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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
09-15-2014, 11:40 AM
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Lol... Isn't that how it is with mug shots? Or more generically, dental shots, which was what ring flashes were used for in the old days :P
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
09-15-2014, 10:59 AM
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I have it... But I use it only for macro.
Even for macro, I feel mixed abt it. Its a very efficient setup but flat light isn't very appealing sometimes and it's hard to light up the background for macro as I'll be shooting f8-f11 and with high shutter speed. A flashgun with a creative diy diffuser might be more versatile.
It might be more useful for a studio shoot than an event shoot cos its really not very powerful? Its GN 18 think...
I can imagine that the ability to fire off just 1 tube might allow for some creative effects but I really haven't tried it on subjects with less than 6 legs before.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
03-01-2014, 09:09 AM
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so... westerners have a narrower perspective? :rolleyes:
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
11-30-2013, 12:02 AM
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we are all entitled to our opinions but you miss my point. i am simply saying that there is a disproportionate need, due to gaps in the product line-up, to trawl ebay for legacy stuff, and/or do DIY. it doesnt mean that i hate the brand or intend to jump ship. i'm just saying that the situation exists.
for pple who use systems with compatible accessories, but choose to DIY instead, this is a separate matter. there are many reasons for this. they made a choice, and so did we.
so there is no need to remind me that I have friends back home who are good photographers and i respect their works immensely. the macro forum makes me more homesick than ever.
but does that change my preference for a neat, well-designed setup consisting of original accessories that fits tight and works well? i may not be able to take pix as nice as thomas shanan, but i dont want to anyway. i just want to be me. and saying that diy gear takes better pix is just wrong. the photographer makes all the difference.
i do not like jury-rigged gear. i know it works for others and i have a lot of respect for pple who are good with their hands and make wonderful stuff to help them. but i am not like that and it doesn't work for me.
i do not want ricoh to makes these stuff just for me because something that doesnt sell is not good for the company anyway. if there is insufficient demand for even 3rd party manufacturers to come on board, the message is pretty clear to me that these are niche gear for a niche brand and i just have to live with the situation (and I have - since the days of my navy-blue K-X).
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
11-29-2013, 11:35 PM
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Interesting. I should try that :)
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
11-29-2013, 10:15 PM
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Yeah, could be a matter of opinion but I find the viv macro converter more versatile to use. There's the optical magnification and the extension tube functionality to allow u to get closer (useful for longer macro lenses).
It also leaves the front filter threads alone so its possible to mount led lights or ring flash.
I've never used a raynox cos of my setup - my ring flash needs the filter threads.
But I have seen some nice stuff taken with a raynox.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
11-29-2013, 12:39 PM
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yes indeed... a very fun piece of gear to play with :)
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
11-29-2013, 12:13 PM
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yes, u are right... greater than 1:1 is pretty extreme... shallow DOF is a bigger problem than not having the right gear :p
i have the vivitar 2x macro converter, a set of pk-a extension tubes and a few good macro lenses in the 90 to 125mm range.
what i don't have anymore, is free time :)
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
11-28-2013, 11:44 PM
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I have the AF160FC. its only benefit is that u have it in a neat, contained package without the hassle of a heavy custom mount and DIY diffusers. the modelling lights are also great for finding bugs in the woods at night.
but PTTL is not really value adding. I set it to manual for better consistency, especially on night shoots.
i like my gear and use it often. but i also recognize that it is an outdated product line if you compare it to what the competition had come up with.
i have, more than once, wanted to consider a 5DIII + MP-E 65 + MT24EX setup.
macro shooters looking for the most versatile set-up would seldom choose pentax. the lack of original and 3rd party accessories is a real bummer. barring DIY setups, the most easily available setup a pentax shooter can work with is a 1:1 macro lens with a raynox. and once u mount the raynox, u cant use the AF160 anymore...
