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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-02-2024, 02:47 PM
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I second the recommendation to just bring one body to stay compact and reduce theft risk when touring. My mobile phone is my camera backup shall it break or get lost.
For a compact kit, I combine a wide-range zoom, a compact very wide prime, a fast "normal" prime and, depending on destination, a slowish telephoto zoom on vacation, e.g.:
KP DA15, DA18-135, FA35 or DA40, DA55-300 PLM, or
K-1 DFA21, FA28-105, FA43, DA55-300 PLM (cropping a bit)
and a close-up achromatic lens matching the DA55-300 or, it if stays at home, the other zoom lenses. Usually, I don't have a need for a fast long zoom on vacation.
This is for our typical vacations, everything from hiking, kayak touring, cycling (KP) to staying at a cabin or other vacation home somewhere (K-1). Traveling with family, I have to be very quick, so the universal zooms are handy, I can spend more time on searching and framing a shot than on lens changes. For more city sightseeing, the DA15 may be replaced (or augmented) by a Sigma 8-16mm. If we however stay somewhere stationary with specific photo opportunities, I usually bring more, often two formats: KP for hiking/touring with the family and K-1 (+tripod, filters, DFA15-30 and primes such as SY12mm FE, DFA*50, Macros ...) for going on photo excursions on my own in the evening or for very specific destinations.
So it really depends on what your arrangements with fellow travelers are and what specifically you want to photograph. Last October, I did we did a week on bicyle and I "only" brought the GR IIIx. Two weeks ago, we went by car to a fixed location and I brought all of of the above mentioned, plus the other amigos, a second tripod and a printer for postcards.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
2 Days Ago
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The DFA 100 WR is a decent macro lens, the HD DFA 100 AW has an improved optical construction, with better purple fringing resistance, a little less longitudinal chromatic aberrations (LoCA) and the option for a software-based focus limiter in recent Pentax cameras. Compared to the most recent designs, the DFA is however falling behind on LoCA correction, in practice, this is however rarely visible in my macro work. At f/8 to f/11, aberrations are almost vanishing in the blur and other qualities are more important.
Aside from being WR/AW rated, the most important feature to me is a remarkable compactness. The DFA100 WR or AW are - beautifully made - true f/2.8 lenses with a mere 49mm front lens diameter and a very precisely constructed hood, that is basically part of the lens body design and not an afterthought/add-on. At non-macro distances, the tube is well retracted in the hood, extending to just within the hood at 1:1. The retains a great free working distance in combination with optimal protection of the extending lens tube. No other 100mm lens that I'm aware of provides this wide of a free angle for lighting. The other great feature is the very good robustness against stray light/contra light provided by the combination of excellent coatings and interior blackening. That is very handy in difficult lighting situations, which are frequent in macro work, but you find that rarely discussed.
As I'm working mostly at the same magnification (1:1) and apertures, I have little experience with P-TLL. I tend to leave room for reflected highlights and know my required flash power for my most used setups from experience. When I set up "scene lighting", I often start out with P-TTL, but convert to manual (a Godox feature) to eliminate the time consuming pre-flash that leads to a slightly higher shutter lag.
In addition to the HD DFA100AW, I'm using the Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2:1 macro. It's rendering is absolutely lovely, including a good foreground (the thing that I most dislike about the DFA 100s), has great CA correction, but has various handling issues and isn't actually an f/2.8 lens. Except for the hood and a rather large diameter, I also like the Irix 150mm, LoCA not as perfectly corrected as the Laowa, but well ahead of the Pentax DFA 100s. Both come nowhere near in terms of stray/contra-light resistance nor compactness of the DFA100s though.
I'm currently using the HD DFA100 AW in the single-in-challenge. None of my photos so far would show any optical imperfections of the lens. So while I can't answer you specific comparison questions to Canon lenses, to me the HD DFA100mm f/2.8's strengths make it worth keeping to me in addition to the others (same goes for the DFA100WR). They'd likely be different from, say, the ones from your RF macro, so don't expect to find them in the same area.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
2 Days Ago
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Compared to @Riggomatic I'm using a short lens, but it does feel very long to me, especially on the KP -- my K-1 has been welded to the stacking rail for most of the month. I haven't used AF a lot, but the lens simply feels like a regular screwdriver lens instead of going through the long macro focus throw. The HD version improves the already very good smc handling of stray and contra lights, well ahead of any other macro lens that I'm aware of. Together with the same excellent hood and very compact build, it is the most flexible macro lens when it comes to lighting. Bokeh has (unfortunately) not changed much, a but busy and the foreground blur at 1:1 is still not pleasant. For the 2nd half of the month, I'll try to capture more street scenes or other "large" stuff. I've been in and around the house too much, grabbing the camera for a half hour outing is always a welcome change.
