NED BUNNELL

I've Moved My Blog

2010-11-15T21:00:00.001-05:00

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

2010-11-10T23:23:00.001-05:00

Pentaxians at PhotoPlus Expo

2010-11-09T02:40:00.002-05:00

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

2010-11-09T01:08:00.001-05:00

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

2010-11-08T18:14:00.001-05:00

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!

A few Samples from Mauna Kea Beach Resort

2010-05-21T10:00:00.010-04:00

Why is it that vacations seem to end before you've even started? We just returned last night from our brief stay at the Mauna Kea Beach Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Although I have many images to go through, I thought I'd post a few sample shots taken with the K-x and DA 15mm Limited lens. Click on any thumbnail to see a larger image file.

View of hotel from the southern tip of Kuano'oa Bay, which the hotel is perched above.

View of beach on Kuano'oa Bay from entrance to Manta restaurant.

The oldest work in the Mauna Kea's collection of Asian art is this Indian sculpture of a seated Buddha, circa 7th century.

View of the golf course's famous 3rd hole. This photos is taken from the ceremonial tee box used by Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, on December 8, 1964, to open the first day of play on the course designed by Robert Trent Jones.

What's in Your Bag?

2010-05-13T21:30:00.002-04:00

I'll be leaving Saturday for a little break. We'll be going to the Big Island of Hawaii and staying at one of our favorite resorts, the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, at the northern part of the Kona coast. It's been recently renovated and we want to see how it compares to our many previous stays.

As the above photo (which I created for a speech I gave at the International Center of Photography) suggests, I really enjoy traveling with a small Billingham bag and a handful of Limited and FA lenses.

The resort was designed by Rockefeller in 1965. It has a very open and terraced architecture, houses an incredible collection of Asian art, and has beautiful grounds. This got me thinking that I should give myself an assignment to try and capture a set of photos that gives someone who's never been to the Mauna Kea a real sense of what the hotel looks and feels like. In essence, try to provide a more accurate set of images than the few miscellaneous photos that one can look at if you're using Trip Advisor or other travel sites.

With this criteria in mind, I've decided to take only three lenses. And to make this a fun post, the first person that can post a comment that accurately lists the three lenses I'll be taking with me will get a prize that I'm still trying to figure out...but it will be something that contains glass.

To help you narrow down the trio of lenses, they will be a combination of DA Limiteds and the FA Limited lenses. And to eliminate any draws wherein more than one person guesses the right three lenses, include a brief reason why you think I selected those particular lenses.

Good luck and Aloha!

May 14th (Friday Night Update):

I guess my contest wasn't that hard or my shooting style is too predictable. I had a winner almost instantly. I didn't think this would happen as I figured the surprise element was that I will not be taking the FA31mm.

The three lenses are DA15, DA35mm Macro and the FA77mm for the reasons that many of your pointed out. I literally was trying to finish all pending work today, as well as get ready for the early flight in the morning, so I'll have to confirm the winner in the next few days while I have some downtime at the Mauna Kea.

This contest was a rather spontaneous idea while I was waiting for a delayed flight Thursday night to take off from Denver, so I am really pleased with all the comments you contributed. Dialogue on lens selection and the reasoning behind how and why one chooses their lenses for an assignment turned out to be a nice topic. I think I'll have to do this again choosing another aspect of photography?

Kerrick James at B&H

2010-05-06T13:00:00.004-04:00

This past Tuesday, May 4th, we sponsored two lectures at B&H in New York City by Pentax Photographer, Kerrick James. The title of his lecture was "Natural Inspiration: Outdoor Photography with Kerrick James".

For those of you that were not able to attend, here's the description we used on Facebook to promote Kerrick's lecture:

"Join Kerrick for an inspirational and educational lecture on outdoor photography and the new PENTAX K-7. In this session, Kerrick James will expound on the inspiration for his work and guide users through the features that help make the PENTAX K-7 a perfect outdoor shooting companion. Few photographers know the K-7 as well as Kerrick James. He chooses the K-7 for its ergonomic design, weather sealing, image quality and compatibility with every PENTAX lens ever made. Kerrick will guide attendees through the camera and explains how he puts it to the test nearly every day on his adventure travel shoots and workshops. As an added bonus, Kerrick will explain how the small, but mighty, PENTAX Optio W90 serves as an ideal back-up camera even in the most tortuous, outdoor elements, because it can go anywhere."

If you're interested in learning more about Kerrick's work, it turns out that Outdoor Photographer recently posted on-line a new article with text and photography by Kerrick. I believe this article will also appear in the June issue of Outdoor Photographer, but you can get a sneak peak by checking out The Grand Canyon From Within here.

(Note: I shot the photo of Kerrick in available light at ISO 1600, F/4.0, 1/20sec with the K-x and the FA 31mm Limited lens. I converted the RAW file into a jpeg using CS4 and other than reducing my exposure slightly, I did no other post-processing. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger image file.)

Outside Awards W90 "Gear of The Year"

2010-05-04T00:01:00.004-04:00

GOLDEN, CO (May 4, 2010)...PENTAX Imaging Company announced that the PENTAX Optio W90 digital camera is an OUTSIDE MAGAZINE Gear of the Year Award winner. The Gear of the Year Award is announced in the Spring/Summer 2010 Outside Buyer's Guide hitting newsstands today and remains available through September of this year.

"This is one cool camera," said Buyer's Guide editor Sam Moulton. "With rugged specs and a design that makes it look like it belongs on a mountain trail, it offers everything an outdoor adventure enthusiast could want in a point and shoot camera," added Moulton.

"And when the shooting begins, the W90 brings some serious photographic punch," added Moulton.

The eleventh generation PENTAX Optio waterproof digital camera is built for rugged adventure in every way. With enhanced waterproof, shockproof, dustproof, and coldproof performance, the camera also features an innovative Digital Microscope mode with three LED lights to capture small but intriguing subjects. Designed with the distinct look of mountaineering equipment, the Optio W90 kit includes a woven web fabric strap complete with a carabiner to attach the camera to a backpack and other outdoor gear.

Priced at $329.95 USD, the camera is shipping now. A waterproof infrared remote control (sold separately) for use with the PENTAX Optio W90 and other infrared compatible Optio models is available for $29.95 USD.

In addition to recognizing the W90, in their review of binoculars, Outside called the Pentax DCF NV at $219 USD a "Killer Value"..."Perfect for the neophyte birder who wants quality glass without blowing his inheritance." More information about the W90 camera or DCF NV binocular is available at http://www.pentaximaging.com or http://www.pentaxsportoptics.com.

(Note: You can double click on any thumbnail to see a larger jpeg file.)

Weekend in Connecticut

2010-05-03T02:00:00.000-04:00

Despite this being a very short visit to Connecticut, we were fortunate to have one of the area's first summer like days...hot, clear and just a touch of humidity. This time of the year the lawn, shrubs and foilage are still vibrant and there's this lovely canopy of filtered light anywhere that you happen to be...whether it's walking through the woods or strolling the grounds around a house.

From a photography perspective, these type of days offer tremendous contrast, diffuse lighting and a wonderful saturation of colors provided you can find the right combination of light and composition.

All photos shot with the K-x and either the FA Limited 31mm or 77mm. As always, I shot in AV mode to control my aperture and set the ISO to either 200 or 400. RAW images were processed in PhotoShop CS4 to produce these jpeg's for uploading on blogger. Images are all full size (I did not crop any image) and other than boosting saturation and vibrancy in some of the images, I did no other post processing.

While the 31mm is my favorite "if I could only have one lens" piece of glass, the 77mm continues to amaze me in how it handles contrast, yet delivers sharpness or "snap" as well as beautiful color rendition and saturation as seen in the photos of the lady reading the Sunday paper, the skunk cabbage as well as the interior shots...especially the close-up views of the antique pitcher with the silver top.

(Note: Click on any thumbnail to see a larger image file.)

Your First Hundered Shots with a New Lens

2010-04-25T16:00:00.000-04:00

Keep your eye on the ball, or the bottle of Tignanello - which ever one strikes your fancy. I need to write the copy for this post, but you can probably imagine from the above photos that I want to suggest a few things to improve one's out-of-box experience with a brand new lens.

(Note: Click on any thumbnail to see a larger image.)

The Three Amigos via Duotone

2010-04-25T15:00:00.000-04:00

Without much time to do any photography this weekend, I had quickly shot a few images in my backyard studio that I'm thinking of using in a future post. As I typically use our home office/extra bedroom to work from, I noticed my collection of Limited Lens and one of my Billingham bags just casually strewn on the daybed.

As I had come back to the room with the K-x and 31mm still mounted on my tripod, it took about a minute to set-up and fire off a few shots. It took longer to process the RAW file in CS4 and then covert the image into a duotone.

This exercise was simply to see if I could create an image that spoke to the classic nature of the Three Amigos (31mm, 43mm, 77mm Limited Lenses) in a softer type of classic light or interpretation. How'd I do?

(Note: Click on the thumbnail to see a larger image.)

W90's Digital Microscope Mode

2010-04-18T00:00:00.000-04:00

One of the unique features of the W90 are the three "LED Macro Lights" which surround the lens. These lights are turned on automatically when you select the W90's "Digital Microscope" mode, which is also a first for any compact camera.

Our user manual describes this mode as follows, "In the Digital Microscope mode, you can take pictures of objects as close as 1 cm, also because the 3 macro lights around the lens are always lighted, you can take minute pictures of text, the veins of leaves, or specimens of tiny insects, etc."

As I've received several inquiries about how the Macro Lights and the Microscope mode work, here's an explanation of the feature, and some sample images that I shot in this mode.

One of the problems with taking super macro photos with compact cameras is that to get in very close to the subject, you find that the camera ends up being right on top of the desired object and it creates a shadow or blocks out most of the ambient light you'd need to properly illuminate the object.

In my strawberries sequence below, the 2nd and 3rd photos give you an idea of how the camera can block all light from hitting your subject. I used bright daylight to emphasize the shadow effect and how the LED lights will provide additional lighting. In most cases you would not be shooting these type of microscope photos in direct sunlight, but it was the simplest way for me to explain the logic behind the 3 Macro Lights.

The 4th, 5th and 6th photos show the actual photos of a strawberry leaf and two different views of the strawberry seeds that I took in the microscope mode. As you'd expect, the zoom rocker button allows you to zoom in or out when composing your microscope shot.

When shooting in Digital Microscope mode, the camera defaults to 2.1 Megapixel resolution and saves the image as a JPEG in 16:9 aspect ratio. Based on my initial shots, the file sizes range from 1.1 to 1.9MB.

I don't recall seeing actual specs on the working range of these Macro Lights, but I don't believe it's more than a few inches. Although you can not adjust the power of these lights, I have already found that using EV compensation allows you to control the light fairly well. You can also customize your settings when shooting in Microscope mode, including Image Tone, Sensitivity, EV comp, Sharpness, Saturation and Contrast. For instance, as I don't like to set Sensitivity to Auto, all my sample photos were shot at ISO 400 in either Natural or Bright mode.

