cory_zerkee

I didn't make it outside today. Well, I did, but not to take pictures.

 

Which camera did you pick up off ebay. If I really wanted to be adventurous, my sister in law still has my wife's old Pentax Film SLR and a couple of old but high end lenses. I could run some film through it and see what I can do.

 

I hear you about the digital cameras, it almost makes you lazy in that you don't have to try as much to compose the 'perfect' shot as you can just take several and delete the ones that aren't great.

Ah but winging it is how to get to know what you are doing. In the beginning we are all winging it. I am just starting to tinker with DoF myself, so I am in the same boat as you.

 

I haven't tinkered with film yet because I take so many 'crappy' pictures it's just easier to delete them then realize they suck AFTER I get them printed, heh.

Hahhahahaaha I better pack towels. Between both of us working and taking care of the baby, we barely have time to keep the house clean as it is. I really don't need to make MORE work for us, heh.

Hah, what a great idea. She loves to splash in the tub, so one can assume that a puddle would be just as much fun.

Heh, that's a great idea. Now I just need to have the wife entertain my daughter long enough for me to hold the camera still. hehehehehehe

I hate waiting too, if I were to wait, I would be waiting a looooooooong time around here, heh.

 

It's more the depressing mood the rain and darkness causes than the bad lighting for pics that really annoys me.

Thank for all the info Rose. I shall keep working the shutter, so to speak. Logically, the only way to get better is to keep taking pictures. I can't wait until the weather improves. I hate bad lighting.

Because I use older lenses, I have to shoot in Manual mode or Av mode. My camera cannot read the aperature off that old Vivitar, so I had to use stop-down metering for that picture. :)

The light behind the bird is natural. There was a few mins of sun that actually peeked through the mass of ugly rain clouds outside.

 

I see what you mean about the cropping. I haven't got the eye yet for composition or the rule of thirds. I am still at the point of shooting what I like and not thinking ahead as far as composition. I will get there. I am still going with the train of thought of put whatever I am shooting in the center of the shot, which in reality, doesn't look the best.

 

As for you posting your cat pictures, I wouldn't know anything about that..... ;)

 

http://members.shaw.ca/zerkee/Kiya_1.jpg

I usually pack my point and shoot for just-in-case pictures (Canon SD800IS). As for my Pentax, it is to big with all the gear to pack around unless I am specifically going out for that purpose.

 

If I were to specialize (I use that term loosely right now as I am just starting out), it would be in nature photography. There are countless lakes, oceans, streams and trees where I live so I like to have a decent zoom to catch the birds or whatever up in the trees or out on the lake. To be honest though, right now 99% of the pictures we have is of our daughter. But can you blame me? heh

 

The one I am currently using is an old SMC 70-210mm F4 that I picked up for $70. I took this with it at 200mm, F/4, 1/180th and ISO-400. It is dark and crappy out, but I think the pic turned out ok. I shrunk the size so it won't be too huge to view.

 

http://members.shaw.ca/zerkee/Mallard_2.jpg

Here is a pic of my daughter I snapped with my S2 IS (which I have since sold). It took great pictures for a 5MP point-and-shoot.

Heh. I know. I can be the same way with my job. I am a BMW technician and have a tendancy to be not-so-patient with the new guys that have little experience as I should be sometimes.

 

I will put some up as I start shooting. The weather is crappy here now and it's been cloudy and raining daily, which makes for some dismal shots. I also am having a hard time getting the manual focus down pat on my SMC 70-210 F4 lens. It's VERY sensitive.

 

I am putting all my free cash away and one day in the future I will be replacing it with the Sigma 100-300 F4 EX lens. It's $1200 or so, so it will be a while, heh.

Hi Hin;

 

Those are all great shots. Sure the first few are not 'tack sharp' but you are learning. I can't believe people are jumping all over you when you are nice enough to share your pictures with us. Not everyone is a pro photographer. Hell, I would be lucky to get my shots that sharp doing hand held. I am just starting out also with my K100D, and I was thinking about putting up some of my pics, but I am thinking twice after watching you get jumped on.

Here is a pic I took of my cat with a Vivitar F3.5 35-70mm. Please don't bash it too hard, it's my first attempt at a decent picture. :)

 

http://members.shaw.ca/zerkee/Kiya_1.jpg

Thanks Markus. I will pick up a monopod then! I have noticed that will all the old heavy metal SMC lenses. But I can live with that being the IQ is very good.

