Hin's Photo Corner

I have plenty to offer why I love Pentax. I plan to enter the contest in photo.net with the price of Pentax DA Limited lens case designed by Ned Bunnell. I saw the lens case in Yvon's Pentax blog. But in case if any of you enter the contest and doesn't win the lens case, anyone interested in my $1.50 idea for 6 lens protection. I don't have a nice picture to show or get harassed. I have been using plastic cups from Ikea to shield my lens from unexpected hitting when I carry them in my bag. Not as slick as the limited lens case but for all those who enter the contest, think about going to Ikea to get these plastic cups that are of the similar size to limited lens

It can't fit the bigger lens but I find them quite good to hold the limited lens, or a 50mm, or even a small zoom so that I can place my lens in a safer position with the outer cup that avoids falling on an uneven surface or let the lens to have scuff marks in rubbing each other.

Contest aside, you all should go to Ikea to try my $1.50 for 6 limited plastic cups idea while Hin can enter the contest as the winner and loser at the same time with a single entry.

Impressions & Notes:

• Very inexpensive to get for a pair of six. There are other sizes that are more like a bowl in shape. Bigger sizes are available that may fit the larger zoom lens
• Lightweight and works well as a holder in a backpack
• Color coding in green, blue, red and yellow can easily help me to sort my lens into groups for DA limited, primes and FA limited
  
• Once I take out my lens with this holder, I have no fear in leaving it in the wind as the cup is more steady to lay on a flat surface as compared to the lens alone
• You have to try it to see if it fits your needs.
  

Related:

• All articles tagged Pentax Limited
• REI Ultrapod mini-tripod
• Pentax 1-Lens Choices
• Pentax Limited for Traveling
  
• Hin's Camera Gear

I look for a diffuser to be used with the Pentax AF540 flash. I am pretty new to using flash but I find flash a necessity to make the shot clean. I like natural looking picture and hence I long for an easy to use bouncer and diffuser. Also as an amateur to flash, I experiment on using flash bouncing light with light color wall and roof. The caveat that I found in flash bouncing is in not finding a nearby light color wall and roof. And I found this gadget with Spectra Light comes in handy. Its design and look is intuitive and easy to experiment and learn with.

I don't have in-depth experience with other diffuser such as Gary Fong Lightsphere and hence I don't quite know how it compares. But one thing is for sure, the Spectra Light is inexpensive to get as I paid roughly $15.00 in ebay. And I used it in first shooting with my niece graduation and it helps the newbie strobist in me, giving me more confidence into fill-flash with a natural looking pictures.


Spectra Light Diffuser comes with five panels and a pocket holder:

• The translucent panel is used for flash bounce and diffuser
• The golden panel is used as a warming reflector. It comes with a sticky label on back that one can peel out and attach to the solid white panel.
  
• The silver panel is used as an intensify reflector. It comes with a sticky label on back that one can peel out and attach to the solid white panel.
• The two solid white panels can be used for bounce serving as a 4x4 solid panel redirecting light as a nearby wall or roof. Unlike the translucent panel, no light will go through the pane.
  
• Depending on your choices, I learn from Russel to attach the gold label to one side of the solid white panel and attach the silver label to the 2nd solid white panel. In that arrangement, I can have an alternate white panel to go with a colored panel in silver and gold color. Sweet arrangement for multiple strobes.
  

And I kind of like the design in the ball-head that allow me to move the panel quite freely in the vertical and horizontally.

I have used the gadget as a diffuser and bouncer using the translucent panel in my niece graduation ceremony. So far, I am quite satisfied with the assistance that Spectra Light offers to help bounce and diffuse light from my flash. Results seems consistent as if no flash is used.

I highly recommend the blower as it solves my dust problem for most cases. Giottos has two sizes and I have both. I have the smaller one in my camera bag and the bigger one at home for the tougher job. The bigger one is stronger. If you watch the Curt Fargo's demonstration of the wet method, he uses the bigger blower and he uses it with a swift motion across the sensor. I prefer to hold the camera facing downward and puff air from below in a swift motion across the sensor. I leave the blower tip at about 1" to 2" clearance from the lens mount. I highly recommend the blower as the 1st method to attempt and use the wet method as the last resolution as risk is involved.

When I bought the Large Giottos blower from micor-tools, Curt wraps it in a strong industrial plastic bag to seal the blower and he recommends a clean storage for the blower for the obvious reason in avoiding dust accumulation in the blower.

There are cases that dust or pollen are sticky on the sensor and repeated trials on using both blowers fail to remove the dust, and I use the wet method as the last resort. For most of my need, the blower works.



Related:

• Giottos Rocket Blower Sensor Dust Cleaning
• Wet Method Cleaning Demo Video by Curt Fargo from micro-tools
• Hin's Camera Gear
  

And the Ultrapod II comes with a Velcro strap that allows me to tight the tripod and camera onto a fence or tree trunk or any other lengthly object for securing the gear in place. Though I have not tried the Velcro strap, I am very pleased with the little tripod that is very handy for putting it in backpack along with my other camera gear.



Last week ABC Wednesday --
Model Trains



Impressions & Notes

• Well built and sturdy
• Very portable and perfect for table top and desktop
• Sturdy enough for both point & shoot and dSLR.
  
• I find it a bit awkward to mount camera on. I usually have the legs collapsed althogether and use the leg to screw in the tripod mount of my dSLR bodies
• Ideal tripod to shoot camera and lens that are for sale. The tripod helps to provide a better angle to the camera gear.
• I highly recommend this tripod

Related:

• Dynatran AT-CF992 from Amvona
• REI Ultrapod II mini-tripod On Big Lenses
• Joby Gorillapod
• Hin's Camera Gear