|
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
02-11-2014, 08:52 AM
|
| |
UPDATE: I'm been working late but I've installed PhotoMe and couldn't seem to get it to display the graphic for AE Metering. I found a thread that implied that it may be the version .82 , allegedly it works with the .79 (previous version). I will download the older version and see if that works. It does confirm however in the text that I used the center focus point as I thought I had.
I will note that I was practice shooting in my garage on Sunday with a model, friend :-), and turned off all of the lights and the DA 35mm 2.4 was able to lock focus (auto focus beam was on). I had my manual flash off-camera on a wireless trigger. I also used my DA 50mm, but not in complete darkness, with the garage lights on but somehow still had problems with it getting AF focus several times. I'll try to see what focus point I was using.
Thanks again to everyone
---------- Post added 02-11-14 at 11:01 AM ----------
yes, that's correct JinDesu. I'm starting to suspect the Sigma flash to be part of the problem but I can't remember completely when I switched from the 610 to the little Youngnuo. I just remember becoming very frustrated with the Sigma flash (for the second time at a low light event ) and switching it out for the manual flash. This particular flash seems to be really slow with syncing with the camera that focus has been achieved or it's just zooming the head really slow (if you have a zoom lens) not sure but there seems to be a lot of variables. lol
|
|
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
02-05-2014, 02:19 PM
|
| |
rawr I shot in RAW+ . Thanks for this awesome information. I've never heard of this software. I'll download it tonight on to my work laptop as it looks like PhotoMe only works on windows (or osx with parallels) and I don't run parallels on my Mac.
|
|
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
02-04-2014, 12:12 PM
|
| |
I had no UV filters on the lens. I only put them on when I store my lenses. I did have the auto-focus light turned on for the camera and I think the Sigma EF-610 has a focus assist beam also. I'm not sure I'll go in my closet and test if that is an accurate statement.
I think the EF-610 being really slow compacted the problem. My partner was shooting the K-30 with a Sigma EF-610 also and it was very painful. lol
I think I finally went to something like ISO 1250 still at F4 as I wanted to insure that I had enough DOF . I will post some example pics of the good and the disappointing. lol
I usually shoot my D7100 but I've hurt my rotator cuff so with the grip (3 batteries) and the heavy lens it's just too much, plus I love my K5-II and it's sealed nicely, just in case some overly liquid-happy person starts spilling things :-).
With regard to the level of darkness, it was probably comparable to a Steak House (like a Ruths Chris for those who have this in your area) but maybe not even that dark. I'll see if I can find a picture that gives a hint at the ambient light level. It was definitely not nightclub dark.
I will add that I was very impressed with the battery life . I started shooting at 7:00 pm and at midnight the battery indicator still wasn't at half. Wowzer !
|
|
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
02-02-2014, 10:14 PM
|
| |
I find your response unhelpful . I am well aware that I can manual focus a lens . I'm not sure why people respond to be sarcastic and unhelpful ; it seems like a waste of energy and time to behave in such a negative manner.
|
|
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
02-02-2014, 10:45 AM
|
| |
Thanks Matt! I'm sorry I should have been more clear. I was using the F4 lens to shoot my backdrop and had an off camera monolight and umbrella setup. I was actually shooting it at F8/200/125 those were great except for about 10 times, so I'm not really complaining about that as those misses could have very well been me not the camera. lol
The problem came when I went away from the backdrop and starting shooting the 35mm 2.4 lens at f4 moving thru the event. I also use the center focus point. Thanks for the thread link; I will read it today.
|
|
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
02-02-2014, 10:11 AM
|
| |
Hello,
I used my K5-ii for the first time in very low light last night at an event to photograph my friend's 50th Birthday party. I was disappointed with its ability to get focus in low light situations.
