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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
02-24-2019, 10:14 AM
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Here's one candid I use when asked for a "flash without the flash look". Also balanced with the ambien light outside of the bay window. In fact, it was taken while practicing balancing ambient light form a window with flash... The flash was bounced above my right shoulder, as we can see by the reflection in the eyes.
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
02-23-2019, 11:49 PM
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I'm not sure what you are looking for here. What is the "flash" look? It looks like you want photos that are mostly ambient with some bounced fill flash. Is that it?
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
02-24-2019, 10:39 AM
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I’m trying to practice with flash... recently I was shooting for a sculptor catalogue and he was working on a new piece but the light was poor (sunset in forest)...  |
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Forum: Pentax K-70 & KF
02-23-2019, 07:36 PM
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
01-13-2019, 10:43 AM
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Yes! We've been discussing the likely impact of mixing indoor school building lights with flash on BruceBanners's thread, and there seems to be very little advantage to trying to record any of such ambient light into the mix, mainly because of the need to make longer exposures (not good for steadiness / sharpness) but also to avoid unpleasant colour casts. With our flash WB we and the same temperature coming from all our flashes we can have perfectly controlled natural skin tones.
Aleonx3, absolutely I agree on not using a dome type diffuser if possible, as the wide spread of light can kill off any directionality and contrast on the faces. I will certainly explore moer with the front LED catchlight on the AF-540FGZII though!
And of course, off-camera flash setups might be a great ideal, but in many real world situations it just can't be done, so the on-camera bounced & flagged P-TTL flash is the next best thing.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
10-19-2018, 08:50 PM
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Recently we had a thread from a newcomer who was concerned about Pentax's future, seemingly thinking that the brand was lacking in some basic functionality that the competition have. Among a list of features mentioned 'touchscreen' came up, something I have heard other brands having and for sure Pentax doesn't (yet). The announcement of the new GRIII which has a touchscreen is interesting and perhaps this feature will be ported across to other models in the future... who knows.
I think touchscreens in general were not really well received by this Pentax community as being something that we urgently wanted, however it is this OP's opinion that a touchscreen would be a welcome addition (if that technology does not replace tactile buttons, but is an addition to the feature set).
It got me thinking, and I went to check something out on my K-1 (and then KP) and I discovered something that I didn't know the cameras could do before, and I bet a few of you are also unaware of this little trick, so I thought I'd share my findings.
Where I would value touchscreen technology on a camera would be times I am doing portrait shooting at very wide apertures (f1.4-1.8 etc), and what I am of course trying to nail correctly is that sharp pin focus on the eyes. By perhaps touching the persons face on the Live View screen, double tap to zoom in further or even perhaps pinch and zoom would I think be really helpful.
Currently (in LV mode) we have to press the 'ok' button which zooms into the middle of the screen, and we use the rear dial wheel to zoom in more and use the directional pad to change it's location (as not every portrait has a persons face centre in the middle). ZZzzz... takes too long... :(
Well... here apparently is the next best thing, which I can confirm works for the K-1 and KP at least. Here's what you can do;
1) Using Live View, select the Autofocus method to being 'Face Detection' (this is important as this won't work on any other AF mode).
2) Once you get presented with the YELLOW box/Face Detection, use the AF/Shutter button and get a lock on focus.
3) Now... once you have that YELLOW/Face Detection focus box you can press 'Ok' button (no need to be a long press either, just a quick press will do) and the Live View will zoom in on that location, even if that face is away from the centre of the LV screen)!
4) Now that you are zoomed in, with Quick Shift lenses you can fine tune that focus and get the eyes exactly how you want, with lenses that don't support this I actually just move the camera a tad closer or further away from me to get what I perceive to being sharper focus on the eyes.
Basically, this Face Detection AF option seems to be the only one whereby you can bypass the directional pad controls and instead it will zoom in on the face regardless where it is on the screen, it's a pretty streamlined way of getting a quick shot off with added fine tuning, not a bad compromise for lacking touchscreen :lol:
Who else knew the K-1/KP (and perhaps other models) could do this?
It seems that any other LV AF Mode cannot do this, the 'green focus confirmation box' will not zoom in like this, it will take you to the centre only. You can however using the AF directional pad method select where about you want to zoom (as I point out above), but that takes time... and it cannot recall that point between shut downs or mode skips. At least with Face Detection you can get an off centre quick zoom in feature between different modes and power downs/ups. Sweet! :D
Cheers,
Bruce
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
08-01-2018, 02:14 PM
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HDR works fine here and the women seem to be having a great time! Nice shot!
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
03-21-2018, 12:28 PM
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Just got off the phone with Sun Cameras in Toronto. They will be doing the upgrades to K-1 Mark II for Canadian customers. Trainers from Japan arrive mid-April with production line available 2-3 weeks later. - Jack
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-27-2018, 09:47 AM
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Let me put it this way.
- I’ve pre-ordered K-1ll. I’m not doing the upgrade.
- I’m selling the KP and all my APSc lenses.
- I’m keeping the K-1 for manual lenses.
- I’ll figure out which camera is better for what purpose.
The K-1 Next Gen probably won’t be ready until 2020. We’ll see if it is worth upgrading to, but I think my two K-1’s will be enough for probably 5 years from today.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-20-2018, 07:21 AM
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Come on..stop complaining :hmm: They need a good FF to stay alive..They will come with a new high end APS-C as I've stated too many times! They dont have the capacity to do both at the same time, and certainly not when they also are producing lenses.
