All Forum Comments
Comment by MrCynical posted on PU - latest issue at 11/07/2010 - 21:46
flossie wrote:
Since Pentax's marketing budget is approximatly zero, the best thing they could do would be to paint all their * and Ltd lenses bright red...
If Pentax came out with a (special edition Kx-like) Harlequin version of the DA*50-135 I would immediately get over my SDM anxiety Since Pentax's marketing budget is approximatly zero, the best thing they could do would be to paint all their * and Ltd lenses bright red...
Comment by MrCynical posted on Famous Pentax Photographers at 11/07/2010 - 15:39
Depends on your priorities, but anything in the 28-35mm should do. Your in-production options are:
*Sigma 30mm f1.4 - fastest lens here and also the cheapest (relatively speaking). It has no resolution to speak of in the far corners wide open (and isn't great at borders either), but at f1.4 your extreme corners are going to be blurred (ie bokeh) anyway
*FA31 Limited - fabulous, but it's £1000. If you have £1000 to spend on photo gear (and don't, for some reason, want the DA*50-135 ), the FA31 is widely regarded as one of the best prime lenses ever made.
*DA35 Macro Limited - not a fast lens (only f2., but if your primary use for it will be outdoor/street work it is very well regarded indeed. It also has the advantage that, though 35mm isn't a great macro focal length, you never have to worry about the minimum focus distance for normal shots! Only weakness might be the slow autofocus, however unlike the others on this list it has Quick Shift (ie you can turn the MF ring while in AF mode) so you can give it a helping hand if it decides to hunt.
Of the used options, the FA35 is just under a stop faster than the DA35 and just over a stop slower than the Sigma. It's supposed to be very sharp wide open (ie it's likely sharper at f2 than the Sigma is at f2). Since it's only available used, you'll (perhaps rather obviously) pay less than you would for a new copy of the other lenses.
*Sigma 30mm f1.4 - fastest lens here and also the cheapest (relatively speaking). It has no resolution to speak of in the far corners wide open (and isn't great at borders either), but at f1.4 your extreme corners are going to be blurred (ie bokeh) anyway
*FA31 Limited - fabulous, but it's £1000. If you have £1000 to spend on photo gear (and don't, for some reason, want the DA*50-135 ), the FA31 is widely regarded as one of the best prime lenses ever made.
*DA35 Macro Limited - not a fast lens (only f2., but if your primary use for it will be outdoor/street work it is very well regarded indeed. It also has the advantage that, though 35mm isn't a great macro focal length, you never have to worry about the minimum focus distance for normal shots! Only weakness might be the slow autofocus, however unlike the others on this list it has Quick Shift (ie you can turn the MF ring while in AF mode) so you can give it a helping hand if it decides to hunt.
Of the used options, the FA35 is just under a stop faster than the DA35 and just over a stop slower than the Sigma. It's supposed to be very sharp wide open (ie it's likely sharper at f2 than the Sigma is at f2). Since it's only available used, you'll (perhaps rather obviously) pay less than you would for a new copy of the other lenses.
Comment by MrCynical posted on What "Normal" lens for K-7 at 11/07/2010 - 15:35
Pentaxophile wrote:
Thank Christ for the EU. I liked their decision this week on the legality of returning homosexual asylum seekers to countries that would chop their heads off too.
This doesn't have anything to do with the EU. Both decisions were as a result of the European Convention on Human Rights, which is overseen by the Council of Europe (47 members) rather than the EU (27 members).Thank Christ for the EU. I liked their decision this week on the legality of returning homosexual asylum seekers to countries that would chop their heads off too.
The stop and search change was as the result of a decision of the European Court of Human Rights (judgement here), the decision on asylum for gay people was a decision by the UK Supreme Court (judgement here - warning PDF).
Comment by MrCynical posted on Police stop and search powers restricted at 10/07/2010 - 22:00
The Sigma 400mm isn't actually as rare as you might think - SRS have had two in the past couple of months, and there has been one other on sale in the marketplace here.
Mike-P wrote:
Sigma 100-300mm f4 DG EX.
But out of production and out of stock on Pentax mount unfortunately Sigma 100-300mm f4 DG EX.
