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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-17-2008, 08:10 PM
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Ok... maybe I didn't explain myself properly. I don't lack the ability to google the term DOF and find the associated Wikipedia article. I simply don't understand why its necessary to get out the sliderule when the camera's supposed to be able to figure out focus on its own.
BTW, I read that article months ago. I doubt I'll gain anything from reading it again. Thanks anyways.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-17-2008, 06:55 PM
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I've been struggling with the same issue for months now. My pics are almost invariably OOF.
I fail to grasp certain concepts... like why its necessary to calculate DOF etc. If the camera is set to use AF, shouldn't it be focusing properly?
Can someone please enlighten me in the simplest terms possible?
Nice Camry btw.
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Forum: Photographic Technique
04-17-2008, 05:56 PM
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Good to see that other Pentaxians are having the same issues as me.
Last fall my dilemma was whether to shell out $900 for coilovers or to set the money aside for the K10D that I've been drooling over.
Now, I'm having dreams about the K20D... but I still want to lower the ride on my Subie and install some sways.
Satisfy LBA or upgrade the suspension on my car?
I think I'm better of just dreaming about these things. Wife's been very patient so far. I think my luck's about to run out :)
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Forum: Photographic Technique
04-17-2008, 04:37 PM
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I am a zoom lens fan... but my screen name actually refers to the Mazda brand (I'm a zoom-zoom fan)
I've owned 6 of them to-date. I also co-founded torontomazda6.com. Been on the Mazda-scene for a few years now.
Down here in Oz, however, I'm a Subaru driver. Subies are starting to grow on me as well.
Got into photography last year. All these hobbies and no money to spend on any of them.
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Forum: Photographic Technique
04-16-2008, 09:34 PM
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Our cars? Are you maybe referring to the cars that are produced by our friends to the south?
American cars aren't so popular in Canada these days. Most people drive Japanese or European cars. At least, that's been the case for the past two decades in my own household and that of 90% of people who I know.
Don't worry about the cars... minor point. You'll love this place. Best scenery in the world.
Food's not bad either.
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Forum: Photographic Technique
04-16-2008, 09:22 PM
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Yo! Good ole Canadian here. From Toronto orginally... moved out West to Vancouver in 2006... and then kept on going. Currently living in Australia since Nov 2007.
To borrow daacon's phraseology, I too am an RSP (Random Sh** Photographer).
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
04-10-2008, 05:55 PM
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But I do live here. I'm not really exempt from anything.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
04-10-2008, 05:18 PM
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Just went into a camera shop here in Sydney to look at the K20D. Pretended to know nothing and asked the salesperson's opinion on it.
He recommeded that I stay clear and go for the K10D. Tried, tested and true.
Only thing holding me back is the Aussie price tag on these bad-boys. Might go back home, buy it there, and bring it back with me.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
04-09-2008, 11:30 PM
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Yeah... I think there was a bit of a wind coming in from the East. I'll try Luna Park next time. Thanks for the tip. I'm a Westie, so I don't come in to the CBD that often.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
04-09-2008, 11:28 PM
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Hi everyone. Long story short... computer blew up... followed by internet issues. Finally back on-line.
Thanks for the critical comments. It underscores the fact that I've been having focus issues since pretty much the first day that I got the camera (7 months ago). I'm not sure what to do to correct this, technique-wise, or whether this is a hardware problem.
Yes, the shots were taken with a tripod. I used the 2-second timer feature to allow myself to step clear of the camera before the shutter went off. I also turned off image stabilisation.
The blurriness in some of the pics bugs me too. As for the colour balance... all I did was recalibrate the CB half way through my photoshoot... in fact, the CB is wrong for #3 and #4... but I like the effect.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
03-23-2008, 06:09 AM
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Criticism and comments welcome.
I did some minor cropping... everything else is purely how the shots came out of the camera.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
12-25-2007, 05:24 AM
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Thanks for all the kind comments. Glad you like my "pier in moonlight" shot. We were returning to Redcliffe, QLD from a day-trip and realized that we didn't have any food in the fridge (the next day being Xmas). So we stopped at a 24-hour convenience store in town. As my wife was in the shop buying stuff, I decided to check out the pier. I snapped the shot without my tripod, resting the camera on the guardrail. Ended up being a 25 second exposure. Used the 2s timer as well to ensure that I didn't shake the camera inadvertently.
Rob, its a question I'm happy to answer. My wife and I wanted to show our kids a different way of living, a new environment, a new country, etc. We'd been talking for years about a move to ANZ. When my company announced that there's a possibility of certain employees getting transferred to the Sydney office, I was in my boss's office faster than a speeding bullet.
As amazing as this country is, I must admit that I am a bit home-sick... and my 4 year old daughter last week announced that she missed her grandparents in Vancouver and wanted to go back. Canada will always be home.
Thanks Bramela and likewise to you. Yes, the moon ends up looking like its upside down since our vantage point in Australia is upside down compared to moon-viewers in the Northern Hemisphere.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
12-24-2007, 06:51 AM
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I've recently moved from Canada to Australia. Been out with my camera to take a few shots. Here are some that I've found interesting (not necessarily good):
Coolum Beach (Sunshine Coast) Queensland
Redcliffe, QLD
Manly, NSW
Sydney, NSW
Brisbane, QLD at night seen from Mount Coot-tha.
Lastly, two pics of the moon that I took that I find neat. One's of the moon in Canada, and one's of the moon in Australia. You'll notice that the moon in Australia is almost identical, except that its upside down and the axis of the moon's at a slightly different angle.
Canada: 
Australia: 
Comments welcome.
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Forum: Photo Critique
11-13-2007, 10:50 PM
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Oh man... I have SO much to learn :)
Gaelen... awesome pic.
