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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
04-05-2019, 03:03 PM
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That's cool! :)
Well... the Sol45 does do macro too (when you have the Macro rings attached, so it's a good comparison :lol:
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
04-04-2019, 09:55 PM
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Nice! Got any shots to illustrate this?
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
04-04-2019, 03:53 AM
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Compared to some other (lensbabies) it's actually one of the easiest to Manual Focus with, using Live View helps. I think because the effect is so pronounced it actually assists with telling you when you have achieved focus as only a small segment of what you see on the screen or OVF is actually sharp and in focus, the rest blurred. In fact I would say this is one of the easiest manual focusing lenses I have used to date period. I imagine it's a little like having a Canon S Type focusing screen, easier to see what and what is not in focus on the display.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
03-26-2019, 01:02 PM
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Super Nova Love
K-1+Sol45
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
03-13-2019, 03:41 AM
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Fern with Sol.
Taken with the Lensbaby Sol 45.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
03-07-2019, 03:56 AM
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Sol Splash
#lovelydeadcrap
Taken with +4 Macro Ring
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-12-2019, 03:43 PM
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Some Sol 45 Spam incoming!
(CPL used).
(Macro ring used)
(ND Filter used)
(ND Filter used)
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
01-20-2019, 11:15 AM
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Couple more with the +2 ring;
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
01-10-2019, 03:59 AM
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First shot with the Sol 45 with it's +2 Macro Ring;
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
01-04-2019, 09:19 PM
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Ok, here's some results. Please forgive the positioning and lack of properly distancing myself back with the KP to take on an exact same distance/FoV to the original K-1 shot. It was 40 degrees today, roasting hot and I looked for a place in shade on my street that I could cower under for the shots. It didn't leave much room to back up before I started sliding down a banking :lol:
I processed the images every so slightly as I feel it helps show the Sol45 effect more than sometimes a blandish SOOC.
Without further ado;
K-1, without blades.
KP, without blades, moved back on a different tripod to recreate similar FoV to the original K-1.
K-1, with blades
KP, with blades, moved back on a different tripod to recreate similar FoV to the original K-1.
 IMKP6911-2 by Eddy Summers, on Flickr
And just for reference sake, what the KP looked like FoV when replacing the K-1 in it's original tripod;
KP, without blades, same spot/tripod where K-1 took it's shots.
KP, with blades, same spot/tripod where K-1 took it's shots.
Apologies for the uninspiring subject matter.
My conclusion is the effect is still there, quite pronounced, I don't think you have much to worry on crop sensor.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
01-04-2019, 03:51 PM
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Yeah I'll do it all dw, I'll take the shot, change camera at the same spot AND also (using the other camera as a scene reference set up a second tripod further back to approximate the same FoV for the KP and shoot from their also. :D
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
01-04-2019, 03:04 PM
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I'll do that for you today, I'll tripod up even and swap cameras with the lens to hopefully illustrate the difference somewhat of the effect. I'll do it with the Velvet 56 as well as Sol 45. Watch this space.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
01-02-2019, 12:16 PM
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I get that, I mean if I take my KP it still means a shoulder bag, it just might feel a bit lighter and I might be able to cram a second lens in or something. I think that's one of the truly strong selling points of the GR, it has unreal IQ in a truly pocketable format.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
01-01-2019, 07:20 PM
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Interesting, I did think that crop wouldn't realise the full potential of some of the lensbaby line up, because as you say the interesting edge stuff literally gets cropped off or lacks the punch FF has in this regard. I am definitely keen to do some comparison shots now...
IQ wise I cannot tell the difference between the K-1 and KP, and I have seen excellent GRII shots where again the IQ is hard to differentiate. I mean I guess pixel peeping can reveal a lot but 'as is' things can be very hard to pin down.
I noticed that lensbaby seem to support smaller sensor cameras, like micro thirds is it or something? Could it be that perhaps ditching Pentax/Ricoh altogether and moving to a smaller sensor system that still enables lens swapping and the lensbaby line up is worth considering? Some of the mirrorless cameras are also pretty compact (though not pocketable like a GR.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
01-01-2019, 01:48 PM
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Ha! Here's a couple more;
I get what you're saying about ditching the dslr in favour of the GR, although I don't own one I have come close to grabbing one a few times, IQ wise it's superb indeed and if you're not shooting for paid events then I really think it could make a decent all rounder shooter. I too watch the GRIII with interest.