I have the camera set for AF-S , select focus, 11 points and in situations where I felt there was enough light it just hunted and pecked. The lens I used were the 35mm 2.4 and the Sigma DC 17-70 F4 macro HSM. I was shooting at f4/800/80 and then moved to f4/1250 I also had the Sigma DG-610 flash (with a Lightsphere cloud dome bounced up without the cover) which is so slow and unpredictable in p-ttl ( use I would move my flash exposure compensation +-). I was so frustrated that I wanted to throw it into the wall. Between the flash and the focus issues I missed a lot of shots or people would be standing with a smile frozen tight on their faces while my flash and lens took 5 mins to focus and fire. I finally put my yn-460ii manual flash on the camera; that did improve the flash cycle time but the camera still hunted for focus and manual flash is a lot of work (to me) in an event as such as I have to keep trying to determine how much power to give it, and quite frankly I'm not that good yet that it comes easy to me.:D
If I'm doing something wrong please let me know. I'm open to any suggestions and I thank you in advance.
|
|
Forum: Pentax Price Watch
11-29-2013, 07:48 AM
|
| |
Hi Adam! I ordered the body-only about 5 mins after you posted the link, from my iPhone ; I was over a friend's hanging out. Lmbo I said if the body went under $600 , I wouldn't think I'd just buy and sneak it into the house when it arrives. It's just a great deal; I had to give up my babied D90,3rd party grip, nikkor 18-105vr, 2 nikon batteries, 2 3rd party batteries, nikkor 18-55 and $650 to KEH just to get a discounted D7100 kit about 4 months ago! I love my D7100 but with the grip and all that other stuff on it , it gets heavy and I'm a woman . Additionally, CrossFit and I have managed to get me a rotator cuff injury so D7100 only comes out for studio type work, not travel or walk-about plus to be completely honest I think my K-30 may be weather-sealed better than my d7100 so I'm really excited about the K-5ii.
Let me know if I need to send you my order number as I'd like to insure you receive credit for the order. Thx
Now, what do I do with my K-30? Suggestions :-)
|
|
Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
11-17-2013, 10:31 AM
|
| |
Thank you both very much! I suspected that was the problem as I noticed when I was about 6 - 8 feet from the subject would get what I expected when I noticed the strange behavior and started using the FEC because it was really in manual mode ,and not sending ttl just full power . I have flashes with more control in manual than this one and I wanted a p-ttl flash so back it goes, hopefully there will be something I can get on a Black Friday special with p-ttl.
|
|
Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
11-16-2013, 11:11 AM
|
| |
Hello!
I purchased a DG ST 610 for both myself and my partner and we are both getting weird and unpredictable results in P-TTL. Does this flash not work in p-ttl on the K-30 ? It's very frustrating ! If it doesn't work I will return them to Adorama and get something that does...I'm no strobe master but I've never had these issues not even with my yn-565ex on my D7100...it just works reliably so I'm starting to suspect something is really wrong.
Thank you in advance.
|
|
Forum: Pentax Price Watch
10-25-2013, 03:58 PM
|
| |
Hi Adam!
I shared out the link and was wondering if you could PM me a code, so I can complete my order tonight before the show specials end as I have some items in my cart that are part of that event.
Thx
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
08-17-2013, 01:29 PM
|
| |
Thank you I will contact the seller
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
08-17-2013, 12:28 PM
|
| |
Hello! I purchased this lens recently to use for shooting a fundraiser golf tournament. I'm for the most part a Nikon shooter but I've recently fallen in love with the Pentax cameras, also. Because this was outside and it's been raining a lot here, I decided to use my K30 (K30 cheaper to replace than a D7100, though I wouldn't be happy in the least if I had to replace my K30). Anyway the longest lens I own is the 50-200 Pentax and I didn't really won't to spend the money for 55-300.
I took a few shots with the 100-300, prior to the day, of my dogs and it seemed fine for what I needed. However, on yesterday I witnessed some super strange things. It was as if at about 250mm this lens just refused to focus. Pictures would have this strange painterly, motion blur though shutter speeds were up over 1/1000s. Maybe it's me but would someone be willing to look at some pics before I contact the seller about this lens. I'm not sure what to think. I will note that I did not have a lens hood as I ordered it but it has not arrived.I tried manual focus and it wouldn't work either. It was an overcast day. I also played with it a bit yesterday at home with a sports drink bottle and it seemed to be working more as expected and able to autofocus and manual focus at 300mm. I also tried the K30 I purchased for my partner as a Bday gift for my test yesterday and same results as my K30 so it's not the camera.Is there so trick with the lens that I'm missing.
