All Forum Comments
Comment by jules posted on Instant Convert to the Fisheye... at 22/05/2011 - 05:34
The Dye is Cast and the Eizo is ordered!
Comment by jules posted on Another Monitor Question... at 21/05/2011 - 12:38
Comment by jules posted on Sigma releases SD1 (46Mp) at 21/05/2011 - 06:04
Mike-P wrote:
They say it is as good as a prime at 2.8.
If its as good as my A* 300mm f2.8 with the 2x-L using the Sigma 2x teleconverter then you have your Pentax 250-600mm with added bonus of HSM and weather sealing for just over 2k.
Bargain if it performs as hoped
V/interested myself but more for the weight or rather lack thereofThey say it is as good as a prime at 2.8.
If its as good as my A* 300mm f2.8 with the 2x-L using the Sigma 2x teleconverter then you have your Pentax 250-600mm with added bonus of HSM and weather sealing for just over 2k.
Bargain if it performs as hoped
Comment by jules posted on Sigma 120-300 F2.8 at 20/05/2011 - 09:43
johnriley wrote:
Why do you torment yourself so, Mike? You know you really need more pentax lenses. not less....
My other half can't understand why I need Seven Lenses and only have one Camera BodyWhy do you torment yourself so, Mike? You know you really need more pentax lenses. not less....
Little does she know it's eight
Comment by jules posted on Sigma 120-300 F2.8 at 20/05/2011 - 09:14
Mike-P wrote:
They have apparently withdrawn the Sony version as well so maybe we still have a chance of getting one. Saying that I still don't think the K-5 AF system is up to such a lens (which would mainly be used for aircraft/sports and suchlike).
I am still seriously cutting my Pentax lens collection to more sensible levels and then buying a Canon body for its AF, MP-E65 and a fast zoom that will work well with a teleconverter.
When I had the loan of the 7D last year I tried a 70-200mm with the matched 1.4x teleconverter and its AF was faster than my Pentax version without the TC.
Hope you like the Canon Mike, The only thing I miss from my Nikons is the Autofocus!They have apparently withdrawn the Sony version as well so maybe we still have a chance of getting one. Saying that I still don't think the K-5 AF system is up to such a lens (which would mainly be used for aircraft/sports and suchlike).
I am still seriously cutting my Pentax lens collection to more sensible levels and then buying a Canon body for its AF, MP-E65 and a fast zoom that will work well with a teleconverter.
When I had the loan of the 7D last year I tried a 70-200mm with the matched 1.4x teleconverter and its AF was faster than my Pentax version without the TC.
However it was a bit complex with a plethora of settings and inevitably when I picked either of em up for a quick shot they was on the wrong setting 9/15/51 points et-al. I just want Autofocus that works kinda dumb and simple but reliable with not too much user input IE: Not too many chances for me to stuff it up! Even just a dedicated Sports setting would do. I didn't have a High end enough Canon for long enough to try it at Airshows, the 5D MKII Couldn't cope (And why should it?) neither could the 50D, 7D Focus should be much better I would say. That said the D3 wasn't all roses and setting for release priority with minimum delay etc resulted in Machine gunning a lot of out of focus shots just as the lesser Canons did, it does make me wonder how honest the big two really are about their Autofocus? However I had no such trouble Photographing Motorbike Road racing in NI with two F5's. Unfortunately I won't be attending any Airshows this year so I'll not get a chance to try the K5 in that regard.
Comment by jules posted on Sigma 120-300 F2.8 at 20/05/2011 - 09:00
Comment by jules posted on Instant Convert to the Fisheye... at 20/05/2011 - 08:40
Trawling the Net last night I found this:
"As of right now there is no production set for the Pentax mount of the 120-300mm OS lens. Any further news on the lens will be released on our website so I would keep a look out for any updates regarding this."
Sorry Mike-P
Don't remeber if it actually ever officialy said on the Sigma UK Site that it would have a Pentax Mount?
http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/lenses/telezoom/120-300mmOS.htm
Shame because the MTF (Not the whole story I know!) Makes it look exceptional!
http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/629-sigma120300f28oseos?start=2
Our chances Don't look too good to me, perhaps if enough of us lobbied Sigma???
"As of right now there is no production set for the Pentax mount of the 120-300mm OS lens. Any further news on the lens will be released on our website so I would keep a look out for any updates regarding this."
Sorry Mike-P
Don't remeber if it actually ever officialy said on the Sigma UK Site that it would have a Pentax Mount?
http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/lenses/telezoom/120-300mmOS.htm
Shame because the MTF (Not the whole story I know!) Makes it look exceptional!
http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/629-sigma120300f28oseos?start=2
Our chances Don't look too good to me, perhaps if enough of us lobbied Sigma???
Comment by jules posted on Sigma 120-300 F2.8 at 20/05/2011 - 06:13
Looks good too Stefan but I think I've made up my mind now!
