Re: Question: Should I sell my MZ-S?
I did a model shoot last Saturday with my MZ-S and that camera is a real pleasure to use. It focussed perfectly in the dim studio, my D200-using buddy was impressed with the results, and the model was pleased with the 60 prints that I gave her (my cost $0.00, since the second set was free this week; it's usually $0.99 (hmm, these computer keyboards got no cents key)). I plan to use the MZ-S for a long time to come. Pat White
Re: Is this what I think it is?
Aaron wrote: Happens with mine all the time. Maybe you need a CLA. Thanks for the tip, Aaron! Now I can define the indefinable feeling that it wasn't working 100%. I'll book a CLA on Monday! Pat White
Re: Is this what I think it is?
SIGHT OF MIGHTY P67 CAUSES MODELS TO DOFF CLOTHES AND HUG NEAREST PERSON!!! Wait a minute, that doesn't happen with my 67! Is the power in the wooden grip? Pat White
Re: Sorta OT: Old bike racing photos (Daytona)
Thanks for the link to SuperbikePlanet, Mark. Some cool shots there! Now for the gee-it-was-tough-back-in-the-day part: Daytona is a 21-to-24-hour drive from Toronto, done non-stop if you have two drivers. Since there's a strong likelihood of mountain storms on I-95 in early March, you'd take I-75 all the way from Detroit, but you might have to drive through blizzards from Toronto until you were well south of the Motor City. After all that, it sure was pleasant to see palm trees and wear shorts, and maybe even have your streetbike to ride if you'd had room to bring it along. Pat White
Re: Sorta OT: Old bike racing photos (Daytona)
Never been to Daytona! What? You've still got time to make it down for the 200 on Sunday the 12th. Get packing! It's great fun, and sure makes a nice break from an eastern Canadian or northeastern US winter. Check http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/ and http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=1118 for the schedule. I photographed Eddie Lawson winning in 1986 on his FZ750 (that was magic for me), then after the race, I had to brake suddenly to let him run in front of my car as I was driving through the garage area. He didn't stop to chat, but I got to shake his hand and get an autograph on his photo in a copy of Motocourse when he appeared at the Toronto International Motorcycle Show in 2000 or so. Speed Week really is amazing. All sorts of oddball vehicles, and quite a few oddball people. Lots of racing, too. Even the dirt track racing at Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium is really exciting. You've gotta make the pilgrimage down there one of these years.
Sorta OT: Old bike racing photos (Daytona)
Thanks for those vintage photos, Mark! They really brought back some
memories. Do you recall the exact year they were taken? It looks like 1972
or 1973. Is it just me, or does Cal Rayborn look like George Thorogood? Is
that Paul Smart chatting up the girl on the pit wall?
In 1974 and 1975 I was at Daytona as a race mechanic (1974 for Frank Gamble
on TZ250 and 1975 for Ernie White's rider Brian Henderson on TZ250 and
TZ750). As well, I raced a TD-3 in Canada and at Nelson Ledges in '74 and
'75.
The RD and RZs came later ('82-'84), after a six-year layoff to build up my
income to where I could actually afford to race. My last race bike was the
FZ750 in 1985, and I still have it.
Do you have anymore vintage pix to show in this 2006 Daytona Speed Week?
Pat White
Re: Why is 35mm film sometimes called 135?
Graywolf mentioned: Come to think of it, still around when I was a kid: steam locamotives, Street cars, orange crates, Great Lakes freighters, local ammusment parks, flat-head engines, propeller airliners, etc. All those things were pretty much gone by 1960. And many of the things we take for granted now did not exist. And I am not even old, quite yet. Coming soon, to an energy-guzzling country near you: horse-drawn vehicles. Pat responds: Gone by 1960? You can still see some of those things in Toronto in 2006. Big freighters still ply the Great Lakes, docking often at TO (Toronto), propeller airliners (Bombardier Dash-7 and Dash-8 turboprops) take off and land every day at Toronto Island Airport, with passengers taking the 400-foot ferry ride from the foot of Bathurst Street (world's shortest ferry ride, I'm told), and last but not least, Toronto's streetcars are an integral part of the transit system. Toronto's not in a time warp. This is technology that still works effectively. Pat White
Re: Re: RE"CAPS"
Bill, people don't tell you what's wrong with you? Count yourself lucky! People are always telling me what they think is wrong with me! Pat White
Re: PESO: Another nude
Hmm, donut... When I'm working with models, I offer them soft drinks and leave out bowls of almonds, regular and chocolate covered. After all, they need energy to replace the heat lost while working nude. I rarely see the model snacking, but the chocolate-covered almonds seem to evaporate. Now I call them "model food". Pat White
RE: PESO: Another nude
Nice shot, William! I like the way the light wraps around her. Did you remind here to suck in her gut? That's always the last thing I say before pressing the shutter. Ignore that comment if you got just the pose you wanted. Pat White
Re: OT: Need to Vent
Jostein commented: "Next time I travel, I will try to wear my 500/4.5... :-)" When I travelled on charter flights with a 5 kg carry-on limit, I often wore some of my photo gear, since my loaded camera bag weighs over 7 kg, not counting film, plus I stick it in my carry-on bag, along with shaver and underwear. Accordingly, I wore the MZ-S on a strap around my neck, with 70-200 2.8 attached, put the flash in a pocket, perhaps a short lens in another pocket, and all the film in still another pocket. The big lens usually attracts some attention, so I've sometimes had to remove it so security can have a look through it. Naturally, it all goes back in the bag once I'm past security. The onboard staff sometimes ask why it's so heavy when they hoist it into the overhead bin, but I say nothing. The modern 11 kg limit is more sensible and much easier to deal with. As for checked luggage, the 20 kg charter limit can be a problem. One time I took "20 kg, 2 suitcases" to mean "2 suitcases, each weighing max 20 kg", not 20 kg total. Oops! When I stated that I needed both bags, I was asked what was in the second bag. I mentioned mask, fins, and snorkel, and was told, "Oh, sports gear, that's alright! The second bag is fine." After that, I'd throw in the snorkel gear so I could bring my lighting stands, reflectors, and extra clothes (I used to be ready for any model shooting opportunity). Now, with the 30 kg limit, life is much simpler. Pat White
Re: PESO: Sylvester at the Door
Nice shot, Frank! It has more of a mood than a typical kitty photo. I like it, and think it might work as a stock photo. Pat White
Re: pointless photo project, any suggestions?
