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
07-23-2017, 12:59 PM
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Having a bit of a staycation for this week, visited some national parks.
A couple from Sigma 400mm f/5.6:
D-FA 24-70, smoke from forest fires in BC.
Looking good at f/22!
F 17-28 Fisheye:
A 28 f/2.0:
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
07-02-2017, 01:11 PM
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Hey now, I want f/2! They'll have to send it back to the drawing board! :D
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-19-2017, 07:23 PM
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I was under the impression your lenses were already upside-down like that.
Does the bokeh of your lenses like Helios 44M swirl in the opposite direction?
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
06-17-2017, 05:19 PM
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The Fish-eye Takumar 18mm f/11 doesn't get any love. I'm trying my best to work with it's "peculiar" qualities. If you treat it like a 1963 Fisheye Lensbaby, then you'll have some fun with it.
F/11 is awfully unsharp, but if you place your subject carefully it can really pop.
Since it is a focus free optic, it's very nice for quick street shots. The hyperfocal distance is 26cm. This shot was defished and cropped, shot at f/22 probably.
I think these flowers have have even been a little closer than 26cm, but shooting at f/32 brought them into the focus plane.
Was being kinda lazy and just set the camera for Av mode so I didn't have to meter things manually. Downside is that the shutter speed sticks to 1/100s.
Another dreamy rendition, f/22 IIRC
Is the tree really blurry, or is it just really windy? ;)
Obligatory camera fashion shoot, this K-1 is sporting a svelte optic from the Takumar collection.
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
06-10-2017, 10:40 PM
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Bit of lightning from DA 50-135 + Kenko 1.4x TC
Another portrait from DA 70
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
05-29-2017, 06:21 PM
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LBA strikes again, I miss my wee 21 Limited, so I grabbed his FF-compatible friend...
DA 70, FF mode.
Sigma 400
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
05-20-2017, 06:23 PM
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This one is for the birds, first two from D-FA 24-70:
 Gooseland
Then a few more from Sigma 400mm f/5.6 APO Tele-Macro. A lens I actively try to dislike enough to justify a D-FA 150-450, but the images out of it never agree with that line of thought.
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
05-19-2017, 07:51 PM
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On the subject of long exposures...
3 minutes each with D-FA 24-70:
And a bonus shot courtesy of the shaved DA 10-17. Shot at 10mm as a circular fisheye image, defished (still lots of fish) by LR profile, then cropped.
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
05-19-2017, 06:57 PM
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Thanks for posting this, Tjompen! I'm not alone!
I've been having the same issue with my K-1 and some Sigma lenses for a long time. All these lenses work perfect on my K-5 and *ist DS. Handheld or tripod, cold weather or hot weather, it always happens.
It rarely happened with a Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro lens I used to own, sometimes with a Sigma 24-60mm f/2.8 I sold, and frequently occurs with my Sigma 400mm f/5.6 APO Tele-Macro.
I really like this 400mm, but I have been considering replacing it with the D-FA 150-450 because of this issue. Any Pentax-label lens has worked perfectly, just Sigma giving me trouble. So, I'm very concerned when you write about the 150-450 having this issue too!
I've also tried mating that Sigma 400mm with a Kenko 1.4x teleconverter. The problem still exists with the TC attached, but not as frequently.
The camera loses connection to the lens in exactly the way you describe in the text, camera loses aperture value (F-- in viewfinder), AF stops working (camera shows MF) and whatever exposure I had ready to go is overridden by a different one (like 1/800s f/8 becoming 1/100s f--). I am shooting TAV mode for the most part, so the exposure is usually saved by the ISO switching. I end up with lots of blurry chickadees at ISO 100.
One partial solution I have discovered is this: If I hold down the lens release button very lightly, the lens will become fully functional as the locking pin is no longer making contact with the lens mount.. If you hold the button too hard, the camera AF screw (for screw drive lenses) will disengage from the lens completely.
Maybe you can try this too, you shouldn't lose AF because your lens is not screw-drive.
I think there may be some kind of intermittent electrical short involving the lens locking pin somewhere near the lens mount in the camera, or perhaps the lens draws too much power/camera can't supply enough power and it shuts down. You don't want any speculation, but from my testing I think one of these might be the case.
I won't send it in for repair because I've only encountered the problem with 3rd party lenses (Pentax will simply blame Sigma). If you're able to get yours repaired, please come back here and let me know what service to ask for! :)
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-23-2017, 12:37 PM
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Didn't know I own such a rare lens. Here's a quick n' dirty snap of the AF K-mount version. MF/AF selector is just above the tripod-mount ring, although the text on mine has worn off some. You can click on the image to see a larger version.
Daniel, I would keep the lens if I were you, assuming you didn't pay too much. Ask for a partial refund if it was advertised as AF. It's truly a keeper. :)
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
09-27-2016, 07:45 PM
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I bought it on impulse and haven't found any reason to regret it yet. Absolutely worth the money, especially when you look at the cost of the first-party Nikon or Canon 24-70mm f/2.8s.
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