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Forum: General Photography
3 Days Ago
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About the same here, but only three in actual use. I'm still considering a Berlebach wooden tripod, but have not gotten around to visiting them. They're produced maybe a 1h drive away, do sell on site and seem to have really good heads as well.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
04-06-2024, 06:48 AM
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With the sun this close to the horizon, there is plenty of atmosphere in between to absorb most of the sun's energy. The metal shutter is also a little less susceptible to heat. Photography on/around the pepperberry farm has demonstrated this over and over again :-).
A great flare shot, btw.!
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
04-02-2024, 03:10 AM
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March was, once more, mostly a macro shot month. My favorite is a male Osmia cornuta (European orchard bee, a mason bee), reaching deep into a miralbelle flower for nectar, in our backyard.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
04-08-2024, 04:20 AM
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My computer is at the moment either off, because even at 1/5000 seconds flash duration, the vibration from the (quiet) fans is enough to reduce resolution in my 4x - 10x exposures using the rig clamped to my desk, or my computer and I are busy developing, stacking and retouching those stacks of 60-180 exposures each. I did take daily pictures with my s.i.c. lens, but they'll only come in a batch later this week. I'll make an effort to catch up on yours on my phone.
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
04-06-2024, 12:58 AM
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While from a performance and storage reliability perspective my SanDisk Extreme Pro cards have all been excellent, several of them failed mechanically: The write protection slider is very fragile and some of the cards split. This is relevant, my daughter's K-50 stopped working because a little piece of plastic from the write protection slider fell into the card slot and bent a contact. I had to disassemble the camera to bend it back, the German Pentax authorized repair service wanted to change the entire mainboard ...
My Lexar cards so far all work well. I have used two (classic SD, "bronze") for about 10 years now and another one (UHS, "silver") is going in/out multiple times a day currently, for focus stacks. I have not experienced write protection slider or other mechanical nor electrical issues with them.
As greyscale mentioned, the Sony Tough cards however are mechanically robust on an entirely different level. I bought one in a local store when I went out without a card in the camera and really appreciate the robustness. They don't have that useless slider to break in the first place. :-)
Speed-wise, I like cards with at least sustained 100Mb/s read, because that's the rate that my import process on the computer supports, with simultaneous backup writes to a NAS. But basically all decent cards support that. Even the slowest current models of the Sony Tough cards are fast enough for Pentax cameras (not entirely sure of K3 III).
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
04-04-2024, 12:45 AM
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The KP is technology-wise a bit more advanced than the K-70/KF, but I doubt the you'd notice much of a difference. I surely did not, but only tried my son's K-70 for a limited time. The KP sensor is a tiny bit cleaner, because it lacks the (barely used) on-chip phase detect sensors of the K-70/KF. It does feel more substantial, not on single digit level though. The button layout is more aligned with the double-digit series than the K-3, but as you don't switch between Pentax cameras anymore, it will be a one time re-learning with either of those options anyway.
When it comes to ergonomics, the KP feels somewhat like the old film cameras, just heavier. Contrary to what you may read elsewhere, I like mine better without the battery grip, because even the largest KP grip is too shallow to wrap my fingers around in K-3 style and I usually support the camera from below with the pinky of the angled right hand, which the grip prevents. With that pinky support, working with the limiteds, including the DFA21mm, the DFA100 WR/AW, DA18-135 and DA55-300 feels very comfortable to me, even heavier lenses like the Laowa 100mm/2.8 feel secure.
Compared to the KP, the K-70 seems to be a lot lighter, the grip is on the edge for my longish fingers. I suppose the KF would be the same.
From a robustness standpoint, you should look out for a later (the date can be found in the respective thread) K-70, that is a lot less prone to the aperture block solenoid failure. The KP is prone to a crack in the display cable, so don't overuse the mechanism and avoid a used KP with supposedly lots of flipped out screen use. I've read that Pentax is running out of spares for repairs. Strategically, the KF would likely be servicable for a longer time, but a serious defect in the K-70/KF could economically be a write-off case anyway. The battery holding clip in the K-70 easily breaks, so care is advisable during the frequently required battery changes, 3rd party spares are available, in addition to Pentax parts. The KP has a more robust design.
You should plan on getting multiple original Pentax batteries, there don't seem to be any adequate 3rd party offerings. While the often lower capacity is something one can deal with, they all seem to die pretty soon.
And, btw., I like the KP JPEGs a lot more than the K-1 and K-5 ones.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
04-04-2024, 05:57 PM
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Yes, it uses a single-digit-like construction.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-04-2024, 02:36 PM
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How about a newly built workshop/storage shed exclusively for her hobby? Considering that I recently contributed several days of photographic documentation work to her research, I feel pretty safe at the moment :-). This would have been an excellent time for a K1 III release.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
03-31-2024, 01:56 PM
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Time to make a choice - we'll be out all day, so I need to pack what I'm going to use. And remember, we're starting with a theme day right away, nothing @pepperberry farm; or @iheiramo would need a reminder for though :-).
