|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
07-17-2020, 08:23 AM
|
| |
Neowise over Lake Erie about 1.5 hr. after sunset. 645Z, 80-160mm
 |
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
03-16-2020, 12:19 PM
|
| |
Rob:
I'm glad you're happy with the lens. As you know, I wrote a very favorable review some time ago after comparing the zoom to primes at 150, 200 and 300. I wrote the review in part in response to a terrible, and not explainable, review of the lens left by a very disgruntled poster.
I own all the lenses mentioned in this thread and the concern over the coronavirus has resulted in a lot of free time. So I tested: the 150-300mm zoom at 200mm; the Pentax A 200mm; the Pentax FA 200mm; the Pentax 67 200mm and the Fuji G 100-200 at 200mm. All at f/11; lighting conditions varied and I did not adjust WB. All were processed in ACR with default sharpening. I did not adjust for any CA; however, the Fuji corrections for the G lens are baked into the file. The crop is of an isopropanol bottle that happened to be on a desk (not virus related but a certain irony). The text on the label gives a good illustration of sharpness and contrast. My overall conclusion: there is little to choose between these lenses. The A is the weakest and FA and Fuji the best, but the differences are so slight as to be almost meaningless for real applications. An interesting effect that I don't understand: the Fuji and FA files show some sort of chromatic aliasing or aberration in the text that is absent in the files from the other lenses. All the text should be black, but the two mentioned lenses render some of the text red or blue. Each image of the bottle is about 600 pixels (native) in width and so represents about 2 inches at 300ppi on a print of 28 inches if all 8300 pixels in the file were used. Fuji GFX 50r was used for all images, using EFSC. I put them in the album linked below.
Tom
Thomas's Album: 645 150-300mm vs. 200mm primes - PentaxForums.com |
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
07-10-2019, 07:25 AM
|
| |
I have been using Pentax cameras since I acquired a Spotmatic in 1973 and at some point have used nearly all the MF bodies. I currently live along the shore of Lake Ere and my photos often involve the lake. I belong to a local arts organization that has an annual "Studio Tour". Typically I sell prints during this event, this year I had a book available of photographs taken within a 2-mile radius of Dunkirk, NY, a lakeside community. The photos span over a decade and were taken either with a Pentax 67, 67II, 645, 645N, 645D or 645Z. So I thought this might be of interest to the forum members. If you follow the link and then click "read now", you can see every image.
Tom
Cooler by the Lake | MagCloud |
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
02-07-2017, 06:37 AM
|
| |
I wrote one of the reviews and my thoughts remain the same. The lens is even better with a 645Z since the high ISO capabilities allow higher shutter speeds. Recent example attached.
|
|
Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
04-05-2018, 07:12 AM
|
| |
Tall ship on Lake Erie. It was participating in events to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the U.S. victory over the British in the Battle of Lake Erie. Distortion caused by the long distance involved gives a ghostly impression.
 _IGP9295 by tsjanik47, on Flickr
|
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
12-18-2015, 06:13 AM
|
| |
| |
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
11-09-2015, 02:52 PM
|
| |
Bokeh with the 120mm FA. I have seen comments that acknowledge the sharpness of the 120, but consider the bokeh somewhat harsh. Here is an example I consider lovely. No PS other than curves and a bit of vibrance, this is how this tree (Japanese Maple?) looks.
Tom
 _IMG2927 copy by tsjanik47, on Flickr
|
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
07-06-2017, 07:16 PM
|
| |
Eastern screech owl in the hollow of a silver maple. I'm really excited to have this appear in the July issue of Outdoor Photographer:
645Z, 600mm A*.
|
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
05-03-2017, 04:57 AM
|
| |
My thoughts exactly about the 400 and 150-300mm zoom, both sharp, light and easy to handhold. The 600 is a great lens, but so susceptible to vibration that its use requires considerable care; it's also so heavy that I find myself using it only when the 400 simply is not long enough.
Here are a few using the 600mm:
 _IMG4661 copy by tsjanik47, on Flickr
 _IMG3741 copy by tsjanik47, on Flickr
 _IGP1148 by tsjanik47, on Flickr
|
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
01-04-2017, 12:00 PM
|
| |
| |
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
01-01-2017, 01:06 PM
|
| |
Thanks for the insightful report Carsten. Another option for 300mm is the 67 300mm f/4 M*. The lens is universally regarded as excellent and is a different optical design than the 645 counterparts.
Shutter shake is a serious limiting factor with long lenses at slower shutter speeds; e.g., I've found better results using the 400mm mounted on a tripod at the body rather than at the lens mount. I also built a pretty elaborate lens stabilization system for the 600mm which suffers terribly from shutter shake at slow shutter speed. Image below, and I sometimes add a Manfrotto long lens support to this as well.
