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Forum: Lens Clubs
06-15-2017, 12:58 PM
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What a great capture. Congratulations!
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Forum: Lens Clubs
06-14-2017, 12:02 PM
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Beautiful birds and shots!
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Forum: Lens Clubs
06-11-2017, 04:41 PM
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Wow! Never pushed K-1 so far...
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Forum: Lens Clubs
06-11-2017, 08:59 AM
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As I remember one bird attacked another perching on a tree branch. Finally the first one grabbed the second by the beak and pulled out. All action took about a second and became visible on computer only.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
06-10-2017, 12:46 PM
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Forum: Lens Clubs
06-10-2017, 11:34 AM
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I have shot wildlife with K-x, K-5, K-5IIs, K-3, and K-1. And I can tell you that K-3 produces more details (unfortunately more initial noise too) than all 16MP alternatives. Regardless what your own experience with Bigma tells you AF accuracy and image details matter a lot in wildlife shooting. For example I always try to focus on the eye. I simply don't keep images with soft eye appearance.
Second of all. K-1 is the great camera. It looks to me that AF of K-1 is slightly better then all of preceeding APS-C models. However, K-1 provides a 4.4fps vs. 8.3fps of K-3 (10fps of 7D Mark II and D500). Once I shot a fight of two humming birds with K-5 and FA*300/4.5. Humming birds are very territorial and fight a lot over their common places. In total I got 8 frames which means that with 7fps shooting range of K-5 the whole fight duration was slightly over 1 sec. Below is frame #7. Please don't judge it harshly. The shot was taken in deep shadow against the sun and the image was cleaned up extensively at PP. Anyway, I doubt that I could get such lucky shot with 4.4fps.
Regarding TCs. Following your logic that average wildlife photographer should be happy with A4 or Internet size images, why not just crop from highly resolving sensor? But, I paid my dues here too. Long time ago I even did a short study evaluating five best TCs available in Pentax mount at that time. I purchased FA*300/4.5 over DA*300/4 to shoot it with AF 1.4x TC. Then I switched back to pure 300mm when 1.4x AF Pz Tamron equipped lens was unable to AF steady on simple slowly flying osprey. To make it short. TC robs one stop or more from your lens. it prompts you to shoot at slower shutter speeds. If someone have a beautiful (but heavy by default) 300-400/2.8 lens it is probably OK. If someone shoots DA 55-300 or Bigma with 1.4X TC it is there own choice. Regardless how people praise "perfectness" of TC, there is no magic. It is a simple physics. TC adds an extra glass elements in optical path, that always affect final output. I'm not a snob. I understand that people shoot what they can afford or at least justify money wise. However, pro glass is simply PRO GLASS.
There are a few excuses when shooting an action. Dynamics of the bodies and appearance of the scenery may compensate for not good lens or technique. The wings on the next image are a bit soft. But I like it as a whole.
However, if someone shoots, let say, bird portrait, cleanness of details matter.
And now regarding your statement: You don't have to shy away from getting a shot just because your current gear is not an ideal set of compromises.
I don't. Sometimes I simply unable to get a shot due to well known Pentax cameras limitations. It is that simple.
Have fun,
SG
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Forum: Lens Clubs
06-09-2017, 08:14 PM
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Thanks. I definitely need it :)
---------- Post added 06-09-17 at 08:15 PM ----------
Love it! Would crop it differently, though.
---------- Post added 06-09-17 at 08:19 PM ----------
Good point! I never used it actually since I purchased it together with DFA 150-450. For our SoCal bright weather it might work. Thank you.
BTW, Swallows are great. I observed similar activities a couple of times. They are not easy to shoot at all.
---------- Post added 06-09-17 at 08:21 PM ----------
Good job with manual AF!
---------- Post added 06-09-17 at 08:24 PM ----------
Love all of them! Such a lovely creature! Recently bumped in one too.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
06-08-2017, 09:27 PM
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Thank you, if it is related to my pictures :)
I'm not sure of anything anymore. All my previous likes just disappeared somehow.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
06-08-2017, 08:10 PM
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Both are really great captures!