Comment by MrCynical posted on SOS - impartial lens buying advice needed urgently! at 09/07/2010 - 23:11
MattMatic wrote:
When using these charts I find it easier to do the following:
1. Place the chart on the wall (so you read it sideways)
2. Put the camera, level on a tripod
3. Angle the camera at 45 degrees to the wall.
Always move the focus ring to an extremity first, the AF and take the shot. Consistency is the name of the game.
In fact, this is similar to the Pentax service manual
Finally, I have found that the chart can be too 'clinical'. I always found a chart adjustment followed by a real life test (and further tweak) is always best (normally using a portrait).
HTH,
Matt
Knew to do all of those (might not be precisely 45 degrees is the only flaw) - the only reason I broke out the test charts was that a few 'real shots' (which, as I say above, I can't post I'm afraid) had focus problems which were just about noticeable without zooming to 100%.When using these charts I find it easier to do the following:
1. Place the chart on the wall (so you read it sideways)
2. Put the camera, level on a tripod
3. Angle the camera at 45 degrees to the wall.
Always move the focus ring to an extremity first, the AF and take the shot. Consistency is the name of the game.
In fact, this is similar to the Pentax service manual
Finally, I have found that the chart can be too 'clinical'. I always found a chart adjustment followed by a real life test (and further tweak) is always best (normally using a portrait).
HTH,
Matt
I'll give it another go on Sunday (busy tomorrow) and see whether I can make it (or rather my K20D and it) behave
Comment by MrCynical posted on A quick lens check [OT] at 09/07/2010 - 23:11
I have used a 50mm for landscapes in the past - primarily because my 50mm is the DFA 50 Macro which is a very, very sharp lens indeed.
Comment by MrCynical posted on Anyone use a 50mm for landscapes? at 09/07/2010 - 19:08
I've repeated the test, this time doing it with both the FA35 and my DFA50 Macro (from the same tripod location)
FA35 at f2:
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb159/Carzor_Stelatis/Photography/IMGP4545.jp...
DFA50 at f2.8:
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb159/Carzor_Stelatis/Photography/IMGP4544.jp...
Now on the DFA50 the middle section is perfectly in focus (and the chart as a whole looks a little back-biased, if anything), whereas on the FA35 it isn't (by my rough guess the 10mm is in sharpest focus)
FA35 at f2:
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb159/Carzor_Stelatis/Photography/IMGP4545.jp...
DFA50 at f2.8:
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb159/Carzor_Stelatis/Photography/IMGP4544.jp...
Now on the DFA50 the middle section is perfectly in focus (and the chart as a whole looks a little back-biased, if anything), whereas on the FA35 it isn't (by my rough guess the 10mm is in sharpest focus)
Comment by MrCynical posted on A quick lens check [OT] at 09/07/2010 - 19:07
mikew wrote:
Looks a little front focus to me. But wait and see what it looks like for real before adjusting?
Well that's the thing - I've had focus issues (though not talented enough to identify which direction) in 'real' shots (which I unfortunately can't post - family etc.).Looks a little front focus to me. But wait and see what it looks like for real before adjusting?
Comment by MrCynical posted on A quick lens check [OT] at 09/07/2010 - 18:34
Got my FA35 in today and just wanted to double check that the focus looks alright. Apologies for the fact that it is pretty underexposed - I've had focus issues in 'real shots' but can't rule out the fact that this is caused by my own woeful technique
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb159/Carzor_Stelatis/Photography/test_35.jpg
(Warning: It's a full-size JPEG so about 6Mb)
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb159/Carzor_Stelatis/Photography/test_35.jpg
(Warning: It's a full-size JPEG so about 6Mb)
Comment by MrCynical posted on A quick lens check [OT] at 09/07/2010 - 17:46
Thoramay, I'm going to describe how I link to images in this forum - with screenshots to make it absolutely clear. I use Firefox for my web browser but Internet Explorer and Safari have similar commands.
[ url=the flickr page for the image][ img]image url[/ img][/ url]
(take spaces out of tags)
Either that or use Photobucket, which doesn't require a link back.