<![CDATA[Steve's Digicams Forums - Pentax / Samsung dSLR]]> http://forums.steves-digicams.com/ en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:58:22 GMT vBulletin 60 http://forums.steves-digicams.com/techforums_v2/misc/rss.jpg <![CDATA[Steve's Digicams Forums - Pentax / Samsung dSLR]]> http://forums.steves-digicams.com/ Crow http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162446-crow.html Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:02:39 GMT Pentax K20D and DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED Pentax K20D and DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED
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]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR Rodney9 http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162446-crow.html Kildeer and friends http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162435-kildeer-friends.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:03:49 GMT Was trying form some better Grebe shots yesterday, but they were even shier than before! But there were some other bolder birds out at the shore,... Was trying form some better Grebe shots yesterday, but they were even shier than before! But there were some other bolder birds out at the shore, despite the cold & damp.

There are nearly always crowds of Canada Geese around the lake, especially near the picnic places - they are such panhandlers!
Here are a few views - any preferences?
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]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR mole http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162435-kildeer-friends.html Poinciana Flowering http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162422-poinciana-flowering.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:21:10 GMT The poinciana's are now flowering, this shot was taken yesterday afternoon when it was very windy, thank goodness for my new tripod, a Manfrotto 190XPROB/ 804RC2.
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]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR Rodney9 http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162422-poinciana-flowering.html <![CDATA[Gray & Green & Wet]]> http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162397-gray-green-wet.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:55:43 GMT After all the brilliant color of mid-autumn, East Tennessee is gradually fading toward the grayer season. Early yesterday was drizzly, damp & dark, but overhead were amazing cloud patterns, and literally hundreds of vultures!
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]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR mole http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162397-gray-green-wet.html Infrared and cameras lessons http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162389-infrared-cameras-lessons.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:27:36 GMT Took a few minutes at lunch time to play some more with my new R72 filter, and learned a few things. The K-7 (and the earlier K20) have several... Took a few minutes at lunch time to play some more with my new R72 filter, and learned a few things.

The K-7 (and the earlier K20) have several options for their in-camera b&w conversion. You can set the camera to simulate using colored filters and one of the options is supposed to simulate using an IR filter. So I decided to put it to the test, and also to see how the K-7 does with an IR filter.

First, the scene - it looks pretty boring in color:



I was shooting the scene in raw+ with the K-7, so the color version is the raw file converted with ACR.

Here's the in-camera b&w/infrared jpg file, showing how the camera thinks an IR picture should look like:



Now here's the real thing - taken with the K100 and the R72 filter, converted with ACR and converted to b&w in photoshop:



Then I put the lens and filter on the K-7. The first thing I noticed is that I had to have the camera at 2000 ISO to get the similar shutter speeds I had been getting at ISO 400 on the K100. The next thing I noticed was that I didn't get the same colors and contrast. It's obvious to me that the anti-IR filter on the K-7 blocks quite a bit of IR light that the K100 doesn't. Here's a K-7 photo taken at ISO 2000 and run through denoise before the same type of processing I did for the K100 shot.



Another difference is that while EV +2 gets you close to the right exposure with the K100, it's more like +5 or something like that with the K-7 (I was using manual mode and adjusting the shutter speed).

A color version with the red and blue channels switched, taken with the K100:



And with the K-7 using the same process:



My conclusion:

1. The in-camera b&w "infrared" setting for the K-7 isn't close to real IR pictures taken with the K100. I wouldn't be surprised if the setting is the same as the one available on the K20. While they can give you nice results, they aren't the same as shooting real IR on the K100.

