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Forum: Post Your Photos!
04-09-2024, 07:27 AM
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A very lucky photograph of a plane crossing in front of the 2024 total solar eclipse
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
04-10-2024, 07:31 AM
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That is just plane special. The timing to get it is great.
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
08-09-2018, 05:30 AM
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I don't know how your pricing in Australia is, but based on what I see here in the U.S., if you were OK with a max size a tad over A3, the Canon Pro 100 on sale with rebates and paper bundles is a "cheap" way to print up to 13x19. The problem is when you run out of ink, you'll spend more on a cartridge set than what the original bundle with rebates cost. It does a nice job though, and I agree, there's something really nice about printing out your photos.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-26-2018, 10:00 AM
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My K-5 has recently started misbehaving. Sometimes it will suddenly start snapping photos without any button-presses from me. Usually the screen will go black and not come back on. Once it starts happening, it generally won't stop unless I remove the battery and put it back in. Sometimes it will start up again right away; sometimes it won't. It doesn't matter which lens is attached—it can happen with no lens attached. I've tried a different battery. When the problem is happening, I can cause a photo to be taken by bumping the camera against the palm of my hand. Has anyone else had a problem like this? Are there any fixes (aside from sending the camera away for servicing that costs more than the value of the body)?
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
11-10-2017, 08:06 PM
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Going for a subdued almost ethereal look
and a moonlight interpretation...
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-20-2016, 05:50 AM
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macro = manual control. Do as you wish, but, the aperture ring and manual focus controls need to be included.
I have always wondered why the F50/2.8 wasn't and F* (same thoughts apply to the F100/2.8).
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
07-18-2016, 10:48 AM
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If by chance it is inadvertently set to multi then you may want to change your memory selections so it doesn't continue to use that mode when switching your camera off and on again.
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
07-08-2016, 10:35 AM
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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:
- 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
07-02-2016, 08:41 AM
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I really would like to see a thread dedicated to pixel shifted images -- showing its advantages and maybe the artifacts that you see with it as well.
I know that there are pixel shifted images sprinkled through the K-1 thread and elsewhere on the forum, but I think it would be nice to see them one place. I for one have been impressed with the feature. I use DCU to create a TIFF file with motion correction enabled and then do further editing in Lightroom.
Here are a couple of images to start off the thread (full size on Flickr).
 House After Sunset by Vincent1825, on Flickr
 Natchez Community Church by Vincent1825, on Flickr
 Tree at Sunrise by Vincent1825, on Flickr
I will say that over time, I have found that it is best turn down the sharpening in DCU considerably. It just has a tendency to make files look artifacty on close inspection.
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Forum: Photographic Technique
06-30-2016, 06:46 PM
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I've been playing around with this in my basement lately. Last year I simply focused on something then tried to approximate the exact location. I used a regular lamp with a $5 softbox overtop from ebay. This year I've been playing around with Yongnuo 560IV's and the Tx and some ebay soft boxes on stands. I have a medium gray cloth hung on a dowel and two hooks. I can do some high or low key using this based on how I set up the flashes. I was also given an old small square LCD computer monitor. I now have it hooked up via a couple of cables. K3 -> HDMI -> DVI. I then shoot myself in live view so I can see when my face turns white (focus peaking). Unfortunately I still can't see it well enough (visually impaired--I normally sit six inches from my 27" monitor) so a lot of trial and error is needed. I started by using the self timer and running back and forth. I'm now using a cheap remote shutter release. I'm fairly pleased with some of the results. Here's a few. The one with the wide brimmed hat was last year with the cheap lamp and mini soft box. The suit is new and more sophisticated so I had to get more sophisticated with my selfies or soemthing.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B12dWDIYqmC0MVJKaWJ6TmpLMGM
This is coming from someone who can't really see himself in a mirror, but it does feel quite strange repeatedly posing and I guess coaching yourself for protraits. I never do selfies otherwise.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
06-02-2016, 07:08 AM
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Here's one...
2 flash on wireless triggers (in lightbox/softbox) - these fire at the same time to give 1 more stop of power for the same setting.
Hence, if both are at 1/4 power, they give 1/2 power of a single flash while retaining the charge at 1/4 usage. (ie. can fire roughly 4x w/o a long recycle time)
Since its indoors, set ambient to as dim as possible after setting up the shot (plus focusing, etc)
At f8, f11, I'd think its shutter speed should be slow enough to be in the seconds range.
