Re: OT Picture fix help
That is a pretty impressive piece of work, Bruce. Given that you were working with a scan of a copy, it's an excellent approach to the problem. Here's a bit of general advice: For an original print with texture issues, it is often better to shoot the original with a camera rather than scanning. Some scanner light sources, like the Epson V700 I use, tend to bring out more texture than is desirable. In my experience use of a conventional two-light copy setup often hides texture and surface defects much better than the scanner. It's also possible to reduce texture further by playing with reflectors and/or additional light sources. In general, I prefer scanning prints because sharpness is better than, say, a 15 megapixel digital. There are times when using a camera makes more sense, though. cheers John Poirier - Original Message - From: "Bruce Walker" To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List" Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 4:50 PM Subject: Re: OT Picture fix help On 11-05-26 6:08 PM, John Sessoms wrote: From: John Sessoms Ok, so I had a go at seeing what I could do at restoring the image using the tools Bruce linked to. Never mind. I took another look at the corrected image Bruce had posted and took my attempt down right away. Got to install imagemagick & see if I can figure out how to use it. The Photoshop plug-in doesn't seem to work as well as imagemagick. John, I believe they both use the same FFT engine, the opensource project FFTW.org, so I'd expect that they should work about the same, given the same inputs. What did your spectral mask look like? You may not have removed enough points. I iterated on that image a couple of times, removing more spectrum each time before I was satisfied that I'd suppressed enough of the original's vertical lines. Here's the image I got for the frequency space in Dave's (leveled and cropped) original: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2254722/picture0001_spectrum.png And here's the mask I ended up with, created in Photoshop by painting black onto a white layer with a 10% hard brush: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2254722/picture0001_spectrum_mask2.png You don't want to allow any hard edges in the mask as that will create new artifacts (especially ringing near any edges), so you must either use a soft-edged brush or apply Gaussian blur to your mask before applying it. When creating the mask I looked for anything in the frequency-space image that seemed regular and symmetrical. Normally an image like that (especially such a soft one) should have a pretty uniform and random looking spectral distribution, so any dense white clusters or stars are suspect. As you can see I was fairly sloppy with my hand drawing of the mask, but it doesn't seem to matter all that much, so you can fairly safely err on the generous side. A quirk of the FFTFILTER script is it expects the input image and the mask image to be the same dimensions, so I expanded the canvas of the original image (to 2092x2092) making it square, with black bars above and below. http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2254722/picture0001-2092.png When you install ImageMagick on your computer, make sure that the FFTW library is already installed for it to find, or it won't be able to do any FFT operations. If you get error messages when trying to run the script, Googling on those messages will get you lots of help on the proper configuration of this stuff. Good luck! -bmw -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Caption Contest!
Our local church is proud of its proactive approach to the Rapture. - Original Message - From: "Rick Womer" To: "Pentax List" Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 2:36 PM Subject: Caption Contest! We came across this interesting juxtaposition in Warren, New Hampshire (population 873): http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=1142&size=lg Captions? Rick P.S. I don't have PSE on my laptop so I couldn't correct the distortion. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
PESO: Lichen-covered tree
Hi. Lurking has been getting boring, so here's something I did a few weeks ago. Spotmatic F, 105 Super Takumar, Ilford XP2. Comments and criticism welcome. http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnpoirier/4557771193/ John -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Death of a Photographer
I should add that the URL for the special WikiLeaks site is: http://collateralmurder.com/en/index.html - Original Message - From: "John Poirier" To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List" Sent: Monday, April 05, 2010 9:51 PM Subject: OT: Death of a Photographer Hi, all. I seldom have time to post on this group, but I think this needs to be spread around. A credible web organization called WikiLeaks today set up a web site documenting the 2007 death of Namir Noor-Eldeen, 22, a photographer for Reuters in Iraq. The site includes very chilling video from the US helicopter that shot and killed Noor-Eldeen and 10 other individuals, as well as wounding two children. It seems that photographic equipment was mistaken for weapons. I gather that the issue is now becoming prominent in mainstream media. In Canada, the CBC has this: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/04/05/leaked-video-attack.html I encourage our American friends to take a look at this, draw their own conclusions, and speak to their elected representatives as they feel appropriate. Personally, I feel that the military personnel who misjudged the situation, and those who have denied culpability, must be made accountable.. John Poirier -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
OT: Death of a Photographer
Hi, all. I seldom have time to post on this group, but I think this needs to be spread around. A credible web organization called WikiLeaks today set up a web site documenting the 2007 death of Namir Noor-Eldeen, 22, a photographer for Reuters in Iraq. The site includes very chilling video from the US helicopter that shot and killed Noor-Eldeen and 10 other individuals, as well as wounding two children. It seems that photographic equipment was mistaken for weapons. I gather that the issue is now becoming prominent in mainstream media. In Canada, the CBC has this: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/04/05/leaked-video-attack.html I encourage our American friends to take a look at this, draw their own conclusions, and speak to their elected representatives as they feel appropriate. Personally, I feel that the military personnel who misjudged the situation, and those who have denied culpability, must be made accountable.. John Poirier -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: When did it click
Hi. I've subscribed to this group since the late '90s but have been active only sporadically. I check in to see what's happening quite often, though. Now I'm an empty nester, hoping to have more time to participate. This will serve nicely as a re-introduction. I got seriously interested in photography in 1971 when I spent the first of two summers on Devon Island in the Canadian Arctic. I bought a Taron rangefinder to record the experience. Greatly enjoyed learning to use it. By the end of that summer I had decided to live in the North and to be a photographer.. By 1975 I was living in the Yukon and working hard at teaching myself photography. In 1979 I landed my first full-time photographic job at a newspaper in Alberta. After two years I went North again, to the Northwest Territories, and from 1986 to 2006 was the photographer at a museum in Yellowknife. These days I'm retired in British Columbia, shooting and selling some fine art work. I've also gone back to my roots, playing with screw mount and early K mount gear shooting bulk loaded black and white. My web site (whcih I don't update often enough) is: www.johnpoirier.ca Cheers John Poirier - Original Message - From: "Derby Chang" To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List" Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010 1:44 AM Subject: When did it click Friend-shooter of mind asked me today, when did it click for you? When did you know photography was the game to be in? Oddly, unlike a lot of my past history, I could pinpoint exactly the moment I was sent out by my then-employer to do some work in Simi Valley, CA. Bored, I picked up a Ricoh KR-10M with a modest Rikonen zoom (both long since stolen). Landing on the weekend, I went for a drive down PCH to adjust my body clock, with a plan to visit the Getty museum. After being rejected because I hadn't booked, and after finding a not quite legal park on the beach, I saw a pretty lady with a pet pig. Not understanding the honourable history of street photography, I begged her to let me take a photo, which she did, to my gratitude. It could have gone the other way, but that shot made me think, there was something to this hobby. Fine-boned ladies will let you take their picture with their pig, what's not to enjoy? http://members.iinet.net.au/~derbyc/10/10_01/10_01_click/index.htm So.when did it first click for you? D -- der...@iinet.net.au http://members.iinet.net.au/~derbyc -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Oh another K-7 thread...
Sorry if I confused you William. I was actually being rather silly, or outrageously goofy by Gulf Islands standards, which is where I am now composting away. Perhaps I should have explained that I am discrete and moderate only when my mouth is taped shut and I'm not near a keyboard...I too await an explanation for VW. - Original Message - From: "William Robb" To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List" Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:48 PM Subject: Re: Oh another K-7 thread... - Original Message - From: "John Poirier" Subject: Re: Oh another K-7 thread... Yes, I was going to slip quietly away, but I made the mistake of looking at one last message. That combined with a slow evening and two near-lethal martinis from my darling wife led me astray. Normally I'm the soul of discretion and moderation, and would never venture to intrude on the proceeedings of this august group. (Actually, I realy enjoy the PDMl- have been a lurker since the mid-nineties, but am usually too tied up with other stuff to participate consistently.) jeeze, I hope you didn't take that personally or anything. William Robb -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: K20D as Scanner
If you've wrung the most out of your lens, I wouldn't expect much difference for purposes such as viewing on a monitor or prints up to about 8x10 at normal viewing distances. If you're looking for teeny tiny dust spots on the original, they won't be as sharp as with a flatbed.running at, say, 400 ppi or higher depending on original size. A high bit depth flatbed scan may offer some advantages over the K20 for salvaging badly faded prints, but I couldn't confirm that without careful testing. My comments are based on many shots with a Kodak DSC14N (13 megapixel full frame) and a Micro Nikkor 60mm. I'd expect about the same from a K20D with a good lens. With a really good copy setup it's possible to crank through several hundred decent(magazine quality with minor editing) black and white copies versus maybe two or three dozen equivalents on a flatbed - Original Message - From: "Ken Waller" To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List" Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 9:38 PM Subject: Re: K20D as Scanner The whole point was I wasn't going to purchase a flatbed scanner for a few prints! These reproductions totally exceeded my expectations. It would be interesting to see how these digital images from my K20D compare to those from a scanner. Kenneth Waller http://www.tinyurl.com/272u2f - Original Message - From: "JC OConnell" Subject: RE: K20D as Scanner as good as that worked, using a decent flatbed scanner would probably be even better! scanners can be super critical sharp too. JC O'Connell (mailto:hifis...@gate.net) "Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom" - Thomas Jefferson -Original Message- From: pdml-boun...@pdml.net [mailto:pdml-boun...@pdml.net] On Behalf Of Ken Waller Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 7:49 PM To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List Subject: K20D as Scanner I had the need for prints from some 50 year old B+W family pictures that I didn't have the negs for. I don't have a flat bed scanner & decided to shoot them with my K20D & my 200mm f4.0 ED Macro. I shot them using a tripod, making sure I was perpendicular to the image plane, using available light & being mindful to eliminate glare off the originals. I shot raw, ran them thru CS2 (including applying a small amount of unsharp mask) & printed them (slightly larger than the original image) on my 12 year old Epson Stylus Photo printer. The results are simply astounding ! Its hard to believe the final results came from the 50 year old original - much clearer and sharper. I seriously doubt if wet prints off the original negs would even come close to the digitally produced images. FYI Kenneth Waller http://www.tinyurl.com/272u2f -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Oh another K-7 thread...
Yes, I was going to slip quietly away, but I made the mistake of looking at one last message. That combined with a slow evening and two near-lethal martinis from my darling wife led me astray. Normally I'm the soul of discretion and moderation, and would never venture to intrude on the proceeedings of this august group. (Actually, I realy enjoy the PDMl- have been a lurker since the mid-nineties, but am usually too tied up with other stuff to participate consistently.) Cheers . - Original Message - From: "William Robb" To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List" Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 9:20 PM Subject: Re: Oh another K-7 thread... - Original Message - From: "John Poirier" Subject: Re: Oh another K-7 thread... This is catastrophic! My retirement plans were entirley based on selling backlit protraits of hummingbirds to microstock agencies!!! I've really had it with Pentax. There are lots of real pro systems that will give you perfect shots of everything at the push of a button, and I'm gonna get me one real soon. Right now I'm kinda busy fixing the light leaks in my Zenit Weren't you going to go back to lurking? VW -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Oh another K-7 thread...