and i would hate to have to tell the story of how difficult it was for me to find a set of PK-A extension tubes. it is almost embarrassing when i have to explain to new pentaxians that macro accessories are really limited for pentax shooters. :(
i do admit that this is a pretty niche market and market forces are at work when 3rd party manufacturers choose not to include pentax /k in their accessory range, or when hoya, then pentax (and now ricoh) have to make tough decisions about the customer base they can make money out of.
this means that we have to recognize the facts for what they are: the range is pretty limited and existing customers are having to trawl ebay for legacy gear, do a DIY, or move to a system that meets their needs.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
11-16-2013, 04:27 AM
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what i understood was that if in-lens stabilisation is used, on-body stabilisation has to be switched off?
i would've preferred something longer - like a refresh of the legendary A*/FA*200F4 macro.
i'm ready to up my hobby budget significantly if they ever release it.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
07-18-2013, 10:27 PM
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
07-16-2013, 11:36 AM
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don't forget the K85 f2.2 :)
a most curious looking lens that I bought for collection, more than any other reason :lol:
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
07-01-2012, 08:39 PM
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thats what i thought initially until someone reminded me that the contax n made beautiful pictures. it doesn't have the megapixels nor the high iso performance but its low iso IQ was beautiful.
flikr has lots of those hosted in its contax n digital user group |
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
05-24-2012, 04:47 PM
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if the build quality of their GXR can be used as a reference, i wouldn't worry at all. its a solid, well built piece of gear. mine was subject to intensive use and the only part that showed some wear was the leather near the grip. :)
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
12-20-2011, 02:01 AM
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i'm concerned that it'll get in the way when i have to operate in thick vegetation :o
i don't mind heavy, but i have to keep it moderately compact in case it scares away all the insects :p
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
12-20-2011, 12:59 AM
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i agree with you and no, i know what u're talking abt :) its not counter intuitive at all - a light source further away is more directional and more likely to cause harsh shadows.
i probably can't use an umbrella out in the field - it'll be too cumbersome. but i can definitely relate and you've set me thinking about how i can creatively diffuse the light source :)
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
12-19-2011, 10:52 PM
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thanks for the suggestion :) u've summed up my thinking in much fewer words :D
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
12-19-2011, 08:18 PM
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hi all,
i've googled, hunted and searched all over the internet for ideas on this subject but have not had much luck finding useful info so appreciate if more experienced pentaxians can offer their views on this subject.
i've been experimenting with different lighting approaches for macro for many months now and have tried:
- pop-up flash with diffuser: too harsh, not enough power to light-up subjects when shooting with a longer macro lens
- metz 48 triggered from the hotshoe with a softbox: too heavy, uneven lighting across the whole frame (esp the bottom)
- metz 48 triggered off the hotshoe with the pop-up flash: pop-up flash contributes to exposure leading to hot-spots
- pentax AF160 ring-flash: everything to complain about a ring flash - harsh, ugly catchlight off reflective surface, flat lighting
- LED lights: not bright enough to allow lens to be stepped down
so in a nutshell, after a lot of time (and $$$) spent, none of them really gives me what i want... :(
my standard setup now is the AF160 ring-flash, which despite its flaws, is a relatively compact setup that allows me to do the most important thing: close-in and get the shot quickly. but i'm stifled by its limitations and feel that it gives me a very one-dimensional, clinical look.
i'm now considering a dual flash setup, to be triggered wirelessly by radio triggers. pttl is not that important to me (since pttl radio triggers don't exist anyway), but i do need a pair of reliable slave flash that gives consistent, preferably adjustable output.
i'm considering the metz 20 c-2 (or the china made clone, the CY20) but i'm wary since the metz only allows 2 power settings (while the CY20 can't regulate its output at all) and i'm concerned that this might be too much light and will over-expose even after i stop down (hence the preference towards adjustable output).
i could always tilt the flash head upwards and redirect the flash with a DIY reflector, but i just wanted to make sure that i'm on the right track since i wouldn't want to be stuck with 2 slave flashes i can't use if the setup doesn't work-out. i simply have too much photography gear stashed away and my wife is getting annoyed with the mess (and expense).