Krisjanis, since it consists of pictures of the sky, it seems logical to display it overhead. Blow it up sufficiently large to cover the ceiling of a room, or possibly to cover the ceiling and the upper part of the walls. At that size,each frame would have recognizable detail, adding to the total effect. Pat White
Re: Photokina!
Frank wrote: "I'm getting happy. And younger. Go figure! " Ah, so you're the one! I read about you in "Now Wait For Last Year", by Philip K. Dick. Pat White
Re: PESO: "You give it a title..." :)
Perhaps serene was not the look the artist wanted. A serene look would have been a bit of a cliche. The look of exasperation (that's how it looks to me) adds an interesting incongruity. I like the beads trailing on the floor, too. For a title: "Am I missing my favourite TV show right now?" Pat White
RE: PESO -- Oh Deer
I've also found the 28-200 lacking, both in sharpness and speed, but it is very handy at parties, allowing you to zoom in to catch an expression, or zoom out for a group shot. For everyday use, I carry a 28-70 f4, and pop the FA20-35 f4 and the Sigma 70-200 2.8 EX in the knapsack if I'm expecting to see anything especially interesting. The 28-70 f4 doesn't come with a hood, but doesn't seem to need one, either, which makes it effectively more compact and quicker to use. Pat White
Re: I use film....
Then there's the philosophical objection: a negative is an image, a digital file is a description of an image. I'm still happily using my MZ-S. Pat White
Re: OT:ever been ripped off online
Thanks for that posting, Feroze! That's a wild story. I'm up to page 42 or so, and wondering how it will end. It seems to be on forums all over the world now, with people from Canada, Australia, and the UK logging in, all over a smartass 19-year-old who just won't get a clue. http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=399203 Pat
Re: My first PESO
Bob wrote: Anyway, it is sort of a tradition in painting and photography that artistic nudes not make eye contact with the camera. That used to be one of the factors separating art from porn: eye contact = porn, no eye contact = art. Another was, color = porn, B&W = art. Hopefully, things aren't that superficial anymore. Pat White
Re: My first PESO
Re your standing nude: a classic, timeless style. Very nice! As well, I agree about the American magazines being afraid to publish nudes these days. Hopefully the current nervous climate won't last forever. Pat White
Re: where am i?
Let's see, could you be at the Castle Aarghh, as referred to in Monty Python and the Holy Grail? Pat White
Re: Another Question on Big Bertha
Gold and Goose, the famous British motorcycle racing photographers, use a fanny pack to support the bottom of the monopod, in order to be able to pan to follow the action. Manfrotto even makes a special waist pouch for the purpose, similar to what a flag-bearer in a parade might use. You can see a sample of Gold and Goose's work at: http://www.cyclenews.com/ShowStory.asp?HeadlineID=5826 Unfortunately, their website at http://www.gngpix.com/home.asp is "designed as a delivery tool for the media. Access will not be granted to the general public.", meaning there's no photos to see there. Pat White
Re: Annoying print layout
While we're on the topic, does anyone know how to print from IE without losing the right side of the text? Most times when I print something, the right-hand margin and four or five characters are off the edge of the paper. Sounds like a beginner's issue, but I've yet to hear the solution. Pat White
Re: OT Survey - Computer Desk-top Size
Dell 19-inch CRT (18-inch viewable) at 1024x768, plus old 14-inch CRT (13-inch viewable) at 800x600, both uncalibrated (I know, I'm a slacker). Pat White
Re: OT-- Paranoia
I agree with Paul. Cork gaskets are always shrinking a bit. Anytime I checked my rocker cover bolts or oil pan bolts, most of the bolts (or screws, to be more precise) could take a turn or two of tightening. Pat White
Re: Got my *ist D this morning
Frank wrote: But, I'll be fine going up and down the mountains. Are they bigger out there than in Ontario? Parts of Dufferin Street in TO are as hilly as anything in Victoria. The Rockies, on the other hand... Pat White
Re: Got my *ist D this morning
TOPDML, one of the few things I miss about Toronto... Pat White
Re: OT: Another quiz!
