Visit MPB Visit MPB Visit MPB

petrochemist

Status: Member
Join Date: 27th February 2010
Last Login: 30th January 2024 - 22:07
Real Name: Mike Kanssen
Website: Visit My Website
Occupation: Analytical Chemist
Interests: photography, astronomy, nature, motorsports...



All Forum Comments
Topic / Forum Comment
pentax k lens to nikon
Posted in Lenses for Pentax Cameras
Different flange focal distance than Pentax.... so it won't fit. A glass element could be incorporated, but would ruin the image quality plus Nikons can't extract all the magic image properties the way Pentax can. So buy Pentax every time :lol: --Algi is quite right about PK having a shorter flange distance. However it is still possible to use PK lenses without correcting optics, as long as you don't want to focus on more distant subjects. How far away you can focus is a function of the lenses focal length, with wide angle lens it will almost certainly be just macro distances - many long telephotos (which often have focusing rings the turn beyond the infinity mark & are less effected by extension) may still be fairly usable. If you have to use a Nikon body the Z series can be adapted to quality glass without any issues - I think it's even possible to get a degree of auto focus! (Techart do a nikon Z to Sony E AF adapter & their Techart pro will focus/focus tune any lens that can be adapted to Leica M...) The techart pro moves the entire lens up to 4mm to focus fairly effective on lenses under 50mm, longer lenses can need to be partially focused first in the same way as with the Pentax 1.7 autofocusing teleconverter... :twisted:
Wiltshire Downs IR
Posted in Your Photos
I'd prefer it with a little less cloud (2/3 to 3/4 cloud cover) - but that's the case for so many of my shots too, we have to live with what nature gives us weather-wise. To some extent I agree with Phillip about the LHS, but the dark band of conifers (?) are currently on the third and that would be lost with cropping, weakening the left so I'm not totally convinced.
Don’t hold your breath for a Pentax mirrorless
Posted in General Digital Photography Discussion
I've tried mirrorless cameras and can't stand those awful electronic viewfinders, as for focusing using a 'touch screen' what a load of faffing about! Probably ok for the 'phone snapper' ( don't get me started on THEM! ) but definitely not for meHow old was the EVF you tried? The early ones were certainly dire The ones with my 5 year old mirrorless models are pretty good, except perhaps for action shots. I gather they've improved a lot since then. Having magnified view & focus peaking available in the viewfinder works really well for manual focusing. I've not bothered getting native lenses for one of my mirrorless systems, and I really like the results I get from those tiny Pentax 110 lenses (even though the 18mm doesn't fully cover APSC). One of my MFT bodies has a touch screen focus - I've hardly ever used it, AF works just like a normal camera but it allows the AF point to be moved simply when I have wanted it for closeups it's been a lot less faffing around than using the buttons to select a different focus point. BTW I am very definitely not a 'phone snapper' rarely even having a phone with me (I probably carry a camera 100 times as long as I do a phone in any given year)... I do prefer my k5ii to my mirrorless options for motorsprts & airshows, but thats at least in part down to having AF at a much longer focal length (750mm EFL vs 400mm EFL). In poor light - night, macro & especially infra red - the EVF is a huge advantage over an OVF, so as response times & resolution have improved the benefits of a DSLR have diminshed. I'd love to have a camera with the features of my old mirrorless bodies, a modern EVF & Pentax ergonomics. Sadly the K-01 had none of these!
E Books?
Posted in General Photographic Discussion
Hi John. Yes I know you download them but it's paying for them in $ and the exchange rate???. I'll have a think about it. CHEERS Vic.The exchange rate doesn't vary that much - if you assume 1:1 and it still seems reasonable, the inevitable reduction from the true exchange rate is only a bonus. Via pay-pal IIRC you'll actually see the rate the transaction happens at before confirming the payment.
Backwards Zoom Lenses?
Posted in Lenses for Pentax Cameras
I think most of my zoom lenses are shortest at intermediate focal lengths, usually extending slightly for the shortest FL & more for the longest setting. This is certainly the case for at least half a dozen around the 'normal' focal length. I'm sure it's a consideration that comes quite a long way down the list of priorities in lens design, in fact probably so far down it's not even on the page.
What's your latest acquisition?
Posted in General Photographic Discussion
Won on a well known internet auction a Sigma 24-70mm. In the listings the images showed the lens hood attached but when it arrived there was no lens hood. Annoying as I've now messaged the seller 3 times and they haven't responded to them :evil:The goods are therefore not as described & you can get a partial refund. Failure to respond will only reinforce your position there.
What's your latest acquisition?
Posted in General Photographic Discussion
I've just unintentionally splashed out on another telescope. I placed a minimal bid as a marker & won the auction for a penny! Admittedly it's not a top quality job, but it should provide a few components to play with. I might even replace the eyepiece holder with a connector for a M42 helicoid :)
A few days in Essex
Posted in Your Photos
1. Correct 2. Pointclear 3. Correct 4. Same as number 2 just a different direction 5. Correct 6. Cudmore Grove country park Thanks to everyone for their comments. :DAbout a kilometre out for no 2 then, not too bad considering the lack of landmarks, but I really should have got no 4. Although Cudmore Grove is only about a mile from point clear, it's quit a long drive round - over 20 miles. Did you take the passenger ferry ? I've never been on it myself Shame I wasn't around to offer you hospitality, I was in Lincolnshire testing kart fuel that weekend.
A few days in Essex
Posted in Your Photos