Maybe over the next few days I can do some more testing. I'll take any testing suggestions.
EXIF file 1 1/1000s +1.7 ev 270mm ISO 1250 f6.3
EXIF file 2 1/1600s +1.3 ev 300mm ISO 1250 f5.6
EXIF file 3 1/2000s +.70 ev 155mm ISO 1250 f5.6
Thanks in advance for any feedback
attaching soc jpeg
|
|
Forum: Pentax Q
05-25-2013, 10:03 PM
|
| |
Thank you barondla! I took the Q but they had the stage blocked for a long distance so the reach of the 02 was not enough. So I decided to just take some creative shots of me and my friend and experiment with the camera. Maybe I'll post some of those. I will probably head out tomorrow (today) to more music in the park, not sure yet but if I do I will try your suggestions.
|
|
Forum: Pentax Q
05-25-2013, 12:08 PM
|
| |
My Q arrived Wednesday in time for me to charge it up and and take it out to a concert on Friday night. Larger interchangeable lens cams like my GH2 and Nex-5 makes event staff "nervous" and they stop you from taking pics. I purchased the Q because it is so small it is not taken serious.
Anyway, I didn't have time to do testing prior so these are my first photos ever with the camera.
I noticed on the pictures of Chrisette that in auto mode with CW metering I was still getting over-exposed so I had to bring the exposure down 1.5 stops in post. I wasn't happy with my picture taking during her set. In hind-sight, I probably should have gone all manual or in to Shutter priority and moved the EC down a stop.
The next set was BWB (Rick Braun, Kirk Whalum, Norman Brown) I moved to TV at I think ss=60 ISO=3200 on all and spot metering and I feel those were better. I also shot some with the bold monochrome. In post, I added some grain and clarity.
Today, I'm headed to another outdoor concert...anyone have recommendations about settings, I would love it if you gave me some. I currently only have the 02 lens. I don't really want to take my K-30 or my D90 today.
Thank you in advance for any and all feedback.
|
|
Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
03-25-2013, 12:34 PM
|
| |
Thanks Gentlemen for your time and responses. I wanted to provide an update with my decision. I decided to get the DA WR 50-200.:)
I will probaly take my 18-55 non-wr in the event I would like to go wider but keep the 50-200mm on camera as my primary lens and shoot it at the 50mm range for normal view stuff. I think this keeps me better protected since I will be around the beach, pools, and a bunch of drunk people with liquid in their hands. :lol:
|
|
Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
03-22-2013, 05:36 PM
|
| |
Thanks VAGRANT10 ! You are so right about if I had one system. I'm a techie (for a living) and electronic stuff gets me! lol
I also have a Sony Nex5 kit which I will sell on ebay because I like my K01 better!
With regard to Nikon, I own a lot of Nikon film cameras which I still shoot and I love the ergonomics and CLS of the Nikon systems so...I don't see us breaking up anytime soon ! lol
I am however enjoying my new found admiration for Pentax. A friend of mine gave me his Pentax 67 about a yr ago, I haven't shot it as that thing is massive! lol
I have a K01 also and would use my 18-55 on it. I wish that I had purchasedthe 18-55 as a WR lens in the beginning but that put the K30 out of the price range I was willing to spend at that time. In the end I absolutely agree with you that I want to add a WR lens to the K30 kit, it just make sense.
Thank you for sharing your "Travel Kit" as that helps me. For this trip I probably just want to take some candids of me and my friends, some photos of events on the resort in the day and at night, maybe one or two nighttime long exposures of the beach (like the attached pic. taken with the K30 & kit 18-55. This was my first try at night long exposure not the best but I want to practice when I can), some pics of tours of the kitchen or stuff like that. I'm not a big landscape photog but I do own the Sigma 10-20 in Nikon F-mount already.
|
|
Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
03-22-2013, 03:50 PM
|
| |
Hi GlenG ! Sorry if I was not clear, the D90 is back ! lol I was saying that in September the D90 was shipped to Nikon for a back focus issue which in my opinion they did not fix but certainly charged me $250 as though the did, and I had an event that I shoot annually so I purchased the K30 at that time. The D90 actually came back a week after the event lol
1. We're going to Cancun (but probably won't venture too much from the resort area)
I may get a used Sigma 70-300 apo dg maco they are cheap and will give me the extra reach. I want longer on vacation because there will be some performances and I'll be farther away than I was with the acrobat picture. Thanks for the complement.