Jon said: "Looks like I'm Apollo." You can't be Apollo! I'm Apollo! Pat White
Re: PESO - Deep Blue Something
Very nice shot, Boris! I like the composition, and the frame works well, too. I've seen quite a few shots in magazines by photographic artists that were similar in concept but not as good as yours. Pat White
Re: How do you mount a reversed 50?
The reverse adapter has a K-mount on one side, and a filter thread on the other side, so you can attach the adapter to the front of the lens, and then carefully attach the lens and adapter to the camera. Lens settings are completely manual, since the lens mount is not connected to the camera, although you can use aperture priority if you like. Normal TTL metering will work. It's an inexpensive way to get high magnification, and you can use a few different lenses. The adapters come in 49mm size as well as 52mm. With this type of setup, there's no focusing. You move the camera back and forth until the subject is in focus. You can get slightly different magnification depending on whether the lens is set at minimum focus or at infinity. You can get more magnification by adding a filter (UV or Skylight, for example) between the lens and the adapter. The 50mm lens will enable full-frame photos of quite small objects, and a 28mm lens will enable full-frame photos of really small objects. By "quite small" and "really small" I'm referring to stamp- and coin-sized objects. One cool thing about it is that you can leave the adapter in your camera bag for unexpected macrophoto opportunities. "What kind of bug is that?" "Just a minute, I'll pop on my reverse adapter and take a picture of it!" Pat White
OT: Binary watch
Here's something for digit-heads to amuse and confuse your friends, as well as yourselves. http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/WATBIN.htm Pat White
Concert lens length restriction
Last night I went to see David Usher and his band, outdoors at Centennial Square, beside City Hall in downtown Victoria, BC, Canada. As I approached the gate, I was asked to open my knapsack, which revealed a small zoom bag and a larger lens case. The security guard wanted to see inside the zoom bag, and, on seeing the MZ-S with 28-70 f4, went, "Hmm, looks like pro gear, what's in the big case?" I replied, "A lens.", to which she replied, "You can't use that; no zooms, four-inch limit on lenses. Four inches, got that?" "Fine.", I replied, thinking it would be dark soon, and the black camera and black Sigma 70-200 f2.8 would be less noticeable then. However, about a third of the way into the show, David Usher, appearing to respond to a fan standing in front of the stage, said "Photos? Sure, it's okay with me, it's okay with the band. Flash? Well, okay, but if we make any mistakes because of a flash, it's your fault.", he said, pointing at the fan in a friendly way. Then he said, apparently for the benefit of the security, "It's alright, let 'em take pictures, we don't mind." I happily shot a number of photos (no costume changes and not many lighting changes) and enjoyed the music. The weather was great, around 20C with clear skies, and the band hung around for autographs after the show. Has anyone else heard of a 4-inch limit on length of lenses at a concert? It was a first for me. Pat White
Re: 36mm x 36mm sensor?
What, doesn't everybody want 8x12 or 13.5x20 enlargements? I used to pay extra for them (got some on the wall, looking good), but now I just shoot with extra room for cropping. Much simpler for frames and mats. Pat White
Re: Feedback on FA 28-70 F4.0 AL
I have a couple of these lenses. I bought the first one second-hand, for use with studio flash, since it has a constant aperture, making exposures very straightforward. It soon became my daily lens (in preference to the 28-200 f3.8-5.6), so I bought a second one, new this time, to be sure I'd always have one, since the used one was a "high-miler" and the focussing ring was a little loose. The picture quality is pretty good (better than the 28-200), and so is the flare resistance, especially considering that it comes without a lenshood. There is some barrel distortion, noticeably more than with the 20-35 f4, but then it's less than half the price of the 20-35. Mechanically, the new one works perfectly, and the used one has been fine ever since the diaphragm was adjusted at Pentax Canada over four years ago. It may seem unimportant to many, but the constant aperture feature matters to me. I really don't like it when a lens gets darker as you zoom, and when you know the shutter speed will drop if you zoom in. Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I always associated variable-aperture lenses with low-cost varifocal lenses that shifted focus as you zoom. Pat White
Re: Strange lens: Miranda AF(!) for MF cameras
Miranda was a Japanese camera brand that was popular in the 60s and early 70s, but is now out of production. As explained in the ad, this is a Cosina lens with the Miranda name on it, but appears to have no connection with the old Miranda brand, in a way similar to the Voightlander-branded Cosina cameras that have no connection to the old Voightlander brand. As for the AF feature, it sounds useful and very unusual. I've never heard of any lens with a complete built-in autofocus system that works with almost any manual camera it can be mounted on. Has anyone heard of another lens with a similar set-up? Pat White
Re: OT: Some Good Gnus
That's good gnus, Frank! Congrats! Riding when you want to is better than riding when you have to, and safer, too. Pat White
Re: PESO: IoM 2005 TT photo from Parliament Square
Good shot! That's one of the most-determined looking riders I've ever seen. Pat White
Re: Pentax 6x7 eyeglass saver
You can buy an actual Pentax eyecup for the 6x7. It's only $5.99Cdn, and is retained by the metal eyepiece ring. The eyecup is a big rubber item that looks the right size for the 6x7. It protects eyeglasses just fine, but you have to be careful when closing the camera back, as the big round eyecup can easily get caught by the back. Pat White
Re: Final Superbike racing selection
Hi, Mark, did you catch the three Hayden brothers on Jay Leno the other night? Jay showed some trackside video to warm up the audience, then brought out the three bros, all wearing jeans and sports jackets. They seemed to come across well, reasonably articulate and very happy to be racing for a living. I think it was great promo for roadracing (circuit racing to you European types). Pat White
Re: PAW: Dinner with the Family, or: I'm So Booooooooored!
