hinman

<p>I volunteered for Technovation 2016 challenge pitch event sponsored at my company. The flickr set is in this link<br> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hin_man/albums/72157667999348646">https://www.flickr.com/photos/hin_man/albums/72157667999348646</a></p> <p>where I shot with three cameras -- I am a snobs trying to cover the bases</p> <ul> <li>Pentax K-5 with Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4.0 (falsh) and DA* 50-135 (no flash)</li> <li>Sony A6000 with 16-50 PZ zoom and a small flash</li> <li>Sony A7 and a Zeiss 55mm f/1.8 without flash</li> </ul> <p>And the DA 16-50 will help me in the shooting taking the role of my slower Tamron 17-35 f/2.8-4.0.</p> <p>Your inputs will help guide me.</p>

<p>I am planning to pick either a screwdrive converted version of 16-50 or a used version of DA 16-50 with SDM intact. Both are used and with similar conditions. If you are on the market looking, which will you pick:</p> <ol> <li>Used 16-50 that has been converted to screwdrive due to SDM failure. Cost is about $360 with shipping included.</li> <li>Used 16-50 with reported good SDM, cost is $425 + roughly $15.00 shipping</li> </ol> <p>Both look similar in good used condition, which will you pick and what is the reason? I am more inclined towards to #2 option as I like quiet focusing. But the SDM story is plenty and fearful. I can take a chance on the #2 and convert to AF with screwdrive when it dies. What do you think, is the option #1 better as it saves me the misery of SDM and with lower cost.</p> <p>Any kind soul using the screwdrive on 16-50 can share your story with screw-drive usage. Is it loud or pretty reasonable? Is screwdrive faster than the SDM? How is the accuracy, are AF about the same on accuracy in both SDM or the converted screw drive. I know those are tough questions to answer as I don't have a clue but I sure can use some help.</p> <p>I recently shot events using my Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4.0 on K-5 along with 50-135. The long zoom is great and the SDM is working well for me, the quiet focusing in event is big plus. My Tamron wide zoom is no sludge but I wish for faster speed in event shooting indoor when flash i not appropriate during speech or similar situations.</p> <p>Hin</p>

<p><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lomography/the-lomography-daguerreotype-achromat-29-64-art-le">https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lomography/the-lomography-daguerreotype-achromat-29-64-art-le</a></p> <p>I can be proved wrong. Pentaxian may be the generous bunch but I doubt you can get 100 people to sign up to back this product with $400+ pre-order. You can see the <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lomography/the-lomography-daguerreotype-achromat-29-64-art-le/pledge/new?clicked_reward=false">Back This Project</a> page for details.</p>

<p>With Jpg, i use bright setting as my default. Occasionally when I am in extreme high or extremely down mood, I try switching to Vivid to get a kick out of pictures. And I do use landscape for scenery while in Jpg but that is only when if I remember to switch. Default of my jpg is in Bright. </p>

<p><strong><br />#3 Tahoe City Early Morning View</strong></p> <p><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1633/26509246566_4a8fe22936_b.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /></p> <p>I am an early morning person and I took this picture around 6:30am in the morning. No coffee yet and my hands might have been shaky and at least that was what I was thinking of 'coffee' when I took this picture. I was waiting for 7:00am before the breakfast area opened in my hotel in Tahoe City last weekend.</p>

<p><strong><br />#2 Mill Valley After Dinner </strong></p> <p><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1595/26562164101_749396f622_b.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="680" /></p> <p>Right after dinner, we strolled around in Mill Valley Bike Trail and we couldn't see the sunset as the surrounding mountains covered the sunset but we saw the marsh land exposed in the late evening in low tide. Very scenic and surreal with good coldness from spring time weather in the evening. Love this place and we will come again.</p>

<p><strong><br />#1 Chipmunk Near <strong>Muir Woods </strong>Store & Cafe area<br /></strong><br /> <br /><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1482/26013626624_9e8348e120_b.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="680" /></p> <p>My family also make good use of National Park day and visited Muir Woods National Monument and we ran into this friendly chipmunk who didn't mind my presence with a camera. He was not camera shy either.</p>

<p>Love it!!! </p>

<p>I was not paying attention to its color and contrast. I take it for granted and miss appreciating what I have in my bag. There is always a tendency to upgrade and forget about the actual picture taking. I re-examine some of my old shots in 2009 and I have been pleased with both the sharpness and smooth bokeh. Maybe all longer lenses give better smooth bokeh and I don't know the exact reasoning. This picture below was shot in f/6.3, iso 400, there are some shadows around the lower left on the background that distract a bit but I think it is shadow of the trees around. Overall, the lens is great. </p> <p><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2443/3568985330_5447552dc0_b.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p>I have been thinking long and hard on K3 or K3 II as an upgrade to my dependable K-5. When that happen, I will use it for enthusiast type of nature shooting as in shooting the hummingbirds, terns and landscape in hiking. If you have either K-3 and K3 II, please share your thoughts if K-3 is much or slightly improved on AF especially on the tracking. I was always dizzy in panning and I find tracking is very difficult on K20D or K-5, I hope the K-3 has been improved for enthusiasts in shooting wild life. </p> <p>I am pretty sure the DA* 300mm has inherited most if not all the goodness from this old prime and with WR and better speed. </p>

