Hin's Photo Corner

Related

Wanting to get a portrait lens, I bought a Pentax 645 LS 135mm f/4.0 LS a while ago to complement my use with the Pentax 645N. And what appeals me most is the use of leaf shutter. According to PDF documentation on leaf shutter in PentaxImaging, the built in leaf shutter on the lens won't work on 35mm full frame bodies with the 645 K adapter. It was my wishful thinking that the leaf shutter might magically work on Pentax digital which has its limitation on 1/180 sec. synch speed.




The lens has a LS setting for 60, 125, 250 and 500 on the lens front. Once engaged in LS setting, one has to cock the LS ring for each shot; otherwise, the curtain will be down and not flip up upon shutter release.

I learn it from other experienced user that the timing of the sync on the body terminal is with the focal plane shutter on the body which is not the same sync timing as the one on the lens. That is why there is a sync terminal(PC socket) on the lens to sync flashes when the lens shutter is in use. There is an accessory which is a hot shoe with a sync cable - the shoe goes into the camera and the sync socket into the lens.

Though I have not used any flash with the lens, the LS lens won't work in TTL mode like other 645 A lens. When leaf shutter is used, I do need to get two accessories like a hot shoe and a sync cable to connect between the hot shoe and the sync contact on the lens. I will go about finding these two items in eBay for future trial

• Hot Shoe PC Sync Camera Flash Adapter Pentax
  
• Pentax camera flash PC sync cord
  

Here are few test shots that I did a while ago with Pentax 645N and Kodak Tri-X 400









Impressions & Notes

• The lens has surprising performance for me when I use it like a regular non-LS lens.
  
  
• I like the handling and small size of this leaf shutter lens. It is not much bigger than the A 75mm f/2.8
  
  
• It is a good addition when I want to pair this lens with the the 75mm and use this longer focal length for portrait and candid.
  
  
• I currently don't have the accessories to try out the leaf shutter with a flash. I have been spoiled by digital with instant feedback on flash pictures and easier correction in re-shooting. I doubt I will have a easier time to work without TTL and that I have to use all manual setting on the flash and the lens leaf shutter setting. It is a challenge to be planned and worked out for next report.
  

Related:

• Pentax 645N
• Canon 8800F flatbed scanner
• Pentax 645 A 120mm f/4.0 Macro
• Pentax 645 A 55mm f/2.8
• Hin's Camera Gear
  

I got the DA zoom as a replacement for my previous zoom with Tamron 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro 1:2 zoom. I have been missing my old Tamron zoom for its lightweight, good image quality and surprisingly good close up at 1:2. The DA zoom is priced higher as in two times the cost of Tamron Zoom and it is without the close up in Tamron zoom. In terms of build quality, the Pentax DA zoom is better especially in the zoom ring that is tight and unlike the Tamron zoom, the zoom position pretty much stays in place reliably.

Both zooms share the quality of sharp images and good to use in traveling with single zoom lens that cover the long end needs while my short ends are covered with primes. The DA zoom has another positive advantage in not fringing which I have a difficult time with the Tamron zoom.

I have consolidated my DA 40mm f/2.8 limited and FA 50mm f/1.4 into one single prime with Pentax FA 43mm f/1.9 limited. After trimming my DA limited trio with 21, 40 and 70, I am down to 4 limited lens with two DA limited and two FA limited.

• 15, 35, 43 and 77

and I find the 43mm limited to be a great replacement for my DA 40mm f/2.8 limited. The 40mm limited is an under-rated limited lens but the 43mm stands out in speed and color. I found the 40 limited sharp even wide open but the gain of speed in the 43mm is especially useful in indoor and low light shooting. Though it is not pancake small like the 40mm limited, it is a delight to use with aperture ring and a removable lens hood that is not adding too much bulkiness to the lens. It has a charming factor on its own rights.


When I used it in a weekend in an Art & Wine festival and an indoor night club shooting with Pentax K20D, I was very impressed with its sharpness, color and small form factor like the other limited lens.