One bit of advice if you're going to buy a W90 and try this mode. There is so little depth of field when shooting at 1 cm, so make sure the camera is rock solid and does not move at all between the time you lock focus and depress the shutter to capture the shot. For all my shots so far, I found resting my W90 down on a sponge had an effective dampening effect on the camera.

The following Microscope photo samples were taken randomly over the past two weekends, as part of my tests to familiarize myself with this mode. Hope this post gives you a better idea of the capabilities of the Microscope mode.

(Photo Notes: Click on any thumbnail to see a larger image file.)

Suede Sleeve for W90

2010-04-17T12:00:00.000-04:00

We have some pretty nice cases coming out for the W90, but for now I wanted to give my W90 some basic protection. I've never really appreciated having my camera and case tethered or attached. I prefer to be able to easily pull a camera out of its case and just start shooting, and when I'm finished simply slip it back in the case for protection.

For those of you that have a similar interest in minimal camera protection, I thought you might want to check out SF Bags - Waterfield Designs. Waterfield sells a wide range of computer bags, cases for iPhones and iPads, as well as suede sleeves for a number of devices.

Although their "Suede Jacket Cell Phone Cases" are marketed for cellphones, I found that the W90 fits nicely in their size "75" slipcase. It prevents scratches to the W90 when not in use. It also allows you to fold back the carabiner strap against the case when stowing the camera in suitcase, backpack etc. without having to worry if the carabiner is going to scratch the body, lens or LCD. The elasticity of the pocket keeps it flat when empty and stretchy enough to hold your W90 safely.Size 75 fits the W90.

The first three photos below show how the W90 fits in the Size 75 suede slipcase. The last two photos are primarily for reference and show two other Waterfield designs that I have. In particular, I have used the Cargo bag (bottom photo) for over three years and it has served me very well.

I am not connected with SF Bags, except that I've been a loyal customer for quite a few years. All there products are wonderfully made with great attention to detail, and they have truly superb service. And, as much as this will come as a surprise to you, all of their products are made in the SF Bay area.

So if you need a case for the W90 or a new sleeve for your laptop, you might want to check them out. I can assure you, you will not be disappointed. Here's a link to their website.

SF Bags - Waterfield Designs

(Photo Notes: Images shot with a K-x and FA 50mm f/1.4 Lens in RAW at ISO 400. Processed with CS4 to produce these small jpegs for posting on blogger. Click on any thumbnail to see a larger image.)

All Endorsements Are Welcome

2010-04-16T14:00:00.000-04:00

It's easy to understand how this happened, but it's still a nice way to end the week (smile). Click on the thumbnail to see a larger image.

K-x and DA 55-300

2010-04-12T00:00:00.000-04:00

We had a chance Saturday to see one of our grand kids, Yuta, play in a Pony League baseball game in Irvine, CA. Yuta's a very determined and natural athlete, and he played pitcher, first base and center field.

I brought the K-x and DA 55-300 f/4-5.8 ED lens to capture a few memories of the game. All photos shot in RAW at ISO 400. Quite a few of the action shots of Yuta have been cropped to isolate the action. Click on any thumbnail to see a larger file.

Henri Cartier-Bresson

2010-04-09T19:00:00.000-04:00

Today's New York Times had an article entitled:

Art Review | 'Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Modern Century'
A Photographer Whose Beat Was the World

A 1972 photo of a Georgian family picnicking near a medieval monastery, part of a series taken in this retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art.

By HOLLAND COTTER
Published: April 9, 2010
The photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson is the subject of a handsome and large — though surely not anywhere near large enough retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art.

Click on link below to read full article.

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Spring in Colorado

2010-04-07T13:16:00.000-04:00

Colorado weather in April is as fickle as a fanboy on a forum. One day it's 70 and sunny and the next day it's 30 and snowing. Case in point, this morning we awoke to 4" of snow in Golden. By noon the sun will be back out and by the end of today the ground will be bare.

(Photos shot with the W90 using the Natural Image Tone Setting. ISO 400. No post processing of images. Click on thumbnail to see a larger image.)

First Weekend with the W90

2010-04-05T01:00:00.000-04:00

(Note: I am still preparing copy for this post. Stay tuned. Click on any of the thumbnails to see a larger image.)

The above photos, primarily to show both color versions of the W90 and the included carabiner strap, were taken with my K-x and 50mm f/1.4 lens.

All following photos were shot with one of the first production samples of the W90 that I received last week, just in time for Easter weekend.

ISO 800 Shots of Wine Bottle and Swiss Doll

ISO 800 Shot of Wallet and Money

ISO 100 Shot of Teak Steamer Chair

ISO 200 Shot of Bananas and Coffee

ISO 400 Shot of Bananas and Coffee

ISO 800 Shot of Bananas and Coffee

ISO 1600 Shot of Bananas and Coffee

Image Tone Setting: Bright

Image Tone Setting: Natural

Image Tone Setting: Monochrome

Sample W90 Photos Taken Over the Weekend (ISO 400)

Original JPEG image:

Original JPEG image plus "Retro" Digital Filter:

"Retro" plus "Extract Color" Digital Effect:

Amateur Photographers Underpricing Professionals

2010-03-30T01:00:00.000-04:00

Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred for The New York Times

Interesting article in The New York Times:
For Photographers, the Image of a Shrinking Path
By STEPHANIE CLIFFORD
Published: March 29, 2010
Amateur photographers, happy to accept small checks for snapshots, are underpricing professionals.

Here's a permalink to the article: For Photographers, the Image of a Shrinking Path

Don't "cheap-out" on your Legs and Head

2010-03-21T15:00:00.000-04:00

We've all seen this type of post..."Looking for an inexpensive tripod or head". As is typical with these type of inquiries, you learn the person just spent a $1,000 or more on their new SLR and another grand on a heavy, high quality 300mm lens (or other combination of body and lenses that are not likely to yield optimum results by hand holding at very slow shutter speeds even with in-camera or in-lens shake reduction systems).

Having just spent this type of money for a great system, it always concerns me how these folks think they'll be able to take advantage of their great optics if they do not buy the right support. In many cases, learning that one can't cheap out on key accessories like legs and the proper head unfortunately comes from experience. And I can attest to learning this early in my career (smile).

Part of the challenge in buying support accessories is first realizing that there is no single set of legs and head that will serve you well for all your various photography pursuits.

For instance, I have a wonderful support system that I acquired years ago when I was spending a lot of my time shooting surfing with a big 600mm lens. Without a doubt, the Gitzo Carbon Fiber 1325 set of legs with my Wimberley Gimbal Head is perfect for surfing and nature photography. The Gitzo legs provide the type of rock solid support I needed and the Wimberley head provides unparalleled freedom of movement when working with large telephoto lenses.

However, the Gitzo/Wimberley combo is far too heavy, cumbersome and certainly overkill for my everyday photography, where a minimal amount of support is needed. Therefore, I use a much smaller set-up for my walk-around photography...a 10-12 year old support combination using the Linhof Universal I Ballhead I and a fairly lightweight, compact Bogen 3000 series aluminum tripod.

Now, before anyone posts a rebuttal or starts a debate on whether the Linhof/Bogen combo is the best combo, please remember choosing the correct support for your camera, range of lenses and your type of photography is a very personal decision. The fact that I have found this combo to work very well for my type of photography and I have not had to upgrade it for over ten years is one of the key points of this post.

Don't run out a buy the first support system you find. Don't make your purchase decision based on looking for the lowest price solution. I can't tell you how many times I have told fellow photographers that I can save them a lot of money by helping them buy the "right" support from the start.

There is also a lesson in economics at play here when discussing camera accessories. Unlike most camera bodies which will depreciate rather quickly, high quality optics, tripods, heads actually retain their value over time. In some cases, a well cared for head or tripod can be worth the same amount years down the road, as when you bought them new.

I thought of this point last weekend when I was using my Linhof ballhead. So, I rummaged through my closet to find the original Linhof box. (Note, although my wife thinks I am excessively anal, make sure you keep all your camera gear original packages. It definitely increases the resale value if the day comes and you want to sell that mint lens, set of legs, or ball head.)

To support my recommendation about considering your accessories an investment in both pleasure, functionality and potential ROI, it looks like I bought the Linhof ball head from Cal's Camera for $140 over 10-12 years ago. Since this was the sticker price, I probably paid $120 or so for this item. In checking prices for this same head today, it appears it's going for $200-220. While it's highly unlikely I'd ever want to sell this item just to realize a slight profit on paper, it's somehow comforting to know that I've had years of wonderful, reliable use from this Linhof head and it hasn't lost any of its value.

So, just remember, it's very tempting to want to immediately accessorize that new camera or long, heavy lens with a new tripod or head. However, don't cheap out and get the first one you find on sale. Experience shows you'll regret that impulse buy and within six months you'll be on your way to buying that "second" tripod or head, which if you've taken anything away from this post, should have been your "first" purchase.

There are many sources for reading up on how to select the right support for your camera and lenses. While I don't see a need to list them all here, Thom Hogan has a rather old editorial on camera support that is still valid and insightful today. Here's a link if you're interested:

"...just buy the right stuff the first time"

Steve Huff's Review of the K7

2010-03-21T12:00:00.000-04:00

Steve Huff, who's primarily a Leica shooter, posted a review of the K7 based on his perspective as a photographer who is not enamored with large bulky SLR cameras. As I shot early on in my career (60's through early 80's) with M4's and Summilux and Summicron lenses, I also enjoyed reading his observations about the FA 31mm and 77mm Limited lenses, as well as his comparison shots with the 35mm Summilux and the FA 31mm Limted. The link to his blog and review is below.

Pentax K7 Real World Review

Sukiyabashi Jiro: Japanese Living Treasure

2010-03-08T18:00:00.000-05:00

Photo of Jiro's hand by Craig Mod

For anyone that appreciates the art of sushi, Craig Mod's black and white photographs of sushi chef Sukiyabashi Jiro are worth checking out. Here's a link to the photographs on his blog:
Sukiyabashi Jiro: Sushi Chef, Japanese Living Treasure

If you like the portraits of Jiro-san, check out the rest of Craig's blog, as he has some other really beautiful photographs on display.

There was also a good article in the March 5th Technology Section of The New York Times about Craig's views as a former book designer on the transition of books from paper to interactive devices. Here's a permalink to the NYT article:
Former Book Designer Says Good Riddance to Print

Field of View with DA 35 Macro

2010-03-07T15:00:00.000-05:00

Based on a recent email I received, there are still some folks that don't understand or fully appreciate the benefits of the "close focus" feature in the DA 35mm f/2.8 Macro Limited lens. I was reminded of this today as I used the lens to take some backyard shots for our landscape designer.

So to illustrate why it's great to have a small, normal view "walk about" lens with close focus capability built in, I quickly shot the sequence below. I started shooting from about 18 feet away to capture a fairly wide angle view of our teak Kennebunkport chairs and ended with a close-up from a few inches away of the missing wood plug on the left arm of one of our chairs.

Needless to say, there are probably more beautiful compositions I could have chosen to show the range of this lens, which I invariably use when I only want to take one lens on an outing or walk around town. However, I hope this sequence helps the curmudgeonly old man that sent me the email challenging the design philosophy of this lens. Somehow I doubt it as he'll likely find something wrong with my photos :)

(Note: Photos shot with K-x and DA 35mm Macro in RAW at ISO 400. I used CS4 to covert the RAW files into jpeg's for posting here on Blogger. Click on any of the thumbnails to see a larger file.)