Nice work, Frank! It has a certain Weegee look to it. Also, it's easy to relate to the "dinner with family" feeling. Pat White
Re: what's so special about the pancake?
Well, it's a general-purpose focal length, with a usably bright f-stop, but mainly it makes it easier to slip an SLR into a pocket, for everyday convenience. Pat White
Re: Some Mid-Ohio racing shots on line
Hi, Mark, did you catch Rossi running away from everybody in the rain at Donington yesterday? Sixth win in eight races this year, along with one second and one third. The Doctor really is the master! Also, one of the commentators mentioned that Valentino said (last year, I think) that Sete Gibernau would never win a race again. Since then, Sete has crashed twice while leading, and has not won a race. Odd... Pat White
Re: Some Mid-Ohio racing shots on line
Nice shots, Mark! Pat White
Re: Your Favorite Pentax Camera
Hello, Bruce, you're right, the question was about your favorite. Well, the MZ-S is definitely my favorite. It goes almost everywhere with me, and it's a pleasure to hold and just look at. As a "form follows function" sort of person, the most useful, most effective, most ergonomic, and just plain pleasant to use is my favorite camera. Any emotional attachment comes after that. Pat White
Re: Your Favorite Pentax Camera
Shel wrote: < With a decent lens and a properly functioning camera body, would you expect the results to be any different than with a new Captain Whiz-Bang camera? All the bells and whistles in the world don't change a thing wrt the light hitting the film. > Well, yes and no. I replaced my cherished MX with an MZ-5 because I'd sometimes miss shots when I didn't focus or set the exposure quickly enough. The MZ-5n, with its exposure lock and DOF preview, was easier to use, so I traded in the MZ-5 after only 3 months with it. As for the MZ-S, the better metering, better autofocus, greater range of shutter speeds, as well as half-speeds, and the ability to use remote control allow me to get shots that would be difficult or impossible with the other cameras. In certain circumstances, such as consistent outdoor lighting, patient subjects, sufficiently bright lighting, the availability of an assistant (instead of a remote release), for example, any quality camera will enable you to make a good picture. However, there are many times when some of the "convenience" features become necessities. With Pentaxes, generally speaking, the features are useful, and not just frills. Pat White
Re: OT: another survey
Well, although I only drive about 6000km/3700mi a year, and wheel or walk almost everywhere, my bachelor "cooking" habits (all microwavable, isn't that better than using a big stove?) and penthouse/studio stamp me as a Big Consumer. Maybe I should buy a smaller apartment and get an SUV. I couldn't keep up the payments on 5.7 planets. CATEGORY GLOBAL HECTARES FOOD 3.3 MOBILITY 0.6 SHELTER 3.3 GOODS/SERVICES 3 TOTAL FOOTPRINT 10.2 IN COMPARISON, THE AVERAGE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT IN YOUR COUNTRY IS 8.8 GLOBAL HECTARES PER PERSON. IF EVERYONE LIVED LIKE YOU, WE WOULD NEED 5.7 PLANETS. Pat White
Re: Your Favorite Pentax Camera
Steve Desjardins wrote: < I notice very few are mentioning the newer film cameras like the MZ-S. The old Pentaxes were compact, sturdy and easy to use, assuming, of course, that you are a skilled photographer. > I would point out that the MZ-S is also compact, sturdy, and easy to use, although, as Kostas pointed out, its justifiably high price made it unlikely to ever sell as well as the MX (also a favorite) or the Spotmatic. Pat White
Re: Your Favorite Pentax Camera
Gotta be the MZ-S! It feels good, looks good, and takes great pictures. Although some have mocked the sound of the shutter, to me it has a high-precision sound. Also really like the data imprinting (280 rolls through the camera so far). Pat White
Re: WAAAAAAAY OT: Wu-Tang Name
Works for me! I'm Lucky Bandit. Pat White
Re: OT: Publication!
