All Forum Comments
Comment by stevejcoe posted on help: dropped a lens, what can i do at 30/08/2009 - 22:33
ChrisA wrote:
Should I persevere?
Chris I have 2 A28 / 2.8s as well as a M28 2.8 , which I believe has the same optical design. In my experience they all have adequate, but not great IQ. If the FA 31 ltd is a 10 I would rate the 28's no more than a 7. From what I have read the best 28 is the K 3.5 followed by the FA version.Reuben0 wrote:
A28/2.8
At risk of going off topic, what do people think of the A 28 F2.8? I have one, hardly ever use it, haven't been that wild about it when I have.A28/2.8
Should I persevere?
Regards - Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on Most lenses of one focal length ? at 28/08/2009 - 08:02
greynolds999 wrote:
I'm having an issue with PSP X2 that when I import a DNG from my K-7 I get black lines to the bottom and right of the image. Is anyone else finding this?
It works fine with JPEGs and doesn't get affected by adjusting the sensor so I'm assuming it's down to PSP not being up to date.
If anyone has time to check you can download a DNG from here (it is quite a large file) and see if it happens with any other software.
Winzip and Winrar both report an error in the zip fileI'm having an issue with PSP X2 that when I import a DNG from my K-7 I get black lines to the bottom and right of the image. Is anyone else finding this?
It works fine with JPEGs and doesn't get affected by adjusting the sensor so I'm assuming it's down to PSP not being up to date.
If anyone has time to check you can download a DNG from here (it is quite a large file) and see if it happens with any other software.
Regards - Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on K-7 and Paint Shop Pro at 27/08/2009 - 10:05
Can't beat it , but close
FA 50 1.4
A 50 1.4
A 50 1.7 X2
M 50 1.7
K 55 2.0
Steve
FA 50 1.4
A 50 1.4
A 50 1.7 X2
M 50 1.7
K 55 2.0
Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on Most lenses of one focal length ? at 27/08/2009 - 08:57
Thordell wrote:
Thank you both, I was surprised how narrow the DOF was, I choose f5 because I did not want the kitchen cupboards in focus (not pretty) The dark shadow is a part of the bloom that is dark green, however I will try again with a smaller aperture and if I have to use a small lamp so be it. Would take it outside but the thing is so small that the slightest wind will move it.
You might find this helpful Thank you both, I was surprised how narrow the DOF was, I choose f5 because I did not want the kitchen cupboards in focus (not pretty) The dark shadow is a part of the bloom that is dark green, however I will try again with a smaller aperture and if I have to use a small lamp so be it. Would take it outside but the thing is so small that the slightest wind will move it.
http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/technical/dofcalc.html#calc
Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on Help with sharpness please at 25/08/2009 - 08:23
nathanever82 wrote:
It is a very difficult one indeed. ANd Matt, as you say, the conditions to assess the quality produced by a lens are so varied, that it is very very hard to make a fair decision.
So the story goes like this;
Lens number 2 is the DA*16-50 @ 31mm. I have bought this lens for work, without even thinking about it. I was immediately shocked at the quality across the focal lenghts, and since i've had it, I very often use it for work, and leisure shooting. Its a versatile lens, it does the job, and I love it!
The other lens (Number 1 in all test shots) is the 31mm ltd. I have lusted after it for a long long time, and saved for years to buy it. And I find myself not using it enough. I enjoy shooting with it, and I really enjoy the rendtion of the photographs it produces. But I am not in love with it.
POint is that I don't feel like i'm using it enough, and when I do need that focal lenght (photo-shoots or live-music) I always prefer the versatility of the DA*. The results are only marginally different, and whilst the 31 is IMO better at f2.8 and f.4, it is not sharp enough at f1.8, f2. If I take the lens out for a walk I will struggle to find difference wide open...
All this makes it a very expensive luxury to have...
From the second set of pictures I move more in favour of lens 1.It is a very difficult one indeed. ANd Matt, as you say, the conditions to assess the quality produced by a lens are so varied, that it is very very hard to make a fair decision.