This is catastrophic! My retirement plans were entirley based on selling backlit protraits of hummingbirds to microstock agencies!!! I've really had it with Pentax. There are lots of real pro systems that will give you perfect shots of everything at the push of a button, and I'm gonna get me one real soon. Right now I'm kinda busy fixing the light leaks in my Zenit E.. Original Message - From: "Paul Stenquist" To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List" Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 8:09 PM Subject: Re: Oh another K-7 thread... You're missing the fact that the amount of flash exposure you can work into a shot is dependent only on the f stop. So if I shoot a backlit portrait outdoors at f5.6, 1.250th, I can fill flash in at that 5.6 value. If I'm forced to stop down to f6.7 because I can't go beyond 1/180th in shutter speed, I lose flash exposure and increase DOF. Ideally, I'd like to have flash synch up to 1/1000th, but that's complex and cost;y. And high-speed synch doesn't help much, because the flash power is greatly diminished by multiple firings. Paul Of course, with hummingbirds, it's even worse. Why, at 1/180th, the hummingbird's wings have gone through a whole 38% of a stroke. With 1/250th, that'd be reduced to a mere 28%. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: K20D as Scanner
HI, Ken I'm not surpriised that you got good results. I think proper use of a digital SLR is a very cost-effective way of reproducing old photographic prints for all but the most critical applications. I've often done it myself with materials too large for a scanner. However, speaking as someone with 20 years of professional experience working with a collection of half a million archival photographs, I must point out that there is no substitute for an original negative or slide in terms of potential image quality, whether as a darkroom print or as a scan. In particular, with negatives the quality difference can be enormous. Achieving that quality requires more technical skills than copying a print but the potential is most certainly there. ( That's not a criticism of you, Ken. I really admire your work. But I am a seriously experienced geek in this area.) My main message is: Don't get rid of your old negatives just because you think you can do better copying priints with a digital SLR. Copying prints with a camera is OK if you don't have the means to work with film, or all you have for an original is a print, but if the pictures are important hang on to those little bits of film. They carry a lot more information in terms of detail, tonality and colour than prints. Now I'll go back to lurking.. John Poirier - Original Message - From: "Ken Waller" To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List" Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 4:48 PM Subject: K20D as Scanner I had the need for prints from some 50 year old B+W family pictures that I didn't have the negs for. I don't have a flat bed scanner & decided to shoot them with my K20D & my 200mm f4.0 ED Macro. I shot them using a tripod, making sure I was perpendicular to the image plane, using available light & being mindful to eliminate glare off the originals. I shot raw, ran them thru CS2 (including applying a small amount of unsharp mask) & printed them (slightly larger than the original image) on my 12 year old Epson Stylus Photo printer. The results are simply astounding ! Its hard to believe the final results came from the 50 year old original - much clearer and sharper. I seriously doubt if wet prints off the original negs would even come close to the digitally produced images. FYI Kenneth Waller http://www.tinyurl.com/272u2f -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Trading resolution for depth of field
When measuring my circle of confusion, should I place the tape measure around my ears or just above them? When I was a techie, I had a weird habit of shooting test pictures under controlled conditions (like on a tripod with studio flashes and a standardized target), evaluating the results, and making notes. Then I'd know exactly what to expect from a given lens, rather than relying on calculations or speculation. That was back in the film days, too. Much easier and more affordable now. My general experience with casual close-up shooting with a wide assortment of lenses is that the benefits of increased DOF outweigh the loss of resolution due to diffraction, unless your subject is flat. For example, I would shoot a live frog at f/22, and a road-kill frog at f/11 or f/8. Cheers John Poirier - Original Message - From: "Larry Colen" To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List" Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 3:46 PM Subject: Re: Trading resolution for depth of field I misunderstood it then. I always thought that the circle of confusion represented the smallest area that could be resolved. That anything between a mathematical point and the CoC resolves to the same size, and that the physical manifestation of this on a digital sensor was a pixel. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Directions of photography?
I found Dave Hill's "portraits" interesting in a revolting sort of way. They have the aesthetic quality of paintings on velvet. As individuals, the subjects are caricatured rathered than portrayed. I suppose that's understandable as it seems in the media these days only people who are self-caricatures achieve stature. Part of what I find revolting is that I suspect many of the subjects take this crap seriously. I expect Mr. Hill has some fun doing this work, and makes lots of money. Personally, I'd tire pretty quickly of work based on technical gimmickry and a very restricted (everybody's a wannabe gangsta) aesthetic. Maybe I'm just envious, but I don't think so. John Poirier PS. I recently saw a multimedia slide show made by a veteran PJ who presented it as the future of photojournalism. It was feeble in a way that I think is inherent in the nature of multimedia slide shows. Made me sad to see a good talent wasted. - Original Message - From: "Nick Wright" To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List" Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 1:03 PM Subject: Re: Directions of photography? Believe it or not this is one reason I chose to leave the newspaper photography business. It's not just wedding photography. It's universal. Everything right now is about the gimmicks. The big thing in the pj world a couple years back was strobist. Or it's multi-media slideshows. The big thing in the portrait world right now is the "Dave Hill" look (http://www.davehillphoto.com/). I used to somewhat enjoy looking through Rangefinder magazine when it came in, now it's filled with that stuff. Good ole plain straight photography is boring. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: light meters
I used a Sekonic L318 for a long time. (about 15 years). Small, simple, sturdy and accurate. Uses a single AA battery that goes for a long time. Only reason I'm not using it now is that it went with my job when I retired. John Poirier - Original Message - From: "Nick David Wright" To: Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 3:30 PM Subject: light meters I think that I'd like to purchase a hand-held meter sometime in the near future. But I'm not really sure which one I'd like to go with. Just looking to meter ambient light. I'd like something small and simple. What do you all recommend? Also I believe in the past I've seen some that do not require batteries, does such a thing exist? Thanks. ~Nick David Wright http://pedalingprose.wordpress.com/ -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: A 24-50/4 review?
I bought one new in about 1985. I still have it, although seldom used as I'm playing with a bunch of other old stuff. Optically I'd say it is really good for a 24-50 from that period. Published and exhibited a good many shots made with it. Sharp at mid apertures. Flare quite well controlled. Can't comment on wide open. Almost never used it that way. It's also very solid mechanically. Mine survived 20 years of heavy use in really extreme northern conditions with no problems. On the other hand, I'd have my doubts about chromatic aberration. Haven't used it on my digital yet, however, and don't have time to test. (Show opening tomorrow.) I think you'd be better off with the 18-55 kit lens, which is at least equally sharp, has better flare control, and is probably not much more expensive used. Cheers John Poirier - Original Message - From: "Nick David Wright" To: Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 6:23 PM Subject: A 24-50/4 review? Has anyone ever used that lens? Thoughts on it? Sample photos taken with it? Thanks! ~Nick David Wright http://pedalingprose.wordpress.com/ -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: short tele primes
Hi Nick. I can relate to that. I have quite a collection of zooms but of late one of my more used lenses had been a Super Takumar 105/2.8 on a Spotmatic. Very nice on a tripod for my style of landscapes. Wouldn't use the combo for portraits because the Spotmatic finder is too dim for convenient focusing with my aging eyes. I'm a retired pro myself and in some ways have become much more of a gearhead than when working. I used to be very disciplined about acquiring gear that was seriously useful. After deciding to retire I went on a binge acquiring old gear that was capable of producing excellent results and have been happily playing with Pentax and other kits of various vintages from early 60s to early 90s. I often go out with one body and two lenses, usually primes. As part of the nostalgia trip I've gone to bulk loading HP5 and FP4 for much of my black and white work. Cheers From: "Nick Wright" To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List" Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2009 5:01 AM Subject: Re: short tele primes Thanks for the suggestion. But I'm just not interested in zooms at this time. Don't get me wrong, I don't think there's anything wrong with zooms. I used zooms almost exclusively during my professional career. But I definitely prefer primes. Actually, since I quit the newspaper nearly all of my photography has been done with only one lens ... a 50mm. I just have a thing for the 50s I guess. I suppose it's my old gear-headedness that's telling me I have to get these other lenses to "round out my kit" when mostly I just use one lens. ;D ~Nick David Wright http://pedalingprose.wordpress.com/ --- On Sat, 2/7/09, John Poirier wrote: From: John Poirier Subject: Re: short tele primes To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List" Date: Saturday, February 7, 2009, 11:40 PM Hi, Nick. I can see why you're interested in the three lenses you list. They're all fine. However, given that you also state you're looking for inexpensive lenses, I'll be a bit subversive in suggesting that as a starting point you consider zooms instead of primes. I'm assuming that when you talk about portraiture with these lenses you mean head-and-shoulders type work rather than environmental portraiture. Fast primes have the advantage of being easier to focus in dim light than, say, f/4 or slower zooms. Personally, I prefer the feel of primes to zooms in general. However, if you're doing head-and shoulders portraiture, your working aperture is highly unlikely to be wide open. My guess is that you'll be somewhere in the f/5.6-f/11 range. To achieve those apertures, chances are lighting levels will be relatively adequate for focusing purposes. Also, the Program Plus viewfinder is fairly decent. Under those circumstances a fast prime would be nice but not absolutely essential. Decent zooms can be had for less than the primes you list. You would have the added advantage of trying different focal lengths as an aid to making a final selection of a prime lens. I have an M 70-150/4 that is a really sweet lens and very compact. The A 70-210/4 is also very good. I'd be comfortable using either for portraiture if on a budget. Or you could get a K 85-210 (sharp but the size of a bazooka) and scare the hell out of your subjects... I guess the choice depends in part on how you define inexpensive. Cheers John Poirier Original Message - From: "Nick Wright" To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List" Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 6:59 PM Subject: Re: short tele primes > > Exactly the reason I won't be buying one. ;D > > I'm specifically looking for inexpensive lenses. > > ~Nick David Wright > http://pedalingprose.wordpress.com/ > > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: short tele primes
Hi, Nick. I can see why you're interested in the three lenses you list. They're all fine. However, given that you also state you're looking for inexpensive lenses, I'll be a bit subversive in suggesting that as a starting point you consider zooms instead of primes. I'm assuming that when you talk about portraiture with these lenses you mean head-and-shoulders type work rather than environmental portraiture. Fast primes have the advantage of being easier to focus in dim light than, say, f/4 or slower zooms. Personally, I prefer the feel of primes to zooms in general. However, if you're doing head-and shoulders portraiture, your working aperture is highly unlikely to be wide open. My guess is that you'll be somewhere in the f/5.6-f/11 range. To achieve those apertures, chances are lighting levels will be relatively adequate for focusing purposes. Also, the Program Plus viewfinder is fairly decent. Under those circumstances a fast prime would be nice but not absolutely essential. Decent zooms can be had for less than the primes you list. You would have the added advantage of trying different focal lengths as an aid to making a final selection of a prime lens. I have an M 70-150/4 that is a really sweet lens and very compact. The A 70-210/4 is also very good. I'd be comfortable using either for portraiture if on a budget. Or you could get a K 85-210 (sharp but the size of a bazooka) and scare the hell out of your subjects... I guess the choice depends in part on how you define inexpensive. Cheers John Poirier Original Message - From: "Nick Wright" To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List" Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 6:59 PM Subject: Re: short tele primes Exactly the reason I won't be buying one. ;D I'm specifically looking for inexpensive lenses. ~Nick David Wright http://pedalingprose.wordpress.com/ -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: ANY M42 DSLR rumors (yet)?
