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Forum: General Photography
02-08-2019, 05:29 AM
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Hi everyone,
I just wanted to post here (some may have noticed from what I've posted (and not posted) lately) that I had some time away from the forum, around five weeks, at the end of last year before coming back and slowly getting a bit more into the swing of things.
That was because my wife gave birth to our little girl, Mara, at the end of November. Born eight weeks premature, she spent a month in hospital, first in intensive care and then in medium care. She started in an incubator with breathing apparatus, heart monitor, IV, feeding tube and one by one these were removed as she grew stronger and learned to feed by mouth, before coming home on the 26th of December. It was a difficult time, especially as here in Spain the father does not get extra time off in such circumstances and if I'd taken my paternity leave I'd have been left with none by the time she got home.
So I had no time for such frivolities as photography forums and despite being a very active period in my photography (I had a camera with me every day), the photos were very personal and I have shared very few. I still haven't fully decided on my stance on sharing photos of the little one, so I'm being very conservative of what I post online. Photography of other subjects has been reduced to almost zero as I have no time and with Mara so small we're not planning on doing any travelling any time soon.
For photography in the hospital, it was mostly done in very low light (many photos are at ISO 6400 and f/1.4) and the K-3 didn't get a look in. I relied almost exclusively on my little Fujifilm X-M1 and 35mm f/1.4 and 23mm f/2 primes, which did a fantastic job of recording the experience. The K-3 would have been too big and too noisy even if I had lenses for it suitable for such circumstances. I did take some photos with my MX and Tri-X pushed to 1600, but I haven't developed them yet. Now at home the K-3 gets some use but the Fujifilm is just better suited for baby photography.
So now I have a lovely new photography subject and am adapting day by day to our new family member. I hope the journey will be a fine one.
Here are the few pics I've shared online so far.
Mara by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
Mara by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
Mara by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
Mara by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
Wonder baby by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
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Forum: General Photography
02-01-2019, 10:25 AM
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Terrible shots, but always nice to feed the birdies in the garden.
I moved to a new house 1 year ago and my cunning plan is to feed them so there's plenty of photo opps moving forward
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Forum: General Photography
01-24-2019, 10:10 PM
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A concise and easy to follow explanation, how dare you make the topic so easily understood, how will keyboard warriors use their time now? Oh well, time to sit back and watch, Thanks
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Forum: General Photography
01-24-2019, 08:02 PM
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Actually, FF is one stop shallower DoF than APS-C only if you use a 1.5X longer focal length on FF to replicate the field-fo-view you had on APS-C.
If you move the exact same lens from APS-C to FF (assuming it covers the larger image circle), you'll find that the lens has a much wider FoV on FF and has one stop deeper DoF at the whole-image print level.
(This is why so many people get confused -- the think about putting the same lens on two different formats but that has nothing to do with the actual concept of equivalence as BigMackCam and I would define it.)
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
01-09-2019, 07:00 AM
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Just a bit of fun seeing what the potential was with some of the more photogenic kids toys from Christmas ...(Since I didn't get any for me!) 
Little BB-8 from Star Wars was a good candidate, along with a couple of castle & Knight characters
K7, DFA 28-105, 2x Cactus RF60, Pentax AF-540FGZII, Cactus V6II Tx
ISO100, F9.5, 1/180th
For those curious, (and you definately SHOULD try this at home folks!), I took some to show the set up ... trying to make use of a single high bookshelf to give the low perspective, and the patch of grey wallpaper behind. I used one flash with a "powersnoot" to light the wall with blue gels, a main flash in softbox and a fill light on umbrella .... you can see my beautiful studio 
Because the Pentax flash with the snoot was facing the main softbox light, I didn't bother using a radio receiver with it, but just used the Slave 2 mode, which is very reliable.Working so close the direct manual power adjustments were not a problem. But the Radio control over the highly placed softbox and umberella flashes was very convenient.
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Forum: General Talk
01-03-2019, 08:39 AM
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This thread lens itself to f-stopping for a moment for some reflexing on the forums.
Although we do occasionally shutter when we are exposed to ISOlated flashes of acrimony on PF, most people maintain a sunny f/16 demeanor with just enough loony f/11 to astrotrace a smile on our faces.
Here's to more camera-raderie in 2019!
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Forum: General Talk
12-31-2018, 04:52 PM
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A year ago, I posted My PentaxForums "New Year's Wish" for 2018... and here we are, another year gone already. My, how time flies as I get older :o
A good friend of mine and fellow moderator @pjv (Peter) - who, by the way, has put in a huge amount of effort on our collective behalf this last year - suggested I might consider posting a follow up to that previous "New Year's Wish". So here it is. Please direct any complaints to Peter, since it was his idea :p :lol: (sorry, Pete :p)...
What a year it has been in this world of ours :o There have been many positive aspects, for sure - things to be happy about and thankful for. But it seems there's been so much trouble, sadness and heart-ache... so many things to worry about, so much "noise". We live in an increasingly complicated and stressful world. And many will have had personal, family and / or professional issues to deal with too, I'm sure.
