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Forum: Post Your Photos!
05-27-2011, 07:59 AM
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Thanks...really is a cool thing they used them.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
05-24-2011, 03:18 PM
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Wanted to share some pictures I took of a bad fire in San Francisco a few weeks back. The Fire Dept liked 'em enough to post some to their website.
San Francisco Fire Department : 4 Alarm Fire (May 4, 2011)
I put 44 on my facebook page:
Facebook
Some great shots, it was a very serious fire. I'm glad I captured a few good moments...
SP
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-13-2011, 01:30 AM
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I usually manual focus...but even off the camera, just hand held, its tight. It works fine if I'm giving a decent or medium twist but trying to inch along it just grabs in a few spots...shame b/c it takes such great shots.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-12-2011, 03:48 AM
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Bought a grey market at Adorama about a month back...at slow speed..like real slow..it is a bit sticky, not smooth. More a nuisance than damaging really--but I've never experienced a lens that did this.
Anyone else experience this w/ the DA L 55-300m; and have a cure? Can you silicon or oil a lens to make it turn smoother?
Hate to return it, I love the pictures it takes.
thanks as always
Gene
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
04-12-2011, 03:37 AM
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As always..many thanks for the replies.
I tried a 'blower' but its a cheapie I had in my EOS kit. I think it blew more dust onto my camera than it blew out.
I need to get a rocket and a lollipop...i did the dust sensor picture thing and it only showed 2 specs...chances of moving objects, i don't know but pointing into the sun..at that aperture...maybe. Although I took alternate shots...a couple...and they all have artifacts except one that is not quite into the sun.
God..I hate dust. Where i live on the main street in Frisco--it is dust hell.
thank you..appreciate everything.
Lens is DA L 55-300...and I LOVE that lens. it is very crisp and clear. A little stiff on the twist...but I am happy with the pictures.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
04-11-2011, 08:54 AM
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Hi
I was taking shots at a church steeple with the sun directly behind it, in HDR. The photos all show specks or artifcats that have to be dirt or dust.
However...all my regular shots don't seem to show the dirt/dust. They are not birds or any other moving thing that would show up in the three HDR exposures...Any ideas ?
Posted pictures below...steeple is the HDR shot with artifacts; the other photo was shot AFTER the HDR picture and I cannot see any dirt at all. I clean the sensor with the shaker daily. I live in a very very dusty part of San Francisco..it's terrible. A never ending battle.
thanks for any help
Gene
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
04-11-2011, 08:44 AM
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Me too...got a nice big black one on my upper right window...It popped up when I 'cleaned' it with a air blower...one puff and there it was.
Doesn't show on pictures...and I have cleaned the mirror and VF twice ( very carefully) with no luck. It's there .... and it's mine...:-)
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
04-01-2011, 12:14 AM
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I always thought the dust went out the little blower on the side of the camera...no?? :-)
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
03-21-2011, 03:06 PM
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Jeff..read your article and responded to your PM.
Thanks for the advice...it seems to have worked perfect. After a few test shots in a bit we'll know for sure but smudge is quite GONE.....
thanks!!
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
03-20-2011, 06:49 PM
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Hi
I see there are other posts concerning smudges on the mirror, but I wanted to double check the responses...?
I opened my K-x today to swap lenses and there was a pretty decent smudge..I have absolutely NO idea how it got there, it isn't finger grease, it looks like green stuff (???!)- the only time I open the K-x is to swap lenses and I've had the zoom on for about 3 weeks now. There was NO smudge when I put it on. How it got there...?
I guess its irrelevant -- Every response says to leave it..it doesn't affect the photos. True?
Options?
Also dust alert shows quite a bit of dust on the CMOS -There is a CMOS cleaning kit from Pentax...they also offer cleaning services. What will a camera shop do that I cannot with their cleaner kit, or is it that easy to scratch the CMOSr?? I mean there has to be a way to clean it right?
Also I have a dust spec I see on the viewfinder-- cleaned the sensor w/ the shaker thing, blew/brushed lenses and UV filters, blew out mirror compartment ( did not raise mirror...) and lo and behold, it is STILL there. I don't seem to have it in photos...I just took a new batch I need to check. How??...Where could this pesky dust thing be? I cleaned the viewfinder too...
Dust..there is way too much where I live, like you can polish a desk off and 10 mins later there's a film on it...terrible downtown area.
Thanks for suggestions. I have no money for a 'pro cleaning' really...thats why I'm trying to find a solution I can manage, if it exists.
