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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-27-2008, 06:36 PM
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G'day johngs,
I would suggest that you set the camera to auto or P for a start and take note of what the camera is metering. Assuming that you are using the Pentax software, you can easily check the exposure settings there. (as well as in camera).
Take all sorts of shots in all sorts of situations. The more the merrier (thats what the delete button is for ;) )
When you get shots that do not work, or are not to your liking, then post those with the exif data intact and then we can (gladly) offer you some advice.
Just one word of caution, if you are expecting National Geographic or Vogue magazine type shots straight up, then be prepared to be dis-appointed. Sometimes you can be lucky, but more often than not you will get a mixture of good & bad. The challenge is working out why.
Happy shooting, just go out and have some fun with it.
Cheers.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-30-2023, 12:14 AM
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with the Pentax K3iii and Pentax 55-300 PLM (latest version).
this is an updated post to what I put up in Post your Photos a couple of weeks back.
I shoot sport on the weekends for a local newspaper and have been doing this with the K3iii & Sigma EX DG 70-200 f2.8 ....and I love this lens too, it has, and will continue to, serve me well. But I find the Sigma which effectively becomes 100-300 on the K3iii, a bit too long for certain situations.
I tried my DA* 50-135, an obvious solution, but the auto focus is painfully slow, it may just be my copy, but it was not up to the task, far too many missed shots. I tried the DFA 24-70 on the K3 and that was OK, but then was too short on occasions....grrrrr!!
I agonised over a 18-135, 28-105, 16-85 etc etc, even tried my Sig 18-250, which is ok in bright conditions but runs and hides when it gets gloomy.
So .... what to do ? I eventually pulled the trigger on a Pentax 55-300 PLM after reading many good reviews on its autofocus speed ... and the image quality.
My first outing with the kit was a miserable cold wet gloomy day, where everything got well & truly soaked. I was as nervous as all hell about shooting in these conditions and certainly would not have done it with the Sig 70-200, even with a cover, and as I reported in my other post I was mightily impressed with the performance of lens and camera. Shooting at ISO 400 & 800 I am getting good shutter speed for sport and useable images that clean up well in Topaz for publication.
Cant wait for a bright sun shiny day.
Anyway, I eventually got to try out the same set up in much better conditions and I attach a variety of photos, some from the that wet day and some shot in much nicer conditions, it will be obvious which is what, to demonstrate the ability of this set up, it is pretty bloody good in my humble opinion.
All shots are staright off the camera, no processing other than to resize for upload. All were handheld.
#332 iso 100. f6.3. 1/640s. 300mm.
#8400 iso 800 f6.3. 1/640s 210mm
# 356 300mm
# 369 55mm
# 9097 iso 800 f6.3 1/500s 98mm
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
07-31-2023, 02:36 PM
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Hmmmm .... reminds of an actual restaurant in a winery not far from me called "Mood Food" and when I asked why Mood Food, the reply was, there is no menu you get whatever Mum (the chef) is in a mood to make. It wasn't bad either.
Mum retired and the name went with her.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
07-31-2023, 11:49 PM
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Crunch ! This could hurt.
It was published.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
06-02-2023, 10:12 PM
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.... (crow eater) ... that should have them wondering for awhile :)
To the Op, if you want any heads up on printing, drop me a line. Have printed on HP Designjet Z3200 44 & 24 inch, for club, professional and commercial purposes.
I have shot work with K3 . K3ii. K3iii (and that camera is a giant step up from K3ii) & K1ii.
I will not buy into the "jumping ship" thing other than to say some years ago I purchased a Nikon D800 .... and came back to Pentax and Limited series lenses.
Cheers
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
06-17-2023, 07:39 PM
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I hope this is of help to anyone considering buying this set up (K3iii & 55-300 PLM).
I normally shoot my weekend sport for a local newspaper with the K3iii & Sigma 70-200 f2.8 EX DG ... and am very happy with that set up, except for the occasional time in Netball where it is too close. So recently added the 55-300 PLM to my arsenal.
Yesterday was an atrocious day for sport photography, dull, heavy grey to black skies and heavy showers, and that would have had me seeking cover with the Sigma 70-200 (which was in the car just in case it was needed).
