All Forum Comments
Comment by Tyr posted on Finally succumbed at 08/10/2018 - 18:03
I used to use off camera hotshoe flashes. Nice and cheap option that works very well.
Recently went to a Rotolight workshop which changed my mind about LED lighting in a studio setup. They are powerful enough to work at ISO400 at normal working distances.
I've not been converted to them for outdoor use though.
Recently went to a Rotolight workshop which changed my mind about LED lighting in a studio setup. They are powerful enough to work at ISO400 at normal working distances.
I've not been converted to them for outdoor use though.
Comment by Tyr posted on LED light panels bi-colour and set up for small room at 08/10/2018 - 15:42
I tried my DA15 which was a lot quieter and a DA40. Maybe if I'd tried my DFA100 WR it would have been a different story.
Comment by Tyr posted on Pentax K-1 surprises. at 06/10/2018 - 21:52
Was lucky enough to be on a workshop in SRS Watford. During the breaks I had a chance to play with the demo Pentax K-1. I was really impressed by the whole package.
However, what really surprised me was the camera's focus motor. All other Pentax cameras I've tried sound like a cordless drill. The K-1 is completely unobtrusive. It is not silent but it is, in my opinion, amazingly quiet! Why isn't more noise about this little gem of a feature?
It feels better in my hand than any other Pentax, even the K10D. The grip fits my hand just right. The controls are easy to reach and have not deviated much from my K-5. I can't say the same for the K-70 and K-P.
It is a bit bigger and heavier than my K-5 but not by as much as I thought.
Problem is, it made me want one more than I did before.
I'm not sold on the massive FF lenses but can still use many APS-C lenses with most the frame. Simultaneously shoot APS-C portrait and landscape as well as making composition adjustments easily on a crop lens as you can see what is just outside the frame.
It would suit my needs rather well.
However, what really surprised me was the camera's focus motor. All other Pentax cameras I've tried sound like a cordless drill. The K-1 is completely unobtrusive. It is not silent but it is, in my opinion, amazingly quiet! Why isn't more noise about this little gem of a feature?
It feels better in my hand than any other Pentax, even the K10D. The grip fits my hand just right. The controls are easy to reach and have not deviated much from my K-5. I can't say the same for the K-70 and K-P.
It is a bit bigger and heavier than my K-5 but not by as much as I thought.
Problem is, it made me want one more than I did before.
I'm not sold on the massive FF lenses but can still use many APS-C lenses with most the frame. Simultaneously shoot APS-C portrait and landscape as well as making composition adjustments easily on a crop lens as you can see what is just outside the frame.
It would suit my needs rather well.
Comment by Tyr posted on Pentax K-1 surprises. at 06/10/2018 - 21:00
Wow, that software has some great abilities. I really like the composition and 6 just stands out!
Comment by Tyr posted on Dead tree & some photomatix HDR at 03/10/2018 - 22:53
I was never very fond of mine until after I sold it. It was never long enough for a lot of my needs. It wasn't the sharpest of lenses but the bokeh was smooth and beautiful.
Comment by Tyr posted on New(?) Lens at 03/10/2018 - 18:42
I have an SSD only setup. I like having software on one SSD and photos on a second one. When working with batches both a fastish CPU and a half decent SSD are well worth the money.
I need a new CPU as mine is old but my SSDs are still going strong. The older SSDs I have are 3x 480GB ARC100 drives (good at the time and still good now). I wouldn't buy an OCZ/Toshiba SSD anymore though. Their new products are terribly slow (barely better than hard disks).
The industry leaders for price/performance balance are Samsung EVO860 or Crucial MX500 drives which are comparable. I went for a 2TB MX500 a while back as my photos drive as it was 50% off at the time.
I need a new CPU as mine is old but my SSDs are still going strong. The older SSDs I have are 3x 480GB ARC100 drives (good at the time and still good now). I wouldn't buy an OCZ/Toshiba SSD anymore though. Their new products are terribly slow (barely better than hard disks).
The industry leaders for price/performance balance are Samsung EVO860 or Crucial MX500 drives which are comparable. I went for a 2TB MX500 a while back as my photos drive as it was 50% off at the time.
Comment by Tyr posted on Advice.... SSD drives and Photoshop at 03/10/2018 - 14:43
If I hadn't recently bought the DA15 and 1.4x HD TC, I'd snap this up immediately! I'm trying to get the full set of original DA Limiteds.
Comment by Tyr posted on FS: Pentax SMC DA 40 Ltd at 29/09/2018 - 16:58
RobL wrote:
You could combine a trip to Clifton Cameras with one to Slimbridge, probably an easier run down the M5.[/quote]Hmmm... Good point... Never used them so never considered them before.Tyr wrote:
For me last time I 'tested' and item in store I bought it there and then. It was my DFA 100 WR Macro in Worcester's LCE. I would have continued to buy from them if they still carried Pentax as they were easier to get to than SRS. Now I have to make trips into Watford to test/buy stuff...Pentaxophile wrote:
[quote:3496ace15f="Tyr"]It is a shame that LCE stopped carrying Pentax as it was nice to handle items before buying.
