All Forum Comments
Comment by Gedski posted on Birds in flight shots using K-50 and Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 lens. at 29/07/2016 - 10:41
McGregNi, I've just tried what you said but I don't see the 'insert image' option. My pic has gone to the main gallery. Sorry.
Comment by Gedski posted on Birds in flight shots using K-50 and Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 lens. at 28/07/2016 - 18:01
McGregNi wrote:
I am similarly a great fan of my Tamron 70-300, and it can produce impressive results including at 300mm / f5.6 ... the purple fringing is a known issue around contrasty edges, but with PP where needed its never been a concern to me ...
However, like the report on the Pentax 55-300 from David, I could hardly recommend the Tamron 70-300 for birding either. I'm no 'birder', but its not an elegent solution for this type of action work. Its perfectly good in static situations, but its an unwieldy tool in dynamic conditions, with a rather difficult zoom action and long focus throw that works the screw-drive rather hard. AF can be expected to be fairly hit and miss with this Tamron lens when aiming into the sky and trying to lock on moving objects.
Its certainly a lens that would take a lot of effort to get consistent good results, even more so in less bright conditions. The subject against sky aspect of birding will tend to emphasise the PF in many scenarios as well I fear. Full marks to the OP here if he is able to get good results, but I think the the lens will add to the effort needed.
Also Gedski, I recommend that if you want an appraisal of your shots so far, then post them right here into this thread. This will help people to discuss them without having to flick back and forth to a gallery page.
MMcGregNI. I would like to post my pics here but I've not found a way to do it. Could you possibly give 'very easy' to follow instructions, please?I am similarly a great fan of my Tamron 70-300, and it can produce impressive results including at 300mm / f5.6 ... the purple fringing is a known issue around contrasty edges, but with PP where needed its never been a concern to me ...
However, like the report on the Pentax 55-300 from David, I could hardly recommend the Tamron 70-300 for birding either. I'm no 'birder', but its not an elegent solution for this type of action work. Its perfectly good in static situations, but its an unwieldy tool in dynamic conditions, with a rather difficult zoom action and long focus throw that works the screw-drive rather hard. AF can be expected to be fairly hit and miss with this Tamron lens when aiming into the sky and trying to lock on moving objects.
Its certainly a lens that would take a lot of effort to get consistent good results, even more so in less bright conditions. The subject against sky aspect of birding will tend to emphasise the PF in many scenarios as well I fear. Full marks to the OP here if he is able to get good results, but I think the the lens will add to the effort needed.
Also Gedski, I recommend that if you want an appraisal of your shots so far, then post them right here into this thread. This will help people to discuss them without having to flick back and forth to a gallery page.
Comment by Gedski posted on Birds in flight shots using K-50 and Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 lens. at 28/07/2016 - 16:55
johnriley wrote:
You're right to check that the other lens works or not, but it will only take a moment to find out.
F-- indicates that the camera can't read the lens aperture. One reason is poor contact, but the simpler reason can be a lens with an aperture ring where the ring is not set to "A". If the Tamron has an aperture ring, make sure it is set to "A".
Muchly thankings John, I certainly didn't know about the 'A' thing. After trying to sort it all out, I rang the retailer from whom I bought the 'stuff', not SRS. It has been mutually agreed to send it all back and they can sort it. It gets collected tomorrow. You're right to check that the other lens works or not, but it will only take a moment to find out.
F-- indicates that the camera can't read the lens aperture. One reason is poor contact, but the simpler reason can be a lens with an aperture ring where the ring is not set to "A". If the Tamron has an aperture ring, make sure it is set to "A".
It is all rather an anti climax after me going back to the K-50 after my problems of a year or two ago, a lot of which were down to my poor knowledge of photography in general and Pentax workings in particular. I was just getting some half decent BIF shots as well using the Tamron 70-300mm lens. Hopefully, it shall all be sorted out in a week or two.
Comment by Gedski posted on Disappearing rear screen information, has anyone had this problem? at 27/07/2016 - 16:35
K-50 being used with Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD Macro lens. Purchased new on Friday last. All went well until this morning. On switching on the K-50 I saw that instead of the aperture value showing , for instance, f5.6, it showed f-- and was continually flashing on and off.
