All Forum Comments
Comment by CMW posted on what two lenses to take to towns near the french alps? at 01/05/2014 - 23:09
many of these are excellent. As I scrolled, I kept revising my favourites ...
Comment by CMW posted on Stunning staircases at 01/05/2014 - 17:26
CMW wrote:
Here is the place for any discussion or comments for Monthly Competition No.22 - Fleeting Light
The competition brief is described below:
'By fleeting light, I mean the kind that shines briefly on your subject (or a part of it) before moving on or perhaps becoming obscured. It is a quality of light that can make an enormous difference to the impact of any photograph, and is often the result of planning and patience but sometimes is purely in the gift of Lady Luck. So whether your photograph benefits from the early dawn light picking its way across a landscape or the shafts of intense sunlight that can precede or follow a storm, or some other manifestation of 'fleeting light', please consider entering in this month's competition.
Iin brief, then, I am looking for photographs that have been transformed perhaps from merely ordinary shots into exceptional ones by catching the moment (light-wise).'
The result is now available in the Competition area of this site.Here is the place for any discussion or comments for Monthly Competition No.22 - Fleeting Light
The competition brief is described below:
'By fleeting light, I mean the kind that shines briefly on your subject (or a part of it) before moving on or perhaps becoming obscured. It is a quality of light that can make an enormous difference to the impact of any photograph, and is often the result of planning and patience but sometimes is purely in the gift of Lady Luck. So whether your photograph benefits from the early dawn light picking its way across a landscape or the shafts of intense sunlight that can precede or follow a storm, or some other manifestation of 'fleeting light', please consider entering in this month's competition.
Iin brief, then, I am looking for photographs that have been transformed perhaps from merely ordinary shots into exceptional ones by catching the moment (light-wise).'
Comment by CMW posted on Monthly Competition No. 22 -- Fleeting Light at 01/05/2014 - 09:00
Posters on the US Pentax Forum are, likewise, convinced they are the same beast, even down to the lens coating, with only cosmetic differences otherwise: http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/77156-samsung-1...
Unless you really are enquiring after the 12-12 of your title, a salesman's nightmare
Unless you really are enquiring after the 12-12 of your title, a salesman's nightmare
Comment by CMW posted on Samsung 12-12 f4 (again) at 30/04/2014 - 12:32
On Pentax Forum in the US a presumably unofficial interview with a Pentax engineer went as follows:
"Q: Our survey found that the Pentax DA* 16-50mm and 50-135mm were the most prone to SDM failure. Do you know why this was?
A: One could say that the AF components used in these lenses was prone to failure from the get-go due to their design. The 16-50mm and 50-135mm lenses share the same circuitry and motor, which is why they both have such a high failure rate. Other SDM lenses don't fail as much.
Q: Has this SDM quality control issue been resolved?
A: Yes. The components used in the 16-50mm and 50-135mm lenses have been redesigned, and all lenses produced in 2012 or later should no longer fail."
Tiny motors are used in moving the lenses and that exchange suggests that the original versions were simply not up to their allotted task over the longer term.
David's suggestion above is worth trying, and it is also worth cleaning the contacts thoroughly (that started an SDM motor of mine that I thought had failed).
It is possible to ignore the SDM motor and get the camera's screw drive to work the 50-135 but that involves altering internal settings and is probably only for the brave (or care-free). Safer, I imagine, to send the lens for repair if it can't be woken up.
"Q: Our survey found that the Pentax DA* 16-50mm and 50-135mm were the most prone to SDM failure. Do you know why this was?
A: One could say that the AF components used in these lenses was prone to failure from the get-go due to their design. The 16-50mm and 50-135mm lenses share the same circuitry and motor, which is why they both have such a high failure rate. Other SDM lenses don't fail as much.
Q: Has this SDM quality control issue been resolved?
A: Yes. The components used in the 16-50mm and 50-135mm lenses have been redesigned, and all lenses produced in 2012 or later should no longer fail."
Tiny motors are used in moving the lenses and that exchange suggests that the original versions were simply not up to their allotted task over the longer term.
David's suggestion above is worth trying, and it is also worth cleaning the contacts thoroughly (that started an SDM motor of mine that I thought had failed).
It is possible to ignore the SDM motor and get the camera's screw drive to work the 50-135 but that involves altering internal settings and is probably only for the brave (or care-free). Safer, I imagine, to send the lens for repair if it can't be woken up.
Comment by CMW posted on 50-135 SDM not working at 29/04/2014 - 23:48
The tulip is excellent. I like the Hint of Swans. All in all, a promising first foray with this lens
Comment by CMW posted on First set with DA*300 at 28/04/2014 - 12:22
The results of this are now posted in the Competitions area of the site.
Comment by CMW posted on Weekly Competition no.354 -- Standing Alone at 28/04/2014 - 09:38
I think you've almost provided the answers yourself. The GR is the neater package, partly because the lens is not changeable, at least in the usual way, and both cameras produce excellent images, as is clear from published results (if you are shooting jpegs the Fuji is very good, but you may find Pentax colour rendition more appealing).
You say you'd like to stay with Pentax if at all possible. Well, it is entirely possible ... .
You say you'd like to stay with Pentax if at all possible. Well, it is entirely possible ... .
Comment by CMW posted on Ricoh GR or Fuji X M1 at 26/04/2014 - 20:21
Good decisions for an overcast day. I particularly like no.1.
I wonder whether the boats photo would be stronger by cropping out the rt-hand boat (?). You'd lose the symmetry, but also the clutter.
I wonder whether the boats photo would be stronger by cropping out the rt-hand boat (?). You'd lose the symmetry, but also the clutter.
Comment by CMW posted on A Grey Day on Lindisfarne at 26/04/2014 - 11:42
You don't expect impartial advice, do you
If the focusing of your K5 is a concern to you, any one of the upgrade/moving across options is going to offer improvement in that respect.
Leaving Pentax will presumably have a price attached to it (ie you may not get back for your lenses what you paid for them), which you will want to factor in; but I doubt that will be decisive.
The Nikon and Canon are good cameras if the reviews are reliable. But so is the Pentax. You will get broadly the same results, with broadly the same ease, from any of them. So, which do you prefer? Have you handled them all?
If you like the K5 (focusing apart), the K5 II is the most cost-effective change.
If the focusing of your K5 is a concern to you, any one of the upgrade/moving across options is going to offer improvement in that respect.
Leaving Pentax will presumably have a price attached to it (ie you may not get back for your lenses what you paid for them), which you will want to factor in; but I doubt that will be decisive.
The Nikon and Canon are good cameras if the reviews are reliable. But so is the Pentax. You will get broadly the same results, with broadly the same ease, from any of them. So, which do you prefer? Have you handled them all?
If you like the K5 (focusing apart), the K5 II is the most cost-effective change.
Comment by CMW posted on K5 just isn't really cutting it in low light at 24/04/2014 - 11:51
Of the primes, the 35 is the most versatile ... and I suppose you can always stitch shots where necessary.