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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
03-28-2014, 12:04 AM
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That looks like your router, not the Flucard, the RT-N53 is an Asus router. You need to disconnect from your home wifi and connect to the access point the Flucard provides.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
11-10-2012, 03:43 PM
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Today I took the teleconverter out with the 50mm. As Norman said, you may as well take the Tamron 90 macro. But, I wanted to see what kind of results I might get with this combination. Nothing too exciting, and maybe I would have done better with the Tamron, but here are a few images from today.
The wind was blowing...I'd like to try this one again
The infamous dead leaf and ice shot
and again... I like the lines and curves
and ice crystals on a rotting stump... I kind of like this one
I am sneaking these in for Bob... he has an affinity for "pond scum" (although I think this is pine sap)
thank you for having a look:)
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
02-21-2012, 08:39 PM
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Forum: Lens Clubs
02-16-2012, 10:03 PM
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Hi.
I thought I might post a couple of bird shots. Using M*300/4
Pelican
and
Eastern Bluebird
and
Hooded Plover
Thanks for looking, critique appreciated.
Jack.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
02-05-2012, 08:32 PM
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LOL..if you don't fail..you're not trying hard enough!
Today, I was at an Chinese new year celebration.
There were a few beautiful women there, who were some kind of beauty queens.
The guys were trying to grab candid shots, but the women weren't posing for most of them.
One of the women catches my eye, turns towards me and gives me a few smiles.
She stops walking and gives me a few seconds.
I take the first candid shot below...
I realize that I have to move to get a shot without the guy to her right.
I take the camera out of AF.S and move it to AF.C so that I can keep shooting.
The problem is I moved it to MF
The women turned, walked away, and disappeared into the crowd.
FAIL.
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Forum: Video Recording and Processing
09-24-2011, 12:08 PM
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Youtu.be
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src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mwtPOW8c-m0?controls=1" allowfullscreen>
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:)
reversed componon 80mm F/5.6 on bellows, taken in the early morning hours (hence the sluggishness).
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-15-2011, 09:11 AM
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Spotted this whilst googling, a comment by Mark Sherengo, sales and marketing director, Pentax Imaging
 Quote: The shortages seen by some major manufacturers this year presented an opportunity for Pentax. We had inventory that we carried over from 2010, so it allowed us to sell volume units at a higher ASP. Moving forward, we realize that to be competitive we have to have the right market price. So for us, we have to meet the market by advertising more than we have of the past. Talking about our technology, since we’re a little bit different, takes a campaign that heavily leverages social media. This introduced us to another generation that helped our brand grow.
In the point-and-shoot business, we have always stood with the highest ASP in the waterproof category. We are in our 11th generation in that segment, with a $349 price point. We actually raised the price last year, and volume did not go down. We were able to help a lot of the smaller photo specialty stores raise their ASPs. They remember that. They are helping us as we continue to grow, and we’re looking forward to the excitement of the Pentax brand that is going to be infused with more marketing dollars. The source is an interesting read on what's happening in the camera world post-tsunami. Link here: Cameras Emerge From Tsunami Setback - 2011-08-22 04:01:00 | TWICE
I'm sure that this will be welcomed because I think we've all seen that Pentax is poorly marketed. But, I would like to give a personal take on this.
Advertising more is good, but advertising better is even better. I'm a technology marketing professional myself but have not been bowled over by some of the marketing and advertising that I've seen from Pentax USA in the last 3 years. That includes the poorly spelled posts on Facebook, the posters without campaign-specific URLs and the flashy train wraps. In the end I personally stopped bother following you on FB because comments kept being deleted without any communication.
Moving forward, I'm not privy to the processes that Pentax use to ascertain the effectiveness of the marketing spend. But before increasing the budget, please make sure that you have the means in place to do so. Database-calculated ROI, please. I would also urge Pentax to take a very serious look at segmenting user-types and ensuring that marketing spend and advertising content appeals and really hammers in on those rather than churning out generic USP-less products. It seems to me that the state of the whole camera and optics marketing segment is astonishingly poor, almost as if the marketing is conducted despite users rather than with specific real users in mind.
It is interesting that you have mentioned social media. I happen to run the @PentaxOnline account by myself in my spare time, which actually has 6,175 followers. The largest Pentax-related Twitter account (I think?). You could make it so much easier for people like me to help you, you really could.
