future technical difficulties

After spending much of yesterday setting up an old computer in a new place and allowing it to massively update itself, it's now refusing to power up.  No pretty lights, no beep - nothing.  Maybe I unwired something when I put the case back on, though that seems unlikely.  Drat, more effort needs to be spent on a 'simple' project.. I hate that.

As to my dueling camera kits, both Pentax and Samsung technology folks are making excellent arguments as they seek to be my future 'primary camera'!

• Samsung captured my attention with the NX300 for its minimal size (both body and primes like the 30/2), on-chip AF that's speedy for stills and video, its generally fine image talent - and its ability to use my K lenses effectively.  The newer 28Mpx backlit sensor of the NX1/NX500 holds up very well in real tests, though for no clear reason DxO has chosen to take its time reviewing this unique large backlit sensor.  Toss in the impressive 4k video abilities of the new cameras, even though my video usage is rare.  However - since Samsung can grab video frames on the fly for still use, this 'trick' has many advantages as a pseudo-burst mode, and for macros you can shift focus in and out then grab the most interesting focal plane from your video as your final image.  We'll call it a pseudo-Lytro effect. Samsung's technical group is taking cameras seriously, no doubt about it.

• And then Pentax comes along with another sensor-shift surprise: tiny shifts between four images can yield full-color RGB data on each pixel.  The result is claimed to be a pseudo-Foveon effect like Sigma's sensor captures (not hyper-pixel files like Olympus has just introduced).  If the Foveon claims a 19Mpx image is effectively 38Mpx, then what does Pentax' shifted 20/24Mpx produce?  Something like Olympus claims, in fact.. curious!  And with lower noise than Foveon?   And then with a smile and wink the Pentax engineers hint that current users will not be left out - implying that a firmware update could bring this down to other cameras with micro-SR abilities (K-3, K-s1/s2.. perhaps K-5 II series?).  Another reason to pick up a K-s1 as prices head toward an inevitable clearance?  Or just what they want me to think so they can offload slightly older bodies??  Clearly the Ricoh R&D department is not resting either.

Since the Unfortunate Budget Reduction Act of 2015 was approved, the discussion isn't immediately relevant to me.  At some point Pentax will acquire the on-chip PDAF with a Sony (or ??) sensor inside, rendering some of Samsung's advantages moot-ish - but Pentax clearly states they're not much interested in pushing video capabilities so NX will continue to prevail there.  Samsung is showing some amazing gear - but they are now aiming to sell 2-kilogram $1500 lenses.. thank you, but no.  The cameras announced this year by both companies will be far less expensive by the time I might begin to reinvest.  Interesting times indeed!

While it's not a terrible thing to have a foot in both systems, it clearly causes more distractions.
At least I'm only in two systems! 

consolation prize

Whenever I'm low on funds and lack any sort of closeup lens, I turn to one of my old reliables: the $30-ish, quick-to-focus but slow-aperture Quantaray 28-90mm f/3.5-5.6 1:2 macro.  Besides the above feature list it's also really light (no more than 240 grams) and has eight aperture blades for decent bokeh.  No one expects much from it so it continues to surprise every seeker of decent-quality images on a budget.  The photo below surprises me every time I look at it; using the 28-90, K-01 and a hose, this was a simple garden shot that I really like!

This wasn't my time for finding a copy of that lens - but I picked up the next best thing.  It may even be the exact same thing - though it's marked as a mere 28-80mm zoom from Sigma with same aperture range and 1:2 close focus.  They're both Sigma lenses but I have only seen the Quantaray labeled as reaching 90mm.  Looks and features are pretty much identical, as was the price: $35 plus a smidge for shipping.

It only goes 1:2 closeup when at 80mm so that's at f/5.6 - but let's face it, something faster like f/2.8 is pretty useless for depth of field, so something nearer f/8 is appropriate in any case.  This will do just fine.

three wide 'cakes

I've been wondering whether I truly need the NX 16, 20 and 30mm lenses.  I bought the 20mm to be the wide option since stitching has become so easy (and can be done in-cam for jpeg); just shoot three vertical images, stitch and you've gone wide!

However - the 20mm took the slow path to my home, and a bargain-price 16/2.4 reached me first.  It's also a fine lens and needs no stitching to capture a big field.  So now they are all here and want to play.  Should they all stay, or is the 16 or 20 expendable?

Here's the first set of shots to make things interesting.  All were shot so that the fence-post would remain at the far left edge of the scene.  Not surprisingly, those four mm on the wide end lead to a large difference, bringing an entirely new tree into the shot.  Looking at it this way, the three lenses do not interfere with each other.

But would I take them all with me on a backpacking jaunt?