So... here was an opportunity to put the K3iii & 55-300 through a pretty tough in the field test. I shoot in jpeg for this sort of work. Everything was shot handheld, and a monopod (which was in the car) would have enhanced the outcome, probably should have used it.
The results, I think, are very interesting.
Firstly for those who do not know the game of Netball ... here is a snapshot of it ... and the conditions. I was in and out of the rain, moving from court to court and ended up .... wet, in fact very wet !! as did the camera and lens.
I always carry a micro cloth and wipe excess water of the camera & lens, but they were getting seriously wet along the way.
I was concerned, because of the amount water the gear was being subjected to and am relieved to say that everything fired up fine this morning with no signs of any issues.
No processing to this shot straight from the camera, downsized to show you the situation.
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/attachments/12-post-your-photos/606823d1687054198-sports-aussie-rules-netball-rain-k33b8585.jpg
Original shot, no processing other than resizing for uploading.
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/attachments/12-post-your-photos/606824d1687054198-sports-aussie-rules-netball-rain-k33b8595.jpg
After a trip to Topaz Photo AI (and I let auto pilot decide for this exercise)
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/attachments/12-post-your-photos/606825d1687054198-sports-aussie-rules-netball-rain-k33b8595-topaz-faceai-sharpen.jpg
Then a trip to DXO PL6 and using their Smart Exposure feature.
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/attachments/12-post-your-photos/606826d1687054198-sports-aussie-rules-netball-rain-k33b8595-topaz-faceai-sharpenstr-sel.jpg
Original shot. f5.6. 1/500s. iso 800. 150mm
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/attachments/12-post-your-photos/606829d1687054198-sports-aussie-rules-netball-rain-k33b8932astr-sel.jpg
DxO
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/attachments/12-post-your-photos/606827d1687054198-sports-aussie-rules-netball-rain-k33b8932ag-w-selstr-sel.jpg
Topaz (finished product for publishing)
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/attachments/12-post-your-photos/606828d1687054198-sports-aussie-rules-netball-rain-k33b8932ag-w-sel-topaz-denoise-faceaistr-sel.jpg
Original Shot. ISO 1600. f5.6. 260mm. 1/500s (and yes, I covered two (2) games for the day.
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/attachments/12-post-your-photos/606830d1687054198-sports-aussie-rules-netball-rain-k33b9125str-sel.jpg
Topaz
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/attachments/12-post-your-photos/606831d1687054198-sports-aussie-rules-netball-rain-k33b9125str-sel-topaz-denoise-faceai.jpg
Original shot. No processing. ISO 1600. 260mm 1/500s
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/attachments/12-post-your-photos/606832d1687054198-sports-aussie-rules-netball-rain-k33b9126str-sel.jpg
Topaz
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/attachments/12-post-your-photos/606833d1687054198-sports-aussie-rules-netball-rain-k33b9126str-sel-topaz-faceai-sharpen.jpg
I am mightily impressed, not only with the ISO performance and the weather sealing, but also with the fast focus of this set up. I back button focus from habit, and this is crazy fast and accurate. The Sigma 70-200 f2.8 is pretty good, but this is another level again. I had the occasional back focus where a brighter, higher contrast object was in the near back ground which was showing up in the gloomy conditions, but can live with that knowing it does it.
I doubt I will ever experience these extreme conditions again, but it is good to know the gear is up to the challenge if required.
Hope that helps anyone considering this kit.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 III Monochrome
06-02-2023, 11:14 PM
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I'm impressed !! But to repeat some one else ... I do not need this camera..... but hell I want it !!
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
05-31-2009, 02:37 PM
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Hi ya Jack,
Good to 'see' you again...its been quite awhile.
but what are you doing in Manitoba?....what is the Sylvia going to do in your absence?
Entertaining series mate, thanks for sharing. (I'm surprised you didn't dress the roadkill and set up a roadside bbq..??):)
And for anyone who doesn't know Jack Simpson...this is one very talented man and a great photo journalist...with a very sharp wit.
