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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
05-31-2017, 05:12 AM
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In course of the last 7 months, I visited Lithuania twice. In October 2016 I stayed in Kaunas for two nights and in May 2017 I was luck enough to visit Kaunas, Jonava, Kernave and Trakai. During my visit last year, I was taken to a museum called Nineth Fort. I though it would be interesting to shoot some static objects there using pixelshift feature.
 - Stained glass.
 - A painting called "Lament of the family"
 - A map of fortifications around Kaunas.
The next images were taken in the old town of Kaunas.
 - House of Perkūnas
 - A. Mapu street. Notice the flare caused by the street lights.
 - J. Gruodžio street. There are some motion artefacts in the leaves, but this is to be expected given the length of exposure.
May 2017. Trakai Island Castle.
 - A painting.
 - Weapons.
 - Some more weapons.
The rest of the shots from that sessions can be found here : 2017-05-13 - Lithuania, Trakai Castle. Pixelshift. | Flickr
Equipment used : Pentax K-3 II and Sigma HSM Art 18-35 F1.8. Click on the preview images to download the full-sized originals from Flickr.
Processing these images was tricky. First of all my main RAW converter DxO 10, does not support Pixelshift. SilkyPix DS Pro 7, does support this feature, but it is nowhere near as good when it comes to correcting lens distortion and perspective. When I tried importing tiff files from SP into DxO, the latter refused to recognise lens used, hence was unable to apply lens specific corrections. I figured out that the tiff files produced by PDCU had the required info and them, and DxO did recognise the lens used. So I developed the same set of images in PDCU, without making any adjustments to them and copied all the metadata from them using EXIFTool GUI into the TIFF files produced by SP. Now DxO was able to find all the necessary information in the metadata to use lens profiles. Voila ! After correcting the perspective and distortion, I used "Smart Lighting" tool to tweak contrast, highlights and shadows, because SP produced somewhat flat looking images.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-30-2016, 07:33 AM
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It looked flat, compare to what other lens, with images taken in the same conditions?
Sometimes my DA*200 images look flat, sometimes they jump off the screen. Same lens, different shooting conditions. Even the best lens can't make a good image from bad light. So, sure you might have gotten a bad copy, but from what you've posted, I can't say you gave it a fair chance to shine.
Especially since you included no images as examples. I guess you just wanted to tell us about your life? :D
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
05-01-2016, 01:09 AM
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I was due to shoot a model yesterday morning in some local bluebell woods but the shoot fell through so I ended up taking my daughter there as a stand-in for a bit of K1 testing! She does quite a bit of singing/drama and enjoys being a model for me although I think she may have learned the pouty expression thing a bit too well from some of the models I have worked with in my studio at home LOL!
The interesting thing is that having shot the pics I found myself not particularly inclined to do very much at all in post processing. One thing I had noticed with the 645Z pictures I have seen is that there's almost a mutedness to the colours and at first I wasn't sure I liked that aspect to the 645Z signature. The K1 has the same presentation and in that respect the K3 I used before is quite different. To put it in hi-fi terms the K3 was like a car stereo or home hi-fi with a bit of boom and tizz to add colour to the proceedings. The 645Z and the K1 are like standing in a concert hall with the Royal Philarmonic Orchestra playing. The sound is smooth, mellow, has vast dynamic range and directness but it doesn't accentuate any one element. Everything is there but it doesn't shout at you and the palette has more subtle gradations of light and shade.
One other thing that struck me and created quite an impression is that when I click on an image in lightroom and zoom in on say the eyes, on the K3 you would start to see grain (24 megapixels APSC) but on the K1 (36 megapixels full frame) you click on the image to zoom in and you're astounded by the clarity of the eyes because there is absolutely no grain visible at all shooting at ISO 100 - even on my 4k 27" monitor. I actually feel that this is a gargantuan step up in imaging quality to a degree I never expected - I'm genuinely shocked by it and I really do think it will change the way I perceive a scene in my mind and take photographs once I'm familiar with it. It is an extraordinary camera and I for one have never owned anything like it. I feel as if it's a creation that demands no compromise in lenses and am somewhat relieved that I didn't try to 'make do' with any modest lenses and am using the new Pentax DF-A 24-70mm F2.8 and Pentax D-FA 77mm F1.8 limited for portraiture.
