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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 08-15-2023, 05:53 PM  
DJI Mini 3 Pro
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 3
Views: 663
Here is a fusion of 5 shots at 12MP

Autoroute 19, Laval

---------- Post added 08-15-23 at 09:05 PM ----------

Also a comparison between a 12MP shot and a 48MP shot. Look at the yellow signs, you can easily read the numbers on the 48MP version but barely on the 12MP one. You have to open them in Flickr to see the full resolution.

12MP:
12MP version

48MP:
48MP version
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 08-15-2023, 07:38 AM  
DJI Mini 3 Pro
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 3
Views: 663
I wanted to do a little bit of aerial photography. So I bought a DJI Mini 3 pro. Here is a small review after using it for a few weeks, from a photographer perspective.

It’s a sub-250g drone, which means it does not have as many restrictions on where you can fly it compared to bigger drones. But that also comes with a few limitations of course, especially concerning the on-board camera.

The camera is a 1/1.3” sensor 48MP Quad-bayer coupled with a 24mm-e f/1.7 lens.

The sensor size is nice, it’s bigger than most smartphones and compact cameras but smaller than the 1” sensors in the Sony RX100 for example.

48MP is actually a 12MP Bayer sensor but each pixel is splitted in 4, hence the 48MP total. In my experience 48MP gives you slightly more details but also many false colors (at the pixel level). Usually I shoot in RAW 48MP for the best quality. Of course I’m not expecting the quality of a 36MP K-1 or even a 16MP K-5 for that matter.

The images are sharp, but there is one big limitation with the lens: the aperture is fixed at f/1.7. No stopping down possible. Good for low-light but the downsides are multiples. For photography the corners tend to be smeared, a defect that would probably be fixed by stopping down. For long exposures, you also need ND filters. Flare control is also not too great.

I feel the camera is more tuned for video than for photography. But it is certainly usable.

What is impressive is the stability of the camera mounted on a gimbal even with good winds. As a matter of fact the camera allows you to set the shutter speed to as long as 2 seconds (which is good but not enough for the night city shots I like to do). It does not always work, but I’m impressed nonetheless by a flying device able to be that stable.

There are some nice automated shots for HDR and Pano but they are limited to 12MP per shot. HDR is 3 or 5 pictures but you cannot choose the exposures as they are set at 0.7EV apart. Pano works well (better than I was able to do manually in LR) but again limited at 12MP per shot.

In conclusion, for photography it is OK and the limitations are accepted due to the sub-250g requirement. I wish that for the next model they will allow for stopping down which is essential in my opinion to produce better pictures. The possibility to try longer exposure would also be welcome although at the moment even 1s exposures don’t always result in sharp pictures.

Otherwise it is a very well made piece of gear and it’s a lot of fun to use.
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests 08-14-2023, 02:04 PM  
Bridges
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 4
Views: 129
I would like to nominate this photo
Forum: General Talk 07-16-2023, 04:47 PM  
Your latest acquisition
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 27,110
Views: 2,080,735
I bought the Pentax F 17-28 from the marketplace and I'm disappointed. Not by the seller, mind you he was very nice and all went smoothly as it should but... I made the mistake to think the FE 17-28 is just the FF version of the DA 10-17mm which I have too. Unfortunately it is not, the build quality of the F 17-28 is not as good but that's not the issue. It's not the sharpness or the quick-shift. No it's the MFD, the DA 10-17mm has an impressive 0.39x magnification while the F 17-28 is only 0.07x. The DA 10-17mm is a lot of fun because of its close focusing abilities. The F 17-28 is just an uncorrected boring UWA. Pentax, please release an updated version for FF.

I had to fix my disapointment by getting the D-FA 15-30mm... We'll see, magnification is 0.2x not too bad for a rectilinear UWA zoom.
Forum: Site Suggestions and Help 07-13-2023, 06:05 PM  
How do I "Like" a Post?
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 11
Views: 527
Thanks for this thread, I was wondering the same thing, I could not like any post. Disabling Ad-block fixed the issue for me.
Forum: Pentax K-01 07-04-2023, 02:12 PM  
Add your best K-01 photos here
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 3,863
Views: 776,351
K-01 + Sigma 8-16mm @8mm, 1/400s f/7.1 ISO 100
L'Accalmie by Manu H, on Flickr
Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II 07-03-2023, 03:33 PM  
Post your K-1 pictures!
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 37,969
Views: 3,726,324
K-1 II, D-FA 28-105mm @37mm, 1/200 f/5.6 ISO 100
Forum: Welcomes and Introductions 07-03-2023, 10:13 AM  
Hello I just joined you recently
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 10
Views: 253
Welcome to the forum!
Forum: Photographic Technique 06-29-2023, 04:05 PM  
How to Take consistently good Car Photos?
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 32
Views: 1,999
Funny coincidence, I went there the exact same year. A lot of colorful vintage cars.







