K-7 wearing a DA35mm Macro Limited and TC rides again!

I am just starting to realize the excellence of the DA 35mm f2.8 lens, not only on its own but in concert with the Pentax 1.7 TC making it a 65mm f3.7 macro lens! I thought at first that there ought to be degradation in the images at least a smidgen but I am seeing something different.

Here is a burgeoning hydrangea bud taken with the combo at f8, ISO 200, 1/180th of a second with a little fill flash from the Pentax 540!



Here is a Bavarian Bug-loss plant with the same exif including the fill flash



And also the ever present Daffodils at this juncture with early Spring...I sat with my shadow shading the flowers from the super bright sun for this shot and here is the result!



A shot of my backyard Daffs in the sun at F8, ISO 200, 1/180 and a bit of fill



Judith and others thinking about this lens adapter, I think the Pentax 1.7 TC is worth the effort/cost...shortly I will be off to Victoria Park, the Buddha willing, with the DA*200mm lens and TC to see what it can do with the ducks, geese et al!

I am already satisfied the the great DA*55mm lens does an excellent job both in combo with the TC and on its own but more work to be done with it and of course with my DA 14mm lens. I am putting most of this on hold until Canadian Customs deigns to release my new Benro Flexpod Tripod...they have had it for 4 days and not a change of any kind in the tracking of Canada Post! I can hardly wait!

Best regards to all
Leo

Very best to all
Leo
--

K-7: Pentax DA* 200mm f2.8, Pentax DA* 55mm f1.4, Pentax DA 35mmm f2.8 Limited, Pentax DA14mm f2.8, Sigma 17-70mm Zoom, Sigma EX DG f2.8 70mm Macro, Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG Macro lens,Pentax 1.7 lens adapter, Cokin Pro Z Filter System. Benro KJ-2 Ball-Head,Benro C297-M8 Carbon Fiber C-297 M8 Flexpod, Benro Precision 3-Way Pan-Head
Shooting photographs since 1948
mitch

Nice shots Leo!
I have to start thinking about primes as soon as I can afford one!

So far I only have the FA50/1.4 which I really like. I also use it as a reverse lens for super macro work (great fun)!
Best regards
Ben
--
Ben.
C & C always welcome.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/benoz/

Well Leo I can't pick any degradation there, the combo is working well. Can't wait for you to get your new Benro tripod LOL!
--
Regards Dean - Capturing Creation

I am great fan of the DA 35 ('cos i own one, but also I gets results). Great shots, Leo. You are getting the best out of this lens combination as far as I can see.

Adam
--

'Photography is nothing else than a writing of light' - Eduardo Cadava (and a whole lot of other stuff!)

http://adamaitken.blogspot.com
http://www.pbase.com/adam_aitken

PPG - http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/adamaitken

As always they are great shots but I really like the texture of 1 and 2. I don't have a small macro lens but do have a A* 200 F4 Macro that I will be trying this spring. The weather up here is really starting to warm up so things should start growing again.

Kayna

Nicely composed as always, Leo, and the lens/TC combo shines. But to me the colours are wrong - too cool and too green, and by quite a way. Could be my monitor but I calibrated it fairly recently and other people's shots look OK.

--
Gerry


First camera 1953, first Pentax 1983, first DSLR 2006
http://www.pbase.com/gerrywinterbourne

nice shots but shouldn't it be 60mm F4.8 (59.5mm F4.76)
--
Mike from Canada

'I like to think so far outside the box that it would require a telephoto lens just to see the box!' ~ 'My Quote '



http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?sort_order=views%20DESC&first_this_page=0&page_limit=180&&emailsearch=mighty_mike88%40hotmail.com&thumbnails=

Thanks Ben! I hope you can afford more primes soon and your next one might be a DA 35mm Limited...you could do worse!
Always good to hear from you mate!

All the best
Leo

Benoz said:

Nice shots Leo!
I have to start thinking about primes as soon as I can afford one!

So far I only have the FA50/1.4 which I really like. I also use it as a reverse lens for super macro work (great fun)!
Best regards
Ben
--
Ben.
C & C always welcome.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/benoz/

Click to expand...

