snik75

<p>Next, with the 06 lens at its max length (207mm equiv on FF):</p><div></div>

<p>Hi Guys! It's been a while, still shootin' but not as much and too busy to process even when I do. I think I am getting a K3 for my upcoming birthday, hoping that'll inspire me a bit. There's some very nice work here! Douglas, that first shot is great, the grass contrasts wonderfully with the dragonfly. Yuri, I agree with Matt, the last bridge shot is very neat. Matt your pictures are top notch, like Doug said if you aren't shooting for a magazine maybe you should be! Dorus, I find the pike compelling and disturbing at the same time.</p> <p>For something completely different, here are some pictures I am just now getting around processing. Took our daughters to their first concert, Taylor Swift at Soldier Field. No lenses longer than 3 inches allowed inside, so I took my Q7. We were REALLY far away. First is at 22mm (101mm on FF equiv.) to give you an idea of the scene:</p><div></div>

<p>Finally, we got a new addition to the family. He doesn't mind the snow.</p><div></div>

<p>Next, a relaxing cat. I got a lens I have long chased, a Zeiss 28/2. Manual focus is tricky, but nice and sharp at all apertures, and very nice rendering.</p><div></div>

<p>Hey all -<br> <br />I haven't been taking many pictures what with the cold, cold winter and getting sucked into a stupid MMORPG. But I got out! And have a few pictures to share. Doug, I couldn't agree more about the Sagrada Familia - most beautiful building I have ever been in. One coud fill many, many POTW threads just with shots from it. </p> <p>Matt, that is a great panorama. I bet it looks awesome big. Have you printed it, or will you? <br> <br />First from me, some chickens enjoying winter in WI.</p><div></div>

<p>Last, with a Kern Paillard YVAR 13mm f/1.8 D mount movie camera lens. Hard to get focus on a moving cat, but I like this one anyway.</p><div></div>

<p>Next, the 02 and a swing.</p><div></div>

<p>Great fall colors here, among many other things. Dorus, I love that first building. And Haig, the hummingbird is amazing. Wow. I like the bear, too.</p> <p>Duane, thanks for the kind words about my Q7. I have a few more with it this week. The key, I think, is to use the 02 lens as little as possible. Probably the 08 wide would be a nice step up, but its a little pricey for me yet.</p> <p>First with 06</p><div></div>

<p>To be fair, that was still ISO 100. Here is a shot at 1600:</p><div></div>

<p>Thanks Yuri! Low light is definitely a weak point relative to the K5. High ISO gets pretty bad. Unlike the original Q, which I felt was borderline unusable at ISO 800, the Q7 does okay up to 1600. Beyond that shots are seriously noisy. I was with my kids so we weren't out much at night, but here are a few samples from Portsmouth, NH.</p><div></div>

<p>Doh! Chrysler, not the Empire State building. Thanks for the info, all.<br> K lenses work, Howard, and a cheap adapter that will stop down DA lenses but without communication runs about $30. The effective focal lengths get pretty long, though; good for long tele effect, not so good for general shooting. Macro can be pretty impressive, given how small the sensor is. I picked up some old D mount movie camera lenses and am trying them out on an adapter, too.</p>

<p>Really, the small size of these samples makes it difficult to judge quality. But they look great even at full screen, or even magnified. I am amazed the little sensor can produce such results. I also took some pics with my Iphone 5s, and the Q7 shots blew the cell phone away. I know many people think of the Q system as a joke, but I find it to be a perfectly legitimate photographic tool.</p><div></div>

<p>The same fountain, with a BW treatment:</p><div></div>

<p>This doesn't show much beyond the processing, but i like it:</p><div></div>

<p>And on the city streets:</p><div></div>

<p>Also the Q7 and 01 are great in museums, in this case the Met.</p><div></div>

<p>Most of the time I left the 01 on, as I really like its results.</p><div></div>

<p>Stitched view of Ellis Island mail hall, with the 02.</p><div></div>

<p>And the view from the pedestal:</p><div></div>

<p>Saw more of the city than I would care to through dirty taxi windows. Those drivers are crazy! That was the 01, this is with the 06 at 45mm:</p><div></div>

<p>I took a family trip to New England, ending in New York City. Photography was not a priority on the trip, and packing light was, so I forwent my usual travel kit of K5 and DA 18-135 + a prime and instead took my Q7 and three lenses - 01, 02 and 06. I took three batteries and a charger, and the whole bag was still smaller and lighter than with the K5 kit. At home reviewing the pictures, I truly have no regrets. IQ was more than satisfactory for vacation snapshotting, and it was so nice not to be lugging a heavy kit with all the walking we did. I used to have an original Q and felt the IQ was just not up to snuff; the Q7 is miles better in my estimate. I am not quite ready to bail on the APS-C DSLRs entirely, but in another generation or two the Q system may well be able to meet all my needs.</p> <p>A few samples:</p><div></div>

<p>I don't love the 02 lens quite as much, but it can produce decent results.</p><div></div>

<p>Another snap, from another walk:</p><div></div>

<p>Nice work so far! Harry, those fall colors are really bursting!</p> <p>I've been shooting with my Q7 a lot. Surprisingly decent results for such a small camera. I may write up a separate post for a trip I took with it as my only camera, and was not disappointed. Here's a grab shot from a walk in the woods.</p><div></div>

<p>I need a little more work on the previous one. Finally, here's a snapshot with the 06 that I like.</p><div></div>