<p><a href=" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3383/3538733937_e2650a94c4_b.jpg" alt="" /></a></p> <p><a href=" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2183/3539511022_78857e7cd1_b.jpg" alt="" /></a></p> <p><a href=" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3633/3538703029_3b96ce08fe_b.jpg" alt="" /></a></p>

<p>Likely one of my better hummingbird shots was <em><strong>made at ease</strong></em> with this prime<br> <a href=" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3629/3468287931_3a64d2d485_b.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="1023" /><br /></a><br> f/6.3, iso 500, 1/1000sec, 300mm, hand-held with K20D<br /><br /><br />I likely have shown this picture before. Please allow me as it is the bragging rights. I exaggerate a bit again on the 'shooting with ease' on hummingbirds as it is combination of luck, patience, and repeated trials until an okay shot that is found worth editing. <br /><br /></p>

<p>My copy was pretty beaten up by Kerrick James as he was the original owner with frequent usage. When I asked him about why he sold his lens over eBay before the purchase, he mentioned to me that he replaced the F* with the DA* 30mm. Yes, the tripod mount on F* 300mm is very unique and sturdy but I normally use this lens hand-held as it is not-too-bulky and quite compact for a 300mm. I love the yellowish white color on the lens barrel. It is not the grey-color as in the FA*. My copy is collecting dust in one of my bags tucked into a corner. A Shame, I should find excuses to take it out. <br /><br /> <a href=" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3350/3565731631_077c41f2d5_b.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="681" /></a><br /> <br /><br /><br /> <a href=" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3400/3565732203_c0e494193c_b.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="684" /></a><br /> <br /><br />I don't shoot long lenses lately as I have more photos on street-shooting and traveling. I couldn't believe it myself that I never have used my DA* 60-250 1.5 years after purchase. In light with cutting my lens to the bones, I let go my DA* 60-250 3 months back in PF and I don't want to look back for the rational. That 60-250 is a beauty and pictures have the same tonality and color like the 50-135. If anyone likes long zoom, the 60-250 is high on my gear to highly recommend. BUT! Between the zoom and the prime in 300mm, the prime has more of my vote as sharpness and lighter weight sway the prime to my favorite likings.</p> <p>The color, bokeh and sharpness really pop with F* 300. I am a casual shooter and many of my old shots were straight out in jpg. This one was likely with K20D</p> <p><a href=" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2464/3566479938_febc8c231a_b.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="680" /></a></p>

<p>I have used a few 300mm and 400mm on prime, zoom, and with addition of 1.4x and 1.7x TC, my most satisfied lens is <a href="http://techtheman.blogspot.com/2009/04/pentax-f-300mm-f45-test-shots.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>Pentax F* 300mm f/4.5</strong></a>. The lens best itself for its small size and relatively lightweight compared to others. It will take the Pentax DA* 300mm f/4.0 to beat this lens in the 300mm. I highly recommend this lens for wildlife, use good TC to reach 400/500mm. It has excellent color and sharpness.<br /><br />My copy is pretty beaten up but it is my most used 300mm for wildlife ever since I get it.<br /><br /><br> <br /><strong>#1</strong><br /><a href=" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3538712925_484bb4264e_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><strong>#2</strong><br /><a href=" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3621/3565720847_8df6944448_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><strong>#3</strong><br /><a href=" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3321/3566541440_1c0c9a9476_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><strong>#4</strong><br /><a href=" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3361/3568174591_6a74932af9_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://techtheman.blogspot.com/2009/04/pentax-f-300mm-f45-test-shots.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>Pentax F* 300mm f/4.5</strong></a><br> <br /><br />The above was a posting that I did in PF way back in 2009 and I likely took this pictures with K20D. Time flies and I don't think I have the patience with terns especially I remember them moving fast and not to easy pattern for anticipation.</p>

<p>@Matt, that is truly awesome work. Speechless.<br> <br />@Bob, I miss you and Justin. And we are grateful to see you and Justin posting. Warm our hearts and the Pentax minds.</p>

<p><strong>#3 Missing Early Bus at 6:25am</strong></p> <p><a href=" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1538/25792142224_98ca381251_b.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="680" /></a><br> <br />I was late for my 6:25am bus and I was grateful and compassionate in reaching out to my compact camera and my ever amazing $25 Fijian 35mm f/1.7 in c-mount that continues to grow on me with frequent intimate outing with 1 lens, 1 camera and 1 soul.</p>

<p><strong>#2 Morning Walk in Tahoe City in Lakeview Trail</strong></p> <p><a href=" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1637/26430408071_de2f9622df_b.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /></a></p>