I wouldn't rule out the possibility of a "digital Bessaflex". Cosina has already demonstrated their cleverness in reworking basic bodies in interesting ways. A digital chassis with the lens mount area designed to accommodate an assortment of mounts would do the trick. The mounts could be built into modules and simply plugged into a standardized chassis. A few simple servos and some firmware could run the mechanical bits as needed. Perfectly feasible if automation doesn't get any fancier than aperture priority- and shuttter priority/program functions might not be out of reach. Issues such as mirror clearance could be avoided by replacing the mirror/pentaprism with a good "Live View" LCD finder. I expect that in a couple of years costs for full frame sensors will have dropped enough to make the thing affordable. The potential user base of classic lenses would be enormous. Cheers John Poirier - Original Message - From: "P. J. Alling" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List" Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 12:29 PM Subject: Re: ANY M42 DSLR rumors (yet)? Some have been asking for that for a long time. We may yet see a digital Bessaflex from Cosina, but not in the current economic climate. Scott Loveless wrote: On 11/19/08, drew <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Shame really, I would love a simple match needle or LED DSLR... no screen, no "modes", just the basics. Set your film speed, W/B, aperture and shutter speed. Personally I wouldn't want a built in flash, I never had a problem using an accessory flash with the little look up chart on the back ;-) Retro-digital? -- You get further with a kind word and a gun, than with a kind word alone. --Al Capone. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
RE: GESO: My little exhibit in NYC this month and some publishing news
> -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of > ann sanfedele > Sent: August 6, 2008 7:31 AM > To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List > Subject: Re: GESO: My little exhibit in NYC this month and some > publishing news > > > > > John Poirier wrote: > > >British Columbia. > >Very cool. I make a habit of trying small town eateries when I > travel. I'm > >usually happy with the food, and it's a much more human > experience than the > >chains. (Although there was the place that got busted for > selling porcupine > >as chicken...) > > > >John Poirier > > > > > But did it "taste' like chicken ??? > How did they find out ? someone got impaled? > hehe > > ann > Maybe it was the weird toothpicks with the barbs on the end that gave it away... I only ate there once, literally on a flying visit. Had a mystery meat burger. Actually, the porcupine was discovered by a health inspector. Most people in town (including my brother, who lived there at the time) thought it was very funny. It was the 1970s, in a small northern village where much of the diet came from the land. Porcupine was a not unusual item for people out on the land, but it didn't show up in town much. From most reports it does taste something like chicken. Moose was the real staple. Coincidentally, I lived in that village for a couple of years in the early 80s. By then the porcupine restaurant had folded. I was a regular at the Sub Arctic Inn restaurant, a tiny Chinese place with great character. If I can find a pic tomorrow I'll post it. John -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
RE: PESO: Trees in Fog
Thanks, Brian and all. Yes, we're very fortunate to live in a beautiful place- an island about on the West Coast of Canada. Took early retirement here about 2 years ago. It's quite a visual adjustment moving from the sub Arctic to this. John > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of > Brian Walters > Sent: August 6, 2008 6:41 AM > To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List > Subject: Re: PESO: Trees in Fog > > > Yes, it should make a great print - nice muted colours of the trunks > merging into the soft, misty background. > > You're lucky to have such a beautiful landscape so close to home. > > > Cheers > > Brian > > ++ > Brian Walters > Western Sydney Australia > http://members.westnet.com.au/brianwal/SL/ >. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
PESO: Trees in Fog
Came across this in the spring while I was wandering a few minutes walk from home. It makes a nice 12x18 print- will be in a show I'm working on for the fall. Cheers John Poirier http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnpoirier/2736436551/in/photostream/ -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
RE: GESO: My little exhibit in NYC this month and some publishing news
I like the diners very much, Ann. How appropriate that your show is in a diner with an owner who obviously likes your stuff. I regularly eat at a similar place nearby- Tina's Diner in downtown Nanaimo, British Columbia. Very cool. I make a habit of trying small town eateries when I travel. I'm usually happy with the food, and it's a much more human experience than the chains. (Although there was the place that got busted for selling porcupine as chicken...) John Poirier > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of > ann sanfedele > Sent: August 5, 2008 10:39 AM > To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List > Subject: GESO: My little exhibit in NYC this month and some publishing > news > > > Getting this ready kept me from hanging out with you guys on line... > Here are all the shots and notes on them (27 in all) > > Important note: the variation from thumbnail to thumbnail in the sepia > toning was a result of my haste in > getting them backed up on smugmug - or something funky in the > transaltion from adobe to srgb on the site... > eventually, i'll fix that - still can't get to it now. > > anyway tada: > http://annsan.smugmug.com/gallery/4966346_EXJZB > > The show will be up at least through the end of the month... and I gotta > tell you the food at the Comfort > Diner is YUMMY! It is on 23rd street just a few doors west of 5th ave > on the uptown side of the street. > Of coruse if any of you get to NY I'm love to see you, but if you are > doing the whole tourist routine I'll > understand if you don't want to hang out with an old broad who doesnt > want to traipse around with you :) > but do try the diner - if not when my show is up, then another time. > > In other news - 5 of my bw photos are in a new comic book/mad magazine > type thingy called DOSE. > The important thing is I got paid for the shots... they are tiny in the > magazine and heavily surrounded by > text I didn't write. I like the editor so much, I wish I were not > unhappy about it... HIpper folk than > I have told me they thought the mag was very funny. > > http://www.indeliblecomics.com/dose0101.html > > The New York version is larger and easier to read than what you would > see in other parts of the country and > has a different cover than that on the web site. > > Last but not least, and I may have mentioned it ten times already, is > the book about Scrabblers and Scrabble tourney > players fights with Hasbro by Paul McCarthy - LETTERATI. > It is not the lively read that WORD FREAK is, but kets kudos from > serious players for his respect of them and > the trademark and intellectual property stuff in the last few chapters > is fascinating... especially with the > Hasbro versus Scrabulous stuff going on now. > > > The publishers page on it is here: > > http://tinyurl.com/3c5cvx > > It took a while, but they did get my name on that page. > > The photos in it are here - but I think you guys already knew that: > > http://annsan.smugmug.com/gallery/3999592_B5WUZ > > > None of these things is getting enough moolah rolling in at present, but > I'm hoping Comfort Diner patrons > might find their way to my web pages and the book credits will help me > for possible future publication stuff > > Now I have to get back to putting things on ebay and getting calendars > ready for cafe press for fall. > > ann > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly > above and follow the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
RE: Newbie - Quest about batteries
North American source for MR-9 and other adapters: http://www.criscam.com/products_services/mercury_battery_adapters/ I've had an MR-9 adapter in one of my Spotmatic F bodies for about 5 years. Works fine. John Poirier > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of > P. J. Alling > Sent: July 30, 2008 7:28 AM > To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List > Subject: Re: Newbie - Quest about batteries > > > You might want to lo look for an MR-9 adapter. I think the SRT-101 is > fairly voltage sensitive. The adapters are kind of pricey but they're a > lot cheaper than having your camera re-calibrated for a higher voltage > if it can be done at all. I don't know if these people will do overseas > orders but at least you know what it looks like from this. > > http://www.smallbattery.company.org.uk/sbc_mr9_adapter.htm > > above and follow the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
RE: Newbie - Quest about batteries
Hi, Brian Interesting that the Varta V400 PX is now available in silver oxide. I still have a stash of the same number, bought about 5 years ago, but they are mercury. I should correct myself on the original number. I think it was PX400. Cheers John Poirier > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of > Brian Walters > Sent: July 29, 2008 8:27 PM > To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List > Subject: Re: Newbie - Quest about batteries > > > Hi John and welcome. > > On Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:13:07 -0400, "John E. Brandt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > said: > > > I just joined this list and wonder if anyone knows where one can acquire > > a > > battery/batteries for a vintage Spotmatic. I just purchased the > camera on > > eBay and it came without a battery. So I don't even know where to start. > > My > > local camera store told me they are "very hard to find." Not sure what > > the > > number is or anything. > > > > > > The original 1.3 volt mercury batteries for the Spotmatic series are no > longer available but suitable replacements are available. > > Energizer 394 and Varta V400PX both fit - there are probably others. > These are silver oxide and are rated at 1.5 volts but the higher voltage > isn't an issue with the Spotmatics. > > You might consider joining the Yahoo Spotmatic Group. They have a > document on batteries in their Files section. > > http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Spotmatic/ > > > > Cheers > > Brian > > ++ > Brian Walters > Western Sydney Australia > http://members.westnet.com.au/brianwal/SL/ > > -- > > > -- > http://www.fastmail.fm - The professional email service > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly > above and follow the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
RE: Newbie - Quest about batteries
Hi. Welcome. I'm usually a lurker, but I help you with this one. I use Spotmatics a lot. I'll assume that you have an original Spotmatic, not a Spotmatic F. (Spotmatic F are clearly marked Spotmatic F on the top plate.) The original Spotmatic battery was the VX400, a mercury battery that was discontinued 5 or 10 years ago for environmental reasons. The most common replacement is made by a company called Wein, and is a modified hearing aid battery. They show up regularly on EBay and can be ordered from most major camera shops online. The work but don't last very long. A better bet is the S400PX, a silver oxide battery. It's pretty hard to find, but I was able to special order some via the Canadian Radio Shack equivalent recently. There are a number of workarounds involving adaptations of silver oxide button cells. For information on those, you should check out the Yahoo Spotmatic group. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Spotmatic/ There's good info in that group's Files section. It's a good group, although not particularly active these days. Cheers John Poirier > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of > John E. Brandt > Sent: July 29, 2008 8:13 PM > To: 'Pentax-Discuss Mail List' > Subject: Newbie - Quest about batteries > > > Greetings, > > I just joined this list and wonder if anyone knows where one can acquire a > battery/batteries for a vintage Spotmatic. I just purchased the camera on > eBay and it came without a battery. So I don't even know where to > start. My > local camera store told me they are "very hard to find." Not sure what the > number is or anything. > > Suggestions welcome. > > ~j > > John E. Brandt > Augusta, Maine USA > www.jebswebs.com > > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly > above and follow the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
RE: PESO: Gabriola Rocks 2
Hi, Mark. Thanks, I think. Now I'll be watching for nasty things popping out of tide pools. Maybe there's an explanation for the detached feet that have been washing up on the coastline around here. You have made an interesting observation, though. The tonal rendition of some of my work does resemble Giger's images (quite coincidental- I've never really looked at his stuff before receiving your message). And a long-term theme of mine has been the strangeness, complexity and mystery of nature. I think the strangeness in particular has a bit of kinship with Giger's perceptions. He makes a lot more money than I do, though. Cheers John > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of > Mark Roberts > Sent: July 27, 2008 11:51 AM > To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List > Subject: Re: PESO: Gabriola Rocks 2 > > > John Poirier wrote: > > Hi- > > This is one of a series I've been working on. exploring beautifully > > weathered rocks on the shoreline of the island where I live. > > > > Comments welcome. > > > > John Poirier > > > > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnpoirier/2707252662/in/set-7215759 4521239417 Wow. Looks like an H.R. Geiger work for the movie "Alien". I like it! -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
RE: PESO: Gabriola Rocks 2
Hi, Brian Glad you liked the shot. Oddly enough, I photographed weathered rocks far from the sea for many years. Rocks and trees, trees and rocks on the Precambrian Shield. The sea isn't too hard to take, though. John > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of > Brian Walters > Sent: July 27, 2008 7:29 PM > To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List > Subject: Re: PESO: Gabriola Rocks 2 > > > On Sun, 27 Jul 2008 10:06:42 -0700, "John Poirier" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > said: > > Hi- > > This is one of a series I've been working on. exploring beautifully > > weathered rocks on the shoreline of the island where I live. > > > > Comments welcome. > > > > John Poirier > > > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnpoirier/2707252662/in/set-72157594521239417 > / Great patterns and nicely composed. I also enjoy photographing weathered coastal rocks - just wish I lived closer to the coast :-(> Cheers Brian ++ Brian Walters Western Sydney Australia http://members.westnet.com.au/brianwal/SL/ -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