Forum: Photographic Technique 06-28-2023, 02:02 PM  
How to Take consistently good Car Photos?
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 32
Views: 1,999
I love this last shot, the composition and light is very appealing.

Shooting in a show or a museum is very difficult, especially indoors where there are lots of distractions like lights etc. Using wide apertures, combined with a telephoto can help isolate the subject. The best is really outdoors where the background, even if busy, will look more natural.

The best advice from this thread is shooting from a low angle, at least as low as the car lights.

Here at 35mm, I had a good background

Pontiac Silver Streak 1947
by Manu H, on Flickr

Wide-angle at 15mm

Pink Cadillac and a Ferris Wheel
by Manu H, on Flickr

28mm, colors and lines

2 Old Cars and a blue building, Matanzas, Cuba
by Manu H, on Flickr
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-26-2023, 03:14 AM  
*Maybe* will be K-1 II owner soon -- what is the first FF lens I need to get?
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 54
Views: 2,652
The first lens to get is of course the newer DFA 28-105mm. I was skeptical at first but like everyone else, I have to admit it is a highly competent lens. The only downside for me: I’d prefer a 24-70mm range (one can always crop to 105mm, but you cannot get a wider view).

Then 3 other relatively cheap primes: FA35/2, FA50/1.4 and DFA100WR. They perform well and are a great addition. If you have more disposable income, you can get the 3 amigos instead. From the 3 I only have the FA77 and like most I love the images it produces.

Now, for wide-angle, you have to choose size, price and quality. Pick 2 like they say. I’ve seen the DFA 15-30mm and it’s just too big for me. Where is the f/4 equivalent, cheaper and less bulky? Perhaps the FA 20-35/4? But I find it still expensive for a 20-years old+ lens. I’d love to get the D-FA 21mm Ltd, but the price is sky high, and it’s still bulkier than my revered DA 15mm. Again, do we really need f2.8 UWA? I wish for something of the quality of the DFA 28-105mm, let’s say a 17-28 f/4-5.6, compact, WR, HD coatings, and below 800 USD.

For tele, there are quite reasonable options, the new DFA 70-210mm/4 and for longer reach the 150-450mm. The old DA* 60-250/4, converted to FF is not that expensive and performs well.
Forum: Pentax Full Frame 06-25-2023, 01:32 PM  
Does the K1 Mark II still make sense to buy today? Is there an Mark III in the works?
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 161
Views: 18,045
That's interesting. I have the K-1 II and these 2 lenses. I read about the shutter shock and I was a bit afraid of it since I’m shooting a lot between 1/30s and 1/125s… But, knock on wood, I’m getting sharp pictures with these 2 lenses. If my memory is good, the only Pentax I had that was somewhat plagued by the shutter shock was the K-7.

To get back to the topic, if the K-3 Mk.III is of any indication, the K-1 Mk.III will not come cheap. So the K-1 II is still a good buy, especially used. But that depends on which feature would really be important in a Mk.III. Personally, the sensor resolution is good enough. I'm still astonished at how a small patch on my 30” monitor can be a readable plate at 100% view. So I would not wait for an Image Quality improvement on Mk.III. But a touch screen LCD for easier focusing in Liveview would be nice. And of course bring the AF improvements from the K-3 Mk.III. Otherwise not much is missing from the K-1 which makes it still relevant today IMHO.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-25-2023, 05:57 AM  
HD D-FA 100mm Macro AW - Software focus limiter
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 5
Views: 919
I had the non-HD D-FA100mm macros (both the WR and non-WR), the focus hunting was never such an issue IMHO even on my old K10D. I even though that the 100mm macro focussed rather swiftly. You always have the option to quick-shift when the focus goes in the wrong direction.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-25-2023, 05:04 AM  
Wish for an updated D FA* 200mm f/4 macro HD
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 23
Views: 1,242
I had the D-FA 100mm macro 2 times (the non-WR and the WR) and sold it 2 times because I realized on APS-C I didn't need it much (*). As a tele, my DA* 50-135mm was more flexible and as a macro, the shorter FL (D-FA 50mm and DA 35mm Ltd) were easier to use. And you are right, the 100mm macro is a bit too ubiquitous to produce fresh pictures. That's why I also experimented with Raynox (DCR-150 and DCR-250) on Pentax primes, they fit very well because you just need a step down ring (49mm to 43mm) and there you go. I could use the FA77 as a macro as well as DA21mm for wider FOV.