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Forum: Lens Clubs
06-08-2017, 04:44 PM
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I prefer full 24MP of K-3 or at least 20-21MP of 7DII or D500. With K-1 crop I shoot only Sigma 8-16, because I don't have FF UW lens equivalent and do not crop much.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
06-08-2017, 02:45 PM
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Pentax HD 1.4x AF TC is APS-C only. I haven't noticed that and just waisted $500.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
06-08-2017, 06:43 AM
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It is FF. However, for the wildlife I do prefer extra reach advantage of APS-C.
---------- Post added 06-08-17 at 06:55 AM ----------
I'm going to keep K-1 and D FA 150-450. 1.4x HD TC is useless though.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
06-07-2017, 07:44 PM
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Hi guys,
It's been a while... It is my swan song, I guess. After lot of thinking I finally decided to move on and sell all of my APS-C gear including my beloved and very trustworthy companion of almost five years Sigma 500/4.5. There are a few shots with K-3 and Sigma, probably the last ones...
Peregrine Falcon Father Attacking Flying Nearby Osprey (San Pedro, CA)
Happy Osprey (Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve):
Rare for SoCal Red Fox (San Pedro)
Red-tailed Hawk Grounded :-) (Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve):
Endangered Clapper Rail (Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve)
Another Happy Camper (Balboa Lake)
Happy shooting to you all,
SG
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Forum: Lens Clubs
02-07-2016, 11:41 AM
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Cross posting form the "Bird Portraits" thread with some extras.
Yesterday was very windy in LA (today is even worse). So, I postponed my birding activities and stayed at home. To my surprise I discovered "home delivery". On Saturday morning (yesterday) I spotted a Great Horned Owl right out of my 2nd floor bedroom window. So I took a few pictures from the window, then little bit closer - from my backyard, and 4-5 hours later I could not resist and climbed the slope. There is what I got.
Shot as usual handheld with K-3 and Sigma 500/4.5
BTW: the bird stayed all day and I lost a sight of it in the darkness. Today in the morning (Sunday) I've seen the bird again in the same tree, on the same branch. As I said it looks like I have earned special "home delivery" treatment from the Nature.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
02-05-2016, 08:13 AM
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Forum: Lens Clubs
02-01-2016, 10:41 PM
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Something evil, but nice!
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Forum: Lens Clubs
01-31-2016, 06:10 PM
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Hi Travis, I've always liked your eagles :)
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Forum: Lens Clubs
01-31-2016, 04:07 PM
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Hi guys,
It is nice to see the thread alive and going. There are so many really great images here.
I didn't posted here for quite time: just did not want to share mediocre shots. However, yesterday I was lucky enough to watch this bloody Peregrine almost in the center of Los Angeles most populated area. I've shot quite a few very nice close images while the Peregrine was busy with what used to be a coot from a local pond.
I think it was a female: the bird was as large as regular Cooper's Hawk. She had two bands on both legs: one federal band with only four digits readable and another colored leg band with a clearly visible code. I I may try to report this to officials.
Anyway, Here you go: K-3 and Sigma 500/4.5 handheld as usual.
Happy shooting all,
SG
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Forum: Lens Clubs
11-25-2015, 06:19 PM
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Hi Rupert,
There are a few from the past (either FA*300/4.5+1.4x Tamron AF TC or Sigma 500/4.5)
Fast food challenge
Fast food remorse
Go Natural!
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Forum: Lens Clubs
10-26-2015, 09:49 PM
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Nice!
I have a soft spot for owls, I guess.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
10-25-2015, 05:05 PM
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I have two TAv BIF User modes set up to 1/1250 and 1/1600 both at f/6.3. However, very often I shoot BIF at Av, trying to keep shutter speed no less than 1/800-1/1000.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
10-25-2015, 03:29 PM
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All - K-3 + Sigma 500/4.5 handheld as usual
Lucky Osprey
Belted Kingfisher
Knight Heron
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Forum: Lens Clubs
10-25-2015, 11:09 AM
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All of them are great to me
---------- Post added 10-25-15 at 11:10 AM ----------
Perfect shots!
---------- Post added 10-25-15 at 11:11 AM ----------
I wish I'll see this one day...
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Forum: Lens Clubs
09-27-2015, 08:02 PM
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There are really nice shots, Travis. Are all of them from a tripod?
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Forum: Lens Clubs
09-22-2015, 10:45 PM
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Good one. There is a bit of green cast to my taste. I had the same problem with my shots of owls surrounded by green leaves. Then I made it a bit warmer and liked the results a lot.
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