Good job, Frank! Hope the recognition brings you more assignments. CD covers are a great way for lots of people to see your work. The cover photos (2 b&w portraits) for Peter Gabriel's Shaking the Tree CD were shot by Robert Mapplethorpe, so you're in respected (if unusual) company. Pat White
Re: MZ/ZX bodies built-in flash refuse to pop-up?
Nice machining, Alan! Pity Pentax didn't make it like that... Pat White
Re: How performs Pentax fisheye zoom 17-28 on *ist DS?
Dave S asked: Is that the super hero cape or the nurses uniform cape? Pat responds: You have super-nurses? Send me one!!! (Never seen a nurse in a cape.) Pat White
Re: Union Pacific Big Boy on the Move
Frank wrote: I remember now, you used to work for the railway, didn't you? I guess you'd know this stuff then... That's right, I worked on CN and GO Transit locomotives for twelve years and a day (really), before I escaped to work at Ontario Hydro. Finally, day shift with weekends off! I used to bring my MX and tripod to the diesel shop sometimes. Wish I had somewhere to post the pix. Pat White
Re: Union Pacific Big Boy on the Move
That's one big locomotive! And heavy, too, at 1.2 million lbs. The heaviest Diesel locomotive I'm familiar with is the GM SD-40, which weighs 389,000 lbs when equipped with a V-16 General Motors 645E3 engine (645 cubic inches per cylinder, for a total of 10,320 cubic inches, or around 169 liters, producing 3000hp at 990rpm). It was also available with a V-20 engine, but there may be larger, heavier Diesels available now. All the same, it looks like they'd be dwarfed by the Big Boy. Pat White
Re: PESO: Candles in the studio
Nice shots, but something's missing. Oh yeah, the attractive model... Pat White
Re: PESO: The splendour and the misery of Berlin
For me, the placement of the people at the right part of the frame is correct; they appear to feel pity and revulsion for the old woman and are trying to pass as far away as possible, almost moving out of the picture, although their shadows will pass over her, which is all the interaction they're comfortable with. It would look tidier if they were completely within the frame, but it would lose the effective visual and emotional tension that appears to me. A good shot. Pat White
Re: OT: Perhaps There Is A God After All
Good news, Frank! Glad to hear you were able to get things sorted out. A friend from Quebec had planned to visit me this summer with his girlfriend, until the Jetsgo fiasco. He'd booked tickets a month ago, but when he contacted Visa, he was told that only gold and platinum card holders could get refunds. When he called the consumer protection agency, he was told, "Tant pis pour vous!", roughly, "Too bad for you!" I'm hoping he'll get it straightened out somehow, after all it's been less than a week since Jetsgo went under. Pat White
Re: PESO: Djupvasshytta
The item in the bottom center of the picture looks sort of like an inukshuk, a stone effigy of a person, used as a marker, among other things, by the Inuit of the Canadian North. Are they used in Norway, too? See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inukshuk Pat White
Re: OT: Swimming pools,Movie stars
Dave wrote: Oh well.Might be nice to sit back and enjoy a show for a change.LOL Good attitude. Seeing an event through the viewfinder often isn't as much fun as just seeing it. Pat White
Re: PAW - Old Jail
Interesting picture, Albano. It could serve well as a picture of the Ministry of Love, in the novel 1984. Sombre, creepy, and modern, all at once. Pat White
Re: Talking about frail old ladies
My friend has used his Nikon D100 several times with my Pentax 2P hotshoe adapter to trigger my Courtenay studio flashes with no problems. Of course, I have to turn the room lights on so it can see to focus, unlike the MZ-S, which does fine with the modeling lights. Pat White
Re: OT: Car Enabled
Frank pointed out: No, no, no, Pat, You mean, "Heavy duty cop engine, heavy cop frame, cop brakes, cop oil cooler, cop sway bars, cop shocks..." -Joliet Jake That's right, Frank, you know what I'm talking about! My previous one, an Impala, was even black and white for the first six months or so. Pat White
Re: OT: Car Enabled
I miss my ex-police Caprice... 5.7 liter, heavier-guage frame, bigger brakes, engine oil cooler, big sway bars front and rear. A hard car to break, and easily good for 350,000km (but you must replace the tranny after 150,000km of police service). Pat White
Re: Help dating a photo
The lady in the photo appears to be wearing pants, or possibly a hobble skirt. Pants on a woman would have been very unusual in 1920. Also, the lady's pose seems odd for the 1920s. The man's tie may be a straight, narrow, hand-knitted one. Does this help? Pat White
Re: Comments on SMCP 45-125/4??