I am looking at picking up a 70-120mm F4 SMC A Type. The price is right and barring any problems with it (mould,etc) when I look at it tomorrow, I will grab it. I don't mind manual focus. It should work fine until I can afford the Sigma 50-500mm. I still have my 18-55mm AF kit lens for general point-and-shoot. :)

I was looking at the Sigma DG 70-300mm F4-5.6 for a decent zoom lens until I can save up for the lens I REALLY want in the future, which is the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8, but being it is in the $1K range, it will be a LONG while before I can afford one. Are the 70-300mm Sigmas any good? I am currently using a Pentax M SMC 70-200mm F4.5 that I got free and it works, although I am finding it a bit of a pain to use stop-down as well as manual focus when trying to take action shots. I don't mind the manual focus, but doing both is a pain. I also noticed that although it is in abolsutely mint condition, it has a glaze on the inside of the lenses (it's old, around 1975) which doesn't seem to affect IQ.

 

So I guess I am asking, would I be better off getting that Sigma, or picking up an older SMC A type to replace my M type, so at least I can use autoexposure on my K100D. Older lenses are much cheaper and seem to have a fixed aperature throughout the entire zoom range which I like. I love this SMC M, but I wish it was an A.

Hi Tim. I have the same camera. If you use an A type lens, the camera can read and adjust the aperature automatically, therefore it will control the flash level to match. If the lens is a manual type (no A setting on aperature ring), then you have to set the camera to Manual mode. The aperature is set using the aperature ring on the lens. Before taking your picture though, you have to hit the AE-L button (top right of the rear of your K100D) and it will close the aperature for a second and lock the exposure settings so you can take your picture. You have to do this for every shot that the exposure settings would be different.

 

The downside is that it will fire the flash at full blast if you use the flash. You have to use play around with the aperature to compensate manually if you use the flash with a non A type lens.

 

In the custom settings for the camera there is a setting to allow the use of the shutter if the aperature ring is set to something other than A. By default it is turned off (meaning it won't take pictures with a non A type lens).

 

Hope that helps.

As I said, there are quite a few available on Ebay UK, it surprised me as well. :)

 

Thanks for all your info Markus.

Hi Matthew

 

1. Thanks. I can turn it off in M mode by simply closing it, I will check out the shutter speed info you mentioned though.

 

2. Ah ok, my bad. I normally don't use the flash anyways, I prefer ambient light. These lenses will be used more outside when it's bright out, so a flash won't be needed. If so though, I will adjust the aperature to compensate. Thanks!

Hi Markus. Thanks again for the info. I see your point, F6.3 is not great at the long end of the zoom, which defeats the purpose of a good zoom lens. I think I will be better off playing with the older lenses I got free and keeping the kit 18-55mm autofocus for point-and-shoot moments when I am not looking for the perfect shot.

 

I have been hunting around Ebay, etc for a decent prime lens and there are a ton of older Pentax 50mm F1.7 A lenses on ebay for around the $50 mark. Is that a good choice and price point?

 

Thanks again

Cory

Thanks for the info guys. I just found the not-so-fine print in the manual. It DOES fire the flash at full power and I have to adjust the shutter speed to compensate if I want to use the flash.

 

One more question. As trying to get action shots with manual zoom on these older lenses is all but impossible, I was looking at picking up an all around lens that will work with the autofocus on my K100D. I was looking at the Pentax 18-250mm ED AL F3.5 lens seen here: http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=3189

 

Is this a decent lens? I can't afford a 'high end' lens at the moment, but I don't want a POS either.

 

Thanks again for the info! :)

Hello;

 

Firstly, I have owned several cameras over my lifetime, but normally I am just a

point and shoot guy. That said, I am interested in playing with photography

more, learning to composed and take shots manually.

 

I just picked up a K100D with the 18-55mm kit lens. I was just given a set of

old Vivitar (series 1 I think) lenses from a friend at work. I received an F3.5

35-70mmm and a F3.8 75-205mm. I figured out how to make them work using

stop-down metering, but I was noticed that it won't take the flash into account

if I am in a low light area and a flash is required. I have the camera set to

"M" mode and when I set it to fire the flash, the flash does fire, but all the

shots are overexposed because it won't take that into account when doing the

stop-down metering with the Vivitar lenses. Am I doing something wrong, or is it

just not possible to take the flash into account when metering?

 

Sorry if that is a stupid question, I told you I was a noob at this. :)