Pentax are and will be a small company, without the same possibilities to shoot out new cameras and lenses in the same tempo as others do. If you are unhappy, the easy choice is to switch brands. The door is right there --->
:hmm::hmm::hmm:
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
02-18-2018, 11:35 AM
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I liked your narrative and would agree with pretty much everything you have said. I am in the lucky position of having a few Pentax bodies and lots of lenses. I rate myself as an enthusiastic amateur and have actually sold a few prints. However my most enjoyable time is actually getting out and taking photos, for example I put the 31 LTD on my K1 one autumn evening and strolled out by the river, I just had the most wonderful time, and I really believe that looking through the lens and taking photos makes one appreciate the detail i.e. being able to just frame and examine a small area.
I'm not worried about what might happen to Pentax, yes I have a load of stuff but I'm not going to get rid of it just because I get so much joy out of using the equipment and my two K3 bodies still work absolutely perfectly and the 150 to 450 is great on them.
Tim
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
02-18-2018, 08:43 AM
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If Ricoh shut the Pentax door, I'd be able to buy used K1's for $100 for the rest of my life...that could work! In fact, my basement would end up looking like that shot from the Olympics with all those "other brand" bodies and lenses lined up on the shelves...FA* lenses for $50 and K1's 3 for $100. The worst case scenario isn't that bad for a Pentax fanboy like me. The concept of "digital lenses" is almost 100% marketing mumbo jumbo and irrelevant to me...
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-20-2017, 06:19 PM
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The 16-85 lens is excellent. I have one on my K-3II. I like the barrel ring color.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-20-2017, 05:49 PM
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Nobody really knows why some of the HD lenses have red rings and others don't. The first HD lenses to be launched got red rings (compared to their predecessors' green rings), but then Pentax started making HD lenses with green rings and stopped launching the red rings. IMO, both types look nice :)
The 16-85mm doesn't cover FF, with or without the baffle.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-20-2017, 04:22 PM
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I think the red ring was use to signify HD coating when it was introduced. New lenses don't have red rings now that HD coating has become standard.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-20-2017, 03:17 PM
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The DFA28-105 may nominally be a green-ring lens, but it seems to have stolen a sprinkle of Pixie Dust. I was considering one, but the number of things my kids are in that require photographs in relatively poor light at a distance is pushing me toward the D-FA* 70-200 first. In the meantime, the 100WR is my go-to foul weather lens, as it almost always has enough FOV for most outdoor shots I want, and when the passing parade passes close, it gives me the close-up details if I want them.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-20-2017, 02:17 PM
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The DA 16-85mm has a greater zoom range than does a 28-105mm lens, hence the greater cost factor and larger filter size, all other quality issues being similar. Evidently, you've done the right thing in getting great walk around zoom lenses for both cameras!
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-20-2017, 02:07 PM
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These two lenses have different goals. The point of the DFA 28-105 is to provide a relatively inexpensive option for FF that, for the most part, can take advantage of the 36 mp sensor of the K-1. To meet the $500 price point, the lens gives up some range, starting at 28mm and ending at 105mm. Since the lens is produced to try to entice people to buy the K-1, it's sold at narrower margins. With the DA 16-85, you have a different situation. Quite a few relatively inexpensive options already exist on the APS-C side of things (DA 18-55, DA 18-50, DA 18-135, DA 17-70, DA 18-270), the DA 16-85 was not designed to be one of the less expensive options on APS-C, but was given greater range to fit into a missing niche (essentially a slow aperture zoom lens that starts at 16mm, perfect for landscape and travel photography). The longer range, particularly on the longer end, increases cost and makes it more of a specialty lens, which allows it to be sold at higher margins.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-20-2017, 01:52 PM
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The 16-85 is the current "standard" for consumer lenses on APS-c.
The 28-105 is the current standard as an FF lens.
But the 16-85 is wider on APS-c than 28-105 is on FF. As they are both the most recent in their class, you wouldn't think there'd be a lot of difference optically. But since they are designed for different formats, they really aren't competitors. In FF numbers the 16-85 is 24 to 128, so a more useful range on the 16-85 but then, that's part of the APS0c advantage.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
12-15-2017, 07:32 AM
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So you have images to show us why? The problem with statements like that is we've had other users say the same thing about all three of the lenses you own except the Tamron 70-200. If one is to go by such testimony, I bet you can find a person who didn't like every lens made for Pentax. Without comparison images all we can do is guess if you got a bad copy of the lens, or you are really dependant on wide aperture lenses for the type of image you shoot. Was this a lens quality decision or a style decision? Style decisions are rarely transferable across individuals.
If it was a lens quality decision, you should be able to show us why you think that with a few choice images.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
11-07-2017, 03:53 AM
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I have a Zecti strap, really comfortable, inexpensive and well-designed. I had one for the KP, and when I got a K1 I immediately bought another! Hand straps are a pain to fit through the little slots, so I just loop it round the end of the neck strap so I can use both. I don't know if these are available in the US, though - I live in the UK.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
11-06-2017, 06:19 PM
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Hi, I have 2, for my K20d & K5, from Jim Garavuso, camdapter.com, first class hand strap!
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
11-06-2017, 12:23 PM
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