It's old, heavy, bulky, and has a fair bit of pincushion distortion at the long end. Other than that, it's not bad. I used one for years on my MX, and found it to be a handy zoom range. If its range suits your purposes, and you can get a good deal, check it out. Pat White
Re: The official PDMLer Christmas shopping list
William wrote: Oh Man. What is with the friggin tattoos all of a sudden? It seems to be trendy with young women. To me, it's just a case of messing up an attractive body, but I can hardly find a model who hasn't "decorated" herself. I really am wishing for a model with no tattoos, I've got all the Pentax gear I need. Pat White
Re: The official PDMLer Christmas shopping list
A model with no tattoos! Pat White
Re: Does Pentax Canada Exist?
Yes, they do, at 3131 Universal Drive, in Mississauga. Did you call them at 905-625-4930? I've been there quite a few times (until 2002, anyway. I don't live in Ontario anymore) and always received prompt and friendly service. Hope your problem gets sorted out soon. The lens is old, but if they're no longer servicing it, they should tell you. Pat White
Re: MZ-S (a new beginning)
In case my posts in the previous thread got lost, here they are again: Go for it! The MZ-S is a great camera, and even better with the BG-10 grip. Not so sure about the 360 flash, since the head doesn't swivel. I've been using a Metz 40MZ-3 flash with my MZ-S, with good success. The MZ-S focuses well in dim light, better than the D100 or S1 Pro. As for noise, it's louder than a practically silent EOS-1V when focusing, but also much less expensive. I don't find it too loud, and the focusing is accurate. It's easy to switch it from automatically choosing a focus point to using a preset focus point. The AF certainly seems accurate enough. Lens-wise, I've been using almost all F or FA lenses, with the exception of an old 500f8 mirror lens, and the in-focus indicator is handy with that one. My everyday and short studio lens is the 28-70f4, and it's a handy combination with the MZ-S. The 28-70f2.8 is quite a bit bulkier, but should work well with it. As for William's "film is dead" comment, I can't agree. Film and digital have two different looks, and I prefer the look of film. Digital appears sharp, but has soft detail. Film appears soft, but has clear detail. Neither is perfect, nor is anything else in this world. Hope this is helpful. Part II: Joe Tainter commented: The default autofocus mode is multi-point, and it is a contortion to switch it to anything else (like central point, like any knowledgeable photographer would use). On the D and DS, central point can be set to be the default. This is not exactly correct. The focus point mode switch, on the right side of the lens mount, has 3 positions: Select, Lock, and Auto. There is no default. Admittedly, selecting the focus point can be fiddly, but switching from Auto to Lock (to use your favorite focus point only (Joe's is the central one, mine is the second from the right, since it usually lines up nicely with the model's eye)) is simple, for those situations when you prefer a fixed focus point. The AF point mode switch can be left in the Lock position all the time, if that's preferred. Hope this helps. Part III: As for the drive speed, the spec says 2.5fps, and it seems adequate for most kinds of shooting, other than burning through film at sports events. Pat White
Re: MZ-S
Joe Tainter commented: The default autofocus mode is multi-point, and it is a contortion to switch it to anything else (like central point, like any knowledgeable photographer would use). On the D and DS, central point can be set to be the default. This is not exactly correct. The focus point mode switch, on the right side of the lens mount, has 3 positions: Select, Lock, and Auto. There is no default. Admittedly, selecting the focus point can be fiddly, but switching from Auto to Lock (to use your favorite focus point only (Joe's is the central one, mine is the second from the right, since it usually lines up nicely with the model's eye)) is simple, for those situations when you prefer a fixed focus point. The AF point mode switch can be left in the Lock position all the time, if that's preferred. Hope this helps. Pat White
Re: MZ-S
Go for it! The MZ-S is a great camera, and even better with the BG-10 grip. Not so sure about the 360 flash, since the head doesn't swivel. I've been using a Metz 40MZ-3 flash with my MZ-S, with good success. The MZ-S focuses well in dim light, better than the D100 or S1 Pro. As for noise, it's louder than a practically silent EOS-1V when focusing, but also much less expensive. I don't find it too loud, and the focusing is accurate. It's easy to switch it from automatically choosing a focus point to using a preset focus point. The AF certainly seems accurate enough. Lens-wise, I've been using almost all F or FA lenses, with the exception of an old 500f8 mirror lens, and the in-focus indicator is handy with that one. My everyday and short studio lens is the 28-70f4, and it's a handy combination with the MZ-S. The 28-70f2.8 is quite a bit bulkier, but should work well with it. As for William's "film is dead" comment, I can't agree. Film and digital have two different looks, and I prefer the look of film. Digital appears sharp, but has soft detail. Film appears soft, but has clear detail. Neither is perfect, nor is anything else in this world. Hope this is helpful. Pat White
Re: MZ-S - new to me
