Doing another quick hunt (which of course is much easier when you know a specific file-name to search for) revealed that Pentax Canada seem to have a friendly way of finding manuals which includes a few old lenses in their extensive list of camera manuals here.

They also have the same poor quality pdf for the FA28-200 here.

Glyn

I have one of these, also bought cheap, but have not used it for a while.

When I first got mine I did a hunt for a manual and found a pdf version here.

The quality of this pdf is not very good but hopefully is better than nothing.

Glyn

Bath Water

[IMG]http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w20/GlynM/Competition%20Entries/IMGP0147-c2_small.jpg[/IMG]

Shot Using a Pentax Optio WG-1 in "under water" & macro modes with forced flash and spot focus.

The exif says it is 5.0mm, 1/250sec & F4.2 but this was chosen by the camera and not me.

The photo was taken on 17/09/2011.

Glyn

Prompted by Northgrain kindly saying he found this list useful and as it has also been nearly three months here is another update:

Weekly

1. The Number Six
2. Play
3. Heat
4. Flight
5. Self Portrait
6. Wood
7. Age
8. Reflection
9. Water
10. People Communication
11. Solitude
12. Hard and Soft
13. The Industrial Landscape
14. Motion
15. Favourite Places
16. Patterns
17. The Mark of Man
18. Shadows
19. The Monochrome Landscape
20. My Day
21. 'Something' on toast
22. Red
23. Light
24. Recycled
25. Christmas
26. Buildings
27. An abstract, subject matter: any plant in MONO
28. Watching the watchers
29. Paper Scissors Stone
30. One of My Best Photos
31. The Eyes Have It
32. Love is...
33. My Town
34. Street Furniture
35. Sky's the Limit
36. Spring
37. Movement
38. Long Exposure
39. Wildlife
40. Upside-down
41. Natural Light
42. Our House
43. Local Shop & Keeper
44. Rain
45. Blue
46. Public Transport
47. Sea and Shore
48. Tools of the Trade
49. Decay & Dereliction
50. On Ice
51. The Street
52. The Ugly
53. The Pleasure of Summer Holiday
54. Sleep
55. The World Today
56. My Home Town
57. Proverbs
58. Sweet Tooth
59. Contrast
60. Alone
61. Bridge(s)
62. A Touch of Red
63. Cute
64. Mysterious
65. Desktop Backdrop
66. Colour of Autumn
67. Evening
68. Children's Expressions
69. Architecture
70. Transport
71. Music
72. Contre Jour
73. Glass
74. Brewing up a Storm
75. Boots and Shoes
76. Still life in black & white
77. Feelings & Emotions
78. New Year's Eve
79. One Hundred Yards from Home
80. Nearness
81. Flower Power!
82. Bicycles
83. For Sale
84. A Face
85. Italy
86. An Instrument of Time
87. This Modern World
88. Reflections!
89. Abstract
90. Heavy
91. Made of Steel
92. Long Exposure
93. Vegetables
94. Woods and Forests
95. Orange
96. Used
97. Smooth
98. Protection
99. People at Work
100. Self Portrait
101. The Inconvenient Truth
102. Celebration!
103. Something Green...
104. Craftsmanship
105. Spots "n" Dots
106. Action
107. Dream
108. Smoke
109. Something bright or sparkling
110. Moment
111. Serenity
112. Hurry
113. Texture
114. Distance
115. Yun
116. Shadows
117. Street Photography
118. Its a funny old world
119. Quirky Small Buildings
120. Reading and Writing
121. Windows
122. Crystal
123. Freedom
124. Fog/Mist
125. Brickwork
126. Favourite Food
127. History
128. Weightlessness
129. Festivities!
130. Cubes, Squares, Oblongs
131. Companions
132. Steam
133. Street Portraits
134. Size Contrast
135. Culture
136. Suffering
137. Wood
138. Generations
139. The hand of man
140. A trick of the eye – perspective compression
141. The Four Seasons
142. Macro Mystery...Lets Get Close!!
143. Curved Surface
144. Ground level
145. Retro!
146. Evolution
147. Late
148. Catchlights.
149. Water of Life
150. Life in Motion
151. Optical Illusion
152. Duotone
153. Communications
154. Portray the crowd
155. Sunglasses!
156. Low-key
157. People in the Environment
158. Glamour
159. Summer
160. ND 1.8 – ND 3.0
161. Garden Safari
162. Rain
163. Dawn and Dusk
164. Painted shop front window
165. Depth of Field
166. It’s What’s on the Inside That Counts.
167. Adults at Work or Play
168. Public art
169. Stimulating the senses
170. Iconic Objects
171. A Crop can make the Difference
172. Halloween
173. Lines
174. Song Titles
175. A Treasure
176. Object Trouve
177. The Culinary (Competition)
178. The Beatles Songbook
179. ‘Adversity’
180. Low Key
181. Industrial
182. Love
183. Public Sculpture
184. Curves
185. Children at work or play.
186. Black and White Landscapes
187. Long Exposure
188. Isolation
189. Bridges
190. Surreal Competition
191. This is Me
192. Water Every Where!
193. Numbers
194. Nature breaks it’s path
195. JAPAN!!!
196. Breaking “The Rules”
197. Fungi
198. Flowers In A Natural Setting
199. No Sky
200. Age
201. Man-made
202. Sell, sell, sell!!!
203. Holiday
204. Animal Emotion
205. Three
206. Graphic Abstract
207. France
208. Freedom
209. Urban landscapes
210. Wheels
211. Film Noir Mood
212. Heat and Glare
213. Russia
214. Connections
215. A Door
216. An Album Cover
217. Perfect Timing