Here's a shot of the 20mm in portrait mode.  Yes, it clearly covers more vertical space than the 16 shot horizontally, no real surprise here.  Is that enough to take over for the 16?  And imagine the 16mm oriented this way, how cool would that be?  That could keep the Samyang 12mm f/2 from my bag.. whether for good or ill it's hard to say.  That Samyang sounds like a fun lens, especially for sky imaging after dark.. but funds will be tight for a while.  In the end that will likely determine if one of these pancakes must go.

To play fair it must be noted that the 30mm in stitched-portrait mode can do to the 20 what the 20 does to the 16, so one can play all sorts of games to eliminate a lens!  So for now I'll hold on to the trio and give it all more thought.  The ideal of keeping 16 and 30 makes more sense for spacing, but the 20mm has other ideas...

 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

In Pentax news, those same tight funds referenced above have led to the 50/2.8 Macro's departure.  The 50/2 and a close-up diopter will do for a bit.  The 135 and 80-200 zoom are also on the block; given the 50/100/150 K-trio I will be just fine with them moving on since they are all f/3.5 or faster anyway.

group photo, at last

Everyone that I'm expecting has gathered at last!  Here's a shot with the nx300 and 50-200 III, which as noted has an uncertain future here - the Pentax primes are faster and lighter so may win out despite their lack of stabilization.  Note that the lens hood on the 16mm fits all three NX primes

I've added a new contestant to the group: the Pentax SMC-A 50mm f/2 refuses to be sold, and is more compact and brighter than its macro cousin.  If I were to go with dipoter lenses for close focus, why not go smaller?  The 150mm at far right has displaced the 135mm f/3.5 for better spacing from the 100mm; yet another surprisingly good price for the 150 makes it happen.

This lineup simply must do for now - even the minimal tax return is spoken for in other places, and the gear collection must get only smaller.  Acquisition is far more fun, that's for sure!  The Pentax 135 and maybe the 50 macro could go, as well as the 50-200 III.  I'm also not convinced that I need 16 20 and 30mm NX lenses, but the 16 became available while the 20 worked its way to my home.   More tests (50 v 50, 16 v 20) will be needed!  Gosh I suck at  lens tests, far more fun to read than to perform properly.

the prodigal lens

I bought a used copy of the nx 20mm f2.8 in late January and spoke of it here.  Over a month later it has reached American soil and is heading my way.  Wow, was that pokey!

To be honest though, it's still within its estimated shipping date - so delays were assumed to be likely.  The shipping window was about a month thick and it will be delivered on the last day.. but it still counts!  In the recent past I have been spoiled by items reaching me ahead of schedule from one or two time zones away - and this was coming from nearly halfway around the world.  This lens has been places and 'seen' things I haven't dreamed of.

It is reassuring to have the tracking number provide data again after the past few weeks of silent travel and/or customs checking.  This gently wide-angle pancake prime should be fun.

When everything is in hand the active kit/s will look like this:

• Samsung nx300 body + NX 16 20 and 30mm primes
• Pentax K200 body + DA WR 18.55 and 50.200 zooms
• A50 f2.8 macro, M100 f2.8, M150 f3.5 ¹
•  pro\spec 28 f2.8,  Quantaray 100-300mm zoom,400mm f6.3 preset ¹

¹ these are adaptable to the NX system

The inactive kit:

NX .. 20.50 and 50.200 zooms

K .. old 80.200 f3.5 zoom, A50 f2, M135 f3.5, rexatar 200 f3.3

Update: it's here and it's spectacular!  Very crisp and colorful images, focuses very close, at f2.8 it's decently fast.  I can shoot in-cam panos in portrait mode and sell the 16mm.  Well let's not be hasty.. :√)

Battle of the Giants

A monster film-era zoom, a big fast film-era prime and a modern stabilized zoom
battle it out for ownership of the 200mm turf. 
 Who shall pass?

Ugh - I didn't check the settings (typical, and in part why I hate doing lens tests) so first tests were +0.6EV, iso800 and blindly spot-metered (no spot showing on the VF) on an unevenly-lit tree whose lighting changed continuously.  Clearly I need to learn better how to adjust settings!   All were hand-held with the nx300.  My one distress over this camera is that the Fn button brings up a half-dozen settings that are good to adjust on the fly but leaves several others off; the lens iFn is similar that way.  Practice practice..

Anyway - on to the results!

images are really not worth showing but here's a triplet shot.  Ugh-ly, even at small resolution..

The 50-200 won but not by a mile, and mostly because I didn't find the OIS-off switch while testing (no fair!).  I should toss in the Pentax SMC-M 135mm* and crop, see how it fares - the contest is wide open after these severely unprofessional tests.  Even focus peaking did not help the two manual lenses feel all that sharp.

* update.. a copy of the 150mm f3.5 Pentax is on its way!