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Forum: Sold Items
03-13-2017, 05:39 PM
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Indeed a wonderful and reliable system I use most of what is being offered as well as the wrist strap. Highly recommended.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-28-2016, 05:04 AM
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I agonised over this question back in the day as well. Given that I process all my pictures, the 'pixie dust' aspect is less an issue than it might have been in the film days. In the end I went for the 70 as being the more versatile of the two with the quick shift focus ability being an important feature for me. Curiously, I found 70mm 'too long' for my more intimate style of portraiture, which was my original motivation for buying the lens. Then I got the 55 1.4 which fills that bill perfectly so I am more than happy with my decision and haven't looked back.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-19-2015, 09:15 AM
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+1 for the 35mm macro Ltd for the reasons already detailed - including your limited space. Yes to using the the central area of the frames in your stitching, so I imagine the edges of the artwork would be mid-frame for those areas. One thing to emphasize, although it has been mentioned, is having the plane of the camera as square as possible to the plane of the artwork at all times to both ensure optimum focus as well as minimise perspective distortion. This means a good solid tripod and using bubble levels. I sometimes used to use a Hasselblad SWC (superwide) for artwork copying - as a rectilinear lens it was brilliant - but keeping everything level was paramount...
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-10-2015, 08:32 AM
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Kindness is an aspect of the photographer's intentions less than it is a technical quality of a piece of glass. As has been stated, the key to setting any sort of mood or feeling in an image is lighting and setting. Mostly lighting. Soft window light from an open sky is ideal. Add a white reflector if need. (a sheet or towel will do) to fill in any overly dark shadows. If for some reason softening or other enhancement is appropriate, then this is always best done in post processing - if possible.
A comfortable subject and empathic photographer are the critical ingredients and no lens or technique can replace that. For me the sense of presence in a subject is a function of intimacy - connectedness with the photographer. To this end, and for the sort of portrait I hear you seeking, I recommend a shorter focal length than the 77 (I am partial to the 55mm) so as to offer the possibility of a closer working distance and easier communication with your subjects, be that verbal or otherwise.
Time is another factor, as many of our species are uncomfortable being photographed. As may be appropriate, showing your subject some shots as you go along on the screen of the camera has in my experience supported my subjects to trust the process and relax. Good luck to you!
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Forum: Pentax Forums Giveaways
10-26-2014, 02:14 PM
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I have both. For me the 15 is a more 'interesting' lens, while the 21 is more 'useful' and actually spends more time on my camera. That having been said, if I had to choose one it would be the 15 for it's character and charm.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-27-2014, 09:26 AM
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There is nothing here that helps me compare or contrast these lenses. Only the same image taken under identical circumstances mounted on the same body would begin to be a fair methodology.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
08-25-2014, 05:43 AM
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I bought the 70mm specifically for portraits but found it too long for my way of working as it kept me further from my subject than I prefer. Having purchased the 55 1.4 I can't be more pleased. I use it rarely for anything but portraits as it's a big chunk of glass, but would rarely use a different lens for this particular application which is very important to me. FWIW there are occasions when I like to use my 35mm macro which I never originally thought would be suitable, but I was pleasantly surprised at how great it can be for a different look, fast moving kids, or when I want to have more space around my subject. As you specifically mention zoom, I also have used my 18~135 to excellent effect for portraits - and it's an awesome walk around lens when I know I won't be able to easily swap primes.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-06-2014, 08:48 AM
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Set up your camera pointing at a white wall. Set the lens to 135mm with the lens hood on. Take a picture. Take off the lens hood. Take another picture. Compare these two pictures for any difference as to vignetting in the corners. Your answer will be there in front of you!
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-23-2014, 03:26 AM
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The essential points have been well detailed here. Both are awesome lenses, for different reasons already mentioned. I have both, having first bought the 70mm specifically for my portrait work, and then the 55mm when I found the 70mm too long for my way of working. For portraits I like to have closer contact to my subjects than the 70mm allows for. Aside from this, the 'bonus' I've found in the 55mm is a certain 'creaminess' I find attractive in its rendering... if you know what I mean... ;-)
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-14-2013, 01:21 PM
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It's the lens I bought for my portrait work as it's the equivalent of the 'classic' 105 from film days. Once I had it I wasn't as happy with it as I had thought I would be. Yes, it's small, the quickshift focus is a 'must have' for me, it sharp and fast and all the other things everyone has said it is... but for me it lacked 2 things: a certain 'character' that is hard to define, the way it renders things such as colour and focus to blur transitions, and then the 'right' focal length for me and how I like to work with people. It was just a little too long, it kept me just a little too far from my subjects, which was a surprise for me. The other aspect of this is that I shoot mostly vertical portraits and keep both eyes open so as to connect with my subjects, and while I could manage it, the difference in image size of the subject between the views through the lens and directly with the other eye was a distraction. I've kept the lens (for now) and still love it, but have moved over to the DA*55mm for most of my portraits. It's bigger and more difficult to work with, but for me, ultimately more satisfying.
