Re: Christmas Project
Bob, Chris, Like I said to Fra, I am not looking for 'bird guide' shots - more an unusual shot that will occur by chance in a 3.5fps burst. Not sure which lens will give the best result but I will try the 15mm f3.5 first (with front element protection) and then the 28mm f2.8. I will post any good shots so you can let me know what you think. I intend to put the camera into a protective housing and allow the birds to acclimatise to it during a trial period using cheap colour neg film. Serious attempts at grabbing velvia trannies will be made on cold mornings when the birds are hungry. Pat - Original Message - From: Bob Sullivan [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2004 1:32 PM Subject: Re: Christmas Project Pat, Like Chris, I've used a long air release some 20 years ago on some Baltimore Orioles at the feeder. I don't remember if I used a 50mm or 135mm, but you can get really close and fill the frame with the feed tray bird. I've still got the shots around somewhere... Regards, Bob S. On Thu, 2 Dec 2004 13:02:07 + (GMT), Chris Stoddart [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Pat, I tried something like this once about 20 years ago with an ME Super + winder, a 135/2.8 (not Pentax), tripod and a great long air release. The objective was to photograph siskins (Carduelis pinus, about the size of a fat sparrow) on a feeder whilst I was hiding in the house. Although technically fine, the results weren't very pretty, maybe because judging the 'decisive moment' from 30 feet away behind glass was bloody hard. Also, even with a 135mm the click of the shutter and/or whirr of the winder scared the birds away EVERY time, so it took about 2 hours to get 1/2 doz pictures. I think this also contributed to the birds looking a bit freaked out in the photos too :-) I'm afraid I haven't repeated the experiment since. The 15mm might be a fun idea right up close (a 'birds-eye view', hah!), but I suspect it will be very hit and miss and you'll get a lot of waste shots. It may be possible to desensitize the birds to the camera by placing a similar box it the same position and piping 'click-whirr' sounds through it. Other than that it's almost certainly going to scare them off each shot. Good luck with it though and you'll have to let us see any good pics? Chris On Wed, 1 Dec 2004, Pat Curran wrote: I plan an attempt at bird table photography during the holidays using one of my Super A bodies / Motor Drive A and a 15mm f3.5 A lens. The plan is to bait a pre-focused area for song birds and then fire the tripod mounted Super A via a newly acquired infrared trigger from the comfort of the kitchen window. Anyone any experience of this type of bird photography? My other lenses are a 50mm f1.4 A and a 200mm f4 A. (- also ordered a used 28mm f2.8 A from KEH tonight so I will have a choice of four lenses - ) Any suggestions on the best lens to use on this project or other tips would be very much appreciated. Thanks, Pat
Re: Christmas Project
Hi Fra, Oh, you are quite adventurous. Aren't you afraid of them - ehm - marking your 15mm as birds usually do? Yes, this is a danger, but I do intend to use a protective housing for the camera with a glass panel to protect the lens and some sort of heating system to help preserve batteries. Good luck with it. You might try to build a soundproof box for it. Something like what is used on movie locations for stills and can completely silence even the LX's motordrive blazing at full 5 fps I am not too concerned about the noise - I only intend to shoot for short periods in frost conditions when the birds are hungry. I am not necessarily looking for the 'bird guide' type of picture, more like the second or third frame of the Motor Drive A's 3.5 fps burst and perhaps catch a whirl of wings as the birds take flight after the first frame is fired. If the birds are hungry enough they will soon return to the feeder. Pat
Christmas Project
I plan an attempt at bird table photography during the holidays using one of my Super A bodies / Motor Drive A and a 15mm f3.5 A lens. The plan is to bait a pre-focused area for song birds and then fire the tripod mounted Super A via a newly acquired infrared trigger from the comfort of the kitchen window. Anyone any experience of this type of bird photography? My other lenses are a 50mm f1.4 A and a 200mm f4 A. (- also ordered a used 28mm f2.8 A from KEH tonight so I will have a choice of four lenses - ) Any suggestions on the best lens to use on this project or other tips would be very much appreciated. Thanks, Pat
Rating for 135 F2.8 SMC A
Has anyone experience of the 135 f2.8 A lens? How would users rate it for portrait and landscape work? I have an offer of a used version of this lens and was wondering how other users would rate it. Thanks, Pat
Thanks Guys (135/2.8 A Rating)
Thanks to all who responded to my request for a rating of the above lens. Looks like it's one to avoid; pity as KEH have one rated 'bargain' ($94.00) at the moment. It looks like the SMC 'M' lenses very often out do their newer 'A' stable mates from what I can see reading PDML posts. I have two reasons for hunting out used 'A' lenses over the older 'M's. 1) My 35mm system is built around two Super A bodies. 2) When I upgrade to the * ist D next year, I want to carry over as much compatibility as possible with my lenses. Regards Thanks, Pat
