All Forum Comments
Comment by Critical-i posted on Is the K7 already flawed? at 22/07/2009 - 02:03
benjikan wrote:
Why I HATE Umbrella Lighting...
If you want to get me to fall a sleep, just show me some images shot with umbrella lighting. Now I am not talking Richard Avedon, because Richard Avedon did a lot more than capture images with a single umbrella, he captured a moment that is so his signature, that anyone else attempting to copy would be dwarfed by the sheer magnitude of what Avedon accomplished.
Umbrella lighting is the 'WalMart' or the 'Ford Pinto' of lighting for me. It is the horrible gig at the Holiday Inn, where some dried up ex alcoholic is attempting to make a come back singing 'I will Survive" to a bunch of totally miserable accountants congregating for their annual convention.
Umbrella light is that really bad hair do or dress that can only be seen in some totally kitsch boutique in Boise, Idaho. It is that Wedding photo that we have all grown to, ah, hmmm, Love?
It smacks of hey, I am now a photographer because I now own a couple of studio lights and have to have this because if I don't I won't be considered credible and it will impress anyone who doesn't know any better and the bigger the better types...
Ah, give me that umbrella to be very, very safe and to not upset the REAL serious photographers out there that believe that you have to have a reflector to kick in some light in to "THAT" shadow area, otherwise it is NOT a technically good image.
What is even worse is that those who MUST HAVE an umbrella, will almost certainly have a..."Da Da, a Soft-box!!!" Now THAT is really impressive. Every time I see a set up with a soft-box and the "UMBRELLA" I pop the proverbial CHUBBY and have to sit down, as to not expose by excitement.
Now, if somebody were to say to me, "Hey check out what I did with this umbrella!" that would totally blow me away, I would be so F'ing pleased. But at this point in time, I have seen nothing but flat, boring, pedestrian, predictable, unassuming, dull and flat out knock me out with a VALIUM the size of a HOCKEY PUCK images.
Hey, but who knows. Given that surprises do happen, I'm open to the possibilities.
Surprise me.
]http://www.benjaminkanarekblog.com/?p=814
Why I HATE Umbrella Lighting...
If you want to get me to fall a sleep, just show me some images shot with umbrella lighting. Now I am not talking Richard Avedon, because Richard Avedon did a lot more than capture images with a single umbrella, he captured a moment that is so his signature, that anyone else attempting to copy would be dwarfed by the sheer magnitude of what Avedon accomplished.
Umbrella lighting is the 'WalMart' or the 'Ford Pinto' of lighting for me. It is the horrible gig at the Holiday Inn, where some dried up ex alcoholic is attempting to make a come back singing 'I will Survive" to a bunch of totally miserable accountants congregating for their annual convention.
Umbrella light is that really bad hair do or dress that can only be seen in some totally kitsch boutique in Boise, Idaho. It is that Wedding photo that we have all grown to, ah, hmmm, Love?
It smacks of hey, I am now a photographer because I now own a couple of studio lights and have to have this because if I don't I won't be considered credible and it will impress anyone who doesn't know any better and the bigger the better types...
Ah, give me that umbrella to be very, very safe and to not upset the REAL serious photographers out there that believe that you have to have a reflector to kick in some light in to "THAT" shadow area, otherwise it is NOT a technically good image.
What is even worse is that those who MUST HAVE an umbrella, will almost certainly have a..."Da Da, a Soft-box!!!" Now THAT is really impressive. Every time I see a set up with a soft-box and the "UMBRELLA" I pop the proverbial CHUBBY and have to sit down, as to not expose by excitement.
Now, if somebody were to say to me, "Hey check out what I did with this umbrella!" that would totally blow me away, I would be so F'ing pleased. But at this point in time, I have seen nothing but flat, boring, pedestrian, predictable, unassuming, dull and flat out knock me out with a VALIUM the size of a HOCKEY PUCK images.
Hey, but who knows. Given that surprises do happen, I'm open to the possibilities.
Surprise me.
]http://www.benjaminkanarekblog.com/?p=814
Hi Ben, can I take this to mean.....
Just because Warehouse Express sells lighting kits with umbrellas and softboxes and cheesy "how to" videos does not mean there are not more interesting (and low cost) ways to reflect and diffuse light, nor do they force you to follow lighting rules because you CAN use normal mods in other ways. So you are throwing down the gauntlet?
Having said that dear old strobist manages to use brollies outdoors to stunning effect, but they are not much use in a stiff breeze....
Comment by Critical-i posted on Why I HATE Umbrella Lighting... at 21/07/2009 - 10:43
Cloudhunter wrote:
Ive been reading up onthis and i think the general opinion is this..
The main draw to the nikon is the 51 point AF and notably how utterly fast it is to lock on.
It depends on what you shoot as wether this would be a benefit.