To replace the FA* 200mm macro, there is the Irix 150mm f/2.8 macro. Matched with a TC 1.4x one could get a 210mm f/4 equivalent. Not AF of course, but much cheaper.

For a totally different macro experience, the DA10-17 is also quite fun:

DA 10-17mm @10mm f/5.6 1/30 ISO 100 on K20D (cropped to 6M, the K20D was 14.6MP camera)
Butterfly taken with a fisheye by Manu H, on Flickr

(*) I'm re-buying the 100 WR for my K-1 as it is dirt cheap nowadays (150$ vs 500$ when it was newly released) and I need to cover FF at FL (I have no DA*50-135mm equivalent on my K-1, at least not yet).
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 06-22-2023, 03:53 PM  
Are we really THAT rare?
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 7,240
Views: 984,945
This is common to underplay features that your favourite brand does not have. IBIS for example was always downplayed by the Canonikon crowd until they got it.
AF-C has always been a sore point for Pentax until the K-3 Mk.III which comes more than 10 years too late. Of course, now that I don't as much need AF-C, Pentax fixed it.
But what I like about Pentax is that they always strive for the best picture quality. They definitely are not into sports too much, but their bodies and glass very often strike a good balance between price and quality. And they are a joy to use which play an important part in photography I think.
Forum: General Talk 06-20-2023, 07:01 PM  
Your latest acquisition
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 27,110
Views: 2,080,735
The SMC DA 70mm Limited that I got for 150$. Only missing the pouch, otherwise in very good condition. I already have the FA77 (and a K-1) so if it was not for the great price, I would have pass.
Forum: General Talk 06-20-2023, 06:53 PM  
Your latest de-acquisition
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 999
Views: 89,972
I have all the DA Ltd. 15. 21, 35, 40 and now recently 70. By order of preference: 15, 40, 21, 35, 70. I don't know I recognize the 35 is objectively a better lens than the DA40 but I could never really warm up to it. For macro I prefer the D-FA 50mm and for general photography the DA40 has a more interesting rendering and FOV. As for the other limited, the 15 is a legend, the 21 has an interesting FOV and color rendering. The 70 is too new, and I don't know if will keep it. It seems sharp wide open but I think I prefer the FA77 and the MFD is a downer. In my Ltd collection I miss the DFA 21 (would love it but it's big and expensive, the most expensive Ltd), the 20-40 (do I need a zoom?), the FA 31 (I already have the FA35, good enough for a FOV I'm not using much) and the FA43 (I may be tempted to use it on a K-1).

Ah yes, back to the topic, I'm planning to do some cleanup of a 17-70/4 (dead SDM, not as good as 16-50 SDM IMHO), Sigma 28-105/f2.8-4 (need to compare it to DFA 28-105 first), Tamron 17-50/2.8. Maybe an old 55-300. So, mostly average zooms. Exception: a Sigma 30/1.4 that does not cover FF.

Lenses I will (probably) never sell: FA77, D-FA50 Macro, DA15, DA 50-135.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-18-2023, 02:45 PM  
Wish for an updated D FA* 200mm f/4 macro HD
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 23
Views: 1,242
I don't know how much complicated it is to add a motor, but if it is at expense of compactness and price, I'd prefer not to have it. OIS is also adding some complexity to the design so no wonder the Fuji 80/2.8 is as big and expensive.
I don't know if a new Pentax 200mm macro would cost as much as 4K$. The Sigma 180mm seem to be available below 1000 USD. Anyway, there is certainly more than 200 people on earth that would buy a Pentax 200mm Macro, even at 2K$. After all the DFA 21mm Ltd is also very expensive, maybe a bit less specialized, but still...
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-18-2023, 06:24 AM  
Wish for an updated D FA* 200mm f/4 macro HD
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 23
Views: 1,242
I'm happy that Pentax re-released an updated HD version of the 100mm macro, although I wish they made it in-lens motor and use 9 blades instead of 8... I once had the original DFA 100mm that I sold to get the 100mm WR, i sold that one also as I realised I got more keeper with the D-FA 50mm macro (on APS-C). Now that I have the K-1 I'm looking to re-buy the 100mm as it can be used for other things than just macros.

