Group Shot

Here's a family portrait, :), of my manual screw mount (and 1 K-mount) prime collection.
28mm, Sears f2.8
50mm, Pentax SMC f1.4
50mm, Pentax-M SMC f2
55mm, Ricoh f2.8
55mm, Ricoh f1.4
135mm, Pentax Super Takumar, f3.5


Of these bunch, I like the Ricoh 55mm f1.4 (I consider it to be very sharp), and the Pentax 135mm.
The 50mm SMC f1.4, although a nice lens, it does have slight yellowing, so I don't use it as much.

Shooting manual is fun, and these old lenses are vey low cost, if you shop around, and set your limit when bidding on EBay. Most of these I bid on EBay, in the Camera/Lens combo. I have found that sometimes, it is cheaper to buy them in the combo setup, than the stand alone lens. Since I like to display older cameras as works of art, it's a win-win situation for me (well, sometimes).

A few things I have learned:
1 - Screw mount lenses are readily available, a little cheaper, too. But you do have to buy an adapter to use it with your digital SLR, check for availability for your camera mount.

2 - How's your eye-sight? Manual focus is getting harder and harder for me, this damn aging thing :~(, a big, bright view finder will really help. Pentax SLR (at least with DL), has a Focus Lock indicator (beeps) to let you know you are in focus.

3 - Another thing about using M42 lens is with the auto/manual stop down. I am not very good at explaining this, since I don't fully understand this operation, but read this Wiki. The issue is that I have to open up the aperture to frame and focus, then set my aperture setting, then take a meter reading.

4 - Screw mount lenses are slower to mount/unmount. As the name, you have to screw on/off the lens from your camera body. It does take several turns. I prefer to use bayonet mount if possible.

5 - Prime is not as flexible as zoom. Sure, people suggest that we should use the manual zoom - our legs to walk to different position before taking the shot, but if I am at Grand Canyon, this might mean some hiking before I can reach the perfect location for the shot; if I can still have the energy to hold the camera then, :). Consider this limitation, or feature carefully.


My up coming experiment is to take off the kit zoom lens off of my DL, and keep a prime on it for minimum of 2 month at a time. Let me see if I have the discipline to do it, and see if it will change the way of seeing through the lens.
I'll start off by using the SMC 50mm f1.4, I'll have to live with the yellowish pictures I guess, :). I will mark my calendar - let's say until end of May. Wish myself luck!

Site recommendation

I am a history buff, and I am especially interested in old photographs, of any type. If you have similar interest, check out this blog- http://www.shorpy.com/. They are mostly photos from Unites States, if there are other sites similar to this, but around the world, please let me know.

I am really surprised at how well most of the pictures looked. The quality is excellent, it is a real enjoyment for me to go through them.

Nikon SB-20

Happy Nikon family of flashes - the monster on the upper right is SB-16, with Nikon F3 attachment.

After acquiring 2 Cactus flash triggering kits, I have been on the hunt for suitable, cheap flashes that I can use. Although I already have a Nikon SB-600, I am not so keen on attaching my expensive flash on the wireless trigger until I know what I am doing. After reading this article, I do have a fairly good idea on what I need to buy.
Well, due to popularity of strobist.com, it is now almost impossible to get the Nikon SB-24/25/26/28/80 (Thanks alot, David Hobby! :)). I started to look at some other alternatives. Sunpak and Vivitar come up a lot, but their prices are not that great at times - remember "cheap", I am looking at $20-40 range, each. Well, after reading this nice review, I begin to focus on the Nikon SB-20. I was able to find 2 SB-20s on Ebay, for a total of around $64 (one for $25, and the other for $38) total, including shipping. Just a little cheaper than my normal used gear outlet, http://www.keh.com/, if you consider shipping cost.

SB-20 almost has everything I am looking for:
Fairly powerful- Guide number rating of 100;
Manual settings- Full, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, to 1/16;
Tilt feature- I think I'll use umbrellas most of the time, but there are times when I still want to bounce off of the ceiling;
PC sync cord connection;
Standard shoe mount;
Optional external power connection;
Uses standard AA batteries (x4).

Cons- all are fairly minor to me:
Odd ball flash head- Harder to mount snoot or other light modifier;
No swivel function- Not a big issue in the off camera mount world;
Not as powerful- at GN of 100, compared with GN120 for SB-28.

Oh, I can even mount the SB-20 on my Pentax DL! Cool! Of course, I have to make manual adjustments, but not bad at all.

Here are some more pictures:

Well, side by side with SB-600 (left), SB-20 is not very small in size.

PC Sync and power connection on the SB-20.

You can see the tilt adjustment (flash head) on the SB-20. Odd looking, but it works.

Not very star trek like as far as lightings concerned, but it has all the manual adjustment I am looking for.


More reviews here: http://www.dantestella.com/technical/sb20.html, and info here: http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf4/flash/sb20/index.htm.

I am still on the look out for another one, unless I can find a SB-24-28/80, cheap.

Cookbook

A while back, I had a post regarding creating your own cookbook, here.


I have found a site that taylors their business in making personal cookbook. Looks like it is associated with Epicurious.com. I was hoping to see some tips on techniques regarding how to photography food, cooking, etc, but I didn't find it.

I think another alternative is just to utilize existing services for photo books, where people are using them mostly for wedding albums, etc.

Sedona - Late Winter

We were hoping to climb Mount Eldon, but cold and windy weather changed our mind. We headed down to Sedona instead - a difference of 2500 feet in elevation.

Still windy, but I am sure it would've been much worse back up in Flagstaff.

Touch it, I dare you!

We actually spotted a water fall. A search on the web, I guess the name of this fall is Encinoso Fall. This is seasonal. With unusual amount of snow fall this Winter, we have a lot more water this year. I am estimating this is about 600 feet up from the road, not very far from the rim. The normally peaceful Oak Creek is mad with rushing water. We saw several cars with kayaks designed for rapids, but we didn't actually see any one in the water.

Well, something is blooming, cause my allergies is kicking up in high gear. Last year, being new to the area, I suffered big time in late February, early March. This year, I started my Claritan treatment early, in anticipation of whatever it is - pine, most likely. When the car is covered by some type of pollen, that'll be the worst time for me.

Kleenex supply, check!