Forum: Photography Articles
05-07-2016, 12:08 AM
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This a very important subject that should be discussed periodically in forums of different hobbies around the internet.
It's so easy nowadays to get caught up in consumerism and spending, and I feel that a humorous wake up call such as this one is a good way to have people questioning their behaviour and focus on the objectives that really matter.
Ric, the guy wandering the streets with a single body and a single fixed-focus lens
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-29-2015, 02:09 PM
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-29-2015, 01:40 PM
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Yes, Ricoh will probably invest most of it's efforts in devoloping the FF system but that's not where I'm heading.
I used an E-M5 for a few months this year and, even though I didn't really get along with the EVF, I got irrevocably accustomed to the smallness and lightness of both body and 1.7/20mm lens.
Presently torn between the 100d+24mm and the X-T1+27mm,
R
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-29-2015, 12:56 PM
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This is my third DA21mm; I keep forgetting that it's field of view doesn't doesn't work for me.
I really like Pentax bodies but I won't be using one again until they make a lens that suits my needs
My K-5IIs was shipped to it's new owner this morning with the A2.8/28mm included as a free bonus...
R
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-27-2015, 01:43 PM
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One can of course use edge softness creatively.
I guess that either your friend enjoys the "look" he's getting from those (soviet) lenses or he isn't very demanding.
R
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-27-2015, 02:29 AM
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The normal focal lengths (40 to 55mm) require strong composition/balance and a good sense of perspective to make a picture work.
Looking at your pictures I also feel that you should work a bit more on selecting the main subject and finding a way to make it stand out.
Elect your subject and then move around it looking for a good "framing" taking photos from different angles.
Have a look here: You Tube |
src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z7g--AKvRFg?controls=1" allowfullscreen> |
This talk on composition is also a must: You Tube |
src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zwk3YFknyNA?controls=1" allowfullscreen> |
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-27-2015, 02:23 AM
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-26-2015, 11:21 AM
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I have a feeling that we'll soon arrive to the conclusion that most existing lenses under-perform with a full-frame sensor...but I'm just guessing.
If you're going that way (FF) and don't mind focusing manually get Zeiss or Voigtländer lenses.
R
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-21-2015, 05:58 AM
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Everyone who participates on a webforum will always be expressing an opinion (often his own) and it always puzzles me whenever someone feels threatened or offended.
But I always try to support my views; in this case both by elaborating on technical an aesthetic/artistic/conceptual reasons and by providing a handfull (of a million possible) examples (photographers).
In fact I don't know of a single street photographer who uses a short-tele for most of his work.
It would be interesting if you could give an example.
R
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-21-2015, 04:25 AM
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It's is nonetheless my honest opinion.
For the reasons I have stated: short-teles "compress" perspective ("steal" depth) and isolate the subject and place observer out of the scene, while ultra-wides distort too much both geometrically and also the perspective (relative distance between objects in different planes).
R ---------- Post added 21-09-15 at 12:30 ---------- P.S.: I'm sure that some will disagree but I also believe that one should use a narrow aperture / wide depth of field on street photography.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-21-2015, 02:43 AM
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I almost never ever crop; I get most of my pleasure in photography from framing and composition.
R ---------- Post added 21-09-15 at 10:48 ----------
I don't agree.
And as I've mentioned earlier, you'll find that most people (from Cartier-Breton to Koudelka to Palha to Buscató) doing street photography tend to have a preference for either 28mm, 35mm or something between 40-to-50mm.
On an APS-C body this means 18mm, 24mm or 28-to-35mm.
I would use the 50mm or the 70mm for portraits (street or other) but not for street photography as they "compress" perspective (reduce the relative distance between objects in different lpanes) and tend not to include much of the street in the frame...
It's a good starting point if you are not comfortable with shooting people close but not adequate for "good" pictures.
R
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-19-2015, 01:05 AM
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Thanks, and apologies to the original poster for the off topic...
R
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-18-2015, 01:21 PM
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It's just too big and heavy... I wan't something portable and inconspicuous, and I don't need AF.
I'll try to snatch a Contax from ebay.
R
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-18-2015, 11:05 AM
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I think that Pentax really needs to produce a DA lens that has a field of view equivalent to that of a 35mm on full frame.