But why they don't re-release the 200mm macro? From all the review I've seen, it seems to be one the best lens ever made by Pentax and is now costing several thousand dollars on the used market for the FA* version.
Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II 06-17-2023, 07:25 AM  
Pentax K1 impressions...
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 19
Views: 3,849
My GF has a Canon 7D, and I find it fits well in my hands but the rotating dials are really in an ankward position IMHO.

Otherwise, the latest camera we own is always the best (or at least it should). I started my DSLR journey with a K10D, and I upgraded to each flagship until the K-3. I now recently upgraded to the K-1 II and yes it is the best Pentax DSLR I ever had. I didn't expect that I would enjoy it so much but I do. First of all we need to enjoy using the camera and the K-1 delivers a great OVF and very good ergonomics.

And of course the image quality is top notch. Enjoy your camera and your pictures.
Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II 06-17-2023, 07:02 AM  
ImageSync Liveview magnification
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 1
Views: 946
I'm trying to get Liveview magnification working on K-1 through ImageSync remote capture. I know I could do that easily with my K-3 fitted with a FLU card. There was a button in the app to magnify the part you were trying to focus on. Now it seems ImageSync does not support it. I am hoping that maybe someone figured out how to do it. If not, it's a bit disappointing as the FLU card from 2013 was allowing it fine. OTOH the GPS works better on the K-1 than using the O-GPS1 on the K-3, especially it removes the bulk and the need to charge a separate battery.
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests 06-15-2023, 01:28 AM  
Through the Open Window
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 13
Views: 113
I would like to nominate this photo
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests 06-15-2023, 01:24 AM  
Fire Escape
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 38
Views: 220
I would like to nominate this photo
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 06-15-2023, 12:36 AM  
Pentax K-70/KF as a Smartphone Alternative?
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 17
Views: 1,260
Modern smartphones have enough quality to take good pictures for a family gathering. I don't know the Pixel 7 but I'm using one of the recent Samsung which has 3 primes (funny how people are now content without any zoom): UWA, WA and a short tele. And a 4th lens for selfies. A phone is also much easier to use and fpr sharing pictures.

Now, where the phones are not so good are in low-light situations, and here the quality of a DSLR with good glass will of course run circles around the smartphone. Also, as someone suggested, for self-portrait, it would be better to use a tripod and use the smartphone as a remote control. I find the most important problem of quality with selfies is that an arm is never long enough to get a non distording perspective.
Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II 06-12-2023, 02:27 AM  
Getting the K-1 or not
Posted By ManuH
Replies: 61
Views: 3,153
I don't know. I had a m4/3 GH2 for a relatively brief moment and I enjoyed its pictures, the kit lens was good and the Leica Summircrom 25 f/1.4 was excellent. I did not feel such a great difference between it and my then current APS-C (I think it was the K-5 at the time). I feared that with a FF, corners/borders performance would be a challenge but with the glass I tested until now it's not such a big deal, even for vignetting (which I sometimes add anyway when the subject is mostly in the center). Even a lens like the Sigma 150-500mm which is good but not excellent seems to produce better resolution and contrast. If I pixel peep I can see some defects but at viewing/printing sizes the images still look great.

Also the general tonality/colors/gradations seem to be better. But again I did not test side to side, it's just my feeling after my first 200 shots with the camera.

If I had to nitpick on my K-1 is the AF, while very good in speed and accuracy, all the points are in the center frame which makes some shots difficult to do. Example, shooting at f/1.8 on the FA 77 Ltd, trying to get the iof a cat in focus when it is in the top right. I cannot simply focus and recompose at this DoF.

Also, probably particular to mine, the grip is sometimes squeaking which distracts from the general feeling of robustness.
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