Impressions & Notes

• I find it a good replacement for consolidating my two lens with DA 40mm f/2.8 limited and FA 50mm f/1.4 into one.
  
  
• Not pancake small like the DA 40mm f/2.8 limited but it actually is small like the 21mm and its lens hood is reasonably good in size and removable. I actually don't mind and find the size quite ideal for both digital and film. It is smaller and more compact than the FA 50mm f/1.4.
  
  
• It beats the DA limited with an aperture ring and well suited for film bodies as in Pentax MX or my Ricoh xr-p. You can call me old school but I always prefers lens that work with both digital and film bodies.
  
  
• AF is not as fast as the DA 40mm f/2.8 limited.
  
  
• In the night club shooting, I had a very difficult time with AF assisted light from flash and it took a second or two to lock on focus. The difficulty had more to do with my K20D
  
  
• The gain of speed in f/1.9 offers tremendous help to my K20D shooting as I tried to avoid iso 1600 and I shot in iso 800 with f/1.9 for the test shots above. Though wide open maybe soft but I much rather have that option instead of bumping up ISO alone
  
  
• Lens is very sharp like the 77mm and it is cutter than the 77mm in terms of size. Color rendering is vivid and rich and it lives up to the expectation and positive experience with 77mm limited.
  
  
• Highly recommended limited lens
  

Related

• Pentax FA 77mm f/1.8 limited with Pentax K-x
  
• Pentax FA 31mm f/1.8 limited
  
• Pentax DA 40mm f/2.8 limited
• High ISO habit forming with Pentax K-x
• Hin's Camera Gear

I am finding my mono-pod having an important role in my hiking with heavy and long lens. Our family went to hiking in the same park on both Sunday and Monday. The Monday's hike had a purpose as my wife's lost one of the glass in the hiking trail and my younger boy vividly recall a piece of circular glass on the hiking trail. All pictures taken with Pentax K20D and Tamron SP 500mm f/8.0 adaptall-2 55BB on a mono-pod.


It is easier for me to catch up with my faster family who ran ahead of me searching for the missing glass.


And my older boy has a tendency in avoiding and running away from my camera.




And I can make a still shot of animals such as a goose in a distance


And close up with this mirror lens quite usable as long as the background is farther away from the subject. When background is too close, I do see harsh bokeh and sometime the doughnut bokeh do happen especially if you look for them.






Impressions & Notes

For readers who have an interest in mirror lens, I will try to sum up the experience and a caution to set the expectation correct

• It is important to find the brand that is recommended by trusted sources. I will concentrate on Tamron 55B, 55BB adaptall-2, Sigma cat 400mm f/5.6 and 600mm f/8.0 and Tokina 500mm f/8.0 and perhaps few others
  
• Doughnut bokeh are there. Some can be distracting especially when the background object is at a close distance.
  
• MF is the key thing in getting the shots. The beauty in the mirror lens lies in small size and compact form factor. This misleads me to use it hand-held. However, the best pictures and better keeper ratio does come from the use with mono-pod. With the extra investment, you will enjoy the mirror lens UP a notch or two.
  
• The speed at f/8.0 is not meant for fast moving objects. You will be disappointed when you compare the mirror lens to a good f/5.6 in 400mm in shooting objects in a distance with fast movement.
  
• Lower contrast and flat color on pictures are some of the factors that turn people off from mirror lens. I will have some bragging rights on the Tamron 55BB as the color and contrast are at a different camp when compared to the Vivitar 500mm f/8.0 that I previously owned. Don't cheap out in getting a $80 mirror lens as it is not even worth $8.0 for the shipping fee.
  
• There is no fringing in mirror lens as far as I know
  
• Tamron 55BB is a later version after the 55B. And 55BB doesn't have a tripod mount. I find it alright to use the tripod mount on camera and it is an non-issue when I use my 55BB.
  
