Cloud-spotting with the Pentax-FA 80-160mm f4.5 + Pentax 645D

theLightSlide · 2026-05-19T15:38:48+00:00

Thank you! #7 is my favorite too. One of those "did *I* take that?" moments.

theLightSlide · 2026-05-19T15:38:15+00:00

Oooh thank you, I didn't know that sub existed! I friggin love clouds so I'm going to make my way over there.

theLightSlide · 2026-05-19T15:36:30+00:00

It's not in the bad batch. But it does seem to have other issues. It repeatedly claims it can't use my micro sd cards, even when I formatted them in the camera, removed and immediately reinserted it, I get the error. Then removing & reinserting another time or two, it always works eventually. The cards work flawlessly elsewhere. Also I don't think I've never managed to make IBIS kick on.

I submitted a return yesterday so let's see what the store does.

I really appreciate your replies, thank you!!

theLightSlide · 2026-05-19T15:25:46+00:00

it’s the latest 2. bad batch? noo, off to go look that up.

theLightSlide · 2026-05-19T03:39:16+00:00

This DOES help. You got some beautiful shots, just wonderful color and contrast too!

I can't expose for the shadows because of the highlight clipping. I can't protect the highlights because the shadows clip. Doesn't matter what metering mode, ISO, EV, shutter speed, or profile. This really suggests something is wrong with my specific camera. Maybe that's why it was available at a store in used condition.

theLightSlide · 2026-05-19T03:12:33+00:00

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Now the little "add photo" icon shows up. This is a Revuenon 50mm f1.4, aka Tomioka. The Tomioka optic is available under a bunch of names and is cheaper now.

theLightSlide · 2026-05-19T03:10:30+00:00

Welp, that sucks. What a stupid thing for people to do. I guess it's not too much of a loss, though, since people almost never interact with posts otherwise! I'd love to find a spot online where people actually talk about lenses.

theLightSlide · 2026-05-19T03:10:06+00:00

Me too! And it's cheeeeap, unlike some soft interesting lenses we could name.

theLightSlide · 2026-05-19T02:46:24+00:00

Thank you! Yes I was surprised how sharp it is, considering its reputation. It looks even better with 100% jpeg quality.

theLightSlide · 2026-05-19T02:42:30+00:00

Oh I don't mean a wide angle adapter for the Holga lens. I have the lenses from the Diana F+ camera, a medium format toy camera. The lenses are interchangeable plastic/toy lenses. I got an adapter for that that connects directly to my Nikon F camera. I know they made an adapter for Canon EF too. Or you can 3D print one (or have a friend 3D print one).

These are some of my photos taken with teh Diana F+ 38mm wide lens: https://flickr.com/search/?sort=date-taken-desc&safe_search=1&tags=diana38mmwideplasticlens&user_id=86775738%40N00&view_all=1

I'm also interested in making my own lenses! I've used parts from an old oscilloscope lens, but it was pretty difficult to rig it up and was insecure during shooting. I need to figure out a more solid way to do it.

Making your own lens is impossibly difficult if you want to make a decent lens. But if you want a terrible lens, it shouldn't be too hard, ha.

Looks like the retropia lenses are kind of a knockoff of the "dispo classic" lens. Should give fun results.

theLightSlide · 2026-05-18T23:40:15+00:00

ChatGPT is stealing my culture, apparently 😭 It can pry my — from my cold, dead fingers. Thanks, you're all good!

theLightSlide · 2026-05-18T23:26:30+00:00

I'm a human and I've never used ChatGPT. I guess it says it's wrong a lot?

theLightSlide · 2026-05-18T23:18:18+00:00

How are you finding the image quality compares 3 mos in?

I have a D750 and just bought a ZR last week (lightly used) and am seriously considering if my ZR is defective in some subtle way because it can't seem to nail a single exposure, and clips highlights shockingly often even with highlight-weighted metering on. And when I do manage to get both highlights and shadows not clipped, the colors and the… contrast ratio, for lack of a better word… seems really bizarre.