Passion for Coffee and Photography?

2010-03-06T15:00:00.000-05:00

This post is slightly off topic, except that coffee can be an integral part of your lifestyle and pursuit of excellence in photography. Many an evening, I have a fresh cup of coffee just to the right of my MacBook Pro as I peruse images in PhotoShop or prepare my files for printing. For me coffee is part of my workflow. I can sit back and compare different adjustments I've made to an image, while sipping a great cup of java. It slows the process down and gives me a chance to really consider what I want to do with a given image.

Coffee for me is also a craft or interest that I'm just as passionate about as my photography, growing heirloom tomatoes and collecting/storing fine wines from around the world. Therefore, the equipment I use for making great coffee and espresso is somewhat analogous to the gear I've used over my career for making my photographs. In general, the coffee gear I've come to enjoy the most over the years are simple, straight forward products that perform their chosen task very well with no additional bells and whistles.

So with this in mind, and thinking that there must be other Pentaxians that share a similar passion for coffee and espresso, here are my "2010 Glorious Bean Awards" for various coffee related products. As I frequent several coffee forums as much as I do the photo forums, I'm sure my choices might elicit some debate, but I guess that's the point of my post...to mix up the dialogue here for a change. And, to remind folks that just like coffee, photography is supposed to be an enjoyable, enriching part of your life.

Best Coffee Machine:

Technivorm KBT 741. These electric coffee brewers are hand made in the Netherlands and are good enough to be certified by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA). They are the only machines I have found that brew at the right temperature (205 degrees) every time.

Best Grinder for Espresso:

Rancilio Rocky grinder. The Rocky is a top-grade, consumer mill made in Italy. It has the best quality burrs and a straight-forward adjustment to dial in the precise grind for espresso, regular-drip or other brewing methods. You can get it as an all-around mill, with a convenient front-mounted switch, or as a dedicated espresso mill, dressed up with a doser and coffee handle holder.

Best Grinder for Coffee:

Baratza Virtuoso. With its 480-watt gear-reduction motor and anti-static device, the Baratza Virtuoso’s high-end design proves its power and versatility. The Virtuoso features 40mm commercial-grade conical burrs that can be adjusted to 40 different settings.

Best Espresso Machine:

Espresso machines fall into three basic categories: Super Automatic, Semi Automatic and Manual. Knowing which one's right for you is more complicated and emotion provoking than selecting an SLR or deciding which FA Limited 31mm, 43mm, or 77mm to add to your camera bag.

Therefore, saying unequivocally what is the best espresso machine is hard to do. However, if you're serious about your espresso, want to have control over your shots and don't want to break the bank, the Rancilio Silvia (Version 3) is a machine with a reputation that speaks for itself. The Silvia is one of the most highly recognized semi-automatic machines in the business.

Best All Around Coffee:

Major Dickason's Blend
Peet's Coffee & Tea's most famous blend. Combines the best coffees from the world's premier coffee-growing regions. Very full-bodied, complex, rich, and smooth. A dark roast blend that's consistently good and readily available.

If you're a coffee aficionado, I'd love to hear feedback, your favorite products or your coffee experiences. And if you couldn't care less about coffee, here's a little data on the above photo. Shot with FA31mm and K-x in RAW at ISO 400, AV mode with aperture at f/8.0, exposure of 0.6 second, image de-saturated in Adobe Camera Raw. You can double click on the image thumbnail to see a larger file.

White K-x gets mention on Huffington Post

2010-03-04T15:00:00.000-05:00

Photo by Sandy Hensen Corso

Sandy Hensen Corso, Huffington Post writer, blogs about getting her white K-x and using it at a Black Eyed Peas concert. She attached her photos from the concert as well. Here's link to her post:

Fergie and My Night as a Concert Photographer

Country of Origin Debate over Lenses Not New

2010-02-27T14:00:00.000-05:00

I've seen posts on various Pentax forums debating if there is a difference between the FA31mm, which is now made in Vietnam versus when they were made in Japan. As has been mentioned by several forum members, I can confirm that the same glass and components are being used and that our plant in Vietnam is "assembling" these lenses with the exact same specs as was used in Japan.

Partly to satisfy my own interest and also determine if there was potentially a noticeable difference in samples from the different countries of origin, I had our logistics manager procure for me three samples of the 31mm lens made in Japan, as well as three samples of the 31mm lens made in Vietnam. From a workmanship standpoint, I have found no discernible differences in the fit, finish or mechanics of these samples.

In my limited spare time over the past three to four months, I have put these lenses through a series of different tests shooting with both my K-7 and K-x. None of these tests were done in a lab, but I mixed up my shooting environments to include dim light, bright sun, abstract scenes, grand kids, etc. In fact, all my recent photos shot with the 31mm lens where randomly taken with the various samples.

To illustrate this post today, I've included two photos of the same flower vase shot with a Japanese 31mm and a Vietnamese 31mm. As it was raining and windy this morning when I took these photos, I wouldn't peep too deeply into these images. You're likely to see blur in the branches due to wind. However, if you sit back and just look at the overall color, contrast and saturation of these images, you'll find as I did that there's no real difference between the samples. And beside acuity, I've always regarded these attributes as the real test of any given lens.

I recognize that my post will not stem on-going discussions and debates about this lens, but I would hope this helps clarify the situation to some extent. I'd also like to point out to anyone that is relatively new to the arcane matters that surround high-quality optics, that these intense debates about the 31mm's country of origin are not new to our industry. For years, many Leica photographers have debated the merits of Leitz lenses made in Canada versus Germany. Although you can find many references to this debate, here's a link to one forum discussion Canada vs German Leitz Lenses .

So, in trying to summarize the reason for my post, I would not be overly concerned with the country of origin for any high-quality lens that you consider buying today. Based on my tests, I can't see or feel any difference between my FA31mm samples.

And to those that continue to promote widely that "made in Japan" FA 31mm's are better...you might just inadvertently end up setting higher prices for these samples on the "used", "LNIB" open market. Yes that did happen with used Leitz lenses for awhile, and I'd hate to see that happen with the 31mm since it'd be based more on myth than fact!

(As the photo above shows, I tested a range of FA31mm samples including an older "silver" version. Notice the middle lens is stamped "Made in Japan" on the lens shade ring, whereas the Vietnam made sample to the right simply has the serial number stamped in the exact same location. I compared workmanship of all components, including the lens cap. I am not sure if the photo clearly shows the comparable fit and finish of the lens caps, but I can tell you that I've already mixed up the "black" caps and really can't tell which cap goes with which lens...smile)

LIGHTENUPANDSHOOT at PMA

2010-02-24T20:00:00.000-05:00

Last November, I posted a link to what I thought was a pretty funny video from a website called "lightenupandshoot". As a testament to how the internet really does make the world a much smaller place, Andy and Mikey showed up at our table at the Sneek Peek Press event at PMA. And of course I immediately recognized them.

They're great guys, really good photographers and actually live in Colombia (I thought their saying they were based there was part of the video spoof). They invited me to a photo shoot they were doing Monday near the show in Anaheim, but I couldn't get away as I was booked with meetings. I should have just lightened up and gone with them :)

From other conversations I had during the show, it appears that Andy and Mikey are starting to get some good buzz and awareness throughout our industry. In case you haven't heard of them before, or want to keep track of their activities, here's a link to their website:

LIGHTENUPANDSHOOT

Photocinenews

2010-02-24T12:00:00.000-05:00

Anyone who's business takes them to trade shows knows that networking is one of the great benefits of events like PMA, as it brings together a large group of people with like minds and a common interest. During a break in my meetings, I was fortunate to have a brief hallway conversation with a very nice chap named Michael Britt, who recently started a new blog named photocinenews.

To understand what Michael and his group are up to, I've borrowed some copy from his blog's "about" section and brief discourse that we had on the show floor at PMA:

PhotoCineNews is the first blog dedicated to the convergence of photography and video. As photographer’s retool their skill set to this emerging medium, PhotoCineNews is dedicated to delivering the latest news and innovations in this brilliant new genre. This leap forward for the photography industry brings it closer to the gates of Hollywood with the potential for influential short films. With that in mind we deliver news from the movie industry that affects the photocine filmmaker. Along with the PhotoCine Conference and Film Festival, PhotoCineNews is the definitive destination for the filmmaking photographer. Since last August, Michael said they have produced the first Video DSLR conference (The Collision Conference at the LA Film School), and have been actively building this photographer/cinematographer community through a collaborative blog as well as live events and online teaching.

For any Pentaxians currently experimenting with video using either the K-7 or K-x, I thought you might want to check out Michael's blog and add it to your bookmarks.

PHOTOCINENEWS

The Making of Uncle Jack

2010-02-23T19:00:00.000-05:00

Writer/Director Jamin Winans discusses how Uncle Jack was made using the K-7 and provides insight into the craft of filmmaking through an exclusive behind the scenes look.

You can view the video here on my blog, or if you have problems viewing from within my blog, go to our YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL86qxCasoI

If you haven't seen Uncle Jack or The Rider, two videos we recently commissioned to demonstrate the many possibilities of shooting HD video on a PENTAX K-7, you can scroll down to an earlier post where I've embedded the videos, as well as provided links to YouTube.

PMA 2010

2010-02-22T11:00:00.000-05:00

As I'm starting another marathon show day, this post will have to be brief. However, I wanted to provide a quick update on our activities at PMA. We arrived Saturday and participated with Samy's in the PhotoExpo selling show which was open to the public. Saturday afternoon we attended the Sneak Peek Press Event where we had the opportunity to talk with members of the press who attend Sneak Peek to learn what's new from all the manufacturers. As the photos below show, Sneak Peek was really well attended. The actual show opened Sunday, and we're packed with meetings for three days with both press and our accounts.

Photoshop is 20 Years Old

2010-02-20T03:00:00.000-05:00

In recognition of Photoshop being twenty years old, Adobe TV has released a video entitled StartUp Memories. Considering how Photoshop has changed the way we think about photography, the video provides some really interesting insights about how it came to be.

Two Short Films Shot Exclusively with K-7

2010-02-17T20:00:00.000-05:00

PENTAX Imaging Company (US) recently commissioned two Colorado production companies to create an entertaining short film to demonstrate the many possibilities of shooting HD video on a PENTAX K-7 digital SLR with a lens assortment that offers cinematographic perspective to anyone.

THE RIDER
The All Terrain Studios filmmaking team of Dave Rosner and Melissa Rosner produced THE RIDER in the Colorado high country at Loveland Ski Area and the nearby mountain village of Georgetown. Starring RIDE Snowboard sponsored athlete Erik Ludwig, the film shares a typical day in the life of a snow bum who lives for his daily terrain park fix. The film captures majestic vistas of the Rocky Mountain Continental Divide and offers an inside look into winter sport lifestyles. THE RIDER was primarily filmed with the smc PENTAX DA 15mm F4 ED AL LIMITED, the smc PENTAX DA Star 55mm F1.4 SDM and the smc PENTAX DA Star 300mm F4 ED(IF) SDM lenses.

