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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II 11-08-2014, 12:27 PM  
Rokinon FE14M-P 14mm F2.8 Ultra Wide for K-3?
Posted By VTerlakyPhoto
Replies: 22
Views: 6,880
I have the Bower version and love it! When I bought it the focus ring wasn't calibrated properly, but after disassembling the lens and putting it back together with the necessary adjustments (really easy to do, there are online tutorials, because it's a pretty common problem), it is now sharp as a tack with a hard infinity focus bump - very handy for dark night photography. If you can deal with manual focus, you cannot go wrong with this lens! Some people have complained about flare issues, but even shooting into the sun I haven't had any major problems with it. The coating works like a charm. Here are some sample shots in a variety of lighting situations:

















Forum: Pentax K-3 Photo Contest 04-29-2014, 06:22 AM  
Architecture Budapest Parliament Building
Posted By VTerlakyPhoto
Replies: 7
Views: 1,064
I thought I'd add a little background information to this image. It was taken in the summer of 2012, June 19th to be exact at ~9:30 PM with my trusted K-r and old "plastic fantastic" FA 35-80 lens. The settings I used were f13, 2.5 sec exposure, ISO 400 at 35 mm (52 mm at the 1.5x crop factor of the camera). We were driving along the Danube back from a family gathering in north Buda when I noticed the perfect scene, and told the driver to stop the car immediately. I pulled out the camera, set it up on a mini tripod on top of the car and took a few shots. With the 2.5 sec exposure it was not easy to get the timing just right. Most shots had either boats or traffic in them, or the water was too blurred and soft from the wake of the boats, but this one turned out clean with just enough texture on the water, and was in my opinion the best of the bunch.
Post processing was pretty straight forward. The original image was slightly tilted, so I corrected for that, then cropped it to size, adjusted WB and added some minor sharpening. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did taking it - and thanks for looking! If you feel it fit, please don't hesitate to comment and nominate too :). Cheers!

Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II 11-11-2013, 02:49 PM  
K3 manual - What is Ricoh thinking?
Posted By VTerlakyPhoto
Replies: 86
Views: 15,821
That's fine for the print version, I'm all for a short paper booklet to save the rainforest - but why not make an extended PDF version that includes everything there is to know?
Forum: General Talk 03-18-2013, 11:15 AM  
Poll: **VOTING** Pentax Shirt design - 2013!
Posted By VTerlakyPhoto
Replies: 199
Views: 38,621
Two issues that I just noticed with this voting:

#1: for several designs multiple colour options are shown (e.g. 14, 29, 45, 57, 84, 87, 88, 97). Which one of the colour variations are we voting for? For example #14 are we voting for the white or black one? Also, does this mean that only one shirt colour will be available (since on a black shirt the black design won't work...). Or, if all colour options of these designs are going to be in print and we're voting on them as a whole, then why aren't all three colour versions of my submission shown?

#2: this was also mentioned in the submission thread, but allowing designs with the original Pentax font and trademarks in the voting thread is completely unfair. First of all, they were against the rules, and therefore in my humble opinion shouldn't have gone through the screening at all. Second, even if after the fact changing the design is easy, it does influence voting results (due to the emotional impact of seeing the same font as on your camera), and also results in final shirt that people didn't actually vote for.

My 2 cents.
Forum: General Talk 03-20-2013, 01:40 PM  
Poll: **VOTING** Pentax Shirt design - 2013!
Posted By VTerlakyPhoto
Replies: 199
Views: 38,621
SlickYamaha, I don't think this is getting "political", but the shear number of unsatisfied people should give a hint that this contest was somewhat mismanaged, and a lot comes down to the fact that some rules were not properly communicated, and the inconsistency with which the rules were then followed.

1: I see a lot of people mentioning that one or more of their designs were not included in the voting. It was indeed mentioned in the contest thread that you can submit as many designs as you want, but only one will be selected by the staff for voting purposes, so technically you (you being you and the rest of the PF staff involved in this) are in the right. However, this rule was not mentioned in the first announcement post where the rules were outlined point by point. As you probably know being a forum admin, when it comes to these contests a lot of people only read the rules in the first post and don't try to read though pages of comments to see if other rules are mentioned or not. In that sense, yes, you (again, plural you) are technically in the right, but I think it is very understandable that this would cause strife later on.

2: There also seem to be people who submitted something and none of their designs are in the voting thread. I think here again you are in the right, it was stated clearly in the first announcement post that designs will be vetted before the voting thread. On the other hand, I also see it from their perspective. When you get an email saying something along the lines of "great, your submission is received, thank you so much for the design", then it is very easily misunderstood as meaning that everything is A-OK and the design will be in the voting thread. It is thus a little misleading - especially for non-native English speakers. I think this is mainly a communication issue that could've been solved very easily by sending the outright rejected submissions an email saying so and in a short sentence explaining why. Again, much strife could've been prevented this way.