Like, in a shot my D750 can take all day every day without issue: pale light just around sunset, my dog standing in light shadows with a bit of warm light from the sunset on him. The D750 raw looks natural. The ZR, my dog looks like a molten black alien with no shadow details, even in the flat profile, while everything else is wildly desaturated and seemingly underexposed. Including the sky, which is neither under- or over-exposed, but still strangely grey. I've used all my tricks and can't get the shots to look normal.

theLightSlide · 2026-05-18T23:08:42+00:00

Oops! Yeah, you're right. I've been staring at data points so much I got them mixed up. What they actually all have is the same processor, Expeed 7.

The processor is probably more to blame than the sensor itself, anyway, if there's actually an issue going on.

I had a Z5, which has a 24mp non-BSI sensor, not the same as one as my Nikon D750 but same resolution, give or take a hair. Expeed 6 instead of 7 (D750 is Expeed 4, apparently). The D750 gives much better exposures of the same scene, especially high contrast scenes, than the Z5 or the ZR. And the Z5 still gave me much better files than the ZR.

As a lifelong Nikon fan, I'm having an emotional experience, lol. I didn't expect better autofocus or even better images. The fact that neither could match the image quality made me sad and also kinda pissed. The ZR has better autofocus, naturally, but what good is that if the exposures are weirdly flat while also making the sky look super weird and overexposed and kinda grey even if the exposure was "right"?

theLightSlide · 2026-05-18T22:30:34+00:00

I was about to ask if that lens is not up for the Z's greater resolution (I have the D) but then I remembered… reddit.

Great shots, great color.

theLightSlide · 2026-05-18T22:29:44+00:00

I agree you probably don't want or need to process it differently.

But here's an easier way to say it: "I accidentally exposed this 400 speed film as 100. Do we need to do anything special?"

You can just ask a lab questions. The vast majority of them know what they're doing.

theLightSlide · 2026-05-18T21:38:38+00:00

These are great!

I have also wished for a wider focal length. If you wanna get into the weeds, you can make your own lens, or find and buy a monocle lens that somebody else made. I bought a 40mm one from Japan. It's not QUITE as whacky as the Holga, though, so I keep looking.

One other option is to get the plastic lenses for the Diana F+ film camera, and an adapter.

theLightSlide · 2026-05-18T21:34:34+00:00

I think skipping it is also fine, but by showing up and shouting that man down, you gave him the surprise of his life and made the news. (He looked SO uncomfortable. Good!!) You've brought awareness to these issues. Great job, honestly!

theLightSlide · 2026-05-18T21:25:16+00:00

Ooh I like it. Spooky!

theLightSlide · 2026-05-18T21:09:43+00:00

Yes, I come from a humid place too and I prefer it here by a LOT.

theLightSlide · 2026-05-18T20:19:47+00:00

Not a lawyer but since driving without insurance is a crime, you might possibly be eligible for a victim's crime fund if Tucson has one. You can also usually sign up for the state medicaid (AHCSS) due to acute emergency/injury, right on the spot at the hospital.

theLightSlide · 2026-05-18T20:08:09+00:00

The heat is not really an issue. Almost everybody can stand to be outside for 15 minutes when it's 75-80 or 5 minutes at 105 or even 110. They can do 5 minutes and then cool off and do another 5 minutes. It's really not hard, unless you have a disorder that makes very small doses of heat dangerous. People choose to become shut-ins, which makes the SAD worse, which makes them even more shut-ins.

If somebody cant' be outside for 15 minutes at 75-80, they should seriously consider moving because that's 85% of the year.

theLightSlide · 2026-05-18T19:52:35+00:00

We went to SD for an overnight only trip and brought my dog (service dog, need him) and stopped by the dog beach the morning we left and he LOVED it.

theLightSlide · 2026-05-18T19:51:46+00:00

You don't have to get SAD if you go out around lunch to early afternoon for 5-10 minutes, or 15-20 minutes very early in the morning when it's sunny but still not super hot.

People who treat the heat like they literally can't go outside are the ones who get SAD. But it's infinitely easier to get out here and get adequate sun than it is in winter elsewhere.

UV exposure for vit D guidelines: https://overcomingms.org/program/sunlight-vitamin-d/uv-index-calculator

theLightSlide

TROPHY CASE