amcinroy

Status: Member
Join Date: 20th February 2004
Last Login: 2nd June 2009 - 20:34
Real Name: Andy McInroy
Website: Visit My Website
Occupation: Research Engineer
Interests: Landscape Photography, Hillwalking, Rock Climbing

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All Forum Comments

Topic / Forum	Comment
photomatix Posted in General Digital Photography Discussion	George, I expect that you've seen loads of good HDR images and have never known. It's only the bad ones that stand out like a sore thumb. And there's plenty of bad photographs of all types. What do you think about this one I took looking towards northern ireland's mighty prow of Fairhead?
photomatix Posted in General Digital Photography Discussion	If anyone is interested in my own application of HDR for photographing the interiors of marine caves then check out my project. http://www.andymcinroy.com/5port.htm I use Photomatix and blend between 3 and 7 exposures depending on how much contrast there is in the scene. The project is actually featured in the latest issue of Pentax User Magazine.
Pentax User Magaizne Posted in General Photographic Discussion	I'll be in it too Ben !! It will be good to share an issue with you !! I've just got a 4 page spread in Amateur Photographer published this week if anyone is interested. May31st issue.
landscapes and the pentax 16/45 Posted in Lenses for Pentax Cameras	Ahh, there's a bit more to it than that Ken. Take a read through my articles which have some tips. http://www.andymcinroy.com/monthidx.htm Many of these images were taken with the 16-45mm DA Andy
DON'T BUY PENTAX DIGITAL LENSES!!! Posted in Pentax Digital SLRs	I refer the honourable gentleman to the answer I gave some moments ago. Andy
Pentax FF future made clear Posted in Pentax Digital SLRs	There is some rumour on dpreview that DA lenses would support a 1.3 sensor. Other people are mentioning that lenses like the DA70mm are already cutting it a bit fine for coverage at the edges on a 1.5 sensor. I think the DA lenses will have varying degree of coverage but the unification to a DA standard suggests to me APS-C is here to stay. The only other possibility is that of a cropped mode on a future FF camera. But that sounds like a long way off given the pentax strategy on this one. Andy
how waterproof is the k10d? Posted in Pentax Digital SLRs	If a photography magazine were to conduct a "top gear" style suicide test on a K10D, I'd be sure to buy it. They could start with a fine mist and move up through the levels until the final test of a scuba dive. To be fair, they would have to seal the lens with some kind of waterproof enclosure. Just a thought.
Pentax FF future made clear Posted in Pentax Digital SLRs	And here's the official announcement. http://www.pentax.co.jp/english/news/2007/200708.html Andy
Pentax FF future made clear Posted in Pentax Digital SLRs	Guys, After many years of speculation, Pentax has finally made it's intentions clear regarding full frame. Pentax has just announced that the new 200mm, 300mm prime lenses will be DA* lenses (APS coverage) rather than the originally announced D-FA (FF coverage). This now locks them into APS and I personally think it's a great move by Pentax. So what have we got, - A consistent system (c.f Canons 3 different sensor sizes) - Superb optical quality (New DA* lenses and Limited(L) lenses including 3 unique Pancakes and 1 to come) - Lighter/cheaper system over FF with better quality to price ratio - In-body stabilisation system works on everything from pancakes to long telephotos. - Dual camera motor and lens motor system mean that pancakes can maintain camera driven autofocus and long lenses can move towards SSM (supersonic motor system). This announcement plugs pentax's remaining weakness (poor lens support) and I think will take Pentax back to the top. And if you really want FF quality, there's the 645D which will take you much further. Nice one Pentax. Andy
DL2 versus K10D Landscape Test Posted in Pentax Digital SLRs	Interesting question. That might be my next test. Andy
DL2 versus K10D Landscape Test Posted in Pentax Digital SLRs	Hi Folks, I went out yesterday to a deserted Donegal beach with my K10D and DL2 to do a bit of real life testing. I took 2 identical tripod mounted RAW shots using my FA 50mm 1.7 at f8. The K10D was set to ISO100, the DL2 was set at ISO200 as I wanted to compare the very best that each camera had to offer. Everything was else kept the same. Then I exported both into bibble and applied default identical processing to both. Printed them on my Epson 1800 at A3. I can see no difference. They are identical, even under a loupe. Now I accept that this was a print test. Prints are what matters to me but I have to say that even at 100% pixel peeping the K10D only won by a fraction. Still, the functionality of the K10D top notch. It just goes to show what a great little camera the DL2 is. Andy