The more I shoot with the K1, the more I am in awe of its capabilities. The clarity of these pictures at full quality on a 4k monitor is just breathtaking, my wife while reviewing the pictures this evening discovered a new birthmark on my daughter's face that she had never noticed before!! Notice too the subtle gradations of shadow and the camera's ability to reveal photon's falling at an almost atomic level. Consider the bokeh evident in the shots with the new 24-70mm F2.8 and 77mm Limited. On one of the pictures the trees in the background take on a dreamlike quality that I simply do not recall having seen on any of my previous pictures shot with five different cameras over thirty five years.
This is am imaging engine par-excellance, it isn't just too good for me - it's too good for Arbus, Avedon, Bailey and Bresson too...
Much more to follow, for now enjoy. I have set up a K1 gallery on my website here: Jonathan Gorse Photography | Pentax K1 test shots and intend to upload my early K1 shots to it.
Jonlg
Jonathan Gorse Photography |
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-27-2016, 08:29 PM
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I went to CP+ on Saturday, so here is a report my visit. You can already see pictures of what was exhibited on other threads and websites, so I won’t waste my time repeating that. I’ll focus on my impressions and things I was told personally at the booths.
CP+ 2016
The show was bigger than in previous years. It was still in the Pacifico Yokohama exhibition centre, but they separated the photo exhibitions into a hall at the end of the remarkable new ship terminal pier in Yokohama. The building has this really complex undulating wooden decking, and even when you are in the hall, the floor just rises up like the side of a valley to meet the ceiling. Even in the absence of any exhibition, it’s worth a visit if you're in Yokohama with an interest in modern architecture.
The Ricoh booth
It was very busy compared to previous years. Of course, there's good reason for that.
- There was very little focus on APS-C models, 645 or Q. The focus was all on the K-1 and Ricoh compacts (Theta, WG and GR).
- I tried the latest version of the VR app for the Theta. I was pretty impressed by the speed of the head tracking and the way that you could select images by looking at little photo spheres that appeared to be floating in front of you.
- They had a counter with the WG-M2. I don’t know much about this kind of camera, but it seemed a bit smaller and better made than the existing one.
- I complained last year about the lack of variety in the photography shown at Ricoh - there was too much landscape and not much else. This year there was a better variety, perhaps because the target for the K-1 is broader than the 645z. They had some large prints from the K-1 taken with the limited primes. Note that the incredibly vibrant and detailed image that Barney Britton is looking at 2:20 in this DPR video was taken with an FA43 f5.0 and showed no weakness in the corners close up. I was peering at it as closely as he was for a while.
CP+ 2016: Pentax K-1 past and present: Digital Photography Review
There was another print of similar size taken with an FA31 at f4.0 which was also very good. I think people are worrying too much about the performance of old lenses.
- They have finally made a new lens catalogue, and I picked one up. The FA 31/35/43/50/77 are still in the catalogue. It’s available from their website.
(Direct link to a 15mb file) http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/japan/support/catalog/pdf/lenses_accessories.pdf
K-1
I had to wait in line to get to see the K-1, but fortunately, I was free to look at the camera for a while with the help of a very enthusiastic Ricoh rep. The DFA 28-105 was attached. Basically, it is a very impressive camera.
- Everything about the handling of the camera feels just as you’d expect from a Pentax. The new dial system on top is very easy to use. The screen may be complicated behind, but that isn't a concern for the user. It is really easy to just pull out and position it as you want, and it feels more natural than the swing-out type. The lighting is also cool. Actually, the camera didn’t feel much bigger than a K-3 to me. The shutter sound was perhaps a bit louder than a K-3, but not a horrible clattery sound.
- Pixel shift is really good. I was able to take pictures of the exhibition floor handheld, with the camera applying the pixel shift resolution enhancement to the parts that weren’t moving, while detecting the people and using the image from a single shot for those parts of the image. The rep confirmed that the SR is still active while the pixel shift is working. He said that it should be good for handheld shooting in a lot of situations as long as you keep to a relatively high shutter speed.
