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Forum: Lens Clubs
04-13-2019, 10:54 AM
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K 3 + Pentax-DA 70mm F2.4 Limited
male Motmot note the kite like feathers at the end of the tail
female Motmot, note the lack of extended tail feathers
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
03-10-2019, 01:18 AM
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This is just to re-add the images that had gone missing from the starting post.
The German photo magazine "C't Digitale Fotografie" in issue 02/2016 had the only autofocus test procedure I have ever (!) seen which is repeatable, well documented and to be taken seriously.
Quite a contrast to the clown show at dpreview.
I just provide the results here to provide some facts versus the fanboy claims of "brand x nails every shot" level.
The magazine spent two full pages to document their test setup and methodology and measuring, which I am far to lazy to repeat here.
The shot about 3,900 images in total!
Setup in short:
- They set up a white beamer canvas against which a beamer projected images of a small flash program which displayed either a swallow or a female face and these were moving at a predefined speed across the image.
- The camera was sideways to the canvas and shot the image from a 30 degree angle (the subject images were electronically distorted to provide a normal look from 30 degrees).
3 Test scenarios for all cameras:
- Tracking
The camera on a tripod was zoomed to cover the whole image area with AF points. A bird (black and white with extra contrast marker) and also a face (much softer contrasts) image flew across the canvas from edge to edge (remember the edges are in different distances). The lens was manually set to middle distance at start.
- Follow focus center AF point
Same bird, but now the camera was set on a swivel panoramic head and a user turned the camera to keep the subject under the AF point. So the camera just had to adjust z-axis
- Focus with obstacle
A little real life plant was set in the middle between the canvas and the camera. A face moved from left to right over the screen (thus was hidden briefly by the plant), while the camera was panning, following the face. Just the type of scenario you set your Pentax AF hold parameter to "high" for.
"Sharpness" evaluation criteria:
They did not even rely on human arbitrary judgementto call an image "sharp", they used an automated analysis of the structured canvas and beamer signal creating moire where the focus area was sufficiently sharp (they looked at contrast curves. I can not really explain how they look, but it is extremely obvious where the focus was) . Their criteria were possible due to the fact that by using the angled canvas approach their target subject always showed some depth and it was not just a flat object which appeared sharp or not.
- "sharp" = target subject fully in focus
- "mediocre" at least half of the target subject in focus area (like the back wheel of a bicycle)
- "unacceptable" = target out of focus
Results:
and
- Not one camera even came close to "nailed every shot". Let alone one brand.
The authors declared Canon cameras to be in the lead by a small margin. They were completely disappointed from the Sony.
- Hugely lens dependant
- Practically nothing there where one can generalize from. Hugely dependent on exact camera/lens/scenario combination.
Anyone could redo the exact same test as it is well documented and the subjects are computer generated. You just need a flash program or a video of the target. I do consider the setup to be rather smart. You can redo that in your large garage.
Obviously the range difference obtainable is limited by the size of the canvas, so you can not simulate that fighter plane directly coming at you from infinity. But given the soso results this setup is interesting enough.
This is a test that comes close to scientific requirements and standards.
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
03-07-2019, 08:51 AM
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Arcata Bay, beginning of next round of rain, with the DFA 28-105:
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
03-16-2019, 08:55 AM
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Exploring the world of camera trapping. K1 and Rokinon 24 mm
Gray fox in Arizona
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
03-17-2019, 08:32 AM
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We have seen some heavy storms over Germany in the last few days and there is still a warning in place to avoid the forest as trees might still fall down.
When the sun came out for a few moments today I grabbed the K1 and the (ff-modified) DA* 4/60-250.
For me the lens performs fine also on full-frame - some output sharpening applied here.
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
03-17-2019, 04:37 AM
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Hitting the dew point produced some fog on the lake while the sun was setting.
K-1 and DFA*50 F5.6
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
03-20-2019, 09:20 AM
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Just catching the late afternoon warmth... :)
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
03-20-2019, 07:19 AM
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Fish like mullet aren't too hard... best when coming at you or away from you, then you can almost time and guess the distance of their next jump but it still requires a bit of perseverance to have success with the random nature of events (I don't believe in the luck)
Some might be shameless re-posts below, :fedup:
HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/6.3 450.0 mm 1/1250 iso160
HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/9.0 380.0 mm 1/2500 iso640
A little left to right action, definitely harder to time...
HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/7.1 450.0 mm 1/2500 iso400
HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/9.0 270.0 mm 1/2500 iso1000
HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/7.1 450.0 mm 1/2500 iso320
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
03-21-2019, 09:31 AM
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
03-22-2019, 06:31 AM
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Snake doing an owl impression... "Who?" :lol:
smc PENTAX-DA* 300mm F4 ED [IF] SDM ƒ/5.6 300.0 mm 1/500 iso640
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
03-23-2019, 05:10 AM
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Drinks with a Butterfly
K1 77 ltda
1/4000 F4
processed in C1
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
01-06-2014, 09:19 PM
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
11-29-2014, 10:30 PM
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Forum: General Photography
11-18-2014, 01:39 PM
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North Korea
Now filmmakers Rob Whitworth and J. T. Singh are portraying the country in a less dramatic light, showing everyday life in the capital Pyongyang in a stunning timelapse:
You Tube
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src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RbMVrDxjZ7o?controls=1" allowfullscreen>
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Definitely check this out!