Unfortunately 'before buying' usually means going home and ordering from Amazon/eBay. I'm not surprised it's getting harder for LCE to justify selling a relatively niche brand like Pentax.[quote:3496ace15f="Tyr"]It is a shame that LCE stopped carrying Pentax as it was nice to handle items before buying.
Comment by Tyr posted on Pentax - The end? at 26/09/2018 - 22:50
So thanks to LennyBloke I am the proud owner of a HD Pentax-DA AF Rear Converter 1.4x AW . This means that also thanks to LennyBloke you all have to suffer some more dragonflies .
This is sort of a mini-review of the teleconverter at the same time. I'll let the pictures do most of the talking though.
Migrant Hawker with DA* 300 + HD DA 1.4x.
002 by Daniel Perlak, on Flickr
003 by Daniel Perlak, on Flickr
This lens is so sharp even with the teleconverter. I've not noticed any loss in resolution on the K-5. Cropping certainly doesn't give me the same magnification and detail gains as using the TC. The image below is practically the whole frame, very minimal compositional cropping (over 90% of the frame).
005 by Daniel Perlak, on Flickr
With the aperture wide open depth of field is obviously very shallow. The sharpness is still there in the sliver of focus. It isn't visible below because of the resolution of Flickr but the lenses on the eyes are starting to be resolved on the full size image, there is plenty of detail and texture. Bokeh isn't quite as nice as without the TC though, seems a bit nervous in places.
006 by Daniel Perlak, on Flickr
Ruddy Darter with DFA 100 WR + HD DA 1.4x.
90%+ of the frame just cropped a bit for composition.
027 by Daniel Perlak, on Flickr
Again nearly the full frame cropped only for a slight composition adjustment, Loads of detail and contrast. Great for the increase in magnification and/or working distance.
030 by Daniel Perlak, on Flickr
I didn't manage to get down the minimum focus distance/maximum magnification. This darter was very skittish and that is about as close as I managed.
All in all the teleconverter is amazing with both these lenses. It has given me a 420mm f5.6 telephoto and a 140mm f4 super-macro. I am very pleased with the image quality with negligible loss in resolution or increase in aberrations. There is more than enough resolving power for the K-5 and therefore the K-1 (almost identical pixel density)(now all I need is a K-1).
This is sort of a mini-review of the teleconverter at the same time. I'll let the pictures do most of the talking though.
Migrant Hawker with DA* 300 + HD DA 1.4x.
002 by Daniel Perlak, on Flickr
003 by Daniel Perlak, on Flickr
This lens is so sharp even with the teleconverter. I've not noticed any loss in resolution on the K-5. Cropping certainly doesn't give me the same magnification and detail gains as using the TC. The image below is practically the whole frame, very minimal compositional cropping (over 90% of the frame).
005 by Daniel Perlak, on Flickr
With the aperture wide open depth of field is obviously very shallow. The sharpness is still there in the sliver of focus. It isn't visible below because of the resolution of Flickr but the lenses on the eyes are starting to be resolved on the full size image, there is plenty of detail and texture. Bokeh isn't quite as nice as without the TC though, seems a bit nervous in places.
006 by Daniel Perlak, on Flickr
Ruddy Darter with DFA 100 WR + HD DA 1.4x.
90%+ of the frame just cropped a bit for composition.
027 by Daniel Perlak, on Flickr
Again nearly the full frame cropped only for a slight composition adjustment, Loads of detail and contrast. Great for the increase in magnification and/or working distance.
030 by Daniel Perlak, on Flickr
I didn't manage to get down the minimum focus distance/maximum magnification. This darter was very skittish and that is about as close as I managed.
All in all the teleconverter is amazing with both these lenses. It has given me a 420mm f5.6 telephoto and a 140mm f4 super-macro. I am very pleased with the image quality with negligible loss in resolution or increase in aberrations. There is more than enough resolving power for the K-5 and therefore the K-1 (almost identical pixel density)(now all I need is a K-1).
Comment by Tyr posted on Getting even closer with the HD DA 1.4x! at 23/09/2018 - 01:52
Not always!
K-5 with DA*300 f4 + HD 1.4x TC (630mm f8 equivalent).
OM-D EM1 ii with 300 f4 Pro (600mm f8 equivalent).
The Olympus setup is actually heavier.
This is comparing the Pro lines lenses though. Stick the 45mm f1.8 on any Olympus body and it is tiny! It even gives the Limiteds a run for their money!