- I asked about the sensor and ISO performance. According to the rep, the K-1 is at ISO 12,800 like the K-5 IIs is at 3200. The base ISO is 100 and Ricoh does not offer ISO expansion. It is exactly the same part as in the D810, but Nikon uses the sensor outside the manufacturer’s recommended ISO range, while Ricoh won’t do that. The reason why the K-1 is about one stop cleaner (he had images to show this) than the D810 is Ricoh’s improved “engine”.
Third-party lenses
- I had renewed interest in the Tamron stand, because there is a chance that the lenses they have could be released as Pentax lenses. I thought the 85mm f1.8 was a nice product. It seems to have plenty of subject isolation while still being small and light. I asked whether Tamron would make these in Pentax mount and the response what they are “calculating”, which I interpret to mean they are considering whether they could make money on it.
- At Sigma, I tried to ask how they decide whether to release lenses in K-mount, and pointed out that they had released the 35mm f1.4 in K-mount while Pentax had a number of 35mm lenses, but they haven’t released the wide angles that are missing in the Pentax line-up. The rep I spoke to just said that there were no immediate plans to release the new lenses in K-mount. On the subject of the 50-100 f1.8, I tried that out on a Sigma SD1 DSLR. It is huge, but not quite as heavy as I’d feared. The focusing was horrible, but I’m not sure if that’s a lens thing or the body. I was left rather unimpressed with the fast zooms. They don’t actually zoom much, so they seem to me like an awkward compromise between the convenience of a zoom and the quality of a prime.
- I asked Cosina and Kenko-Tokina about K-mount, but unfortunately they seem to have no interest at the moment.
Other Brands
I had a quick look at the other booths, but I have limited interest in the big cameras. I’m considering other brands for a small camera to take with me on business trips.
- Sigma Quattro - I looked at this, because it is somewhat similar in concept to the K-01. It looks like a very serious camera. It’s bigger than I thought, but that is probably for the best given how huge Sigma lenses are. As usual, the prints from Foveon looked excellent.
- Nikon DL compacts - I wanted to try these but I would have had to queue for a long time, so I gave up. I’m quite interested in the wide one. I was able to see some large prints from the cameras that satisfied me that they are very capable. I’d be even more interested if I could get one that handled like a GR.
- Canon G7X Mark II - Something about the way this feels was a lot nicer than the mark one. It’s really dense and has nice controls. It’s on my shortlist when the price comes down.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
01-10-2016, 02:14 AM
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Right, but PRO camera needs PRO photographers.
This guy is not a PRO.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-29-2015, 11:29 PM
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Every year, I lead a photo field trip of 16 advanced photo students and 3 chaperones to one of the 'neighbor islands'; Kauai, Maui, Molokai, Maui, or Hawaii (aka the Big Island). One of the chaperones had gone the year before and was feeling 'inadequate' with his point-and-shoot digital and asked me if I could loan him a DSLR. From experience, I've learned to never loan something that would ruin a friendship if it was damaged or lost, so I lent him what had to have been the worst camera in our group, a Nikon D50, circa 2005, 6.1 MP with an above par Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 prime lens.
After the trip, I ask all participants (both film and digital) to submit their best images for inclusion into a custom-made photo book that I edit (blurb.com). The average camera was probably 16 MP, but there were some FF sensors up to 24 MP at the time and I was shooting mostly MF Ektar 100 on my Pentax 645 which after scanning gets me around a 40 MP TIFF file. Who had THE best shots? The chaperone with the oldest digital camera shooting with the lowest MP.
Yes, I can see the difference between the 16 MP on an APS-C of the K-50, 16 MP on a FF Nikon Df, and 51.4 MP on the Pentax 645Z, but it is probably the least important factor in what I'd assess and appreciate in photography. The biggest factor is the photographer. Equipment-wise the biggest factor is the glass. I'd upgrade myself, then I'd upgrade my glass, before I'd chase rainbows with MP.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
05-03-2015, 02:03 PM
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I agree. I think most of the bashing on this site falls into four broad categories (smaller first):- Those whose purchase did not perform to their expectations and who sing one song year after year at top volume describing the P.O.S. product, even long after the product EOL
- The "Not For Me so Not for Anybody" group mentioned above
- Those who purchased Pentax cameras and lenses and who are embarrassed at having bought into a system that does not promptly match the competitor's features point by point at 80% of the price/size/weight.
