Thanks for the comments - might try the 2nd in the comp - its between that and a simple picture of frosty grass which I like.

Its the 50mm 1.4 - bought it from SRS £149. Makes you think lots more, move about and concentrate on the composition. My first prime but probably not the last.

Unscrewed the 10-20 and fitted this wee dude.
Got up early and snapped a few on the way to work.



Sugar and sunshine. The vignetting is all mine.



Shot over the top of my cornflakes bowl.



Yep the focus was out - hand shake - but the first pic I've ever had where I've loved the OOF background. Think the colours are cool and those dancing circles inside the railings just do it for me.

Great lens .

Hi Dave - I'm real new to this too so these are green thoughts.

The 3rd is my fav
The 1st doesn't hold my interest much but looks sharp and you've caught the bands of colour throughout the sky well.
The other 2 have a blue cast which just makes the blue sky and blue sea look flat. The glassy look to the sea is cool in the 2nd and the bird flying towards the cloud bank is good in the 3rd.
I'd always in these type of shots keep more of the sky and its interesting cloud formations in the shot than the 'same ol, same ol' sea.

After a while maybe the misty look to the last 2 is right? - thats the thing with me, after oggling pics I started off not liking I then push em through the imagination and they come out cool .

Great pictures Mike - sharp and some cool subjects.

In a black mood so hope you dont mind;

I think the church door looks OK - not tack sharp but this lens IMHO just isn't going to give you that.

I've not really noticed the lack of sharpness but after looking at a lot of pics - you're right you can see it.

Was out and snapped a few yesterday - you can notice the non-sharpness but the flexibility of the lens far outweighs it for me.

ISO 500 - a bit soft and noisey close in


1/125 7 500 18mm



1/50 7 320 18mm



1/50 5,6 100 20mm

Sharpness looks OK here to me - don't know if this is contrary but 12 at 1/25 seemed sharper to me than 20 at 1/50?


1/25 4.5 100 12mm

Even a bit soft, its still loads of fun

Hi MX - looking at the exif - 1/500, f4, 200 at 10mm - and at the pic and realising that I'm new at this too - I'd say the lens was good. I read about some left and right edge soft focus issues but from what I can see yours looks a bit soft but OK.
Get out of the woods and try taking some snaps in good light of some buildings near you and post them up to let us see.

This lens is the most expensive I've bought but money well spent - it's my most used.

Nice pic. and nice atmospheric feeling - the graffiti has given this humdrum rectangular lump a life.
The crop is perfecto to me .

Thanks for your thoughts everybody, really appreciate them.

Tried to get out there lunchtime today but it's way too dark wet and miserable - looks like the rain might ease off but it's still heavily cloud covered so maybe a late black and white session is on the cards.

Yep, you're right - still a far way from mastering the beast.
One thing I was concerned with was the left and right edge softness people sometimes reported getting with this lens, I'm pleased with this one, there is some, but to my untrained eye looks pretty good.

Got a mid range hole I need to fill and SRS have the Pentax 16-45 at £219 but might opt for the Sigma 17-70 as the reports are good and it's a bit faster and the reach is better.
(As soon as the Xmas plastic has cooled, that is).

Hello, 1st post in here for me - hope to be a regular contributor. I ain't the best only picked up the camera at Xmas and I've loads to learn about what makes a great pic (seen loads on here though) - but any critical comments would be ace.

Just bought one of these Sigmas and thought I'd post a few pics for your comments - just love this lens it's soo good for buildings.

Loads of construction going on in Liverpool for the Capital of Culture year so should put this dude to some good use over 2008.



Our parish church - bit too over processed - astro turf in the graveyard!



Yep - should have got the spire in



Construction everywhere



Car park - which I think is orrible but which is good to snap at



New arena - love the different glass colours



New arena with small dude skipping



River Mersey

robby

Another new face.
Xmas K10D and an 18-55. 3 weeks in and I can't get enough of it.
Hoping to look and learn from all you good people.

Just plundered the plastic - manfrotto 055xprob - grip ball head - Sigma 10-20 - Pentax 50 1.4. I can't tell her the real amount, though I hate telling her financial fibs.

Even taking the gear to work with me - sneak out and snap away. Get funny looks, but it's getting easier.
Started to stay up late tweaking that, trying to critique and compose - this can't be good for me or the bank balance.

Had an ME Super a million years ago and a few super zooms but this has rekindled something and I'm loving it.

Posted a few of yesterdays pics with the Sigma in the pics place. Would very much like to hear your thoughts.
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=48700#48700

Robby.