2. The K-7 is not a good IR camera, it blocks too much IR. It looks closer to what the in-camera filter came up with that it did to the K100's pictures, not worth the time to set it up. I'm very glad I kept the K100 now. ]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR mtngal http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162389-infrared-cameras-lessons.html Some really really bad news... http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162386-some-really-really-bad-news.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:29:37 GMT Hey guys,
I'm just signing in to let you know I don't know when I'll be able to get back on line. I'm using a friends computer to get on right now but, I won't be able to do this very often. When I got home today at around 2pm I discovered my front door kicked in. I called the sheriffs office and they came out to make sure the house was clear. It was but, they made off with several thousand dollars worth of gear and electronics, not to mention some keepsake jewelry from Linda mom and grand mother and to top it all off, they got the $1200 cash that she had stashed away to keep fore her son so he wouldn't be tempted to spend,(he is coming for Thanks giving and expecting to pick it up) what they didn't take, they poured tomato juice and Gatorade all over, and I mean all over everything! They ruined everything, the internet,phone service, cable. two ink jet printers, battery charger a dozen AA batteries, TV's stereo, VCR furniture carpeting... all destroyed. I went and pulled our my insurance policy and found out I only have $2000 coverage for theft and $500 deductible. :( And if that wern't enough, when Linda went over to her friends house to use the phone... her car quit and refused to start!

Well, I guess that's enough for now,I've had it, if I keep on I'm going to get so depressed That I might give up and refuse to start!
I'll be back, don't know when but, I'm determined...I think.

One more thing just entered my mind, they have my computer, and a lot of my personal info and... I think this is going to be a bigger mess than I thought.:BANGHEAD2: ]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR Goldwinger http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162386-some-really-really-bad-news.html More Glass....From Pittsburgh http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162380-more-glass-pittsburgh.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:30:42 GMT I was intending to post these last week when the forum started acting up, then forgot about it until Dr. C. posted his outstanding shots from the... I was intending to post these last week when the forum started acting up, then forgot about it until Dr. C. posted his outstanding shots from the Glass Museum in Tacoma. These are from the visit I made to the Heinz Museum in Pittsburgh earlier this month. All were taken with the K20 and the WR version of the 18-55mm kit lens using display lighting.

First shot at f/4.5 and 1/320



f/4.5 and 1/50



f/4.5 and 1/125



This one proves that even a common object can be beautiful when displayed properly; it's a traffic light bezel. F/5.6 and 1/60



The last shot I'm going to post from the Heinz doesn't really fit any of the categories of photos I've posted, but I liked the lighting on this life-sized wax figure of a familiar cultural icon from World War II. F/5.6 and 1/50.



One of my goals on the shoot was to see what kind of quality I could get from the new kit lens without using any flash. To get proper lighting, I had to go up to ISO 2000, so I ran all of these shots through Noiseware for noise reduction. Overall, I came away with a very strong affinity for the kit lens.

Paul ]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR Trojansoc http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162380-more-glass-pittsburgh.html Manual focusing with large aperture lenses http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162371-manual-focusing-large-aperture-lenses.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:43:50 GMT I recently picked up a Pentax-A 50mm f1.4 lens and while haveing no problems at f2.8 and up - when i start opening it any wider the autofocus... I recently picked up a Pentax-A 50mm f1.4 lens and while haveing no problems at f2.8 and up - when i start opening it any wider the autofocus indicators frankly aren't working very well and are saying its in focus when its not

oddly in the viewfinder the dof field is barely noticeable when looking through it but press the shutter release and bang - blade thin dof and usually not where i want it

now i've ordered a O-ME53 1.2 magnifying eye-piece (not arrived yet sadly) hoping this will help somewhat but does anyone have any tips for getting accurate focus with this lens at wide apertures? will more light on the subject while focusing help the autofocus sensors tell me when its in focus? (manual focus lens) or should i stop it down to focus before opening the aperture again? ]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR John.Pattullo http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162371-manual-focusing-large-aperture-lenses.html Puss http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162358-puss.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:41:09 GMT PussPuss @ M 50mm f1.7 PussPuss @ M 50mm f1.7
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]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR Rodney9 http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162358-puss.html <![CDATA[Garage lights aren't so bad...]]> http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162355-garage-lights-arent-so-bad.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:23:32 GMT Messing around in a parking garage earlier tonight... C&C welcomed...