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
03-19-2011, 12:56 PM
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Photo of St. Francis w/ flowers for Spring contest
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Forum: Site Suggestions and Help
03-13-2011, 04:31 AM
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Thanks Adam...I'll try that...
And thanks rparmar for responding...I can see why your pics get 'fuzzy' with that 75% 'compression penalty'...now you know :-)
SP
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Forum: Site Suggestions and Help
03-12-2011, 06:14 PM
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Hi
I looked for an answer to this ( I even have a similar post for Pentax Day but not sure of the right answer); although there are lots of questions about contest uploads I didn't see my exact question -- so:
What is the best way to size a picture for upload?
On the Pentax Day photos I just kept squeezing the size with the JPEG Quality slider --- until i got under 1 MB. but the saize for the pictures would be too big for the Spring contest. (3300 by 2500)
I have tried to just downsize my pictures in SilkyPix --but at 'actual size' they look awful. I downsized a few at 1000 for the first measurement ( lengthwise I guess) and the other sizes to about 665. So I go from a 3934 x 2624 JPEG, to a 1000 x 665 JPEG, which comes out about 561.x KB. (half a megabyte so plenty of room...).
But the pictures look awful at actual size :(
In a similar vein -- I'd like to add a review of the DA L 55-300 I just bought -- and I'd like to add some shots. The same applies--resizing to 1000x665 gets me a crappy shot at actual size. I'm sure the same procedure for posting pictures to the review would hold as posting to the Spring contest??
many thanks for the time...
Suggestions?
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
03-12-2011, 05:57 PM
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All I can say, being new to the digital camera ( Pentax K-x) I'm pretty impressed with the features offered by the Eye-Fi. Ad Hoc, geotagging and over 4000 photos? Tethering to a Mac or PC, or even your iPad? This is new stuff to me and I can't even think of the ways I'd use it until I'd get my hands on one.
Just being able to automatically clear room when necessary, or to send it to my Mac as I shoot, or, if I have read some reviews correct, direct to photo processing apps, opens up a whole world of possibilities for the amateur and pro photographer. Sitting at the local MacDonald's and 1000's of other wi-fi spots means that transferring your shots will never have to wait until you get home.
While it is also my understanding that better technology will be available soon as far as transfer rates and camera compatibility, the Eye-Fi is an exciting product especially for those of us who are just exploring what digital photography has to offer.
gene
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-09-2011, 12:28 AM
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Thanks..I was hoping it might, but before I go squishing the two together-- I thought it best to ask here where someone would know :)
There is no 'A" on the lense...so I'll be sure to change the internal settings.
I ordered a DA L 55-300 recently from Adorama, so considering the telesor's weathered condition I wonder how much use it will get anyway, unless I do use it w/ the K1000.
Thank you for the reply!
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
03-09-2011, 12:23 AM
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thanks...appreciate the replies. I'd love to see how well it takes pictures if nothing else. And if I do 'keep' it as offered, I will certainly pass it on to a deserving person if the right moment arrives.
As much as I appreciate my K-x, I really prefer the old SLR cameras and if I had the money would probably do most of my photographs with film (as long as film exists). But it is hard to beat the instant 'develop' of pictures as well as the ease of posting that digital offers.
It's also a pleasure to have cameras like a K1000 available to use and compare. I may even try to set up a comparison between the two - could be interesting.
Grateful for all the responses..
Gene
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
03-07-2011, 11:58 PM
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My neighbor has a K1000 sitting in his drawer. He offered it to me to use / keep last night and, even though I know its a good camera, I told him to hang onto it. He also gave me his Telesor 75-300 which was lying unboxed in the drawer, not in great shape. I figured I'd try it out.
I already have one good film SLR, a Canon Rebel 650 that takes incredible pictures. And it sits in it's case because I can't afford film AND developing. Food and rent are priorities. :)
Question is, and I am tempted, do I take the K1000 anyway because I know it takes great pictures? I hate to see it get thrown out or ruined ( it was sitting open in the drawer along with the lens..).
Everything I've read says this is one great SLR. I'm guessing everyone here will tell me it's worth having in my collection, correct??
Thanks :-)
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-07-2011, 11:41 PM
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Anyone familiar with this lens?? :)
I have a neighbor who used it w/ a K 1000 Pentax and I was wondering if it will work on my K-x??
