|
Forum: Lens Clubs
03-25-2011, 05:23 PM
|
| |
More yurt pics from the Idaho backcountry. Once again credit to this thread for the inspiration for some B&W snow photos :)
When you are snowshoeing in deep snow, it helps to have a light lens!
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-22-2011, 12:15 PM
|
| |
Just want to say thanks again for all the quick responses. I've been lurking here for a while so it's pretty humbling to have so many people who I think take great photos respond to answer these questions. I think the information provided was very useful, especially about the comparisons to the other FAs and the trade-offs on sharpness/OOF at f/1.8 vs f/2 and higher.
Based on these shots and the information here, I think I will stick with f/2 or higher when sharpness is a priority and save f/1.8 for those creative moments where the OOF area is the primary attraction.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-22-2011, 10:57 AM
|
| |
Okay, the sun has finally come out so I could get outside and stop taking photos of beer bottles inside my room. I went ahead and stopped it down to f/2 and WOW this is what I was expecting of the lens. These are just test shots from the parking lot at my work, so not the best subject matter but I would say at f/2 they look great and they show that it is definitely super-sharp in the plane of focus.
Auto focus on the corner of the pole. I think the K5 nailed it.
I would rate my work parking lot under noon lighting as pretty "ugly" but wow if a lens can render shots this beautifully, I think I'm sold.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-22-2011, 09:46 AM
|
| |
Thanks for all the responses! I had a feeling that is how it is supposed to be (especially based on the photozone tests), just wanted to do a sanity check on it because of all the rave reviews I've heard about it being razor sharp wide open, etc.
So it sounds like most people are shooting at f/2 or higher unless they are specifically looking for the dreamy bokeh in the background / shallow DOF. Seems fair enough to me.
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
03-21-2011, 11:18 PM
|
| |
Thanks guys!
@mattb123 Not my yurt unfortunately :) just one I rented in the Idaho backcountry from Idaho parks and recreation.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-21-2011, 11:09 PM
|
| |
Quick introduction as I am a new member. I have been playing with cameras for about five years now, just for fun. The first 3 with three generations of point-and-shoots for snapshots, and the last two with a Canon t1i with kit lens, still casual mostly but starting to learn more about it. Recently (couple months ago) I sold the Canon and got the new K5 along with a DA 15mm limited. My interest is primarily travel photography, so more capturing a unique moment than finding artistic perspectives though I do enjoy that as well (even if I suck at it)
I'll be the first to admit it..I'm not that good, but I do take a lot of photos (45,000 so far) so I at least have some man hours behind it if nothing else :p. I upgraded primarily because it seemed to be "worth it" given how many photos I take and because I had fun with the DOF/bokeh on a f/2.8 lens I rented. I've never owned a fast lens before (f/2.8 as the fastest I've ever shot, on the rental, before buying this lens) so please cut me a little slack if this post seems ignorant.
Long story short, I just purchased the FA 31mm from B&H photo and have 7 days left to try it out before I can return it. I've taken it out a couple times for some real world photos, and in the process a couple questions have come up. It might be that I am not used to the extreme DOF but some portraits I took seemed softer than expected and there was sometimes striking fringing/CA even in indoor lighting and visible in the scaled image.
Here are a few sample photos I took as a result:
f/1.8
f/2.8
f/1.8 center crop
f/2.8 center crop
Now, the two full size photos look okay scaled down but I would say there is a noticeable improvement at f/2.8, and a noticeable "out of focus-ness" to the f/1.8 photo when viewing it at 1920x1080. Both shots were taken on a fixed surface and I tried multiple shots both with manual focus and with AF adjustment and the f/1.8 version did not improve.
All I can compare it with is the DA15 and the kit lens, and while both showed some improvement when stopping down on the same test, the difference was not nearly as drastic across any of the apertures. Neither were as sharp as the FA 31 is at f/4 but I would call both sharp from wide open and onward.
So two questions:
1. Is this normal or does it not match your experience?
2. What aperature do you mostly shoot at with this lens? Is it common to shoot more in the f/2.2-2.5 range? I would say at f/2.8 it's pretty darn sharp.
I do like the way other elements of the photo render, but based on these results I can picture myself keeping it at f/2.8 or higher unless I really need a shallow DOF which seems like a waste. Low lighting is not really an issue with the K5 so I wouldn't say that is a factor.
Here is a photo that I thought turned out okay, but I still think the glasses would have maybe been better at f/2.8? It's been raining all week here so haven't really had a chance to get much variety in shots.
Any thoughts or ideas?
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
03-21-2011, 08:29 PM
|
| |
| |