The Rider doesn't need much. A little food, a sleeping bag, his Ride snowboard, and, of course, snow. A short film about a day in the life of a snowboard bum, shot entirely with the PENTAX K-7 and assorted PENTAX lenses.

UNCLE JACK
Filmmaker Jamin Winans and Futuristic Films takes viewers on a wild ride in UNCLE JACK. Behind this nocturnal odyssey of a desperate fugitive is the sweet tale of an uncle comforting his beloved niece with a cellular bedtime story. A mad clown, a crazed woman, magic pills, gunshots and more add up for a fast-paced, riotous adventure. Shot in downtown Denver entirely at night, the film keeps you rooting for a troubled character with a big heart. UNCLE JACK was filmed with the smc PENTAX DA Star 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL (IF) SDM, the smc PENTAX DA 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 ED (IF) Fish-Eye and the smc PENTAX DA Star 60-250mm F4 ED (IF) SDM lenses.

Get ready for a wild ride with UNCLE JACK in this nocturnal odyssey of a desperate fugitive. A mad clown, magic pills, a bedtime story and more add up for a fast-paced, riotous adventure. Cheer for a troubled character with a big heart in this short film shot in Denver, Colorado entirely at night with the PENTAX K-7.

Stay tuned to www.youtube.com/pentaxian1 for future “behind the scenes interviews” with the filmmakers.

Spontaneous Sleep Over with Grand Kids

2010-02-14T15:00:00.000-05:00

I'm sure some of you can relate to the story behind these photos. We went to a birthday party late Saturday afternoon, and during the celebration one of our grand kids asked my wife if he could sleep over with us. I told my wife no problem as we have them over quite frequently. Fast forward to my surprise when we're driving home with four grand kids in tow. I protest only in jest, as we love having them over, and as usual on Sunday morning we had breakfast and took them for a long walk along our beach and then returned to the house where they always rinse off in the spa.

Photo Notes: As I had taken my K-x and DA 16-45mm with me to get some snapshots of the birthday party, I decided to continue shooting with this combination for our Sunday activities at the beach and back home in the spa.

I realized the range of photos, from flash, low light to bright outdoors of a family event with the DA 16-45mm lens might give some of you an indication of how this lens can perform. As I have not shot with this lens in a few years, the recent fishing trip photos and this series of family photos give you a good range of subject matter to evaluate and draw your own conclusions.

All images were shot in RAW and processed into jpegs for posting on blogger using Adobe Camera Raw 5.5 and PhotoShop CS4. Click on any of the thumbnails to see larger image. The small FG200 Flash was used for the indoor party shots.

Prints from a "Toy Camera" Image

2010-02-13T11:00:00.000-05:00

Last October, I posted a few photos that I shot with my K-7 and DA 15mm lens using one of the camera's digital effects, namely "monochrome" plus the "toy camera" filter. For your reference, here's a link to that post Toy Camera Filter.

Having shot and printed from Tri-x negatives for many years, I was intrigued with how simple it was to create these effects in-camera. However, being a serious printmaker, I wondered how the images would look when put on paper. This past week, I had time one evening to print the files and have to admit I found the results to be really good. Mind you, the "toy camera" effect produces a small jpeg file (the photo of my wife on our beach is only 4.6mb) and the prints off my Epson 4800 on 13 x19" Velvet Fine Art paper exhibit graininess which would probably drive a measurebator nuts.

The thumbnail above shows a few of the prints I made and mounted on a wall in my office. You can click on the thumbnail to see a larger image, but it's still hard to appreciate the overall look and feel of these prints. However, when most people came by to view them there first question is what PhotoShop filters did I use?

If you currently shoot with a K-7 or K-x, and haven't tried any of the digital effects possible in-camera, my suggestion is that one day you do some experiments with these filters. Not only are they easy to use, you might find the results to be surprisingly good and force you to think about your photography in a new light. And, at the very least, these filters are a nice reminder that photography in most cases is supposed to be fun, and the capability is sitting there in your camera right now just waiting to be tapped into.

PhotoCard App for iPhone

2010-02-06T13:00:00.000-05:00

With the thousands of app's available for the iPhone, it's getting harder to find really useful utilities, and by that I mean ones that you end up using on a regular basis. I recently came across a relatively new "photo" app that's simple, well designed and fun to use.

I have been fooling around with PhotoCard for just over a week, and have to say it's very easy to produce and send "e-cards" by simply clicking on any of your contacts email address stored in your iPhone. If you wish you can add stickers and even embed voicenotes.

However, I really think PhotoCard's "Raison d'être" is how easy it makes sending actual printed cards via postal mail. PhotoCard solves what has been for me a nagging problem - how do I share photos with distant relatives and friends that do not have an email address or are uncomfortable dealing with the internet. Provided you have your friend's address in their contact database, you simply click on that and PhotoCard knows that this card has to be mailed.

Although the resolution and quality of images taken with the iPhone are not going to reproduce very well when printed, you can save your higher resolution photos taken with a K-x, K7 etc. to the iPhone's "Photos" library. PhotoCard let's me decide whether I want to take a photo with my iPhone or select an image already saved in my library.

Here's a recent photo I took with the K-x that I used to mail a printed PhotoCard to a postal address. Note the simple user interface bar at the bottom of the frame.

I have already sent several printed cards to friends of the family. However, I wanted to see for myself how the printed cards looked, so I sent several different samples to my home address. Below are photos of the front and back on one of these cards that I just received in the mail. The cards are printed on a HP Indigo printer using a glossy, heavy stock and measure 8.25 x 5.5".

From reading Bill Atkinson's FAQ's, I understand the cards are sent through the US Postal Service by First Class oversize mail, and based on my initial tests, they arrive 2-3 business days after I place the order on my iPhone.

The first print-and-mail card that you send is free-of-charge. Subsequent cards cost 2 credits for printing and mailing to USA addresses, and 3 credits for printing and mailing to International addresses. A credit costs between seventy-five cents and one dollar, depending on how many you purchase at once. I found it very easy to buy these credits using either PayPal or my credit card.

Note: After sending myself the above card using a photo of my granddaughter, I realized I could have rotated the image to fill the entire card. You can click on either of the above thumbnails if you want to see a larger photo of the card.

Overall, my first impressions of PhotoCard are very good. The interface is clean and simple, which makes sense considering Bill's background. And for me, the ease with which I can send high-quality printed photocards to friends and family from anywhere, anytime more than justifies the nominal cost of less than $2 (same price as my cup of Starbucks coffee) to print and mail these high-quality, personalized cards.

In fact, I can't wait to go on vacation and send photocards to family members directly from my beach chair as I view the sunset on the Kona coast of Hawaii...that is if my lovely wife will allow me to have my iPhone with me (smile).

Pentax and International Center of Photography, NYC

2010-02-02T01:00:00.000-05:00

After many years of not being a member, Pentax became a corporate sponsor of the International Center of Photography in New York in the Fall of 2009. We held the K-x announcement event at ICP on September 16th, where we invited members of the press, analysts, bloggers and key sales accounts from the greater NY/NJ metro area. In January, we continued our participation in key ICP events, and received some news coverage. Links provided below.

NYC Housewife Alex McCord Has a Real Job

Third ICP Triennial of Photography & Video Closing Party

Depth of Field Can Be Pencil Thin

2010-02-01T22:00:00.000-05:00

Much has been written about "Depth of Field". In very simple terms, DOF is the part of your image that appears sharp. Over my Christmas Holidays, I had a conversation with a fellow Pentaxian who had just bought our FA 43mm Limited and was very upset because the lens was producing soft photos when shot wide-open at f/1.9.

After discussing what type of photos he was taking to come to this conclusion, it became obvious that he was hand-holding the camera and shooting at very slow shutter speeds. I explained to him that with so little DOF at F/1.9, he'd be hard pressed to get tack sharp focus of the tip of his model's nose if he introduced any shake or movement to the camera between the time he focused and depressed the shutter. I referred to a phrase I used years ago that in many cases "your depth of field can be no thicker than a pencil, so be careful how you shoot"

Thinking about this pencil analogy, I set-up a photo to illustrate how narrow DOF can be. The image below of a 25 year old handmade Swiss doll and a No 2 Mongol pencil was shot with my K-x using the single focus point with the FA 43mm Limited lens at f/1.9, ISO 200 with an exposure of 1/200 sec. I used a tripod to prevent any camera shake. I focused the lens on the pencil at the top by its eraser. By examining the image, my friend was able to see just how narrow the DOF was with this lens shot wide-open.

I thought this sample might be of interest to other Pentaxians and therefore posted it here, along with the approximate DOF calculation for this photo, provided by www.dofmaster.com. I also was interested to see how the background blur (bokeh) of this lens looked with my K-x. Based on printing this file at 13x19 on Velvet Fine Art paper with my Epson 4000 printer, I have to say this simple test image reproduces very nicely. The Swiss Doll image was shot in RAW and processed into a jpeg for posting on blogger using Adobe Camera Raw 5.5 and PhotoShop CS4. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger image.

Fishing Trip with K-x and DA16-45mm

2010-01-03T22:00:00.000-05:00

We gave our oldest grandsons a fishing trip for their Christmas present. So right after the New Year, I spent a nice Sunday afternoon off the coast of Dana Point, CA with my two sons teaching the grandkids how to fish. I had seen quite a few posts on various forums asking about the DA16-45mm lens, so I shot their entire outing with the K-x and this lens. Photos shot at ISO 400 at apertures between f/5.6 and f/8.0 thanks to great light on the Pacific ocean this particular afternoon. Images shot in RAW and processed into jpegs for posting on blogger using Adobe Camera Raw 5.5 and PhotoShop CS4. Click on either thumbnail to see larger image.

Camera Raw 5.5 Opens K-7 and K-x PEF Files

2010-01-01T18:00:00.002-05:00

K-x and 77mm Holiday Photos

2009-12-26T21:00:00.000-05:00

Our newest granddaughter celebrated her first Christmas this year, and arrived at our house for dinner in an adorable Santa Suit. I quickly put my 77mm Limited lens on the K-x and took these photos. Photos shot at f/5.6 at 1/50 sec at ISO 200. Images shot in RAW and processed into jpegs for posting on blogger using Adobe Camera Raw 5.5 and PhotoShop CS4. Click on either thumbnail to see larger image.

Santa Brought Me a New Grill

2009-12-25T19:00:00.000-05:00

While I am certifiably an avid photographer, one cannot live life to the fullest with a single interest. Besides my love of gardening (especially tomatoes), wines and surfing, my other major enjoyment is cooking. And, living in Southern California, our climate allows me to cook outside on my Weber grill almost year round.

Earlier this year, one of my sons gave me a copy of Serious Barbecue by Adam Lang Perry, which I highly recommend to anyone that wants to take their backyard barbecuing to the next level. While Adam cooks with many different stoves, his constant reference to and use of photos showing the Weber Ranch Kettle gave me a real case of grill envy. Sensing my desire for a bigger grilling surface, my wife surprised me with the Ranch Kettle grill for a Christmas present.