I've bought the DA 21mm with the K10d but sold both because the lens was too wide, then a K-5II with another DA 21mm and sold both again; and now, after using a 7d with the 24mm pancake and then an E-M5 with a 20mm pancake I have bought yet another DA 21mm with a K-5IIs...
I keep coming back because I like the bodies but the DA 21mm is just too wide (and not particularly good).
R
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
09-18-2015, 07:03 AM
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The dim-ness of the K-3 is very much dependent on the maximum aperture of the lens you are using; an f/1.4 55mm yields a much brighter image than an f/3.2 21mm.
Mirrorless cameras like the Sony don't have an optical viewfinder like the K-3 but a little LCD (TV) screen so the birghtness is constant..
R
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Forum: Photographic Technique
09-15-2015, 01:36 AM
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One of NGO's phtographers (Alan Harvey or Abell) once shot an assignment on dirt track racing with a Leica M and some wide and standard primes.
I think that even though there are more adequate lenses for a certain genres, it's always good to challenge ourselves.
The "wrong" lens can actually make us "see" and "think" harder and deeper into a subject and the results might very well be much more interesting than "taking the easy way".
I don't use zooms for that reason.
R
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-14-2015, 06:10 AM
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After my disapointment with the SMC A2.8/28mm (image quality wise) I am considering the SMC A2.8/24mm and intend to use it as you mention: hyperfocal, TAv.
R
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-14-2015, 05:58 AM
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-14-2015, 05:36 AM
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Yes, I had already spotted the mistake and have just corrected it.
The FA24mm is a big, bulky and ugly/shouty monster of a lens.
Not the inconspicuous and light lens one should use for street photography.
R
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-14-2015, 05:23 AM
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During the film days (FF body) I was using a 35mm lens most of the time (after trying a 28mm) but also carried a 25mm (which I hardly ever used), a 50mm and an 80-200mm zoom.
You'll find that most people doing street photography tend to have a preference for either 28mm, 35mm or something between 40-to-50mm.
On an APS-C body this means 18mm, 24mm or 28-to-35mm.
The 21mm (31.5mm FOV on FF) that I have been using sits somewhere in the midle of the two aforementioned wides but I find it too wide for my taste so recently I got myself an SMC A2.8/28mm (42mm FOV on FF).
Unfortunately the performance is way below my expectations (soft/weird edge performance even when stopped down to f/11).
I think that a 35mm lens on an APS-C body (52.5 mm FOV on FF) is too narrow for street photography.
The DA21mm, FA28mm or FA31mm are probably your best options.
R
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-14-2015, 01:20 AM
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I think it's fair to conclude that this is not an isolated problem and that, even though my copy could be worse than some, the best exhibit also poor performance.
Thanks for all the comments.
Ric ---------- Post added 14-09-15 at 09:21 ----------
Thanks for the tip but I often use TAv and sometimes AV as well.
Ric
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-13-2015, 06:24 AM
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Unfortunately I sold the 2,8/25mm (along with the 1,4/85mm and the 4/80-200mm) which would have been just right FOV wise.
I will try to get one from e-bay.
Cheers,
Ric
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-13-2015, 05:13 AM
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If that's your best contribution you might as well be quiet.
R ---------- Post added 13-09-15 at 13:15 ----------
The lens in question is an SMC Pentax-A 2.8/28mm (see topic title).
R ---------- Post added 13-09-15 at 13:23 ----------
I do shoot architecture from time to time but that is not the subject I will be photographing with this lens...
That image looks good but unfortunately I have no use for an 85mm lens.
It is quite unacceptable, that is why I started this topic.
I wish to know if this is a lens problem or if my copy is not functioning properly.
I need a high performing lens with 24mm or 28mm focal length for a Pentax body, preferably manual focus for the reason stated above.
Cheers,
Ric
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-13-2015, 04:44 AM
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Thanks, that was useful, although I have on intention of "adapting" to a lens' shortcomings.
Cameras and lenses, like screwdrivers, are just tools and if they don't do their job properly they have to go.
Earlier this year I used a Canon 28mm pancake on a 7D and a Panasonic 20mm pancake on an OM-D EM-5 and got considerably better results than what I get with this lens...
The DA 21mm is not as bad as the A 28mm but it's too wide for my taste.
R
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-13-2015, 04:23 AM
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