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Forum: Photographic Technique
05-13-2012, 02:20 PM
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This weekend I upgraded from a K20D and a 42mount 300mm to a K-5 and a DA* 300mm.
Now that I'm trying to learn the K-5, I'm wondering what everyone uses for settings when they go birding. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
04-28-2012, 02:30 PM
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Went down yesterday to try lenses out. There was nothing on the list that we didn't already know about. I did get to try out the DA 40 XS though. I will say the quality isn't much different than the DA 40 Limited, which I also borrowed to test the two against each other. But the lack of a real focus ring and stuff, kind sucked. I had way more fun using the Limited. I'm going back today so maybe I'll ask what is coming up down the line.
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Forum: General Talk
04-24-2012, 02:16 AM
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私は勇気があるみたいです。
去年に645d使ってみました。
何の問題になりませんでした。
だけど持ち歩くのは大変でした。
重かったんです。
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
04-22-2012, 05:02 AM
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I think I might be the original poster of that link.
It is indeed just an event to try out the cameras for us locals in Tokyo. However, they are lending out the K-01 so I'm betting that they will be loaning out the new super thin 40mm they are releasing with the K-01. I'm going to be trying that out for sure. Want me to ask anything and see if I can get a scoop?
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Forum: General Talk
04-20-2012, 10:10 PM
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-11-2012, 02:54 AM
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I will be kicking myself for a while that I didn't know about this sooner and that I didn't volunteer my services. Ugh.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-10-2012, 06:17 AM
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Who is going to be interviewing? And will this be private or just asking them at the booth? I'm going to be going tomorrow and excited to see the new lenses.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-03-2011, 04:59 PM
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I was wondering this very same question for a while myself. I would like to add my experiences to the post.
The Pentax Forum (showroom in Tokyo) does a lens rental event. Basically you can rent a couple of lenses for free for two hours. I rented the 70 and the 77 to see which I liked more for the kind of photography I like. I looked at the pictures and I think I've settled on the 70 although it is a hard choice. The price is great and I really liked how the pictures turned out. Also since it was a little wider this is a plus for me. I like to shoot pictures in cramped little narrow alleys.
Bokeh Comparison - Unfortunately it didn't dawn on me to take a similar picture to number 02 with the 70mm until after I got home. Boy was I kicking myself. But shot number 01 has bokeh in the background. In this comparison I think the 77 is pretty nice. I would liked to have seen the same scene done by the 70mm.
70mm
77mm
Portrait Comparison - These were taken from the street peering into an eatery. Here I like the 70 better. I don't know how to explain it but I just like how it is a little darker and it isn't as warm. It seems to me the 70 is a little cooler. For these types of portraits going into the shops I think I'll go with the 70. Note: I did have to take a couple steps back to get the same kind of framing for the 77.
70mm
77mm
I also noticed something else. Pretty much for all my shots the camera was making used f2.5 with the 77mm and f2.4 with the 70mm. The 70mm pretty much always used 800iso and the 77mm used 200/400/800 inconsistently. Unfortunately I only had 2 hours to work with and I wish I had more time to play around with the lenses and camera settings. I think the next time they do the rentals (in the summer I think) I'll definitely know what to do for better testing. Hope this helps.
(Apologies for such a big post. Is there a way to format the pictures side by side?)
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-20-2011, 06:22 AM
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I use my M's because they are hand me downs from my father. I have a range of 28mm, 50mm, and 135mm. However, there are times when they make me want to pull my hair out. I'm not very good at focusing with them and can't consistently get good shots. So I would like to ask some questions.
How do you get consistently good pictures with manual focus? Practice? Skill? Any tips? I'm using the K20 with a *ist screen for good exposure.
Also aside from pressing the green button for taking exposures are there any other ways? Any insight would be quite appreciated!
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-20-2010, 03:36 AM
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In a private message conversation it was suggested that perhaps I don't really need an ultrawide lens in order take pictures of what I want. It was suggested that I post some example photos to show everyone the types of pictures I want to take. So far I've only really used the Kit II lens. Sometimes I use an SMC-M 28 F2.8 (but the metering is horrible. I'm going to try and get an ist focusing screen). I think I may just want a fast semi-wide lens. Like in the 20-30 range. Let me know what you think.
This image was taken at 24mm. Because at the time I was considering the FA* 24mm.
For this image I felt that 18mm was pretty good at getting the kitchen of this little cramped french restaurant.
But I don't quite feel that the same 18mm was able to get the main part of the restaurant. Which is why I initially figured that I needed to get something a little wider.