<p><strong>#1 Spoon In Tahoe City, Yummy Tummy</strong></p> <p><a href=" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1550/26470535486_fc4cf50f40_b.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="681" /></a></p> <p>Spoon is a great find on my weekend trip to Tahoe City. It is a tiny but cozy and nicely decorated homey place with 2 tables on loft and 2 other smaller tables on 1st floor. We were the lucky ones arriving at 5:30pm after skiing on Saturday. Yummy and Tummy. What that means! Highly recommended place if you can find an early time to visit in Tahoe City. They closed for spring break for a month. A smart owner who enjoys life, I would say.</p>

<p><strong>#4 Berkeley Botanical Garden</strong><br> <br /><a href=" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6161/6141200773_3fb6a967a1_b.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="1024" /></a></p>

<p><strong><br />#3 Couple In Mono Lake</strong><br /> <strong><br /><a href=" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1675/26315504255_47cfb4ca3e_b.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="680" /></a><br /></strong><br> <strong> </strong><br> <strong><br /></strong>This lake is drying up fast as the water is evaporating continuously. If you live in California, you can visit Mammoth Lakes and Mono Lake is about 30 minutes to the north of Mammoth Lakes. Very unique place with skiing in winter and hiking and boating in the summer. Mono Lake is a salt lake with water streams coming from multiple sources forming unique Tufa from Calcium Carbonate with different water streams. Its water content has 2+ times more salt and 1000 times more alkaline than sea ocean. The view from above will alarm you as the lake is drying up and it is an eye opener once I get down to South Tufa with access close to the water and the formations of Tufa. </p>

<p><strong><br />#2 Mono Lake with Analog Efex</strong><br /> processing in Nik Collection<br /><br /> <a href=" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1471/26205189166_96bdca9d41_b.jpg" alt="" /></a></p>

<p><strong>#1 BabyBoy A Survivor -- Find Your Inner Animal</strong></p> <p><a href=" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1694/25744749293_ffa4ea3a34_b.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="680" /></a></p> <p>BabyBoy is a survivor. I met him in Mono Lake in Old Marina parking lot where I found BabyBoy with a stick. I later learned from her owner and carer that BabyBoy is now 4 months old and he lost his Mom along with three siblings at birth. He survived all complications since birth and he was as playful as ever when I met him in Mono Lake Old Marina. In hardship and survival moments -- Find Your Inner Animal .<br /><br /><br> I sent this picture to Tyler's Mom hoping I can cheer up Tyler in his fight with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma<br /><br /><br> GoFundMe Link for Tyler Lee Polanco: <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/jdxgar8s">https://www.gofundme.com/jdxgar8s</a></p>

<p>Okay, I try not to help you with a Z but I do hope someone will as you deserve the Pentax attention like one of those 4 Pentaxian ambassadors that we had many years ago, Kerrick James was one of the 4 before. Who know! The past Pentax US president used to visit many sites and have a say how things are going before and maybe someone notice and appreciate you as much as photo.net members and drop you a present with ZII for try out, just promise us to keep quiet about that happening until the NDA expires. Seriously, if I run any of the Pentax Marketing, I will drop presents at Justin and Matt and ask honest opinions how Pentax can do enough and more to get us engaged and exciting. </p>

<p>Justin & Matt, you two and many other Pentaxians such as Kerrick James are the sole reasons that I stay with Pentax. Please keep sharing your work and enthusiasm as each of you has a big admirer of your work, ethics and wonderful hobby besides photography in mountain vision and outdoor skiing and biking. </p> <p>@Matt, I am very jealous with the work you have done with 645D and K-3 and now if you are hinting the 645Z, I am NOT going to comment further -- I am bumped, very happy for you, but a bit of jealousy kicking in naturally.</p>

<p>Here is a relevant thread that discusses the adapter with and without the infinity focus. </p> <p><a href="/nikon-camera-forum/00UqSS">http://www.photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00UqSS</a></p>

<p>I have not used this product that seems to adapt an M42 mount lens to Nikon, please check carefully as it can be a frustration experience in getting a wrong adapter. <br /> <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/995104-REG/fotodiox_m42_nk_pg_pro_nikon_f_mount_lens.html">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/995104-REG/fotodiox_m42_nk_pg_pro_nikon_f_mount_lens.html</a><br /> <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/995104-REG/fotodiox_m42_nk_pg_pro_nikon_f_mount_lens.html"><img src="http://static.bhphoto.com/images/images500x500/fotodiox_m42_nk_pg_pro_nikon_f_mount_lens_1379452082000_995104.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="500" /></a><br /> picture links back to BH page of the adapter</p> <p>The M42 mount is a screw mount that can be adapted to Pentax K-mount. According to the adapter description on the above link, infinity focus is maintained with this adapter. I have no experience with Nikon full frame and hence please read with a JAR of salt.</p> <p>It looks like this type of adapter has a glass element in the adapter and it is usually not the recommended type as any element may/will degrade the image quality to certain degree though the glass element may help to maintain the infinity focus. In other words, other adapters may not be able to maintain infinity focus but this one does at the expense of possible degradation to image quality with an added glass element.</p>