Cheers
Grant
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-10-2018, 05:21 PM
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Great set up, good to see the attention to detail as well, without which the best lens in the world will not give you the results you seek. Well done.
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
11-02-2019, 05:07 PM
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Taken on the western side of the Grampians in Victoria, Australia.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
05-14-2019, 09:51 PM
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A couple of shots from a few days camping in our Flinders Ranges at Edeowie Station.
The camp site. Located on the banks of the dry Brachina Creek amongst these majestic gums (trees for you Nthn hemispherians).
Attachment 451635
The desperados...four days of bliss....lots of lies told around the campfire (like all campfires :lol: )
Attachment 451637
The Lightning Tree....whats left of it after a strike.
Attachment 451638
Some astro over the Edeowie pub ruins, built 1830. (great history in these old ruins)...look carefully for two (2) meteor trails.
Attachment 451636 |
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-15-2019, 05:39 PM
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Some of you have probably heard this before...but I will repeat it anyway. Based on real life, in the field experience. Subject Motox...that is motorbikes on dirt tracks/circuits, lots of jumps, speed, changes of direction, dust, mud, good light and bad light.
Cameras and lens combos used over a 2 year period:
K5.2 & Sigma 70-200 f2.8 and DA* 200mm. Later replaced by Pentax K3 with same lenses.
Nikon D800 & tamron 70-200 f2.8.
Differences? Yes .... the K3 is faster than the K5.2. The Sigma 70-200 is faster than the DA* 200 (in auto focus terms)....
and I will phrase the Nikon combo comparison this way:
The Nikon D800 & Tamron 70-200 combo is equal to the K3 & Sigma 70-200 in terms of "speed" but the Pentax / Sig combo is more accurate, when it locks on it is in focus, whereas with the Nikon that was not always necessarily so.
Image qualty from all combos was marketable and sold, people often bought images shot with both combos and no one came back saying one image was better than the other, and I would defy anyone to pick the difference....I certainly can not and would have to check exif to ascertain which was which.
My K1.2 and the Sigma 70-200 is a great combo, but I have not put it to the test of Motox, as I no longer do that....but have shot some surfing and am very happy with what it does.
I no longer have the Nikon.
Cheers.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
02-23-2019, 06:16 PM
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Forum: Photo Critique
02-09-2019, 12:19 AM
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Like it.....print it and find a wall for it.
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Forum: Photo Critique
02-09-2019, 12:15 AM
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Beautiful scene well captured. Perhaps crop the shadow area off the bottom...it does not really serve any purpose or add anything to the image.
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
01-24-2019, 04:27 AM
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Post processing is (imho) a very important and a very large part of digital photography, the skill lies in how much is too much or not enough to produce a pleasing image. BUT....what pleases one will annoy another. It is a "how long is a piece of string argument" at the end of the day.
One of my more amusing experiences in a competition was when the judge criticised my sunset image for being over processed, over saturated, over sharpened and so forth.... when in actual fact it was simply converted from Raw to jpeg in LR, cropped and straightened...the sunset was one of those brilliant vibrant multi hued and coloured affairs that had to be seen to be believed. Obviously this judge did not believe ( & said so) that these colours actually occurred in real life. The judgeing continued and another similar image came up to be greeted with the same comments...but you could see the judge was a little off put by two over processed sunsets and the wheels of doubt were beginning to crank over.
At the conclusion of the evening I approached the judge, very politely, to point out that there was in fact no processing of colour/saturation/vibrance in the first image, only to be joined by another member who said the same thing. Turns out we had both photographed the same amazing sunset about 50km apart.
The judge was a little embarrassed and had a half hearted attempt at argument, suggesting that if anything we should have toned things down as it was unbelievable... but others also chimed in that they too had seen that particular sunset and thought both images were a good representation of what it was.....the judge beat a hasty retreat.
Damned if you do....damned if you do not.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-27-2019, 02:21 AM
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I/we have K3 & K3.2. Have purchased a K1.2. Added in the DFA 24-70 fairly quickly as I was "weak" in that range in FF. Generally the K1.2 lives with the DFA 24-70 & Sigma EX DG 70-200 f2.8......and the FA 43 LTD.
