All Forum Comments
Comment by pnjmcc posted on Tamron 10-24 opinions at 18/05/2010 - 01:51
Robbie,
I'll sing the praises for the K200D as well as I have had mine for about 2 years now.
I picked mainly on price, size and the weather sealing and at the moment I would only change it for a K20D because I would like the advantage of the lens compensation. (and I cant afford a K7)
As for grips, I did buy the DBG-3 for it and TBH I was quite dissapointed with it. It adds quite a lot of extra weight (4xAA batts), it felt quite cheap and plasticky (with no rubberised bit like the body) for a Pentax product and the palm of my hand always hits the shutter release button on it and activates the autofocus, all that said if I was to shoot a lot of portraits it does make it easier to hold. That could just be me though cause I am used to the winders on my ME Super and Super A.
As for re-sale the K200Ds seem to be few and far between, drop very little in price and I read a post somewhere that SRS struggle to find them.
The only time I have ever been frustraed with the camera was shooting rapid at 10mp JPEGs it was a little slow writing to the cardand I had to pause for a second or two whilst it caught up, this of cause was not helped by me being a tight git and buying cheap SD cards.
Regards
PaulM
I'll sing the praises for the K200D as well as I have had mine for about 2 years now.
I picked mainly on price, size and the weather sealing and at the moment I would only change it for a K20D because I would like the advantage of the lens compensation. (and I cant afford a K7)
robbie_d wrote:
The second e-dial is a good point, but the K-m did at least compensate by allowing a button press to change the function of the one e-dial the camera had. I assume this is the same on the K-x, not sure about the K200d.
The K200 works the same when in manual mode, you need to press and hold the Exp comp button and this switches from shutter speed to aperture. It was a bit fiddly at first but I soon got the hang of it. Although I assume the two wheels on a K20D would make it much easier due to thier placementThe second e-dial is a good point, but the K-m did at least compensate by allowing a button press to change the function of the one e-dial the camera had. I assume this is the same on the K-x, not sure about the K200d.
As for grips, I did buy the DBG-3 for it and TBH I was quite dissapointed with it. It adds quite a lot of extra weight (4xAA batts), it felt quite cheap and plasticky (with no rubberised bit like the body) for a Pentax product and the palm of my hand always hits the shutter release button on it and activates the autofocus, all that said if I was to shoot a lot of portraits it does make it easier to hold. That could just be me though cause I am used to the winders on my ME Super and Super A.
As for re-sale the K200Ds seem to be few and far between, drop very little in price and I read a post somewhere that SRS struggle to find them.
The only time I have ever been frustraed with the camera was shooting rapid at 10mp JPEGs it was a little slow writing to the cardand I had to pause for a second or two whilst it caught up, this of cause was not helped by me being a tight git and buying cheap SD cards.
Regards
PaulM
Comment by pnjmcc posted on Crossroads at 18/05/2010 - 01:18
pnjmcc wrote:
As for portraits, yes it would work and give some interesting effects but you need something in the background to blur, so it wouldn't be much use on white / plain backgrounds.
Well I don't have a dedicated studio, so there is a reasonable chance of there being something in the background to blur!As for portraits, yes it would work and give some interesting effects but you need something in the background to blur, so it wouldn't be much use on white / plain backgrounds.
hefty1 wrote:
I sold mine on as I wasn't using it enough. It can be quite fun but it never found a permanent place in my camera bag...
That's what's holding me back to be honest: while it seems like a fun lens, I'm not sure that it's really "fun" enough to get into my bag as a portrait lens ahead of my DFA 50.[/quote]I agree It definately wont replace a decent prime for portraits and no it doesn't have a permanent place in my bag but for me it works when there is lots going on and if you can get a secondhand one then then worth a punt. I wouldn't have bought it new though.I sold mine on as I wasn't using it enough. It can be quite fun but it never found a permanent place in my camera bag...
thoughton wrote:
pnjmcc wrote:
Below is a link to a cheesy picture of my son contemplating climbing a slide, but it does illustrate the lensbaby's ability to isolate the subject with the blur it creates in a portrait situation.
Link
That's a lovely shot, not cheesy at all, which illustrates the lens very well Below is a link to a cheesy picture of my son contemplating climbing a slide, but it does illustrate the lensbaby's ability to isolate the subject with the blur it creates in a portrait situation.
Link
MrCynical wrote:
Well the Composer has (*gasp*) a focus ring, so hopefully I should be OK on the focus-locking front
Thanks
[quote:3496ace15f="womble"]I don't think it is cheesy at all, although I have now for the first time visited facebook. I had hoped to live the rest of my days without visiting facebook...