Re: Thanks Guys (135/2.8 A Rating)
Thanks Fred, I wonder if sometimes I am too attached to Pentax glass - after all there are lots of other good independent lenses out there from the likes of Tamron, Sigma and others. I remember paying horrendous money for a Pentax aluminium trunk case in the mid 80's just because it had the Pentax badge - I was young and single then ;) - now I see independent aluminium cases for a fraction of the price I paid. Still, I have at least let go of my blinkered view on buying only NEW Pentax gear - but a lot of therapy still to go before I put non Pentax glass on the Super As ;) Pat - Original Message - From: Fred [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Pat Curran [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, November 28, 2004 8:35 PM Subject: Re: Thanks Guys (135/2.8 A Rating) It looks like the SMC 'M' lenses very often out do their newer 'A' stable mates from what I can see reading PDML posts. In my opinion, I do not think that this is usually the case, Pat. In many cases, the M and A lenses are optically virtually identical. Sometimes there may be mere subtle optical differences between them. Sometimes the A lenses may show distinct optical improvements (but not really all that often). The A 135/2.8 you asked about is certainly one glaring exception, and I don't think your statement quoted above is true. I have two reasons for hunting out used 'A' lenses over the older 'M's. 1) My 35mm system is built around two Super A bodies. 2) When I upgrade to the * ist D next year, I want to carry over as much compatibility as possible with my lenses. These are two good reasons for choosing A lenses, where possible, Pat. But, don't overlook good older lenses, which can be employed in useful fashion on your Super A's and on the *ist D (and DS). Fred
Thanks for the Help
Hi List, I am having mail server problems over the weekend so have not been able to log onto the list. I am just sending this short thank you to anyone who may have replied to my query on Pentax cords - hopefully, I will get to read your replies soon. I also want to thank Bob Sullivan who replied off list to confirm the cord I seek is the Pentax Infrared Remote Release Cord 5P. Regards, Pat
Pentax Cord Identity Crisis
Hi List, I wonder if anyone can help me with an identity crisis I have with Pentax cords. I have just received a used Pentax Remote Control System from KEH.com which I wish to use on my Super A + Motor Drive A. I also ordered what they described as: INFRARED REMOTE RELEASE POWER CORD 4P (MOTOR A) Having examined the cord, it looks like it's designed to fire a flash unit not the Motor Drive A and looks identical to the cord shown on Bojidar Dimitrov's site at http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/flashes/cords/sync_4PC.jpg. Bojidar suggested posting the query on the List as he is unable confirm the correct cord needed. I downloaded the manual for the Pentax Remote Control System last night and on page 11 of the pdf file if I read it correctly, the cord I need to fire the Motor Drive A is: Infrared Remote Release Power Cord 5p I would be very grateful if anyone on the List can confirm this is the correct cord for the above configuration and, if so, can you let me know where I might purchase either a new or used version of it. Thanks for your time, Pat Curran
Re: 426 Posts in 24 Hours
Thanks for the input Frank, I need to set up some message rules in OE to control the flow. Regards, Pat - Original Message - From: frank theriault [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 12:12 AM Subject: Re: 426 Posts in 24 Hours On Wed, 8 Sep 2004 23:19:55 +0100, Pat Curran [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Guys, Is it possible that there are 426 posts to this list in 24 hours or am I getting duplicates? In any event, I just do not have the time to go through that many emails. The result is I delete the majority without reading them - is there any way to avoid missing the posts which might have useful info in them? Would it be viable to sub divide PDML into different rooms or perhaps thread levels where the primary thread could be delivered into a top level folder with replies directed into sub-folders? 426 in a 24 hour period? That's not far off usual. As far as threading goes, I think it's best left up to your own e-mail service to do that. As Rob already said, you should be able to siphon off a bunch by filtering PAW, PESO, OT and the like into a separate folder - that should lower the count by a bit. Failing that, you could go digest, but then you lose the immediacy of the pdml experience. vbg cheers, frank -- It's about time we started to take photography seriously and treat it as a hobby. -Eliott Erwitt
426 Posts in 24 Hours
Hi Guys, Is it possible that there are 426 posts to this list in 24 hours or am I getting duplicates? In any event, I just do not have the time to go through that many emails. The result is I delete the majority without reading them - is there any way to avoid missing the posts which might have useful info in them? Would it be viable to sub divide PDML into different rooms or perhaps thread levels where the primary thread could be delivered into a top level folder with replies directed into sub-folders? Regards, Pat