Most of us here at PentaxForums are hobbyists, but even those professionals among us come here, I'd guess, for much the same reasons... to enjoy a particular kind of social interaction, gain and share knowledge, exchange views and ideas, solve problems for ourselves or others, and just to "chew the fat". With everything that's happening elsewhere, I'd like to believe most of us would wish to do so with a healthy dose of mutual respect (perhaps even cameraderie) towards each other. Indeed, I'd suggest those that don't are missing the point - no, the very spirit - of these particular forums, compared to some other well-known online haunts ;)
To my mind, PentaxForums has become a noticeably friendlier place in the past year, and that's due primarily to our members - to whom I'm personally grateful. Of course, we still have some of the same old problems with emotions and passions running high on occasion (especially where matters of pride are concerned), and some members "crossing the line" as a result :o But it really feels to me like we're moving in the right direction. That puts a big smile on my face, as this is still the only online community in which I choose to participate regularly - not just as a moderator, but as an active member - and it continues to play a significant role in my daily life.
What a year it could be for us if we all pull together to make this an even friendlier place... if we all exercise just a little more restraint in those inevitable times when our emotions are stirred... if we calmly employ facts, logic and reasoning - rather than barbed comments - to challenge others...
We now have more guidance for new members to help them understand and acclimatise to our community, and some new and updated forum rules, but really it's we - the members - who hold the power to make the biggest difference in how this community goes about its business, attracts and retains members, grows in value and stature, and - importantly - how it is perceived from outside.
On that note, I'm reminded of two rather hackneyed (yet still absolutely relevant) pieces of advice my mother drummed into me when I was but a mere slip of a lad (and I hope you'll forgive me for sharing them):
- "Two 'wrongs' don't make a 'right'"
...and...
- "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all"
That latter phrase might be rather limiting to constructive discussion in these forums, and could benefit from a little adaptation. Perhaps it would be better phrased as "If you can't say something respectfully, don't say anything at all"?
At any rate, this advice from my Mum is on my own check-list for the year ahead, and I hope I can convince others to consider it too. Take it from me... you don't want to mess with my Mum! :lol:
In closing, I'd like to sincerely thank every member here, from our newest to our longest-established. I continue to learn every day from so many of you. You teach me things I didn't know, make me challenge what I thought I already did, and help me solve my problems. Despite occasional frustrations, I've enjoyed every single day on these forums (especially when I can pass on some of my limited knowledge to help others), and I always look forward to the wide-ranging discussions - even those in the News & Rumours and Non-Pentax forums!! :p :lol:
Here's wishing all of my fellow members - and your loved ones - a wonderful 2019. May it bring all you wish for :)
With my kindest regards...
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-21-2018, 07:54 AM
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I did have the chance to do a couple of quick shots with the 28-105 -- all were with the lens at 28mm and there were no hotspots. I didn't have time to test other focal lengths. This is one from along the Delaware River …
Have fun!
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
12-14-2018, 11:16 AM
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Well, I never said they were my filters ... or lenses.
I suppose I should come clean and reveal part of my secret identity. I do own a retail camera store, and I do a lot of on-site repairs too.
While I try very hard to baby my equipment and have seldom damaged stuff (although, I have ... sigh), I do rub shoulders with people who have had very bad days with their equipment. So, yes, I do see a lot of "worst case scenario" type stuff, and I have seen people who have bemoaned having to buy a new lens while on a cruise because something bad happened.
And yes, I do keep my "little shop of horrors" collection of filters which bravely sacrificed themselves to save the lens underneath. To be fair, not all the filters unscrewed easily, and some took some encouragement to come off. The filters I don't have in my collection are those I had to cut and bend to get them off the lens - those get thrown away with all their shards (optical glass does shatter into very sharp pieces, be careful).
And I have seen a couple of filters which shattered enough to send some of those shards to scratch or chip the front element. But I don't think the lens would have survived the direct impact if filterless anyway.
As for my own personal lens collection - only a few wear permanent UV filters. When shooting B&W film, I like to use contrast filters. When digital, I try to keep my polarizer handy. But one favourite ultrawide got a mark on its front that wouldn't have been there if I'd put a decent quality UV over it. Mea culpa.
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
12-14-2018, 09:11 AM
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I keep a small stack of ruined UV and Skylight filters handy for when people ask whether it's a good idea to have a protection filter over their lens. Each one successfully saved the lens it was mounted to. Some have large cracks running from the edge where they were hit (thus saving the lens filter ring - many of which are polycarbonate these days). Others have bullseye hits right in the middle, with chipped or holes right through the glass.
Is it technically better to have no glass in front of your lens' front element? Absolutely.
But if you're on vacation somewhere, and you bounce your camera off the hotel room doorknob, it ruins your holiday a lot less if you can unscrew the chipped filter, and keep shooting.