Getting the Eizo as soon as funds allow, and will get the best Calibrator for the job as soon as afterwards. The Eizo packs 1900x1200 into a 22" Monitor instead of the usual 24" so it should look muckle sharp! The NEC Is the usual 1680x1050 and is slightly cheaper, Both are PVA Screens, so I'm following your advice Stefan (See I do Listen!)
Getting the Eizo as soon as funds allow, and will get the best Calibrator for the job as soon as afterwards. The Eizo packs 1900x1200 into a 22" Monitor instead of the usual 24" so it should look muckle sharp! The NEC Is the usual 1680x1050 and is slightly cheaper, Both are PVA Screens, so I'm following your advice Stefan (See I do Listen!)
Comment by jules posted on Another Monitor Question... at 19/05/2011 - 22:33
prsjnb wrote:
The extra £99.00 buys the Eye-one display 2 monitor calibration device, which normally retails for about £125.00. Of the devices of this type aimed at serious amateurs and semi-professionals, it, and its associated calibration software, are thought to be amongst the best. Reviews can be found at the above mentioned sites as well as many others (e.g. TFT-Central link.
You ask if it is really essential to have one at the outset, to which my answer is a qualified no, as you should find the Eizo pretty good 'out of the box', but it would be an advantage to have one at some stage - after all, even professional monitors costing thousands of pounds benefit from being calibrated regularly.
An option you might want to consider in the short term, and one that doesn't require the purchase of a monitor calibration device, is to use the default settings on the Eizo with your current printer and paper(s) and get an ICC colour profile, which corrects for differences between the on screen and printed image. A number of companies, for a small fee, offer profiling services of this type. It involves you printing a colour test chart, which they provide, on your paper of choice. This is then returned to them for comparison with the reference chart to produce produce the ICC profile for your monitor/printer/paper combination. Alternatively, I note that Fotospeed link provide a free colour profiling service for all of the high quality photo papers they stock, some of which are very reasonably priced (e.g. Those from their own range). I am about to try this service myself.
The quest for colour accuracy can, as noted by JR and others on the forum, become the latter day equivalent of the search for the Holy Grail (see also the Northern-images site for a series of excellent 'down-to-Earth articles on the topic). In the end, it comes down to personal taste and how important getting the colour balance as natural as possible, when the context demands, is to you and your potential customers.
Kind regards,
Jon
Read all the Northlight stuff Jon, All I want is good, not bob on but good and consistant. I don't in the end see how I can get it "Good enough" for me anyway, when I am using Adobe in Camera and Printer if I can't see it on the Monitor as well! Hence the decision on the Eizo but I note with interest this one too...jules wrote:
You got any expereience of the little calibration widget that comes with the Eizo? Is it in any way useful? I know it's not an Eye One solution but It may do to be going on with, if it gets me near enough I'd be happy...
If I understand you correctly, Jules, the 'widget' you refer to is the Graflite included free in the basic package. This device is an high quality, daylight balancedlight source for assessing the colour accuracy of printed images which normally retail for around £50.00. It has been reviewed favourably by ephotozine link and by Northlight-images link, both sources I have great confidence in.You got any expereience of the little calibration widget that comes with the Eizo? Is it in any way useful? I know it's not an Eye One solution but It may do to be going on with, if it gets me near enough I'd be happy...
The extra £99.00 buys the Eye-one display 2 monitor calibration device, which normally retails for about £125.00. Of the devices of this type aimed at serious amateurs and semi-professionals, it, and its associated calibration software, are thought to be amongst the best. Reviews can be found at the above mentioned sites as well as many others (e.g. TFT-Central link.
You ask if it is really essential to have one at the outset, to which my answer is a qualified no, as you should find the Eizo pretty good 'out of the box', but it would be an advantage to have one at some stage - after all, even professional monitors costing thousands of pounds benefit from being calibrated regularly.
An option you might want to consider in the short term, and one that doesn't require the purchase of a monitor calibration device, is to use the default settings on the Eizo with your current printer and paper(s) and get an ICC colour profile, which corrects for differences between the on screen and printed image. A number of companies, for a small fee, offer profiling services of this type. It involves you printing a colour test chart, which they provide, on your paper of choice. This is then returned to them for comparison with the reference chart to produce produce the ICC profile for your monitor/printer/paper combination. Alternatively, I note that Fotospeed link provide a free colour profiling service for all of the high quality photo papers they stock, some of which are very reasonably priced (e.g. Those from their own range). I am about to try this service myself.
The quest for colour accuracy can, as noted by JR and others on the forum, become the latter day equivalent of the search for the Holy Grail (see also the Northern-images site for a series of excellent 'down-to-Earth articles on the topic). In the end, it comes down to personal taste and how important getting the colour balance as natural as possible, when the context demands, is to you and your potential customers.
Kind regards,
Jon
http://www.nec-display-solutions.com/p/uk/en/products/details/dp/Products/LCD/Cu...
Comment by jules posted on Another Monitor Question... at 19/05/2011 - 22:02
I'm a huge fish eye fan.
Let me be the first to say that you have some excellent landscape photographs over on your site.
The Fish-eye is a great lens when used well.