The photo below gives you an idea of how much bigger the Ranch Kettle grill is versus my Performer grill. I'll continue to use the smaller Performer when I'm cooking for just my wife and I, but when all our sons and grandkids come over, or when we have our annual community barbecue, I'll look forward to firing up the Ranch Kettle.

Photo taken with K-x and DA15mm Limited lens
Not realizing I was getting a new grill, I bought a new cast iron grate for the Performer grill. While the stainless steel cooking grate that comes with the Weber grills is more than adequate, a seasoned cast iron grate provides a really nice non-stick cooking surface. More importantly, cast iron gives off a more even heat and produces amazing grill marks. Another benefit to cast iron is it can withstand a lot higher temperatures than normal grates.

As I frequently visit several barbecue forums, I discovered a German company that developed a cast iron grate for use with kettle stoves, and markets them through a US firm named Craycort. Below are photos of their grate. One of these days, I'll have to post some photos of how chicken or steaks look when cooked on my new grate!

In closing, should any of you still wonder why I'm posting an entry about grilling, go back and read my opening sentence. Life is about having many passions. Go out and take photographs, go out and grill great steaks for your loved ones, just go out and enjoy life. (Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for a New Year!)

Horseback Riding Shot with K-x & FA77mm

2009-12-20T21:00:00.000-05:00

Taking our grandkids horseback riding has become an annual Christmas Holiday activity. This year I brought the K-x and FA77mm Limited lens along to take some casual snapshots of the event. I tend to go through stages where I shoot exclusively with one lens and presently I've been testing the FA77 with the K-x to see how this lens renders images on the new sensor in the K-x. The majority of photos were shot at f/5.6 at ISO 200 in RAW and processed into a jpegs for posting on blogger using Adobe Camera Raw 5.5 and PhotoShop CS4. Click on any of the thumbnails to see a larger image.

Colorado Railroad Musuem

2009-11-21T21:00:00.000-05:00

Images shot with K-x and a FA77mm Limited lens. ISO 200. I shot in RAW and used CS4 to convert to jpegs for posting here on Blogger. Double click on thumbnails to see a larger image.

K-7 System Rebate Offer

2009-11-15T03:00:00.000-05:00

PENTAX (USA) ANNOUNCES “FOCUS ON SAVINGS” K-7 SYSTEM REBATE: $100 VISA PREPAID CARD OFFERED ON MORE THAN 20 SELECT PENTAX LENSES WITH PURCHASE OF K-7. The rebate runs from November 15, 2009 through January 15, 2010.

Click on the above thumbnail image to see a larger jpeg. Or, to learn more about this offer and download the rebate form pdf click here Focus on Savings Rebate

Caution: Photography can increase anxiety & stress

2009-11-10T00:00:00.000-05:00

A pretty humorous video from http://lightenupandshoot.blogspot.com

At Least One of the Jobs Should be Easy

2009-11-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

Here's the new (US) print ad for the K-x, which initially will run in several photo magazines. I thought some of you might like to see this preview. (Note: This is a low res jpeg, so please ignore the jaggies if you double click on the thumbnail.)

K-x Does Snow

2009-10-29T21:00:00.000-04:00

We had our first major snow storm in Colorado the last two days. Here are two quick shots of my patio chairs taken with the K-x and FA 31mm Limited. As always, I shot in RAW and used ACR to convert the images into jpeg's for uploading to Blogger. Click on the thumbnails for a larger file.

K-x Battery Notes

2009-10-25T14:00:00.000-04:00

I've seen a few posts by early K-x customers saying they were having battery problems with the included Energizer Lithium batteries.

As I typically grab a few sample cameras from early production runs, I've checked my three different units (as pictured in a previous post). I wanted to see if by chance I had units with bad batteries to eliminate that as a factor. All performed properly with the provided batteries.

Note, the specs in the K-x operating manual are based on both CIPA standards as well as our own measuring conditions. Having said that, your actual results with AA Lithium battery life will vary based on shooting conditions (cold weather) and shooting modes. The manual states for "normal recording" you should get 1900 images; with flash, "50% use", you should get 1100 images; and in "playback time" the batteries should last 680 minutes.

Since I wanted to confirm my own tests, I also asked one of our product support specialists to test another K-x sample to see how that unit performed with the provided batteries. In his tests, he did not shoot video, but simply took photos with the K-x. Here's his feedback: "So far, I've shot over 3,000 pictures with the same set of included batteries (FA 50mm f1.4, Program and Auto Pict modes, autofocus on each shot, Shake Reduction on, single shot mode, flash on over 1/3 of the images, camera defaults, varied subjects and distances). The low-battery indicator has come on 3 times (after 1200 exposures) but a 1 or 2 minute rest from shooting restored the full battery indicator and I kept on shooting. The battery indicator has just turned red." While your own results will vary, these results are positive and I thought it'd be worthwhile to share with you.

I should add that with regards to the provided batteries (or any batteries you use with the K-x), you should wait a few seconds before you turn "on" the camera after installing new batteries. I'm not an engineer, but in simple terms I think the batteries need to be recognized by the camera as part of "start-up", and if you boot the camera immediately it might not have time to identify the type of battery installed.

From a camera setting standpoint, I've tried switching the camera's "Select Battery" setting from "Auto-detect" to "Ni-MH", and I have not found this effects my performance with batteries whatsoever. I believe these settings are primarily used in case you're inserting non-fresh or somewhat depleted batteries, and by selecting the precise battery it helps the system more quickly identify the battery type.

As I am a long time user of rechargeable AA Ni-MH batteries, I've also tested both my Maha Powerex batteries as well as my Eneloops, and they work fine with the K-x. My advise to new users of these type of rechargeable batteries is to make sure you buy a good charger that provides a slow and cool charge to the batteries, as well as the ability to "condition" the batteries. To learn more about batteries and chargers, I'd suggest you check out Thomas Distributors (http://www.thomasdistributing.com). I've bought batteries and chargers from them for many years. Their range of products and service is great. They also have good information about batteries on their website if you'd like to read up on this topic.

So from my limited tests, it appears the units we have access to are working properly. The different type of batteries I have tested are recognized by the K-x, and the battery level indicator seems to be reporting charge level accurately. Of course, we'll continue to monitor the experiences some of you are having.

Hope this information helps and happy shooting with your K-x!

First K-x Prints

2009-10-23T23:00:00.000-04:00

For me the print has always been the end-all, be-all to my photography pursuits. I still remember my excitement years ago seeing my first black and white image magically appear from the liquid depths of the print developer tray. Although digital has freed us from having to develop prints in a dark room illuminated only by a small red bulb, I still enjoy seeing the leading edge of a new print as it emerges from my printer.

As someone suggested on one of the Pentax forums, I've been super busy helping Japan paint some of our more exotic color K-x models. Consequently it was only today that I was able to start making some test prints from my first K-x sample images that I posted previously.

Although I have yet to upgrade my Epson 4000 to their latest 3880 or 4880 (which is a decision I'm still struggling over), the 4000 is still a wonderful printer and I have years of experience printing with it on my two favorite papers, Velvet Fine Art and Premium Luster. As I've used this combination of printer and paper to test all our previous SLR's, I was eager to see how my K-x images looked when pixels were converted to print.

As the above photo shows, I'm printing my K-x images on 17 x 22 cut sheets of Velvet Fine Art paper. I resized the K-x RAW files with no cropping, applied a small amount of USM as I typically would for a print of this size, and saved the images as TIF files.

While it's impossible to show or convey print results with low res images on a display, my initial impression of prints from the K-x are very positive. While I suspect that many users of the K-x will not be making large prints from this camera, it's good to know that this camera will deliver very high-quality, large prints if the need arises.

I realize that the vast majority of review sites only judge a camera's image quality by inspecting images at a pixel level, I think it's time that full reviews include carefully controlled print tests. I can't help but think that many prospective camera buyers would appreciate understanding the print quality they can expect from a given camera. I realize that many folks are buying SLR's today and don't make prints on a regular basis, and therefore I'd be interested in hearing feedback on the importance of print quality when you're making a decision on which camera to purchase.

My First K-x Test Shots

2009-10-12T16:00:00.000-04:00

We started shipping the K-x to dealers in the US last week. I am not sure what availability will be like in other markets, but I expect that "black" units are already in the hands of early customers by now. I believe "white" units should start shipping by the third week of this month, with limited quantities of "red" and "blue" probably showing up in early November.

As I have mentioned to a few Pentaxians, I frequently use an old "analog days" adage that it takes at least 36 rolls of film to begin to appreciate the capabilities of a new lens. By the same token, it takes quite a bit of time to fully test a new camera. Not having a lot of free time this past weekend, I was only able to devote a few hours to checking out my first production samples of the K-x.

One thing I should note if you already have the K-x and shoot in RAW: Adobe's Camera Raw 5.5 and Lightroom 2.5 already support K-x PEF files. It is not documented under their current "supported" cameras, but it works as we provided Abobe this info at the same time as the K-7 maker notes. I don't have an update on Apple's support for K-x RAW files, but will do so as soon as I get information.

I limited my first photos to shots I could take around my house and backyard. I also restricted the lenses I used to the FA 100mm Macro and the FA 77 mm Limited. Obviously, the range of subject matter available to me was not great, but I tried to find images that had color, texture, contrast or patterns which would give you an idea of the K-x's potential capabilities with two very reliable and well known lenses from a rendering perspective.

All images were shot in RAW at ISO's of 200 and 400, with the exception being the photo of the wine cabinet rack, which I shot at ISO 800. Images were processed with Camera Raw 5.5 to produce JPEG's for posting here on Blogger. In converting from RAW to JPEG, I left all but two images white balance set "as is", only adjusted one or two images exposure by no more than .25 of a stop, and did not change any brightness, contrast or saturation settings.

While I realize these photos are not going to win any awards, I believe the fact that they were taken under a controlled situation will give you a pretty good indication of the K-x's image quality. I'm spending the upcoming weekend in CO, and hopefully if I have time and weather permits, I'll be able to get out and take some more photos to share with you.

(Note: click on any thumbnail to see a larger image file.)

Update: 10.13.09
Although it seems obvious that the point of my posting these type of "first shots", whether it's a new lens or camera, is to produce representative samples of the type of imagery you can expect straight from camera without any post-processing. This is the approach I have used since starting my blog, and I believe most folks understand and appreciate that any image I post will not be altered. I've always thought I had a responsibility to produce images straight from the camera, which can serve as a "baseline" for you to evaluate. It's obvious to me that doing any type of post-processing could sway or influence your impressions, and in fact subject me to criticism that I'm altering the results to gain a more favorable reaction.

What prompted me to add this update is that I saw a rather ridiculous claim on one of the Pentax forums that my images looked "pale" and immediately condemned all of the K-x images. Obviously, I have no way of knowing how this person is viewing the images posted here, and whether his display is calibrated, etc., etc. However, I can tell you that after reviewing the results from the K-x that the overall color and tone is representative of the lighting that I saw when the shutter was depressed. Many of the outdoor plant photos should look muted, as I was shooting under our typical morning Southern California "marine layer" (cloud cover or fog).