I think I'll go with the HD DFA 100mm 1:2.8 macro. This way, I can sometimes use a project shot but also enjoy the new enhanced usability over the smc WR version, that is provided by the the focus limiter.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
03-25-2024, 08:54 AM
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A manson bee in action is the mirabelle, which started blossoming even earlier than usual this year at the beginning of March.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
03-26-2024, 12:30 AM
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Other photo projects continue and I will be late posting the last week (on a 'no phones' trip), but I will join back in. Thinking about the HD DFA 100 AW or another GR IIIx month.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 III Monochrome
03-25-2024, 12:34 AM
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Indeed the exact opposite. With minimal R&D investment they used the opportunity to attract photographers even from outside the established Pentax community with a compelling product, something they've not been able to for a long time.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
12-14-2023, 10:32 PM
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From July, a male Halictus bee on oregano, one of the larger species (9-10mm):
The tongue always fascinates me,
it folds out to reach deep, pollen all over the head,
and back in for takeoff.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
03-21-2024, 11:35 AM
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I have given up on it. Somehow, every time I go out, I seem to need, actually want, something different. With two digital bodies short of the above, cameras need to shift between different bags, backpacks and a b&w box depending on the activity. So most of my lenses, charged batteries, grips, filters, lens cases etc. sit in a metal cabinet, while cameras float in the bags and memory cards just always disappear on my desk. Macro stuff doesn't currently fit, so it sits in boxes on the floor.. Time to sell some stuff.
I'm somewhat jealous about just grabbing one of the color-coded bags. I guess I'm trying to do too many different things for that, lacking focus. :)
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Forum: Ricoh GR
03-19-2024, 12:50 AM
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Not much of a mystery, but physics. There is a major negative blue factor in the monochrome value calculation to get the sky dark and enhance contrasts - blue is scatted more and normally "fills" the shadows. Blue however, has a fairly strong color filter and therefore usually a relatively weak raw signal as well as only half the number of photo sites on the sensor compared to green. Therefore, it is a relatively noisy channel. Now subtracting blue in lower saturation areas (transition zone) makes the smallish difference appear even noisier.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-18-2024, 01:28 AM
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For extreme close-ups, try it reversed, see e.g. the bees in Single in February 2022 - F 28mm | Flickr !
It is one of my highest resolving lenses, at f/4 on par with my Compon-S enlarger lens at 4x for focus stacks.
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Forum: Photographic Technique
03-16-2024, 04:54 PM
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My experience is indeed a little different. I tend to take long exposures mainly when I don't have the K-1 with me, but the KP should perform rather similar: Using the KP, I have quite some keepers exposing the DA15 or DA18-135 on the short end (not much more than 18mm) up to 0.6s handheld, while using the FA35, it's more 1/4s - without bracing/support etc. On the K-1, I do have some rather crisp 0.6s examples using the 12mm Samyang FE, or 1/2s with the 20mm Voigtländer, but the sample size is much less conclusive than with the KP.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
03-14-2024, 05:13 PM
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For inspecting photographs, I really like FastRawViewer. It is very fast indeed, allows to quickly switch between raw, embedded JPEG and external JPEG views, can display the degree of raw over and (configurable) under-exposure, show highlights or shadows, apply exposure correction etc. - everything to check the quality before editing, or to be happy with JPEGs. File operations (move, rename, copy ...) work on both JPEG and RAW combined, including sidecar files. I use it as a 2nd stage in my workflow, after the tool that copies files from cards into my "sorting" area, keeping track of already copied ones and saving a backup copy to the NAS and before importing the keepers. I like FastRawViewer so much that I actually use it under Linux via Wine (a Windows compatibility layer), even if it comes with a little usability penalty on the file dialogs.
To view JPEGs and create albums on Windows, we're still using Picasa, but it is now somewhat of a secondary cataloging solution. I primarily use Darktable. Luckily they nicely co-exist, as long as you take care of the new location in the other catalog when moving stuff around.
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Forum: Sold Items
03-13-2024, 12:03 PM
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Even if I'm not the seller: Owning all three, I have preferred the f/1.7 versions in general because of better sharpness at ~f/2.8 or wider and better, i.e. more decisive and more precise, AF. The FA50/1.4 shines as a specialist for dreamy shots with smooth bokeh.
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Forum: General Photography
03-11-2024, 05:10 PM
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Are you maybe recommending to upload images directly here on pentaxforums.com?
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Forum: Pentax K-3 III Monochrome
03-11-2024, 12:00 PM
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While the DA70, the FA77 etc. are fine lenses, tracking performance of the ones with build-in motors is significantly better. As an alternative to primes, @biz-engineer gave very solid advice. If you're switching away from a range finder, you might as well go to what tracks best. I did use screwdriver AF lenses (in-camera motor) successfully for indoor sports, but the keeper rate with my Sigma 70-200/2.8 OS HSM is better. The precision in low light and speed of the DFA50/1.4 is another step up, but of course the flexibility of a zoom lens would be an advantage and you may need to stop the prime down a bit for sufficient DoF. @iheiramo showed a few very nice horse shots (like this one for example) taken with the DFA85/1.4 even wide open though.
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