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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
03-08-2017, 12:44 PM
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Ooh, whilst I find that a really tempting offer, I think I'll have to pass :)
Cheers
Leon
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
03-08-2017, 11:51 AM
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Thanks Rupert,
Great to know.
I still love my K5IIs. will have to get back to shooting :)
Cheers
Leon
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Forum: Winners' Showcase
01-09-2017, 12:29 PM
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
12-05-2016, 12:26 PM
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Forum: Winners' Showcase
09-10-2016, 06:17 AM
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
02-09-2016, 02:52 AM
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Really nice composition, looks natural.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
01-15-2016, 04:50 AM
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Hi dakight,
When using the K3 II, when selecting exposure bracketing, it would take the images and store these as a single RAW file containing the three (or five) separate images,
Whilst this is a great convenience, I have no issues rummaging around 2-300 images to find the exposure I am looking for as the base image to layer it, as I said, this is great for convenience.
I tried this with the K5 IIs.
When using the bracketing feature in jpeg mode, it would take three or five images depending on what was selected.
When using the bracketing feature in RAW mode, it was only opening the shutter once, I was not aware that I had to either open the shutter multiple times, or specifically set one push in the menu.
*Edit* Yes, Extended bracketing is turned on.
Basically user error :)
Cheers
Leon
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
01-15-2016, 04:19 AM
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Great shots Hattifnatt, love the second.
FS, what is that in picture number four? (looks maybe like a white wine in a glass) :) really cool.
Love the elephant and the cathedral, but all are fantastic.
Rupert, maybe suggest to Otis to include a nice white bordeaux with the woodpecker gravy? :)
FS, thanks for the explanation.
When I select the drive mode (the timer button), select exposure bracketing (either remote, or direct (at the camera)), setting the bracket value and use the remote option, when I pressed the button on the remote it was taking a single image, I was not aware that I had to press three times for three exposures.
I looked in the manual, but it was a little vague, it was mainly to do with HDR, and I think this is where I was getting confused.
I set the option to one push bracketing, though I did not realise that it would take one image for each exposure separate images.
The K3 II does it all in a single RAW file (albeit a very large PEF file), though this is mainly a convenience, that being said, this is not really an issue.
Considering most of the bracketed images I will be taking will be on a tripod with off camera flash, I don't see this being an issue :)
When walking over to an area and holding one of the speedlites myself to bounce the flash off the ceiling, the remote is an invaluable tool :)
Cheers, and thanks again.
Leon
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
01-14-2016, 08:11 AM
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Hi awaldam,
I personally use a Powerex C808M
it's a single cell smart charger, though it does not have a battery analysis function.
I found that occasionally it would display "wrong type" if the battery was completely drained.
I found that where this machine cannot charge a battery, the Uniross will.
It is a reverse pulse charger, so it should not have actually done this. (but it's quite old).
Cheers
Leon
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
01-14-2016, 07:22 AM
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Thanks wissink,
I wholeheartedly agree, I usually stay away from Chinese batteries, but at $1 each, I was thinking it would be like the 1900 mAh GP batteries I purchased a couple of years ago.
They are Chinese, and have served me well for a number of charges.
I have had the YN 560 III in the past, and it was (and still is) fantastic, I would have gone through a store here, but nobody seems to sell the Yongnuo 560 retail in Sweden.
They have the YN 465 (Canikon), the YN 565 EX (Canikon), YN 467 (Canikon),, and the YN 468 (Canikon) I feel like there is a trend forming here :)
Anyway, the only option was to go out of Scandinavia.
Cheers
Leon
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
01-14-2016, 06:40 AM
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Hi FS,
I tried the exposure bracketing, and it works with Jpeg, but not in RAW.
I put the camera drive into exposure bracketing mode (remote / direct), the rear display shows 3 / 5 exposures depending on the setup, yet it only takes a single image (and stores that single image on the SD card).
If I have the camera set to Jpeg or RAW+, it produces the 3 / 5 bracketed exposures no problem, though it's only the Jpegs that are bracketed, and not the RAW files.
Am I doing something wrong or missing a step? As far as I am aware, I have the latest firmware installed on the Camera.
And the Walnut is growing on me :)
Very nice!! :)
Cheers
Leon
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
01-14-2016, 05:44 AM
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Hi guys,
I would like to share the experience I had when buying a 3 flash off camera set from ebay.
There is absolutely nothing wrong the flash units themselves, in fact the Yongnuo YN 560 IV is possibly one of the best manual flashes I have used in a while, and the 560 TX is fantastic (just make certain to get the Nikon model TX for Pentax cameras)
What I am referring to if the "NiMH" batteries that come with some of the units, these are dodgy to say the least, and dangerous at worst which could cause serious injury / property damage.
The batteries were indicated as 2600 mAh LR6 batteries, they were branded TangsFire, and each flash unit came with a set of 8, it was an extra $8 on top of the price without batts, so thought these would be of reasonable quality (I did not expect eneloop pro).
OK, the flashes arrive together with the 560 TX, great setup, works fine, charged 8 of the batteries, NiMH mode indicates "wrong type" on four of the batteries.
OK time to pull out the aging brick that is my Uniross NiCad charger, I was thinking, okay, NiCad batteries are good enough for the time being, it's just a stopgap until i can get another 24 eneloops... two of the four batteries got really hot REALLY quickly, started producing an acrid smell, started producing smoke and the charger shut down indicating a thermal runaway.
Those that were NiMH batteries (of the 24 that arrived, 16 were NiMH) held nothing like 2600 mAh, more like 600 mAh, pretty much junk.