It's a lot less fun trying to use some valuable vacation funds to buy a replacement lens in some resort town where they're either impossible to find - or three times the price of what you'd pay back home.
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Forum: Ricoh GR
11-05-2018, 11:58 AM
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
08-27-2018, 03:56 PM
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Hi all :).
I have very trusted word today that Ricoh will definitely announce something at Photokina, or before, as opposed to no announcement of anything this year (some have been wondering, including myself).
Details have to wait, but its confirmed for sure. You know it's not going to be some lame point and shoot camera either. I was very happy to confirm that today. There is speculation on what is to be announced since April, but, I'm not so sure that's going to be all....
So look forward to Photokina (or anytime till then) for Ricoh/Pentax who have been pretty quiet since April. To me, that's good news and I wanted to share it here first because I care about the lot of you and like this website a lot.
p.s. Loving the K70 and the 55-300mm PLM. LOVING IT. Writing and photographing diligently...!
-Carl
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
08-10-2018, 09:20 AM
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You Tube
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src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3TR4G12waiQ?controls=1" allowfullscreen>
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Forum: Pentax Forums Giveaways
07-29-2018, 07:29 AM
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I fall into that lurker category, been around for a couple years. This contest has made me post more, that's a good thing. I bet I don't have 100 posts all together. However, I could never afford a K1 now that i'm retired so I'll try to win one. I have several full frame lenses so wouldn't require new glass to start. I have learned so much from this forum, crazy the amount of knowledge out here.
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Forum: General Photography
07-02-2018, 05:47 AM
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I find that photography is like bicycling -- it's a journey that one can do and enjoy even if others have done that same journey, too, and even if others have done that journey far faster on more expensive bicycles.
Maybe lots of others have taken the best possible picture of _______ but they aren't my own picture of it with my own vision of it. Moreover, the world creates new pictures every day with every sunrise, sunset, blooming flower, buzzing bee, and the bustle of the humanity. There are always new things to take pictures of and new compositions and juxtapositions waiting to be photographed.
I agree that it's a bit too easy to focus on the kit because it's the easiest thing to measure and change. Overall, great kit helps make great images just like a great bicycle helps make a great ride. But great cameras and great bicycles are neither necessary nor sufficient for a great journey. Whether with a camera or on a bike, it's just nice to be out seeing the world.
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Forum: General Photography
04-27-2018, 05:38 AM
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PentaxIsDoomed.
You must buy mirrorless.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-25-2018, 10:44 AM
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I went for the DA*200 instead of the DA*300 for one reason, it's lighter and easier to use hand held.
But my most used lens by far is the DA*60-250 which works fine with the 1.4 TC. It is hard to beat the versatility of a zoom, and short of the DFA 70-200 you aren't going to find a more versatile lens of that quality. That being said, a Tamron or Sigma 70-200 would probably be your best bet for what you want to do, if you can stand the weight.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-25-2018, 09:45 AM
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Agreed. If the OP is looking for something faster at the shorter lengths, I'd recommend the DA*50-135 - would be ideal for kid photography (at least for a zoom with some reach). It isn't very useful for wildlife however (not long enough) and itt doesn't work well on full-frame, but that also means the price of this (EXCELLENT) lens has come down in the used market *drastically*. They're easy to find for around $500 now (less than half what I paid used only around 2008). As another mentioned really depends if kids or wildlife are the priority.
Another options is an older, manual 70-210/2.8 like the Vivitar Series 1 lenses. They are fantastic (I have two) but you have be comfortable (or willing to get comfortable through practice) with focusing manually.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
08-23-2017, 07:56 AM
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I had trouble taking my eyes off the sky and releasing the shutter! But I did get 42 in a couple of manual settings, all in +/- 2 EV brackets of 5 shots each. The last two are shaky as I bumped the tripod trying to get the lens cap back on! I include them just because I was so amazed that so much detail remained as the sun's surface reappeared in the "diamond ring" effect. The 150-450 is a really nice lens...
Shot with a K3 II and the 150-450 at 450mm. This was in Easley, SC, at the Taco Bell! No processing at all other than cropping. I plan to combine the brackets at some point, but I was pretty happy with the individuals...
 IMGP2212 (2) by Michael Stevenson, on Flickr
 IMGP2216 (2) by Michael Stevenson, on Flickr
 IMGP2218 (2) by Michael Stevenson, on Flickr
 IMGP2219 (2) by Michael Stevenson, on Flickr
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
08-24-2017, 09:52 AM
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I was at lake Minitare outside of Scottsbluff (having driven from near Denver). My setup was a K50 with the 55-300 WR PLM on a decent Manfrotto tripod. I thought for the set-up I used the results are pretty good.
3 pics: Baily's beads, some solar prominence's and a big 'ol solar corona. I have enough images at different exposures that I'd love to attempt to try a stacked image with the flares and full corona taken at different exposures, but I doubt I'll have the time anytime in the near future.
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Forum: General Photography
02-14-2017, 08:59 AM
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Saw this and had to share:
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