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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
1 Day Ago
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Greetings from another member in Wichita.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
1 Day Ago
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Nice shots with the 50.
Just ordered a used Nikon 40. Will watch for a deal on the Voigtlander 15 next.
My plan is to eventually get the Viltrox 28mm f1.8 in Z mount as well and then something long. Not in a rush thanks to having adaptable glass already.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
2 Days Ago
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When is someone going to clone the Zeiss 100mm f2 Macro with autofocus in a native Z mount??
Thinking I may have found a used 40mm f2 for $200 online, need to research the seller first. Still thinking that lens and a Voigtlander 15mm f4.5 M-mount with adapter will be the basis for a travel kit.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
3 Days Ago
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I really like the ISO dial on the Fuji X-H1 that I own. There's an L, an H, and the A position for low, high, and normal auto respectively. Quick looking around makes me think this might be the only Fuji with such a dial which I think is unfortunate. This setup is perfect for me and adapted lenses.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
04-16-2024, 06:56 AM
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If I was shooting on a crop digital body, I would grab my Sigma 24mm EX DG f1.8. If I was shooting on full frame I would grab my Sigma 28mm EX DG f1.8. If I had to buy a Pentax lens and I had was shooting with a full frame camera, I would buy an FA 31mm Ltd. If I had to buy a lens and I was shooting a Pentax crop, I would find a Sigma 18-35 f1.8.
Decent sharpness wide open and a max aperture of at least f2 in a lens that offers a fairly wide field of view would be my requirements.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
04-13-2024, 08:55 PM
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Watch the ISO or shutter speed change and you'll figure out the relative change in f-stop. The great thing is how well Fuji's seem to meter; I leave the ISO and shutter speed on ISO and my X-H1 keeps me out of trouble with shutter speeds that are still hand-holdable in low light. It's a pretty impressive system.
I do still prefer an aperture ring, of course.
About AF or not being available, I honestly find that while I'm slower with manually focusing vs having AF, I don't mind it so much with the focusing aids available. And I have k-mount Sigma primes that I would rather use on my Fuji this way vs. on my Pentax K-5 II because they are quite unreliable with that body.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-13-2024, 08:48 PM
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I don't think Pentax made a 55mm lens that wasn't good. Would definitely keep that around unless you can't stand the idea of having a good 50mm next to a good 55mm in your collection of glass.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-12-2024, 08:20 PM
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I think there are some M primes that render a little bit differently than the others. The M 50 f4 Macro is a bit different, being a Tessar design, and a lens I've not used but like the shared images I've seen from it. I'd like to own one of these. The previously mentioned M 28mm f2.0 seems like the best of the M 28's, or at least very slightly different from the other 28's. The M 35mm f2.8 is quite sharp from wide open, very small and light, really pretty impressive package that doesn't have the slightly dreamy look of the faster M 35mm f2.0. Nobody seems to talk about the f2.8 version which I find odd (though I don't really like that focal length so I'm actually trying to sell my copy).
The only dud M prime I can think of is the M 50 f2.0, which was the cheaper kit 50 when these were new. And I don't think it's terrible, it's just not that great, and there's so many other great 50's from that era available in k-mount.
There's a little "club" for M series glass on this forum found here; The M Club! - PentaxForums.com and this should be helpful in seeing how these lenses perform.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-12-2024, 05:04 PM
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Pentax M 20mm f4 is pretty fantastic. The 28mm f3.5 is supposed to be good; I have the second version of the 28mm f2.8 (non-chromed nose) which is pretty good in my experience. I really like the M 85mm f2. As for zooms, the only M zoom I have is the 75-150mm f4 which is really great optically, even wide open.
I'm interested in the M 120mm f2.8 as a possible "longer portraits" lens.
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Forum: General Photography
04-12-2024, 05:05 AM
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I always figured acutance, or the perception of sharpness and how easily noticed edges are in an image, plays a major role in this. Image processing can definitely aid in adding (or removing) the 3d-like pop an image seems to have.