So the story goes like this;
Lens number 2 is the DA*16-50 @ 31mm. I have bought this lens for work, without even thinking about it. I was immediately shocked at the quality across the focal lenghts, and since i've had it, I very often use it for work, and leisure shooting. Its a versatile lens, it does the job, and I love it!
The other lens (Number 1 in all test shots) is the 31mm ltd. I have lusted after it for a long long time, and saved for years to buy it. And I find myself not using it enough. I enjoy shooting with it, and I really enjoy the rendtion of the photographs it produces. But I am not in love with it.
POint is that I don't feel like i'm using it enough, and when I do need that focal lenght (photo-shoots or live-music) I always prefer the versatility of the DA*. The results are only marginally different, and whilst the 31 is IMO better at f2.8 and f.4, it is not sharp enough at f1.8, f2. If I take the lens out for a walk I will struggle to find difference wide open...
All this makes it a very expensive luxury to have...
I too have have the 31 ltd and whilst it is a remarkable lens, my tests at F 5.6 - F8.0 have shown only small improvements in IQ over less highly rated lenses.
Regards - Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on Lens Comparison - Advice needed at 24/08/2009 - 16:21
FWIW
number 1 looks very slighly under exposed compared to number 2
number 1 looks slightly sharper
For all practical purposes by F5.6 little to no difference between them.
Hope this helps - Steve
number 1 looks very slighly under exposed compared to number 2
number 1 looks slightly sharper
For all practical purposes by F5.6 little to no difference between them.
Hope this helps - Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on Lens Comparison - Advice needed at 24/08/2009 - 13:13
Quote:
As I understand it the "A" lenses will work provided I leave the aperature set to Auto on the lens aperature ring. Clearly focus will be a manual operation! Because the sensor is APS-C sized the effective focal length of the lenses (which were designed for 35mm film) will become 42-120 and 105-300, so with my 3 lenses I will have a range from 18 to 300
Correct, you can also use lenses in no auto position along with any M, K or M42 (with and adapter) lens, but you must enable the 'use aperature ring ' in the custom settings menu. In this case you would need to put the camera in manual mode, focus and then press the 'green' button to set the shutter speed. As I understand it the "A" lenses will work provided I leave the aperature set to Auto on the lens aperature ring. Clearly focus will be a manual operation! Because the sensor is APS-C sized the effective focal length of the lenses (which were designed for 35mm film) will become 42-120 and 105-300, so with my 3 lenses I will have a range from 18 to 300
Also be aware that there can be exposure issues with pre 'A' series lenses , with a general tendency to over expose at F2 and under expose at F22. There is usually a sweet spot F4 - F8 , but this does vary from lens to lens
Quote:
Also my old lenses do not feature the letters SMC anywhere on them. Does this mean they pre-date the Super-Multi-Coating (1971 I think!)and will this have any impact?
The 2 lenses that you mention were part of a budget range introduced in the mid 80's. I have never used either myself, but I would expect the lenses to be less resitant to flare and possibly lower contrast compared to their SMC version cousins.Also my old lenses do not feature the letters SMC anywhere on them. Does this mean they pre-date the Super-Multi-Coating (1971 I think!)and will this have any impact?
Regards - Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on Use of old lenses on Pentax Km at 23/08/2009 - 07:58
Very nice place and well captured Dave. If it were not for all the tourists taking photographs, I could happily spend an hour or three there.
Steve
Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on Giverny Lily Pond at 15/08/2009 - 07:44
Check the EXIF to determine the range that covers most of the shots that you took and use that information to guide your decision.
I agree with George's comment, when it comes to zooms a newer 'designed for digital' usually translates to better IQ.
Steve
I agree with George's comment, when it comes to zooms a newer 'designed for digital' usually translates to better IQ.
Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on Dissapointed,Now after a sharp lens at 15/08/2009 - 07:37
Thank you all for your help and advice. Who do I contact to have the lens repaired? Is it better to go through SRS say or direct to Pentax?
I just want to get a quote as I would be happy to pay at most £50 say.
Regards - Steve