Fortnightly Competitions

1. Vistas
2. Product Shot
3. Lunch Break
4. Something Wooden
5. Christmas
6. A Night Shot
7. Scales
8. Frozen water
9. Doors
10. Everyday Object, from a Weird, Unusual, Puzzling Perspective
11. Something Wide
12. Your Best Shot Ever
13. Reflections
14. Night
15. Fruit
16. Art in the Community
17. Hands
18. Movement
19. "The Sun"
20. Relaxation or Relaxed
21. Shadows
22. My Roots, My Place
23. The Ground
24. Menace & Foreboding
25. A bad day at the office !
26. Half and half
27. ‘The White Shirt’
28. Bonfire Night
29. Cars
30. Curves
31. Juxtaposition
32. Your Weather
33. Stairs
34. Long Exposure
35. “Design Icon”
36. People
37. Hobbies
38. Genus Loci
39. Order and Disorder
40. Industrial Landscape
41. Childhood Memories
42. Local Flora
43. Faces
44. Food!!
46. Health
47. B&W Portraits
48. Wire, string, rope
49. Science Fiction
50. One Colour
51. Industry
52. Classical Music
53. Sunset
54. Energy
55. Time Piece
56. Abstract impressionism
57. Mono/Chrome
58. Space
59. Snow & Cold
60. Spatial
61. Silhouette
62. Eggs
63. Subject Noir (Black)
64. Plastic
65. Through a Door
66. Spring is Sprung
67. The Sacred
68. An Image That Looks Good From a Distance
69. Blur
70. Leading Lines
71. Wildlife
72. Barriers
73. Square Pictures
74. Interior
75. Steps
76. Water



Monthly Competitions

1. Fine Art Mono Landscapes
2. Generations
3. Opposites

Updated until 08-09-11


Glyn

OK, here are my results:

I would like to express my thanks to all of you that entered. Once again you all have far exceeded my expectations and it has been a privilege to review your work.

It is a little bit disappointing that we continue to have a fairly low entry for these competitions but I guess, like the previous competition, it is just that time of year.

Just a reminder that I'm no expert at this. Everything here is just my personal opinion and the results reflect my personal tastes. I have tried to make useful comments for each entry and hope that I have not upset anyone as this was definitely not my intention. As always it is a terrific collection of images.



digitalCG – Down Tools
Pete has given us a great image to start off this competition and also has to be applauded for putting up such an early entry.

I like the composition with the camera low down creating some height and allowing us to see so much of the mural. The mural is fantastic and I love the way a standing pipe at the top of the steps has been incorporated.

The clutter indicates that this mural is a work in progress and I assume that the photographer had no control over this. It would though be great to see it again without this clutter.

A great colourful shot to start off this competition – Many thanks.


sandinista – Mersey Steps
I really like this image. The composition is excellent. I like the way the barrier leads the eye through the shot to the top of the steps. The colour and texture of the stone is great. The steps are interesting being a little under-cut creating some great triangular detailing and I love the green colouring towards the bottom of the steps. The detail in the sky and water adds to this image.

The image feels that it is slightly falling away towards the left-hand side. The horizon seems to sloping a little and the tower on the LH horizon is probably not quite vertical. Given that the lamp-post on the RH side is perfectly vertical I guess that we are seeing that we are seeing the effect of a little lens distortion. For me this makes an excellent picture just a touch disturbing.

It is though a fantastic well composed shot full of great detail.


RPLSF – Mountain Steps
When I set this subject I was hoping to see some interesting interpretations and this shot certainly meets this expectation.