RE: Gabriola Rocks 2
Thanks, Christine. Maybe I'll post some of the medium format ones I've done as well. John > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of > Christine Aguila > Sent: July 27, 2008 2:36 PM > To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List > Subject: Re: Gabriola Rocks 2 > > > Hi John: I like your photo very much. I think your project is > intriguing & > very worthy. I'd definitely would like to see your future work on this > project as well. Cheers, Christine > > > - Original Message - > From: "John Poirier" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: > Sent: Sunday, July 27, 2008 12:06 PM > Subject: PESO: Gabriola Rocks 2 > > > > Hi- > > This is one of a series I've been working on. exploring beautifully > > weathered rocks on the shoreline of the island where I live. > > > > Comments welcome. > > > > John Poirier > > > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnpoirier/2707252662/in/set-72157594521239417 > / -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
PESO: Gabriola Rocks 2
Hi- This is one of a series I've been working on. exploring beautifully weathered rocks on the shoreline of the island where I live. Comments welcome. John Poirier http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnpoirier/2707252662/in/set-72157594521239417 / -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
RE: Shooting plan
Bob- It's funny, isn't it. There are a lot of people producing good images, which is fine, but it's awfully hard to find work that truly stands out from the crowd. At least, not work that is widely published. Fewer, better images would be a nice thing to see in the mainstream photo mags. Maybe once in a while they could even slip in some truly great work. I'm sure someone is doing it somewhere. It is good to see the amount of very pleasing work produced by members of this list, most of whom are amateurs. Amateur photographers have come a long way since I got into photography in 1971. As an aspiring amateur, having been a professional for over 20 years, that gives me some hope... John Poirier > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of > Bob Sullivan > Sent: June 13, 2008 10:57 AM > To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List > Subject: Re: Shooting plan > > > John, > I think you're right. > Too many people taking too many images now. > I think we will see fewer, better images down the line. > Regards, Bob S. > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
RE: Shooting plan
Hi Bob I rarely use shooting lists, not for my current type of work. I've noted that it's something stock photographers do regularly, though. What got me out of my lurker's cave was your comment about "looking through the Magnum web site for inspiration and ideas". Looking at good work makes a lot of sense, of course, for improving your skills any sort of photography. I do it all the time. It did remind me of something that has bemused me of late. This is the question of visual plagiarism. I have a very good visual memory. I've looked at several exhibits at a local gallery recently that contained significant numbers of prints for which my first reaction was that I had seen the image before. In some cases I was even able to remember whos idea was being used. Cartier Bresson and Arnold Newman came to mind. Over the last ten years I've increasingly had a sense of "sameness" about images in mainstream photo publications. I find them quite repetitive, essentially reworkings of previously published material. I also find it increasingly difficult to distinguish editorial photos from the images used to promote equipment, which are generally visually arresting but not necessarily profound. BTW, my use of the term "visual plagiarism" refers to rather obvious reworking of others' ideas rather than direct copying. Is genuine originality disappearing from the photographic mainstream? What are the groups thoughts on this? Cheers John Poirier > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of > Bob W > Sent: June 12, 2008 1:49 PM > To: 'Pentax-Discuss Mail List' > Subject: Shooting plan > > > Hi, > > I've booked a week's holiday in Fez for Sept/Oct, just at the end of > Ramadan and in time for Eid al-Fitr. I had hoped to go for longer, and > to get there on the train, but I can't spare more than a week so I'm > flying there (I've paid extra to offset the CO2!). > > Anyway, I'm starting to make notes about what I'd like to photograph > while I'm there, and I wondered if other people do the same, or am I > just some sad no-life? > > When you go on a photo trip do you just wander around and leave the > photos to the will of Allah, or do you deliberately put yourself into > likely-looking situations? > > I normally put together a loose list of the type of shot I'd like, and > the places to go where I think it's likely, but I make sure I can > extemporise. So I don't usually get exactly what I wanted, but I do > tend to get good stuff. For instance, in Romania I wanted funerals, > and gypsy music. In the town where I expected to get good shots of > funerals, I got nothing. But in the village where I expected gypsy > music, I got a great funeral. > > At the moment I'm looking through the Magnum website for inspiration > and ideas. I have been to Morocco a few times before, although not to > Fez, so I know it's difficult to photograph there, probably more so > during Ramadan, but I'm quite excited about it. > > Bob -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
PESO: Descanso Bay Shoreline
Hi. I did some lens comparisons the other day and had very impressive results with a K 85-210/4.5. At f/11 it outperformed all my other zooms (including the very fine A 70-210) and equalled all my primes excepting the K 135/2.5 And Vivitar Series 1 200/3.0 The lens is a monster with poor close-focusing ability, originally purchased cheap as a lark and as an interesting piece of Pentax history. After the fact I learned that it was reputed to be the equal of Pentax prime lenses, a remarkable acchievement in a mid-seventies zoom. I've decided to add it to my digital kit, at least for a while. This is an early result: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2418/2489818271_b720c8cedf_b.jpg Cheers John Poirier -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
RE: Developer Turned Black [Was: Sad state of Photo Stores]
What about people like me who have lost their marbles? In my experience TMax concentrate is more stable than mixed D76 or even HC110 concentrate in an opened bottle. I've used a single bottle for six months or more a number of times with no particular care and had excellent results. (For over ten years I ran HC110 in a 5-gallon tank with replenishment; kept a bit of TMax on the side for special projects.) Cheers John Poirier > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of > Doug Franklin > Sent: September 26, 2007 7:00 PM > To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List > Subject: Re: Developer Turned Black [Was: Sad state of Photo Stores] > > > Bob Blakely wrote: > > Ingenious, but what do you do about the marbles trying to run > out with the > > developer when you pour it? > > Cheesecloth? > > -- > Thanks, > DougF (KG4LMZ) > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly > above and follow the directions. > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
RE: Organizational Software
Hi Bruce. The common term for what you want to do is image management. If you google "image management software" you'll find a mind-boggling assortment of products at all price levels. There are many that will do the sorts of things you want. I think the best way to select one is to look at reviews and try demos. You do raise a key point in your message: "So if the organization was in a proprietary file or something, external programs may not be able to deal with it. That would make the organizing less useful." Absolutely. There are two ways of dealing with this. One is to use image management software that is capable of exporting your cataloguing work in a standard database format. This is fairly common. The other method is to attach the information to the files themselves in a form that is readable both by image management software and by Photoshop. The advantage of this is that, even if your image management software blows up completely, your cataloging will continue to exist with your images and can be retrieved by other software. The IPTC standard is one approach. IPTC information is embedded in image files, notably TIFF and JPEG formats, much as EXIF information is embedded. The information is readable in Photoshop as "File Info" The other important approach is XMP, developed by Adobe. I haven't really kept up with the details of XMP. My impression is that it was developed largely to work with RAW files that may or may not be compatible with the IPTC standard. Adobe has worked with the IPTC people to ensure compatibility. The details are pretty complicated, so if you really want to know I suggest that you google IPTC and XMP. Maybe google "sidecar file" if you really want to get confused! I suggest you look for software with good IPTC/XMP editors. With a good editor you can do things like setting up a thesaurus that greatly speeds up data entry. The "file info" function in Photoshop does this but is not very powerful. Also look for software that will allow you to take a belt and suspenders approach by importing IPTC and XMP info to a database. I've been using a product called IMatch (www.photools.com) for a number of years. It has worked well for me and is very affordable. Cheers John Poirier > > > Quoting Bruce Dayton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > > My wife is getting serious about trying to organize all our photos. > > I > > have most of them scanned and the past several years have all been > > digital. So on the plus side, we can work in one medium for the > > moment. > > > > She would like to organize images by child, by event, by date, > > etc. > > Then be able to access the images for some type of use - printing, > > making galleries, making scrapbooks electronically, etc. So there > > would need to be other programs to "import" an image and she would > > need to be able to find it. > > > > So if the organization was in a proprietary file or something, > > external programs may not be able to deal with it. That would > > make > > the organizing less useful. > > > > So once organized, she might say, "I want to make a gallery of the > > highlights of the past year." So whatever software we use to make > > online galleries would be loaded and she would want to find all > > the > > files for the past year and browse through and choose some for the > > gallery. Or she might say "I want prints of the last ice skating > > competition." She would need to be able to find the photos and > > put > > them on disk or some directory for uploading or some such. > > > > We are using Windows XP - so the organizing software would need to > > work with it. Any ideas would be helpful. > > > > -- > > Best regards, > > Bruce > > > > > > > > -- > Find out how you can get spam free email. > http://www.bluebottle.com/tag/3 > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly > above and follow the directions. > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
PESO: John Denver
Hello all. The John Denver comments in the "Goin' to Montanaa!" thread reminded me of an old shot I came across a few days ago- John Denver performing in 1980. I was shooting for a newspaper review of the concert. Shot with a screwmount 135/2.5 on Tri-X, pushed to 1600 or so in boiling D-76: http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnpoirier/866127489/ I met John Denver briefly sometime in the late 70's when I lived in the Yukon. At the time I was working at a small airport near the Alaska Highway. Denver showed up in a little Cessna, I think by himself. He pumped his own gas, we had a little chat, and he headed up the road toward Whitehorse. Seemed like a nice guy. Cheers John Poirier -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
RE: Getty claiming copyright on National Archives images
Yeah, I watched part of Strange Brew the other night. Real subtle, eh. Strangely enough, this discussion can be steered a bit toward relevance to the list. Archives are very important primary sources of historic images. Things deposited in archives are valued for hundreds of years. I retired last year after 20 years as photographer at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, which is a major museum and archives in Canada's Northwest Territories. One very rewarding part of my work was helping to give people in small northern communities access to old photographs of their own communities and families. This was a much-valued services as in many cases few older images exist in those communities. I also had the priviledge of documenting some significant traditional activities of northern aboriginal people. I made a practice of documenting some aspects of Yellowknife, where I lived, and the various communities I visited. One thing of which I've become aware is the lack of visual documentation of the commonplace to be found in most archives. Try to find decent photos of small, local events or of people going about their daily lives. Good luck. In my experience photos of quite ordinary things can become very interesting and valuable to researchers and the general public only a generation or two after they are made. It is likely to become even more difficult to find that sort of thing as, given the ease with which digital files can disappear, the preservation of "ordinary" images is likely to become very shaky. (I went heavily digital in my technical work in the mid nineties and have dealt with image management on a fairly large scale.) So, here I am with a bunch of really nice old film gear, decent skills, and a bit of time. I've decided that one of the things I'll do when my Spotmatics need exercise is to shoot some views of local communities, little events, and people going about their daily business. Will just shoot the occasional part rolls and not go out of my way to do it. I'll process my own stuff or have develop-only processing, and scan and print my own contact sheets. Then I'll identify and date the stuff and file it. Someday it will end up in archives. The point of all this is that some of you folks on the list might think about documenting the ordinary and seeing that the images land in appropriate hands. It could be a very nice way of continuing to play with film. Cheers John Poirier William Robb wrote: > > John is a Canadian. Our humour is subtle. > > William Robb > > > > > > 2007/5/22, John Poirier <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > >> I think it is shocking that government bums like the US > National Archives > >> should be practically giving away images, interfering with the sacred > >> right > >> of Getty Images to eke out a modest living. Clearly the > Archives must be > >> broken up and turned over to private sector people with a fundamental > >> understanding of, and true faith in, the bottom line. > > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