I shoot aircraft mainly so it would be a massive benefit to me.
Matt
The 1D is still the camera most of my sporty friends use for action. Most of them are quite scathing about the Nikon AF system because of the initial acquisition time being somewhat longer.Ive been reading up onthis and i think the general opinion is this..
The main draw to the nikon is the 51 point AF and notably how utterly fast it is to lock on.
It depends on what you shoot as wether this would be a benefit.
I shoot aircraft mainly so it would be a massive benefit to me.
Matt
Aircraft though are a doddle. There is no distracting background, you hav eplenty of predictable panning time, and they are always near infinity. Even a K10 can do razor sharp aircraft shots. Have a look at this guy....
http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?sort_order=views%20DESC&first_this_...
Comment by Critical-i posted on K20D versus Nikon D300 at 16/07/2009 - 01:51
The same was true for the previous 35 years until about 1990 when the first DSLRs came out, now IQ is more or less the same (taste and flavours) between the cameras like it was between types of film. The camera was just a method for exposing a film.
The new Olympus is more or less the same as the old one. The three new Sonys are almost exactly the same as the old ones. The 50D is not much better than a 40D and the D90 is as good as a D300 and has movies too.
Having reached the "sweet spot" for both APSC and FF, I think the features are what matters. The K7 has several advances over the K20 that are worthwhile, but I think D300 owners are going to have more trouble finding anything worth buying in a D300s if they dont want movies, and as they saying goes....how do they follow that?
K7 will evolve but the template has been defined for future Pentax cameras and I for one think its OK. I would really like to buy a camera that I can use productively for 5 or 6 years till I wear it out like I used to in the old days.
And a tripod. Ah, there's a whole new addiction waiting to happen and lets face it, they hardly evolve at lightning pace so how come I have four of them?
The new Olympus is more or less the same as the old one. The three new Sonys are almost exactly the same as the old ones. The 50D is not much better than a 40D and the D90 is as good as a D300 and has movies too.
Having reached the "sweet spot" for both APSC and FF, I think the features are what matters. The K7 has several advances over the K20 that are worthwhile, but I think D300 owners are going to have more trouble finding anything worth buying in a D300s if they dont want movies, and as they saying goes....how do they follow that?
K7 will evolve but the template has been defined for future Pentax cameras and I for one think its OK. I would really like to buy a camera that I can use productively for 5 or 6 years till I wear it out like I used to in the old days.
And a tripod. Ah, there's a whole new addiction waiting to happen and lets face it, they hardly evolve at lightning pace so how come I have four of them?
Malo1961 wrote:
With great wonder I am following all the discussions about the new Kid on the block. And like most of the pentax users I think its great news there is another potentially great camera to choose from.
But......after reading all the discussions about noise, frps, wb and in camera hdr I am asking my self, what's all the excitement about. Honestly, I have yet seen no picture were the K-7 shows its superiority. Picture quality wise, that is. And the safest assumption should be, that it is still uncertain if noise control on the K-7 is a big leap forward compared to the k20D. Pixel count isn't an issue any more because every manufacture seems to have drawn the same conclusion. 12 to 15 MP is enough on a cropped sensor. All the other improvement are nice, but do they really contribute to better picture quality?? So what is it, what makes the K-7 so desirable. Or....lets turn things around now. What is it that makes all the *istD's, k200D's or K10D/20D's so out of date and apparently in need for a fast replacement..... Let me ask you...Did your KxxxxD stop working over night?? Guess not, right
Isn't it so, there is so much more to gain in picture quality by reviewing your choice of lenses? Or invest in a sturdy tripod. Or maybe just push the envelope in handling your present camera. Or has everyone who owns a K10/20D outgrown his camera, and feels his gear is holding you back in taking quality pictures........
Around the net (not only here), I read about people who ordered the newest Kid on the block, while asking questions in a separate thread about the most basic forms of PP, because they know diddly sh*t about PS/Elements or whatever editing program.
So.......to conclude with a question. Does the K-7 take pictures?? Yes !
Does your K-7 take top quality pictures, better than your old camera ever could do ?? No !!
That is up to you. The man or woman who controls and can blindly operate his camera, making camera and user as one. And therefore can concentrate on the subject itself instead of fooling around with the latest gadget loaded piece of high tech.
I wish you good light on all your journeys.
Martin.
With great wonder I am following all the discussions about the new Kid on the block. And like most of the pentax users I think its great news there is another potentially great camera to choose from.
