Hin's Photo Corner

I am the idiot who sold the Lady Queen in Pentax FA 31mm f/1.8 limited and replaced the Lady Queen with two lens with very different functionality in Sigma 28mm f/1.8 II and Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 1:1 macro. I bought the Sigma for its fast speed use and the I got my Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 1:1 macro limited with a good bargain price new with Prodigal2000. Do I miss the Lady Queen. Hell Yes unfortunately. I don't think either of the two replacements can replace the IQ in the 31mm limited. But darn it, I feel much easier in taking out my lens and shoot the lens as a tool as an equal partner and I don't want to give any of my lens any special treatment like others do. I could imagine some of my Pentaxian friends will have a shrink with lock to protect their 31mm limited and they would have a difficult time to take out the lens in traveling. I will always question why one buys a lens that they will worry in scratching and leaving marks rather than enjoy it for what it is good for -- taking pictures. Though I truly miss my Lady Queen for its enormous image quality and superb color, I do find significant comfort and ease of usage with my competent replacements for the 31mm limited

I don't use my Sigma 28mm f/1.8 II quite often as I would love to as I have a tendency to stay with zooms in outings in the weekends and vacation. I busted my prime with 28mm this weekend with Mid-Autumn festival with lanterns and moon cake and a visit to Don Edwards SF Bay Wildlife Refuge for its Shark Day event.











Impressions & Notes

• Though the lens maximum aperture was stated i f/1.8, all shots wide open in my K20D reported as f/1.7
• The lens is not big and has a 58mm filter size. It is not the same as the latest DG or EX Sigma lens, build is all plastic and not of the same quality as in DG and DC Ex lens lineup
• Lens is easy to handle like a 50mm in size. Close up is found decent on flowers but I don't think it has magnification ratio greater than 1:4, likely 1:6.
  
• Flare is noted in extreme lighting when my neighbor lighting shined through the front of my lens. It was possible that I forgot to mount the lens hood.
  
• An overall budget fast prime that do reasonably well at night but nothing in sharpness and color that would stand out like the 31mm limited. Color rendering is better in Pentax 35mm limited and the 31mm limited lenses.
  

Related:

• Sigma 28mm f/1.8 II initial test shots
• Don Edwards SF Bay Wildlife Refuge -- Flickr Set
  
• Pentax FA 31mm f/1.8 limited Purchage
• Pentax FA 31mm f/1.8 limited Test Shots
• Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 1:1 macro limited
• Sigma 105mm Ex DG 1:1 macro
• Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 macro
  
• Hin's Camera Gear
  

I saw clear sky on Monday night driving home. I thought about the lunar images that I see from others. Last attempt was totally ruined by my ball head that is failing to hold the lens and camera in place. And I have this Kenko/Tokina PZ-AF 2x teleplus MC7 that I have not used it since I bought it from ebay.

First, few quick snapshots about my setup




I shot it around 10:30pm and the clouds moved in after first few test shots. I was initially getting a clear shot with shutter speed in 1/125 sec with f/8 in iso 400. As clouds move in, I slow the shutter to 1/20 ~ 1/60 to get a reasonable shot of the moon. I would attempt it with more needed research and a clearer sky to shoot the moon.








Impressions & Notes

• Not too bad if I don't blow it up in larger size
• Focus point is actually not in infinity
• With the 2x TC, I can actually use AF with the Pentax F* 300mm f/4.5. I am surprised
• The 2x TC won't AF on SDM lens with Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8
• Teleplus, MC7, Tokina, Kenko are on the label of the TC
  
• The cloudy sky poses the most problems in the shooting
• I use 2 sec timer, I should have used the wireless remote trigger
• I crop about 50% on the view from the 600mm lens setup with the 2x TC
• The Linhof ball-head still moves a bit. I will retry the setup.
  

Related:

• Meteor Night Attempt with Pentax 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 fisheye
• Passing Moon YouTube Video by Pentax K-7
• Pentax F* 300mm f/4.5 On Pelicans with Kenko 2x AF TC
• Dynatran AT-CF992 tripod
• Pentax F* 300mm f/4.5
• Tamron-F 2x KR MC4 Teleconverter
• Kiron 2x multipler (m42)
• Pentax-F 1.7x AF TC
  
• Hin's Camera Gear

I was up early around 2 to 3 am for two nights around the time for Perseid Meteor Night on August 11 and 12 in 2009. I fell really silly to hike up in the Mission Hill of Fremont in two different locations for each night trying to shoot the falling stars with Perseid Meteor. I did see the inactive Meteor happening around 2 to 3 times in an hour but my setting along with gaps between shots fail to catch the Meteor light that went pass me in a split of a second.