RE: Getty claiming copyright on National Archives images
You got that right, Adam! Thibouille is right in saying that my tongue-in-cheek proposition would be considered weird thinking by many. However, it's not so weird in the corporate world. A number of years ago the US Congress gave in to corporate lobbying with the following legislation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_Bono_Copyright_Term_Extension_Act It would not surprise me in the least to learn that there is a quiet lobby from corporations in the media business to have publicly owned materials turned over to them for "management". As a Canadian I have watched governments at all levels facilitate the looting of public assets in the name of "privatization". We know where they got that idea- from Ronnie Ray Guns and his cronies. Cheers John Poirier > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of > Adam Maas > Sent: May 22, 2007 9:25 AM > To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List > Subject: Re: Getty claiming copyright on National Archives images > > > I think your sarcasm meter is broken ;-) > > -Adam > > Thibouille wrote: > > You want public domain stuff being managed by private companies? > > Weird thinking IMO. > > > > 2007/5/22, John Poirier <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > > >> I think it is shocking that government bums like the US > National Archives > >> should be practically giving away images, interfering with the > sacred right > >> of Getty Images to eke out a modest living. Clearly the > Archives must be > >> broken up and turned over to private sector people with a fundamental > >> understanding of, and true faith in, the bottom line. > >> > >> Cheers > >> > >> John Poirier > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >>> -Original Message- > >>> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of > >>> mike wilson > >>> Sent: May 22, 2007 6:16 AM > >>> To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List > >>> Subject: Re: Getty claiming copyright on National Archives images > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>>> From: Bob Shell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >>>> Date: 2007/05/22 Tue PM 12:29:53 GMT > >>>> To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List > >>>> Subject: Getty claiming copyright on National Archives images > >>>> > >>>> This came up on another list and I thought people here would like to > >>>> know about this major scam. > >>>> > >>>> It seems that Getty Images learned a few years ago that they could > >>>> buy 4 X 5 negatives of images from the US National Archives for $ 5 > >>>> each. They bought thousands. Now they are selling these same images > >>>> through their stock agency and claiming copyright on them. The vast > >>>> majority of the images in the National Archives were taken by > >>>> government employees and are public domain. > >>>> > >>>> Here's just one example for anyone skeptical. Getty image: 3090980 > >>>> > >>>> On the getty website it says, "American Pilots November 1943: > >>>> American pilots leaning against the tail of a F6F Hellcat on board > >>>> the USS Lexington after a raid on the Marshall Islands. > (Photo by MPI/ > >>>> Getty Images)" > >>>> > >>>> http://preview.tinyurl.com/2825kt > >>>> > >>>> Now the same image from the US National Archives. > >>>> > >>>> To locate the same image, it is a bit more complicated. First go to > >>>> the NARA ARC search engine: > >>>> > >>>> http://arcweb.archives.gov/arc/basic_search.jsp > >>>> > >>>> click the large yellow oval that says, "SEARCH" and you will see a > >>>> search page. In the blank box at the top enter the ARC number 520896 > >>>> (just enter the numbers only) and click on the GO button to > the right. > >>>> > >>>> National Archives ARC: 520896 It also says Local Identifier: 80- > >>>> G-470985 (this is the National Archives number for that > image. The 80- > >>>> G says WWII and US Navy PHOTOGRPHER, other photographs are NOT in > >>>> this category, only ones shot by US Navy personal. The top page says > >>>> Digital copy available, that line is a link, click it. The next page > >>>> has a thumbnail and the text block s
RE: Getty claiming copyright on National Archives images
I think it is shocking that government bums like the US National Archives should be practically giving away images, interfering with the sacred right of Getty Images to eke out a modest living. Clearly the Archives must be broken up and turned over to private sector people with a fundamental understanding of, and true faith in, the bottom line. Cheers John Poirier > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of > mike wilson > Sent: May 22, 2007 6:16 AM > To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List > Subject: Re: Getty claiming copyright on National Archives images > > > > > > > From: Bob Shell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Date: 2007/05/22 Tue PM 12:29:53 GMT > > To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List > > Subject: Getty claiming copyright on National Archives images > > > > This came up on another list and I thought people here would like to > > know about this major scam. > > > > It seems that Getty Images learned a few years ago that they could > > buy 4 X 5 negatives of images from the US National Archives for $ 5 > > each. They bought thousands. Now they are selling these same images > > through their stock agency and claiming copyright on them. The vast > > majority of the images in the National Archives were taken by > > government employees and are public domain. > > > > Here's just one example for anyone skeptical. Getty image: 3090980 > > > > On the getty website it says, "American Pilots November 1943: > > American pilots leaning against the tail of a F6F Hellcat on board > > the USS Lexington after a raid on the Marshall Islands. (Photo by MPI/ > > Getty Images)" > > > > http://preview.tinyurl.com/2825kt > > > > Now the same image from the US National Archives. > > > > To locate the same image, it is a bit more complicated. First go to > > the NARA ARC search engine: > > > > http://arcweb.archives.gov/arc/basic_search.jsp > > > > click the large yellow oval that says, "SEARCH" and you will see a > > search page. In the blank box at the top enter the ARC number 520896 > > (just enter the numbers only) and click on the GO button to the right. > > > > National Archives ARC: 520896 It also says Local Identifier: 80- > > G-470985 (this is the National Archives number for that image. The 80- > > G says WWII and US Navy PHOTOGRPHER, other photographs are NOT in > > this category, only ones shot by US Navy personal. The top page says > > Digital copy available, that line is a link, click it. The next page > > has a thumbnail and the text block starts with, "Pilots leaning > > across F6F on board the USS Lexington (CV-16) after shooting down 17 > > out of 20 Japanese planes heading for Tarawa." THIS block of text is > > a link to the next page so Click that link.. This page is where the > > truth lies. At the bottom it lists "Steichen, Edward, Photographer" > > If you do not know, Edward Steichen was a Commander in the US Navy > > and headed the Navy's photographic team. He was a US Government > > employee and as such ALL of his images (during his service) are in > > the Public Domain. This is noted earlier on this page by saying, > > "Access Restrictions: Unrestricted Use Restrictions: Unrestricted" > > > > As public domain images, these images belong to US, the public. > > Getty, or anyone else, has absolutely no right to claim copyright to > > these images and sell them. > > > > We need to spread the word on this, and any of Getty's customers who > > have paid to license such images should demand an immediate and full > > refund. > > > > Not to defend the money grubbers but if it says "Access > Restrictions: Unrestricted Use Restrictions: Unrestricted" > what precisely are they doing wrong? > > > - > Email sent from www.virginmedia.com/email > Virus-checked using McAfee(R) Software and scanned for spam > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
RE: PESO: Snow-covered Jack Pine
Thanks for the kind comments, folks. Interesting that most of you noted the quality of the light. Mid-winter days in Yellowknife are very short, with the sun barely above the horizon even at noon. This means that you have four or five hours of "magic hour" every day when it's not cloudy. Unfortunately, clear weather is often associated with extreme cold. In summer the sun dips only slightly below the horizon. The result is spectacular, very prolonged sunsets and sunrises, with very interesting illumination from the sky when the sun is down. I've done some of my favourite shots in the middle of the night. The price for shooting on summer nights is the blood taken by massive swarms of mosquitoes and black flies. Maybe I'll do a summer night shot for my next PESO. Cheers John Poirier -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Christian Sent: February 6, 2007 3:14 PM To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List Subject: Re: PESO: Snow-covered Jack Pine John Poirier wrote: > http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnpoirier/381846004/in/set-72157594521239417/ > Love the color, light and composition. Nice shot. -- Christian http://photography.skofteland.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
PESO: Snow-covered Jack Pine
Hi. I'm a long-time lurker on the group. This is my first PESO posting as I've retired and now have time to do this sort of thing: http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnpoirier/381846004/in/set-72157594521239417/ I'm in the process of setting up my image management system and unpacking many, many boxes of negs and slides. I'll be posting new and old work as I come across things that I like. This shot was done with an *ist-DS and 18-55 kit lens in very cold weather- about -35C. I used a tripod with the legs folded together and driven straight down into waist-deep snow. Your comments are welcome, of course. Cheers John Poirier -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
RE: PESO - American Fence
Hi- I'm not sure where this thread is going, thought I'd do a test posting on an account I just set up. Bison are fairly common in the parts of northern Canada. In the Northwest Territories, there are significant free-ranging herds near the communities of Fort Providence and Fort Liard. Encounters between vehicles and bison are commonplace. The critters are also free to roam in the communities themselves. Range of the herds is expanding. Many years ago I went cross-country skiing among herds of bison in a national park quite regularly. They simply ignored me. Anyhow, here's the link to a shot I did a couple of years ago. A common sight along certain NWT highways- a small herd crossing the road. (It's really easy to get close to the critters if you stay in your car and approach slowly.) http://picasaweb.google.com/Gabriolaphoto/JohnPoirierPentaxImages/photo#5018 825172355102226 John Poirier -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: January 11, 2007 8:25 AM To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List Subject: Re: PESO - American Fence I believe that Montana has had to initiate a bison hunting season to thin the herd. As expected, these creatures do quite well in their native habitat. Paul -- Original message -- From: "Shel Belinkoff" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > American Bison are far from extinct, although they were pushed very close > to the edge of extinction. There are numerous herds in North America, > although their numbers are far lower than the were 150 years ago. Even in > the 1960's one could buy "buffalo" meat in some areas, Yellowstone National > park has a fair number of the creatures, and even Golden Gate Park in San > Francisco has a small herd. Buffalo meat is now widely available in > supermarkets in various parts of the US. In the forty years since I first > tasted the meat the availability has spread widely. > > Buffalo meat is quite tasty, lower in fat than beef, and lower in > cholesterol than some beef and other meat, and is not treated with hormones > and crap like so much of the beef cattle is. If you're a meat eater, try > to find some and enjoy a taste. You may find it preferable to a lot of the > beef that's on the market. > > Interesting note: In the movie "Dances With Wolves" there are scenes > depicting large numbers of buffalo being hunted. Amongst, and perhaps > leading that group, was a small herd owned by Neil Young, the Canadian > musician. > > Shel > > > > > [Original Message] > > From: K.Takeshita > > > While this is wildly OT (usually, title and the contents part each other > in > > a matter of hours in this list :-), this is interesting history, but > sorry, > > I got lost somewhere. > > Are bison now extinct (or near extinct) or just endangered specie? > > I thought I saw a lot of them in western movies in their hey days. > > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
RE: chime in if....
Over the last few weeks I've shot rolls of colour neg with an S1a and a Leica iiif, and XP2 with an MX. Once I have finished unpacking from a major move I'll get back to film processing, but haven't decided whether I'll set up my enlarger again. I spent the last 10 years scanning and printing massive quantities of black and white professionally, so the transition for my personal work would be technically easy but remains an artistic question mark. Am looking forward to shooting lots of bulk black and white- probably Tri-X. A fun way to revisit my early days in photography. Cheers John Poirier -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of J and K Messervy Sent: December 19, 2006 10:38 PM To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List Subject: Re: chime in if Yep, I've got two rolls of 120 Velvia 50, one mostly exposed and one ready to go. :) - Original Message - From: "Mark Erickson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "PDML" Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2006 4:16 PM Subject: poll: chime in if > ...you've processed (or had processed) a roll of film recently > > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
RE: How Long ...