3: The inconsistency with which rules were mentioned and then followed. As I said before, some rules or other pertinent information were only mentioned well into the comment thread, essentially buried in comments. This is clearly something that will only cause issues later on.

Now on to two issues that I mentioned earlier in this thread but haven't gotten a reply, but I think are relevant in this discussion.

1: This relates to the inconsistency with which rules were followed. While the "vetting" rule was followed to the tee, the rule that the official Pentax brand logo was not to be used seems to have gone to the wayside. It was explicitly and clearly stated in the announcement thread that this logo/font was not to be used, yet designs using this logo/font have been included in the voting thread. You say earlier in this thread that it's OK, because the logo/font can simply be changed for the final shirt. This is unfair for three reasons. First, there were many people I'm sure that changed and/or adjusted their designs, potentially spending a significant amount of time on this, to avoid using that font. Others clearly spent no time doing this, submitted something against the rules and still got through. Second, the font is an essential part of any design. Your claim that it can be simply and quickly by changed after voting is done is correct from a logistics point of view (most likely it is two clicks to change a font type), but I would argue that this significantly changes the final design going to print, and in the end the shirt will look different than what people voted for. Third, having the actual Pentax brand on a design skews the vote. It is well known in advertising that brand recognition is key, and in this case it's the same. People will be affected on an emotional level by seeing the Pentax brand, giving those designs an unfair advantage.

2: The issue with colour schemes. Every individual is supposed to have only one design in the voting thread, yet there are several submissions in the voting thread that are essentially two separate designs because they are different colour schemes of the same basic design (see #s 14, 45, 57, 84, 87, 88, 97). From what I could gather only one actual design will make it through to printing, so which one are we voting for?! For example (not to pick on any in particular, but) #14 there is a design with a white camera and black PF logo, and a black camera with white PF logo. The issue I see is that the former will NOT work on a white shirt, and the latter will NOT work on a black shirt. The others that I mentioned above have similar problems, where different colour schemes don't work on all shirt colours. This is an issue because in the rules it was stated that there will be black, white and (probably) red shirts available, which implies that all designs should work on all three shirt colours. So have things changed, and only one shirt colour is going to be used after all, or will these designs simply not work then? And which of the colour variations are we actually voting for?

As a final note I would like to say this. You essentially said earlier in this thread that all this strife is uncalled for because it's "just" a t-shirt contest, and that we should essentially bow down and be grateful to the organizers no matter what, because they made a lens available to the winner. You also said that maybe in the future these contests should essentially not have winnings because it's too much "politics". Having been a forum mod myself I understand your frustration in light of these "ungrateful" forum users, but frankly, this is very bad logic. The issue is indeed partly that the prize for the contest is not insignificant - for most people this is a HUGE prize to be won. As such, I think the organizers of such a give-away can anticipate fierce competition and high emotions among the contestants. After putting in all the effort to make designs, it then is very flippant to essentially say to the contestants "just suck it up, be grateful for this little t-shirt contest". No, when the stakes are this high (especially because the stakes are this high), I think we can expect a high level of professionalism on the organizers' part. This would include clear rules that are then followed consistently, and professional communication all the way through. All this, of course, does NOT take away anything from how happy the contestants are that the contest is held in the first place, and how grateful we are for the prize on offer, but on the flip side all we ask for is that the contest is held in a professional manner. Yes, this is a little more work for the organizers, but when the stakes are high, I think the organizers also have to put a little more into it, otherwise you will eventually alienate your contestants - and in the end maybe even lose PF members.
Forum: General Talk 03-04-2013, 10:58 PM  
Design a T-Shirt: Win a DA 70mm Limited lens!
Posted By VTerlakyPhoto
Replies: 216
Views: 59,577
Some great submissions so far! Here is mine then (email just sent). It comes in three colour variations, but I can't decide on just one and will leave the narrowing down to the "powers that be". It is loosely based on a focus chart with some "Pentax" words around it. It can go either on the front or the back of the shirt. If it's on the front then the PentaxForums logo should go on the back, center, just below the neck line. If it's on the back, then the PentaxForums logo should go either large, center chest, OR small and slightly off to one side on the front. Alternatively the PF logo can go on the sleeves. So there is a lot of flexibility with these.

White design:


Black design:


Red design:


All three on three different shirt colours to show versatility:
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests 12-26-2012, 09:21 PM  
Sunset in the Cariboos
Posted By VTerlakyPhoto
Replies: 8
Views: 1,392
A gorgeous sunset in the Cariboo Mountains (B.C. - Canada) photographed from a helicopter:
Forum: Pentax K-r 12-23-2012, 01:57 PM  
K-r owners: still happy?
Posted By VTerlakyPhoto
Replies: 98
Views: 16,192
It all depends. I am a firm believer that your pictures are only as good as the weakest item in your equipment box (which, for most people, is themselves ;)). I have the K-r, but only have some old and cheap FA glass (the good old rattly plastic zooms...). Right now I find that the camera's capabilities way outclass the glass, so I'm mostly held back by the glass, not the camera. It then makes sense that my next upgrade path is glass. Once I have that all sorted then the glass will most likely be way better than the K-r, and then I'll get a new camera to match the new glass. If I already had the glass now, then I'd be looking at a K5-IIs in no time. So it all depends where you are at in terms of gear and what the weakest link is in your work process, and get that aspect upgraded/improved.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 12-13-2012, 06:54 PM  
Is This True?
Posted By VTerlakyPhoto
Replies: 13
Views: 1,997
Fungus, just like any other organism needs a few things to survive: food, air and water. Storing your lenses in a vacuum housing is a little impractical. Getting rid of the food (in this case oil/dust/algae etc. inside the lens) would probably mean taking the lens housing apart and cleaning it thoroughly, which is probably also a little impractical. So you're left with eliminating the last thing: water. Yep, it may be as easy as keeping your gear dry while in storage. Just make sure you put stuff away dry (leave out to dry for a while if necessary after use), and have a well sealed case or bag. In more moist climates it also helps to put a few dessicant packs (silica gel or small bag of uncooked rice) in with the gear, which will ensure a nice and dry environment.

As for firing the flash, I highly doubt that it'll release enough UV to actually kill fungus inside the lens. Fungicides (the actual concentrated chemicals) may help if you directly apply them to the inside of the lens, but no way is a bag of herbs going to do anything if you just put a pack of them next to your gear... ever seen pasta sauce grow mold? I rest my case.
Forum: Photo Critique 11-22-2012, 05:31 AM  
Nature Six Gulls
Posted By VTerlakyPhoto
Replies: 10
Views: 977
I like the simplicity here, the composition is great. My only nit would be that there isn't enough contrast between the gulls' head and the background, otherwise it's definitely a keeper :)
Forum: Photo Critique 10-20-2012, 08:30 AM  
Landscape Sorrento, view from the beach
Posted By VTerlakyPhoto
Replies: 7
Views: 1,010
Overall I like the shot (even the colour cast), but I would've liked to see the bottom of the wall.. that's all :)
Forum: Photo Critique 10-20-2012, 08:23 AM  
Black & White Escher?
Posted By VTerlakyPhoto
Replies: 12
Views: 1,048
Hmm, I'm going to be controversial here, and say that I find the person distracting. As is, in the B&W he blends in too much to be the central theme of the photo. I love the lines and dark/light shades created by the staircase though, they are in fact so strong that I find they are the main theme instead, so my mind is at unease as I keep being distracted by the person in the middle. I think this image would make a very strong abstract without him there...
On the other hand, I do see a way in which the person could really be the main theme here. Not sure what the colours in the staircase are, but make the model wear colours that would really stand out in this scene, and shoot in colour.

So in conclusions, I think here you are battling with the very strong staircase-theme itself, and you really have to work to make your main subject (the person) stand out - in the B&W he blends in too much and ends up battling for attention.
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests 09-17-2012, 06:31 PM  
The Path
Posted By VTerlakyPhoto
Replies: 0
Views: 735
The Path:
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 09-19-2012, 08:10 AM  
Pentax Ricoh's reply to your comments at our interview
Posted By VTerlakyPhoto
Replies: 302
Views: 49,990
The more I read reports about the FF from Photokina the more I feel that it's still at least 2 years away - but that it will eventually come... here is my reasoning.

1: In the first impression article from Photokina it was said that "it cannot be denied that there are good things to come" - i.e. everything is possible, but nothing is in the works
2: Here they say "we are looking at this particular product type more than eve" - i.e. looking at, not working on (in other words, they are considering to actually work on a product in the future)
3: Adam's own careful words " I did get the impression that the idea has been in the works for a while now" - nice, but it's an impression, not hard fact.. and also the "idea" has been in the works, not the product.

To me these combined show that either they are too careful in their wording and don't want to give anything away, or they have genuinely not started anything concrete yet in terms of development, and are only playing with the idea that sometime in the (maybe even near-) future they will start the development of a FF system. If they are too careful then I personally think it's a bad choice. People are already leaving the brand as is, but if they said that something is actually in the works they may retain many customers - and I don't think they are this bad at marketing. Which leaves me to believe in the second option, they simply have nothing in development at the moment, but they are going to start work on it relatively soon-ish - with maybe a FF camera in stores in about 2 years' time.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 09-17-2012, 01:41 PM  
Hands-On at Photokina and the Pentax Booth
Posted By VTerlakyPhoto
Replies: 93
Views: 15,723
Sigh, this is exactly what I found the most discouraging quote from the entire article. Translated into English this simply means "We have no plans currently *at all* for future products. We know that, save a few features, we're beat by the competition. We're hoping that, despite the pull to greener pastures, these few features will be enough for you to stick around, so sometime in the future we may at some point actually release new stuff that is competitive."

Sorry, but the line "...couldn't refute..." is simply a lawyers way to say nothing while sounding good. On the same note I cannot refute that I have money-printing pixies in my back-yard....
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