My settings:

• Focal length set for 10mm to get the widest angle
  
• Point to North East direction
• Use M mode for metering and MF
• Adjust MF to infinity
  
• Adjust shutter to be maximum at 30 second shutter
• Adjust aperture in f/4.0 and some in f/4.5
• Use sturdy tripod
• Use wireless remote, SR is off in using wireless remote

My mistakes:

• I used jpg due to absence of Lightroom for the post processing
• I have instant display on which results in gaps like 10 to 15 second for instant display of last picture. I should have turned that off completely onec a manual preview ensures good quality of shot
• I attempted Bulb mode but I find it very cumbersome to hold the button release the whole time until the desired shutter time as in 5 minute a bulb shot, there must be a way to use bulb mode without the need to depress the shutter the whole time.
• I have the wrong location where I am not shooting in a hill tall enough to stay away from city lights. As a result, the faint star lights are not as evident unless I darken the background in post processing
• I should have prepared a dark frame, a lighted frame and perhaps other referencing frames so that I can provide the software tool to make a better stacking reference
  

Software for stacking images

Without a copy of photoshop, I look for tools that help in stacking time series pictures of star to show the star trails along with the Meteor traces. I end up trying few tools and I am still in the process of stacking 100 pictures in two nights

• Keith Image Stacker -- this runs in Mac OS-X, for some unknown reason, I can't seem to get any meaningful results in the stacking. It looks very promising and yet it is not intuitive to align the stars from the stacked images
  
  
• Paint.net -- this is a Windows only software that is free to download, I used the Import Layers from the images in a time series of 60 minute of 30 second exposure shots. In the blending mode, I tried 'additive' and leave opacity to half of 0 to 255 -- rougly 125. The results are not great but somewhat recognizable as I can see results of three plane flying paths in layering around 20 images in the series
  
  
• DeepSkyStacker -- this is also another free tool in Windows only, it looks just as promising as the paint.net but so far, I need to fine tune the proper stacking parameters to see the star trails.

Paint.net Layering Attempt

I mainly used import layers from files and I merge the layers with additive blend and a half opacity value of 128 out of the range from 0 to 255. Though not as distinctive as the original pictures, I can see three plane flying paths in the stacked images. I will post question in paint.net forum to seek the right parameters for yet another stacking attempt.



Resources:

Along the process of failed attempts to stack images or to get a good shot of Meteor, the most valuable experience is finding the resources needed for future attempts:

• AstroPhotoInsight
• AstroPhotoInsight in Flickr
• space.com
• How to take Meteor Show from space.com
• Meteor, Meteorite, Meteroroid

Related:

• The Tech Museum
• Xanh in Mountain View
• Pentax DA 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 in Fireworks
• Perseid Meteor Night Attempt -- Hin's Photo Blog
• Pentax DA 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 Fish-eye in Museum
  
• Hin's Camera Gear

Impressions & Notes

• My version is a manual focus lens with SD label for the glass and it comes with 'A' aperture
• Lens is well built in all metal. The Plastic hood is a bit flimsy but works reasonably well.
• Lens has a built in tripod that can be removed.
  
• Lens is a bit heavy but I find it hand-holdable.
  
• I can't get satisfactory sharp pictures in wide open aperture. Test shots in f/5.6 to f/8.0 seem to do fine in sharpness. More tests are needed to be sure.
  
• I have had high expectation on this zoom lens. While I am happy with IQ and color when stopped down, I feel a bit disappointed on its performance wide open.
  
• Color and sharpness are good when stopped down.
• Zoom ring and focusing ring are good in operation
• I find IQ at 200mm and 150mm seem to vary by noticeable difference on sharpness.
• At f/2.8, I find the need to dial in +1/3 and +2/3 Ev.
  

Related:

• Circus and Baseball with Tokina AT-X SD 80-200mmm f/2.8
• Y! Music Event with Kate Earl
  
• Tamron SP 70-210mm f/3.5 adaptall (19AH)
• Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm first three versions
• Kiron 70-150mm f/3.8 with doubler
• Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8
  
• Hin's Camera Gear
  

I added new lens just for the birds. I got the used lens from Kerrick James, the diehard Pentaxian not knowing it was his lens. It was an instant story telling for me when I played the Pentaxian video showing my boys where my lens come from.The lens is pretty beaten up on the outside but the inside is as clean as I would like it. Whenever I see wonderful and compact lens like this from Pentax, I just wonder why the heck Pentax is doing in not continuing to produce this fine jewels. It is small and compact and I can whine less about heavy load in gear. It is the most compact 300mm that I have handled and I wish the size and weight of every tele-lens is like this F* lens. A pure sweet and joy to use.

