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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-14-2019, 11:09 PM
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Weather hasn't been really kind to me the last couple nights. Still waiting for clear skies.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
01-15-2019, 08:02 AM
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
12-08-2018, 02:29 PM
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I received my new Stellarvue Access 80 ED yesterday. Luckily it was also a clear night! I set the scope up on my AZ-GTI in EQ mode and shot 1 minute subs. I probably could have went a little longer as the mount was tracking GREAT, I only had to reset it for the meridian flip.
So far, I am really liking the scope. I am using The Stellarvue SFF3-25-48 field flattener, but I still see pretty bad coma around the edges using a full frame DSLR. with a slight crop they are gone though.
Specs for the image are:
Scope: Stellarvue Acess 80 with 2.5" focuser, SFF3-25-48 field flattener
Focal Length: 560mm
Focal Ratio: F7
Camera: Pentax K-1
ISO: 1600
Exposure: 60 sec.
Shots: 100
I used Astro Pixel Processor for stacking. I am still learning the ropes with this program, so I am sure I am not doing things 100% correctly yet. I post processed in Photoshop and also in Nik Effects plugin.
Here is the photo.
 Andromeda 100-60 sec 7 Dec 2018 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-12-2019, 03:26 PM
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Corner performance at the wide end on my 17-50 when trying to shoot stars never impressed me at 2.8. It's been a while though.
Maybe I'll try to take a test shot tonight.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-12-2019, 01:45 PM
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Users of 16Mpx APS-C bodies might also have insights for this lens for astrophotography.
Steve
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
01-13-2019, 04:21 PM
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Love the composition and concept. Well done.
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
02-17-2017, 08:19 PM
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I have a similar Asus PA238Q (23" version). I use a Datacolor Spyder 3 Pro . When I set the monitor to the RGB profile, Spyder 3 does almost zero correction on it - ie. the monitor was correctly calibrated at the factory.
For my other 2 monitors - a pair of HP LP3065 30", the Spyder 3 does a fairly big amount of correction, and it useful. The picture is matched very well between those 2.
Not matched between the 3, though. I am doing my own prints with a Pixma Pro-100 and have not noticed dark prints.
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
02-10-2017, 10:36 PM
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I tried the native WinBlows monitor calibration tool.
Yawn.
I tried a few online tools.
Bigger yawn.
So having a gift card for Amazon I did some web research, and settled on the X-Rite Color Munki Display.
Still yawning, but my monitors are all calibrated now. A bit darker (no more eye strain from staring at the sun for hours and hours). The colors are a bit warmer. and every month the software pesters me to re-calibrate.
Really, I am not sure about the whole process. I got interested in calibration to improve editing my photos, and my printing of them. You know, get the output to match what I see on the screen. Everyone said that was the way to printing happiness.
And now I read about printer profiles and 'soft proofing'.
What next?
Sheesh!
OK. The Color Munki thing does what they say it is supposed to do. And it mostly does it without trouble.
Well if you don't count my WinBlows XP Pro machine. Everything installed, and I began to calibrate the monitors, and the software never could see the colorimiter. I tried everything. Drivers. Settings. Web forums. Editing files to try and fake it out. Oh well, that machine is resting now, waiting on a hard drive upgrade and a reinstall of the OS. Maybe Linux. Gotta try that out.
Maybe the colorimiter will work on that. The guys on the Linux forums say it will.
Easy Squeezy
No Pain
No Stain
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Forum: Photo Critique
05-07-2017, 06:47 PM
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I think this is quite good. It is hard to get an area where there is not light spill from the ground. As for the exposure, I think you could have gone a couple of seconds longer to bring out even more!
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
05-03-2017, 05:44 PM
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Did you ever check if warranty could be used or how much a repair would cost? Sorry to keep bringing it up, but its my favorite UWA lens on APSC, and on FF its extreme FoV would look even crazier
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
05-03-2017, 12:44 AM
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Pentax DFA 24-70, especially since you already have a 14mm. 28-105 is a more compact and cheaper option, but you lose the 24-28mm which you may want, and f2.8.
If you're not used to big heavy camera and lens combos, then I would go with the 28-105.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
05-02-2017, 06:22 PM
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Sometimes - not saying it's the case here - it's user error. Those manual Samyang lenses gp past infinity and people don't know that and turn the focus ring all the way. Since it is so wide and it keeps good contrast, it is hard to tell the pictures are soft until you see them on a computer...
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
05-02-2017, 06:00 PM
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Not if it's decentred, Brian ... you can only ask for an exchange or refund to get a better copy.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
05-02-2017, 05:42 PM
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Good advice.
I have rented the K-1 several times, generally when I know I'll have enough free time to get the most use out of it, because i can go for weeks without having enough time to dedicate to photography.
Remember that the 50mm is about normal FOV to a human eye on the K-1. A 24mm (24-70 zoom?) is about as wide a FOV on the K-1 before distortion becomes noticeable.
FWIW, I use a Takumar 17mm on the K-1, and it is incredible. The K-1 really provides great results on old good quality lenses.
I look forward to seeing your pictures.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
05-02-2017, 04:34 PM
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If you don't need f2.8, the DFA 28-105 offers similar image quality in a smaller, cheaper package for landscapes. Pair it with the 15-30 for wider landscapes and for Milky Way.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
05-02-2017, 02:05 PM
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Brian, if there is one bit of advice please take this. Rent your k1 but before you go shooting, calibrate the autofocus with the lenses you will use. I got my k1 late last year, and despite the obvious quality i could not understand why so many shots were missing focus. After calibrating it is like night and day.
Also second the Pentax 24-70...it is a stunning lens (and I dont just mean in terms of weight or price !)
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
05-02-2017, 01:30 PM
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I'm surprised by this. My Samyang 14mm is really sharp across the frame on my APSC cameras. I don't have a K-1, but lots of people use the Samyang 14mm on FF Nikon, Canon, and Sony cameras. With good, sharp results. Lots of photos online, on 500px, Flickr, etc. So I think you have a damaged lens or you are misfocusing. The Samyang 14mm has two problems commonly. First, the focusing scales are often miscalibrated. They might even be so bad that you can't focus to infinity. This could explain softness. You can look up some tutorials on fixing focusing ring on that lens. There is even a youtube video. The second common problem is decentering. You can diagnose this by odd blur that usually stay on one side of the frame regardless of focusing.
Didn't mean to derail this thread. Just trying to help. If possible, get the lens replaced or repaired
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
05-02-2017, 12:44 PM
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Yes, that one covers plenty....But Brian if you are chasing really wide storms consider the 15/30 as well as 24/70!
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
05-02-2017, 12:38 PM
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The K1 isn't a camera that we rent, it's a camera that we buy given the lenses we can buy or rent.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
05-02-2017, 12:34 PM
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I expect that your 14 mm won't get any better on the K-1 unless it needs a focus adjustment.
Since you have the 50 mm you could rent the D FA 15-30 and still shoot at 50 mm when you don't need to go wide. I started with the 24-70 for landscapes and then found I had to add the 15-30 to go wide enough to meet my needs. The 15-30 is rather large and heavy though, as every reviewer will state.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
05-02-2017, 12:32 PM
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Buy the K-1 and save up the K-1 rental costs towards the D-FA 24-70/f2.8. I know you are going to buy the K-1 any way. Btw dont use a trashy lens (Samyang you mentioned). The images from DA50 will make you wonder why did I not buy K-1 sooner.
Good luck fueling your "don't buy" voice.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
05-02-2017, 10:41 AM
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