I note that the PPG is currently closed for a revamp. As a minimum, I hope that you are making it more viral, with such things as 'tweet' and 'like' buttons, and putting it into a technology other than Flash. Flash can't be bookmarked so you'll find that although there is fantastic work on there, the PPG isn't the popular web destination and marketing tool that it should be.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
08-11-2011, 09:21 AM
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Since you say that you're.a "noob", you may not be aware that use of UV filters is extremely controversial. You might want to read up on the subject and see if you really want to spend money on one of those.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
07-17-2011, 06:14 PM
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Shot handheld to make up for lack of AF tracking.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Harish
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
07-14-2011, 06:04 AM
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
06-25-2011, 06:47 PM
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Not certain how many remember the wonderful series natured offered before in the battle between a Red Tailed hawk and a Mockingbird.
Today I had a similar opportunity today with an immature bald eagle and a blue jay. Unfortunately the light was low and I was unable to get in closer for the Nat Geo shot. While technically flawed, hopefully its worth a moment of your time. Below is an image the same immature bald eagle about 2 hours later...
Thanks for peeking....
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
05-15-2011, 04:31 PM
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Macro photography as some of you may know is a very trying form of photography, where natural laws take hold making our lives VERY difficult :) Examples of this would be the massive light loss as you increase magnification, shallow DOF, and of course the biggie: diffraction. The latter 2 have always been a problem for people like me who shoot above 1:1 quite a lot. As you increase the magnification the DOF decreases. If you try stopping down more to compensate diffraction takes hold softening your images. Me being the IQ freak I am searched for a solution, and found it in the form of photo stacking :) Basically, what this allows you to do is take multiple images with larger F-stops moving incrementally forward/backward to increase sharpness and resolution. Than you combine them later to form an image with acceptable depth of field. This is exceptionally difficult however, as you must not move much if at all left/right between images or up/down: You can only move forward/backward. Handheld, it takes a lot of practice to get usable results, and even than there is a limit an individual can do. My personal best is ~20 :) (Phidippus adumbratus | Flickr - Photo Sharing!). Some are patient/skilled enough to combine the images in photoshop but I quite simply am not. BUT, there are programs that will stack the images for us easing the pain. As you get higher in magnification, or require higher IQ more frames are needed resulting in massive macro rigs consisting of micrometers, linear stages, etc. sometimes combining 200+ images into one.
Examples of such software are helicon focus, combine ZM (freeware), combine ZP (freeware), Zerene stacker, etc.
I personally have combine ZM and now recently Zerene stacker, the latter considered the best among them.
I got zerene because of a test I was doing of some optics. It was the head of a hoverfly glued to the head of needle at a relatively high magnification (~5:1). When I ran it through combine zm like I always do for all photo stacks, I got some very disturbing errors. These included an entire line of the compound eyes seemingly cloned ontop of eachother, "islands" (artifacts around hairs), etc. Now combine zm has two main stacking methods, one is better overall but is quite bad with hairs leaving a lot of artifacts. The other is great with hairs but results in smearing and loss of detail. The latter worked fine (very little loss of detail) in this image full of bristling hairs Phidippus Audax | Flickr - Photo Sharing!. In this case however, a significant amount of detail was lost. This prompted me to search for another program that could alleviate this image ruining problem and sure enough I found zerene. I downloaded it and WOW all issues were resolved. It has the ability to do similar methods as combine zm, but also to combine certain aspects from one style of stacking with another essentially getting a flawless hybrid of the two :)
Anyways, heres the example:
Combine ZM "Do stack" method:
View "original" - LARGE COMBINE ZM STACK 1
Combine zm "weighted average" method:
View "original" - LARGE COMBINE ZM STACK 2
Zerene stacker hybrid of "Dmap" (similar to "do stack") and "Pmax" (similar but much better than "weighted average"):
View "original" - LARGE ZERENE STACK
I cropped the zerene stack's artifacts along the edges (happens with all stacking software) naturally but did not with the other two. Anyways, view the hairs at the top middle of the head and see the differences (artifacts/lack there of), the detail in the middle of the head (or lack there of), and the screw up with the compound eyes (or lack there of).
Zerene's stack is flawless :cool:
Just thought I'd share!
edit: Zerene's website |
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
05-09-2011, 06:35 AM
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The crop-sensor doesn't affect magnification. A 1:1 setup at close-focus distance will deliver 1:1 images whatever the frame size.
No.
There are two ways to increase magnification: extension, or supplementary optics.
First, some definitions. A camera lens is one that can be directly mounted on a camera. A camera macro lens has extension built into its body, such as my Macro-Takumar 50/4 or Vivitar-Komine 90/2.8 macro. An enlarger or bellows-macro lens has no focusing mechanism, is meant to be used on extension. Extension means bellows and/or tubes; a reversed camera lens with a deep front inset also provides some extension.