]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR inneyeseakay http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162355-garage-lights-arent-so-bad.html New Accessory http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162351-new-accessory.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:28:57 GMT I got a Hoya R72 filter today and dug out the K100 to play with it at lunch. The pictures are of nothing exciting, just some snaps near my office... I got a Hoya R72 filter today and dug out the K100 to play with it at lunch. The pictures are of nothing exciting, just some snaps near my office building. When I got home I followed some post-processing suggestions, some of which worked well, some I'm not quite happy with but not sure what to do differently than what I did. Any suggestions would be very greatly appreciated as far as the post processing.

First two pictures are similar, but have been processed somewhat differently. I can't decide which is better (other than I should crop one of them, I think):





I was pretty happy with the black and white conversions:





I'm not really happy with the "false color" versions I came up with - think I need to change something but I'm not sure exactly what.

Here's a black and white version:



Here's a color version. Would it be better if I lowered the saturation?



Another shot:



And different approaches to the color issue - it's still not quite what I want, though close:





For those that are wondering at the strange colors and what a R72 filter is/does, here's the picture straight out of the camera without any processing at all:



This is the first time I've ever played around with infrared photography of any sort so I'm really not sure what I'm doing. The R72 filter blocks most visible light, allowing some red but mostly infrared light through. I read some things on the internet and followed the directions given, but if anyone can give me some hints about where to go from here, I'd really appreciate it. ]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR mtngal http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162351-new-accessory.html The Museum of Glass in Tacoma, WA http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162349-museum-glass-tacoma-wa.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:56:45 GMT One gets a visual overload in this place! Such beauty with magnificient colors. The following was enclosed in a glass box near the working area. ... One gets a visual overload in this place! Such beauty with magnificient colors. The following was enclosed in a glass box near the working area.




As was this one.




And this is where the magic happens.




Others at http://www.pbase.com/drwindmill/museum_glass if you wish to take a quick tour. Highly recommended place to see when you are in that area. ]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR Dr. C http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162349-museum-glass-tacoma-wa.html Posting pix using my non-Pentax camera http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162347-posting-pix-using-my-non-pentax-camera.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:17:45 GMT Usually with my SLR, I'm also using a Canon P&S. Sometimes I prefer the results of the P&S and wondered if anyone else shares non-Pentax pix here or do you always keep them separate? ]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR cameanee http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162347-posting-pix-using-my-non-pentax-camera.html <![CDATA[Another " I'm bored" picture...]]> http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162318-another-im-bored-picture.html Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:16:23 GMT *Just messing around with photo shop to see what can be done with an otherwise boring photo. This is a shot of the top of the Andrew Johnson... Just messing around with photo shop to see what can be done with an otherwise boring photo.
This is a shot of the top of the Andrew Johnson memorial Cemetery in Greenville Tn. Nothing to really look at .




I thought this might look better as a background... the only problem was it was taken with GX10 last year and save as a jpeg @ 72 ppi so its not as nice as it could have been.




This is what I came up with. Not great perhaps but, still... a little more interesting?



Critique and comments welcome. Or, if you want to try your own hand at it, feel free. :)
 ]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR Goldwinger http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162318-another-im-bored-picture.html Quick Hike up Rocky Fork http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162310-quick-hike-up-rocky-fork.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:08:18 GMT Had a few hours yesterday afternoon for a quick hike at the Rocky Fork Wilderness Area. Each time I visit, I try to find a different trail, logging... Had a few hours yesterday afternoon for a quick hike at the Rocky Fork Wilderness Area. Each time I visit, I try to find a different trail, logging road, etc., and usually end up a bit lost!
Yesterday we hiked an old overgrown logging road that followed one of the side branches of the creek on up to a ridge. Hoping for great views, but did not find them. Did find some lovely young woodlands. (Which perspective do you prefer?)
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]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR mole http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162310-quick-hike-up-rocky-fork.html A few more from the bird feeder http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162309-few-more-bird-feeder.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:56:06 GMT This weekend I tried Rodney's suggestion to get better habitat shots at the feeder. Moved one of our feeders to a more natural-looking setting. Had just a few moments to capture a range of the feeder visitors.
Of course the Cardinals were busy hogging the feeder a lot - and the male kept chasing the female away!
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]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR mole http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162309-few-more-bird-feeder.html Raplacement Kit Lens - 16-45/4 or 20-40/2.8 http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162296-raplacement-kit-lens-16-45-4-20-40-2-8-a.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:17:22 GMT .... please delete http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-lenses/162297-raplacement-kit-lens-16-45-4-20-40-2-8-a.html#post1019982 .... please delete