To make my point, below is a heavily processed version of the leaves image I originally posted. While I personally prefer photos that retain a more natural look, I can appreciate that some folks prefer heavily saturated colors. However, if I had posted this processed image it would not have given you an honest look at the K-x's standard rendering characteristics. I'll continue to shoot and post test images as they were captured by the camera, under the conditions that I encountered when taking the photo. The beauty of digital is once you understand the "baseline" image parameters of your camera, in post-processing you can push the saturation and contrast sliders to your heart's content.

Sunday Stroll with my Toy Camera

2009-10-05T00:00:00.000-04:00

Comments about these photos still need to be written and posted. Click on thumbnail to view a larger file.

Stand Up Paddling Race, Dana Point, CA

2009-10-04T23:00:00.000-04:00

Comments about event need to be written. Photo information: All images shot with K-7 in RAW at ISO 200 and processed with CS4 to produce small jpegs for uploading here on Blogger. Distant ocean photos shot with a DA*200mm lens. All other on-beach event photos shot with DA 16-45mm lens. Click on thumbnail to view a larger image file.

Pentax Event at International Center Photography

2009-09-20T21:00:00.000-04:00

Last Wednesday night, September 16th, Pentax held a media event to announce the new and colorful K-x at the International Center of Photography in New York City. Guests included press and media from traditional photo magazines, trade, business and lifestyle publications, as well as web-based camera review and photography sites, tech/gadget sites, and independent bloggers. In addition to the press, we had many of our dealers join us for the event and reception.

We chose the International Center of Photography to host this event for two reasons. One, the Center is a perfect venue to announce a new camera (K-x). Secondly, we have renewed our corporate sponsorship with the center after almost a twenty year hiatus. This K-x event will hopefully be the first of several more events and activities that Pentax undertakes in partnership with the Center.

While I had no time to take photos of the activities, Melissa Rosner of the multimedia production company we hired to video the event was kind enough to take some still photos, which I have included in this post.

We are in the process of editing a video of the event, and I should be able to post a link to this video in the next week or two.

Samy's "No Sales Tax" Promotion

2009-09-06T12:00:00.000-04:00

For those who live in Southern California, Samy's will be holding their annual "No Sales Tax" promotion, from September 6-13. Please note this is an in-Store only event - this promotion is not available online. Samy's typically advertises these sales in both the LA Times and OC Register, but in case you don't get these papers, I thought I would post the details about this event here.

PENTAX Promotions:
- Optio W80: no tax, free camera case, 2GD SD Card.
- K-7: no tax, $60 instant rebate on the purchase of a BG4 grip with the purchase of a K-7.

Meet the PENTAX reps:

Thursday, September 10th:
- Ken Curry, LA Samy's 11am-5pm

Friday, September 11th:
- Ned Bunnell, Orange County Samy's 2pm-4pm
- Mark Dimalanta, Culver City Samy's 10am-1pm
- Mark Dimalanta, Pasadena Samy's 2pm-5pm
- Ken Curry, LA Samy's 10am-5pm

Saturday, September 12th:
- Ned Bunnell, Orange County Samy's 10am-12pm
- Mark Dimalanta, Pasadena Samy's 10am-12pm
- Mark Dimalanta, LA Samy's 1pm-5pm
- Ken Curry, LA Samy's 10am-2pm

Each rep will have a selection of PENTAX lenses to try out.

Samy's Store Locations

PENTAX Facebook Page

K-7, FA 77mm and Skin Tones

2009-08-09T16:00:00.000-04:00

I saw Yvon Bourque this past Thursday in Redondo Beach. As usual, after talking about the K-7 and his new eBook, our conversation naturally switched to how our tomatoes were doing this summer. As I mentioned to Yvon, we've had a fairly cool summer, with an extended period of mornings with fog (marine layer) on the coast in San Clemente. Tomatoes, for anyone that grows them, know they love plenty of sun and hot days. As a result, my plants this summer have been slow to produce full fruit.

However, we're just starting to pick fairly mature fruit, so in keeping with my present fascination with the FA 77mm Limited, I used this lens to take a few photos of the first fruit from my Japanese Black Trifele plant. This is my first year planting this variety and as I'm told the Blkack Trifele is a big juicy 6 -10 ounce pear-shaped, deep purple-black tomato with pretty green shoulders. In Russia the Trifele varieties of tomatoes--of which there are several colors--are highly prized and command high prices.

Since my grandson was helping me in the backyard, I took a quick head and shoulders casual portrait of him so you could see how the K-7 and 77 handle skin tones - both tomato and human (smile).

All images shot RAW at ISO 400. Processed in CS4 to produce jpegs for posting here on Blogger. Click on any thumbnail to see a larger file.

60min + 1gb + K-7 + 77mm

2009-08-01T16:00:00.000-04:00

California K-7 Tour Dates & Locations

2009-07-31T23:00:00.000-04:00

Here are the final dates for the upcoming K-7 tour stops in California.

Thursday, August 6th
5:30pm to 7:00pm
THE PORTOFINO Hotel & Yacht Club
Pacific II Ballroom
260 Portofino Way
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310-379-8481

Friday, August 7th
5:30pm to 7:00pm
HILTON Irvine/Orange County Airport
Crystal D Room
18800 MacArthur Blvd
Irvine, CA 92612
949-833-9999

Saturday, August 8th
2:30-4pm
Hilton San Jose – Santa Clara Room
300 Almaden Boulevard
San Jose, CA 95110
408-287-2100

Sunday, August 9th
10am to 11:30am
Marriott San Francisco Union Square
480 Sutter Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
415-398-8900

Attendees will be able to try out the K-7 along with an assortment of PENTAX glass. Meet and greet with other photographers and enter to win a K-7. One camera body will be given away at each event.

Our featured photographer at all the California tour stops will be Mark Dimalanta. Mark will make a short presentation showing his work and share his experience to date shooting with the K-7. For those not familiar with Mark, here's a brief bio and links to his sites:

"Preferring to choose lifestyle over his profession, Dr. Mark Dimalanta of Huntington Beach, California left a promising career in medicine to chase a lifelong passion for surfing and photography. At present, He shoots surfing lifestyle images to share his world through the eyes of his Pentax. Mark travels the world over to chase perfect waves, and dreams of one day getting lost in the beauty of the Philippine Islands, the last bastion of pristine surf..."

Mark's website
Surfdoc Blog

John Carlson and I will be at the Orange County events (Redondo Beach and Irvine) and we look forward to meeting those SoCal Pentaxians who will be able to join us.

DA 35mm Macro - A Year Later

2009-07-20T00:00:00.000-04:00

I posted some of the first sample photos from the DA 35mm Macro lens over a year ago (May 08, 2008) taken while on vacation in Mexico. At the time, I was quite pleased with the results and really liked the philosophy our engineers had taken in designing this lens. There was a need for a small, lightweight normal focal length lens with good optical performance, as well as the ability to offer close focusing capability. In essence, this was a lens designed to satisfy those photographers who wanted a nice walk around lens they could use all day and not need to switch lenses.

It was interesting that the initial reaction to this lens fell firmly into two camps...those that "got it" immediately and those that criticized Pentax for calling this a Macro lens and dismissed it as having no value in anyone's camera bag.

Unfortunately, most of the confusion and criticism of this lens (by folks who had not even used the lens) was semantics driven by our decision to call this a "macro" lens. I know our engineers debated over the naming of this lens realizing that some people would assume by the name that this lens was a dedicated "macro" design. In retrospect, the "macro" moniker was probably the simplest way to identify the additional close focus feature of this lens.

A year has passed, and with the 35mm Macro now in the hands of many Pentaxians, I'm glad to see the increase of posts by photographers who are really pleased with this lens. It's a great example of why our Limited lens are unique in the industry. Much credit goes to our engineers who really think about the way photographers shoot and then design a lens offering the form and function that will best enhance your particular shooting style.

These 35mm Macro photos shot with the K-7 in RAW at ISO 400. Processed with CS4 to produce JPEGs for posting here on Blogger. Click on any thumbnail to see a larger file.

K-7 Brochure (US version)

2009-07-14T23:00:00.000-04:00

Here's the final copy (pdf) of the K-7 brochure.

Pentax K-7 Brochure

Ritz Camera Update

2009-07-08T16:00:00.000-04:00

A truly unfortunate chapter in the ever-changing retail landscape. To read the entire PhotoReporter article, click here for Ritz Files Auctions Plans

FA 77mm f/1.8

2009-07-06T09:00:00.000-04:00

I was rummaging around some equipment drawers at work last week and came across this FA 77 lens which we'd used for media and PR opportunities. The FA 31 is without a doubt my favorite piece of Pentax glass, and a lens I am very familiar with. Since it's been several years since I shot with the FA 77, I decided to borrow this "silver" sample to see how it renders light with the new K-7.

I didn't have much time over the weekend to test this lens, but I brought it along with me when we went to our local farmer's market on Sunday to pick up some vegetables for a family get together.

(Note: All FA 77 images shot at ISO 400 in RAW in AV mode and processed by CS4 into JPEG's for uploading here at Blogger. Click on any thumbnail to view a larger file. All images as shot with no cropping. Photo of the K-7 with FA 77 was shot with a K20D and DA*55)

K-7 Multi-exposure mode

2009-07-04T00:00:00.000-04:00

There are always one or two features in a new product that seem to get glossed over or in some cases not even recognized until initial production units are out in the hands of early users. I'm not sure if the Multi-exposure mode in the K-7 falls into this category, however here's a simple test I did using this mode in Live View.

Multi-exposure can be set by going to the 2nd screen in the Record Mode Menu Settings. You can select the number of shots from 2 to 9. You can also select Auto EV adjustment, which if "on", adjusts the exposure based on the number of shots you're combining.

When shooting in Live View, you will see an instant review of the shot just taken.

Immediately after the shot is displayed, you can start composing the next shot. The first or previous shot is greyed out and you can now move the full color view of the next shot around until it aligns or overlaps the way you want.

You can repeat this until your last shot in the specified sequence (2-9 shots) is recorded, at which point the camera generates a composite image using your multiple exposures which you can review on the K-7's sharp and detailed 3" display.

It should also be noted that during review you can delete an image and start the multi-exposure sequence again. The K-7 will save the composite image as one file, and the multi-exposures as separate files. Although I did this quick experiment using JPEG file format, you can shoot in RAW mode.

(Note: The lens used to produce these images was the FA 100mm Macro. Action hero figures used for this test provided courtesy of my grand kids.)

First K-7's Arrive in US

2009-07-03T12:00:00.000-04:00

As reported on pentaxforums, Creve Coeur Camera, founded in 1974 in the St. Louis suburb of Creve Coeur, has confirmed they have their first 20 units of the K-7. Almost all accounts that placed initial orders should have their units in the next couple of days. For those that are canceling their pre-orders or jumping to another dealer, my advice would be to sit tight, if you can.

Since shipments to the US have begun, I thought this would be a good opportunity to point out that your K-7 package will come with a "valued PENTAX customer" thank you card. Similar to the program we tested with the K2000, every K-7 package has what's called a bounce back card. As a thank you for purchasing the K-7 the card entitles you to savings if you purchase other PENTAX accessories. (Note: if you click on the above photo of the card, you'll be able to view a larger image and confirm which lenses, flashes and binoculars are included in this offer).

