I've Moved My Blog

Thanks to all those who contacted me while I was on hiatus from updating my blog here on Blogger. Despite some faulty conspiracy theories about why I wasn't posting, I've recharged my batteries and will start updating my blog hopefully on a more regular basis. I also must acknowledge that I should have been smarter and at least posted a comment that I was "on vacation from blogging" or something similar, and for that oversight I apologize.

I'd also like to announce that effective immediately, I'll be using a new blog at Posterous. I've been testing their site for a few weeks and really like how they handle blogging from my iPhone as well as the simple way they let me upload the larger image files I need to post that I've shot with the K-5 or K-r.

If you'd like to stay current with my updates, then please use this link from now on...

http://nedbunnell.posterous.com/

This link should take you to the full site if you're on a PC or a mobile theme layout if you're coming from either an iPhone or Android smartphone. I'll also keep my Blogger site running, but only as an "archive" for my older posts, so please don't leave any comments on Blogger.

I look forward to seeing you over at Posterous.

Cheers,
Ned

Test image file size

Pentaxians at PhotoPlus Expo

The annual PDN PhotoPlus Expo was held in NYC October 28-30th. Despite having the smallest booth - actually a 10x20 ft area in the midst of all the bigger boys, we were extremely busy over the three day show. We had a chance to speak with many fellow Pentaxians and many shooters using other brands that waited in line to see the 645D, K-5 and K-r. The W90 also generated a lot of interest, as well as our new compact camera, the RS1000 which allows you to change the faceplate with any design of your choosing.
I had a chance to chat with Miserere, a fellow Pentax shooter, and member of Pentax Forums who came down to the show from Boston. He manages a site called Enticing the Light, and as I discovered while we chatted, Miserere and I share a common affection for the FA31mm Limited lens. He posted a really well done report on what was going on at our booth, and in case some of you have not had the opportunity to read it, I've included a link below.
http://enticingthelight.com/2010/11/01/speaking-to-pentax-at-photoplus-expo-in-new-york/

K-5 and DA300Samples

See the full gallery on posterous

I just received my first K-5 production last week. Although I'm really looking forward to testing the camera with some of my favorite lenses, for example the FA31, FA77, DA35 Macro, DA15, I knew I wouldn't have time or the right circumstances to try out any of these lenses last weekend. I was planning Sunday morning to go down to my favorite surfing beach, San Onofre, to get a little exercise and catch some waves with a few of my friends. I decided to take the DA 300mm f/4.0 lens with me to give my K-5 a go at some surfing photos.

Unfortunately, the tide was very high when we got to the beach, and the waves really weren't breaking to our satisfaction. As I was not going to be able to come back in the afternoon, I decided to just walk the beach with my K-5 and DA300 combo and try and capture a few interesting photos. Being a new camera, I was primarily interrested in getting a few samples that showed the sharpness and color rendering of the new sensor. With such a bright sunny, morning I was not that interested in testing the high ISO range of the K-5, and quite frankly it looks like there are enough others doing these tests for me. Therefore, all of the images I'm posting were shot at ISO 400 at apertures between f/4.0 and f/5.6.

As there is no change in the body ergonomics between the K-5 and K-7, I found the balance and handling with the DA300mm lens was still the same...comfortable in the hand and not too heavy to carry around. In processing these images, all shot in DNG, and converted to jpgs for posting here, I found the color rendering of the K-5 to be very natural or accurate - just like I'd seen when depressing the shutter. And although I need to shoot many more images, I am encouraged with the way the camera seems to handle scenes with a wide dynamic range - namely the photo of the two surfers walking into the waves.

Note: I am experimenting with Posterous as potentially a new site to use for both my mobile posting from the iPhone as well as files I shoot with the K-5 and K-r. I'll be checking to see how Posterous handles images for uploading, so bear with me if you see funky things happening with my photos - it might not be the photographer or camera that's acting up :)

Testing Feed from Posterous

As I mentioned to several Pentaxians who I had conversations with at the recent PhotoPlus Expo in NYC, October 28-30, I am going to start blogging again.

This is just a preliminary test of a really nice app on the iPhone called Posterous. It allows you to post any media to your own Posterous site, as well as "autopost" to a wide range of other accounts, including Blogger which is where my current blog is hosted.

As a test, here's a photo I shot of my Aunt at a reception on October 24th in Bronxville, NY. Photographed with the K-r and one of my favorite lenses - the 35mm Macro Limited. Actual photo info should show up in the bottom area of the image.

I still have to spend time testing Posterous and do some house keeping with my Blogger site, but hope to be back posting very shortly!