So, if the switch on the grip is turned to 'off', the shutter release on the grip will still fire the camera?

Dan

You could try Opticron scopes and adaptors. The problem I see with using scopes is that the aperture is fixed, and generally fairly small, so you might get an equivalent of a 1400mm lens, but it'll be at f/15 or something like that.

Dan

That shot was with my old *istD, but the set-up's the same. It was with my old Tamron 300mm f/2.8, prefocused on the branch where the mouse regularly stopped, and then a little patience for him to come back out.

Ronald, I've got a Sigma 105mm macro lens, the old, non-DG version.

The DA*300mm is a lovely lens, excellent for all sorts of shots. I use it for flowers, animals, landscapes...

I could always come over to you and do some one-to-one, but you'd need to pay my travelling... If I'm ever in your area, I'll let you know.

Dan

All you need for an extension is some 3 core cable (I actually used this 4 core alarm cable from Maplins, they used to do it in brown), and a 2.5mm stereo socket and plug, and of course a soldering iron.

I made myself a 6m and 20m extension, which gives about 80 feet in total when the cable realease is added in too.

I was sat in my lounge with a cup of tea when the mouse came out in my garden.

As far as showing pics on here is concerned, you can either post them in the Gallery (uploaded direct from your computer), or follow the instructions here if you want to include them in your post like I did above.

Dan

Bear in mind that the FA50mm is not that sharp wide open*, and it's at this aperture that the camera is trying to focus. This may play a part in the focusing accuracy when using this lens.

Dan

*Certainly not as sharp as it is when stopped down a little bit. I'm not pointing this out as a failing of the lens, just a property of it. That slight softness can be used creatively etc etc...

That's a fair point John, I should have bolded the 'should' in your quote too. I apologise for that.

I wasn't trying to change the meaning, just that your statement was your opinion, and based on conjecture (based on your personal and considerable experience), rather than gospel. Len's following comment...
...would imply that he took your comment as gospel, and I was just trying to point out the conjecture element.

We can say with some certainty that Pentax lenses will have consistent colour and contrast qualities as Don points out, and they have a history of producing (mostly) superb lenses, but when considering the ability of lenses to print up to A3 and beyond, Pentax is not the only solution.

Obviously, that's just my opinion, and anybody and everyone is perfectly at liberty to disagree with me!

Dan

I would use a wired remote in this situation, I have one with a couple of extension leads that I made myself, over 80 feet in total and very reliable. No batteries to worry about...

Took this with mine.




I look forward to seeing some red squirrel pics from you!

Dan

Note, I have 'bolded' a few words in John's post. As John says, all macros should give excellent results, I use a Sigma 105mm and I know it does. I would be more than happy to enlarge shots from it way beyond A3 size. At higher magnifications, good quality is as much to do with good technique as anything else.

The Sigma macro lenses are in their EX range, which are generally superbly made, with a solid feel and smooth action.

My advice is to buy what you need at a price you can afford. If that's a Pentax, that's fine, but don't feel you can't get good results with another brand. I can't say that the Sigma or Pentax lenses would produce better results, as I haven't done side by side trials either.

Dan

Well, in the 'old days' we never used to look at our pictures in quite as much detail as we do now. One of my better selling prints is actually slightly out of focus. I didn't notice it looking at the slide through a loupe, and it was only when I got it scanned that I realised. Printed to 12x8 it's noticeable when you look very closely, but at normal viewing distances, no.

The way we look at photos now, at 100% on a monitor, is similar to projecting a slide onto the finest, smoothest screen possible, then standing 12" away and inspecting every detail. Did you ever do that?

So these problems may well have been there all along, but without the ease of these focus tests they were probably just put down to user error.

I'm sure, if you search long and hard enough, there will be posts on some dim and distant forum about a film SLRs back/front focusing, because even then, there would have been one or two people wasting a few rolls of film to test it.

Dan

As I already own a 105mm macro, the 35mm is tempting for me, just for the different perspective it would offer. Probably wouldn't use it a huge amount for living things (although approached with patience many insects don't mind you getting that close), but for fungi I think it would be great. I quite often use my 16-45 with an extension tube.

I've shot lizards, dragonflies, butterflies and hoverflies with the 50mm on 3 extension tubes, so about an inch away.

Dan