Hi, Cotty Yep. A scanner. Not just any scanner. It's an old Acer that uses a SCSI connection. SCSI may be even more dead than film...I retired it about five years ago because I had good Nikon scanners at the office. Dug it out the other day along with an old PCI SCSI card and some XP drivers that I'd archived, and miraculously it worked. Anyhow, it will do until I get my Epson V750. All kidding aside, it is going to be very interesting to see what happens with film scanner availability in future. It could become quite a problem. One of my last work projects involved developing a slide copying system based on a 13.5 megapixel digital SLR. It worked quite well, producing very decent quality at a very high rate of production. Not up to scanner standards, though. I did a quick test of black and white negs with OK results. Colour negs? Didn't have time to go there. Anyhow, I'm planning to continue shooting a fair amount of film, especially black and white, now that I've retired. Have some sweet screw mount gear as well as a couple of LXs etc. And then there's the MF and 4x5 stuff I've accumulated. Still love the feel of good mechanical gear and now have the time to do something with my work- haven't done a show for years. Cheers John Poirier -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Cotty Sent: December 4, 2006 2:08 PM To: pentax list Subject: Re: How Long ... On 3/12/06, John Poirier, discombobulated, unleashed: >Hi. >I've been lurking on this list since sometime in the late 90s. I've rarely >participated because my day job involved demanding imaging work and I didn't >feel much like trying to interact on a computer on my down time. I have >greatly enjoyed monitoring the group, though. > >I recently retired and moved, so will have much more time to mess around >with with my own gear. Just got a film scanner going a few minutes ago. >I'm looking forward to posting some pics and getting involved with the >group. > >John Poirier Hi John, Er, film is dead. You have a sc..scscaaaner? That how you pronounce it?? (With apologies to Bob Newhart ;-) -- Cheers, Cotty ___/\__ || (O) | People, Places, Pastiche ||=|http://www.cottysnaps.com _ -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
RE: How Long ...
Hi. I've been lurking on this list since sometime in the late 90s. I've rarely participated because my day job involved demanding imaging work and I didn't feel much like trying to interact on a computer on my down time. I have greatly enjoyed monitoring the group, though. I recently retired and moved, so will have much more time to mess around with with my own gear. Just got a film scanner going a few minutes ago. I'm looking forward to posting some pics and getting involved with the group. John Poirier -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Shel Belinkoff Sent: December 3, 2006 4:16 PM To: PDML Subject: How Long ... .. have you participated in the PDML, in its various iterations. While sitting in traffic this afternoon, the thought crossed my mind that some of us have been here a *very* long time. While I can't recall exactly when I joined, I think it was some time in 1999, maybe 1998 - before the arrival of many, if not all, of the MZ/ZX cameras I believe, when the LX reigned supreme. That seems like a long time to be on a mailing list, yet there are some folks here who were here when I arrived and who are still here. Bill Robb, Steady Stenquist, Stan Halpin, Rob Studdert, and Steve Larson are just a few names that come to mind. Bill Castleberry, up on the Oregon Coast, was here, disappeared, popped up again briefly, and then disappeared again. Do any of the old timers recall how they heard about the list? Shel -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: Sigma 20mm dilemma
I've used a Sigma 20/1.8 a fair amount and find it useful. Not long ago I did a bunch of work with it underground in a mine, wide open. The results were quite respectable for a fast wide angle. I've certainly seen worse. In my view the quality wide open is better than a pre-aspherical Leica 35/1.4 or a Tamron 24/2.5, for example. The underground images were quite adequate for museum exhibit use in print sizes up to 11x14. Not wonderful, mind you, but certainly good enough not to detract from the usefulness of the images in terms of content. The extra viewfinder brightness is very useful in poor lighting. In the underground job it allowed me to focus and compose when the brightest illumination was the focus assist beam from a flash. I've also found it very good for shooting public events such as gallery openings using existing light. Closed down a stop or so the results are fine for publication use. I've also used the lens for quick and dirty copy work on large maps. Closed down to f/11, sharpness is extremely close to that of a 60mm Micro Nikkor. I've tested that very carefully. The only flaw is very minor barrel distortion. I wouldn't use it for really high quality publication, but it 's great for doing legible reference copies in a hurry. Overall I'd recommend it as a keeper if you do a lot of hand-held low light work. Hope that helps. John Poirier - Original Message - From: Amita Guha <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2005 4:15 PM Subject: Sigma 20mm dilemma > Today is Nate's birthday, and I got him the Sigma 20mm f/1.8 because I > thought he wanted it based on samples he'd seen. Turns out he likes it, but > he has that range covered by his Canon 17-40mm, so he can't decide if he > should keep it. The Sigma is faster than the Canon, but that's the only > advantage as far as he can see. Does anyone have the Sigma 20mm or can > anyone think of a reason for him to keep it? I don't mind if he returns it, > but he is really on the fence about this one. > > Meanwhile, I'm eyeing this lens for myself...it's one of those times when I > really wish we were on the same system... > > Amita >
Re: Experience with Super A/Program?
Hi, Frank and all. You folks in Toronto are really tough. It's only -16 in Yellowknife right now. Of course, that's probably the warmest it's been since October. And we are just coming out of over a month of -30s and 40s. Kept shooting, though. Put half a dozen rolls through a Super Program, a Spotmatic and an LX. Next week I'm heading for the real Arctic. My job is taking me to Inuvik, Tuktoyaktuk and Fort MacPherson, shooting 4x5 (or 6x7 if it's too cold) for some large photomurals. If there isn't a blizzard in Tuk I'll be heading out by skidoo (with a local guide) to shoot a big pingo in the Mackenzie Delta and ice pressure ridges on the Beaufort Sea. In Fort MacPherson I expect to hit the Mackenzie Mountains and perhaps some river valleys. Don't know yet whether it will be by skidoo or truck. Around Inuvik I'll be shooting the northern fringe of the boreal forest where trees are quite stunted and widely separated. I'm taking my -50 clothing for the gig. Odds are high that I'll at least hit some extreme wind chills along the way. I'm actually a long-time lurker on the PUG. Seldom have time to participate, but being this isolated it's nice to be able to keep in touch a bit. John - Original Message - From: frank theriault <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 2:51 PM Subject: Re: Experience with Super A/Program? > On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 14:38:31 -0700, [EMAIL PROTECTED] > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi. > I've have given the cameras a pretty rough life. A lot of > time in the bush and on very rough, dusty roads, often in extreme > cold. > > > > Hope that helps. > > > > John Poirier > > Yellowknife,NWT,Canada > > Hi, John, > > I don't believe that we've met. As a matter of fact, I'm sure we > haven't, as I'd have recalled a member from Yellowknife. > > For any members who don't know, Canada's NorthWest Territories are > about as far north as it gets. > > I have to know. What's the temp up there right now. What's the low > for tonight? How about the high for the day? > > Down here in the deep south (Toronto), we're all whining because it's > going down to -25C tonight. > > BTW, welcome aboard. > > cheers, > frank > > "Sharpness is a bourgeois concept." -Henri Cartier-Bresson >
Re: WOW - Suggestions for Cleaning Up a Scanned Negative
Hi, Shel You might want to try Hamrick Vuescan (aftermarket scanning software) on this one. Vuescan has a scratch and dust removal function that uses the scanner hardware that is also used for ICE, but apparently with different algorithms. It often works where ICE won't; more often than not it works with black and white negs. When it doesn't work, the result is often loss of image detail in portions of the image. Trial version of Vuescan is available as a free download from http://www.hamrick.com. Fully functional, but watermarks images. The license is a bargain for $80 US for four machines, free upgrades. The interface may seem clunky at first, but it gets the job done very nicely. A couple of hints: -Selecting the "advanced" option for each function tab gives you a lot more choices for important settings -scratch and dust removal is accessed via the Filter tab. I generally use "light" but you can play with the other levels. The trick is to get as much cleanup as you can without too many obvious artifacts. You should examine the entire image to check results as artifacts can be localized depending on grain structure. In a situation like yours you won't be able to get everything with Vuescan, but chances of a significant reduction of finer scratches are good. Regarding graphics tablets, I've used a basic Graphire 4x5 USB tablet for a number of years. Works just fine for me for cleaning up scratches and dust, and cheap. An excellent way to help prevent repetitive stress injuries due to excessive mousing. In my experience a pen can be much faster and more accurate than a mouse- with practice. I work in archives and spend much of my time scanning photos for public use. I don't do major restorations, as that can be done elsewheres. However, I do a lot of discreet dust and scratch cleanup , usually as a courtesy to NWT residents wanting old pics of family members- a very common thing. Your neg is typical of what I run into in the old stuff. I've tried the Polaroid software very briefly but didn't find it that useful. I just stick to a combination of cloning and healing. Cheers John Poirier Yellowknife Northwest Territories . - Original Message - From: Shel Belinkoff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 4:34 PM Subject: Re: WOW - Suggestions for Cleaning Up a Scanned Negative > While I'd like a Wacom (it's on my Hanukah list ) I'm not familiar > enough with it to know how much better it would be than a mouse for this > and similar projects. There are other scenarios where it's benefit is > quite obvious. Guess I just need to get one and see for myself which tool > is better for what situations. Which might you recommend - the Intuos or > the Graphire (I think those are the models)? Thanks! > > Shel > > > > [Original Message] > > From: Juan Buhler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > Shel, the most meaningful advice I can give is, get a Wacom tablet or > > similar if you don't have one. > > > > Doing such fix with a mouse would be a huge nightmare. > >
Re: CD-R lifetimes disputed
Hi.
This is a bit off-topic but an important subject given the growing
prevalence of digital, so I'll step in.
As a photograher specializing in archival access and preservation, I would
endorse a combination of Rob's approach (sensible burning, particulary with
file verification) with Steve's strategy (multiple hard drives), with one
added level of precaution.
The added level of precaution is to burn a copy of each CD on two different
brands of disc. CD formulations are subject to change without notice, and
even good brands can have bad batches. ("Gold Dye" discs appear to be the
best bet for longevity. This type of disc is getting hard to find. Mitsui
and Quantegy seem to be the prime remaining sources.)
Your main copies can be stored on multiple hard drives for quick access and
as the versions to be used for ongoing management and preservation. It is
more efficient to write from hard drives to new storage formats than to pull
up discs and do so. As well, error checking when copying on hard drives
seems to be a better bet than when writing to disc.
It is very important to back up carefully or use a RAID array, particularly
if you are storing edited images as they represent a significant time
investment.
Mainstream archival thinking seems to be tending to hard drive storage for
media such as sound recordings, video, and photographs.
For those on a limited budget, consider one set of properly burned gold dye
CDs (or DVDs- Quantegy makes gold dye ones for which they claim excellent
longevity.)- along with online storage of unedited images in JPEG 2000
format with 10:1 compression, edited images in TIFF format with LZW
compression, and backups of edited images in JPEG 2000 10:1.
In terms of CD longevity, the oldest CDs I use for image storage are Kodak
Photo CDs written from late 1993 to about 1999. Since then I have used
Kodak and Quantegy gold dye CDs. (Kodak gold dye CDs are no longer
available.) Other than one CD suffering from scratches, there have been no
failures among over 600 discs in my main offline storage system. On the
other hand, I have seen failures of off-brand CDs within a matter of months.
To keep somewhat on topic, I get quite a kick in my personal photography
from shooting with Spotmatics and S1a's, as well as varlous ancient
non-Pentax gear, then going digital for colour scanning and printing. I got
into photography when Spotmatics were hot stuff; the lenses still are in
their own way. Still like the darkroom for B&W.
At work? Well...Kodak DCS 14n. 13.5 megapixels is a lot better for copy
work than 6.
Cheers
John Poirier
- Original Message -
From: "Rob Studdert" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: April 22, 2004 8:41 PM
Subject: Re: CD-R lifetimes disputed
> On 22 Apr 2004 at 19:24, Joseph Tainter wrote:
>
> > Rob wrote:
> >
> > "I put my success down to sensible writing methods and storage
procedures."
> >
> > Rob, what are your sensible writing methods?
>
> Use a recognized brand name writer with good driver/software support and
> mainstream branded media. Use blank media free of dust or scratches (CDs
> supplied on spindles sometimes fail this criterion), ensure that the
system can
> deliver the data at faster than the CD writer speed, ensure good power to
the
> writer, hands off the computer until the media is burned and finalized,
always
> write and finalize an archive disc in one session, verify after write.