I think it is a good composition. I like the way the mountain is set to curve away from the top left corner of the frame. There is a great depth of field providing detail all the down the mountain to the trees in the foreground.

I think using B&W was a good idea. I suspect in colour the trees in the foreground would be too distracting whereas here they create a partial frame to the detail in the mountain steps. I’m not so sure about the sepia-like yellow colouring and I think I would have done a little tweak in a photo-editor to reduce the brightness of the sky that might just have also unmasked a bit more detail of the clouds.

A great subject interpretation which has been well presented.


DrOrloff – Beaubreuil
I am always impressed by the quality of the composition and structure in Adrian’s competition entries and this one is no exception.

I think the combination of the linear columns with the background shuttering and the complexity in the brickwork of the curving steps with the radial paving in foreground come together to create a terrific image.

Again here B&W is used to highlight the detail, particularly with the bricks and slabs.

A fantastic image. Very well done.


geordie01 – Sea Wall Steps
This shot looking down a ladder on a sea wall creates a great interesting effect that adds impact and I think boarders on being an optical illusion.

The image is divided into three elements. At the bottom is the wall at the top of the steps. In the centre we have the ladder viewed through a platform with the metal framework nicely creating a lead into the shot. The very top of the shot shows the rocks and stones at the base of the wall.

I think an illusion is being created by the huge depth of field in this shot which was obviously intentional using f22. We can see by the number of steps and perspective in the ladder that this wall is quite high but a feeling of height is offset by the sharpness across the whole shot. Certainly the rocks and stones at the top of the shot leap out towards the viewer as does the stonework at the top of the ladder. I love the conflict this creates in this shot. I think it helps stop the casual viewer in their tracks and makes them think about the image.

A great shot. It makes my brain hurt but I love it.


Northgrain – The Steps into the Sand
I think this shot wonderfully captures the feeling that we are at the end of the summer holidays. It certainly well meets the subject requirements and the way the steps and hand rail disappear into the sand create a great element of intrigue.

I think the composition and combinations of the colouring of the sky and sand are very good. The dark handrails create a great lead-in and framing effect.

I love the way this shot has terrific depth, enhanced by the sea wall and lamp-posts disappearing off towards the horizon, where there is nobody to be seen. I think this is what creates the end-of-season feeling. Looking at the exif data I find that this has been achieved by being out very early and it certainly works.

A great evocative shot – Very well done.


davidtrout – Dog Leap Stairs
I think this is another image that plays wonderful tricks with the mind. Curvature and tilt on otherwise linear features are used to great effect to add a disturbing element.

The composition is great and I like the way the steps pass out of the shot making the viewer wonder what is beyond.

Again this image really works very well in B&W. It is used to emphasise the detail in the brickwork, steps and bridge. The shadows and dark sky are used to create atmosphere and highlight the gloominess of this place.

The shot reminds me of scenes from old films, particularly the Third Man, as it shares elements of intrigue, decay and hidden fears. Perfect film noir.

An excellent, well perceived and executed image – Very well done.



It has been very difficult to choose the winners. I felt all the all the images fell within the subject requirement and all were of outstanding quality.

So this is it:

1st – Northgrain for The Steps into the Sand - because for me it also captured the essence of the end of the holiday season.

2nd – davidtrout for Dog Leap Stairs – because it is so very well perceived and such good use of B&W.

3rd – DrOrloff for Beaubreuil – because it is such a well-crafted shot.


Highly Commended goes to everyone else.

I think this completes my responsibilities here and hand over to Tim for the next round.

Glyn

This competition has now closed and the results will be up shortly once I have had my tea, helped wash-up and reviewed my comments & judging .

Glyn

Seeing that nobody has posted anything here I thought I would just bump this thread to remind you all that you only have one more week to find me some steps.

Glyn

I'm in.

I had to resist an urge to recreate the "White Album" to balance out Hyram's fantastic image.

Glyn

I think it is much easier to use a dedicated stitching tool to create multiple image compositions. There are some good free ones around.

Microsoft ICE is a very good starting point. It is almost completely automatic and does not need accurately aligned images or even the same exposure settings. It works fine most of the time even getting good results with hand-held shots but, typical Microsoft, when it does not work there is very little you can do to fix it.

Hugin is another free utility that I have tried. It does have an auto mode that works well but also will allow you to tinker with all the settings which is great for a nuts & bolts engineer like me . It therefore can be more complicated than ICE but does have good documentation and tutorials.

Both these tools just expect your images to have a reasonable amount of overlap.

I hope this is useful.

Glyn

I am 1100

Glyn