- Those who cherry pick the features across brands available at all price points, find that 85% are met with a Pentax product at their price point, and who whine for years that Pentax is slow to implement the remaining 15% to result in the "perfect" camera. Never mind that the desired mix is generally not available in any brand at any price point. A common characteristic of this group is the assertion that the feature could be added at zero cost as a firmware update.
Anyone noting a thread of narcissism wending through all four groups would not be incorrect.
Steve
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Forum: General Photography
04-29-2015, 01:54 PM
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Once he'd said 'well, we shoot with what we can', I suspect I might have replied 'that's very true. But you've still managed to get some good snaps. Well done.'
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Forum: General Photography
04-29-2015, 12:36 PM
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I agree, "we shoot with what we choose." It's a choice we all make for different reasons. I've known people who have left Pentax for other brands, and people who have left other brands for Pentax. I chose Pentax because as a film shooter, I had a lot of Pentax glass and I got to keep using my glass when I started shooting digital. And I've stayed with Pentax because I think they make an excellent product, and they have a very competitive price point. And when I'm out shooting, I never apologize for my Pentax. My wife went with Canon when she went digital but after four years when it was time to upgrade, she switched to Pentax because for her price point, she felt that the Canon was a subpar product in quality and features.
What I've noticed is that novices will buy a product based on image (like my teenage daughter who has to have an iPhone because Android is not cool) as opposed to need. And then discover that their entry level product doesn't do everything (i.e. exposure bracketing) that they find they want to do. And so they have to upgrade to a much more expensive product beyond their price point.
K57XR - I think you're response was perfect. People who shoot for a living are in a very different class, they're not about gear or image or brand loyalty (I know plenty of "professionals" who have switched brands for various reasons), they're about their end product, and you can't really compare a $2500 body with a $600 body. Well you can, they're both cameras (good cameras, I love my K5IIs), but they're very different classes of cameras. As for your "serious amateur," (well for me at least, a Nikon D3200 isn't something I'd even consider or brag about (unless it's about the deal they got a Costco). It's a good camera (as if you could actually buy a bad camera today) but it's very entry level), if he is serious, I bet he'll be stepping outside of his price point once he can't live with the limitations of his current rig. Either that or change brands.
But at the end of the day... "we all shoot with what we choose."
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
04-24-2015, 08:36 PM
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Wow...I never had an inkling this was such a hot topic !
I kept kinda quiet about not wanting the Pop-up flash but never dreamed it would turn into this.
We should all take a deep breath and quit beating each other up over disagreeing what is best and worse , right or wrong. All of us have a variety of shooting uses and styles for our cameras , and what works for one may not work for someone else.
I do mainly landscapes but also use fill once in a while. I have no idea how to use flash off a radio trigger but don't condemn anyone that prefers it over off camera or the up until now the on board Pop-up.
I think just because Pentax has left it off has a lot of disgruntled people that are either unfamiliar with adapting or knot knowing how to adapt with the lack of something that has been there for years.
The K3II is probably going to be one of the best bodies ever and here we are griping and arguing about it......Everyone needs to take a chill pill for a bit.
I haven't been here very long but notice every time a new model is released it seems the forum starts breeding a hot bed of dissention and discussions for a while similar to this. I cant imagine whats going to transpire when FF hit our hands ?
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
04-23-2015, 10:57 PM
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I would disagree. The APSC market fits a space between mirror-less and pro-oriented full-frame. Many want the ability to have better quality than mirror-less, but they also don't want to carry around all the larger, heavier pro equipment. I'll use an external flash on a job, but I'm not going to carry an external flash with me everywhere.
The K3 fits a unique sweet spot. I can use it on a job with the grip, a large lens like the DA* 50-135, and a flash attached, and then I can take it on vacation with the grip removed, a small limited lens, and the built in flash. GPS does absolutely nothing to improve the quality of a photograph. Balancing the light and shadows with flash makes a HUGE difference in many cases.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
04-23-2015, 09:24 AM
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Almost everyone uses the built in flash at one time or another. To have to carry an additional flash when 90+% of the time it is just extra bulk does not make good sense. I don't use the safety flashers on my cars 99% of the time, and have never used the airbags, but I am damn glad both are there if needed.:D
Regards!:)
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