That's
> about it.
>
>
> Rob Studdert
> HURSTVILLE AUSTRALIA
> Tel +61-2-9554-4110
> UTC(GMT) +10 Hours
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> http://members.ozemail.com.au/~distudio/publications/
> Pentax user since 1986, PDMLer since 1998
>
Re: Weird scanning problem
Yup. Sounds like newton rings. Try scanning the neges emulsion side down. Works sometimes. John Poirier - Original Message - From: "J. C. O'Connell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Pentax Discuss Mailing List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: February 24, 2003 7:27 PM Subject: Weird scanning problem > I've been scanning 4X5 negs the last few days > with my Epson 2450 and I'm getting a weird > "pattern" on my scans that looks kinda like a fingerprint > but it's definately not. I've tried scanning in > the holder and flat on the glass with same results. > Also tried 1800 as well as 2400 ppi, same prob. > The patterns are showing up randomly in my scans. > Havent tried going back to 35mm or 6X7 yet > > Anybody ever have this? Is my scanner broken? > THIS SUCKS! > > Sample scan, cropped showing problem: > > http://jcoconnell.com/temp/apartment02p.jpg > > BTW, I just got a Schneider 90mm/F8 S. A. wide angle > for my 4X5 and this lens kicks some serious ass!! > > J.C. O'Connell mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://jcoconnell.com > My Business references & Websites: http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/jco/ >
Re: Advisor Needs Advice--
I'd say mine is a Type 1. John P - Original Message - From: "Mike Johnston" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: February 24, 2003 8:59 AM Subject: Re: Advisor Needs Advice-- > > Am I allowed a 'me too'? I have no complaints with the M28/2.8 either! > > > John P. and John C., > > Do you know if you have the type 1 or type 2? I believe the type 1 has a > chrome accent line above the focusing ring and weighs 156g, and the type 2 > has no chrome accent and weighs 170g. > > --Mike >
Re: Advisor Needs Advice--
I've had an SMCP-M28/2.8 for about 20 years, used it a great deal, and have generally been happy with the results. It does have a lot of the "look" of the SMCP-M50/1.4, although I don't think it is as sharp at wider apertures. Still highly acceptable, though. Lots of stuff I've shot with it has been published. I really like its very compact size and often have it on a Super Program as an alternative to packing a rangefinder. My only complaint is that with a very small number of shots taken directly into the sun I have seen more ghosting than is usually the case with Pentax lenses. A couple of years ago I did a direct comparision between the 28/2.8 and a K 28/3.5. Both were at infinity, on a tripod with an MLU body. The K lens was slightly sharper in the corners wide open, with tree tops at a distance of about 400 feet as the point of comparison. Closed down to f/4 I could see no difference (at 30x magnification). The two were equally sharp in the center. I haven't done systematic testing at closer distances. Anyhow, the M 28/2.8 is cheap enough that you can give it a try without breaking the bank. Hope this helps. John Poirier - Original Message - From: "Mike Johnston" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: February 22, 2003 9:12 PM Subject: Advisor Needs Advice-- > Okay, all you SMCP-M shooters-- > > Given that I love the look of the SMCP-M 50mm f/1.4, am I gonna like the > look of the 28mm f/2.8? > > Let me know what you think if you have or know the 28mm-- > > --Mike > >
Re: OT Pentax wife (Was: Shit, Crap & Politics,Was:Re: Vs: car shit,not politics, not Pentax,but about as valid as any of the crap that isallowed without rancor. WAS: bRe:PMA and Pentax DSLR
From: "Keith Whaley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: February 2, 2003 3:06 PM Subject: Re: OT Pentax wife (Was: Shit, Crap & Politics, Was:Re: Vs: car shit,not politics, not Pentax, but about as valid as any of the crap that isallowed without rancor. WAS: bRe: PMA and Pentax DSLR > > > John Poirier wrote: > > > > This "joke" is not at all funny. It is quite simply disgusting. We should > > all have nothing but contempt for a mentality that could produce a comment > > of this type. > > > > John Poirier > > Father of a 13-year-old girl. > > What's a 13-year-old girl got to do with anything, John? Actually, as her father I think she has quite a bit to do with me. As a young woman she is growing up in a world where violence against women is widespread. I think that has quite a bit to do with all of us. As a father and as a responsible adult it is my duty to object strongly to any behaviour that promotes or condones violence against women. In mentioning that I have a 13-year-old daughter, I was providing context for my remarks. I have read Lasse's explanation and accepted it. No problem. However, I do find the tone of your remarks offensive. > > Oh, I guess you're objecting to the language? I agree. This is surely > a family newsgroup, and the participants ought not swear. > Or, for that matter, talk politics and firearms and other such > disgusting things. > > Surely you're not letting her read these list messages? Are you? > > keith whaley Oddly enough, we don't censor our daughter's reading, although we do monitor and provide guidance. She encounters far worse language in the school yard every day. Politics is a daily topic of discussion in our household. Our daughter is also rather well-informed on the issues surrounding firearms. Sorry to disappoint you. (Incidentally, I'm not one of those small-l liberals you dumped on in another thread. I am a big-L Leftist, and never more proud of it than when I see drivel of the sort you've been spouting.) John Poirier > > > - Original Message - > > From: "Lasse Karlsson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Sent: February 2, 2003 2:39 PM > > Subject: OT Pentax wife (Was: Shit, Crap & Politics, Was:Re: Vs: car shit, > > not politics, not Pentax, but about as valid as any of the crap that is > > allowed without rancor. WAS: bRe: PMA and Pentax DSLR > > > > > > > > Yeah, I agree with you, but she would also most likely be very old, > > > mostly stuck at the mirror all day, dented, losing her paint, need > > > constant cleaning an lubrication, cost you huge "medical" bills, and > > > the only way to make her work is by screwing or mounting her with a > > > bayonet > > > :-) > > > Lasse > > > > > > >
Re: OT Pentax wife
HI, Lasse. Thanks for the explanation. Cheerfully accepted. John Poirier - Original Message - From: "Lasse Karlsson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: February 2, 2003 4:43 PM Subject: Re: OT Pentax wife > Regarding my "joke" on Pentax cameras regarded as a wife, there is > this one thing I'd like to point out. > I referred to a "bayonet" as in the K-mount. I had no intention of > evoking any imagery where this tool would be used in the way it is > being used as a weapon. > In case my wording actually brought such an imagery to mind, I am > doubly very, very sorry. > > Lasse > > > > >
Re: OT Pentax wife (Was: Shit, Crap & Politics, Was:Re: Vs: car shit,not politics, not Pentax, but about as valid as any of the crap that isallowed without rancor. WAS: bRe: PMA and Pentax DSLR
This "joke" is not at all funny. It is quite simply disgusting. We should all have nothing but contempt for a mentality that could produce a comment of this type. John Poirier Father of a 13-year-old girl. - Original Message - From: "Lasse Karlsson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: February 2, 2003 2:39 PM Subject: OT Pentax wife (Was: Shit, Crap & Politics, Was:Re: Vs: car shit, not politics, not Pentax, but about as valid as any of the crap that is allowed without rancor. WAS: bRe: PMA and Pentax DSLR > > Yeah, I agree with you, but she would also most likely be very old, > mostly stuck at the mirror all day, dented, losing her paint, need > constant cleaning an lubrication, cost you huge "medical" bills, and > the only way to make her work is by screwing or mounting her with a > bayonet > :-) > Lasse > >
Re: A funny problem with digital
> > The nice thing about film is that it is completely transparent > technology (especially if you process a blank roll). Film can be > 100% point and shoot from the consumers viewpoint. > I doubt very much if digital cameras will get to that point. > Technological marvels seem to invite complication. > Complication invites user interface difficulties. > > Thats what I think, anyway. > > William Robb > My guess is it won't be too many years before we see one-button digital cameras that will be as user-transparent as current one-use units. All it will take is cheap 6-megapixel or larger sensors, cheap memory, and a universal connect standard for imaging kiosks. At that point resolution, which is the big bugaboo in terms of user interface, will become a non-issue. It will happen because there is or will be a consumer demand for that sort of thing. I know some PhDs who are perfect candidates for a PHD digital camera. On the other hand, I can also see the likelihood of endless proliferation of interface complications for the market segment that has more money than brains and is proud of it. John Poirier
Re: Which Photo quality printer?