But......after reading all the discussions about noise, frps, wb and in camera hdr I am asking my self, what's all the excitement about. Honestly, I have yet seen no picture were the K-7 shows its superiority. Picture quality wise, that is. And the safest assumption should be, that it is still uncertain if noise control on the K-7 is a big leap forward compared to the k20D. Pixel count isn't an issue any more because every manufacture seems to have drawn the same conclusion. 12 to 15 MP is enough on a cropped sensor. All the other improvement are nice, but do they really contribute to better picture quality?? So what is it, what makes the K-7 so desirable. Or....lets turn things around now. What is it that makes all the *istD's, k200D's or K10D/20D's so out of date and apparently in need for a fast replacement..... Let me ask you...Did your KxxxxD stop working over night?? Guess not, right
Isn't it so, there is so much more to gain in picture quality by reviewing your choice of lenses? Or invest in a sturdy tripod. Or maybe just push the envelope in handling your present camera. Or has everyone who owns a K10/20D outgrown his camera, and feels his gear is holding you back in taking quality pictures........
Around the net (not only here), I read about people who ordered the newest Kid on the block, while asking questions in a separate thread about the most basic forms of PP, because they know diddly sh*t about PS/Elements or whatever editing program.
So.......to conclude with a question. Does the K-7 take pictures?? Yes !
Does your K-7 take top quality pictures, better than your old camera ever could do ?? No !!
That is up to you. The man or woman who controls and can blindly operate his camera, making camera and user as one. And therefore can concentrate on the subject itself instead of fooling around with the latest gadget loaded piece of high tech.
I wish you good light on all your journeys.
Martin.
Comment by Critical-i posted on Not a anti K-7 rant.........but at 14/07/2009 - 02:44
johnriley wrote:
It's a bit odd that so many if them appear to be making buying choices based on very dubious tests done by others whose skill level is totally unknown.
But some of them can draw graphs and use words like "standard deviation" so they must know what they are talking about. It's a bit odd that so many if them appear to be making buying choices based on very dubious tests done by others whose skill level is totally unknown.
Comment by Critical-i posted on K-7 has arrived... at 11/07/2009 - 15:18
RichardDay wrote:
At least with Boomerang you know its a return ticket BODYHEAT wrote:
I did see one company advertising flights to Oz last week for £1...makes you think about your options
WOW! - Where was that!!! : and who with? Outback Air or Boomerang Airlines? I did see one company advertising flights to Oz last week for £1...makes you think about your options
Comment by Critical-i posted on K-7 has arrived... at 10/07/2009 - 02:42
scwaudby wrote:
I'm looking for some suggestions from you folks in the know...
Until recently I've been managing quite happily with one of the smaller Lowepro shoulder bags for transporting my gear around. A number of recent purchases mean I can no longer get all the gear I want with me in the bag so I'm looking to get hold of something with a bit more space.
Basic requirements are:
Needs to fit a K10D with grip and DA16-45 fitted plus an extra lens, flash, spare battery, memory cards.
Ideally a shoulder bag rather than a back-pack
As compact as is possible while still fitting everything in.
I'm not too fussy about manufacturer but it's easier to justify if it's not too expensive.
Any ideas, suggestions of things to look at?
I have a ThinkTank Urban Disguise 60, which looks like a medium flight bag but is very deceptive. It takes more than you want but there are several smaller sizes which sound about right. I'm looking for some suggestions from you folks in the know...
Until recently I've been managing quite happily with one of the smaller Lowepro shoulder bags for transporting my gear around. A number of recent purchases mean I can no longer get all the gear I want with me in the bag so I'm looking to get hold of something with a bit more space.
Basic requirements are:
Needs to fit a K10D with grip and DA16-45 fitted plus an extra lens, flash, spare battery, memory cards.
Ideally a shoulder bag rather than a back-pack
As compact as is possible while still fitting everything in.
I'm not too fussy about manufacturer but it's easier to justify if it's not too expensive.
Any ideas, suggestions of things to look at?
It has lots of large external pockets and some come with a laptop slot as well. Has shoulder strap but you can buy a very useful backpack harness as when you want to walk any distance which filds up neatly in the bag. It also has a rain cover and is extremely well made.
Comment by Critical-i posted on Bag buying advice at 04/07/2009 - 16:40
max11 wrote:
How many of you carry a tripod abroad?
Do you own a lightweight one that use only abroad?
that may help me to choose between 190 and 055!
Thanks
I use a 190CX pro4 carbon AT HOME as my main tripod as it actually copes with everything I can throw at it despite being quite light and compact.How many of you carry a tripod abroad?
Do you own a lightweight one that use only abroad?
that may help me to choose between 190 and 055!
Thanks
I usually take it if I KNOW I am going to use it (ie I am intending to go out late in the evening) because even though its quite compact and not too heavy (1.8kg with a decent fluid ballhead) its still a lot to carry around all day when you DONT need it and you have to strap it outside your bag which means you keep knocking into things!
I also took it abroad once and sweated around Granada all day in 90 degree heat only to use it for 20 minutes. Also you HAVE to check it in on any flight which I hate doing as I lost my previous aluminium one a few years ago.