Congratulations on your choice of the Pentax MZ-S! It's a very enjoyable camera to use, with a high-quality feel to it. If you get the BG-10 grip, it's even better. The infra-red remote is handier than you might think, enabling self-portraits from as far away as 15-20 feet, and a good substitute for a cable release. You're right about the minimal vibration. I've been able to get sharp pictures, hand-held, at surprisingly slow speeds. The data imprinting feature is really appreciated, especially when doing a series of test shots. As for the film counter, I'm happy to say I just shot roll 253, and the camera works as well as the day I bought it. At 27 rolls, yours is nearly new. Happy shooting! Pat White
Re: Really OT: More on spy/adware problems
While on the topic of malware, I should mention a file that caused me a lots of aggravation and wasted time: something called noupdate.exe. It prevented Norton and Windows from doing any updates, and would stop Norton scans as soon as they started. I'm really glad I was able to get rid of it. Pat White
Re: Really OT: More on spy/adware problems
Dave, you're lucky you have XP. I run XP, Norton Antivirus, and I'm connected to the Net through a DSL router. Even so, my computer was attacked in July. 58 files came through in 2 minutes, many of them multiple copies of viruses and worms. My address book was blank, IE Favorites nearly all disappeared, and the hundreds of messages in my Inbox and Sent Items were gone. Ad-Aware was able to get rid of the worms and viruses, but it took System Restore to bring back my missing info. It made my day to see it all restored. The next day, another attack put 21 files on my hard drive. Norton AV got rid of most of them, but couldn't delete 8 of them. When I installed Ad-Aware SE a couple of weeks ago, I was finally able to get rid of them. Last week, after seeing postings about Spybot S&D on the pdml, I installed that. It found and eliminated a few more problems that Ad-Aware and Norton Antivirus had been unable to see. For the first time in months, I think my machine is clear of unwanted files. As for pop-ups, XP Service Pack 2 (installed a month ago) seems to keep nearly all of them out. Try System Restore and go from there. Good luck, Dave! Pat White
Re: they must not have built very many
I just checked the Pentax Canada website and was boggled to find the MZ-S and MZ-5n on the list of discontinued products! That has to be one of the shortest production runs for a top-line Pentax slr. Sad news. Pat White
RE: PAW: Clear at the Can
Frank's bike don't need no steenkeeng brakes! Looks like it's got none. Nice bike, I bet it's very light. Pat White
OT - for catlovers &/or Led Zep fans
Excellent! Finally I see the song's true meaning.Thanks. Pat White
Re: greetings
I don't speak or read Czech, but I'm guessing the last part of Frantisek's posting is something to the effect of "political discussions are nasty and not needed". Sounds about right. Anyway, welcome to the list, Michal. Take pictures of everything. When you find the subject you love, the one that inspires you, you'll start to make your best pictures. Pat White
Naked in the House
Was Dave Brooks the only one besides me who saw the item about the Naked in the House competition? 12 photographers, each with only one camera, one lens, one roll of film, and only 30 minutes with the model to produce a winning photo. More info at: http://www.pulse24.com/Showbiz/Top_Story/20041022-002/page.asp Warning: heavy pixellation of naughty bits! Also see: http://www.nakedinthehouse.com/ Warning: Some actual female nudity. You've been warned. Pat White
Re: OT:Longest Hair, late entry
Thanks, Ann. I finally got tired of grooming it and cut my hair short in 1982, after I'd been shooting with my MX for 2 years (Pentax content). Pat White
Re: OT:Longest Hair, late entry
Thanks for posting the pictures, Dario! Now I'm wondering, what did you look like in the 70s? Pat White
Medium Format still Rules! Update
Just checked the Web, and there were 12 photogs in the Naked in the House event. Rules are one camera, one lens, one roll of film, and 30 minutes with the model. More info at: http://www.pulse24.com/Showbiz/Top_Story/20041022-002/page.asp Warning: heavy pixellation of naughty bits! Also see: http://www.nakedinthehouse.com/ Warning: Some actual female nudity. You've been warned. Pat White
Medium Format still rules! (in some circles)
Last week I was watching Fashion Television (they often do segments on fashion and art photographers), and saw a bit on the 4th annual Naked in the House competition. It's a location shoot, with only 10 photographers entered (most, if not all, are pros), with a large entry fee. They get to see pictures of the location before the shoot, but not the actual site. They're restricted to one camera and one lens, and have only 30 minutes with the model to produce a winning nude photo. Previous locations have been Victorian mansions in Toronto, but this year's event was held at a waterfront estate somewhere north of Toronto. A couple of months later, the top photos (16x20 B&W) are shown at a gala evening and sold. To get to the point, _all_ the photographers used medium format cameras, mostly 6x7s, although one used a Hasselblad. Not a digital in sight. Pat White
Re: OT:Longest Hair, late entry
So, Paul, looks like you were/are a Twisted Sister fan. Back in the late 70s, my hair reached down to about six inches above my belt. If I was driving in short sleeves and got chilly, I could cover my elbows. I'd post a picture, but I've got no website. Pat White
Re: The Pentax lens you can't afford!
