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Comment by Frogfish posted on Underwater Flash at 09/03/2012 - 09:34
Amazing photography from last year but I've only just seen this ... maybe there's already a thread on it. Sorry for reposting if there is.
link
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Comment by Frogfish posted on Animals & Insects in Motion at 09/03/2012 - 08:54
HubertZhu wrote:
Hi, everybody, I'm a new guy of Pentax user, want to make friends here, want to learn something here,
Hi Hubert - welcome to the site and to Pentax, I'm sure you'll love the camera (which ever one you have - they're all very good !) and Pentax have some superb lenses too.Hi, everybody, I'm a new guy of Pentax user, want to make friends here, want to learn something here,
Comment by Frogfish posted on Pentax user from China at 09/03/2012 - 08:31
steven9761 wrote:
I spent some time working in Thailand, and I most enjoyed Phuket! It's just a pity that the public are not allowed to take photos inside Phuket Fantasea, otherwise I'd have loads of great shots!!
Love that show - we often take friends to Phuket and always to the show. You must have loved working there.Frogfish wrote:
That looks very much like the view from the lookout point on the West coast of Phuket (I forget the name) in your avatar Steven, looking down on the bays of Karon, Kata, Patong etc. - I'd recognise those 'fingers' anywhere !
Yes - well spotted!! It's Kata Viewpoint!! That looks very much like the view from the lookout point on the West coast of Phuket (I forget the name) in your avatar Steven, looking down on the bays of Karon, Kata, Patong etc. - I'd recognise those 'fingers' anywhere !
I spent some time working in Thailand, and I most enjoyed Phuket! It's just a pity that the public are not allowed to take photos inside Phuket Fantasea, otherwise I'd have loads of great shots!!
Sorry to go Off-Topic Axel !!
Comment by Frogfish posted on Underwater Flash at 09/03/2012 - 08:29
That looks very much like the view from the lookout point on the West coast of Phuket (I forget the name) in your avatar Steven, looking down on the bays of Karon, Kata, Patong etc. - I'd recognise those 'fingers' anywhere !
Comment by Frogfish posted on Underwater Flash at 09/03/2012 - 08:04
The excellent Ikelite have a two armed strobe kit that would be well within your budget and I've seen very good reports on the Sea & Sea strobes too. Also Inon and Epoque make good cost-conscious strobes.
I used to shoot a lot of UW photography on ambient light only - don't forget that if you are in regions such as the Middle East, the Pacific rim or S.E.Asia then the light is often very good down to 10-15m where, if you are shooting critters / macro, the best shooting is to be had. Beyond 15m then the light is poor and you will need strobes. However often your UW torch can do a fantastic job too, especially if you buy a HID with the same temperature as daylight (I use the old, but superb and very powerful, UK Light Cannon 100 HID - I'm sure they have newer models - which cost me about £230 around 7-8 years ago).
This was taken at around 45m with just the Light Cannon. My namesakes :
And these mating Mandarin Fish at around 10m at deep dusk, also with just the Light Cannon.
I used to shoot a lot of UW photography on ambient light only - don't forget that if you are in regions such as the Middle East, the Pacific rim or S.E.Asia then the light is often very good down to 10-15m where, if you are shooting critters / macro, the best shooting is to be had. Beyond 15m then the light is poor and you will need strobes. However often your UW torch can do a fantastic job too, especially if you buy a HID with the same temperature as daylight (I use the old, but superb and very powerful, UK Light Cannon 100 HID - I'm sure they have newer models - which cost me about £230 around 7-8 years ago).
This was taken at around 45m with just the Light Cannon. My namesakes :
And these mating Mandarin Fish at around 10m at deep dusk, also with just the Light Cannon.
Comment by Frogfish posted on Underwater Flash at 09/03/2012 - 07:57
kingfisher wrote:
There are some threads on PF on Voigtlanders ( I only have one but some of those guys have plenty more) and discussions and comparisons with the Pentax equivalents, plenty of shots too. It is no surprise that VL lenses are so sharp, the SLII series currently in production are made by Cosina, who also make Zeiss lenses ! And of course there is always the legendary 125mm macro *drools*.Frogfish wrote:
You could also consider the wonderful Voigtlander Color Skopar 20/3.5. Great colours and better sharpness across the frame - but MF only.
However the 21 Ltd / A20/2.8 and VL 20/3.5 are all around the same price.
Review here : link
if only that Voigtlander wasn't so expensive.....btw. is it really sharper than da21?You could also consider the wonderful Voigtlander Color Skopar 20/3.5. Great colours and better sharpness across the frame - but MF only.
However the 21 Ltd / A20/2.8 and VL 20/3.5 are all around the same price.
Review here : link
Comment by Frogfish posted on Should I buy 21mm Ltd at 08/03/2012 - 11:36
You could also consider the wonderful Voigtlander Color Skopar 20/3.5. Great colours and better sharpness across the frame - but MF only.
However the 21 Ltd / A20/2.8 and VL 20/3.5 are all around the same price.
Review here : link
However the 21 Ltd / A20/2.8 and VL 20/3.5 are all around the same price.
Review here : link
Comment by Frogfish posted on Should I buy 21mm Ltd at 08/03/2012 - 07:14
giofi wrote:
Given your budget and considerations I would buy the K-5 with the kit lens + 55-300.
The rationale is that the kit lens is a good performed (not excellent) and is a great value, you can always upgrade it later without a significant loss. The 55-300 is a fantastic lens for the price, one you can keep for the long term, great quality and value. And you can find it used on this forum from time to time and price new is very reasonable too.
+1Given your budget and considerations I would buy the K-5 with the kit lens + 55-300.
The rationale is that the kit lens is a good performed (not excellent) and is a great value, you can always upgrade it later without a significant loss. The 55-300 is a fantastic lens for the price, one you can keep for the long term, great quality and value. And you can find it used on this forum from time to time and price new is very reasonable too.
I've seen some excellent shots at airshows from the 55-300 and it suffers very little from purple fringing in high contrast areas that other 'budget' (and no so budget) lenses tend to.
Comment by Frogfish posted on And the winner is at 08/03/2012 - 06:33
rideguide wrote:
Hi Bernard. I suspect that's exactly what is going on, based on the fact the flash duration is shorter than the flash sync shutter speed.
The more I've tested it the more it's frustrated me. Pentax Tech Support (087...) said "update the firmware and try it again, in the mean time we'll get back to you in a few days..."
Lovely camera. Lovely IQ - I just need to decide if I can live with the 'quirk'!
The flash duration will always be shorter than the given flash SSS - the actual duration of a flash is from around 1/500 sec to 1/30,000 sec.Hi Bernard. I suspect that's exactly what is going on, based on the fact the flash duration is shorter than the flash sync shutter speed.
The more I've tested it the more it's frustrated me. Pentax Tech Support (087...) said "update the firmware and try it again, in the mean time we'll get back to you in a few days..."
Lovely camera. Lovely IQ - I just need to decide if I can live with the 'quirk'!
You may be able to solve this problem with a simple diffuser or alternatively a snoot to direct the flash onto a ceiling or a wall. The pre-flash will then be far less obvious to the subject(s). You shouldn't really be firing it directly at your subjects anyway (without a diffuser) if you are aiming for high quality flash shots.
Comment by Frogfish posted on K5 built in flash at 07/03/2012 - 19:12
For an idea of what old Siam must've been like, I'd advise a trip to the Sacred Temples at Ayutthaya.