I contacted the seller, advised the issue and they immediately refunded me for the batteries, explained that they buy the batteries in buk and they cannot test every battery, they apologised for the inconvenience.
Got a pleasant surprise when 1 week later another 560 IV flash unit arrived together with a set of rogue gels express air freight together with a letter of apology.
Great service from the store, cannot fault the sevice, nor the hardware, the flash units and transmitter are fantastic just really disappointed in the batteries.
Moral of the story is to buy the batteries separate.
Cheers
Leon
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
01-14-2016, 04:39 AM
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Hi all,
Finally took a break from Photoshop, need to go for a refresher course, been a long time since I have played around with layer masks.
Will see if there is anything decent on Udemy.
Nice images of Otis Squirrel :) and not sure how woodpecker gravy is, but it's a great shot, love the puffed up dove.
Love the urn / vase dakight, Native American pottery is wonderful (as is the shot).
Jva, love the library pic.
FS, love the walnut (focus shifting?) , and the cathedral is amazing.
Hattifnatt, great shots, the 3rd pic of the path / road is great.
Cheers
Leon
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
01-13-2016, 11:18 AM
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Apologies that I have not been around much lately, have been having some personal issues, work issues.
Also had a property to shoot for a friend that's selling it... lots (really lots) of photoshop work to compose the images and get the lighting right, does not help that I only have 3 hours of proper "daylight" to work with atm.
Really wish the K5 IIs could allow for exposure bracketing in RAW :( only real complaint so far, but I am sure Pentax can fix this with an update, that being said, changing the aperture, and using the remote is not really an issue :)
Great shots all, too many to mention, I'll just say Keep up the good work!! :)
Cheers
Leon
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
12-29-2015, 04:30 AM
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Much milder :)
Though there is absolutely nothing to compare to a crisp winter day at -25°C where you can see for miles, and hear a pine needle drop 2 kms away, it's a little too cold for nature photography, especially since I have to take the dogs with me wherever I go for the time being.
Cheers
Leon
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
12-28-2015, 04:45 AM
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Rupert, really nice dove.
I know what you mean about looking forward to spring, last week has been 0°F (-19°C)
Too cold for the brilliant Weather sealed K5 IIs, took it over the weekend whilst out with the dogs, took it out of the backpack to take an image... left it on from the last image, and nada.
It killed the battery within 20 minutes, but brought it home, charged it, no issues. so maybe I need to invest in a Mylar insulated backpack.
Considering they are predicting -40°F this winter, there is a possibility that I will not be taking landscapes or Astro any time soon.
FS, love the canal, you feel as if you are there.
But as always, fantastic images.
Cheers
Leon
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
12-26-2015, 05:42 PM
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Wonderful pictures everyone.
FS, love the lot :)
Dakight, fantastic scenery and geology.
Rupert, love the birdies, the low light ones are impressive. The squirrels are amazing.
Toni, love the picture of keti on the bed.
Have nothing new, have been laying low recently.
Cheers
Leon
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-22-2015, 03:13 PM
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I always ask for the serial number if it's not supplied, and a photograph of the serial number as proof.
One time, many, many moons ago, I purchased a lens for a Digital Rebel, a 17-55 f:2.8
This turned out to be a third party copy, and a bad one at that, I sent it in for repairs, and Canon said it was not a genuine product.
It ensures that it's genuine (after contacting the manufacturer).
Can glean info about other lenses in the same range (are there issues... id est. Motor issues, coating issues, contact issues, DOA, et cetera).
Has the lens been refurbished by the manufacturer as stated?
Is the lens stolen?
Et cetera.
Caveat Emptor!!
Cheers
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
12-21-2015, 03:32 AM
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Great shots jva,
Love the street shot, wish I could go out and do that here :) (Too cold atm)
I should take the IIs out today and have a play in the snow, Sunrise is around 10:00, Sunset is around 2.5 hours after that, so not that much light to work with.
Rupert, I can only say... Damn!! Busy little boy then? You can see the family resemblance :)
Looking at purchasing a DA* 50-135.
But at €1100 ($1200) for a lens that can be purchased new for under $800 in the US. There is such a huge disparity in prices between Europe and USA,
especially Scandinavia and our insane import duties, and a VAT rate of 25%. Buying the same from B&H ($746) would be a tad over $1250 including import duty, VAT and shipping.
I received an email from a local-ish company, K3 II + DA-L 18-55 + DA* 50-135 €1600... Only thing is that I love the IIs too much :) Decisions, decisions.
Cheers
Leon
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
12-20-2015, 12:43 PM
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Nice shot of Otis, glad to hear that he has recovered from the memorial and the assassination of one of his underlings :)
Great Cardinal Shot
Cheers
Leon
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
12-18-2015, 06:21 PM
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My condolences to his lordship.
But it is a great shot. :)
cheers
Leon
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
12-18-2015, 03:32 PM
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Love the bokeh Doves Rupert.
Really impressive.
Cheers
Leon
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
12-17-2015, 11:36 AM
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Hi Rupert,
Many Thanks :) I have been in stitches for the past 2 minutes, I just realised what I wrote :)
Oops :) But you have to admit that FS does take fantastic pictures of Great Tits.
And the Jay is wonderful, I agree that the IIs has soul.
Cheers
Leon
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
12-17-2015, 05:41 AM
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Thanks FS! Great looking Tits!!
But the Passion Flower is amazing!
The Amaryllis opened last night, thought it would be a chance to try out the Yongnuo YN560 IV
Cheers
Leon
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