Choose a shutter speed such that there is enough time to trigger the flash via remote (4x thru the PS sequence )
---------- Post added 06-02-2016 at 10:53 PM ----------
Whallah!
35mins after typing the above, I just had to show that its possible (and really doable )
Pixel Shift -for strobed still life test sample by jenkwang, on Flickr
2 YN560IV on light stands pointed to the same silver umbrella.
1 silver umbrella on the other side for fill
Flashes at 1/4 power
K1 set to pixel shift, M mode, ISO100, 5s per frame, f8 (lens : Vivitar 55mm macro)
2s timer release
Focus is on the Yashica Mat name plate.
Basically, I set up the shot, and focus, turned off the lights that would affect the ambient exposure.
Released the timed shutter released.
Once picture taking started, I started my stopwatch and manually triggered the flashes with a YN603N II within the interval of each 5s frame.
Full size uploaded on my flickr (just click on the sample and navigate there )
If a half baked strobist like me can pull this off after thinking of it within 35mins, I'm sure others can too. :D
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-29-2016, 01:49 PM
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
06-27-2016, 04:06 PM
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
05-31-2016, 07:51 AM
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Click on the photos for details...
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-27-2016, 11:52 AM
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-25-2016, 11:46 PM
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
06-23-2016, 02:43 PM
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found this while digging for something else
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
03-06-2013, 09:54 PM
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So, I came across some long-lost photos from about a year ago when I was still very much a noob to photography and didn't know what I was doing (thankfully, I was using a good lens, so that saved me :D).
Anyway, the JPEGS were pretty ugly... so, a little Photoshop magic and here they are.
I thought you guys might enjoy some of their funny poses.
"Hellllllp, I'm slllllipping!"
1 by ptaxlmtd, on Flickr
"Come at me, bro!"
2 by ptaxlmtd, on Flickr
"What the heck is going on up there?!"
3 by ptaxlmtd, on Flickr
"Incommmming!"
4 by ptaxlmtd, on Flickr
"Yeah, you wanna fight?"
6 by ptaxlmtd, on Flickr
"Well, I'm outta here!"
7 by ptaxlmtd, on Flickr
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
06-18-2016, 09:47 AM
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A watercolor with Topaz Simplify, and touched up in PS CC, shot with DA16-85, K-S2
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Forum: Product Suggestions and Feedback
06-14-2016, 11:22 PM
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Add the ability to manually enter the aperture for K/M lenses, so it matches what's on the aperture ring. This means:
a. the camera can automatically adjust exposure based on wide-open metering adjusted by input aperture (i.e. no green button metering required); and
b. we can have aperture information embedded in our EXIF info.
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
05-06-2016, 09:44 AM
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Sorry to hear that.
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:lol:
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
05-04-2016, 03:21 PM
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But isn't that usually the case? People don't like Pentax until they get to use it, then they love it for some reason that they cannot put into words :p
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-15-2016, 06:56 AM
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Like a lens with a 3-speed transmission!
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-14-2016, 12:15 PM
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K-3 and stacks HD DA 1.4TC and F1.7 AF adapter.
250 x1.4x1.7 gives me pretty much 600mm
One last reach experiment... after getting pretty much stellar results with the DA*200 ƒ2.8 and stacked TCs I decided to test my reach options. The A-400 and 1.7 which would give me 680, was a pretty dismal failure. I had trouble locking focus (and I had great light) and the best images weren't good enough. So after completing that, I realized I hadn't tried stacking with the DA* 60-250. So back out again.
I got far fewer keepers and often had considerable trouble locking focus, as much as with the A-400, the difference being, when I did lock focus the images were good.
So from my perspective, this becomes the poor man's way to get to 600mm ƒ6.7. Really, not to shabby.
I guess I could point out that some have sold their Pentax gear and bought whole new systems to get to 600. And with full AF I'm sure those systems are more functional, but if you're on a budget and you own a DA* 60-250, this could be for you. I'd love to be able to try it out with a DA*300, also an ƒ4 lens. I would expect similar results, similar trials getting images and similar joy with the results when successful.
714mm and ƒ6.7 would not be too shabby, with this kind of IQ.
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