--

K-7: Pentax DA* 200mm f2.8, Pentax DA* 55mm f1.4, Pentax DA 35mmm f2.8 Limited, Pentax DA14mm f2.8, Sigma 17-70mm Zoom, Sigma EX DG f2.8 70mm Macro, Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG Macro lens,Pentax 1.7 lens adapter, Cokin Pro Z Filter System. Benro KJ-2 Ball-Head,Benro C297-M8 Carbon Fiber C-297 M8 Flexpod, Benro Precision 3-Way Pan-Head
Shooting photographs since 1948
mitch

The silly Customs people are still holding up on it! Maybe they think it is a Chinese secret weapon...which it is for my photographic purposes! Glad to hear you don't see any degradation in the shots! Gerry sees big colour errors and I just can't see what he is talking about! Do you see the same Dean? Let me know if you do please!

Warm regards with wishes for patience
Leo

ozdean said:

Well Leo I can't pick any degradation there, the combo is working well. Can't wait for you to get your new Benro tripod LOL!
--
Regards Dean - Capturing Creation

Click to expand...

--

K-7: Pentax DA* 200mm f2.8, Pentax DA* 55mm f1.4, Pentax DA 35mmm f2.8 Limited, Pentax DA14mm f2.8, Sigma 17-70mm Zoom, Sigma EX DG f2.8 70mm Macro, Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG Macro lens,Pentax 1.7 lens adapter, Cokin Pro Z Filter System. Benro KJ-2 Ball-Head,Benro C297-M8 Carbon Fiber C-297 M8 Flexpod, Benro Precision 3-Way Pan-Head
Shooting photographs since 1948
mitch

Good to hear from you Adam and thank you! Do you see colour problems on your monitor when you see these shots! A second look would be appreciated!

Very best regards mon ami
Leo

Adam Aitken said:

I am great fan of the DA 35 ('cos i own one, but also I gets results). Great shots, Leo. You are getting the best out of this lens combination as far as I can see.

Adam
--

'Photography is nothing else than a writing of light' - Eduardo Cadava (and a whole lot of other stuff!)

http://adamaitken.blogspot.com
http://www.pbase.com/adam_aitken

PPG - http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/adamaitken

Click to expand...

--

K-7: Pentax DA* 200mm f2.8, Pentax DA* 55mm f1.4, Pentax DA 35mmm f2.8 Limited, Pentax DA14mm f2.8, Sigma 17-70mm Zoom, Sigma EX DG f2.8 70mm Macro, Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG Macro lens,Pentax 1.7 lens adapter, Cokin Pro Z Filter System. Benro KJ-2 Ball-Head,Benro C297-M8 Carbon Fiber C-297 M8 Flexpod, Benro Precision 3-Way Pan-Head
Shooting photographs since 1948
mitch

The only thing I can think of is I put these up in Pro Photo as opposed Adobe RGB...do you think that might be the problem? No one else has mentioned the colours being off but then maybe they are being too soft on an old fa#t! LOL! Take a second look my friend and see if you still see the same thing...I have my monitor, printer and all colour management in my photo editors set to ProPhoto...Lightroom recommends it so I set everything up that way!

Good to hear from you my friend and I am green with envy that I can't go to Venice too! ;-) BTW some great shots from there mate!

Warmest regards
Leo

Gerry Winterbourne said:

Nicely composed as always, Leo, and the lens/TC combo shines. But to me the colours are wrong - too cool and too green, and by quite a way. Could be my monitor but I calibrated it fairly recently and other people's shots look OK.

--
Gerry


First camera 1953, first Pentax 1983, first DSLR 2006
http://www.pbase.com/gerrywinterbourne

Click to expand...

--

K-7: Pentax DA* 200mm f2.8, Pentax DA* 55mm f1.4, Pentax DA 35mmm f2.8 Limited, Pentax DA14mm f2.8, Sigma 17-70mm Zoom, Sigma EX DG f2.8 70mm Macro, Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG Macro lens,Pentax 1.7 lens adapter, Cokin Pro Z Filter System. Benro KJ-2 Ball-Head,Benro C297-M8 Carbon Fiber C-297 M8 Flexpod, Benro Precision 3-Way Pan-Head
Shooting photographs since 1948
mitch

You are right Mike but how can I set the mm to 60mm when the K-7 jumps to 65 and misses 60...f4.76 is correct ,I must have had a brain fa#t when I did that! Is the number of mm adjustable some way I don't know about. From what I see the scale just plain doesn't show 60!!!

Best regards Mike
Leo

MightyMike said:

nice shots but shouldn't it be 60mm F4.8 (59.5mm F4.76)
--
Mike from Canada

'I like to think so far outside the box that it would require a telephoto lens just to see the box!' ~ 'My Quote '



http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?sort_order=views%20DESC&first_this_page=0&page_limit=180&&emailsearch=mighty_mike88%40hotmail.com&thumbnails=

Click to expand...