Don't know about Pentax telescopes, but Pentax telescope eyepieces are considered among the best you can buy. They're SMC coated and cost around $350usd apiece. Pat White
Re: One Last Film Body Survey
Sylwester wrote: For me it would be just enough to tweak MZ-S with rubber enviromental seals, bigger viewfinder (95%, 0.9x) and metal back... That would make a great camera even better. Then Jack wrote: Please, also, add motor drive (4fps OK), well dampened shutter, auto bracketing and infrared activated self timer, usable from either the front or back of the camera. The MZ-S already has three of those four things. Twenty-five years ago, the LX was a great camera, but better cameras have been made since then. Would you want a brand-new 1980 Mercedes or Corvette (never mind the collector value)? Pat White
Re: MZ-S discontinued?
No more top-of-the-line film cameras? How about the new N***n F6? Also, I believe C***n's still happily producing the EOS-1V. Pat White
Re: OT: Happy Canadian Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving, Frank! I thought I'd be spending the day alone, but got a last-minute call to use my van to move an electric organ, and dinner was thrown in. After a great early dinner, I noticed the house had great views, so I took a few pictures. Then, as I was leaving, there were three deer in the driveway, having their dinner of barley that the host had put out for them. Yeah, we have suburban deer here! Took some more pictures, of course. Pat White
Re: Hockey World Cup
Don't be too sad, Henri. The Finns played a great game. Ruutu was poetry in motion. It was one of the best hockey games I've ever seen, with both teams trying hard, no fighting (call me a wuss, I don't care), and only 2 penalties. Your team proved it belonged ahead of all the other contenders, except Canada, of course. Pat White
Hockey World Cup
CANADA WINS!!! Pat White
Re: The Knarf look ;-)
Frank, your work has a "look"! Congrats! Pat White
Re: 426 Posts in 24 Hours
Pat, there's a nomail option. Then you don't get any messages, you just look at the list, read what you want, and respond when something interests you. The downside is that you only see the archive, which sometimes takes hours, or even longer, to update, meaning your comments may appear late in any discussion. Pat White
Re: Tan's new assets...
Glad to hear your procedure went well, and thanks for sharing your photos. You seem to have chosen a very appropriate size for your frame. I hope everything heals perfectly. Also, I respect your courage/forthrightness. Pat White
*istD: to wait or not to wait that is the question
My two cents worth? Go for it! You'll have peace of mind on your assignment, and the second body will have a chance to earn some money for you, probably more than compensating for any "maybe, perhaps" discount months from now. Pat White
Re: The meaning of letters in lens names?
When the M lenses were introduced, the "M" represented "miniature", since they were more compact than the K bayonet-mount lenses, and intended to be a more suitable match for the new MX and ME cameras, which were smaller than the "K" cameras. Pat White
Re: 50th Anniv Ltd Ed. *ist D pics
Well, that camera looks kinda cool! I wonder how many years Pentax has been in Canada, and will we ever see an *ist-D with a maple leaf on it? Pat White
Re: OT: Photographic double-entendre
Use it in a sentence: I Leica nipple, or even a pair, will someone jump in, and say "Don't you go there!"? Pat White
Re: advertising (was Seen on dpreview)
Bob said: you seem to have a bottomless well of complete bollocks to draw from, Collin! Beautifully and concisely stated, Bob! Pat White
Re: Books/Sites on 67II
To see examples of pictures shot with the P67, check out magazines like American Photo. This month's issue has a picture of Janet Jackson (one of the 4 covers, the one where she's reclining on a white sofa, it's also inside the magazine) shot with a 67. The camera is very popular with fashion shooters, along with the Mamiya RZ67. Bruce Weber uses 20 (!) P67s, 5 every day on a shoot. There was an article in the English magazine Practical Photography about his shoot for the Pirelli calendar last year. 6 days, 12,000 pictures, crew of 49. Pat White
Re: I enjoy film
Many folks seem to have had bad luck with their film processing. In over 25 years of shooting with an SLR (Pentax since 1980), I don't think I've had more than 1% of my pictures messed up by a lab. I've found labs that gave consistently bad results (greenish color cast at one, dust spots at another), so I stopped using those ones. For many years, I used Qalex for my everyday 4x6s, then last year I kept getting unuseably contrasty prints. Now I use London Drugs (only found in western Canada) for my everyday pix, and I'm fairly pleased nearly all the time. They print on Fuji Crystal Archive, and the prints are ready within hours. For enlargements, the local pro labs give good results, and aren't that expensive. Some of my photographically casual friends ask why I don't use Wal-Mart or Costco for processing, since it's cheaper. They seem to find the quality acceptable. Perhaps they actually are the voice of the masses. Sometimes they can see the difference when I point it out, but often they don't care. So many people just want to see a tiny image on the LCD screen of their digicam, or just email their happy snaps to their friends. They don't seem to care about prints anymore. That may be the real cause for the decline in film use. All the same, there's usually a line-up at London Drugs, and I sometimes see folks bringing in half-a-dozen or more 35mm films at a time. At least here in Victoria, film is still alive and well. My 2001 MZ-S, my constant companion, is loaded with 2004 film, and in 2010, when today's digital wonders are considered laughably obsolete, I'll be using it with the amazing new 2010 films. Am I in denial, living in a dream world? I sure hope not! Pat White