K.
Kris Well the Composer has (*gasp*) a focus ring, so hopefully I should be OK on the focus-locking front
Thanks
[quote:3496ace15f="womble"]I don't think it is cheesy at all, although I have now for the first time visited facebook. I had hoped to live the rest of my days without visiting facebook...
K.
Sorry about that. I dont normally link to FB but i dont have any of the Lensbaby pics on photobucket.
As for the facebook debate, for me it works well to keep in touch with my familly, I am here in Oz and they are all back in blighty. I used to have a blog but finding the time to write an essay and upload the pics was a bit of a drag, FB works well cause I can put up the pics and all my familly can see them.
Regards
PaulM
Comment by pnjmcc posted on Lensbaby Composer at 16/05/2010 - 23:26
Thanks for the input all.
I just used photoshop (CS3) to merge the images in small batches (about 5 or 6 at a time) then saved them and then did a final merge with all the saved smaller merges and flattened.
Then cloning for the easy bits like echos and cutting and pasting back in from the original images for the more tricky bits. like the longer boat trails.
The oringinal images where shot at 2 MPs though to make it a little easier for my laptop.
Regards
PaulM
cardiff_gareth wrote:
I like them all, I don't think No.3 needs a crop, I like it the way it is, very picture postcardy. Its the same for the first, I think thats a great shot, how did you managed to get everything still in the frame when stiching as the boat white bits, are they called wakes? must have been hard to line up :
What software are you using to stich all the images together then :
Gareth, I like them all, I don't think No.3 needs a crop, I like it the way it is, very picture postcardy. Its the same for the first, I think thats a great shot, how did you managed to get everything still in the frame when stiching as the boat white bits, are they called wakes? must have been hard to line up :
What software are you using to stich all the images together then :
I just used photoshop (CS3) to merge the images in small batches (about 5 or 6 at a time) then saved them and then did a final merge with all the saved smaller merges and flattened.
Then cloning for the easy bits like echos and cutting and pasting back in from the original images for the more tricky bits. like the longer boat trails.
The oringinal images where shot at 2 MPs though to make it a little easier for my laptop.
Regards
PaulM
Comment by pnjmcc posted on Northhead Point in Manly at 14/05/2010 - 04:29
Thanks for the feedback all.
I have been trying to capture the way this tree looks in the afternoon sunlight for ages but I just couldn't fit it all in and still have a good picture so I thought I would focus on a small bit and viola
Paulyrichard
No problem, I like the way you've cropped it.
Regards
PaulM
I have been trying to capture the way this tree looks in the afternoon sunlight for ages but I just couldn't fit it all in and still have a good picture so I thought I would focus on a small bit and viola
Paulyrichard
No problem, I like the way you've cropped it.
Regards
PaulM
Comment by pnjmcc posted on Autumn inspired images at 14/05/2010 - 03:55
After seeing some of the recent wide angle images that have been posted, and reding one of the threads in here with loads of wide angle pics in LBA got the better of me and I went off to have a trawl round the web to see what they cost. As luck would have it our Friends at SRS have a sale on a Tamron 10-24 f3.5-4.5 @ GBP379.
I have read one review that says its a bit soft at the wider apertures and I was just after some opions on this lens especially if anyone has one and could post some example images showing any good or bad points.
The only other option is the sigma 10-20 f4-5.6 non HSM lens which is only 10 quid more @ GPB389.
I have no need for this lens so is it better to wait save a few more penny's and go for one of the 12-24's?
Regards
PaulM
I have read one review that says its a bit soft at the wider apertures and I was just after some opions on this lens especially if anyone has one and could post some example images showing any good or bad points.
The only other option is the sigma 10-20 f4-5.6 non HSM lens which is only 10 quid more @ GPB389.
I have no need for this lens so is it better to wait save a few more penny's and go for one of the 12-24's?
Regards
PaulM
Comment by pnjmcc posted on Tamron 10-24 opinions at 14/05/2010 - 02:20
I have one of the previous versions (The Lensbaby 2.0) which I bought second hand from a forum member.
Its quite a tricky thing to get right (I agree with mikew you need the control freak version) but I have got (in my opinion) some quite good results from it.
As for portraits, yes it would work and give some interesting effects but you need something in the background to blur, so it wouldn't be much use on white / plain backgrounds.
Below is a link to a cheesy picture of my son contemplating climbing a slide, but it does illustrate the lensbaby's ability to isolate the subject with the blur it creates in a portrait situation.