Increased magnification with a macro or non-macro camera lens, or to an enlarger or bellows-macro lens, can require adding LOTS of extension, especially with longer focal-length lenses. So if you have a 1:1 100mm camera macro lens, you'll need another 100mm of extension to reach 2:1. I have used longer such setups but only with a shoulder-stock mount for stability -- and the gear looks like a firearm!
Adding extension is easier with shorter lenses. A 1:1 50mm camera macro lens only needs another 50mm of extension to reach 2:1. But working just two inches away, you will probably scare the bugs! Non-macro camera lenses can be mount-reversed, with extension added, for fine macro results. But a reversed prime still has a working distance under two inches.
One trick I recently discovered: I put a lousy A35-80/4-5.6 zoom, Pentax's worst, on a mount-reversal ring, and got good macro results! At 35mm it reaches about 2:1; at 80mm it reaches around 1:2 at 6in / 15cm working distance, and can also focus past infinity. But high magnification still means working *very* close.
So, what about supplementary optics? A corrected close-up adapter like the Raynox DCR-150 or -250 allows for pretty close work with decent results. But the classic tool for clean optics is with reverse-stacking of lenses. Magnification is a simple ratio. The lens mounted on the camera is the PRIMARY; the reversed lens is the SECONDARY; and magnification is the ratio of focal lengths, PRIMARY : SECONDARY. So a 50mm lens reverse-stacked on a 100mm gives 100:50 or 2:1. Stacking a 35mm lens onto a 105mm gives 105:35 or 3:1. Extreme magnification can be reached this way! BUT... working distance will be under two inches. Reversed primes always have a working distance equal to their register, which for Pentax lenses is around 4.5cm.
A teleconverter is another form of supplementary optics. This will increase your working distance by its TC X-factor, but will also degrade image quality to some extent. This IQ loss probably won't be too great with a TC that is well-matched to the camera lens. I have even use a variable-magnification macro TC. It worked for me; but then, my standards are low. ;)
So, the awful truth: For great magnification you must either work very close, or use LOTS of extension on longer lenses, or degrade image quality a bit. A magic wand does not exist. The laws of optics are merciless.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-24-2011, 07:48 AM
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if you don't care about AF, I'd recommend A50/1.4.
best of both worlds IMO. Built is halfway between M and FA. It has A contact of FA and long focus throw of M.
Regards...
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
04-09-2011, 03:05 PM
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Check this link on enabling "Servo Mode":
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-camera-field-accessories/134123-en...ml#post1396676
First of all, the K-x, K-7 and K-5 can use the built-in camera flash as either master or controller:
K-x: Menu--> [C3-17] >On or Off
K-7: Menu--> [C5-31] >On or Off
K-5: Menu--> [C3-21] >On or Off
These settings only do that, they toggle the mode between master and controller. You would need to also enable "wireless flash" mode from the four-way controller on the back of the camera(s).
Unfortunately, the Metz 48 cannot act as a controller. It will still act as a master and trigger other slaves, but you also need to make sure that all involved flashes share the same channel.
Read up on the below link about the features and capabilities of the various models.
Wireless - Pentax P-TTL Flash Comparison
I mounted my Metz 48 AF-1 on my K-5 with "ML" enabled. The modeling light is used to evaluate lighting (shadows and highlights) without triggering the shutter, in other words, you can check angles and reposition the Metz (provided you are using it off camera) in respect to your subject. Mounted on the camera, it still behaves the same. Press the "the manual firing button" on the flash, and the flash will emit a series of flash bursts, i.e., the "modeling light". Press the shutter release button, and the flash will fire normally. If you want the flash to fire normally via "the manual firing button" on the flash, you would have disable the "ML" mode. Metz did not supply a dedicated "ML" button.
You do need to pay attention to what flash mode you are in, and what type of lens you are using. Manual lenses without the "A" setting on the aperture ring behave differently than auto lenses, as there needs to be some communication between the flash and camera (the lenses' aperture) when using P-TTL. Using a strictly manual lens requires "M" mode (Manual) on the camera and flash. Flash output would then be controlled via the + and - buttons on the flash in fractions of output power (1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 etc.). Also make sure that the green light is on, indicating that the flash has sufficient power.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
04-04-2011, 10:04 PM
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I haven't had experience with the battery grip for the K-5/K-7, but in my K-x, a single set of 4 Energizer lithium AAs lasted more than 2500 shots, approximately 1/3 of which was taken in near or sub-freezing temperatures. The meter didn't drop below full reading even once after well over an hour of constant shooting in the cold.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-05-2011, 11:27 PM
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Easy--you shot the Tamron at f2.8--that's what the EXIF shows. Also, a flash will indeed make a difference in how things appear, and can give added definition even if they were shot at the same aperture. Please retest this--I'd really love to see the results (I'd expect the Takumar to still outperform the Tamron as it's a slower lens and thus probably won't have sharpness decay as much at f11 as the Tamron)!