Doesn't look to be in great shape, the lens 'creeps' a lot and it's not very clean - BUT it is free and if it works I'll try it!
Thanks
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-02-2011, 01:39 PM
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Very well put.
I think I get it.
If I had the $$ I'd pick up a Raynox or similar immediately, because it sounds like the 'art' of photography really comes to life with a prime lens -- you make the shot, not the zoom lens; moving to capture lighting, depth, character...it takes the work out of the camera/lens's 'hands' so to speak and puts it in the control of the photographer. In the right hands with some patience, experience and a good eye, a good shot can become a great shot.
At least thats part of what I get from your statement. And that's exactly why I like taking pictures.
So much to explore. Funny thing is all the years I was using the AE-1 and EOS 650 I was never that aware of prime lenses or saw much talk about them. Now I have a Pentax - it seems the photo comes first not how many gadgets the camera has.
Many Thanks
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-02-2011, 12:38 AM
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Well i ordered the grey market DA L 55-300. Yeah, I'd like a hood ( is it possible to add?); the quick shift focus is something I like but I can always switch to manual focus. The plastic mount...well my 18-55 kit lens is the same and it seems strong enough if you're aware of what you have.
The price is what really made the decision...I'm short on cash, and the great reviews and apparent image quality of this lens was enough to make the buy.
I think I did OK...we'll see when I get it. :)
Appreciate all the responses, grateful for the help!
SP
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-02-2011, 12:22 AM
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Well after a lot of thought, research and money counting ( squeezing the bank bone dry...) I ordered the grey market DA L 55-300 Pentax from Adorama today.
Same warranty - just covered thru the store, I know its the plastic mount but so is my 18-55 kit lens, and I see no problem with that.
After reading so many reviews and opinions on Tamron's and Sigma's...many very good...i could not help but feel that the Pentax DA L 55-300 was the way to go for plain image quality. There were too many great reviews on this lens, even some saying its images were as good if not better than the DA 55-300 (subjective I'm sure?), that I really could not let it go. I paid 199.00 for it, which may be a few $$$ more than sold in kit form, but I could not afford the DA at around $350.00, so this got my vote.
I appreciate every response, Thank You all.
And I am interested in that Raynox too. I'm new at Pentax so a lot of this 'Prime' Vs 'Zoom' lens stuff is new. I don't understand the point of a lens, at one focal length, like 150 or 200? You're locked in, so how do you decide what length to get?? And is it all about pure image quality with a single focal length lens?? I see a LOT of Pentax users with many 'prime' lenses in their kits, so its something I need to learn more about.
Thanks so much...I hope I made a good choice.
SP
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-01-2011, 12:51 AM
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Price at adorama is 199...very hard to pass up but I'm a little unsure of the 'grey market' label. Asking for trouble if there's a problem, or just a good deal? On my budget, its mighty tempting.
Any one ever buy from adorama, a grey market item?
thanks
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-01-2011, 12:17 AM
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Yeah...its a bit confusing and thats my fault I guess. I started out looking for a telephoto--then liked having a macro on the lense too. When I started seeing 'wide-angle' mentioned, that's something I'm also constantly thinking about although my kit lens probably covers that fine.
Maybe finding a used Pentax 55-300 is the way to go. But so many of those lenses I looked at seemed to have great reviews, which surprised me, especially considering their prices. That's when i figured it was time to get responses from those that know best, pentax users...
Anyway - I'll keep researching I guess
thanks
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-28-2011, 10:17 PM
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Looking for a nice quality zoom to add to my K-x kit lens.
I was sold on the Pentax DA 55-200WR but have since read so many great reviews of sigma and tamron lenses that I'm not sure!
I am looking at:
Tamron AF XR Di LD [IF] 28-300mm 1:3.5-6.3 MACRO
Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Lens for Pentax AF
Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG MACRO (AF Lens)
Sigma 28-300mm F3.5-6.3 DG Macro (AF Lens)
Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DL Macro Super (AFlens)
Tamron AF 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di II LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO
Tamron AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD MACRO 1:2
Tamron 75-300mm, 1:4-5.6, LD
Open for anything that has a good zoom, would prefer a wide angle or Macro, price is an issue or I'd probably get the pentax 55-300..
Any solid recommendations deeply appreciated
SP
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Forum: Site Suggestions and Help
02-27-2011, 08:13 PM
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Figured it out...file size was not to be above 1000kb! I adjusted accordingly and uploaded 3 pictures.
thanks...sorry to take up the space
Gene
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