weight is not a big problem since i intend for this to be mounted on a tripod and a very sturdy ballhead and flash mount. but i do prefer smaller slave flashes that uses 2AA batteries since anything larger will be overkill and may entail more effort to diffuse the light instead.
the outcomes i hope to achieve is soft, even lighting across the whole frame so that i can consistently capture both the subject and the background.
e.g.
i want to achieve this more consistently, with softer lighting:
and avoid this, which i find too clinical:
just to add, i do PP my pix, but i want to focus more on making the subject "pop" rather than agonizing over fundamentals that should be made right through proper technique and equipment rather than PP. i can reveal the background by bumping up fills, exposure and brightness but that's not always possible and the risk is noise. i'm finicky about noise :o its a thing. i can't explain it.
appreciate if more experienced users can share their experiences and advise:
- whether this setup is feasible / technically sound
- whether there are other flash models that i should consider
- whether i'm on the right track at all, or if there's an easier way
this flash setup will be used on a K5 + macro lenses ranging from 90mm to 125mm. working distance ranges from 30 - 50cm.
thanks for reading :)
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
12-03-2011, 09:43 PM
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u do if u're using the A12 mount. :lol:
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
11-17-2011, 06:41 PM
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and that would be ancient history :)
saying that pentax still makes spectacles is like saying that sony is still making transistor radios and nokia is still making paper.
anyway, i've heard enough BS from shop salesmen to know when to switch off and leave them to their fantasy. ;)
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
11-17-2011, 07:53 AM
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does pentax even MAKE spectacle lenses??? :lol:
i think they're confusing hoya with pentax... :lol:
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
11-13-2011, 06:59 PM
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it was probably read by a minion in their corporate communications or PR department who was then ordered by his/her boss to draft an "appropriate" reply, clear it through the proper channels and route it to the boss's secretary / executive assistant to reply using the boss' email.
AFAIK, only the late Steve Jobs reads and replies to his own emails. (case in point: corporate head honchos seldom have time to draft a refined reply like the one posted on pg 1)
that doesn't mean that this reply is worthless as it demonstrates a willingness to finally engage their user-base. but its just an email.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-22-2011, 07:39 AM
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its a marketing tagline. not a grammar test.
like it or not, its still gonna outsell the Q based on brand recognition alone.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-20-2011, 06:58 PM
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i own a copy of the voigtlander so i know what u're talking abt. yes. good lenses don't come around everyday and they simply don't make them like they used to.
but in my view, k-mount or otherwise, pentax needs to move ahead and come up with better product offerings - no mean feat considering that they are victims of their own success - if an old A 50 F1.4 is nearly as good as the DA*55 F1.4, who in the right mind would buy the DA* if they could still get a cheap copy of the A50 off fleabay and retain most of the functions (minus AF)? :D
support for legacy lenses is important in some ways. it gives users choices and makes the product relatively more attractive to enthusiasts who are looking for such adaptability. but does this represent the future market segment? is this where the money is?
i think the answer is "no". most consumers want a continual stream of shiny new stuff to fuel their buying urges.
i have friends that shoot canon and nikon and they look forward to new lenses, new bodies, new accessories all the time. they will look at you funny if you ask them to buy a 20 yr old manual focus lens off ebay to use on their DSLR bodies if there is a more modern version available for new. (ok, to qualify, the canon pple can't do it cos they can't mound old FD lenses :lol:)
they don't need a "legendary" old lens. a well-reviewed modern version will do most of the time. THAT is where the money is.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-20-2011, 08:57 AM
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i actually think that legacy lenses is something thats going to do more harm than good for pentax eventually... at this rate, who's gonna buy new lenses? :lol:
its only fun to play with old lenses up to a point. i have a few good ones myself and i do use them from time to time. but i hope for pentax to be a forward looking brand with a solid line of CURRENT products, not legacy products.
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