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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-07-2014, 11:58 PM
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Announced how soon? About when will the 70-200 and 135-380 be available?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-07-2014, 07:59 AM
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-05-2014, 12:11 PM
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Would you mind listing them? Very interested to see what you guys with 'small' quality collections have. Thanks.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-04-2014, 05:40 PM
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Drum roll please..... I have 1! I do love my 18-135 though.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-01-2014, 04:44 PM
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They are way too closely matched.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
01-28-2014, 08:02 PM
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I'm anxious to see what's announced. I would be all over 10-30 and 135-380 if they are both DC WR.
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
01-24-2014, 12:32 PM
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A couple things come to mind. I am using a K-50 but I'm going to assume they are very similar if not the same.
The meter is set to run for a specific amount of time and then turn off to conserve battery. I can set mine in the menu to run for either 3, 10, or 30 sec at a time. If you haven't been continuously shooting try half depressing the shutter button and it will turn the meter back on and you can make your corrections.
As far as the viewfinder goes I have the electronic level activated so that shows up in place of the exposure meter. Try tilting the camera slightly left and right while looking through the viewfinder and see if it changes? You can also change those settings in the menu if you would rather have the meter.
Hope this helps.
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Forum: Photo Critique
01-18-2014, 09:56 PM
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dms, yours definitely looks better than mine! That shot was at a pretty extreme angle through the plexiglass which is why it looks more subdued than the rest, I'm surprised it was as clear as it was and not distorted. This may be a stupid question but what exactly does sharpening do and when is it best used? My Lightroom skills have all been self learned through trial and error, still have a long ways to go.
I'll try dropping my shutter speed next time and experiment but I still feel like I'll be pushing it to drop my ISO below 1600. I had to greatly increase exposure and whites to those shots at 1600 and 3200 in Lightroom to have anywhere near a usable shot. Maybe that's not a big deal and that's what the software is for, I don't know. I'm using 1/3 EV stops for aperture and shutter speed and full stops for ISO, does anyone recommend using 1/2 or 1/3 ISO stops? I've read a couple places that those intermediate ISO values can have more noise than the next full stop above them. Opinions?
Thanks again guys, I greatly appreciate your feedback.
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Forum: Photo Critique
01-18-2014, 04:37 PM
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Had the K-50 about a month, done mostly landscape type photography so far. I'm a paramedic and did a medic standby at a hockey game last night and took the opportunity to shoot the game. I must say I'm addicted to sports photography now, I had a blast trying to catch the action. All shots are with my K-50 and 18-135 WR lens. I did have to do quite a bit of PP in Lightroom to get the exposure where I wanted it but all in all I'm very pleased with how the combo did for a fairly budget setup. I've been trying to decide whether my next lens would be the Sigma 70-200 or Pentax DA* 60-250. I was leaning towards Sigma for the 2.8 but now that I've seen that K-50 can handle high ISOs I'm back to thinking the 60-250 can handle everything I would need it to do.
Took over 400 shots of the game. I picked the ones I thought were the best composition wise. I'm going to add more than 5 photos since I'm so new to this and am really curious on what types of shots people find most interesting. As always any and all criticism and advice is appreciated. Thanks!
Univ North Carolina Wilmington vs Univ South Carolina
1.
IMGP1527 by WPate3, on Flickr
Exposure 1/750 sec @ f/5.6
ISO 3200
Focal Length 100mm
2.
IMGP1480 by WPate3, on Flickr
Exposure 1/750 sec @ f/4.5
ISO 1600
Focal Length 53mm
3.
IMGP1486 by WPate3, on Flickr
Exposure 1/750 sec @ f/4
ISO 1600
Focal Length 21mm
4.
IMGP1678 by WPate3, on Flickr
Exposure 1/640 sec @ f/5.6
ISO 3200
Focal Length 100mm
5.
IMGP1611 by WPate3, on Flickr
Exposure 1/750 sec @ f/4.5
ISO 1600
Focal Length 60mm
6.
IMGP1626 by WPate3, on Flickr
Exposure 1/640 sec @ f/5.6
ISO 3200
Focal Length 88mm
7.
IMGP1801 by WPate3, on Flickr
Exposure 1/800 sec @ f/5.6
ISO 3200
Focal Length 78mm
8.
IMGP1504 by WPate3, on Flickr
Exposure 1/750 sec @ f/5.6
ISO 3200
Focal Length 100mm
9.
IMGP1482 by WPate3, on Flickr
Exposure 1/750 sec @ f/4.5
ISO 1600
Focal Length 53mm
10.
IMGP1495 by WPate3, on Flickr
Exposure 1/750 sec @ f/5.6
ISO 3200
Focal Length 88mm
11.
IMGP1500 by WPate3, on Flickr
Exposure 1/750 sec @ f/5.6
ISO 3200
Focal Length 100mm
12.
IMGP1618 by WPate3, on Flickr
Exposure 1/640 sec @ f/4.5
ISO 3200
Focal Length 48mm
13.
IMGP1710 by WPate3, on Flickr
Exposure 1/640 sec @ f/5
ISO 3200
Focal Length 53mm
14.
IMGP1642 by WPate3, on Flickr
Exposure 1/640 sec @ f/5.6
ISO 3200
Focal Length 88mm
15.
IMGP1591 by WPate3, on Flickr
Exposure 1/750 sec @ f/4.5
ISO 1600
Focal Length 48mm
16.
IMGP1890 by WPate3, on Flickr
Exposure 1/400 @ f/5.6
ISO 3200
Focal Length 68mm
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-18-2014, 01:57 PM
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PM me the details before you post. I'm definitely interested?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-17-2014, 02:23 PM
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-17-2014, 01:16 PM
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Do you think you could shoot indoor sports (hockey, basketball) at f/4?