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Forum: Photographic Technique
01-26-2011, 09:57 PM
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My general guidelines are pretty simple :
Balance the space. Don't have stuff crowded on one side.
Check the corners. Either put something interesting in them to act as a frame, or keep out distracting items like twigs, trash cans and light poles.
I particularly like the first two images. The last one could use the horizon leveled. I find the vignette frame distracting.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
01-02-2011, 05:46 PM
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Rarely do we get morning like this in my area where frost remains on the trees through mid morning. I took five vertical shots and stitched them in Photo Shop Elements. Other then a small amount of sharping, no other PP was done. JIM
PS: Have over a 100 to process form this morning still!!
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Forum: Site Suggestions and Help
12-28-2010, 12:12 AM
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In the past, our reputation system could only reward individuals for posting quality threads or replies on the forum. After reading user suggestions, we've decided to enhance the system so that it's of more benefit to the entire community.
Thus, we're proud to announce our new "Liked Posts" dropdown, which will be found in the upper-right corner of every thread on the forum. This dropdown will display the 5 (subject to change) posts that have gotten the most reputation clicks (or "Likes") within the thread. Thus, it will now be much easier to find the "meaty" posts within a thread (assuming people click the like buttons!).
Attachment 79132
To like a post, click on the link/thumbs-up icon in the lower-right corner of the post (or upper-right if the post is an announcement/article, such as this one). There's an option in your user cp that allows you to switch between the text link and the icon.
Attachment 79133 Attachment 79134
When liking a post, you can also type a thank-you comment which will be visible to the owner of the post. Each like will add to the user's reputation score, which will be used to award various added account features (suggestions welcome).
Finally, the number of likes any post has gotten, if greater than zero, will be shown in the upper-left corner of each post, beside the date.
Attachment 79135
We hope you enjoy this new feature!
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
12-09-2010, 05:30 PM
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Thanks to all for your kind comments. As a photographer who has grown to accept the role of "photo-documentarian" rather than artist, this shoot was very interesting.
The photographic process was: set up the camera, set the focus and F-stop and then continually use different manual adjustments in exposure time so that images were not too dark or light. Just that simple.
I believe some of the surreal aspect of the images was use of the DA18-55mm at the widest aperture which introduced softness in many of the images as did the long time exposures that were triggered by hand. (I find the roar of fireworks too loud to rely on a remote trigger). Finally, application of differentTopaz adjust software presets was explored to see which setting minimized the smoke/haze. Far more an accidental artist then documentarian. We now return you to your regularly scheduled images and thanks again...
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
12-08-2010, 05:15 AM
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My experience (k-x) with FastStone is that it uses the embedded JPEG (by default, can be changed, but then it gets pretty slow). A smaller developer is likely to be much more agile than a big corporation though. Of course there is much more for Adobe to support too. Fundamentally it seems that if a project needs hordes of developers, then the efficiency /developer gets way down; this seems to be a logarithmic function :-) Perhaps even more importantly, business and software development are difficult to mix, my theory being that the people in these respective fields don't really understand each other's issues and you either end up with a business driven with engineers or engineers driven by business. In the rare case where the former is in fact good business it inevitably develops towards the latter where "medicore results at an enormous expense" are the norm (Dijkstra 1967, The structure of the “the”-multiprogramming system - I would recall :-).
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
12-03-2010, 12:36 PM
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I communicated with Mark Davis at Pentax in Golden and here is his response:
"Yes, the PENTAX K-7 and the PENTAX K-5 use the same focusing screens; the AF Frame Matte MF-60, the AF Divided Matte ML-60, the AF Scale Matte MI-60 and the Plain Matte ME-60." |
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
12-03-2010, 07:52 AM
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I took the Katz-Eye out of my K7 and installed it into my K5 the same day I got the K5. In my case, it even used the same shim. I popped the K5 screen into the K7 since I already had it sitting on the bench rather than digging out the original screen.
No problems.
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