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Comment by Offertonhatter posted on Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG HSM II at 23/05/2011 - 20:12
Well I have got back and it was an excellent trip. In fact I will go back due to far to much to photograph and it being a Lads weekend too.
As for the lenses I took, they were the following
Sigma 10-20
Pentax 18-55 WR
Pentax 35mm
Pentax nifty
Pentax 55-300
Usage? Well The 10-20 came out a few times with the cathedral and the Aviation museum. The 18-55 was on the body most of the times, and was pleased in a could of instances that it had WR. The 35mm - surprisingly was not used a lot, but did get used. I took it for its tiny size and to be a little inconspicous, but the sheer number of people with cameras, it did'nt matter what size of lens you had.
The fifty got a few outings, mainly for shallow DOF shots I came across. It is still very useful to have and would not leave home without it.
As for the 55-300, I am glad I had it. With so many trams around it became perfect for long range street work, and I used it a lot for that.
In the end, I think it was a good choice (the mighty 24-70 was just too big to fit in my Slingbag with other lenses), and all did come out of the bag for use. There were times when I wanted longer than 55mm at the long end without changing lenses, and If I had the 24-70 there would have been lots of times where 24 was too long without changing lenses.
Ultimately, if the 18-135 was a lot better than reports say, then as a city lens it would be perfect.
But, if I have the money for the next trip for new lenses, then the Pentax 17-70 will be perfect. It has the wide of the 16-45 and 18-55, yet the range of the 24-70, and it has some WR on it too, great for showers. But thats for next year and Tallinn......
Was I happy with the 18-55? Yes, it could be a tad sharper, but overall it was perfect for the trip.
I will put some shots on here once I have gone through them, but I have already put some on my Flickr site.
As for the lenses I took, they were the following
Sigma 10-20
Pentax 18-55 WR
Pentax 35mm
Pentax nifty
Pentax 55-300
Usage? Well The 10-20 came out a few times with the cathedral and the Aviation museum. The 18-55 was on the body most of the times, and was pleased in a could of instances that it had WR. The 35mm - surprisingly was not used a lot, but did get used. I took it for its tiny size and to be a little inconspicous, but the sheer number of people with cameras, it did'nt matter what size of lens you had.
The fifty got a few outings, mainly for shallow DOF shots I came across. It is still very useful to have and would not leave home without it.
As for the 55-300, I am glad I had it. With so many trams around it became perfect for long range street work, and I used it a lot for that.
In the end, I think it was a good choice (the mighty 24-70 was just too big to fit in my Slingbag with other lenses), and all did come out of the bag for use. There were times when I wanted longer than 55mm at the long end without changing lenses, and If I had the 24-70 there would have been lots of times where 24 was too long without changing lenses.
Ultimately, if the 18-135 was a lot better than reports say, then as a city lens it would be perfect.
But, if I have the money for the next trip for new lenses, then the Pentax 17-70 will be perfect. It has the wide of the 16-45 and 18-55, yet the range of the 24-70, and it has some WR on it too, great for showers. But thats for next year and Tallinn......
Was I happy with the 18-55? Yes, it could be a tad sharper, but overall it was perfect for the trip.
I will put some shots on here once I have gone through them, but I have already put some on my Flickr site.
Comment by Offertonhatter posted on Which would you take? at 16/05/2011 - 20:17
Thanks guys.
Still undecided, so will leave it until the last minute....
Still undecided, so will leave it until the last minute....
Comment by Offertonhatter posted on Which would you take? at 11/05/2011 - 09:44
I will check the manual. But it is interesting the Pentax web site spec says 16 and AP test also said 16.
Comment by Offertonhatter posted on K-5 Metering at 10/05/2011 - 23:08
I am off on a city break tomorrow afternoon and I still cannot decide which general zoom to take.
Now, I have already reserved the following in my slingbag:-
Sigma 10-20mm (my superwide and great for cityscapes around the river and the Aviation museum too)
My Pentax 35mm F2.4
My Pentax 50mm F1.4 - both for small light fast stuff.
My Pentax 55-300mm - I considered my mighty 50-135, but I guess I would rue not having anything more than 135mm....
But the walkabout lens. Now I am anticipating changable weather, so WR could be a factor.
So, options:-
Pentax 18-55mm WR - Small light "kit" lens that is actually quite good. It also has WR too so could be an advantage
Pentax 16-45mm - constant F4 but if I am shooting at F8-F11 does it give me any more than the WR?
Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 - The Big fast lens that is excellent, but it is BIG.
I am leaning towards the Kit lens, if only for the WR and size, and let the 35mm and nifty take over the fast shallow DOF work.
What do you think?
