I'm glad you took my bait, Smeggy !
I knew my comment about f/8 would draw a response !

However, I totally agree with your comments, both about DoF and what the desired effects are. My main point was that if the OP was concerned about sharpness then the use of wide apertures would not have been the best.

I stand by my suggestion that the only way to find what you are looking for is to keep looking ! And that means keeping on trying different things and not giving up.

Best regards
Peter

My Great Granny was from Paisley and I've inherited many of here pecuniary traits hence my reference to 'poor man's lenses' !!!

Peter

Welcome - sit down with a cup of coffee (or something stronger) and have a slow think about what you expect and what you are doing ?

I've had a look at your images in your portfolio and don't see anything particularly bad. But what I DID see (from the EXIF data) was that you have been using Av and opening the lenses wide open !

I'm willing to stand corrected but it is my belief that you need VERY expensive glass to get sharp images at wide apertures so that could be partly a reason for your disappointment ?
With my 'poor man's lenses' I often stick to f/8 nowadays and have found it makes quite a difference !

As Nigel said if you save RAW you will need to do some adjustments to bring the images 'to life'. (And you can, of course, also liven up and sharpen jpegs)

I have used both the free PDCU4 and now Photoshop Elements 11 to process my RAW images and have been amazed at the difference it can make - flat 'grey' images can be transformed to sharp vibrant results.

Have a 'play around' with the camera settings and also with the PP and, who knows, you may be surprised ?

Good luck and remember "he who dares, Rodney" !

Peter

Hello and Welcome - glad you finally plucked up the courage !

Please don't be afraid to ASK - whatever the question - there will ALWAYS be someone ready with an answer.

It may not be what you wanted but then that is half the fun with this Forum !

I joined 2 years ago when I got my K-r and the people here have been immensely helpful, so, as I said, don't be afraid to ask - you are among friends here.

Meanwhile - don't throw the K-r out - the more you get to know it the more you will appreciate it.

Look forward to seeing your name on some Gallery pics and some threads.

Best wishes
Peter

There have been many shots of flowing water (including my own) posted on the Gallery recently (not surprising given the recent English weather !)

However, there appears to be varied opinions as to what shutter speeds give the best results ?

Most people appear to opt for long exposures (1s or more) as this blurs the moving water to create an 'effect'. This is fine if you have a tripod with you (or can otherwise hold yourself 'rock solid' for the duration of the exposure) but when travelling 'light' with family I am normally restricted to 'hand held'.

I've tried a compromise of 1/2s or 1/3s and this is OK when I can find something rigid to rest on but the the K-r flashes 'f/32' and the result is an overexposed shot. (Although it is usually possible to correct the RAW file in PP).

As a rule I tend to opt for around 1/25s on the scientific basis that this equates closely to the eye's persistence of vision and is why TV and video use 25fps frame rates. It is also easier to hold the camera steady for this 'faster' shutter speed.

I suppose it is partly the effect you are looking for ?

To me 1/25s captures the scene 'as the eye sees it' but the longer exposures around 1s or more are perhaps seen as more 'artistic ?

I'd be grateful for your comments ?

Peter

Certainly a nice set, David.

As the others said, not the best conditions but you still managed to pull it off.

I'm particularly impressed with the colours of the hills in the 'long' shots. So often the distant hills fade into a misty grey/blue (well they do for me !), whereas you have captured colour and contrast.

Nice

Best regards
Peter

The cost of memory cards has fallen dramatically over recent years so that they are now cheap compared with the VALUE of the images we store on them.
I therefore tend to use a new card every time and keep the used cards containing the files as my 3rd backup.

Meanwhile good luck with the current images, but if it were up to me I'd just buy some more !

Best regards
Peter

I totally agree.

I studied Nigel's 'Mini Guide' to the free pentax software that came with my K-r (PDCU4) and used that for my RAW processing until I got a copy of PSE11.
Now THIS is my program of choice and find it excellent for both the RAW development and subsequent 'tweaking and cropping'.

You already have PSE11, so IMHO look no further.

Peter

Don't be TOO optimistic, Lewis, those bargain buys are few and far between. My lens came from Amazon but I was alerted to it by a Forum member after I'd posted a question about what lens to buy. I think I got one of a 'clear out' batch of Hoya branded lenses just after Hoya had sold Pentax to Ricoh. However, as I said, just ask the question and you never know what might turn up ? Good hunting.

PS: Also keep your eyes on the 'Leads to Deals' section of the Forum !

Peter

Welcome aboard, Lewis.

I joined 2 years ago when I got my first (Pentax) DSLR on the basis of comments I'd seen on this Forum. Since then I've had great enjoyment and enormous help from fellow members.

If you have ANY questions, don't be afraid to post a thread. That way I managed to get a new Pentax lens for half price when it was only offered at that price for 2 days !

Best wishes
Peter