http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pe...ml#post1019982 ]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR inneyeseakay http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162296-raplacement-kit-lens-16-45-4-20-40-2-8-a.html Snap shots - Santa Parade Toronto Nov 15 http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162292-snap-shots-santa-parade-toronto-nov-15-a.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:46:06 GMT Image: http://www.pbase.com/danieltong/image/119424640/original.jpg Image: http://www.pbase.com/danieltong/image/119424645/original.jpg ...








































Rest of the images in slideshow
http://www.pbase.com/danieltong/nov_...view=slideshow


Daniel, Toronto ]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR danielchtong http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162292-snap-shots-santa-parade-toronto-nov-15-a.html Can you name this restaurant? http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162270-can-you-name-restaurant.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:03:21 GMT *This is across the street from the entrance to the Biltmore Estate in NC. It has a nice dining area with a player piano playing nice music, a nice... This is across the street from the entrance to the Biltmore Estate in NC.
It has a nice dining area with a player piano playing nice music, a nice fireplace and the prices are reasonable. Its a popular chain restaurant but, before I take you there, first a look at the BP filling station near by.

oh, btw, do you know why bee's don't like California? ...
... cause the don't have any "Bee Pee' stations! :D



OK. I'm just kidding, thats just the sign for the station which you can't see in the picture. That's a church in the background but, you gotta admit, I had you just for a second. :p

OK, here's the Inn across from the restaurant. (really)



Now the dinning room...



the fireplace...



and the piano...



Any ideas yet?

here's the outside view...




It's the only one I know of that has a sign done in gold leaf. :rolleyes:



Well, I hope you enjoyed this message brought to you by our sponsor... The McDonald Corp. :sport-smiley-004: ]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR Goldwinger http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162270-can-you-name-restaurant.html Ye olde F 100-300mm f4.5-5.6 http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162255-ye-olde-f-100-300mm-f4-5-5-6-a.html Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:12:25 GMT Okay, it is only a consumer grade lens but it does have internal zoom and therefore doesn't change length as zoomed. The styling is that of the FA rather than the F series, but it does not have the complex power-zoom of the actual FA. It is far better built than the light weight (usual chrome coloured) FA 100-300mm f4.7-5.8 which also has a plastic mount.

Enough talk, here are a couple of shots from yesterday. Don Bartlett, a curler who participated in the winter Olympics when it was in the US last, ran with the torch through Gander. Here is a 100mm and a 300mm shot from the old zoom. They are not edited other than resize, the first is at 100mm, the second at 300mm. The K10D was set at ISO 800 so there is a little noise in the full size image.