Very much my neck of the woods, which has given me the challenge of trying to identify the locations. No 1 is easy, from Coast road West Mersea around 100m east of the Victory. No 2 feels like a view from Batesmans Tower at Brightlingsea. I've shot similar sunsets there recently, but without the trimaran. No 3 must be be the Martello tower at Jaywick (it's the only one I remember with the banking round it) I can't place No 4 - I suspect its a bit further down the coast. there are features that make me think Brightlingsea, but the houses are wrong. No 5 is just 10 minutes away from me now the leading lights at Dovercourt beach Sorry no 6 is beyond me, a common sight in my parents garden, but I doubt that's where you took it! How did I do?
Telephoto lenses
Posted in General Digital Photography Discussion
They might do, but is it a bad thing? For most focal lengths Pentax have the lens model you'll ever want, and without the fear your lens will need to be sent for modification (ie K-1 lens mount or firmware update which makes 3rd party lenses inoperable). The second reason is why I have either Pentax or Nikon branded lenses for my cameras.Yes definitely a bad thing. More options is always good, and having the major 3rd party suppliers drop them will discourage new uses from going for Pentax.
Club photographers
Posted in General Photographic Discussion
I think I'd have been tempted to walk out after commenting we'd booked a photographer rather than his camera. Since I'm our club's treasurer, If I walked out he wouldn't have been paid for his visit - seems about right :D
I saw this on another forum
Posted in General Digital Photography Discussion
Some of the shots are quite effective & rather abstract I'm not sure the results are worth the level of work involved, but I guess photoshop probably has easy ways of doing this... Could this effect be made by using multiple exposures?Not really from multiple exposures in the film way, simply combining multiple shots on the same negative. Exposure differences would either blow out the background or make the bird too faint a different blend mode is needed. From the comment you quoted they have been done by multiple exposures.
From a plane....
Posted in Your Photos
I believe that windfarm is Gunfleet 1&2 just off Clacton. It seems even on a fine day like this one my house is hidden by one of the thickest portions of cloud. It's under there somewhere in your 3rd photo. Nice images, TFS
Why millimetres?
Posted in General Photographic Discussion
Millimeters are the preferred SI unit of length that is appropriate for typical lenses. Centimeters while still a recognized SI unit have not been a preferred unit since the old CGS reference was replaced by MKS back in the 1940s. The full SI system being adopted in the 1960s Older lenses are often marked in cm or inches. Using the base unit of the meter would give us nasty decimals for nearly all lenses. (Less than 1% om my 'lenses' have round figure focal lengths in meters, both of these are actually telescopes one 1m-4m with the eyepiece & the other fixed at 1m without an eyepiece). Preferred multipliers are multiples of 1000, giving us: Kilo, Mega, Giga, Terra, Penta... going up & milli, micro, nano, pico, femto... going down.
FS various items at silly prices(!)
Posted in Classified Adverts
Ring flash arrived safely this morning. It's very much better than the old one I have somewhere. Thanks a lot David! :D
Your lens list... like the Pentax RoadMap
Posted in Pentax Equipment
Not sure my list would fit on a table like that. Well it might do if it were A A0 size. ;) Besides it's not all about focal length, different lens have different characters. (Or is that just another of my "excuses" ;) )It's not just another excuse, but the other characteristics do tend to be more difficult to quantify. I can't see there's much point in me attempting a graphical display. I have over 100 lenses usable on my Pentax K mount cameras, without including those usable only for macro. There are several places where I'm well aware of overlaps such as swaps or the F100-300 & DA 55-300. I don't see charting it will encourage me to sell the lesser used models.
FS various items at silly prices(!)
Posted in Classified Adverts
It's a YN 14M and sold subject to paymentPayment sent :)
FS various items at silly prices(!)
Posted in Classified Adverts
The macro flash is a Yongnuo brand.I can't find my macro flash so am considering this as a replacement! Can you advise which model Yongnuo do a range of styles.Never mind I'll go for it anyway as long as it's not just a LED light. PM sent
FS various items at silly prices(!)
Posted in Classified Adverts
The macro flash is a Yongnuo brand.I can't find my macro flash so am considering this as a replacement! Can you advise which model Yongnuo do a range of styles.
Oulton Park Gold Cup 2018
Posted in Your Photos
Nice set, I particularly like the power slide in no2
A sad day...........
Posted in Lenses for Pentax Cameras
I sold my K5...... ONly kept the K200 for sentimental reasons. I think I know the issue. WIndows 10 won`t save the file without appending .txt and I can`t find a way to stop it doing it.....Can't you just rename it afterwards?
Lightning with shooting star
Posted in Your Photos
More likely an iridium flare, look it up :)Given that both it & the other similar streaks we saw all originated from the constellation of Perseus, during the build up to the Perseid storms maxima this Sunday. I think my ID is far more likely. Not all of the streak was recorded during the shot, but it managed better than most of the others we saw which inevitably seamed to be while the camera was recording its dark frame.
Lightning with shooting star
Posted in Your Photos
Had a quick play with my Fisheye while on Holiday in France tonight. While photographing the stars I saw several bright flashes, this shot confirmed they wre due to distant lightning, and also caught one of the shooting stars :) by , on Flickr
Lunar Eclipse camera settings
Posted in Pentax Digital SLRs
I was surprised at how dark the red period was, and then amused at myself for not realising it would be that way in the first place. :oops:My experience last time (when storms didn't eclipse the whole affair) suggest the blood moon was more than 4000 time darker than the full moon. I knew it was going to be significantly darker but was still surprised at how much darker it was.
Not looking good for Moonpics
Posted in General Photographic Discussion
3 weeks of clear skies .... tonight just cloud :(Indeed the eclipse has been eclipsed. We actually had a thunderstorm all the way through totality, and still have rain now.