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Forum: Sold Items
08-30-2013, 04:27 AM
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-16-2013, 12:53 PM
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You don't mention what sort of instruments you want to shoot, or the environments you want to shoot them in. A piano in a small room? A piccolo in a stadium? I would think that would limit your choices depending on the appropriate focal length. How come nobody is mentioning the 35mm 2.4 Ltd? I happen to be 'over the moon' for this baby - and not just for macro work, but as a wonderful "normal" one that is a joy to use most places, most of the time...
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
01-29-2013, 11:19 AM
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I think it's *diffraction* not moiré, whereby the microscopic structure of the hair shafts are acting like micro prisms,
reflecting the light of the flash at different wavelengths giving the rainbow effect.
As in Diffraction Grating: Diffraction grating - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
That's my theory and I am sticking to it! ;-)
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Forum: Sold Items
12-11-2012, 05:08 AM
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
10-13-2012, 02:36 AM
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For a "first venture" I'd say you're doing awesome! My only 'complaint' is that the images look a little over-lit, giving a slightly unnatural appearance. The 'fix' is easy: dial down the flash so that the natural light and existing fixtures define the light and the flash fills in the detail in the subsequent shadows.
If you wanted to have a better perspective (cabinets a little straighter) try levelling the camera and raising the POV to compensate. You could also experiment with how things line up in the composition. In the last 2 shots a few inches of movement or adjustment to the items in the shot could make for a more pleasing 'flow.' Have fun!
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
10-10-2012, 01:19 PM
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I cannot say that your issue might be - could be a number of things, but here's a test you can run - as well as another method you could use to start your workflow. I shoot DNG on my K-5 as well, but I use use LightRoom to import the files from my memory card and generate 1:1 previews on the fly. This way LightRoom is doing all the work and keeping track as it builds the database. You also have the options to add custom metadata automatically during import, as well as run a preset of your choosing, if you like. All in all I see no advantage in *not* doing it this way...
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
09-26-2012, 01:06 PM
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My first K-5 had it. For me it seemed to be heat related. Multiple attempts at repair by Pentax Germany failed. I got a replacement body. I was in Montreal in August. A very hot August. I occasionally had mirror flap then. I am just back from Corfu where the trip started hot. Very hot. I had a few mirror flap episodes. Double flap on exposure, and a flap when the review function timed out. PLEASE NOTE despite the unsettling nature of this issue, there was never a problem with picture taking, or any significant camera function that I could determine. Only a flap, or a double flap, and the business of picture taking continued perfectly fine. Perhaps this is not encouraging... and I will surely bring it up when I sent it in for my 2 year clean and lube, but in truth, I am not worried and am *thrilled* with my K-5 photography.
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Forum: Photo Critique
09-14-2012, 06:00 AM
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Forgive me, but retouching - as wonderful as it can be - comes after taking a satisfying picture. Obviously your mileage may vary, but to my eye a girl this beautiful in a setting this lovely deserves a better shot to begin with, where it is not her nose which is the most prominent element. From what I can see here, a 5º shift of her head to her right would have done the trick in this case...
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
09-13-2012, 09:09 AM
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I've used the Flipbac Angle Viewfinder [flipbac(dot)com] on my old S90 to excellent effect for both low and side angle shots. It's listed as fitting the K-7 (so ditto for the K-5.) It's extremely well built and my experience with the company was great. (Yay Canada!) The only downside I can see that it's semi-permanently affixed to the screen.
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Forum: Sold Items
06-12-2012, 02:43 AM
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Forum: Sold Items
05-23-2012, 04:15 AM
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Interested in the bracket!
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Forum: Sold Items
04-24-2012, 11:24 AM
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You have (at least) 2 pm's!
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
02-23-2012, 01:23 PM
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It's really quite simple. If you like the results that the in camera processing creates, simply stay with the JPGs as they are. The point of shooting RAW is precisely that you decide every detail of what an image should look like, while maintaining access to the original unprocessed file for future interpretations. Yes unprocessed files look 'dull'. It's like looking at a film negative - it's like having the ingredients for a recipe. YOU decide how it 'print' or 'cook' it.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-08-2011, 01:19 PM
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Given your stated criteria: "basically a walkabout, everyday lens. Something I can leave on the camera while traveling and not need to carry all my kit around." I have no hesitation recommending the 18~135. Aside from the truly useful range at both ends, it does remarkably well for close ups as well. It's lightweight, compact and very versatile.
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Forum: Photo Critique
12-04-2011, 01:44 PM
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Good capture and composition. I don't get if this is a 'documentary' shot of a performance where you had no control of lighting, or if you created the scene and lit it yourself. If the former, not much I could comment other than well done. If the latter, I find the light overly hard, and the lack of separation from the background distracting. Some on-axis fill might have helped in both situations, and in the latter the addition of some rim lights would have done wonders to improve the shot.
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