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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
03-13-2024, 01:21 AM
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As always, it's complicated. . .
The reason why even modern prime lenses tend to be so big and heavy is that they are highly optically corrected to appeal to the sort of buyers who care mostly about MTF charts, and it takes a lot of glass to achieve that. The end result is lenses so highly corrected that the more arty-fartically minded types of photographer (like me) find them sterile and boring and characterless.
So my own preference is for smaller, lighter lenses. On the one hand that's because they're easier to carry around, but mostly it's because smaller lighter lenses tend to be less optically corrected and so they produce results with more character.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
02-03-2024, 06:43 AM
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I don't know - when I compared the 70 Ltd vs the 77 Ltd, the 77 was the clear winner (for me)....
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
02-03-2024, 02:45 AM
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My DA18-135mm(s) is(are) still my top APS-C lens(es) in terms of number of exposures, closely followed by the GRIIIx now, btw. That's not surprising, given that I use my KP whenever I want a capable but compact and flexible setup, e.g. on bicycle, kayak or long distance hiking trips. It is a very capable lens, just don't frame too tightly at the long end, so that 5% can be cropped. Some of the shots from my s.i.c. last February are among the best I've taken last year - the end of month summary gives a bit of a perspective. After a defective one has been repaired, I now actually have two very fine ones, plus one fairly beaten that is on permanent exile at my daughter's.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
02-02-2024, 09:49 PM
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I eventually realized that. I have the DA 18-135 as well. Ironically I got a copy of the DA 16-85 because I missed that 16-85mm range I had on my DA*16-50. The 16-50 became decentered and is really not useable. I still use my 18-135. Usually for camping trips and those times when I really can only take one lens.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
02-01-2024, 09:55 PM
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January wrap-up...
spent the month with the Ricoh GXR and the A12 18.3mm f2.5 lens module - this is a 12mp, APS-C sensor with a wide, reasonably fast lens....
the lens focuses down to 20cm and is sharp, contrasty, and even has nice bokeh...
plus, I found that it'll kick out really nice starbursts:
 lawn chairs, west field by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr
 Laney by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr
 in a puddle by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr
 sunset, windmills... by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr
 whirlygig by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr
altogether, an enjoyable month but I'm ready to move back to manual focus for February....
here's the rest of the month:
Single In Challenge - January '24 | Flickr |
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
02-01-2024, 02:15 PM
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I'm gonna sneak in with a late entry. SMC FA50/2.8 Macro - Not the D-FA but the hewn from solid grenade type :)
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
02-01-2024, 09:08 AM
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For my summary it was not best month ever. While I liked lens and it's performance it is a) heavy, b) heavy, c) rather big (and heavy) so not really a daily walker lens. IQ ok, AF works. Technical issues aside it is good lens at what it was made for in the era it was made in. Unless repair cost will be really high I intend to keep it. If I decide not too, we will see.
My favorite photos:
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
02-01-2024, 12:10 PM
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We'll be both going with A24 then. Nice.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
02-01-2024, 03:34 AM
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Japan Post delivered a classic manual focus 28mm M Series f2.0 lens in time for this month. I previously tried the older Hollywood style 28mm f2.0 so it should be interesting to see how they compare :)
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
01-31-2024, 07:32 PM
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When the DA 20-40 Limited was originally released I thought, would anyone really want such a limited range zoom. Well times do change. When MPB had a few DA 20-40's for under $300 in Like New condition I thought I would give one a try. I will be honest, I was not expecting much. Reviews on this lens vary greatly. I did go in with an open mind as I always do. Maybe it is the new K3-MKiii, but this lens totally caught me off guard. I was impressed right away. I never tired of using it. It was definitely fun to use. When you think of the range in Full Frame terms then it makes more sense. Think the FA 20-35 or F24-50. It really the range I tend to shoot in the most. Yes 18 or 16mm would have been nice. However the laws of physics tend to get in the way there. There is no way they could made a F2.8 18 or 16mm lens this size. So the compromise is 20mm. Being an engineer in the product development field I know these compromises and decisions all too well. Honestly, I did not find the 20mm end to be all the limiting. When I wanted something wider I carried the DA 15 Limited with me. It easily fits in any camera bag. Constant aperture would have been nice, but again there is no way to make that happen at this size unless you with F4. Again, I never felt limited by the variable aperture. I think they really did the best they could with keeping a good zoom range, aperture, and size. The weather sealing is definitely a plus. It really made my life easier this month. It snowed for about a week straight. Then rained for about two weeks straight. I never thought twice about taking the K3-MKiii and the DA 20-40 with me. The autofocus is quick and silent. I never found the lens hunting or really missing focus. Again this could in part be me using the K3-MKiii. Overall I am definitely glad I bought this lens. I definitely see it getting a lot use in the future.
As for favorites well I will try and keep it a few but I really did enjoy using this lens for January.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
01-31-2024, 05:35 PM
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A crazy month, work-wise, with quite a few family demands to boot. I missed two days, but it felt good to try every day. I don't think I learned much about the FA31mm, maybe that it indeed resolves very fine detail reversed, if you dare to attempt that. No FA31s were harmed in the process, but it was close. For a quick wrap-up, two easily identified favorites in terms of results:
 
And a memorable day of cycling winter streets on my own:
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
01-30-2024, 09:14 PM
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This just arrived today so it looks like this will be my lens. I was not expecting it in time since I bought it Sunday night and it shipped to the United States from Japan.
Tamron SP AF 17-35mm F2.8-4 Di Aspherical (IF)
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
01-31-2024, 05:46 AM
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I'm thru January with M150. A couple missed days due to combination of weather and work. I could have pushed thru with random safety, but didn't bother. I shot mostly outside and took nice long walks on early part of the month, so challenge worked as designed. Little more time pressure in later part of the month with snowboard trainings taking time, but I still got out to shoot. Quite productive month all in all.
M150 is one of the keepers in the series and the longest lens I know that can be considered compact. Easy to carry around. At least my copy is well sharp enough wide open. Nice rendering and bokeh. It's not legendary lens by reputation, so thought bit uncommon still very reasonably priced. Excellent bang for the buck.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
01-28-2024, 09:54 AM
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Forum: Lens Clubs
01-24-2024, 10:56 AM
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Surfer at Dollar Cove, Gunwalloe, on the Lizard peninsula, Cornwall - K-3ii and DA*60-250mm lens
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Forum: Lens Clubs
01-24-2024, 07:10 AM
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M150 on 24th. Very beautiful day. Way better than typical for the time of the year. First one panorama from 6 shots.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
01-18-2024, 06:36 AM
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The very reason that I still cherish my F28, which I've grown attached to in the s.i.c.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
01-11-2024, 10:07 AM
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I didn't mean to buy any gear this year, but not even mid January and I'm slipping. Too good a deal on K50/1.2 to pass. If price starts with 1 and doesn't have 4 numbers it doesn't count, right?
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Forum: Lens Clubs
01-10-2024, 08:14 AM
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Forum: Lens Clubs
01-12-2024, 03:45 AM
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
01-03-2024, 02:42 AM
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Somewhere during the last 5 years I have become much more interested on how picture look in small size than on how perfect it's on pixel level. I remember that I used to will the frame with as detail and stuff and present the shots as large as possible. Nowadays I'm try to make the main content interesting and present the shot in smaller size so that it can be viewed on single glance. Best shots remain interesting even in thumpnail size.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
01-02-2024, 06:12 AM
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OMG yes! I had forgotten these were taken on a crop camera. I might have to do a few days with the K-1 to see how bad it really is :eek:
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