K10D Landscape Posted in General Digital Photography Discussion	Hi Guys, Here's one from yesterday on a deserted strand in Donegal. K10D, 16-45mm DA Andy
CAN ANYONE SHOW US SOME STUNNING IMAGES TAKEN WITH THE K10D Posted in Pentax Digital SLRs	How about these two of mine. I'm no pro, but not many landscapers are. Check out the last three images posted to my website which were also shot on the K10D. Andy
Pentax K10D - Absolute Black Darkness - TEST Posted in Pentax Digital SLRs	I'm surprised that Pentax didn't consider the the coal mine landscapers out there, shame on them. I suggest that you invest in a "radar" camera if you intend to shoot in pitch darkness. Get a grip man. Andy
2xConverter Posted in Lenses for Pentax Cameras	Totally agree. Protective filters are only good for protecting lenses that aren't worth protecting. Hehe, I like this comment. Agree 100%. Andy
Pentax Lens Price Posted in Lenses for Pentax Cameras	Yes, but their 14mm is an old design lens on full frame which therefore accomodates their film users as well. It a lump of a thing with a huge protruding front element and no provision for front filters. No wonder it costs so much. I'm glad of my neat 14mm DA which is half the price. Andy
Pentax Lens Price Posted in Lenses for Pentax Cameras	I think that Pentax have made a very smart move by concentrating on the APS DA lenses. Just look at the price of the 14mm lenses of Canon and Nikon compared to Pentax. Does this mean that the Canon and Nikon are better quality? No. They are more expensive because they need to accomodate their full frame users. The DA approach gives us much more bang for the buck. Andy
14mm f2.8 ? Posted in Lenses for Pentax Cameras	Reuben, Too true, it wasn't exactly a snip but I think my early bid perhaps bluffed people into thinking that I was prepared to go higher. £450 was my limit so the last 30seconds were anxious moments. The lens is brand new however and still in it's original packaging so I've got a new lens £20 under the best European price. First impressions of this lens is that it's built like a tank compared to my wobbly 16-45mm. It inspires confidence and I'm sure that the optical quality will match. Andy
14mm f2.8 ? Posted in Lenses for Pentax Cameras	There is one on ebay right nowWhich I won, thank goodness. A snip at £450. I am looking forard to receiving the lens today. Anyone else using this lens and can comment on it? This will become my main landscape lens alongside the 21mm DA which I will also be purchasing at some point. Andy www.andymcinroy.com
DA 21mm Posted in Lenses for Pentax Cameras	Does anyone have any news of European stockists of this lens? It's appearing on the Pentax UK website so it can't be far away. Also, anybody any idea of the UK price of this lens?. Looks to be $499 on amazon US. Cheers
18-55 Kit lens Posted in Lenses for Pentax Cameras	I bought the kit with lens then immediately sold the 18-55mm on Ebay. I got £30 for it. :? Andy www.andymcinroy.com
Wobbly 16-45mm Posted in Lenses for Pentax Cameras	Matt, Thanks for that, very interesting. I must get my hands on that PTLens, I didn't realise it had a profile for the 16-45mm. Do you notice any reduction in image quality when you use it on your own full sized files? Wow, I just downloaded PTLens. Great job. Thanks for that Matt. Cheers
Wobbly 16-45mm Posted in Lenses for Pentax Cameras	Here's an example of the barrel distortion at 16mm that I've noted using the 16-45mm. Note how the horizon on the bottom slopes upwards on the left and right of the shot (particularly on the right). The opposite is true of horizons near the top of the top of photos where these tend to slope downwards to the sides. Anyone else noticed this in their shots?. Thankfully this seems to disappear at 20mm. This crop shows it more clearly
Wobbly 16-45mm Posted in Lenses for Pentax Cameras	Anyone else notice that the zoom barrel of the 16-45mm gets a bit wobbly when extended out at 16mm? I only noticed it when I attached a Lee holder and started moving my grads up and down. This does not inspire confidence. I'm starting to wish I had kept my 20-35mm now. I've also noticed a fair bit of barrell distortion at 16mm when the horizon is in the top half of the frame when shooting in portrait. Someone on here said they would would "marry" their 16-45mm!! I wonder if their marriage is on the rocks?
FA 20-35mm or DA 16-45 on digital Posted in Lenses for Pentax Cameras	Thanks for all your responses. I received my 16-45mm a couple of weeks ago and have been busy testing it out against the 20-35mm FA. I have found that across the entire zoom range that the 16-45mm lens is slightly softer than the 20-35mm at f4. At f8 and above I could see no discernable difference. I'm going to stick with the 16-45mm because I generally stop down for landscapes and need the wideangle capability. My 20-35mm FA is now on ebay if anyone is interested.