- Original Message - From: "Pål Jensen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: October 23, 2002 9:41 AM Subject: Which Photo quality printer? I am considering buying a photo quality printer. I'm a total novice in these matters so I need advice. Needless to say, I want best quality possible at the lower possible price. Any suggestions? Pål Hi. I think Epson printers in general are a good bet. I can't compare with other brands because my experience is entirely with Epsons. At work I currently run Epson 1200, 870 and C80. At home I have an 820. In terms of low cost and high quality I recommend the 820. It does not seem to be as well built as the 870 but works just fine. I've had excellent results with it. (To keep up some pretence of being on topic, I'm looking forward to printing some stuff shot with my newly acquired second LX when it gets back from CLA at Pentax Canada...Our local camera store owner had a near-mint one with winder and FA1 finder that he very kindly let me have for $200 Canadian as a long-term (over 20 years) customer. I suppose there are some benefits in sticking around in one place for a long time and becoming an old geezer.) John Poirier
Re: pro or hobby
I'm doing it as both job and hobby. My day job has evolved into something highly technical (although with occasional amazing gigs in places most of us could never get to on our own) so I've resolved not to worry about my stock photography sideline. On my own time I'm a wannabe amateur and hard at work rediscovering the things that always made photography a joy for me. John Poirier - Original Message - From: "Rogier van der Peijl" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: April 10, 2002 6:19 AM Subject: pro or hobby > I was wondering how many people on this list are doing photography for a > living and how many are doing it as a hobby. > > I'm doing it as a hobby > > regards, > > Rogier - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: Tamron 24/2.5
- Original Message - From: "Frantisek Vlcek" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "A K" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: February 20, 2002 4:58 PM Subject: Re: Tamron 24/2.5 > Thursday, February 21, 2002, 12:35:02 AM, A wrote: > AK> Hi, > > AK> I've beeen offered a Tamron 24/2.5 for 45$. > AK> It is an old version with leatherette like focusing and aperture rings. > AK> Anybody had any experience with this lens? > AK> Any reviews on the net for non-pentax Kmount lens? > AK> Should I buy it? > AK> Is this a good price? > AK> Cosmetically it is uglish, but it seems pefect mechanically and optically. Hello. I've had a 24/2.5 for about 10 years. The one I have is lousy wide open, not too bad by f/4, and very sharp at my normal working apertures of f8/f11. Flare control and mechanical quality pretty good but not up to classic Pentax standards. Assuming the lens functions properly, $45 is just fine. The main problem I would watch for is sticky operation of the automatic diaphragm. In my opinion, the lens is really an f4 in terms of acceptable image quality, but f/2.5 is very useful for composing and focusing in low light, which is something I do quite a bit. John Poirier - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: Spottie Questions (Enablement Needed)
Hi- None of the Spotmatics have particularly wonderful finders in my opinion. I have an F, a 1000, and an original. I love 'em anyhow. You may want to take a look at Fujica ST701 and ST801 bodies. I haven't had my hands on either for many years, but owned both in the late seventies- used mainly with SMC Tak lenses. It seems to me that their finders were brighter than Pentax, and they were pretty solid mechanically speaking. The ST801 in particular is interesting because its meter technology was very advanced for the time. It used a silicon blue cell with an LED readout something like the MX. The ST701 was around for quite a while and I think evolved over the years, so there may be variations in finder brightness depending on when manufactured. Fuji also made the ST901, their answer to the ES, with a wildly innovative meter readout for the day- digitial numerical readout of shutter speed. Described as a gimmick that would never go anywhere by a contemporaneous Consumer Reports review. Nice chunk of gadgetry, but aperture priority only on auto and no meter on manual. Can't guess about reliablility. I owned one of those as well and enjoyed it. Good luck! - Original Message - From: "Christopher Lillja" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: January 31, 2002 10:08 AM Subject: Spottie Questions (Enablement Needed) > As I have been building my Pentax system I have found some screw mount lenses to be great value for the money. I generally use them on a beat up ME with a M42/KM adapter. I'm thinking about getting a real M42 body, and of course a nice Spottie would probably fit the bill nicely. > > Here's the thing: which Pentax M42 camera has the best view finder/focusing aids? I've read all the major pages on the topic and little is mentioned about the various finders. I would happily trade TTL metering for a really good finder or perhaps a really small (ME like) chassis... > > I have a K1000 and I find the little tiny microprisim dot in the middle of the ground glass not much fun to use. I love the finder on the ME, and I could live with something in between those two. I'm happy with the viewfinder brightness of both cameras, BTW. > > Now remain calm please, I have also looked at information on many M42 cameras, some (gulp) non-Pentax. If anyone has some suggestions along these lines, feel free to answer me off-list. > > Well, what I guess what I really want is an MX with an M42 lens mount. What the next best thing? > > Christopher Lillja > Publications Coordinator > The Pennington School > www.pennington.org > - > This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, > go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to > visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org . - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: Super Program/A problems
- Original Message - From: "William Robb" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: September 24, 2001 6:48 PM Subject: Re: Super Program/A problems > > Yer shutter button is hinky. Does the meter shut off? If so the > first position is good and the second position is bad. If not, > then both positions are pooched. > > > > Have anyone experienced anything like that. Based on my experience, I would say that the button may be gibbled rather than pooched. ;>) (Winnipeg English, I think) John Poirier - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: Pros
- Original Message - From: "Juan J. Buhler" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: July 18, 2001 4:54 PM Subject: Pros > On Wed, 18 Jul 2001, Collin Brendemuehl wrote: > > > It's what drives the industry. "Pros use Nikon & Canon. I got a Rebel G. > > I look like a Pro. Cool." > > :-) > > > I don't want to be a pro. I don't want to look like a pro. > Professionals have to make money with their photography, they are > bound to have to let go of whatever (if any) their creative needs are > in order to satisfy a client. I'm a pro who works for a salary and uses mainly Nikon on the job because that's what was there when I took the job many years ago. I could not justify to myself ditching a complete camera system because, while I do not really like the "look" of Nikon lenses, they are perfectly adequate for most purposes. However, when I go home the Nikons stay at the office. When I shoot for myself, and occasionally when I'm doing something really special at work, I use my old pre-AF Pentax lenses, because I like the results. By liking the results I mean that Pentax lenses have certain nuances, particularly in colour rendition, that suit my personal way of seeing and in some situations produce results that are more pleasing to me than other SLR lenses. I can't define these nuances, but they are there and after 25 years of using SMC lenses they are hard wired into my seeing. One thing that puzzles me about a lot of pros (and is common although more understandable in wannabes) is that they are pretty gullible in terms of their equipment selection. They tend to buy things on the basis of splashy and sometimes deceitful advertising campaigns rather than real world results and value for money. I suspect that many are still at least partly amateurs at heart and find the shiny big-name toys irresistable. Being well-trained consumers, they also don't have the gumption to take a step back and look at what they are really getting. On my own time I have wonderful fun clumping around in the boonies not only with (gasp) K-mount Pentaxes, but even screw mount Pentaxes, screw mount Leicas, baby Crown Graphics and other horrors. Looking like an amateur and loving it. It's kind of fun seeing other local pros smirking at my old gear, knowing that I've regularly beaten them out of sales because my stuff was better- usually meaning more beautiful- because I've chosen lenses for results rather than labels. For both pros and amateurs, results are what really count, aren't they? John Poirier - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: Pros
- Original Message - From: "Juan J. Buhler" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: July 18, 2001 4:54 PM Subject: Pros > On Wed, 18 Jul 2001, Collin Brendemuehl wrote: > > > It's what drives the industry. "Pros use Nikon & Canon. I got a Rebel G. > > I look like a Pro. Cool." > > :-) > > > I don't want to be a pro. I don't want to look like a pro. > Professionals have to make money with their photography, they are > bound to have to let go of whatever (if any) their creative needs are > in order to satisfy a client. I'm a pro who works for a salary and uses mainly Nikon on the job because that's what was there when I took the job many years ago. I could not justify to myself ditching a complete camera system because, while I do not really like the "look" of Nikon lenses, they are perfectly adequate for most purposes. However, when I go home the Nikons stay at the office. When I shoot for myself, and occasionally when I'm doing something really special at work, I use my old pre-AF Pentax lenses, because I like the results. By liking the results I mean that Pentax lenses have certain nuances, particularly in colour rendition, that suit my personal way of seeing and in some situations produce results that are more pleasing to me than other SLR lenses. I can't define these nuances, but they are there and after 25 years of using SMC lenses they are hard wired into my seeing. One thing that puzzles me about a lot of pros (and is common although more understandable in wannabes) is that they are pretty gullible in terms of their equipment selection. They tend to buy things on the basis of splashy and sometimes deceitful advertising campaigns rather than real world results and value for money. I suspect that many are still at least partly amateurs at heart and find the shiny big-name toys irresistable. Being well-trained consumers, they also don't have the gumption to take a step back and look at what they are really getting. On my own time I have wonderful fun clumping around in the boonies not only with (gasp) K-mount Pentaxes, but even screw mount Pentaxes, screw mount Leicas, baby Crown Graphics and other horrors. Looking like an amateur and loving it. It's kind of fun seeing other local pros smirking at my old gear, knowing that I've regularly beaten them out of sales because my stuff was better- usually meaning more beautiful- because I've chosen lenses for results rather than labels. For both pros and amateurs, results are what really count, aren't they? - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: Your "No Fat" Pentax Outfit
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > << > If you could but together a basic but complete Pentax outfit--everything you > need but no fat, no extraneous items included--what would it be for you? >> OK. My actual no-fat outfit, constantly in a very compact case and ready to go: 2 KX bodies 35/2.0-K 50/1.4-K 135/2.5-K I'm thinking about replacing one of the KX bodies with my LX, as this is my most used outfit. John Poirier - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: Opinions: Agfa Duoscan T1200
You may want to reconsider the T1200, as I think there is at least one better alternative. The T1200 itself is a pretty good unit. Within the limits of its specifications it performs well. With a bit of experimentation it will produce good results with negatives and slides. The only complaint I have about it is that I find the drawer mechanism for scanning transparencies awkward in that the holders tend to slide around when you close the drawer. For that reason I prefer the Agfa Arcus ll, which in the real world produces similar results to the T1200 without the awkwardness of the drawer. (The last statement is based on scanning a couple of negs on both scanners connected to the same computer and using the same software, for what it's worth.) The 3.0 dmax specification does not seem to be a major problem. I've had no difficulty getting clean scans of transparency shadows with the scanner. However, I think you should take a good look at the Epson 1640SU Photo as an alternative. I've done something over 300 scans over the last couple of months and have been very pleased with the results. (I'm setting up for a project involving scanning about 2500 archival negs over the summer.) It has an optical resolution of 1600 ppi while the T1200 is only 600x1200. The 1640 produces noticeably sharper scans, and I prefer its tonal rendition. I'm not sure what the dmax is, but I've scanned some extremely dense black and white negs with excellent results. I can't comment on the 1640SU Photo software as I work primarily with Hamrick Vuescan, which produces excellent results and has some useful features for high volume scanning. It has been a while since I've checked the price of the T1200. It used to be significantly more expensive than the 1640SU Photo, which lists at $399US. I've also heard that Canon will be announcing a new unit in this price range with 2400 ppi resolution. There is a very good scanning-oriented listserv at www.leben.com. John Poirier - Original Message - From: "David A. Mann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: May 1, 2001 1:40 AM Subject: Opinions: Agfa Duoscan T1200 > Hi all, > > Well I've decided that I should finally get a film scanner of some sort. I can't > afford a 4000dpi 35mm scanner yet, but I do want to be able to scan my 6x7 > slides for the web, which meant I was going to have to buy the Duoscan > anyway. I'm able to afford this one at the moment so I might as well get it > now (before the price goes up even more), and use it to get more of my > 35mm slides on the web until I can pick up a high-res 35mm scanner. > > So, I'd appreciate it if anyone who's used this scanner to tell me/us what > you think of it. I'll be using it for 6x7 and 35mm to start with, and I want to > use the slide trays (I absolutely want to avoid sandwiching my slides > between glass plates like the guys in the camera shop do). > > The specific things I want to know about are: > 1- optical performance > 2- scanning speed > 3- what's it like for printed matter? > 4- I can see the 3.0 dmax is pretty low: is this a problem? I'm probably > stuck with it though as it's the only affordable medium/large-format slide > scanner available (I don't want to use a flatbed with transparency adaptor). > 5- I'll be using it on a PC and I'd also like opinions on its driver and whatever > software comes bundled with it (I probably won't use it though). > 6- Do you think I could easily adapt the 6x7 carrier to hold my panoramic > 35mm slides? :) > 7- Does it come with a SCSI adaptor or do I have to buy this separately? > 8- What's it like for colour negs? > > Cheers, > > > - Dave > > David A. Mann, B.E. (Elec) > http://www.digistar.com/~dmann/ > > "Why is it that if an adult behaves like a child they lock him up, > while children are allowed to run free on the streets?" -- Garfield > - > This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, > go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to > visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org . > - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: OT:Monopods(was: Why do we?)
HI- A monopod is also convenient if you have lots of snow. Just drive it in firmly and you have a quite solid support for anything up to a moderate telephoto or a TLR. In the right snow conditions, which we have for about 4 to 5 months of the year, a monopod will stand very nicely on its own. I do a lot of shooting on cross country skis and find my monopod extremely useful. John Poirier Yellowknife Northwest Territories Canada - Original Message - From: "Rob Studdert" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: January 22, 2001 5:11 PM Subject: OT:Monopods(was: Why do we?). > On 22 Jan 2001, at 14:26, dosk wrote: > > > Here's a chance for another new thread; > > ---Who here use's a monopod? And why on earth why? > > (But I would change the subject title here to "Monopods?", before it gets to > > unwieldy...) > > > > Skip > > Hi Skip there are plenty of used for monopods, I'll cite a few without trying to > over complicate the issue :-) > > In many venues tripods are not allowed, some due to the safety aspects and > some due to sheer space restrictions. Using a monopod for sports shooting > is generally desirable due to the flexibility of movement it affords. Apart from > being able to swing and pan using your whole body you can quickly change > positions for a completely different perspective. In many cases where I have > needed to shoot at very low shutter speeds I will brace the monpod against a > railing or fence etc. Using this practice I have shot at shutter speeds of > greater than one second with excellent results. > > In cases where weight is an issue monopods can be a boon, my Manfrotto > 434 + ball head weighs in at only 1.34kg but will support a load of up to 12kg > at a height of approximately 175cm. > > Cheers, > > Rob Studdert > HURSTVILLE AUSTRALIA > Tel +61-2-9554-4110 > Fax +61-2-9554-9259 > UTC(GMT) +10 Hours > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.ozemail.com.au/~distudio/publications.html > - > This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, > go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to > visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org. > - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org.