• Weight is 880g, very light as compared to other 300mm
• Size is absolutely compact, a joy to hold and use in the field
• Filter size is 67mm
• F* lens come with ED glass that work better than the A* lens on PF/CA
• I dislike the default tripod mount that seems to get in the way to hand-holding the lens
• Shots at indoor at f/5.0 turn out amazingly sharp. I am yet to test it wide open
• Color is amazing with this lens
• Built in lens hood very nice and practical
• Auto vs Menu focus has a push and pull toggle ring very similar to Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG EX Macro, manual focus ring is well dampened for fast focusing need
• Bokeh is excellent as soft and creamy
• The best value in this prime is in the ease of use
• AF is reasonable and in general, I find the initial AF from close to infinity very bothersome to get first shot in focus. This is not the lens' fault but rather how Pentax bodies work. It is slow to get to first shot in focus.
• I am experimenting on turning SR off in shutter speed about and faster than 1/800 sec to make room for faster reaction in between shots and less overcompensation in panning.
• Many of my test shots are done in f/5.6 and sharpness is excellent even in that aperture

• Fleetweek Air Shows
• Photosniper Tair-3 PhS 300mm f/4.5 Purchase
• Pentax F* 300mm f/4.5 BIF Pratice Shots
• Pentax F* 300mm f/4.5 On Humming Birds
• Pentax F* 300mm f/4.5 On Terns
• Pentax F* 300mm f/4.5 On Pelicans with Kenko 2x AF TC
• Pentax-F 1.7x AF TC
• Tamron Pz-AF 1.4x AF TC
• Pentax 300mm f/4.0
• Search of 400mm prime in Pentax
• Hin's Camera Gear

Some test shots on hummingbirds with this lens wide open in f/4.5 in using the lens alone without the gun stock. This lens is the most difficult lens that I have used

• Due to blades in manual diaphragm, I can't confirm focus at f/8.0 and bigger apertures.
• The focusing knob is underneath the lens barrel.
• The preset ring serves as a cocking mechanism for the lens.
• Once cocked, the aperture is wide open, slighter wider than f/4.5, maybe f/4.0, and I can focus but the catch is having to rely on the gun trigger to stop down the lens
• Without the gun stock, I can still stop down by tapping the diagram release bar underneath the lens barrel

#1



#2
shadow and too dark to freeze the motion




#3
user focus error
again a bit too dark




#4




#5

Related:

• Photosniper Tair-3 PhS 300mm f/4.5 Purchase
• Initial Tair-3 PhS 300mm f/4.5 Test Shots
• Test Shots with Pentax-F 1.7x AF TC
  
• Kiron 2x doubler M42
  
• Pentax F-1.7x AF TC
• Genuine Pentax M42 to K adapter
• Search of 400mm prime in Pentax
  
• Hin's Camera Gear

All test shots hand-held wide open aperture wider than f/4.5, likely f/4.0 with the preset ring set at full diaphragm opening.

I want to share with you a new year purchase of a used M42 lens. I have not a clue of the manufacturer of this lens. It is very cute looking. It cost much less than a SuperTakumar. It is Super-Lentar 28mm f/2.8 in M42 mount.

I like its look with some silver and black color and I think it may go well with the white camera. It is all metal build around and the lens barrel reminds me of SuperTak but the mix of silver and black color make this a charming lens.

First day with it seems like a good performer. Even wide open shots seems good in sharpness.

I add a +4 for a close up in lunch

and +4 close-up on flower

One noted caveat is on its non-circular blades opening in f/5.6

Impressions & Notes:

• A brand name not well known, which I like the most -- I have something nobody has.
• Inexpensive lens to get category
• Decent sharpness seen in casual test shots
• Lens is well built with metal barrel
• Very cute lens with distinct silver and black, it will go better with white camera
• Wipe open aperture quite sharp but I am NO pixel peeper
• Bokeh is found busy on off focus rendering area.
  
• Blades have sharp spikes at middle apertures as in f/5.6, and shooting into sunlight create oddly shaped shadows
  
• Filter size is 58mm, the right size to share accessories with Cosina 55mm f/1.2
• Close up is not its strength as minimum focusing distance is about 1.5 feet
• A and M auto-aperture toggle is nicely done with a big nob. I found it very convenient to toggle to A for wide open aperture in focusing and then toggle back to M for the actual metering
• Av mode can be used to some degree for indoor. In bright daylight, I happen to need to use M mode and stop-down metering for accurate metering
• Overall a great value lens to have at probably half the cost of a Super Takumar. I like bigger lens barrel for focusing as in this lens as compared to 49mm tiny lens barrel in Super Takumar 35mm f/3.5 or that in Super Takumar 105mm f/2.8
  
• Focusing ring is bit stiff but I think it will smooth out in repeated operation
• A charmer in my book
  
  

Related:

• Pentax White Camera
• Super Takumar 35mm f/3.5
• Super Takumar 105mm f/2.8
• Genuine M42 to K adapter
• Hin's Camera Gear