Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
07-23-2012, 09:44 PM
|
|
Tunnel East of Breckenridge, CO
|
Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges
02-09-2012, 11:33 PM
|
|
Damn! Drank that Gatorade, need to pee, and these fools want to watch!
|
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
10-18-2011, 06:06 PM
|
|
Sandstone fins at Arches National Monument, UTAH, USA
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
04-18-2011, 07:09 PM
|
|
When I replaced my kit lens with the Pentax 17-70mm, I too, thought I'd like to have the Sigma 10-20 so I could capture wider vistas. I live in Colorado also and there is indeed plenty of opportunity for such images.
However, after adding the Sigma to my arsenal, I have to say that probably 95% of my images are still with the 17-70, making the Sigma an expensive addition. The 17-70 is sharp at all settings and IMO, a better quality lens than the Sigma. Perhaps I got a poor copy, but my Sigma produces more fringing than I consider acceptable, forcing me to spend extra time in PP. It is NOT as sharp as the 17-70, even within the overlap area of 17-20 mm.
IMO, it's better to use my tripod and take a series of overlapping shots and join them in CS5 when I really want wide shots.
But I love the images you got with the kit lens. I'll probably try to visit that area soon.
|
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
02-01-2011, 02:14 PM
|
|
OMG! I need a shot of blue! Please! Anyone got some blue?
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
10-21-2010, 08:21 PM
|
|
I heard the K9 is a real dog! :p
Tim
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
10-19-2010, 09:58 PM
|
|
Until/unless Pentax realize that some of us have big clumsy fingers, and don't wish to wade thru menu level after menu level to reach a commonly applied setting, I'll stay with my two K20D bodies. Every setting I might normally need is right there where I can see it and change it, often without taking the camera away from my eye. All the new bodies (including my KX) require me to drop the camera, press Menu and then navigate layer after lay to get to the setting I wish to change. Personally, I feel menus should be reserved for settings that I make once or rarely, not for every picture I take.
Tim
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
10-18-2010, 07:56 PM
|
|
Picked up a Helios 44M 58mm f2.0 lens on eBay. Not bad IQ for an $18 (USD) lens made in 1978.
I think I'm going to like this lens. Exposure was f8.0, 1/10 sec (ISO 800) on my K20D. Lighting was from a shop fluorescent upper right (the color version is badly color-distorted), which gave a very smooth, even light. The background was a black piece of muslin taped to my door, about 2 feet in back of the flower. Camera on tripod, 3 second delay and used the infrared remote to trigger.
Tim
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-06-2010, 09:34 AM
|
|
Thanks all for the responses. My concern was less about dust entering the camera than it was that I might slip when removing the adapter and damage the mirror and other inside parts. The cheaper adapters tend to bind.
Tim
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
10-05-2010, 07:03 PM
|
|
What a great thread! I've perused it all, saved a LOT of links to valuable information, but unless I missed it, I don't remember seeing anything about the Jupiter 21M f4.0.
Recently picked mine up for $50 delivered. Herewith a couple from my first real day out shooting with this lens:
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-05-2010, 06:10 PM
|
|
M42 adapters are dirt cheap on the 'bay. I'm wondering if permanently attaching one to a lens (superglue? Pliobond?) is a viable alternative to constantly exposing the innards of my camera to the elements for the time (and attendant risk of physical damage) needed each time I wish to use one of my M42 lenses? Anyone tried or considered doing this? Any caveats other than not to get the glue on anything but the threads?
Tim
|
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
10-05-2010, 02:38 PM
|
|
I discovered (and have proven by testing) that if I remove my Sigma 10-20mm while power is on (stupid, I know, but, hey! I'm human!), several settings may change. Most of the time it's the ISO that changes, but occasionally other settings change as well.
Tim
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-23-2010, 06:58 PM
|
|
There is one aspect of the in-lens vs. in-camera SR debate that concerns me: power requirements.
It seems to me that rapidly moving ANY mass requires battery power. The larger the mass and/or the greater the distance it must be moved, the greater the power requirement.
Without a LOT more technical information, it would seem to me that the impact on battery life should be least when moving a lightweight sensor rather than shifting a probably more massive lens element(s). And as a guess, I suspect that the distance a lens element must be moved for SR is likely to be greater than the distance a sensor must move to accomplish the same thing.
I ran across this link on the "advantages" of Nikon's in-camera VR: Vibration Reduction from Nikon
Of course, as that Nikon publication points out, the VR algorithm in a Nikon lens can be optimized for that specific lens. To accomplish the same in a Pentax requires that the camera software have database data for every Pentax lens out there, a method to update the database, and some default values for all other lenses.