--

K-7: Pentax DA* 200mm f2.8, Pentax DA* 55mm f1.4, Pentax DA 35mmm f2.8 Limited, Pentax DA14mm f2.8, Sigma 17-70mm Zoom, Sigma EX DG f2.8 70mm Macro, Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG Macro lens,Pentax 1.7 lens adapter, Cokin Pro Z Filter System. Benro KJ-2 Ball-Head,Benro C297-M8 Carbon Fiber C-297 M8 Flexpod, Benro Precision 3-Way Pan-Head
Shooting photographs since 1948
mitch

Thanks very much Kayna! I too like the textures that popped out on those shots. This lens and TC combo seems to be working fine. I would love to have an A200mm Macro lens...lucky you my fellow Canuck! I shall look forward to seeing some of those macros when you crank some out! Good to hear from you! May full blown Spring hit your area soon!

All the very best
Leo

kayna44 said:

As always they are great shots but I really like the texture of 1 and 2. I don't have a small macro lens but do have a A* 200 F4 Macro that I will be trying this spring. The weather up here is really starting to warm up so things should start growing again.

Kayna

Click to expand...

--

K-7: Pentax DA* 200mm f2.8, Pentax DA* 55mm f1.4, Pentax DA 35mmm f2.8 Limited, Pentax DA14mm f2.8, Sigma 17-70mm Zoom, Sigma EX DG f2.8 70mm Macro, Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG Macro lens,Pentax 1.7 lens adapter, Cokin Pro Z Filter System. Benro KJ-2 Ball-Head,Benro C297-M8 Carbon Fiber C-297 M8 Flexpod, Benro Precision 3-Way Pan-Head
Shooting photographs since 1948
mitch

Leo James Mitchell said:

Good to hear from you Adam and thank you! Do you see colour problems on your monitor when you see these shots! A second look would be appreciated!

Very best regards mon ami
Leo

Click to expand...

No Leo, except the white flowers look to have a slight blue cast. Could be a white balance issue. the greens look good tho.

Adam Aitken

'Photography is nothing else than a writing of light' - Eduardo Cadava (and a whole lot of other stuff!)

http://adamaitken.blogspot.com
http://www.pbase.com/adam_aitken

PPG - http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/adamaitken

Salut

Thanks for getting back to me Adam! Much appreciated! Iw ill check that out and try PPing it to see the differences. I did shoot the one in the shade of my body rather than in the sunlight so that may make the difference!
Merci beaucoup! A plus tard!
Leo

Adam Aitken said:

Leo James Mitchell said:

Good to hear from you Adam and thank you! Do you see colour problems on your monitor when you see these shots! A second look would be appreciated!

Very best regards mon ami
Leo

Click to expand...

No Leo, except the white flowers look to have a slight blue cast. Could be a white balance issue. the greens look good tho.

Adam Aitken

'Photography is nothing else than a writing of light' - Eduardo Cadava (and a whole lot of other stuff!)

http://adamaitken.blogspot.com
http://www.pbase.com/adam_aitken

PPG - http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/adamaitken

Click to expand...

--

K-7: Pentax DA* 200mm f2.8, Pentax DA* 55mm f1.4, Pentax DA 35mmm f2.8 Limited, Pentax DA14mm f2.8, Sigma 17-70mm Zoom, Sigma EX DG f2.8 70mm Macro, Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG Macro lens,Pentax 1.7 lens adapter, Cokin Pro Z Filter System. Benro KJ-2 Ball-Head,Benro C297-M8 Carbon Fiber C-297 M8 Flexpod, Benro Precision 3-Way Pan-Head
Shooting photographs since 1948
mitch

Leo James Mitchell said:

The only thing I can think of is I put these up in Pro Photo as opposed Adobe RGB...do you think that might be the problem? No one else has mentioned the colours being off but then maybe they are being too soft on an old fa#t! LOL! Take a second look my friend and see if you still see the same thing...I have my monitor, printer and all colour management in my photo editors set to ProPhoto...Lightroom recommends it so I set everything up that way!

Click to expand...

Hi again Leo

First thing, most monitors have a relatively restricted colour space: nominally sRGB although some go wider but only top end photo/graphics monitors are as wide as ARGB or ProPhoto. If you have such a monitor it will show accurate colours but not all of those colours will transmit to those of us with ordinary monitors. Your prints must take precedence over us, of course, so perhaps that's the source of the problem ( my problem only, perhaps).

I notice that you've asked Adam's opinion and he sees some of what I do but not all.