This "thank you" promotion is identified by a red dot on the outside of the K-7 package that states "Exclusive Offer Inside. Save up to $100."

And to pre-emptively eliminate any confusion, since none of you have had a chance to open a K-7 package yet and read the card, here are a few important considersations.

First and most important, you must include the printed four color thank you/bounce back card that came with the K-7 (along with copy of sales receipt, UPC barcodes etc.) For obvious control purposes, we will not accept photo copies of this thank you card.

Second, you must have purchased the qualifying product after 6/1/2009. So technically this means that if you have purchased, for example, the DA40 which is a qualifying product, after June 1st but before you actually received your K-7, it will be honored as part of this K-7 thank you promotion.

Third, this promotion will not use traditional rebate checks. You will receive a Prepaid PENTAX VISA card that can be used everywhere VISA is accepted. The only exception is you will not be able to go to an ATM and withdraw cash.

Fourth, this offer is only valid for US customers who purchase cameras from authorized US PENTAX resellers.

While I am sure the majority of you awaiting your new K-7 are far more interested in the camera and not this card, I hope this additional information is helpful.

PENTAX Optio W80

2009-06-25T00:00:00.000-04:00

Optio W80 on location in Costa Rica. Photo by Pentaxian Carolyn Pitcavage

We announced our newest "adventure proof" W-series camera today. All product info can be found here: PENTAX Optio W80 Press Release

The Optio W80 is available in Cardinal Red, Azure Blue and Gunmetal Gray, and will ship in the U.S. in July for $299.95 USD. Since I am not sure if websites reporting on this new camera will show all the new colors, here they are...

Pentax K-7 Operating Manual

2009-06-23T21:00:00.000-04:00

June 26th Update:

I was just informed by my associates in Japan that the manual I uploaded to Scribd was not the final version. I have therefore removed the current pdf from Scribd, and hope to have a new and final version of the K-7 manual uploaded by early next week.

My apologies for any confusion in releasing this pdf. It is positive to see the interest in this camera, as the manual was viewed over 6,000 times in less than two days!

Cheers,
Ned

We typically upload "user manuals" to our website at the time a new model ships. However, I've seen quite a few requests for an advanced copy of the K-7 manual. Therefore, and with thanks to the power and ease of use of Scribd, I've uploaded a pdf for your review.

DA 18-55mm WR Lens

2009-06-20T18:00:00.000-04:00

We're celebrating the birth of our newest granddaughter who arrived late Thursday night, and watching a few of the grand kids this weekend. Therefore, any extensive testing of the K-7 naturally has been put on the back burner. However, I did have a chance to try out the new 18-55 WR lens, and will be posting a few samples over the weekend.

First, the pebble like texture of the zoom ring feels very nice, the zoom action is nicely dampened, and there's a minimum of noise and no sloppy feel when you hit either end of the zoom range. Although I don't have any previous 18-55's to compare to, I'm finding the focusing with this lens on the K-7 to be quite fast and snappy.

I realize most 18-55 lens designations are thought to be poor quality, "kit" lenses. However, I think anyone considering the WR as their primary lens will be pleasantly surprised by its performance...plus it has the added bonus of basic weather sealing.

Posted images were all shot in JPEG in the "bright" mode with no other camera adjustments. Images were sized in PhotoShop to no more than 1600 x 2400, as I still do not have a final production sample of the K-7 to shoot with. Click on any thumbnail to see a larger image.

D-BG4 Battery Grip

2009-06-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

"The D-BG4 Battery Grip extends shooting times by providing additional power via a second lithium-ion battery or AA batteries. The battery grip includes a tray for either battery option. It also features a vertical release button, depth-of-field preview switch, front and rear e-dials, and buttons for exposure lock and autofocus, as well as a green button and ISO button. The D-BG4 is weather-sealed to protect the battery. Please note that extra batteries are sold separately."

(Above photos taken with K20D and FA 50mm f/1.4 lens. Shot RAW and converted to JPEG for uploading to Blogger. Click on any thumbnail for a larger view.)

Popular Photography First Look: K-7

2009-06-11T01:00:00.000-04:00

As I said in the previous American Photo post, I cannot upload this copyrighted material since I don't own the rights or have permission from the owner. However, I can share this much with you.

The July issue of Popular Photography features a hands-on review of the K-7 by Philip Ryan. The review, entitled "Prize Patrol/That Winning Feeling" starts with the following observation...“Things had been quiet on the upper end of the PENTAX DSLR front...Well the silence has been broken. No, make that shattered.”

A few comments Phil made include:
- In-camera HDR is opening a door for newbie's to “explore this growing trend.”
- Composition Adjust “is perfect for tough-to-arrange macro shots.”

Phil acknowledged they were eager to get a production unit to run it through their tests in the Pop Photo Lab. This issue has already been mailed to subscribers, and should be on the newsstand any day.

(Note June 11: Pop Photo must be running split covers for the July issue, as we just received more copies with a cover that features a large hero shot of the K-7)

K-7's First Award

2009-06-09T21:00:00.000-04:00

Please understand that I cannot upload this copyrighted material since I don't own the rights or have permission from the owner. However, I can share this much with you.

We just received a pre-newsstand copy of the July/August issue of American Photo. This is the issue that contains their “Editor’s Choice Awards for 2009”. We were excited (or really "stoked" to use a surfer's term) to see they awarded the Pentax K-7 (and the Nikon D90) their camera of the year for the “Advanced D-SLR” category. They stated their reason for this joint award as follows:

“We couldn’t decide whether the Nikon D90 or Pentax K-7 should win the Advanced D-SLR of the year, so we chose them both. Yet each has different strengths: The Nikon is a low light champ, the Pentax an affordable pro-spec workhorse.”

We were also pleased to read that American Photo gave the new DA*55mm lens an Editor's Choice, and the P70 its “Best Buy” rating for Compact cameras.

If you're interested in reading the reviews, I believe this issue will hit the newsstands by the third week of this month, if not a few days earlier in certain markets.

Upgrade Mentality?

2009-06-09T09:00:00.000-04:00

Apple announced the new iPhone 3G S at their WWDC conference yesterday. I spent a little time last night reading the reactions to the new phone on the various tech websites and forums. As expected, many posters complained that there was little improvement in the new 3G S and they weren't going to upgrade from their current 3G.

I have to admit that I chuckled at the similarity to all the discussions on various photo forums about whether one should upgrade from the K10D, K20D etc, to the K-7. Since we're comparing totally different product categories, this is one time I can unabashedly state that compared to the 3G S, we've put a ton of significant new features and capabilities in the K-7, and therefore the thought process of whether to upgrade or not should be a brain-dead decision.

As I realize we all have limited funds to purchase new gear, my somewhat biased advice is to pass on upgrading your iPhone, and buy that K-7! Unfortunately, I've promised my wife I will hold out for more than 60 days before I buy the 3G S, so I still have a ways to go in my quest to ignore upgrade angst.

(Note: The comments above are intended to be tongue-in-cheek and do not reflect the opinions of anyone at Apple or HOYA...but yours truly.)

K-7 Custom Image Presets

2009-06-08T10:00:00.000-04:00

The K-7 has six Custom Image presets including Bright, Natural, Portrait, Landscape, Vibrant, and Muted. These presets offer an additional -4 to +4 steps of additional tuning for saturation, hue, brightness, contrast, and sharpness. There is also a Monochrome mode with the same range of adjustment over brightness, contrast and sharpness.

Since it's hard to visualize how these presets will affect your image, I had a chance over the weekend to take a few photos of my 88 year old mother to show the likely results you can expect in using these different presets. Since I'm shooting with a pre-production camera, I'm restricted from posting images larger than 600x800. All images shot in JPEG with no processing, editing or cropping before uploading files to Blogger.

Photos below displayed from top to bottom: BRIGHT, NATURAL, PORTRAIT, VIBRANT, MUTED and MONOCHROME. As it wasn't appropriate, I did not take a photo in LANDSCAPE mode. Lens used: FA 50mm f/1.4 with aperture set to f/5.6 for these photos.

K-7 HDR Capture Mode

2009-06-08T01:00:00.000-04:00

I had a chance to spend a little time over the weekend experimenting with the HDR capture mode in the K-7.

I'll post some comments later, but have uploaded a few series of HDR shots. Since we are still shooting with pre-production cameras, we are not allowed to post sample files larger than 600x800. The photos in these series include a standard photo, an HDR 1 photo and an HDR 2 photo. I should note that when shooting in HDR mode, you really ought to use a tripod. I can't attest to the absolute sharpness of my HDR shots, as I did not bring a tripod on this this trip and had to resort to supporting the camera with a table, chair rail or other nearby solid object.

To read more about the K-7's HDR mode, you might want to check out Jack Howard's First Look at K-7 HDR

First Takes: K-7 Video

2009-05-31T13:00:00.000-04:00

We will be uploading some videos that headquarters has produced in the next week or two. However, being the sort of hands-on guy that I am, I thought it was important to post some other samples so there would be a wider range of video for all of you to look at.

When I started to write the copy for my post yesterday, K-7 Movie "Sound" Primer, I was thinking that I'd briefly touch on the sound recording options of K-7, and then in a separate post share my initial impressions as a "user" about the video recording capability shooting with a pre-production camera with firmware versions 0.34 and 0.35.

However, I realized that there are so many facets to the new movie mode in the K-7, as well as it's other rather "deep" set of improved and new features, that I decided to try and combine a few initial observations about both sound and video in this post which is clearly only my first take on this new video era of SLR's that we're embarking on. As we've been extremely busy testing and confirming all the various features in the pre-production samples, I will not list the specs here. Sites like dpreview and imaging resource have down a great job in detailing all the speeds and feeds in their respective "first looks". Since I did post some photos yesterday of the Rode Stereo VideoMic, you might want to check out imaging resource's comments about the K-7 internal mic and their use of the Rode mic since we gave them a unit to test as part of their K-7 Hands-on Preview.

Based on my initial and limited experiments shooting video with the K-7, here are some observations.

STABILIZED VIDEO
The K-7's in-camera shake reduction is going to be a big plus for allowing one to produce smooth, non-jerky video clips. I've fooled around holding the K-7 at arms length and shot video in wide sweeping motions moving the camera up and down as I walk around. The resultant video looks remarkably smooth. Based on my hand-held and very casual videos shot with the DA*200 and DA*300, SR video will be very important when using longer, heavier lenses.

SOUND RECORDING
Advancements in technology typically never come without some compromise or challenge. Our SR system is doing an incredible job in stabilizing images, and offering even greater capabilities than possible in the past. For example, "Composition Correction" is a new feature of the K-7 that takes advantage of our stabilization system. When shooting on a tripod, it's possible to fine-tune your framing by manually adjusting the position and rotation of the image sensor. The drawback to SR, now that we've incorporated video, is that the SR motors create a definite "whine" or "buzzing" that despite our attempts to totally dampen it can be detected when using the internal mono mic on the K-7. Depending on the type of video you're shooting and the level of ambient noise that's present while recording, you might find this noise less than pleasing. For casual video footage, such as my little league baseball video clip, you're likely not to even notice. However, if you're doing serious video work, we included a 3.5mm stereo jack on the K-7 thus allowing you to use a high quality external mic.