I agree with the previous mention of the M-series 40mm f2.8 having an ability to provide this perception to an image. I've taken images with it using good black and white film (like Ilford HP5+) that had this quality. I feel like the Sigma 28mm EX DG did this as well.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
04-10-2024, 05:26 PM
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I am back on my nonsense with my Kalt 28mm f2.8 k-mount prime.
f2.8, at or nearly at minimum focusing distance, taken on a Nikon Z5. This lens has turned into something really fun as I've learned more about how to use it.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
04-08-2024, 09:41 PM
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I've enjoyed using both my Fuji X-H1 and Nikon Z5 with adapted manual focus glass. I think the Fuji is actually easier/better with such lenses but I like that the Z5 is a full frame camera.
*tons* of options out there.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
04-07-2024, 07:26 PM
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I'm trying to find an article/interview to reference, but I can't, as I believe that Tamron has stopped all SLR/DSLR lens development.
3rd party glass is probably going to become less and less common for k-mount, with manual focus primes (that keep showing up without a fully compliant k-mount, which I really dislike...) being the only new lenses that come to market in k-mount. I'm curious how long the 70-210 as well as the 15-30 and 24-70 are still around for Pentax to sell.
EDIT: I may be thinking only of Sigma with a stop to SLR lens development, but I doubt Tamron would be far behind them.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
04-06-2024, 08:01 AM
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M mount for adaptability (it seems almost like a modern M42 with the universal-ness of the mount, and I could always find a Bessa if I want to use it on film). I may, at the end of this, end up with a very different collection of photo gear. Kind of not wanting to do that though.
24-200 & 28-400 in the same system, assuming they both perform well, is a pretty awesome situation. Especially for a high res camera like the Z7 or Z8 where crop-ability is even better.
I still wish the 26 was a better performer. It seems like they chased a physical size target over an IQ target with that lens.
For the trip I'm planning I can barely rationalize the space for the equipment I've listed plus a Platypod & a remote shutter release. Very space limited.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-06-2024, 07:55 AM
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I think having a quiet period with just a little photo gear might be good.
I'm sure if/when the OP comes back asking for some help finding different gear or questions about how to better use the gear he's got, this forum will be there to help.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
04-06-2024, 06:57 AM
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Thanks for sharing shots you took with the 40mm f2. Seems like it should be a great lens for me.
Right now I'm thinking of taking the Z5, the 40mm f2 (assuming I like the thing) and getting a Voigtlander 15mm M-mount (and adapter) as an ultra-light travel kit for a few weeks vacation. Already picked up a Neewer battery with USB-C charging built into the battery so just need a short cord to charge with.
The 28-400 seems like a serious travel tool. I haven't checked reviews yet though.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
03-31-2024, 02:01 PM
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I thought this was a good video review;
You Tube
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src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eFG0dynZ1ps?controls=1" allowfullscreen>
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I like how the presenter talked about real issues with the 40. It seems like it will be pretty good as long as it's kept at arm's length or farther from the subject. Kind of weird seeing how much close-focus image quality falls off.
If I find a good deal on a used copy I'm still in for the 40 Z. Voigtlander's 40 f1.4 still interests me though. Quite a bit.
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Forum: Sold Items
03-31-2024, 09:29 AM
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Lens is sold, waiting for shipment to mark as such officially.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
03-31-2024, 06:18 AM
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On the K-5 II and many other Pentax cameras you can set up back-button AF function instead of having it on the shutter button. Otherwise I don't know of any changes in controls. Agreed that the Nikon Z cameras seem to have a ton of functions in menus that the Pentax cameras didn't offer (and I didn't miss).
I'm using M mode on the Z as well with automatic ISO.