Now for emergency use and foreign travel (where I try and carry all my gear all the time) I use a Cullman Magic 2 compact tripod.
http://www.photographyreview.com/cat/tripods/tripods/cullman/PRD_84507_3114crx.a...
The second review above sums it up nicely. I use it with a Manfrotto 484RC2 (decent replacement head) and its a lot better than nothing, its light (1 kg all in) and it folds flat which means it fits perfectly inside my Thinktank Airport Antidote and in the laptop slot on my Urban Disguise 60.
If you do have to check it in (BA is OK with it but Easy Jet are not, nor are most German or French airport security desks - where IS the consistency???) then at only £100 or so its not as serious as losing a decent Manfrotto carbon!
Note I used it quite successfully for 15 second exposures at 300mm on the DA 55-300 on a calm night and it was fine, but I would not use it with anything much heavier, or in a stiff breeze. They could have made it better by using magnesium leg clamps and CF legs and I would happily pay the extra but there you go!
However if you HAVE a travel tripod (ie the Cullman) then you may as well get the heavier Manfrotto 55 for domestic use.
Comment by Critical-i posted on Do you bring your tripod abroad? and which model? at 25/06/2009 - 20:51
PondSkater wrote:
Hi all,
I'd like to use the onboard flash with a DA Pentax lens so that it fires without the preflash so that I can use my old flash guns with slave units.
I thought setting the exposure mode to manual would do it but that still preflashes, setting off my old flashguns, I've been through most of the modes unsuccessfully (stopped when the cat started batting the whiney flashguns off the sofa!).
I realise I can use manual lenses as I use my Tamron 90 with an old flash on a bracket with onboard flash triggering the slave unit.
Both my old flashes are too high a voltage (THANK YOU to whoever first posted the photo strobe trigger voltages link - I would have plugged 270v flashes in otherwise).
I assume that applies to PC socket as well?
Am I missing anything?
I can't afford new flashes; especially as I only normally want to use them close to the subject.
Sorry if this has been covered before but couldn't find anything on a quick search.
thanks.
You cannot turn preflash off on the in-camera flash. Hi all,
I'd like to use the onboard flash with a DA Pentax lens so that it fires without the preflash so that I can use my old flash guns with slave units.
I thought setting the exposure mode to manual would do it but that still preflashes, setting off my old flashguns, I've been through most of the modes unsuccessfully (stopped when the cat started batting the whiney flashguns off the sofa!).
I realise I can use manual lenses as I use my Tamron 90 with an old flash on a bracket with onboard flash triggering the slave unit.
Both my old flashes are too high a voltage (THANK YOU to whoever first posted the photo strobe trigger voltages link - I would have plugged 270v flashes in otherwise).
I assume that applies to PC socket as well?
Am I missing anything?
I can't afford new flashes; especially as I only normally want to use them close to the subject.
Sorry if this has been covered before but couldn't find anything on a quick search.
thanks.
I think the hotshoe and PC port are good up to 25V, but there are warnings in the manual about using higher X sync voltages so I would not risk it.
Get one of these
http://www.theflashcentre.com/wein-safe-sync-hotshoe-to-hotshoe-i358.html
This will allow you to use any flash either on the shoe or using a PC cord.
Alternatively if you want to fire the flash remotely at a distance, you can always get an IR trigger to replace the camera flash. I use this one in a studio all the time and its very reliable (if bulky).
http://www.hiltonphoto.co.uk/products/details/3151.html
Comment by Critical-i posted on Can I switch off the preflash on K20D P-TTL onboard flash? at 23/06/2009 - 14:39
JonSchick wrote:
I would be willing to bet the prices will start to come back down soon enough. It happened in Canada and it'll have to happen here when sales halt.
They will have to refund dealers then! I would be willing to bet the prices will start to come back down soon enough. It happened in Canada and it'll have to happen here when sales halt.
More likely they will offer cashback deals (a real PITA) like Nikon are now doing while keeping RRP as high as possible.
My gripe is that the UK prices are much higher so far than France or Germany (and way higher than the US) which is patently unfair as they have higher VAT. Now one obvious solution is to buy your camera from Holland or Germany as you are entitled to under EU law. Many of them are happy to ship all over the EU including the UK and the warranty, manual and spec is the same.
Comment by Critical-i posted on SRS new prices at 22/06/2009 - 23:59
Hi,
Just a point about the so-called brilliant Canon L lenses.
Many Canon owners think they are the most amazing lenses ever made. However, several less 'blinkered' users who also use other lenses on their 5D's etc will tell you that many of them (zooms usually), including the famed 24-105 L actually have horrible distortion, that many, many less discriminating Canon owners either cannot see, do not want to see, or seem to ignore.
Just because many of the owners say they are great does not automatically make it so. I am constantly amazed at the sheer volume of 5D & 5D2 owners who are utterly clueless about even basic photo technique and knowledge....