Size is not an issue in reality. I would echo Sandy and encourage you to retain the K3 and add in the K1. My wife uses the K3 and I have the K3.2 set up with DA* 300 + 1.4 to give me around 600mm reach if I need it. At the end of the day what I could get for the body did not make it worth selling.
What I notice most about the K1.2 is the processing capability of the RAW images, I believe I am getting much more out of my images....could be my imagination....but am very, very happy with the end results from the K1.2.
Good Luck.
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Forum: Photo Critique
01-18-2019, 10:35 PM
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Beautiful scenes well captured.
To make them better have a play around in black and white conversion programs, remembering that you should have some absolute black and absolute white in the image somewhere. NIK & Topaz are two programs that have highly regarded b&w conversions....but there are probably more out there that other contributors will know of.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
03-13-2018, 02:50 AM
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I have not done a lot of this type of work, but enough to want to do more and to know that the model is the key. "Julie" is promising and when she truly relaxes into the role could be great. You can get the technical stuff right, but it is the model who sells the story.
Example: in the shot applying lipstick, face the mirror and avert the eyes only to the camera, add a look of mild annoyance at being disturbed and you have a genuine shot...imho...not a "posed"one. Minor detail I know, but often the difference between good and great is exactly that.
Look forward to seeing more of Julie.
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
01-16-2019, 02:55 PM
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I guess at the end of the day it comes down to the intended, and the un-intended, use of the tripod. my little Vanguard Veo 264 CB (the travel tripod I referred to earlier) is a good tool for "normal" use, ticks a lot of boxes. However in the not so normal, particularly long exposure, windy or running water conditions it does not instil a great deal of confidence.
A very recent experience bought this home where I was shooting a sunrise at a beach locally, with the tide going out, had the K1 with 24-70 on the old Manfrotto clunker, at the waters edge. Water lapping up to the tripod feet, gentle little waves barely ankle deep and I moved away to put my camera bag back a bit further when I turned back to see a little rogue wave about knee deep was rolling in....and I am too far back to beat it to the camera / tripod. So I am totally in the hands of the stability of that tripod as the wave rolled through it, the strap hanging off the camera is in the water, my heart in my mouth as I freeze with everything crossed.!!!
All ended well, wave receded, tripod was standing proud and tall, and other than a wet strap no damage done. I would not like to repeat this with the Vanguard, I think I would have tested out Pentax's weather proofing.
The moral of the story....you just never know what your kit may be asked to do, so err on the side of caution if you possibly can.
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
01-15-2019, 03:54 PM
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This is very, very good advice. I have a new lightweight Carbon fibre "travel" unit and a 20 year old Manfrotto aluminium that is bigger and heavier....the Manfrotto is the best by far and more than worth the extra effort of packing it etc.
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
01-07-2019, 08:15 PM
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I am a monopod user, it was pointed out to me a long time ago that most of the motion blur comes from when you press the shutter ie...it is down and up. A solid, well built monopod takes that movement away and is better than nothing. However a monopod does not replace a good tripod. Sure IBIS helps, but I will keep using my monopod as well.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
01-03-2019, 07:54 PM
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We stumbled across this amazing place with views that went all the way to Canada.
Attachment 436065 |
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
01-04-2019, 03:34 PM
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Would have loved that !! Unfortunately though we were a group of 12, so had limitations.
Really enjoyed the east coast and your fall colors, first time I had seen it and understand it all a lot more now. May even get back one day by myself, or with the boss and would make camp in one place and not travel as much as we did. Really liked North Conway....but it was all good.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
01-01-2019, 02:39 PM
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More options to consider.
As previously mentioned....seriously consider the Pentax 12-24 for your K5, a very good lens I have had the pleasure of using but not owning. The one I do own that I would recommend is the DA 21mm, can't say enough good things about this little guy.
Uncle Vanya makes a good point with the 50-135, beautiful lens, but that then gives you overlap on your 55-300 which I understand is also a great lens.
PS: Not sure if anyone has mentioned the DA* 16-50, another lens in our stable, which sits on my wife's K3, another excellent lens, but maybe out of your price range. The 16-50 is a versatile, fast, high quality lens.
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