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Forum: Pentax Forums Giveaways 09-07-2016, 06:00 AM  
PF 10th Anniversary - Pentax K-50 1-Day Giveaway! - Entries closed, winner announced.
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 1,825
Views: 90,819
Don't pick me. I still love my K10D. Okay. Pick me.
Forum: Pentax Forums Giveaways 01-27-2016, 07:50 AM  
READ ME! Pentax Tips from the Community (55-300mm Giveaway)
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 773
Views: 111,245
Small sensor cameras can take good close up photos, so keep one with you when you are not carrying your SLR. If your camera does not have an extending lens, as is the case with the Pentax WG series, you can use the flash with closeups and it will not cast a shadow from the lens. Experiment with distance and take a note of the point where the flash is too powerful.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 07-28-2015, 06:09 PM  
What lens was used for this ?
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 20
Views: 2,041
Meyer-Optik Görlitz Orestor 2.8?
Forum: Pentax Price Watch 03-24-2014, 01:09 PM  
Popular Photography Magazine $5 per year
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 39
Views: 4,700
Google "popular photography magazine slickdeals"
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 03-11-2014, 06:21 PM  
If you could have but one Limited............
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 149
Views: 13,246
35mm macro.
Forum: Photographic Technique 02-18-2014, 07:01 AM  
How to best take good close up shots using....
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 15
Views: 2,240
That lens is sharpest at F4 (according to photozone.de). In your F5.6 photo, it appears you are focused on the plate, not the pie. You could try focusing a little closer, and if the depth of field is too shallow, then you could stick with an arrangement like in your F2.2 shot.
Forum: Video Recording and Processing 02-07-2014, 08:01 AM  
Hitfilm 2 Express free... only today
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 15
Views: 2,330
ffmpeg is free and good for changing the container. For example, if the right container is .mov, a command might be like:





Code:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vcodec copy -acodec copy output.mov



Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 11-16-2013, 07:51 AM  
If you could have just one lens...
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 85
Views: 9,544
Tamron 90mm macro. I'd rather give up the ability to take any kind of shot than compromise on close ups. I would consider a 50mm macro, but that is still telephoto on APS-C, and the 90mm has just the right working distance. Most of my photos are closeups of insects and plants.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 07-14-2013, 07:40 AM  
Pentax Macro/Telephoto lenses for K-7
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 16
Views: 2,363
Hi SkipperRi. I don't know what the magnification is on your Cosina, but the Sigma 70-300 is 1:2. According to the lens database, the same is true for Pentax M macros including the one mentioned above. Newer Pentax macros are 1:1. The Sigma macro mode only works at 300mm with a minimum focus distance of 5 feet. It is much easier to work with a shorter focal length like 100mm unless you know you won't be able to get any closer than 5' anyway. I may have a different variety of the Sigma 70-300, but I assume what I wrote is true for the one in the eBay listing as well. Your 18-55 DA focuses surprisingly close for a magnification of 1:3. You could probably experiment with that to give yourself an idea of how important the minimum focus distance is to you.
Forum: Pentax Compact Cameras 03-18-2013, 06:12 AM  
Optio WG-2 samples
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 5
Views: 1,440
I like the slow-mo sample. 480p still looks good, and many of us can't stream faster than that anyway. I don't have an interesting action subject to try it on yet, but I did notice that the slow-mo feature made a smoother video when scanning a landscape from side to side (and saved time).
Forum: Pentax Compact Cameras 03-17-2013, 04:09 PM  
Optio WG-2 samples
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 5
Views: 1,440
Forum: Pentax Compact Cameras 03-17-2013, 04:00 PM  
Optio WG-2 samples
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 5
Views: 1,440
Notice the different aspect ratios of the two above images. I had not explicitly changed the setting between shots. There are three aspect ratios available, 16:9, 4:3, and 1:1. The camera was set to 7M (3072x2304 for 4:3 ratio). For the photo of the insect, I used the digital microscope capture mode. For some reason, this mode is fixed at 2M (1920x1080 for 16:9 ratio). There are a number of modes that have limitations, and some of these make sense. For example, I can understand why high-speed and slow-motion video cannot be taken at the highest resolution. There seems to be no reason to force the digital microscope mode to be at 2M, except that someone must have assumed that's what users want. I would have preferred if digital microscope mode did not change the resolution. One can still take a similar shot at a higher resolution as follows: (1) Set the resolution to anything you like, (2) turn on the LED lights from the rec menu, (3) set the focus mode to MF and move the slider all the way down to 0.01. Here's another quirk. Sometimes it does not want to let you manually focus closer than 0.1m. In this case, set the focus mode to 1cm close focus, then set it to MF. This time it will let you go all the way down to 0.01m. Again, I don't know what logic is behind sometimes limiting the MF distance. You can also use the 1cm focus mode, but that just means it will automatically focus as close as 1cm (but maybe further depending where the camera is held). Manual focus allows one to set to the closest distance then move the camera until the subject is in focus. Setting up the shot this way is not as convenient as using the digital microscope mode. When the camera is off, holding down the green button will turn on the LEDs for use as a flashlight. It would have been nice if this could also be done when the camera is on, so that the LEDs could be turned on and off without going through the menu.

