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Comment by davidwozhere posted on Hi from Shropshire at 13/07/2015 - 23:05
Vroom VrOOM VROOOOOM!
(And I still can't figure out the styling)(see Holden thread)
(And I still can't figure out the styling)(see Holden thread)
Comment by davidwozhere posted on K5 version - STARS & STRIPES CLASSIC AMERICAN CAR SHOW - Tatton Park 2015. at 13/07/2015 - 22:58
I've never really got a handle on American car styling. You go round New York (for example) and you can follow the rise and development of the American Art Deco style but you look at their motor cars and...... here are two examples (above) of what they come out with - but where from? What is the aesthetic heritage of them?
Comment by davidwozhere posted on The face of Holden at 13/07/2015 - 22:54
You can't watch something like that and not share it -
thank you all for your comments and I'm pleased that you enjoyed the results
thank you all for your comments and I'm pleased that you enjoyed the results
Comment by davidwozhere posted on Life cycle of a ladybird (image heavy) at 13/07/2015 - 22:34
These are a lovely, varied set, which goes to show that there is always shutter potential somewhere.
I was particularly taken with the golden flower - but then, I like flowers
I was particularly taken with the golden flower - but then, I like flowers
Comment by davidwozhere posted on a wander with a 50 yesterday at 13/07/2015 - 00:35
In mid May I was privileged to discover a ladybird laying her eggs on our rose arbour. I was able to track their progress through the entire development of the larvae, right up to the emergence of the new ladybirds from their pupae. ..... And there were a couple of surprises too!
I just grabbed the camera in time for the last egg to be laid (hence the poor shot).
and, as if an omen for the future, "dinner" came along to inspect the result!
10 days later, there were distinct signs of things happening
and after 17 days, this scrum erupted, with tiny larvae scrambling to eat everything left in the egg sacs
They scattered remarkably quickly onto the surrounding rose stems where there was no shortage of food (there is a second one barely visible on the very tip)
and began to eat everything that wasn't quick enough to escape
At the end of June they were fully grown and had moved onto the cherry tree - none chose to pupate on the rose stems or the arbour which, by now, were heavily patrolled by ants who were cultivating the aphids
And the first surprise was their ferocity - this one was nipping my wrist in annoyance at having been disturbed - it could clearly be felt as it did so!
Pupating entailed anchoring the tail and violently condensing the entire body backwards and tucking the head underneath.
It took around four hours to effect a dramatic change
Then the second surprise - the little perishers are cannibals! Not good to pupate first!
When they emerge, after about 10 days, their wing cases lack colour and they can't quite figure out how to control or pack those enormous wings
They get there, eventually
and all that remains is a husk
Pentax K5 with Macro Takumar 50mm and SMC M 100mm macro lenses
I just grabbed the camera in time for the last egg to be laid (hence the poor shot).
and, as if an omen for the future, "dinner" came along to inspect the result!
10 days later, there were distinct signs of things happening
and after 17 days, this scrum erupted, with tiny larvae scrambling to eat everything left in the egg sacs
They scattered remarkably quickly onto the surrounding rose stems where there was no shortage of food (there is a second one barely visible on the very tip)
and began to eat everything that wasn't quick enough to escape
At the end of June they were fully grown and had moved onto the cherry tree - none chose to pupate on the rose stems or the arbour which, by now, were heavily patrolled by ants who were cultivating the aphids
And the first surprise was their ferocity - this one was nipping my wrist in annoyance at having been disturbed - it could clearly be felt as it did so!
Pupating entailed anchoring the tail and violently condensing the entire body backwards and tucking the head underneath.
It took around four hours to effect a dramatic change
Then the second surprise - the little perishers are cannibals! Not good to pupate first!
When they emerge, after about 10 days, their wing cases lack colour and they can't quite figure out how to control or pack those enormous wings
They get there, eventually
and all that remains is a husk
Pentax K5 with Macro Takumar 50mm and SMC M 100mm macro lenses
Comment by davidwozhere posted on Life cycle of a ladybird (image heavy) at 12/07/2015 - 19:57
It even has a parking ticket!