I thought about digging out some of my own shots for comparison but that might just create a tail-chasing exercise. Instead I've looked on PBase for some third party images that to me look the way I'd expect some of yours to look. As they belong to other people I'll just give links

This is roughly how I'd expect young hydrangea leaves to look, although these are just a bit on the yellow side
http://www.pbase.com/yunnanarts/image/116888609
The pale daffs (see the leaf colour as well as the yellow in the flower)
http://www.pbase.com/hjsteed/image/76635610
And the two-tone daffs although, again, these look a bit too yellow
http://www.pbase.com/hjsteed/image/77192272
I'll be interested to read what you think of these colours.

Leo James Mitchell said:

Good to hear from you my friend and I am green with envy that I can't go to Venice too! ;-) BTW some great shots from there mate!

Click to expand...

Thanks for that old pal. Venice is a great place to be in the spring for a few days, but man it's expensive and wearing on the feet.

--
Gerry


First camera 1953, first Pentax 1983, first DSLR 2006
http://www.pbase.com/gerrywinterbourne

Choose 55mm as 65 may over correct in some instances
--
Mike from Canada

'I like to think so far outside the box that it would require a telephoto lens just to see the box!' ~ 'My Quote '



http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?sort_order=views%20DESC&first_this_page=0&page_limit=180&&emailsearch=mighty_mike88%40hotmail.com&thumbnails=

The Hydrangea I have is a climbing vine variety so that might make a difference! I went out and checked the leaves against the waxy, green leaves I see here and the difference is small...the shot might be a mite deeper green. I notice you didn't mention the Bug-loss green! Does it seem off to you? I am curious. The yellow on the Daffs you linked are too light a yellow compared to mine which seem to be a deeper, 'lemonier' yellow. ;-) My wife hates my colour descriptions! The whites you sent are more like the white I see on my live Daffs so Adam may be right and my White Balance may be off.

All in all I'd have ot say I like my captures better but then 'chaque'un a son goût' eh mate!Thanks for taking all that time to help out Gerry! Oh and my optometrist told me years ago that I should never argue about greens and blues with my wife, who has excellent colour vision! I apparently lack in that area so that might explain something! LOL!

All the best Gerry
Leo

--

K-7: Pentax DA* 200mm f2.8, Pentax DA* 55mm f1.4, Pentax DA 35mmm f2.8 Limited, Pentax DA14mm f2.8, Sigma 17-70mm Zoom, Sigma EX DG f2.8 70mm Macro, Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG Macro lens,Pentax 1.7 lens adapter, Cokin Pro Z Filter System. Benro KJ-2 Ball-Head,Benro C297-M8 Carbon Fiber C-297 M8 Flexpod, Benro Precision 3-Way Pan-Head
Shooting photographs since 1948
mitch

Thanks Mike! I will give 55mm a try and see what happens! Good of you to get back to me.

Best regards
Leo

MightyMike said:

Choose 55mm as 65 may over correct in some instances
--
Mike from Canada

'I like to think so far outside the box that it would require a telephoto lens just to see the box!' ~ 'My Quote '



http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?sort_order=views%20DESC&first_this_page=0&page_limit=180&&emailsearch=mighty_mike88%40hotmail.com&thumbnails=

Click to expand...

--

K-7: Pentax DA* 200mm f2.8, Pentax DA* 55mm f1.4, Pentax DA 35mmm f2.8 Limited, Pentax DA14mm f2.8, Sigma 17-70mm Zoom, Sigma EX DG f2.8 70mm Macro, Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG Macro lens,Pentax 1.7 lens adapter, Cokin Pro Z Filter System. Benro KJ-2 Ball-Head,Benro C297-M8 Carbon Fiber C-297 M8 Flexpod, Benro Precision 3-Way Pan-Head
Shooting photographs since 1948
mitch

Leo James Mitchell said:

The whites you sent are more like the white I see on my live Daffs so Adam may be right and my White Balance may be off.

Click to expand...

Leo

i took the liberty of downloading your white flower and raising the exposure in Photoshop CS3 by .5 on an exposure layer and voila! - whites look whiter than white, like they do in laundry commercials!!

So if there was a touch of coolness, raising exposure changed the whites. You can also move the gamma setting to the right and that has good results.

If you have Photoshop CS3 try it Leo and re-post!

Best
Adam

--

'Photography is nothing else than a writing of light' - Eduardo Cadava (and a whole lot of other stuff!)

http://adamaitken.blogspot.com
http://www.pbase.com/adam_aitken

PPG - http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/adamaitken