I would like to know if the WG-3 behaves in the same way. Does its digital microscope mode force a lower resolution? Does the MF slider not always let you manually focus at 0.01m?
Forum: Pentax Compact Cameras 03-17-2013, 03:27 PM  
Optio WG-2 samples
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 5
Views: 1,440
I'm an SLR guy. I like seeing through the lens and I usually focus manually, but I am missing too much when I don't have my camera with me. I needed something I could take anywhere that could take good close-up shots. The WG appears to be that camera. Here are some shots directly out of the camera (only resized). No cropping and no fiddling. For a P&S, I am happy with these results.

Orthoptera nymph on a dandelion.


Hawthorn flower. This is a small flower, similar to a plum or pear.
Forum: Pentax Compact Cameras 03-17-2013, 09:59 AM  
Optio WG-2 Focusing in Movie Mode
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 2
Views: 1,069
You can set the optical zoom and focus as you like before starting a video, but once the video is rolling, the only buttons that have any affect are the power, shutter, and OK. Clicking the OK button changes the display.
Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories 03-13-2013, 06:12 AM  
Why do all shoulder straps seem to attach to the tripod mount?
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 53
Views: 19,085
A strap that attaches to the tripod mount is nice when a long lens is mounted on the camera. I find that I can sling it over one shoulder and it stays comfortably on my side without much bouncing around, even with a 400mm lens. For a few dollars you can get a bolt, cable clamp, and keychain ring from a hardware store and make your own, even if just to see if you like it enough to purchase a better one. When I use a tripod or monopod with this lens, it is attached directly to the lens anyway. You might be able to find or make a solution that allows you to have both a strap and tripod mount at the same time, or perhaps it is not right for you.
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 03-12-2013, 06:42 AM  
Catch in Focus and Lens Resolution [k-x]
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 20
Views: 3,676
I also struggle to get good bird photos, but I am getting better. My photos started to improve after I switched from a Sigma 70-300mm to an old Bushnell 400mm screw mount. That seems counter intuitive unless either there is something wrong with my Sigma or my technique finally started to improve around the time I switched lenses, or both. One thing I do is take tons of shots and discard the rejects, which are not always due to the same reason. Sometimes camera shake and sometimes poor focus. It helped me a lot to start using a monopod. You should be able to use a 200mm hand-held, but you could always try using a support to see if that helps. Your photo of a Robin was at 1/100s, and that might be too slow. The others were faster. If focus is your issue then there might be something else nearby with good focus. Even though I am using an old manual focus lens, I still get a focus indicator dot in the frame (K10D). In your last photo it seems the base of the trunk has better focus than the bird, but it is hard for me to tell. Are any of these photos focused at infinity? Is it possible that your screw mount adapter is impacting your ability to focus at infinity? How is your aperture set? I will be watching this thread for useful tips including any lens resolution hints. It would also be nice to have more tips for distinguishing causes for unsharp photos.
Forum: Pentax Price Watch 03-10-2013, 08:25 AM  
Pentax WG-2 Waterproof 16-Megapixel
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 3
Views: 1,539
This Groupon is still available. I ordered one.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 03-10-2013, 08:20 AM  
Hypothetical: yes or no
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 62
Views: 6,244
I would think about it plenty, but I doubt I'd make the purchase. I enjoy close up photography and need a lot of DOF. A full frame would not benefit me for most of the shots I take.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 03-08-2013, 08:36 PM  
Sharpness compared
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 13
Views: 1,486
Photozone has a few old lenses among their lens tests. The K 135mm was rated very good for resolution (not so good for CA).
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 03-05-2013, 11:02 AM  
I just sold my K10D
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 12
Views: 1,704
That will be my motivation as well when I do upgrade. I took some early morning shots this morning in dim lighting and they did not come out well, but there is still lots of room for improvement in my technique.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 03-05-2013, 07:08 AM  
I just sold my K10D
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 12
Views: 1,704
I'd love to have a K5 IIs. I admit it.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 03-04-2013, 08:06 PM  
I just sold my K10D
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 12
Views: 1,704
The K10D is still a great camera. I am very happy with mine.
Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals 02-17-2013, 05:06 PM  
Can Pentax make FF smaller than competition?
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 64
Views: 7,765
[Edit: oops, I went off topic. Ignore me. About size: I hope the new FF is not huge, but I don't mind if it is not the smallest. Original post below.]

