While standing in pitch black at 2a.m. photographing the Milky Way, I noticed that when a car drove down this lonely gravel road across the lake, it lit up the trees beautifully. Had to wait a good half hour but another arrived, and I was ready. Lucky to not get the actual car/headlights in frame.
Really nice! Without your explanation many viewers would wonder what was going on? Especially in this era of credulous acceptance of all sorts of ET ideas. I should try something similar with my Pentax LX, which is unequalled for loooooong available darkness exposures. A moonlit scene is .... pretty strange with the LX.
@GRHazelton From my humble experience, I'd say it's the glass that makes the difference at these kinds of extremes. Fast fast FAST....1.4 minimum. Pentax always had excellent lenses, though.
Well, I could use my f1.2 50mm on my Pentax LX.... Problem is where I'm living now there is too much light pollution for a good night photograph. I'll have to go into the mountains.
And, can you detect a green glow from up north, via my jealousy at you not only having the exquisite LX but ALSO the 50/1.2?? What a dream set up. That is a truly marvellous camera.
Well, when I bought the LX used from KEH over 20 years ago I decided to go for the "gold," so to speak, hence the f1.2. Yes the LX is marvelous, but it does have its flaws. The dreaded sticky mirror syndrome in which typically the mirror won't return to rest reliably, and since the cameras are getting old more things may go wrong. Service isn't cheap, as is also the case with other professional camera systems.
My examples need some tender loving care and CLA's. Note that the LX uses electronics for shutter speeds below 1/70 and operating the meter, those components are getting old, and replacements are getting scarce. Since the higher speeds are mechanical battery failure doesn't leave one helpless, as would be the case with many recent cameras. Qualified repair persons are few in number, Erik Hendrickson in Tennessee is one, there are some in the UK I think. While the f1.2 is still expensive, the bodies aren't more than I paid for my first one, and often cheaper. Recently I bought a body from KEH, dusty, a little brassing, but around $150.00. A little cleaning up and it works perfectly. Always good to have a spare.....