28mm (with AF) is a focal length I am missing also, I really debate whether to save for a FA31 or get a GRIII. I already 'dual wield' at events (K-1+KP) so adding a 3rd camera to give another prime focal length isn't as ridiculous as it sounds, and of course it then serves nicely as a walkaround shooter for those times when I don't want to carry a full on dslr.
I do however have the KP, with the small grip it's a pretty compact camera and thus I never really jump over to the GR camp because of that. If I wasn't shooting for money I would probably sell the KP and get a GR, have one full frame camera and one ultra compact.
I really should test the lensbabies out on a crop sensor, thus far all the images I've ever taken with them have been sitting on the K-1!
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
12-31-2018, 08:15 AM
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Sol45
Sol45
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
12-27-2018, 01:37 PM
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Yeah I definitely will, thus far I really like the results, and with pixel shift on it's definitely performing ok.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
12-27-2018, 01:10 PM
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Some test shots.
Sol 45 (without blades)
Sol 45 (without blades)
Sol 45 (with blades)
Initial impressions are good. It's not nearly as sharp as the Velvet 56, but in pixel shift mode it can help squeeze additional sharpness that really puts it on par. I think I will either get an extension tube or macro rings for this baby.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
12-18-2018, 12:39 PM
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+1 (at least that's been my experience to date)
I'm not bashing those capable of some truly astounding PP manipulation with artistic flare, there's just a limit for the regular user in this regard. My PP skills are not too shabby, self taught but I stack frames, layer, mask, use plugins, use a heap of different brushes for different tasks but I could not easily replicate the V56 or Sol45 style, for those that can with ease and pass it off as authentic, more power to you, but I'm yet to see a single user demonstrate even that and whether the additional PP time is worth it vs just having the lens to take you to that place quicker.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
12-17-2018, 08:36 PM
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Well that is the million dollar question indeed. Sadly I have yet to see a single good 'fake' tilt shift image, or something resembling what the Velvet 56 or Velvet 85 can manage. I'm guessing the post processing skills would have to be of an extremely high level and perhaps a good deal of time spent in post as well, you have to ponder if it is simply easier and more cost effective (yes cost effective because time = money) to simply use special lenses that cater to that look natively. Let me be clear, I'm not disagreeing with you, I'm highlighting the point you are making and in turn expressing mine. If you would have links to peoples work where they have mastered the blur tools and what not to such a degree to mimic what these lenses can manage natively then I would be really interested in seeing that work. To date the opposite is true (from what I have seen), for the majority of us togs with ok to above average PP skills there is no getting away with it in post, it just doesn't look good like what the real thing can achieve.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
12-17-2018, 05:32 PM
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I've really enjoyed the Velvet 56 and have just recently added my review. I too saw the Kathleen Clemons blog which put me onto it in the first place, and I think I will likely try the macro ring set as well, but first I just wanted to see how things behaved without them. Perhaps the K-1 resolves so well that strong crops can allow for an almost macro feel, I dunno...
The Velvet 56 is also a macro lens as well so if I really like the Sol 45, I may invest in the macro lens and sell the 56... who knows... I'm just not sure I will need both (even though they resolve differently).
I've never tried any tilt shift lens, I quite like the results when it's done well, I utterly detest the fake instagram kinda stuff tho, I'm definitely a believer in getting it as authentic as possible at the time (be it a tilt lens, using flash gels for colour manipulation, whatever...), I'm not really sold on the concept of using normal lenses and trying to steer the image in post to being something akin to what these lensbaby things can achieve (or rubbing Vaseline on the lens lol).
I'll be sure to add my results and eventually a review in due course.
EDIT: Oh.. something else I forgot to mention, the Sol 45 has a fixed aperture of 3.5. (I think it stops down to f5 with the bokeh blades in use). The 3.5 is interesting to me because with the Velvet 56 I find somewhere between f2.8 and f4 is probably the best aperture to use in general use for striking a balance between the effect and central sharpness. In fact you could release a f3.5 velvet 56 (for cheaper) and I think it would sell quite well indeed. So the fixed 3.5 is going to be interesting and I feel having used the V56 and experienced it's aperture range that the idea of 'only' a fixed aperture just doesn't scare me so much :)
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
12-17-2018, 02:37 AM
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That's my view. I've just ordered one, should be with me for xmas.
Yet not a single review in the forums of it. Hopefully I can change that.
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