Hin's Photo Corner: February 2012

A Mad Pentax K7

2012-02-10 Posted by Hin Man

I purchased my K7 as an upgrade to my aged K20D. And my K20D went into CRIS for repair with its shutter and aperture control unit. I was just out of 3 year extended warranty period and the repair came out of my own pocket. It was a devastating experience to have my 2nd Pentax body dead in my hands while shooting. My first dead Pentax was my beloved white Pentax K-x which became faulty on its SD memory card controller. CRIS did a wonderful job in this 2nd repair and restored my K20D to its good state and I was pleasantly surprised with inexpensive charge of $140 for replacing both the shutter and aperture control units. CRIS has restored my confidence with Pentax repair. Unlike my 1st repair that took over 6 plus weeks due to parts back ordered from Japan and this second repair took a little over two weeks. I bought my K7 while my K20D was in service. I was thinking of selling my K20D once it got back from service but I now keep the two as a pair. Cameras do fail and I intend to have dual similar bodies to guard against the odds of camera failure.

And in my recent planned trip to Hong Kong and Macau, my purchase of Sony NEX 5N has taken all the attention from me as a new owner and I have left my K7 out of sight for two months until last weekend.

I happened to find time in visiting Crissy Field in San Francisco and I had my repurchase lens with Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5 adaptall-2 51BB. The 17mm was a later version to 51B and it does not have the built in optical filters like its earlier copy. But I like my new copy that came with the hard to find matching push on lens hood.

Pentax K7 and Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5 adaptall-2 51BB

I have to take my time to learn K7 in more detail. Its body is a welcome upgrade to K20D. I especially like the changes in the grip, much improved LCD, a very welcome 100% viewfinder and a refined tougher build in a slightly smaller body. I especially heart the electronic level indicator in the field. But I have the most difficult time on the SD card removal mechanics. I curse the camera every single time that I have to take out a SD card from it.

Undoubtedly, I like my K7 upgrade but I think I get a very map K7 when indeed I use it much less often than my 5N. It isn't fair but I am aware of many of its negatives such as lesser-than-ideal high ISO noise, the possibility of shutter induced blur on wide angles in around 1/100 sec and many baggage similar to that in K20D.

I try to shoot it like a mad boy while listening to some good music to clear up my concerns on this Pentax fine camera with K7.

Pentax K-01 vs Sony NEX-5N on size

2012-02-03 Posted by Hin Man

I know this is NOT a fair comparison but it is something people do consider.
Source from Camera Size comparison: http://camerasize.com/compare/#285,34
Front View

Top View

Back View

All that I can say is that I am loving my 5N more each day as I know size and weight do matter to me.

Sony NEX 5N with LCD Pop-up Screen Hood

2012-02-02 Posted by Hin Man

I initially bought the Sony NEX 5N with the emphasis on lighter and smaller traveling companion. And the NEX 5N doesn't disappoint. It is more than a competent companion and I have been very happy with the purchase. I bought it with Sony SEL 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 kit zoom along with the Sony SEL 16mm f/2.8 pancake as a package.

I especially like my accessory with a LCD pop up screen protector hood and with some additional help with black electrical tape on the bottom of the hood, I have managed to use it securely.

I was initially concerned on the necessity in getting the EVF as an add-on. But after using the camera for a while, I come to the compromise that I can shoot without the view finder. The features in the camera make it possible for users to adapt to

A tilt-able LCD with good resolution in 90K+ pixels
Focus peeking where one can observe focus with a different color
Manual Focus assist with 4.8x and 9.5x magnification

Here are some product shots of my NEX in a semi-waist level finder orientation with the LCD pop-up screen protector.

Focus peaking with RED color

MF assist in 9.5x magnification

And in my recent short traveling trip to Hong Kong and Macau, I am very pleased with its performance. I only brought along my 5N with its kit zoom, 16mm pancake, and two other smallish lenses. And I used the kit zoom the most often.

with kit zoom

with Kit zoom

with SEL 16mm f/2.8 pancake
1/5 sec, f/2.8, 16mm, iso 800, hand-held, jpg,
through a window, +10 on noise in LR3, cropped 8/10

An old friend with Spiratone Plura-Coat 20mm f/2.8

2012-02-01 Posted by Hin Man

I had few pictures with Sony NEX 5N and a good old friend of mine with Spiratone Plura-Coat 20mm f/2.8 in K-mount. I sold this lens when I got a used DA 21mm limited -- and it is my attempt to control lens count. But later with addition of Pentax DA 15mm f/4.0 limited, I parted with DA 21mm limited. It was my wrong move in parting the 21 limited as it serves as a good pair for 15+21. The 15mm is great for the wide landscape and 21mm is excellent for the wide normal and street shooting. And in saving money, I did not re-purchase 21. Instead, I got back to my inexpensive 20mm friend with Spiratone. I dislike the use of green button in Pentax digital and this 20mm lens is actually more user friendly in the Sony NEX. Thanks to the great MF features in NEX -- any K-mount lens is UP a notch or two in terms of ease of use in focusing, metering and use of flash. Performance is quite good considering 1/5th the cost of a new DA 21 limited. This 20mm is a rare item but certainly not a well sought lens.

Old friend with Spiratone Plura-Coat 20mm f/2.8

Cropped square

Mom and Daughter looking up to a mechanical butterfly in

Exploratorium in San Francisco

A fascinating place for the young minds

from Crispy Field overlooking

Golden Gate Bridge

Panorama Scene Mode

@2.8, flare comes though I have a wide hood mounted

however bad the flare turns out, I actually find the shot intriguing

The lens is not a huge lens and quite small comparing to other 28mm. The only gripe that I have is on short focus throw -- about a quarter turn and I wish it a touch longer as closer to 1/2 turn. When mounted on the NEX, it becomes a bit bulkier like other K-mount lenses but I find the added bulk of the adapter sometime help with the focusing as there is more space to work with and it is easier for me to fine tune focus with my palm supporting the base of the adapter + lens.