Link
HTH
Regards
PaulM
Its quite a tricky thing to get right (I agree with mikew you need the control freak version) but I have got (in my opinion) some quite good results from it.
As for portraits, yes it would work and give some interesting effects but you need something in the background to blur, so it wouldn't be much use on white / plain backgrounds.
Below is a link to a cheesy picture of my son contemplating climbing a slide, but it does illustrate the lensbaby's ability to isolate the subject with the blur it creates in a portrait situation.
Link
HTH
Regards
PaulM
Comment by pnjmcc posted on Lensbaby Composer at 14/05/2010 - 02:00
Finally got to go out for a bit of a walk with the camera after several busy weekends. We went to Northhead point, a reserve in Manly and the northern side of the entrance to Sydney harbour.
View straight accross the water to Sydney city ( A multiple shot panorama of about 30 images stitched together and processed in Photoshop to reduce the haze)
[IMG]http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb113/pnjmcc/Processedsydneyboatrace.jpg[/IMG]
The Manly Ferry (Another panorama but this time not as many shots, only about 10 and you can see the haze in this one)
[IMG]http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb113/pnjmcc/ManlyferryPanorama.jpg[/IMG]
Two boats, the red colour of the R/H one caught my eye, but I cant decide whether to crop out the sky or the ocean
[IMG]http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb113/pnjmcc/twoboats.jpg[/IMG]
Finally a view out in to the ocean with a big container ship on the horizon.
[IMG]http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb113/pnjmcc/3boatspiral.jpg[/IMG]
C+Cs please
Regards
PaulM
View straight accross the water to Sydney city ( A multiple shot panorama of about 30 images stitched together and processed in Photoshop to reduce the haze)
[IMG]http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb113/pnjmcc/Processedsydneyboatrace.jpg[/IMG]
The Manly Ferry (Another panorama but this time not as many shots, only about 10 and you can see the haze in this one)
[IMG]http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb113/pnjmcc/ManlyferryPanorama.jpg[/IMG]
Two boats, the red colour of the R/H one caught my eye, but I cant decide whether to crop out the sky or the ocean
[IMG]http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb113/pnjmcc/twoboats.jpg[/IMG]
Finally a view out in to the ocean with a big container ship on the horizon.
[IMG]http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb113/pnjmcc/3boatspiral.jpg[/IMG]
C+Cs please
Regards
PaulM
Comment by pnjmcc posted on Northhead Point in Manly at 12/05/2010 - 05:25
While those of you in the northern hemisphere are heading towards summer, us antipodeans are enjoying autumn.
[IMG]http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb113/pnjmcc/autumleaf24.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb113/pnjmcc/RedAutumleaf1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb113/pnjmcc/RedAutumleaf3.jpg[/IMG]
C+Cs as usual
Ta
PaulM
[IMG]http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb113/pnjmcc/autumleaf24.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb113/pnjmcc/RedAutumleaf1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb113/pnjmcc/RedAutumleaf3.jpg[/IMG]
C+Cs as usual
Ta
PaulM
Comment by pnjmcc posted on Autumn inspired images at 12/05/2010 - 04:57
Taking every lens and bit of kit you own out on a trip "just in case" and then shooting everything with the one that was original attached
Guilty as charged, although I am getting better.
Yes guilty of that one too
Regards
PaulM
Guilty as charged, although I am getting better.
ems82 wrote:
Quote:
Miss the shot of a lifetime because you press the shutter only to hear...Beep Beep Beep! you left it on 12sec timer
Look at the back of a film camera after taking a shot
Yep yep yepMiss the shot of a lifetime because you press the shutter only to hear...Beep Beep Beep! you left it on 12sec timer
Look at the back of a film camera after taking a shot
Yes guilty of that one too
Regards
PaulM
Comment by pnjmcc posted on The Odd Things We Do at 10/05/2010 - 00:04
Thanks for posting that. it doesn't look to soft
Hi ems,
I have been thinking of ths lens but I am swaying more towards the 14mm prime
I did think about a prime but again price put me off
I hear lots of praise for the Sigma but don't hear as much for the Tamron. Maybe that is just because the Sigma is more prevalent. For £10 more I'd be tempted to go for the Sigma but maybe someone who has used both could shed a more considered opinion on the two?
Of course, there is loads of praise for the Pentax 12-24 but that is silly money if you ask me.
It is really a toss-up between the extra stop on the tamron (Tammy=3.5-4.5 vs siggy=4-5.6) an extra 4mm and the apparant softness of the tammy vs the sigma
Hmmmmm.... decisions decisions...