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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-19-2015, 06:11 AM
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Hi chaps, I'm just getting into this Astrophotography business, started out with a Haig mount and soon found limitations of that with longer telephoto lenses. So graduated to a motorised Skywatcher EQ5 with PC control, on which I have a K5 with DA300 and a 1.4TC.
I'm working from the eastern side of Manchester here in UK, so reasonably light polluted. This is my first serious effort with the new kit - 40 exposures of 2 mins each, plus darks and flats, stacked in DSS and finished off in Lightroom.
Hints and tips welcome...
Paul
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
10-05-2013, 01:24 AM
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ISO 1600, moderate PP tweaks with ACR in LR.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-02-2013, 01:24 AM
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I'm off to Sweden in Feb for same reason with the same dilemma and after much research have bought a Sigma 15mm f2.8 prime. I reckon the extra stop over my Pentax 16-45 f4 (which I will also take) could be useful. Extra stop was also the reason I didn't go for the 15mm/f4 limited prime. The siggy is supposed to be sharper than the Pentax 14/2.8 especially wide open (which is how I'll be using it!).
Useful thread - must investigate heated insoles!
Paul
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-02-2013, 01:17 AM
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I've used both the 35 f2.8 limited for landscape panos and the FA77 limited. Both are of course very good and very sharp.
The FA 77 is cool since you can use it for Bokeh panoramas. Easy to get 50-60 megapixel images.
Shoot RAW, use manual exposure and manual focus, and give all the images the same post processing. I use LR to post process and PSE to stitch.
I made a pano head but unless you have near subjects in the frame you can manage with an ordinary tripod.
Paul
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
03-15-2012, 01:02 AM
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Just checked and my meter position was set to centre weighted, I had set it to matrix, and yes I use the standard strap.
Well spotted!
Paul
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
01-15-2012, 11:40 PM
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Diagnosis confirmed guys - user error.
When I check the EXIF data for these frames, AE lock is engaged and the metering segment data is all blacks. Phew, I can relax (and feel slightly embarrassed) now.
Thanks for your input. Handy thing that EXIF data!
One followup question - my EXIF utility - PhotoME - shows data for 16 AE metering segments, the K5 has 77 segment metering. Anyone know why only 16 are shown? Is this a PhotoME limitation?
Cheers
Paul
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
01-15-2012, 12:52 PM
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Hmm - if I had pressed the AE lock before taking the lens cap off, would it have produced these symptoms? Cold fingers in gloves could possibly have done that....I'll experiment a bit.
"Being a muppet" is a much happier answer than "my camera has a weird intermittent fault that nobody else has".
Cheers guys
Paul
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
01-15-2012, 11:28 AM
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Just checked the AE metering segment EXIF data on the affected images. Pics taken immediately before and after have AE metering segments 1-16 reading values between 11 and 14. The affected images (taken of similar subjects - hills and moors - in the same light) have AE metering segment values of -2.6 to -2.9. So looks like the camera is setting a very long shutter speed (30 secs) because it believes there is no light.....worrying...
Paul
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
01-15-2012, 11:08 AM
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That kind of sounds feasible - mounting and unmounting lenses, possible some connection slightly dodgy or bit of damp somewhere...
Paul
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
01-15-2012, 09:38 AM
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Yesterday morning I was out photographing the dawn on top of Mam Tor in Derbyshire, UK. Temps probably around -2 degrees C. I was out for around 3 hrs, standing around in the cold. I used various lenses, 16-45, 35mm Macro and towards the end of the session, I had the 77mm limited on - had two weird exposures. Took loads of frames that were fine, but for two exposures only, close but not sequential to each other, I think (but can't swear) that the camera display indicated 1/30 sec exposure. The shutter actually stayed open for 30 secs (so totally white frame was the result). I had ISO set to 80 throughout the session, camera in Aperture Priority, battery not full (over 300 shots taken since full charge) but not flat either. Before and since the camera has behaved perfectly.
Could be user error but no idea what I've done...anyone have any bright ideas?
Done a search but can't see any mention of similar problems.
I've kept the affected images so can query the metadata.
Cheers all
Paul
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Forum: Photographic Technique
01-10-2012, 12:30 AM
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Kept around 3400. Typical ratio these days is bin 25% of what I take when I get back and examine it in detail. Keep the other 75%, of which maybe 1/3 rd is stuff I'm pleased with and is worthy of further post processing.
Paul
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