What do you think.
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]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR Monza76 http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162255-ye-olde-f-100-300mm-f4-5-5-6-a.html Got myself a Bigmos! http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162240-got-myself-bigmos.html Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:27:48 GMT oh glad to see things are back up and running here not been able to get in here for about 3 days anyway i got a sigma 150-500mm (my first hsm... oh glad to see things are back up and running here not been able to get in here for about 3 days

anyway i got a sigma 150-500mm (my first hsm lens! oh my god its great, no whining from lens gears etc, hate putting normal lens on my camera now!!)

now living in scotland and it coming into winter light is a slight prob at this time of year specially since rare to get evena properly sunny day so been struggling abit but got afew pic that aslong as you dont look to close aren't to bad dispite shooting at iso 1600 (does make me think that a kx for this time of year might be a nice idea)

the robin was taken hand held the curlew in a tripod











all were taken at 500mm with the lens wide open and high iso the curlew at 1600 cant remember what the robin was but since it was handheld probably at least that and all have been cropped to make a nicer image ]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR John.Pattullo http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162240-got-myself-bigmos.html Grandkids Photo Shoot Gone Awry http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162235-grandkids-photo-shoot-gone-awry.html Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:02:41 GMT If I can get the oldest one away from the TV.... Image: http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h50/a200user/kids1a.jpg And little sister to listen... If I can get the oldest one away from the TV....


And little sister to listen ......



OK, number 1, get your brother to sit down with you.....


NO, NO, not the hair........



Somebody get him!!.......



No, look at Grandpa ...........


OK, now lets try it with everyone smiling .......


Not quite, lets try one more ..... no, no, sit back down......


I give up........


I've had better luck with birds-in-flight
Jim ]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR a200user http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162235-grandkids-photo-shoot-gone-awry.html Last of Washington Pictures http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162233-last-washington-pictures.html Sun, 15 Nov 2009 03:23:52 GMT Here's a few more from my trip to Washington.

One day we went to Salt Creek County Park, and then drove on to Cape Flattery.

Salt Creek has some nice tide pools and the best time to visit is at low tide. That turned out to be early morning. (K7, Photo Matix HDR)



The rocks were slippery and I had a tough time even with boots. But I did manage a couple of sea anemones. It took me a while to figure out that using a circular polarizer, even though it was cloudy and not great light, was better than not using one. It makes for shutter speeds that are really too slow and I didn't want to go back for my forgotten monopod. (K7, Viv Series One 105mm macro, circular polarizer)



On our way to Cape Flattery, I spotted this bird looking for his lunch. I think this is the first time I've seen a bald eagle outside of a zoo. The DA*300 was really too short for getting a decent shot - this is the best of the ones I took. (K7, DA*300)



Cape Flattery (depending on your resource and the tides) is the westernmost point in the contiguous US. It's on an Indian reservation and is a short walk to several viewpoints on the promontory. (K7, DA*50-135)



The Pacific Ocean view from the first promotory. (K7, DA 12-24)



Strait of Juan de Fuca (K7, DA*50-135, Photo Matix HDR and photoshop stitched panorama)



There's an island not far off shore, with a lighthouse (K7, DA*300).



One end of the island (K7, DA*50-135).



We also visited the heritage center in Neah Bay and was really impressed. They have signs saying no photography, so no pictures, but it was well worth visiting. Neah Bay and Cape Flattery is not close to anything, but well worth visiting.

That covers our trip, now it's on to our next one. I really need to spend some time trying to find out just where to go and what to see. ]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR mtngal http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162233-last-washington-pictures.html Birds of a different feather http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162219-birds-different-feather.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:26:58 GMT I've been busy helping someone I know move recently so haven't had much time to take pictures of any sort. But I did manage to grab my camera between opening boxes and putting together furniture.

Here's one bird I managed to get with a wide angle lens. I wanted to re-take it with something longer and faster, but didn't quite get around to it.



Then later on, this little fellow decided to check out what was happening on the other side of the glass and to mock me.

]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR mtngal http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162219-birds-different-feather.html Is anyone else having problems... http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162215-anyone-else-having-problems.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:48:56 GMT *...with logging in to the forum or browsing and posting replies? I have to make several tries most of the time and for several hours this... ...with logging in to the forum or browsing and posting replies?
I have to make several tries most of the time and for several hours this afternoon I couldn't log in at all. :dontknow: ]]> Pentax / Samsung dSLR Goldwinger http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr/162215-anyone-else-having-problems.html