Pentax K-5 II and strong filters

I recently picked up a Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 ultra-wide-angle lens for my Pentax K-5 II DSLR. On the first day that I took it out, I tried using a 1000x neutral density filter to blur water in a stream. The results were disappointing:

Even though the light was pretty dull, I attributed the bright horizontal streaks to lens flare from the cheap, uncoated filter, and I didn’t think much more about it.

Cheapass Photo: JYC Fotomate LP-01 macro focusing rail ($13.60)

This is the first in an occasional series about ridiculously cheap photography equipment, typically of the “slow boat from Hong Kong” persuasion.

Fotomate LP-01, Amazon product photo

The JYC Fotomate LP-01 Macro-Turning Long-Type Tripod Head is a single-axis macro focusing rail with 10 cm (4 inches) of travel, currently selling for $13.60 shipped from Hong Kong.

Manual Flash Exposure Chart Generator

When photographic flashes were commonly operated in manual mode, they usually had a chart or dial on the flash to calculate the correct exposure based on the distance to the subject. Now that many flashes are designed primarily for automatic use, they may omit this aid, making it harder to use the flash in manual mode.

I thought it would be helpful, therefore, to make a spreadsheet that would generate a table of aperture settings and subject distances for any manual flash. You can download it here:

Manual Flash Exposure Chart Generator [XLS]

Fat Peppy (1997-2013)

Pepper “Fat Peppy” Allen passed away today at the age of 16 from a blood clot in his femoral artery. He was my wife’s loyal companion and obstructer-of-laptop-use; she had him longer than she’s had me. He will be deeply missed.

Team Soft G

Apparently, at least on Twitter, today is the day for all parties to declare their allegiance on the matter of the pronunciation of “GIF,” the Graphics Interchange Format.

I stand with the soft G. (The “JIF” pronunciation, if you must.)

My reasons, like my wallet, are bifold:

1. The creator of the format, Steve Wilhite, said that it is pronounced with a soft G, and this pronunciation was endorsed by his employer, CompuServe. The peanut-butter-like pronunciation was intentional. In my opinion, it is reasonable to grant inventors the privilege of naming their inventions, including their pronunciation*.  This privilege makes at least as much sense as patent protection.
2. The usual hard-G argument is that “Graphics” is pronounced with a hard G, so GIF should be as well. This is a stupid argument, based on a non-existent, made-up rule that is not invoked for any other acronym. Anyone who advances this argument deserves to lose**.

* Within reason, at least.
** Anyone who pronounces “SCUBA” with a short U, “UNICEF” with a CH , “LASER” with a short A and soft S (not Z), and “NASCAR” with a schwa for the first A is exempt from argument #2.

This would be a good time to get “fiancée/fiancé” right.

Jumbo Paper Towel Holder

I’m not sure how to set it up yet, but the “easy tear arm” is wicked sharp.