Bug - Pentax 645D with 67 100mm macro and extension tubes 1+2+3
Found a bug.
Photographed bug.
Put small version of bug on blog.
Put very large version of bug on Flickr
A Bug’s Life
Latest Posts
Pentax 645D review on The Luminous Landscape
Shadows, West 39th Street by Nick Devlin (Pentax 645D with 45-85)
Photographer Nick Devlin just posted a review of the Pentax 645D on The Luminous Landscape. Well worth a read. It is interesting that he talks a lot about how good the camera feels, this was one of the first things I noticed, particularly the solid grip you get on the body. It is also the kind of comment you can only give if you’ve used the camera, rather than just regurgitating the specs from the manufacturer’s website.
Macro testing
Macro testing using the Pentax 645D a 67 100mm macro and extension tubes
I thought I would test just how close I could focus when using the 100mm macro lens from my Pentax 67 camera on the 645D. I first took some photographs of a steel ruler (as shown above) then moved on to the lego man (naval officer?).
First 645D body, 67 to 645 adapter, and 100mm macro lens.
Then add the 1:1 adapter to the front of the lens (This comes with the 100mm macro lens)
And then add extension tubes 1+2+3
It should be noted that these are the full size images and not crops. If you use the macro lens with the 1:1 adapter, and extension tubes you can focus so that an object 19mm in width will fill the frame. Of course you could then crop the image further. This is a crop at 100% from the above shot.
This leads me to ask the assorted creepy crawlies on Okinawa…
“Are you ready for your close-up?”
Beeping Cameras
Pentax 645D beep options
Digtial Discovery #10
Modern cameras beep a lot. The beeps may be useful for some photographers, but I imagine they cause more than a few raised eyebrows if you’re shooting in a temple, shrine, monastery, library or secret laboratory.
Help make the world a quieter place. Find the beep menu in your camera’s settings and deselect the various options.
Enjoy the crack of the shutter, and leave beeping to The Road Runner.
Busena Terrace Resort
Busena Terrace Resort, Okinawa, Japan
Last month I was updating the Okinawa chapter of a Japan travel guide. This meant I had to drop by numerous hotels to check the quality of the rooms, prices, amenities etc. I saved the best till last, and last week I toured the facilities at the Busena Terrace Resort. The location is great, the beach lovely, rooms are luxurious and yet understated, and the service impeccable. The reality is that it is also a little outside my budget (rooms range from 42,735 to 577,500 a night).
Although I’ve been on Okinawa for 10 years, I’d never visited the resort. Somehow I’d presumed they wouldn’t allow non-guests into the complex. However, you can enjoy the beach (inc. showers etc) if you pay 2,000 yen per car, and anyone can dine at the restaurants. I’d recommend stopping by for tea and cakes at least once.
The hotel is located beside the Bankoku Shinryokan where the 2000 G8 summit took place, there is also an underwater observatory and a glass bottom boat if you’re looking to do more than just lounge on the beach.
Kerrick James with the Pentax 645D
Here’s a video from fellow Pentax 67 / 645D photographer Kerrick James. Kerrick and I have been emailing back and forth about the 645D for about 5 years. For a while it looked like it was never going to happen, but now we are both lucky enough to be shooting with one.
Visions of Japan – Global Gallery December 8 – 13
From December 8th to 13th, I will have a Visions of Japan exhibition at Global Gallery in Plaza House. This will be my biggest exhibition yet, with around 20 A2 size landscapes and 20 A3 size portraits. The gallery will be open from 11am to 7pm and I’ll be there most of the time. Along with the larger limited edition prints, there will also be a selection of smaller prints for sale.
As a bonus, Global Gallery is located next to the Indian restaurant Krishna, so I know I won’t be going hungry.
Discovery Channel Magazine – Yonaguni Underwater Ruins
A few months ago I took some photos of marine geologist Kimura Masaaki for Discovery Channel Magazine. A couple of my images were used in a recent feature about the “lost civilization” off the coast of Yonaguni. The magazines finally arrived today so I thought I’d share a couple of scans. Can’t post any larger images on the web, and I’ve desaturated the area around my pics, but it gives you the general idea. Hopefully I will visit Yonaguni in the spring to get my own underwater shots.
Discovery Channel Magazine Aug 2010 Yonaguni / Kimura Masaaki
The second image is of a rock Kimura-san found which has a clear “X” carved into the surface. It is, he believes, proof that the ruins are man-made.
Discovery Channel Magazine Aug 2010 Yonaguni / Kimura Masaaki
F.A.Q.’s Which camera should I buy?
I’m asked this question just as frequently as What lens should I buy? and it is even harder to answer.
If you want a simple point and shoot, then I’m still a big fan Pentax’s waterproof Optio series. I’ve mentioned them in previous posts, and their latest model is the W90
PENTAX OPTIO W90
The next group to consider are the entry level digital SLRs.
Moving from a Point and Shoot to an entry level SLR has several advantages and a few disadvantages.
Advantages include a larger sensor, minimal shutter lag, and more creative control. This means you tend to have higher quality images, you are less likely to miss the moment , and you (rather than the camera) can easily adjust things like focus or depth of field.
Disadvantages include cost, size, weight and maintenance. Digital SLRs are great, but the best camera is the one that you have with you. If you’re going to always end up leaving the SLR at home and just using the camera on your phone, then you’re “investing” in an expensive paperweight.
Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Sony all make good entry level digital SLR cameras for around 500 dollars. The prices I’ve quoted are all current prices on Amazon.com, but it’s worthwhile shopping around for the best deal, or if you want personal service or advice support your local camera store.
Rather than list megapixels, frames per second or auto focus points, here are a few general things to remember when buying your first SLR.
You are buying into a system, a Nikon body will only work with a Nikon mount lens. Any flash with have to be Nikon compatible. The lithium batteries are usually specific to a particular brand or even model. All camera brands have a wide range of lenses and accessories, but you should check that they are readily available in your area.
If you have photographer friends it would be worth considering getting the same brand of camera as them, even if it’s not the same model. As mentioned above, this compatibility will allow you to borrow each others lenses and accessories. Perhaps more importantly it will mean you have people who can help you with more technical aspects. A Canon film camera was quite similar to a Nikon film camera, but digital SLRs have so many buttons, options and menus that the differences between brands can make them seem like different beasts. If you have no photographer friends and haven’t joined a camera club, then there are online forums for every camera brand. Digital Photography Review is a good place to start.
If you can get to a camera store then you should try and spend some time holding the different cameras. Different people have different hand sizes so what feels comfortable and ergonomic to one person may feel unnatural to another.
Possible entry level digital SLRs (in alphabetical order)
Canon Rebel XS with 18 to 55mm lens $499
Canon Rebel XS
Nikon D3000 with 18-55mm lens $449
Nikon D3000
Pentax K-X with 18-55mm lens $514
Pentax K-X
Sony A380 with 18-55mm lens $495
Sony Alpha A380L
Usually entry level cameras are sold with a reasonable but not great kit lens. All the above cameras include a basic 18-55mm lens. The à la carte option would be to buy the body only and select your own lens. (You could then get a 50mm 1.8 lens as mentioned in the previous FAQ post).
All the above cameras will allow you to take great pictures. Yes they are “entry level” but they do a good job. You can spend more money, or even a lot more money, but I’ll leave the discussion of those cameras for another day.
Batten down the hatches
Typhoon Oct 28, 2010
TRAVEL 67 : Chris Willson Photography 