• Perhaps more to come when I remember them

Related

• Moon Chasing with Tamron 500mm f/8.0 adaptall-2 (55BB) and Pentax K-5
• Tamron 500mm f/8.0 adaptall-2 55BB 1st Copy
• Tamron adaptall-2 PK-A adapter
• Vivitar 500mm f/8.0 mirror lens in K mount
• Tamron adaptall-2 Articles
• Hin's Camera Gear

I have recently forced myself to decide few lenses to go. My 70mm and 40mm limited are the ones to go. I am contemplating on 21mm as I like it for street shooting and people shot but I am tempted to try the crazy thing in Tamron 10-24. I wish someone have tried it on Pentax and tell me all about it. I don't trust reviews on test chart and soft this and sharp that. I like user real photo experience. It is not urgent as I love to keep my 21 as long as I can afford it. Having both the 15 and 21 is a blast for wide angle needs. And I have the funkiest liking on 10-17. So my wide angle needs are as complete as I think it is with 15, 21 and 10-17 for the fun factor. But you all know me in wanting to try out the unthinkable in Sigma 10-20 or Tamron 10-24 and swap with the 21. I know I am going backward with Justin.

Now on the 70/77 story. The 77 is insane every time that I use it. I shoot some shots wide open in many instances, it is still a reasonable shot. Fringing seems like a character that happen more in 77mm than the 70mm. But 77 is keen o sharpness and surreal color that make a picture pop over the 70. Its speed in f/1.8 allow me to go insane in indoor shots.

Here are few shots on a Goose feather. After a big crop, I can see the detail and I think it is really sharp. I hate Photography as an exact science like RH measurbation on image quality.

All shots taken with Pentax K-x and Pentax FA 77mm f/1.8 while the wind is blowing quite heavily on a clothing hanging line. Shame on some of the shots that are over exposed

#1 The set up
with cloths drying line and wood clips

And this cat shot that I have no time to frame the shot. As soon as I open the screen door, I get about two shots with one that look down at the cat and I kneel down next for the head shot and right after the shutter release, he turns and heads upstairs. It is a giant cat.

Again, I love the depth and the soft and very smooth off focus rendering, it helps to isolate the subject of focus greatly though I rush into the shot without much thinking.




Impressions & Notes

• As I have noted before. Color and sharpness is outstanding in FA 77mm f/1.8 limited.
  
  
• The fast speed in f/1.8 makes the 77mm limited all more of a great value when it comes to indoor and low light type of shooting. The bokeh in wide open is awesome but I do notice light falling off in wide open aperture. Care has be taken in using wide open aperture wisely.
  
  
• The FA77 and DA 70 limited are not keen on close up. But the sharpness in both lens can help you as a macro lens in cropping huge. In the test shots with the white goose feather, I did a large crop close to 85% crop and it surely looks like a macro shot
  
  
• Cyan color fringing are noticed in high contrast areas. It is unfortunate and some Pentax folks in community prefer the DA 70 limited because of the frequent fringing. I treat the fringing as a character in the lens as the color from FA 77mm offers surreal quality not matched up by the 70 limited. If fringing is a concern, go with 70 limited which also excels in sharpness and color and it has the quick shift focus that is absent in FA limited lens series.
  
  
• I thought often about the field of view after crop factor that adds up to roughly 115mm. It is outstanding in half body portraits but one has to zoom with feed. In actual shooting with outdoor portraiture, I actually like my DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 due to the zoom flexibility. But in terms of prime quality, color and sharpness, and compactness, few can match up with the 77mm limited
  
  
• Among the FA and DA limited, my favorite is the FA 77mm limited for its surreal color, great sharpness, and awesome speed in f/1.8 when I need to push and balance with ISO and hand-holding shutter in demanding situation
  

Related:

• Pentax FA 43mm f/1.9 limited
• Pentax K-x White
• Pentax FA 77mm f/1.8 limited Insanely Good
• Pentax FA 77mm limited vs Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8
• Pentax DA 70mm f/2.4 limited
  
• Hin's Camera Gear