Phoenix Gold Phorum

well, I'll sum it up here photographically...



1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Set 2:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Set 3:

1.

2.

3

4

5

6

7

8

Rally Finland also starts tomorrow, so I'll be out and about on Friday

Comments welcome!

Bret

Stunning pics! You have really developed as a photographer!

thanks - you might be surprised to hear how many of them are actually with an 18-250 - but the PP has made such a difference it's unbelievable and the K5 is so not noisy it's hard to fathom. Extremely pleasant to work with.

I also now have a piece of rocking-horse-shit in my hands; a Sigma 100-300/f4. This is one of the last new ones ever in Pentax mount.

Bret

I use an 18-200 myself, but my shots are rarely that sharp. So you've done all that with RAW adjustments? Maybe I should switch back

well, the chicken (set 1, number 2) is with a Tamron 18-250.
As are a *lot* of the others. Basically this lot is 33% 18-250, 25% 50 Macro, one Tokina 80-400 (which is now sold and replaced with the 100-300) and a couple which are either the 24-70 or 18-55mm. My 50 is also my macro, that's the other reason it appears a lot. The landscapes I can't be 100% sure on without the EXIFs and it's late

As far as sharpness is concerned:
- make sure the AF actually focuses where you think it's going to
- work with the lens to discover where it really is sharp (take a shot at 18mm at f4, f8, f11, f16. Which looks best? Repeat for 35, 50, 100 and 200mm - as a target, brick walls are perfect) - I've learned that my 18-55 is sharper at 24 than my 24-70/2.8, but at 35, the 2.8 is damned good. The 100-300f4 kicks ass permanently, but then again so it should...
- always use a tripod or surface and timer if it's even remotely close to telephoto. I saw what the monopod could do for my 400 and I didn't believe it until I tested it at home - it's amazing. Yes, I have a monopod these days, along with four 'frotto plates; one for each body, the flash grip and the tripod ring on the 100-300.

The 'pod is a 'frotto 690 with a 234RC2 head, which means everything has the same head and it all just works

RAW enabled an absolute shitload of changes. The "welcome to hell!" sunset was simply grey clouds before processing, and the PP has brought out a lot of the detail. It's amazing how clean the K5 is, but it's encouraged me to underexpose slightly and then pull detail out. It's worth playing with RAW, it really is.

Bret

Outstanding pics as always Bret! Second set pic three, I would love to see that converted to B&W.

I finally broke down and bought a real lens, 17-70mm f2.8 Tamron. Hopefully someday I will have some time to sit down and enjoy it.

Keep up the good work!