2. So maybe that used sigma and a normal prime, perhaps, I like to 40 2.8 very much but inside it seem a bit too tight but I take it and be okay
3. I have a Bday event to shoot and I'm thinking I'd like to shoot the K30 vs my D90. my D90 is just heavier I have a grip on it and this thing and that thing. lol I love the camera but thinking I like to use it more now for studio shots or paid environmental portraits that type of thing, if that makes sense to you.
|
|
Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
03-22-2013, 02:36 PM
|
| |
VisualDarkness here is a photo I took with the FA 28-70 about 30 mins after I baptized it and my K30 in the koi pond. I will add that we were in Punta Cana and it is very humid there so it took a day for the lens to dry fully as under certain circumstances it would fog. lol
The field of view of this lens on the K30 still did not give me quite enough reach as we went to a performance and fully zoomed I was able to get this shot of the performer but it was a small room. I used one of my small nikon flashes in manual to get this. I like challenging myself to see how things work.
|
|
Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
03-22-2013, 10:57 AM
|
| |
Ok Thanks! I'll add that to my list of possibles.
|
|
Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
03-22-2013, 10:28 AM
|
| |
Yes, I am aware of that. However, it is sealed pretty darn good without it. On my last trip a few months ago, I took the K30 with the 18-55 and the old FA 28-70 F4. I had my K30 w/FA 28-70 on my R-strap hanging down. I was screwing around in the resort's lobby and I stepped into the KOI pond. The lens went in the water up to the camera mount. I kept the camera point downward, dried it off ,with my always in bag, microfiber cloth and continued shooting the rest of the night and for the rest of the trip. :-) I wouldn't mind having a WR lens and will more than likely add one to the collection but as previously stated, I still see myself as a Nikon shooter and I would probably buy something for my Nikon before I shelled out $400+ for a slow zoom 18-135 just for WR.
|
|
Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
03-22-2013, 10:21 AM
|
| |
Thanks bpv_UW ! I started thinking along those lines when I saw this data laid out. Really good suggestion.
|
|
Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
03-22-2013, 08:49 AM
|
| |
Hello All!
This is my first post but I've been enjoying looking at your pictures and reading posts here for months. I was wondering if any of you would help me make a decision.
I consider myself a Nikon shooter as the majority of my equipment is Nikon and I love the system. I purchased a K30 last September, while my D90 was being fixed, to shoot at an annual outdoor party we look forward to attending every year. I picked it over the D5K because of all of the weatherproof sealing as this was an outdoor event and it is known to rain for at least 30 mins during this event. I didn't get the WR lens in the kit because I had a budget. Nevertheless, it all worked out and I came to really enjoy the IQ and handling of this camera. So much so that when the K01 got to a reasonable price I purchased one . Not trying to start a debate but I loved the design from the beginning; I saw it first in a Bloomingdale's catalogue. I may pick up another K01!
Now on to my question...I am having a hard time deciding what lens I should purchase for my K30 to take on vacation in 14 days and would like some help. I do have a budget which makes the 18-135wr off limits. In Pentax glass I currently have the 18-55 non-wr, the 50 1.7 sma (manual not taking this), the 40 2.8 pancake, and the FA 28-70 F4. I'm thinking about the 55-300 DAL because I have no reach with my Pentax lens (sometimes there are places where the feet can not zoom ). I would also like the lens to be something I can use for shooting events, if possible to have my cake and eat it too! Additionally, I'm thinking I may want to add the 35 2.4 or the 50 DA 1.8 but they seem really close to the 40 2.8 xs in focal length.
Per Lightroom I am the following type of shooter: (only showing the focal lengths with the largest numbers and I will note that I also own 2 m4u cameras so I have to account for them in that 18-45 focal range as I only own 2 lens for them a 20 1.7 and 18-45 zoom)
654 @ 18
2080 @ 20
2367 @ 35
569 @ 45
674 @ 50
864 @ 70
Thanks
|