I might move the display zoom function to Fn1. Currently I'm hitting that button when I don't want to and seeing settings for white balance when I just want to take a picture. This is a nice sized body if I was worried about space but I find it slightly cramped, like it needs to be 10% wider for me to really feel comfortable with all of the buttons they stuck on the thing. Another thing I didn't really feel with my X-H1 or K-5 II.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
03-30-2024, 09:11 PM
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It sounds like the Zf would be a nice upgrade from the Z5 if I get along well with the 5 and want to stick with this ecosystem.
I'm using the AF ON button on the back to get in and out of zoom. The zoom in and out buttons are not great to reach for down near the bottom of the rear display. It seems like Nikon isn't as excited about using the main control dial (had to look up the name for that one) or the front control dial in the grip. Maybe I can set one of these for zoom when in manual focus mode, but I'm not sure if that's possible, instead requiring buttons to do this. The Z5 in general feels very buttons-instead-of-dials as far as controls. In some ways I think my Fuji X-H1 has better controls, and my Pentax K-5 II definitely has better controls than the Z5. Fuji's menus are the worst of the three, though. Too bad we can't pick and choose what we want from multiple companies into a single product.
Before I get too excited about glass for this thing I should make sure I actually want to shoot with it enough to stick with the Z-mount ecosystem. At least I have a good selection of K-mount primes to use; hopefully I can pick up a nice copy of the 40mm Nikon f2 for $200 on the used market.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
03-30-2024, 12:11 PM
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I don't think all wider-than-14mm options will give a fisheye effect on full frame. I just used my Samyang 14 on the Z5 yesterday and I've shot with it on my film cameras so I know what it gives for field of view / perspective. I already have a 20mm M-series Pentax lens; AF and fast aperture isn't really that valuable to me when the focal length is that wide (short?) and maybe there's an M-mount lens in my future for an ultra-wide. The Voigtlander 15 f4 looks interesting but it's not a 12...
When I look at the Flickr pool for the 26mm Z I see pretty good images with great central image sharpness and contrast. The corners aren't terrible but they're not that great either. I would have much preferred the thing be more like the 40mm in size and max aperture and have much better across-the-frame image quality. I imagine my Sigma 24mm or 28mm EX DG f1.8's would perform better, but they're not really comparable lenses beyond similar focal lengths.
As for the 90 to 100mm situation, I've got a Tamron 90mm f2.5, the 52b Adaptall, which I quite like. I would love a K-mount, either native or converted, Ziess 10mm f2. The Leica R-mount 90mm f2 also seems interesting though it doesn't focus very closely. So I'm doing okay here.
I had the Z5 and my Pentax MX out last night, both with 50mm Pentax lenses mounted, taking pictures in a bar of a live band. So far I'm okay with the Z5.... it's not quite as nice to manually focus as my Fuji X-H1. I felt like I had to hunt a bit more to find focus with the Z5. It's so much faster to pull the MX out of the bag, take a shot, and put the camera back in the bag. More time with it should help.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
03-29-2024, 05:05 PM
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For a family reunion (that's really what the event is, there's no wedding ceremony) or street shooting / photo walks an AF equipped 40mm f2 (or faster!) seems like a great path forward. I need to use this thing and see what manual focus is really like with live people instead of just stuff around the house or flowers etc. That will really inform me as to what lens collection to build around this body should I keep it.
I would like something just a little tighter than an 85, like a 100, if I'm honest. I wish the Nikon 26 wasn't kind of not great from what I'm seeing in reviews. And then something crazy wide, like a 12mm rectilinear, that seems nice. I wish the Laowa 12mm in K-mount was compatible with my film cameras, but it doesn't look like it was built to work with the aperture linkage of the K-mount. A good 12mm and the 40mm Nikon seem like an excellent two lens pair for long trips where space is tight. My Samyang 14mm is too big. Maybe make my Pentax 20mm f4 work instead...
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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
03-29-2024, 05:25 AM
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Does Samyang make a full frame 12mm lens?
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