Question for y'all regarding FF and the potential for better ISO sensitivity. I was going to post a comment that I hope the Pentax FF will go for better sensitivity instead of more pixels, but first I went over to DxOMark to compare the Nikon FF offerings. The Nikon D4 has 16Mpix, and I had assumed (apparently incorrectly) that the count was lower in order to offer great sensitivity (DxOMark measured SN ratio 31dB at ISO 3200). The Nikon D600 is a 24 Mpix camera but is much cheaper, yet the sensitivity is similar (DxOMark measured SN ratio 31.1dB at ISO 3200). The D4 also has a lower dynamic range. I don't know what the point of limiting to 16Mpix was, but I am guessing that it was to support 10fps, or perhaps I am misunderstanding the measurements. The question is (are)... am I correct in thinking that sensitivity can be improved by keeping the pixel count down? If so, is it possible/likely that the Pentax FF could be best in high sensitivity by not trying to have the most pixels or fastest frame rate?
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 11-26-2012, 07:44 AM  
Talk me into a Pentax
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 38
Views: 4,578
If ISO is a deciding factor, take a look at DxOMark's measurements. Using the 32dB mark as the "good" level, your Nikon D80 is just below that at ISO 100. The D7000 and Pentax K-30 are near there at ISO 200. On the other hand, the full-frame Nikon D600 is better than good at ISO 400, and just below the mark (37dB) at ISO 800. If I were already invested in Nikon, that's the camera I would buy, even though it is twice the price of the K-30. I am sticking with my K10D until Pentax releases a comparable camera. Since I already own Pentax lenses, I am waiting because I like the on-camera shake reduction and am hoping for a model without the anti-aliasing filter.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 11-11-2012, 09:19 AM  
Adorama gives a nod to Pentax...twice
Posted By Gaberlunzi
Replies: 6
Views: 2,183
One must give credit to all the camera testers and reviewers out there. In all the articles I have read, like the one posted above, they objectively report on the best equipment without being swayed by brand recognition, and Pentax consistently does well. I look forward to seeing Pentax compete in the full frame category, and I'm ready to buy when they do, provided that design decisions lean towards low-light performance instead of pixel packing.

The article ranks Nikon's D800E over their other full frames. It is interesting to note that DxOMark measures the ISOs differently. At 3200, the measured ISO of the D800E is 2220 (SNR 31.3dB) and the measured ISO of the D600 is a little higher at 2355 (SNR 31.1dB). I can't be bothered with figuring out what is more significant, the difference in measured ISO or the difference is SNR, because I doubt I could perceive the difference. I would notice the $1,200 price difference.
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