TRUE APERTURE CONTROL
Based on my initial experiments, being able to explicitly set your aperture when shooting videos is going to be a big plus. It's really important in video to have control over the DOF and decide when you want a soft look or let everything in the frame be sharp. While you can only select aperture at the beginning of a video clip, in most cases you wouldn't shift from say f/2.0 to f/8.0 in a single scene. The other benefit of aperture control is being able to match the same DOF and "look" from a video with the way you control that same lens when shooting stills. For example, I've started to experiment shooting with my beloved FA 31mm f/1.8 Limited and it's really encouraging to see that the 31mm is going to produce the same beautiful color, contrast and feel on video.

FIRST TAKE VIDEO SAMPLES
One thing that immediately struck me when I started testing the K-7 is just how challenging it will be to thoroughly test video. Not only do you have to test a wide range of lighting and sound situations, there are the tens of lenses of different focal lengths and speeds that need to be shot with, as well as seeing the effects of shooting at different apertures, etc, etc. For this reason, and recognizing that I had to start producing some sample videos, I've tried to keep the selection of videos for my first take pretty simple. However, I have tried to select video clips that show or give you a glimpse of the likely capabilities inherent in video recording with the K-7.

UPLOADING AND SHARING VIDEO
Just a word of caution for anyone that's viewing or planning to upload videos. Not all video hosting sites are delivering full HD video when you play them. From my experiments and talking to a very seasoned cinematographer, even though YouTube offers "HD" video playback, in reality your videos are being processed and down sampled to the equivalent of 540p. Therefore, I would place no faith or base your judgement on any camera's video capability by pixel peeping through videos on YouTube. I've chosen to use Vimeo for my video hosting and sharing, and have confirmed that the size of my native file (.AVI) is the same as the HD file that Vimeo is streaming to you.

Lastly, I have embedded my first take video in this post directly from Vimeo and it does play in HD mode, as indicated by the little blue bug on the right side of the viewer frame. If you want to see a larger view of this video, simply click on the Vimeo logo at the bottom of the viewer frame.

First Takes: K-7 Video from Ned Bunnell on Vimeo.

K-7 Movie "Sound" Primer

2009-05-30T13:00:00.000-04:00

Preparing copy for this post. I'm also working on my first K-7 video samples and hope to have these uploaded to Vimeo in the next few days.

Disclaimer: To ensure I am not attacked by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), please note that the 5th photo is not of a dead cat or squirrel tail. It's what Rode calls a windshield, which they recommend should be left on at all times as even the slightest breeze can cause sound interference.

(Note: Click on any of these thumbnails to see larger view. Photos shot with K20D and FA50 f/1.4 lens.)

K-7 Brochure Copy

2009-05-22T13:00:00.000-04:00

I have uploaded a "draft" copy of the text to be used in the US version of the K-7 brochure. This piece is targeted to come off the press late June/early July to coincide with first customer shipments here in the states.

Since it's sometimes hard to get a sense of how the various functions actually work from reading a pretty dry spec sheet, I thought some of you might find this brochure copy helpful. Obviously, not seeing the associated photos and images that will accompany this copy might make it a little difficult to fully understand the context of some of this copy. However, if this copy helps answer a few questions that have not been addressed elsewhere, then this post has served its purpose.

K7 Brochure Copy

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Brochures & Catalogs Pentax

Rites of Passage

2009-05-10T00:00:00.000-04:00

Some of my most enjoyable memories as a parent were coaching little league baseball and teaching my three sons to play the game. This morning I had a chance to see my three grandsons play on teams coached by their dads.

I haven't shot much with the DA18-250mm, since I tested this pre-production sample right before we announced the lens. However, I thought it would give me a good zoom range for these baseball games. Photos shot with this lens and the K20D. RAW files processed by CS3 to produce jpeg's for posting here on blogger.

(Note: click on any thumbnail to see a larger image.)

Outside Magazine Recommends K2000

2009-05-04T23:00:00.000-04:00

With a circulation of 400,000 and a shelf-life until September, the Summer 2009 Outside Magazine's Buyers Guide features 349 hot, new products and dubs less than 10 percent of them as “KILLER VALUES.”

We were pleased to see that the PENTAX K2000 digital SLR flash kit has received the KV distinction for being a sweet deal. Here’s what Outside Buyer's Guide had to say...

“Beginner-friendly features include built-in image stabilization that works with any PENTAX lens, a point-and-shoot mode that automatically assesses the subject and chooses the best exposure and scene mode, and a help button that pulls up shooting tips and technical information. One tester compared it with having the camera manual in your pocket at all times.”

(Note: click on any thumbnail for a larger view)

100mm Macros of Early Season Tomato Plants

2009-05-04T00:00:00.000-04:00

My father was a serious gardener who typically grew at least 200 tomato plants every summer. My job as a kid was to help him water, prune, pinch off the "suckers" (first photo) and fertilize the plants. He'd constantly remind me that the size and quality of the harvest was directly related to the care you gave the plants throughout the growing season. While there is no fruit to photograph right now, I spent a little time this weekend using the K20D and 100mm Macro lens to capture a few different views of the early plants.

The last photo is not a tomato plant, but the Japanese herb, Shiso, who's purple and green leaves are great in salads and frequently used as a wrap with sushi.

(Note: Click on any thumbnail for a larger file. Images shot in RAW and processed with CS3 to produce jpegs for posting here on blogger.)

Beatles Pentax Photo

2009-05-02T11:00:00.000-04:00

Beatles Ringo Starr and George Harrison on board aircraft, June 1964
Photographer: Morrie Hill

I'm sure that a few Pentaxians have seen this classic photo of George Harrison apparently trying to figure out one of the dials of his new Pentax. I had seen this photo previously, but had never been able to confirm its provenance. By coincidence and a little Googling, I uncovered that this photo was taken by Morrie Hill during the Beatles tour to New Zealand, and is part of a collection owned by the Alexander Turnball Library. There's a page on Flickr you can check out to learn more about this Beatles Photo.

While it's not obvious at the present time, you might want to refer back to this photo for a particularly small detail after certain announcements are made in the near future. Call me what you will, but if this is considered a "tease", it's actually part of some thought I've had recently trying to determine if it's possible for high technology products to have an innate personality. In other words, I'm talking about the "soul of a camera" and is this something that can be felt and appreciated by the photographer who uses that tool? Happy postulating and if you have a well thought out view on this, I'd enjoy reading your reaction and comment to this notion. Cheers!

Note: I can see from a few posts on various forums that some folks literally took my words to mean that I'm referring to specific features in a future camera, which could not be further from the point of this post. Guess the tendency on forums to immediately react to someone's words is similar to firing off a few shots before you've taken off the lens cap. I was not suggesting that we're bringing back features in that 1964 Pentax that George is holding. That would be like BMW using the same exact engine from the original Mini Cooper in their re-incarnation. What I'm really thinking about is the idea that certain products have a synergy where the different features and functions cooperate advantageously for a final outcome. Simply defined, it means that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

And again, please consider these are thoughts not necessarily related exclusively to our next camera. Any company that designs a new product suffers through many long review meetings trying to decide if their offering will resonate with its customers in a way that the experience and emotional attachment the end user has will be far greater than any one feature. This is what separates the iPod from all the other MP3 players. This is what I'm sure Microsoft is working feverishly to achieve in Windows 7. If anything, I'm simply saying we're as anxious and excited about the next few months as some of you are :-)

Discovery of 70 yr old Negatives by Robert Capa

2009-05-01T09:00:00.000-04:00

A shot of a woman and child at a Spanish refugee camp in France, taken by Robert Capa in March 1939.

There was an interesting article in yesterday's NY Times about the discovery of 4,300 negatives taken by Robert Capa, Gerda Taro and David Seymour during the time of the Spanish Civil War.

If you're interested in photography history, here's the link to
From Battered Boxes, New Works By Photography's Old Masters

100 Rolls of Film

2009-05-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

Having recently organized some of my old photo logs, it reminded me that for many serious film photographers it was critical that one eliminate any variables in emulsion when you had to replenish the supply of your favorite film with a new batch.

For those of you that never shot film, every role of film comes with an emulsion number that indicated date of manufacture, coating plant etc. The photos, below, show the process I used to test the effective film speed (versus stated ISO) of film as part of some workshops I taught on adapting the Zone System to 35mm photography.

I should add that by knowing the effective speed of your film when recorded by your standard lenses and developed in your standard developer, you essentially were eliminating any of the variables in your equipment thus allowing you to instinctively compose and read a scene quickly then "expose for the shadows and develop the film to control where your highlights fell".

This got me thinking about another practice in the film days that has seemingly been forgotten or not appreciated in the current age of being able to immediately review images taken with a new camera or new lens, and instantly make snap decisions on the performance of your gear. I remember a maxim a well known editorial photographer shared with me at a workshop I was attending about how he related his lenses as equivalent to the fine bristle brushes he used for his other passion - oil painting.

Just like new brushes, he pointed out that with any new lens, he had to spend many hours getting accustomed to how it captured light just like how he'd have to practice with a new brush on scratch canvas to understand how it lay down his favorite oil paint. His maxim was that it typically took him "100 rolls of film" to thoroughly test any new lens in all the various lighting situations and conditions that he typically shot. He explained that he would never use a lens on an assignment until he fully understood it's characteristics and traits.

Note: I've been meaning to write this post for awhile, and I still have some additional comments from my old photo journals that I need to find time to review in order to complete this essay. Stay tuned.

(Data on color photo: DA*55mm lens / K20D / F4.0 1/20 sec. Japan, April 2009)

First Photos from the DA*60-250

2009-04-27T15:00:00.000-04:00

The first production units have started to ship in Europe and other parts of the world. We'll start to receive our first units in the US in the next two weeks. Not having had a chance to shoot with this lens, I was pleasantly surprised to see some early sample photos from Richard Day, who lives in the UK. Here's a link to some of his DA*60-250 test photos on Flickr. Here's another series of photos Richard took to show the background blur (bokeh) produced by this lens using some nice tomatoes in the foreground.

Sunday Walk with DA15

2009-04-26T15:00:00.000-04:00

Our Sunday walk along the beach in San Clemente was the first time for me to try out a production version of the DA15. I previously posted photos of Harry the Pelican using a pre-production sample of this lens and I'll need to burn through a lot more film (files) of various scenes and subject matter to see if I can discern any differences.

Photos were all shot in RAW with a K20D and processed in CS3 to produce jpegs for posting here on blogger. No adjustments were made to the images, except for the snapshot of my wife. I had to crop this photo, as I shot this quickly by turning and firing and ended up with a falling horizon in the background.

I was really pleased to see that dpreview already posted their review of this lens in the past few days. Being a new lens, I didn't expect to see their review up this quickly. I'm puzzled by one of Andy Westlake's comments about construction and his choice of a zoom lens to compare against a prime, but overall, I thought this review was even handed and well done.

(Note: Click on any thumbnail to see a larger image file)