Now, I have already reserved the following in my slingbag:-
Sigma 10-20mm (my superwide and great for cityscapes around the river and the Aviation museum too)
My Pentax 35mm F2.4
My Pentax 50mm F1.4 - both for small light fast stuff.
My Pentax 55-300mm - I considered my mighty 50-135, but I guess I would rue not having anything more than 135mm....
But the walkabout lens. Now I am anticipating changable weather, so WR could be a factor.
So, options:-
Pentax 18-55mm WR - Small light "kit" lens that is actually quite good. It also has WR too so could be an advantage
Pentax 16-45mm - constant F4 but if I am shooting at F8-F11 does it give me any more than the WR?
Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 - The Big fast lens that is excellent, but it is BIG.
I am leaning towards the Kit lens, if only for the WR and size, and let the 35mm and nifty take over the fast shallow DOF work.
What do you think?
Comment by Offertonhatter posted on Which would you take? at 10/05/2011 - 22:39
Has anyone else noticed?
The K-5 metering system is only 16 zone, the same as the K10D and K20D.
The K-7 metering is 77 zone.
Not that I mind, as 90% of the time it is great, but 10% it has been fooled especially with extreme instances.
I wonder why Pentax have gone back to 16 zone? even if it is the new PRIME II?
The K-5 metering system is only 16 zone, the same as the K10D and K20D.
The K-7 metering is 77 zone.
Not that I mind, as 90% of the time it is great, but 10% it has been fooled especially with extreme instances.
I wonder why Pentax have gone back to 16 zone? even if it is the new PRIME II?
Comment by Offertonhatter posted on K-5 Metering at 09/05/2011 - 00:13
Like Robin says, it depends on the Landscape.
My Sigma 10-20 is great for big skies.
The 16-45 is probably used the most, but i have used my Sigma 24-70, Pentax 35mm (surprisingly good given its focal length) and even my Sigma 170-500mm on some landscapes.
My Sigma 10-20 is great for big skies.
The 16-45 is probably used the most, but i have used my Sigma 24-70, Pentax 35mm (surprisingly good given its focal length) and even my Sigma 170-500mm on some landscapes.
Comment by Offertonhatter posted on Most used lens for landscapes / architechture at 08/05/2011 - 23:49
The bronze one is okay, the green is boarderline. The others are far too chavvy for my taste. But they will go with the Chav combats in the sink estates........
Comment by Offertonhatter posted on Perhaps a couple of genuinely useful Kr Paint Jobs in this lot? at 08/05/2011 - 23:30
A tough one.
Yes FF would be nice, but......
It would have to be stunning to exceed the performance of the K-5, and we all know that the K-5 outperforms that current default choice FF camera - the Canon 5D mk2.
Pentax have a dearth of FULLY compatable lenses for full frame (only the FA limiteds and the three macros) the rest are either not useable or "sort of" compatable.
The market for reasonably priced FF cameras is tough to break. Look at Sony and the A900. It could not break the dominance of CaNikon and was quietly dropped leaving the cheaper A850 to stay in the market.
A FF will be bigger than the K-5 due to the electronics needed, in fact it would be a similar size to the A700 and 5D.
So, Yes, it would be nice, but the hard economical fact is it would not be worth Pentax getting into that arena. And anyway with the K-5 and 645D performing like they do, being stunning cameras themselves, would Pentax want to anyway?
Yes FF would be nice, but......
It would have to be stunning to exceed the performance of the K-5, and we all know that the K-5 outperforms that current default choice FF camera - the Canon 5D mk2.
Pentax have a dearth of FULLY compatable lenses for full frame (only the FA limiteds and the three macros) the rest are either not useable or "sort of" compatable.
The market for reasonably priced FF cameras is tough to break. Look at Sony and the A900. It could not break the dominance of CaNikon and was quietly dropped leaving the cheaper A850 to stay in the market.
A FF will be bigger than the K-5 due to the electronics needed, in fact it would be a similar size to the A700 and 5D.
So, Yes, it would be nice, but the hard economical fact is it would not be worth Pentax getting into that arena. And anyway with the K-5 and 645D performing like they do, being stunning cameras themselves, would Pentax want to anyway?
Comment by Offertonhatter posted on Pentax FF - a poll at 07/05/2011 - 14:59
Oooh stop me drooling! I would love a 90mm F1.4
Comment by Offertonhatter posted on Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM Review at 19/04/2011 - 23:31
I have the opportunity to purchase a pre-loved one on Pentax mount and wondered if anyone has got one.
I have had a look on "the other forum" and I think the reviews are confusing, people putting the wrong lens in the review (there are 3 versions of this lens length of course - EX DG, HSM II and OS HSM)
So, if you have this lens what do you think?