This also makes me feel the same way. I think I need to just work on composing my images better. I would have liked more on the right.
I do like how 18mm was able to get this shot. But this place was dark so I would have liked to have had a faster lens. The shot came out fine but ISO 800 is pretty high.
This was done at 24mm again. I dream of the FA* 24mm. But again, this shot was taken at ISO 800.
Most of the shots I'm getting are at ISO 800. I know the shots are coming out decent but I would like a faster lens. But perhaps I don't need to get a wide angle like the 14mm. I also probably need to work more on technique. For example trying to compose my images better to get what I want in the frame.
I'm going on a trip in March. I'm going to be taken to a lot of resorts and restaurants. There are also going to be some sake breweries, temples, and snowy landscapes. I would very much like to be able to take some nice pictures of the interiors and landscapes. Would you recommend any lenses for the types of pictures I want to take or would you suggest I just try and work more on technique and use the lenses I have?
M42 28 f3.5, 50 f1.4, 200 f4, Sun 80-210 f4.8 zoom
SMC-M 28 f2.8, 50 f1.4, 135 f3.5
DFA 100 2.8 macro
DA 18-55 II
Do I really need anything else? Is this getting more into technique as opposed to equipment?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-16-2010, 04:22 PM
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Interesting. Some votes for the DA 14. Since most of the time the restaurants I visit have people in them it might be better to get a faster lens. The lens is also quite well within my budget. I'm going to look at some used 14's today after work. Does the DA have any bad distortion? Even if it does have distortion would it in any way affect what I want to shoot?
And while I'm at it, does anyone have any lenses recommendations for taking pictures of food?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-16-2010, 05:02 AM
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Ari: Thanks again. I'll definitely try those tips! I'd love to get free food and have the ability to get some shots of empty restaurants.
To everyone else: I'm now very seriously considering getting the DA 12-24. Can anyone who has used the lens give any opinions/advice on the 12-24? Anything else you would recommend? DA 14 F2.8? DA 15?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-16-2010, 12:16 AM
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Ari: Thanks for the information. I don't think I'll be able to use a pano head for what I'm currently doing. At this point in my "hobby" I go to a restaurant, eat the food, take pictures, and ask annoying questions. Then I write a sort of review/article and put it up on my website. But I think I know where you are coming from. A zoom would be better than a prime.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-15-2010, 09:03 PM
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I have a dilemma. I would like to be able to take pictures of the interiors of restaurants (or neat buildings for that matter). A lot of the restaurants I've gone to are very dimly lit. I was initially thinking that I would need a fast wide angle lens in order to take nice pictures. However, I've come to realize that such a lens used wide open would have very shallow DOF. So what I really probably want to do is get a lens and stop it down to f8 or so in order to get the entire interior sharp and in focus. Correct?
So what kind of lens should I be looking for? I was initially considering getting the DA 15 due to what a lot of what forum members have said about the lens. However, I pm'ed one forum member with some questions and he replied that a zoom might be more suited to what I want to do.
I want to be able to take pictures of the interiors of restaurants and other buildings (hotels and bars). A dream would be to turn this "hobby" into a job of reviewing restaurants and hotels. What type of lens would be suited for taking nice professional pictures of these types of places? Zoom? Prime? Do I need to be looking for a fast lens? Or is a slow lens acceptable?
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Forum: Photographic Technique
02-05-2010, 07:52 AM
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Next week there is going to be an international orchid festival in Tokyo. It is going to be indoors. I'm wondering what I should bring with me in order to take some nice pictures. I'm going to be using my K20 and as far as macro lenses go I have a DFA 100 and I have a reverse ring adapter and a SMC-M 28 f2.8 and 50 f1.4. Can anyone else make some recommendations?
Also, should I be trying to take these photographs in available light? Should I try and purchase a flash (I don't own a flash but I've been meaning to get one)? What type of flash should I be looking at?
Also I realize a tripod would be very helpful, however, this is going to be a large event and I'm pretty sure thousands of people are going to be there. I don't think that a tripod would be very helpful/considerate with all the traffic the booths are going to have.
Go here if you care to see the 2009 Orchid Festival. This slide show plays automatically and you don't need to know Japanese to be able to look at it. If you take a look you might get a feel for what the show is like and might help with suggestions.
Internation Orchid Festival 2009
Looking at that slide show again, rather than macro lenses I may need something long to be able to get to the orchids.
Any suggestions or tips with shooting flowers in a controlled setting would be very helpful. Thanks in advance.
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