Thank you Smeggy!

My conclusion so far: Even though there are really no fast UWA options for Pentax besides Samyang 14mm f2.8 and Da 14mm 2.8, it does not really matter, because the K-5 is so good at high ISO performance.

Thank you all for good advice!

Bjørn

It is interesting to hear other people´s experience with the K5, I will keep this in mind!

Yes, once my K5 purchase materializes I will need to find out what level of noise is acceptable to me.

There was in fact a brief spell of NL earlier this week, possibly on Tuesday evening, but I did not get a chance to take any photos. But it was good to see some of that "green magic" on the skies again. I grew up in the Stavanger, in the south of Norway, and in Stavanger I cannot remember ever having seen any Northern Lights. So I am as excited as any tourist/visitor when the Northern Lights appear here in Trondheim (the middle of Norway). I will keep my eyes open tonight for NL if the weather permits

Your review of the K5 is very instructive with regards to my questions here about ISO performance. Thank you for pointing this out!

I have consciously not read many reviews of the K5, to avoid temptation, but now I feel that it is time to move forward. The K20D is quite brilliant for many types of photography, but when it comes to low-light/night photography, it does not really perform as well as many newer DSLRs. I am waiting anxiously to see what kind of price drop there will be here on the K5 now that the new models arrive

Bjørn

Hm... 2.0 - 2.8 - 4 = two stops. In other words I will need ISO 1600 with the DA 12-24mm to end up with identical exposure? (My lack of photographic basic knowledge suddenly becomes apperent)

Here in Norway the Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 is a favourite amongst Canikon Northern Light photographers. The Samyang 14mm f2.8 is also popular here.

Bjørn

I was fortunate to be able to do quite a lot of Northern Lights photography last winter. My K20D is probably not the best tool for this kind of photography, due to its rather limited ISO performance. But I managed to find a FA* 24mm f2.0, and this combination worked out okay, except that 24mm is not wide enough on APS-C.

My plan now is to save up funds for a K5 and a wider lens. The first lens on my "wish-list" is the DA 12-24. I do not have any experience with the K5, so therefore the following questions:

On the K20D I used ISO 400 and the FA 24mm wide open (f2.0). This setting functioned well with the 6-12 seconds exposures I employed.

1. How high ISO would one need with the 12-24mm wide open (f4.0), based on my K20D settings?

2. What is the max ISO on the K5 before image quality suffers?


I am grateful for any advice on this matter!

Bjørn

I have had the K28mm 3.5 for about two years now, and it is probably my favourite "wide" prime. The lens is very sharp, great contrast and has a lot of character. I find it perfect for landscape photography, and indeed I believe it was constructed for this kind of photography by Pentax.

I have not had the pleasure of trying the 30mm 2.8, but I can wholeheartedly recommend the K28mm 3.5!

Here is an interesting article about the K28mm 3.5:

http://www.northcoastphotographer.net/blog/files/9796fda7af3e143f245985ca585defa...


Good luck with whatever lens you decide to hunt for

Bjørn

Fantastic!

Bjørn

I had problems with my first two films, because I used MLU when hand holding the 67II. Since then I have used MLU only in combination with a tripod, and the exposures are now spot on. I have mostly used the 67II hand held with the SMC 45mm and Kodak Porta 400 film, and this combination gives good results. The Pentax 67II is a wonderful beast


Bjørn

Very nice shots of a beautiful bird! Could I possibly ask what lens you used for these?

Bjørn