I have not seen this possibility discussed anywhere, but it is food for thought.
Tim
|
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-20-2010, 03:51 PM
|
|
I'm still reading the massive thread and not sure if anyone noticed this: "Weight Approx. 740g (body only), Approx. 660g (Including dedicated battery and SD card)"
I LIKE helium batteries that make the camera lighter once installed!
Tim
|
Forum: Photographic Technique
09-10-2010, 05:10 PM
|
|
The original frames were shot with my Pentax 40mm f2.8 pancake lens and I made sure to have about 25-30% overlap. The tripod had been leveled in both axes to ensure the horizon didn't move vertically or tilt while panning. Frames were shot with SR off and using the 2sec delay with IR remote trigger to get the most stable images possible.
I'm just going to have to learn to use my copy of PS7 to merge the images by hand, I guess.
Tim
|
Forum: Photographic Technique
09-10-2010, 05:03 PM
|
|
1) CS5 (4, 3, 2, etc) does NOT run in Linux.
2) PS7 runs fine in Crossover Linux, but has no option to process RAW files, and stitching frames together is not particularly simple.
3) Running Windows in a VM is not an option as I don't own a copy of Windows, nor can I spring for the going in price of CS5. I am on SS and have little I can invest in such things.
Such a shame that my $290 Nikon P80 can do the whole thing (limited to one row) IN CAMERA, and the joins are virtually invisible.
Thanks for the suggestions.
Tim
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-07-2010, 04:11 PM
|
|
Thanks all, for the quick replies. It turns out that the tool depresses the spring just fine, BUT... The tine that does so protrudes too far into the opening. So the adapter rotates just far enough that the spring is hooked in the depressed position, THEN one must pull the tool back slightly so it clears the rest of the mount. Now that I understand the problem, it's simple. Thanks again.
Now, can anyone suggest a solution for my Pentax Takumar 55mm f2.0 not lining up with the focus scale and aperture scale up and in the normal position. Having to turn the camera upside down to set things is a bit awkward.
Tim
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-07-2010, 02:26 PM
|
|
I recently scored a couple of M42 lenses and not having an M42 camera, purchased an adapter from eBay. It came with a removal/insertion tool. The adapter dropped into the Kx K-mount easily and I rotated it using the tool until it clicked. It has a small flat spring the winds up in the notch adjacent to the red alignment dot. (I DID align the red dot on the adapter before inserting.)
But when I went to remove the adapter, one tine of the tool depresses the spring (to release it?) and the other - narrower - tine fits loosely in the opposite opening. I am unable to rotate the adapter counterclockwise and am reluctant to be forcing things, as the mirror is RIGHT THERE where it could easily be damage if something slipped.
Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Also, one of the lenses is a PENTAX SMC TAKUMAR 55 f:2 that, when fully screwed in winds up with the focus and aperture markings facing DOWN. Again, I'm reluctant to force things, but perhaps that will provide a clue to answering the problem of removing the adapter.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions. In the meantime, my Kx just became an M42 camera!
Tim
|
Forum: Photographic Technique
09-07-2010, 06:35 AM
|
|
After a LOT of playing with Hugin, I managed to get this using the automatic stitch feature.
|
Forum: Photographic Technique
09-06-2010, 05:43 PM
|
|
I shot my first attempt at a panorama today. Five images overlapped about 20-25%. Used my 40mm f2,8 for maximum sharpness. I run Linux and installed Hugin. My first attempt is below. I'd appreciate any suggestions, as this is NOT what I was looking for, though it IS interesting.
|
Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
09-05-2010, 10:21 PM
|
|
Here are a few from earlier this year taken @ the Butterfly Pavillion north of Denver, CO. If you live near here, it's definitely worth the $7 entrance fee. Be prepared to wait 20 minutes for the fog to evaporate from your lenses!
|
Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
09-04-2010, 12:28 PM
|
|
I definitely have LBA and CBA, but after reading the entire thread, I discover I also have CRS. What were we talking about?
|
Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
09-04-2010, 11:49 AM
|
|
Just ran across this thread. Some amazing pics here. These two taken @ Sprague Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park. SMC DA 17-70mm, K20D.
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-01-2010, 05:52 AM
|
|
Thanks, Ndever had anything quite this wide before. Wasn't sure if what I'm seeing was typical or not.
|
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
08-31-2010, 08:22 PM
|
|
Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park @ dawn.
Tim
|