Re: My Dog's Alive
OK, OK, Back by popular demand - These were not shot on Pentax gear! http://www.iol.ie/~pkcurran/Pippi/Pippi.htm Pat - Original Message - From: William Robb [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 6:59 PM Subject: Re: My Dog's Alive - Original Message - From: wendy beard Subject: Re: My Dog's Alive THE PAGE CANNOT BE FOUND: 404 ERROR Has she run off? Bastard probably starved her to death. HAR!!! WW
Re: Future of Film
Does anyone on the list use the Minolta Dimage Scan Elite 5400? I am now very worried about this focusing problem, especially since I plan to submit some of my 35mm slides to picture libraries via CD. I am only getting to grips with film scanning so I cannot comment on the 5400's abilities or lack there of as yet. There are two film holders with this model - one for mounted slides and one for negative strips/APS - would better results be obtained by taking the slides out of their mounts and scanning them with the neg holder? Pat - Original Message - From: Shel Belinkoff [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 10:57 PM Subject: RE: Future of Film I've been using Nikon scanners for a couple of years now - the high end 4000 and the 8000, for a total of four different scanners, and I bought a 5000 recently. Because I was not very knowledgeable, I thought these were good scanners, and in many respects they are. Still, they have their faults, and one MAJOR fault is that they focus poorly if the film is not absolutely flat. They do not put any tension on the film. What they do is average the focus across the film and give you the best result possible, which often means that nothing is as sharp as it can be. If you choose to selectively focus, say on a central point in the image, the edges tend to go soft. If the edge is where you choose to focus, the middle and other edges go soft. And so on. So, for best results, make sure the film is FLAT! Place the negs between the pages of a heavy book for a few days, located in the same environment as the scanner (so that temp and humidity stabilize). Then scan. For 35mm scanners there's the FH-3 Film Strip Holder, which helps somewhat, but it is not a cure for the problem. The scanners are good enough for the web and some small prints, but not up to standards for high quality large prints. Shel From: Nick Clark [EMAIL PROTECTED] I'd avoid the Minolta Scan Dual II. Mine was a real dog, failing to line up consistently, twain driver never worked, etc. Nikon scanners are a far better bet, I've had the Coolscan II and now the LS4000. Friends have the Coolscan III and V and have had no problems.
Re: RE Books/Sites on 67II
Thanks William, I am learning from every reply - this list is one hell of a knowlege pool! Pat . Just curious about the type of photography 6x7 format people are into, especially landscape work and the ability of the format to sell pictures when compared with other medium formats. On page 36 of his book Professional Landscape and Environmental Photography, Mark Lucock refers to the 6x7 format as the 'golden format' because picture editors need to do almost no cropping. This one sentence has sold me on the 6x7 format, but I would like to get some more opinions on this, especially from 6x7 users. 6x7 negatives enlarge beautifully. The downside of the 6x7 format is that it is sometimes impossible to secure enough depth of field. The question I am getting at is: Given any one photographer's ability to use various medium formats to the best of her/his ability, will the 6x7 format sell more pictures? Tough question. I don't have an answer. William Robb
Re: RE Books/Sites on 67II
Paul Stenquist wrote: I'm very fond of the 6x7 format and love both the dimensions and the high resolutions. But, no, it won't sell more pictures. Thanks Paul - this is the type of info I'm after Regards, Pat
Books/Sites on 67II
Don't worry Pat, I thought it was really funny Thanks Cory :) While setting about selling some 35mm shots to picture libraries and waiting for some extra cash from the (I hope) sales, I would like to learn as much as possible about the 67II. Can anyone recommend useful books or sites on this camera - I know the 'brotherhood' exists as a subset of PDML and if any of you guys have work done with this camera on the web, can I have your site addresses? TIA, Pat
RE Books/Sites on 67II
Hi William, You wrote: Problem with that is the web destroys any quality difference between formats. I tried doing a comparison one day between 6x7 and 35mm, and the results on the web just didn't do justice to the huge difference in quality. OK, I accept the extra quality will not show on the web.- Just curious about the type of photography 6x7 format people are into, especially landscape work and the ability of the format to sell pictures when compared with other medium formats. On page 36 of his book Professional Landscape and Environmental Photography, Mark Lucock refers to the 6x7 format as the 'golden format' because picture editors need to do almost no cropping. This one sentence has sold me on the 6x7 format, but I would like to get some more opinions on this, especially from 6x7 users. The question I am getting at is: Given any one photographer's ability to use various medium formats to the best of her/his ability, will the 6x7 format sell more pictures? Being a Pentax fan, I am drawn to the 67II model but do not know a whole lot about it. This why I would like to get hold of some books and have a look at any recommended sites on: A) 6x7 photography in general and B) Pentax 6x7 model reviews/comments etc. Thanks Guys, Pat