 _IGP1179 by tsjanik47, on Flickr
|
|
Forum: Winners' Showcase
07-09-2016, 06:11 AM
|
| |
Rapidly approaching front at the Lake Erie shore produces a microburst. The strong downdraft of wind distorts the edge of the clouds.
|
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
07-15-2016, 08:02 AM
|
| |
I have a 3rd party K/645 adapter that had reflection problems. I glued the fuzzy half of black Velcro inside and that helped tremendously.
|
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
03-03-2016, 05:55 AM
|
| |
Sharp telephoto shots can be a challenge. Zoomed live view should allow you to determine if focus or wind induced movement is a cause. The shutter opening is a real problem at slower speeds, note Ross' comment about using the 400mm mounted on a tripod at the body rather than the lens. That has been my experience as well. I built a pretty elaborate long lens support, which is effective, but a pain to use(if interested it's in my review of the 600mm A*). The cropped shot below was taken without that support with the 600mm + 1.4x at 1/200s. It's acceptably sharp and I used a technique I learned while using the Pentax 67: I compose, tighten the head and lean my body weight on the camera using your hands and mass to dampen the shutter vibrations. This works most times for the really troubling speeds of about1/30-1/500s)
 _IGP1004 by tsjanik47, on Flickr
|
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
02-15-2016, 08:20 PM
|
| |
Just my experience: I have an Acratech Ultimate and a Arca Z1. I find it very difficult to use the Acratech with the 120 macro and other heavy lenses because of creep; it's fine if the lens is not heavy and the camera is not tilted. The Z is a much better head with heavy lenses and is my first choice.
|
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
01-19-2016, 07:23 PM
|
| |
I should sell some photo equipment and use the funds to replace some windows and doors. Frost on a storm door, 645Z, 120mm FA (amazing lens, this image is still sharp at 300%):
 _IMG3152 copy by tsjanik47, on Flickr
|
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
01-06-2016, 07:32 PM
|
| |
I seem to have exceeded my storage here, so I was unable to load my test shots. I compared the 150-300 to the 150mm FA, 200mm FA and the 67 300mm M*. Based on this single test at f/11, I decided the zoom gave up little to the other lenses. The lens is very light and easy to carry, so I don't hesitate to use it rather than the others; it is slower, but at f/11 that point is moot. My experience with this lens is more favorable than some of the reviews I have read. Take a chance. You can always resell if not happy
|
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
01-05-2016, 08:30 PM
|
| |
The 67 300mm M* is excellent and very sharp even at f/4, but DOF is very shallow. I have no experience with either of the 645 versions, but I do have the 645 150-300 and, based on my tests, at f/8 it's competitive with the 67 300mm. The 300 wins in the bokeh catergory, but it's big and heavy. An example:
 3-12_IGP7231_2903 by tsjanik47, on Flickr
Tom
|
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
06-09-2015, 07:43 PM
|
| |
I have a Z and D and I agree with all the comments above. At 1-200 ISO, little to choose between the files. Color rendering is slightly different, but I have no preference for either. Live view is a huge plus. I have a series on Flicker of a 645D, Z, and Sigma DPM2 (which is in the same league); first in the series is here (opened in ACR, no adjustments, auto AWB with mixed light; Z did the best with the orange of the daylily):
 IMGP0788 cropcopy copy by tsjanik47, on Flickr
.
|
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
05-26-2015, 07:14 PM
|
| |
An older shot. Approaching front, note the water spray on the lake surface, directly at shore.
 _IGP4185_6021 copy by tsjanik47, on Flickr
|
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
05-18-2015, 06:18 PM
|
| |
| |
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
01-20-2015, 08:34 PM
|
| |
Hi Dan:
I have the A and FA versions. Both, in my experience, are underrated. Both are compact, and very sharp. The 120 is at different level, but the 200 is worth having.
Tom
Here's an example:
 Untitled_Panorama2 by tsjanik47, on Flickr
|
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
01-21-2015, 05:48 AM
|
| |
Yes, I should explained. It's a shot of Lake Erie taken just as the sun sets. The ice above the surface of the lake is still receiving direct sunlight.
Here's a crop:
 cropUntitled_Panorama2 by tsjanik47, on Flickr
|
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
01-02-2015, 08:25 PM
|
| |
| |
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
01-01-2015, 09:33 PM
|
| |
Undecided whether to crop the shoreline from this; I love the light at the horizon. Lake Erie at sunset:
 _IGP7361_3290 copy by tsjanik47, on Flickr
|