Codiac... awesome pp'ing.
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Forum: General Talk
11-07-2007, 01:21 AM
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Nooooooo! Why did I click on this thread??
I've just started liking my K100D and managed to get those "buy a K10D" voices out of my head.
:(
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Forum: Photographic Technique
11-07-2007, 01:03 AM
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Oh no no... absolutely not. I really appreciate it, and I can see now that the first two pics were most certainly underexposed to start with.
Thanks roscot.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
11-05-2007, 07:32 PM
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Thanks Stephen. Any thoughts about the Sigma 70-300mm DG lens?
Not worth it?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
11-05-2007, 04:20 PM
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Hmmm... ok. Let me ask this then:
How would the DG lens compare to the lens I currently have?
An upgrade?
A significant upgrade?
A downgrade?
No difference?
Thanks... appreciate any advice I can get on this.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
11-05-2007, 01:12 PM
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I currently have a Pentax SMC-FA 100-300mm F4 zoom that I've been "okay" with. I've read on this forum that its not Pentax's best effort by any means. I concur.
To replace it, I'm thinking about getting a Sigma 70-300mm DG lens. This lens has the added benefit of 1:2 macro.
I've read the reviews on the Sigma and am pleased with what I've read so far.
Just wondering if anyone here has this lens and can guide me on whether my decision is a sensible one.
Naturally, the old lens will be available for sale. Is this a lens that I'll be able to sell easily or would I have to pay someone to take it off my hands? :)
TIA
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Forum: Photographic Technique
11-05-2007, 01:20 AM
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That's basically what I was trying to say. You just said it better :)
The book essentially conveys the same information that the K100D manual does... it just does it in a more readable and palatable manner. The author adds in a few of his own "tips" if you will here are there.
But, for a complete newcomer to DSLRs and the K100D (like me) I found it quite useful in the very beginning.
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Forum: Photographic Technique
11-04-2007, 09:29 PM
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I have the Magic Lantern for the K100D. Its far more interesting to read compared to the camera's manual, and IMO gives good information for a total newb (as I am) to DSLR photography.
I read mine from cover-to-cover in under a day. That might have been too fast. I should probably read it again.
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Forum: Photographic Technique
11-04-2007, 09:02 PM
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Hi guys. First I gotta say that I got a good chuckle from the whole "TIA" thing. :) As Mike correctly stated, it means "Thanks In Advance". My real name is unpronounceable by humans :)
Why yes, dugrant, I do own a Mazda... a Mazda6 in fact... and I am a moderator over on mazda6club.com. BTW, awesome Singapore shots. One of my biggest wishes is to see that town with my own eyes.
Well... lots of good advice in this thread. I'm going to double-check my camera settings. Thanks for sharing your settings Stu. As for underexposing the shots, this is a possibility as well. I try to shoot with the meter showing 0.0. Sometimes I'll shoot at +0.3 or +0.7, but not more than that. I'd appreciate it if someone could please take a look at the pics below and let me know if my exposure is off.
I wanted to experiment with ND filters but haven't gotten around to it... I'll probably take them out of the camera bag and leave them at home. No sense in lugging them around. The only other filters I have are CPLs and UVs. I use CPLs heavily. All of my lenses have a CPL permanently affixed.
BTW, how do Hoya filters rate on the grand scale of things?
Stu, I'd love to meet up with you and other members, but I regret that I'll be moving from Vancouver to the other side of the globe in under a month... 23 days and counting. I'll be living in Australia for a year or so, maybe longer, and I'm hoping to take some awesome pics down there. I have admired your shots from the Kelowna area. Great province we live in.
I've taken a liking to shooting airplanes as of late... this is a switch from my previous addiction of taking pics of my car. Below are some sample shots. The airport pics were all taken with the 100-300mm zoom. The car pics are a mix of the DA kit lens and the SMC-A 28mm prime:
Feel free to check out my Flickr page for more planes, kids and automobiles
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
11-03-2007, 11:23 PM
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BTW... I get the 'eyeroll' too. Mainly from my wife who thinks the camera is going to ruin her life.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
11-03-2007, 11:21 PM
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I never thought I'd be so taken aback by a lamp.
Awesome shots... including those by your niece.
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Forum: Photographic Technique
11-03-2007, 10:48 PM
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I loved my K100D when I had just graduated from a Nikon P&S.
Then I saw pics produced by the K10D and... well... I wanted to return the K100D.
I was floored by the crispness of the shots and the relatively noiseless pictures... I guess that's what you get when you're packing ISO100 and 10MP's.
Recently, however, I have come across K100D pics that are equally impressive. None of these impressive shots were my own, I should add. I found them all in the User Photo Gallery. Man, there are some awesome photographers on this forum.
I've now come to my senses (somewhat) and have stopped drooling over the K10D. I am now of the mindset that the K100D is capable of producing shots of equal quality to the K10D. However, it seems beyond my abilities at the moment to get my K100D to actually produce such results.
My main complaint is that my pictures seem un-sharp. The colour seems "bland"... and generally I'm not seeing that vibrant "crispness" in my shots. I also feel that my shots have a lot of sensor noise.
I shoot almost invariably in M mode... and occasionally in Av.
Is it my selection of lenses that's the problem? Please see my signature for what I have in my arsenal.
Is it my cameras settings?
Is it due to the fact that I only shoot in JPEG and am too chicken to try out RAW... that, and the fact that I don't have a RAW editor?
Is it due to the fact that I don't/won't do any post processing? Which is partially due to the fact that I don't have PP software.
Just wondering... that's all. Yes, I'm a newb so I seek protection in the "The newb is allowed to ask silly questions" clause present on all forums. :)
TIA
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