Re: Books/Sites on 67II
Pix Wrote: At one time, I was determined to jump into this system, then I picked one up! :) Along the way, I picked up some links on the 67, some of which cover the 67II: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/pentax67ii.shtml http://medfmt.8k.com/mf/pentax67.html Thank you Pix - those are the type of links I need. Pat
Re: Wratten Filter Numbers
Woops ... looks like I may have come across a real repository of technical know how among some listies - I think I'll consult the dog just to confirm you know what the heck you are on about - You understand I have to get confirmation in cases like this ;) Pat On 28/8/04, Mark Roberts, discombobulated, unleashed: Does anyone know the wratten numbers of the following two Pentax filters: 'Cloudy' 'Morning Evening' No but I know the following: 'Too Shagged to Get Up for the Sunrise' - 69Y 'Pouring With Rain So I'm Staying Put' - 88C 'Lunchtime Mine's a Pint' - 6X (4X Aus) 'Afternoon Haze' - ZZZ 'Happy Hour Pink' - $1.00c 'Hello Love What's Your Name' - 36DDD 'Ambulance Blue/Red' - 911ER 'Hey, your web page is gone' - 404 'Color correction for eternal damnation' - 666 Sorry, I got the number wrong above, of course it should be: 'Pouring With Rain So I'm Staying Put' - H2O and don't forget: 'Red Mist' GT40 Cheers, Cotty ___/\__ || (O) | People, Places, Pastiche ||=|www.macads.co.uk/snaps _
Pentax Filters
Hi All, My dog and myself have been trawling the Net today trying to track down the wratten numbers for Pentax's 'Morning Evening' and 'Cloudy' filters. It turns out that the 'Cloudy' is in fact an 81A light balancing (as opposed to light conversion) filter which decreases the colour temperature slightly to give warmer tones. The 'Morning Evening' filter is said to be an 85A. The 85s are, however, colour conversion filters which lower the temperature in big chunks. I suspect this is an error as my 'Morning Evening' has a blue cast - I suspect it's the direct opposite to the 'Cloudy' (81A), which is the 82A. Strange that I found no reference to any of the other filters listed in the two helpful replies to my initial post on this subject - my dog told that these were cruel jokes played on me by some bad apples on PDML, but I stood up for you guys and tonight my dog went to bed with no dinner. So there, that will teach him to mistrust PDML posts. Pat
Scans from Minolta 5400
Hi Jens List, Pat, can you post samples from scans made with the Minolta Dimage Scan Elite 5400 I have two scans of the same slide at: http://www.iol.ie/~pkcurran/TestScans/ScanTest.htm I am not an expert scanner, so please do not judge the 5400 on these scans alone. At the moment I am trying to put 10 to 15 of my best 35mm slides onto CD to submit as a trial batch to the Alamy online picture library ( http://www.alamy.com/default2.asp ). My inspiration is Roger Antrobus's excellent book Photographs that Sell and Sell... - he maintains that the 35mm format can be sold to picture editors if ALL aspects of the submission (technical and creative) are A1 - that's my goal at present. If I can make some money from selling 35mm stock then I will have no problem convincing my wife Therese of the merits of purchasing the Pentax 6x7II system ;) Two points I would be grateful for help on: 1) Can anyone recommend a good book on getting the best from film scanners? 2) Are there any contributors to Alamy picture library on the list - if so can you let me have your opinion on them and any other libraries you deal with. My thanks to all who welcomed me onto the list. Have a good week. Pat
New Member
Hi All, I have just joined the list so this is my first post to let you know who I am. My name is Pat Curran and I hail from County Kilkenny in Ireland. My main interest lies in the area of landscape photography but will seek to take good pictures in all situations. Having recently changed careers from dairy farmer to civil servant, I am now getting back into photography after an absence of 20 years with the aid of weekends free, paid leave and flexi time :) This time round I want to make some money from the hobby and am actively looking at sending some work to picture libraries . To this end I have purchased a Minolta Dimage Scan Elite 5400 film scanner - sorry if this is OT. With future picture sales in mind, I am also looking at the 6x7 medium format. My equipment at present is 35mm - 2 Super A bodies, 15mm f3.5 SMC A, 50mm f1.4 SMC A, 200mm f4 A, Digital Spotmeter, Soligor 30DA flash and a S/H Motor Drive A (purchased on eBay last year). Can I ask the list what is the value of an 'Excellent' rated 28mm f2.8 A Series lens at present? - I bid US$130 on eBay yesterday and lost which was a stroke of luck as there are two on KEH today for US$84 and US$89. Sorry for going on - future posts will be shorter and ON TOPIC! Regards, Pat Curran