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
09-28-2014, 06:03 AM
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I have posted the second chapter of my extensive review of the Pentax K3 on my blog. This installment covers use of the K3 as an architectural camera using the live view composition adjustment feature. I tested it out during one of my regular assignments. I use the Canon with TS-E lenses as my clients sometimes require huge prints, however the K3 could replace the Canon for my travel work. I find this very exciting.
If you have interest in this feature you will find my review at Foto Gizmo Plus |
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
09-13-2014, 02:51 PM
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I lost my job 31st July 2013, thinking I will be able to get a second job soon. I bought the Pentax in August the following month. It has been one year and I am broke. Contemplating to sell my camera for long now. Since this contest came out the idea to turn into professional photographer has come into my mind. If I win this lens I will turn to full time photography. I will let my 12 year old career in IT and Telecom disappear in thin air.
So winning this lens would actually decide if I enter photography as a career or not. I am attaching a picture which I recently took. Photography is my passion and after watching all the YouTube videos. Countless hours of discussion and reading Pentax Forums; watching movies like Baraka, Samsara, Chronos and Planet Earth (BBC series). I would really like to do something like that in life. It will be a dream come true.
Even if I don't win this contest I would try and keep my Pentax K-5 II for as long as I can. If I go silent on this forum, you would know, what happened. :) (189 words)
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
09-14-2014, 05:59 PM
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Hi,
A little bit about this photo: I was lucky enough to capture this on the second day after receiving my very first DSLR, Pentax K-30. The ability to zoom in to focus on the subject, and being able to twist around the contrast/highlight of RAW file, quickly made me fall in love with this DSLR. I didn't like to take pictures before, until I got this camera. Soon I found out, having this baby isn't enough, I need to know more about the proper photography technique, and I need to found out what's my own art style.
I'm currently a college student. Recently I got a chance to follow a professional wedding photographer to observe his photography technique. This unique opportunity made me rethink a lot about photography. Currently I only have one prime lens, that is the Pentax 100mm f/2.8 WR D FA smc Macro Lens. But 100mm isn't very convenience to shoot people, Buying the 100mm lens already broken my bank. So If I'm lucky enough to get this 50mm prime lens, I'm hoping it'll show me a new perspective of shooting experience!
Every time I look at the photos that I just took, there're always some photos that make me go "wow, damn I'm good"; But once I got home and import them into my computer, I be like "Okay, today I got 1, or 2 good pictures"; then there is after awhile, a month or long period when I look back at my photos, I be like "Damn, should I delete them? most of them are USABLE". All I'm trying to say is that I think Photography is a on-going, lifetime learning process, and I still need a lots of investment(like the Pentax DA50) to help me along on this adventure!
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Forum: Lens Clubs
09-15-2014, 02:25 AM
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Forum: Lens Clubs
09-13-2014, 04:13 PM
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(Xposted with the 300mm club)
A shot of a Least Sandpiper [Calidris minutilla] during my 30-days canoeing trip, up in the taiga of Northern Quebec (https://goo.gl/maps/rxUDF).
I know it is common around here too, but I was so close, and I got a detailed photo ... no cropping.
Can't you see the bird's shadow on the water ?
Shot with K3 + DA*300mm + HDTC1.4x, handheld (but lying on the sand)
1/1000s, f5.6, ISO400
Bécasseau minuscule / Least Sandpiper [Calidris minutilla] by Curculion, on Flickr
Another good example that the 300mm+HDTC is a very good combination...
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
09-10-2014, 06:44 AM
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Forum: Lens Clubs
09-12-2014, 03:16 PM
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Some from last year, Oberlaa Park in Vienna:
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
09-11-2014, 11:58 AM
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Pentax User: "Ricoh! I want that! I NEED IT!"
Ricoh: "No, sweetie. I'm not getting you one right now. Let's go."
Pentax User:
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Forum: Pentax Q
09-10-2014, 02:15 PM
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Hi, just got my Q-S1 last night and have been playing around with it. I've attached a few photos. I'll be doing a full video review of the camera sometime this weekend. I only have a Pentax Q and Nikon P340 ( newest 1/1.7" sensor ) to compare too. So far, Pentax Q-S1 is winning on IQ and across the board. Very impressed, the system has truly matured and AF is very fast, including start up times.
Attachment 236783
Attachment 236784
Attachment 236785
Attachment 236786 |
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Forum: Lens Clubs
09-09-2014, 02:00 PM
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