Also, when I changed the modes using the top controller wheel the mode remained on Av, with the exception of manual mode. I cleaned the contacts on both the lens and the camera and the problem, for a few minutes, seemed resolved. Then the problem returned. The lens is now awaiting collection from the photographic shop from where I bought it.
It would be helpful to me if anyone out there has any experience of a similar problem as I am wondering if the problem might be with the camera or the lens or both. I intend to 'have a go' using the 18-55 kit lens to see if the problem might manifest itself with that. Muchly thankings.
Also, when I changed the modes using the top controller wheel the mode remained on Av, with the exception of manual mode. I cleaned the contacts on both the lens and the camera and the problem, for a few minutes, seemed resolved. Then the problem returned. The lens is now awaiting collection from the photographic shop from where I bought it.
It would be helpful to me if anyone out there has any experience of a similar problem as I am wondering if the problem might be with the camera or the lens or both. I intend to 'have a go' using the 18-55 kit lens to see if the problem might manifest itself with that. Muchly thankings.
Comment by Gedski posted on Disappearing rear screen information, has anyone had this problem? at 27/07/2016 - 12:26
NeilP wrote:
Is the DA*300mm (perhaps 2nd hand) out of the question? Its the best BIF lens Ive used on Pentax including the Sigma 150-500mm and Pentax 150-450mm
Hello NeilP, I'm afraid that it is at the minute. However, Ill see how I get on with the Tamron 70-300mm and go from there.Is the DA*300mm (perhaps 2nd hand) out of the question? Its the best BIF lens Ive used on Pentax including the Sigma 150-500mm and Pentax 150-450mm
My best,
Jan.
Comment by Gedski posted on Birds in flight shots using K-50 and Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 lens. at 27/07/2016 - 11:33
Thanks John, I think my photography allowance might now be overdrawn.
I'm slowly beginning to get the hang of BIF with my K-50. I've uploaded another in the wildlife category. This time I've used very minimal Elements 13 to, hopefully, improve the shot. As always all views appreciated.
I'm slowly beginning to get the hang of BIF with my K-50. I've uploaded another in the wildlife category. This time I've used very minimal Elements 13 to, hopefully, improve the shot. As always all views appreciated.
Comment by Gedski posted on Birds in flight shots using K-50 and Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 lens. at 26/07/2016 - 17:55
I must admit that I am thinking that the Pentax 55-300mm would be superior to the Tamron 70-300mm lens, if only because it is Pentax made. I intend to find out more in the few days.
Comment by Gedski posted on Birds in flight shots using K-50 and Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 lens. at 24/07/2016 - 12:40
michaelblue wrote:
I think you'll find the 55-300 will hunt just as much, if not more. The 55-300 is capable of excellent shots but the constant hunting is very frustrating sometimes
Thanks for your response michaelblue. I've tried getting comparative reviews of both the Pentax 55-300mm and the Tamron 70-300mm lenses but they are not very informative about the hunting with moving subjects. I went for the Tamron because of the price, £105 and the better zoom parameters. Still, onwards and upwards.I think you'll find the 55-300 will hunt just as much, if not more. The 55-300 is capable of excellent shots but the constant hunting is very frustrating sometimes
Comment by Gedski posted on Birds in flight shots using K-50 and Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 lens. at 24/07/2016 - 11:56
Eukeka!!! I've got it. by jove I've got it. I eventually tried connecting the K-50 to my PC. I must have done something right because I now have Firmware 1.02. Muchly thankings to you all and especially to John. Now what's my next problem?
Comment by Gedski posted on K-50 firmware update problem. Help, please. at 23/07/2016 - 18:23
What a 'Rodney'! I was trying to do what you said but on the gallery upload a photo screen. No wonder I couldn't see the 'insert image' option. Muchly thankings
Now, hopefully, there should be a shot of a gull in flight. This is one of the six I took on Saturday last. As I recall the afternoon was rather gloomy but I now know that my settings could have been better. At least it shows that BIF can be successfully attained using a Pentax K-50 with only a consumer type lens.