Finally managed to sort through my photos from my recent trip to Asia and thought I might post a few I liked best here.

This was my first proper trip with my K-r - I've used it a bit in and around my home since buying it to get used to it, but this is the first time I've used it extensively. It certainly takes some getting used to, but is capable of some lovely images when I manage to fluke the right combination of subject and settings.

I took the Pentax 18-250mm with me and my FA 50mm 1.7. In the end I didn't use the 50mm at all and the 18-250mm stayed on the camera the whole time. I had a few times when low light might have meant that the 50mm was the better choice, but the zoom was so versatile and the low light capabilities of the K-r so impressive, that it wasn't an issue.

I had plenty of failures as I'm still learning, but these are some of the ones I like best. It does show that in the right hands (not mine yet!) the 18-250mm is a stunning lens across the whole range if used correctly.

Most of the portraits were taken with permission, particularly of the children. I prefer to take pictures with the permission of the subject, but still haven't overcome the inherent reluctance to ask and miss out on a lot as a result.

Any comments, criticisms or helpful suggestions appreciated. Everything taken with aperture priority and hand held (except for the last one for which I used the beanbag.

[IMG]http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp15/chriseast/mumbaigirl.jpg[/IMG]

F8, 1/13, ISO 200 @ 42mm - utterly wrong for a portrait in all respects. So desperate to take the picture after being told I could got everything wrong. Good job the K-r is so forgiving. Cropped to about 50% and then enlarged 4 times, but no enhancement

[IMG]http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp15/chriseast/nails.jpg[/IMG]

F6.3, 1/1000, ISO 200 @ 250mm - the young lady was part of a street carnival and I was some way back so needed the full 250mm. Amazed it came out as well as it did. Cropped to 40% and enlarged 4 times with some slight shadow enhancement.

[IMG]http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp15/chriseast/smoker.jpg[/IMG]

F9, 1/400, ISO 200 @ 42mm - no permission for this one taken in a market so a little snatched. Cropped to around 60% then enlarged 3 times and slightly enhanced

[IMG]http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp15/chriseast/thaigirl2.jpg[/IMG]

F5.6, 1/1600, ISO200 @ 110mm - another part of the carnival so a little snatched again rather than posed. Cropped to 50% and enlarged 3 times.

[IMG]http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp15/chriseast/orphans.jpg[/IMG]

F6.3, 1/40. ISO 800 @ 18mm. Very low light in here and active children. Barely any drop in quality from ISO 200 to 800, though. Cropped to 70% and enlarged 2 times.

[IMG]http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp15/chriseast/dancer.jpg[/IMG]

F4.5, 1/80, ISO 1250 @ 50mm and accidently -0.7 step after failing to reset the camera from an earlier shot! Not a great picture with the man in the background, but great quality for a moving subject in poor artificial light at 1250 ISO. Cropped 50% and enlarged 3 times.

[IMG]http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp15/chriseast/hawk.jpg[/IMG]

F9, 1/400, ISO 200 @ 250mm. Again demonstrates that the 18-250mm is certainly not soft at the long end as sometimes reported. Cropped to about 30% and enlarged 4 times.

[IMG]http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp15/chriseast/pagoda.jpg[/IMG]

F5.6, 1/30, ISO 500 @ 22mm and -0.7 stop. No cropping, but slight contrast enhancement.

[IMG]http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp15/chriseast/pagoda2.jpg[/IMG]

F4.5, 0.8 seconds, ISO 400 @ 65mm and -2 stop. No cropping or enhancement.

I have another 10 or so that I like, but will leave it at this for now. I'd be happy to post some more, but didn't want to overdo it!

I've just spent 4 weeks travelling in Asia including Sri Lanka. I took other lenses, but the Pentax 18-250 didn't leave my camera once in all the time I was there. It's capable of stunning images, even in my fairly inexperienced hands.

I had a FA 50mm 1.7 with me and didn't ever feel the need for it. Some of the portraits taken with the 18-250 are easily the match of anything I have taken with the prime.

Based on the last 4 weeks if I could take just one lens, that would be it.

[IMG]http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp15/chriseast/IMGP2965.jpg[/IMG]

Taken on the move so not quite as sharp as if I had time to compose it!

Pentax K-r with Pentax 18-250mm lens at 50mm, F8, 1/100, AWB, ISO 200. Taken 18.12.2011 at 09.07 in Bangkok. No post processing yet.

Hi Stephanie

Depends what you mean by your attempts not working.

I'm assuming that you mean that you weren't able to get a long enough exposure for the effect to work in which case you have two choices. (This obviously applies to your K-x - you won't be able to achieve this with an i-pad or phone)

Either take your photos in very low light, usually early in the morning or late evening or when it is particularly overcast or buy a neutral density (ND) filter which cuts down the amount of light entering the lens.

To get the effect that you want you need a slow shutter speed. The aperture isn't hugely important, other than controlling how much of the photo is in focus. Most of the type of photo you describe have exposures ranging from a few seconds to many minutes and that simply isn't possible with a DSLR without very low light or a ND filter.

You will need a tripod or bean bag to cope with the long exposure times.

Have a search on the forum and on the web for using a ND filter and you will see what I mean. Filters aren't that expensive unless you go for the top makes. I've just bought a variable one which allows me to change the amount of light blocked depending on circumstances. The reviews for these are mixed, but I figured it would be a cheapish way of having a play around to see what class of filter I will use most before spending more.

I haven't used it yet, but plan on using it a lot when I go travelling for a few weeks tonight.

If you can wait 4 weeks I'll post a review when I return!

Chris

I'm flying to Mumbai tomorrow.........

With the RC1 you should be able to press the button once to open the shutter and again to close it in the bulb setting, according to everything I have read.

Have you tried that? I know that with my cheapo remote I can't do this which is why I was considering the RC1.

These are brilliant.

Proof that taking good photos lies in the photographer, not how much is spent on equipment. If I could have half the imagination you have shown here I'd be delighted.

You might want to consider the Pentax/Tamron 18-250mm as well. You can't get one new any longer, except maybe from overseas, but it consistently receives better reviews than the 18-200mm.

I have the 18-250mm and have been impressed so far.

No offence taken

I wasn't sure if I was getting a duff reading on the K-r or not as there seemed to be surprise at the aperture sizes.

As I have no idea whether or not I'll make a lot of use of a ND filter I'm going to get one of the 7 day shop variable ones. The reviews are mixed, but it's not a lot of money and should show me what sort of stepping down I'm most likely to need and how I will use it.

I'll be able to get something better then without wasting lots of money trying various filters out first.

I'll post a proper review of it after I get home as reviews seem to be lacking, as well as some photos if they aren't too embarrassing.

I might be relatively inexperienced with DSLR photography, but am old enough to have used film SLRs in the past. Not so old though that I can't tell the difference between f4.5 and f45

Pretty unlikely to misread f4.5 for f45 at 180mm and above when the maximum aperture of the lens is f6.3 at that length.

Not sure why this is a big deal, but I'll happily post a photo with the exif data if my feeble brain and eyesight can cope.