Comment by davidwozhere posted on The face of Holden at 12/07/2015 - 00:45
As promised, here are some comparative shots, in pairs:
1st is the Panagor (K fitting) with an M42 Zeiss Tessar 50mm on the front followed by 2nd, Pentax SMC M 100mm macro. There are four pairs, all at f8; K5 set at 400asa and Av; all hand held and all untouched JPGs from the camera RAW data (bar resizing).
There is a fifth Panagor shot (since it goes to 1:1 and the 100mm only does 1:2). I have paired this with the same image post processed in Faststone Viewer just to show that it DOES produce good images, whatever others might say of it! OK, so it's not fantastic but I only spent a couple of seconds doing it.
About 1:10
About 1:5
About 1:3
About 1:2
and a camera RAW (.jpg) with the same image PP at 1:1 from the Panagor/ Zeiss combination
The prime clearly produces the better image, even in its unprocessed state but given all the intervening glass, the Panagor puts on a fair show. The selective focussing between the two is interesting as well.
So, that's your "cheapo" Panagor Auto Macro Converter for you.
Oh, and I nearly forgot - on the K5, and upwards I presume, you have to set the very last custom menu item to permit use of lenses with aperture rings.
1st is the Panagor (K fitting) with an M42 Zeiss Tessar 50mm on the front followed by 2nd, Pentax SMC M 100mm macro. There are four pairs, all at f8; K5 set at 400asa and Av; all hand held and all untouched JPGs from the camera RAW data (bar resizing).
There is a fifth Panagor shot (since it goes to 1:1 and the 100mm only does 1:2). I have paired this with the same image post processed in Faststone Viewer just to show that it DOES produce good images, whatever others might say of it! OK, so it's not fantastic but I only spent a couple of seconds doing it.
About 1:10
About 1:5
About 1:3
About 1:2
and a camera RAW (.jpg) with the same image PP at 1:1 from the Panagor/ Zeiss combination
The prime clearly produces the better image, even in its unprocessed state but given all the intervening glass, the Panagor puts on a fair show. The selective focussing between the two is interesting as well.
So, that's your "cheapo" Panagor Auto Macro Converter for you.
Oh, and I nearly forgot - on the K5, and upwards I presume, you have to set the very last custom menu item to permit use of lenses with aperture rings.
Comment by davidwozhere posted on Will a Panagor Auto Macro Coverter function on K5, K3 bodies at 11/07/2015 - 23:50
I've never seen one for sale - looking at those, I want one !
Did you look at the Russian piece about 'safe selfies'? You on that scooter fits the bill a treat
Did you look at the Russian piece about 'safe selfies'? You on that scooter fits the bill a treat
Comment by davidwozhere posted on Film Shots with the Rare Pentax 30mm 2,8 at 11/07/2015 - 01:42
Sorry for that !
Firstly, you need to realise that it won't work with your flashy, modern lenses. It works great (on Av) with most old manual ones. Then you have the "problem" of ignoring that lens, having set it at infinity. It's only any use for fine tuning if you are on a tripod. The next thing to sort out is just what is happening with the macro bit. The range is so vast - 1:1 through 1:10 it is easy to think something has gone wrong when you can't see a damn thing (you need to take two paces backwards!).
I've just put it on the K5 and it's happily working with a pentax M 1:2 50mm
I just put an M42 converter ring in the end of it and screwed a Zeiss 50mm on and that is OK too.
I'll have a play with it tomorrow (risky, since I might decide to keep it after all!).
Firstly, you need to realise that it won't work with your flashy, modern lenses. It works great (on Av) with most old manual ones. Then you have the "problem" of ignoring that lens, having set it at infinity. It's only any use for fine tuning if you are on a tripod. The next thing to sort out is just what is happening with the macro bit. The range is so vast - 1:1 through 1:10 it is easy to think something has gone wrong when you can't see a damn thing (you need to take two paces backwards!).
I've just put it on the K5 and it's happily working with a pentax M 1:2 50mm
I just put an M42 converter ring in the end of it and screwed a Zeiss 50mm on and that is OK too.
I'll have a play with it tomorrow (risky, since I might decide to keep it after all!).
Comment by davidwozhere posted on Will a Panagor Auto Macro Coverter function on K5, K3 bodies at 11/07/2015 - 01:37
Look forward to seeing some of your results - Welcome!