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Forum: Post Your Photos!
07-17-2017, 04:10 PM
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A macro or close focus photo will often look better with flash because the flash will darken the background while allowing you to stop the lens down for greater depth of field or lower ISO. I have had good results with the built in flash, or with the relatively inexpensive 200FG, and a very old AF280T. The AF280T is really powerful when needed, and the head tilts up for bounce flash, and down 15 degrees for close up work. Tall and heavy, but mine cost just $12.00 or EBAY. All of these options, even "dialed" way back for closeup work, still often produce way too much light. Some sort of diffuser and light reducer is usually needed. I have taped a small piece of white cloth (from a "hankie") to the top if both flash units an just flip it down when necessary. Practice
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Forum: Photographic Technique
07-02-2017, 05:12 PM
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Many superzooms, including my Sigma 18-250, need to be stopped down to f5.6, or even better, f8 to be sharp. This should be no problem outdoors in good light. I would use "A", set to f8 or f5.6, but if you use any auto or semi-auto modes just make sure the lens is stopped down adequately. In addition, you might want to consider trying the "sports" mode. I know purists may object to use of any "mode", but if it works who will know?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
05-25-2017, 05:10 PM
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Am I the only one here concerned about pricing on the most recent Pentax camera, the K-P?
I am still using my reliable K-r, but getting close to having resources for an upgrade. I think I'll go for a K-5lls when one comes available for $400, but just for reference I priced a K-P at Amazon, and came up with $1,055 for body only. I next checked prices for a decent Canon, and found the T7, with a kit lens, for $849. Yea, Yea, I know, it isn't a Pentax, and the Pentax has some very important advantages. But still, no one can argue that the Canon is not a pretty nice camera. I could probably find a decent used K-3 for $850, but would have to weigh a new Canon with factory warranty against a 3 or more year old used Pentax "as is", or with a very short 3rd party promise. If i did not already have a bag of Pentax equipment, tough decision.
I suppose the days of an entry level Pentax body for under $800 are gone, but still, it does leave the entry level market quite empty.
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
02-18-2017, 05:42 PM
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OK, time for a slightly different opinion. Yes, the difference between 6mp and 24mp at 100% crop is huge, but remember that images are rarely viewed at 100% crop for any useful reason. I used a K100d for many years, and made it a point to get as close to the subject as I could to minimize PP cropping. This camera resulted in some very nice images. A camera with higher MP would have allowed me crop a lot more to get the same final result, but without getting so close. My budget does not allow a K-3, but I did a lot of comparisons between the K100d and the well regarded K-5, and found that when viewed or printed (up to 8x10) at near full size (little cropping) the results were not really that different. Even a little cropping, however, left the K100d far behind, and at a 100% crop there was no comparison.
My point is that if budget issues rule out a new K-3 (and personally I have ruled out anything from a K-30 to K-70 because of the reliability issues), consider a used K-3 or even K-5. I know a number of photography fans that have dropped out because they cannot afford the latest and greatest. Don't become one of these dropouts.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-21-2017, 02:31 PM
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My K-x, owned since new, recently developed a "lazy shutter", and exposure became unreliable. I too wanted to upgrade, but was concerned about the reliability of the K-30, K-50, K-s2 and even the K-70, and ruled them out. I could have picked up a K-5 or one of it's variants, but $400 or more for well worn used camera seemed also too risky unless I could find one at KEH with a short warranty, and they have not had one recently. Since I was basically happy with the K-x, I found a K-r in a local pawnshop for $150, and that will do well enough for a while.
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Forum: General Photography
10-09-2016, 04:53 AM
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Mules are banned from most equine competitions because, if allowed, they would dominate many competitions. Strength, endurance and intelligence are generally superior to horses and ponies of the same size. Dressage might be the exception, mules just don't get the point. Mules are also more likely to be interested in self-preservation. They will resist doing anything they perceive as dangerous, or just plain stupid. Horse are more likely to do what is asked without taking the time to analyze the situation.
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
09-23-2016, 06:33 AM
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On the advice of someone on this forum a long while ago, I picked up a Pentax AF280T on Ebay for under $20.00. This is a "Thyristor" (sic) flash, probably a rebadged, highly regarded, Vivitar 283, It actually works quite well in auto, especially when I need more power than my newer Pentax Flash. It tilts up 45, 65 and 90 degrees. and down 15 degrees for MACRO (closeup) work. Auto works well enough, but it has numerous manual adjustments when I have the time to flash a couple of test shots. Downsides? Yes, it is big, and sits straight up very high, and powerful enough to use inside sports facilities. And the "POP" when it goes off spooks the horses, wakes the dogs and stops all conversation within 20 yards. I believe there are better reviews on this forum.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
08-29-2013, 06:42 AM
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I have seen small lizards and even birds in these webs, some of which can reach 6 feet in diameter. The host spider seems to avoid captured prey that is too large, but this catch apparently is just right.
I bought this lens with the K100d and never really liked it much. I usually prefer one of the 70-300's but being able to focus without booting the camera is a plus. I also have a Kx, but the K100d feels better, and dispite the 6MP limit, I use it more often.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
06-07-2013, 07:42 AM
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High ISO, slow (ish) shutter, no shake reduction, no tripod = tough conditions for any camera/lens combo. Is this too demanding a task, or should this combo really do better?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-02-2013, 09:01 AM
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Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the attached image is that it was shot with a 2003 Pentax K100d (approximately 40k "clicks"), and a Quantaray 400mm preset lens purchased from Ebay for $18, including postage. Additionally, the setup was easy: lens at f8, camera in manual, iso fixed at 400, shutter at 250/sec. I used a tripod because the shake reduction doesn't work with this lens/adapter. I was about 90 feet from the base of the tree, the eagle about 60 feet from the ground. This image may encourage some who cannot afford the latest camera and premium lenses to purchase what they can and go out and have fun
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
02-10-2012, 07:54 AM
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On the rare occasion when I offer advice to beginners, my one objective is to make sure the next photo they take is better than the last one they took. In other words, good advice must offer instant gratification.
A friend recently borrowed her brother's Canon DSLR for an upcoming horse show. He told her it was set on ISO 200, and aperture f8.0 to give her the best quality photos. The camera would select the shutter speed. He gave no alternative advice. This, of course, might as well have been Greek to her. My friend took the camera to the horse show, and happily began shooting everything in sight. This worked well in the morning, for the sun was up and the sky bright and clear. As the day progressed, however, clouds and light drizzle moved in, and late in the afternoon it became quite dark. The Canon did what it was told, and stopped the lens down to F8 and maintained ISO 200. The only option left was to keep slowing the shutter, until the necessary exposure approached a half second. By this time even my friend recognized that the previews were bad, and the camera was acting "weird". She thought she had broken something and asked me for help. It was too late for many of her best photos, but a quick switch to auto made things much better, and she was back in business and happily annoying everyone with the now functioning flash. And her photos looked good again.
My point? When giving advice to beginners, make sure they get good results the next time they take pictures. Improve their photo skills one step at a time. If you make things too complicated, too fast, and they do not get decent photos right away they can easily become completely frustrated and give up.
At least her brother did not tell her to "shoot raw".
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