Is there any specific dates or times of the year other than black friday that lenses go on sale?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-16-2014, 09:26 PM
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It is significantly more than the Tamron but still less than the 60-250.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-16-2014, 07:27 PM
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In a similar position to you. I'm close to pulling the trigger on the Sigma 70-200. I would love to have WR but I'm afraid for my intended purpose (sports, wildlife) I need f/2.8.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-15-2014, 08:14 AM
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I want more focal range but I need something faster than the consumer telephoto zooms. Sample shots of the 55-300 WR look great but I feel it won't cover a lot of my needs going forward.
Top two right now are the DA*60-250 for all the reasons I mentioned above and the newest Sigma 70-200 f/2.8.
The only thing making me consider the Sigma right now is 2.8 aperture. It has a lot of draw backs in build quality, lack of weather resistance, and IQ compared to DA*. I do like the internal zoom but not a major deal breaker for the Pentax. I wish Pentax had a DA* 70-200 f/2.8 with SDM or DC.
Has anybody used the 60-250 extensively for sports?
Is the k-50 good enough at higher ISOs to make up for the constant f/4 vs 2.8?
I know it will easily handle outdoor sports during the day but what about hockey, basketball, and football at night under the lights?
Thanks again.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-14-2014, 12:44 AM
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Also, is there a DA 120-380 still in the works? That would be an awesome lens with DC and WR.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-14-2014, 12:23 AM
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Maybe a stupid question but what is IF?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-13-2014, 08:35 PM
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Wow, thanks for all the quick replies. A lot of love here for the 55-300, and it does look like a great lens. My only reservations with it are I really wish they had put the silent DC motor in it like the 18-135 and I'm not sure how well I will be able to shoot hockey indoors with it. Can anyone tell me at what focal length you lose the f/4 aperture at?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-13-2014, 03:50 PM
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I have had my K-50 with 18-135WR a little over a month now and am really enjoying it but I'm starting to get that craving for a new lens. I've definitely got Lens Research Addiction (is that a new acronym? ha).
A big part of me is saying to just stick with the 18-135 for a while since I'm new to photography but wanted to get some opinions. Looking at the data for my keepers in Lightroom about 20% of my shots are at 18mm, 25% at 135mm, with the rest evenly distributed throughout the rest of the focal range.
When I purchased my K-50 my intention was to shoot mostly landscapes and architecture and I have been pleased with the results from the 18-135 in those areas. However, I'm developing an interest in wildlife/birds, and sports which is where I'm soon-to-be/already running into some limitations with my kit lens. As far as sports I'm interested in hockey, football, and being on the coast I have the opportunity to shoot surfers and some surf competitions.
I'm definitely in need of more focal range because I'm having to heavily crop most of the shots from 135mm to get them how I want which is sacrificing a lot of IQ. Until I get a better idea of what focal lengths I will like and use the most I'm going to stay away from primes.
Some of the lenses I've been looking into are Pentax HD 55-300WR, DA*50-135, DA*60-250, and Sigma 70-200. My thoughts are that if I'm going to spend $400-500 on a consumer level lens I would rather go ahead and spend the extra money and get a nice lens that I won't outgrow quickly. I don't have the disposable income for multiple lenses at this point so I'm looking for something that's versatile and can reasonably cover all my shooting interests for now.
I'm open to any suggestions or advice you guys have but right now the DA* 60-250 seems to tick a lot of the check boxes I'm looking for:
-Not a super tele but significantly longer than my current lens
-A wide focal range so I can continue to experiment with different lengths and not have to change lenses out as much, I'm the kind of guy who is just going to grab my camera and a single lens and go most of the time
-Seems to get universally good reviews on IQ
-Constant f/4 aperture, although I'm a little concerned that I will still be limited with shooting sports, especially indoors. Can I get away with it or will I need f/2.8 for sports?
-Excellent build quality and the infamous DA* weather sealing, almost a must have on the coast and one of the main reasons I came to Pentax in the first place
-Quiet focusing; I am mildly concerned with the cases of SDM failure but from my research it seems like this hasn't been as big of a problem with the newer lenses or the 60-250 compared to the other DA*s. Not going to let this be a major deciding factor
-Decent AF speed, reportedly much faster than 50-135 but obviously not as good as the 70-200 f/2.8s
-Can be hand held but probably right on the line of being able to be used as a walk around lens
Thoughts or opinions? Thanks guys.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-12-2014, 02:45 PM
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I'm in the same boat with you. Need more reach than my 18-135 will give. Not sure yet if extra weight and considerably extra cost of the 60-250 is worth it for the constant f4 aperture. Also considering the Sigma 150-500 but the idea of a completely WR kit is what brought me to Pentax in the first place.
Thanks for taking the time to do such and in-depth review Heie. Looking forward to reading it.
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
01-10-2014, 03:07 PM
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I sure do like mine! I had it narrowed down between K-50 and D7000 when I bought and have no doubts I made the right decision.
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Forum: Photographic Technique
01-09-2014, 10:39 PM
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I'll bet it's much easier to handhold those big telephotos there!
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
01-09-2014, 01:39 PM
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Great shots! About how far away were you while shooting these? I want a DA* 60-250 bad!
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
01-09-2014, 01:33 PM
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Awesome set! Love the light filtering through the trees in #1 and the fog moving in with #6.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
01-09-2014, 01:30 PM
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Awesome! I can't wait to get over to the western part of NC and find some waterfalls to shoot. Just out of curiosity what were your exposure settings at and are you using a tripod?
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