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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
11-26-2019, 08:57 AM
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So tempting... :p
Trying to decide whether to get a better lens (DA* 55 secondhand) or body (currently using a K5)
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
11-19-2019, 11:29 AM
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IMO the Samyang/Rokinon 14 F2.8 is a great lens to start with, if you don't already have any around that focal range. It has no auto focus, which shouldn't matter for your intended usage, and is relatively cheap.
If you camera has the astrotracer function built in - fantastic! If not, after a few sessions you might be looking into getting some sort of mount that would allow you to increase the exposure time without star-trails.
A steady tripod is a MUST.
Be prepared for post-processing work :D
Edit:
Here are the resources I found helpful:
Stellarium web: https://stellarium-web.org/
I use this to help predict what I would likely to see at what time and facing what direction.
Find a dark location:
https://darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html#4/39.00/-98.00
http://www.cleardarksky.com/csk/ |
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-26-2019, 10:27 AM
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DA15? Although not sure if it's outside of your budget or not.
DA35 is also a solid and very cost-effective choice, which I currently use with my K-5. Although I'm not sure if it's wide enough for your landscape photography needs.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
04-18-2019, 09:59 AM
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Like it! Gives me a calm and peaceful feeling.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
04-18-2019, 05:29 AM
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Thanks for the comments :) glad you liked them!
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
04-15-2019, 09:12 AM
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From our trip to DC in the beginning of April. Not the usual cherry blossom pictures :)
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-18-2019, 09:41 AM
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I have the DFA-100 WR and A-50 macro lenses, using them with K-5.
Some pros and cons for each:
DFA100:
+ WR
+ subject distance
+ has AF <- doesn't matter much for macro, but I found this lens is also great for just everyday shooting
+ does 1:1 magnification without adapter
- size <- relatively speaking
A50:
+ size: small but feels solid
+ MF only and has a long throw, a joy to use for macro
+ cheaper than the DFA100
+ did I mention that the MF on this lens is absolutely fantastic to use :lol:
- only goes to 0.5x magnification
- not WR
Hope this helps.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-18-2019, 07:50 AM
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Would be good to know what is your primary objective with the macro lens?
Insects, flowers, etc? Do you need 1:1 magnification?
Budget?
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Forum: Photographic Technique
12-20-2018, 08:59 AM
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Just wanted to chime in based on my somewhat limited astrophotography experience :)
1. What is your goal, photographing DSO or wide-field milky way?
Looks like you have lens/telescope in the range of 300mm which would rule out wide-field-milky-way-kind-of-shots.
From what I gathered, DSO photography is much much more difficult than milky way shots and, in general, need better gear and post-processing skills.
2. Az-El mount is not particularly good in terms of tracking, which you will need if you intend to take, say 100 photos and stack them later.
You will probably soon find out that at 300mm, you won't be able to make a long enough exposure before star trails become obvious, which means lots of photos need to be taken so you could stack them later to get a cleaner/better image, which means a somewhat precise tracking is a must...
3. A good GEQ mount is expensive :( however, I would suggest research those tracking mounts/devices designed for DSLR + lens or small/compact telescope.
The following come to mind: Pentax OGPS-1, iOptron Skytracker (or something like that, they have many models and the names get confusing very soon), etc.
Those are generally very portable, which means you could take them to a camping trip or whatever, and the setup processes are usually much simpler.
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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
10-25-2018, 08:12 AM
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Just got email from BH, I'm in North Carolina, will have sales tax after November 1!
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
09-05-2018, 06:27 PM
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Post processed in LR :lol:
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
05-22-2018, 09:07 AM
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
05-22-2018, 05:41 AM
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I just recently got a new-to-me D FA 100 macro and am loving it so far. Of course the macro is excellent, but I also love it for landscape!
I need to stop looking at this thread, can't get the numbers 31, 43, and 77 out of my head....:rolleyes:
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
05-17-2018, 11:55 AM
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Like the composition a lot! Great shot!
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
05-17-2018, 05:37 AM
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Thanks all!
It sure is hard to tell whether it's a sunrise or sunset :)
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
05-17-2018, 05:36 AM
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Thanks all!
It sure is hard to tell whether it's a sunrise or sunset :)
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
05-16-2018, 09:36 AM
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Sunrise shot from the balcony of our hotel room :lol:
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
05-04-2018, 05:50 AM
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While I anxiously wait for the 100mm macro to arrive, I took the A-50 macro out for a spin :lol:
I'm still learning how to post process black & white pictures (watched a how-to video on Ansel Adams zone system).
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Forum: Sold Items
05-02-2018, 09:32 AM
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PM sent regarding DFA100 Macro.
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Forum: Photographic Technique
04-16-2018, 05:59 AM
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From my limited experience, the longest shutter time you can achieve with the widest lens you have (15mm) is probably around 25 seconds, before you start to see noticeable star trails in the image, which you do not want for a milky way shot.
If you can get to a site with minimum light pollution, 25 seconds is definitely long enough for milky way shots, without an astrotracer. You might have to increase the ISO to 1600ish, since the DA15 is only at F/4. Play around with different ISO and shutter time to get the best results.
Good luck, and don't forget to post back your results :)
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
01-18-2018, 12:33 PM
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Enjoying the snow day here in North Carolina, the DA35 isn't WR so I took a risk :cool:
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-10-2018, 07:23 AM
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Glad I found this thread.
While I was happy with my K5, especially considering how much I paid for it :) but once I started shooting my newborn son I began to realize the shortcoming of its AF performance.
Looks like it's time to upgrade it to either K3, K70, or KP?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-11-2017, 05:35 PM
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Would you consider the Northern Light as faint light sources though?
I have seen some strong activity right beside a full moon and it matches the full moon's brightness without problem! The milkway can't do that... it won't be visible at all in that case.
Of course I only had one chance to photograph the Northern Lights (with Samyang 14 f/2.8) so I can't compare results, would be interesting to know how much a bigger 'clear aperture' improves the photo during this kind of scenario though...
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-11-2017, 01:18 PM
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A lot of good advice, I want to add that don't be too busy with the camera and forget to enjoy the Northern Lights ... It is breathtakingly magnificent!!!
Based on my limited experience:
Practice before hand as much as possible: focus the lens to infinity during daytime, manual focus if possible, use a tape or something to lock the focus ring in place, so you won't have to fiddle with it at night.
Depends on the activity and strength of the light, it can be moving/changing shape very very quickly or some what slowly... they are unpredictable.
Look for interesting foreground composition ahead of time. Scout your locations.
Be quick to react, if the lights are changing shape very rapidly, and you have the camera set to, let's say, 15 second exposure, then the outcome will probably not be so desirable...
If this is a rare chance/vacation, I would almost suggest to set the camera on interval shooting (you can end up with a timelapse video too) while you sit and enjoy the scene...
Good luck!
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
12-04-2017, 01:00 PM
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I would like to nominate this photo
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