Never Guess What I Won At the Pentax K-7 Road Tour -- Portland

stevebrot · 08-12-2009, 08:56 PM

Ta! Da!

I had ya going there for a second didn't I! Nope, I didn't win the camera. Instead I got a Pentax Hat. A pretty nice hat too.

The camera was won by betsypdx. There were about 25 people there. Most had heard about the expo on dpreview. Aside from the camera winner, I didn't run into anyone else from here.

Overall, it was an interesting time. I was able to handle the new 18-55 kit and shoot with the DA 15/4 Limited. I was also able to shoot a quick exposure series with the K-7 with my Pentax-M 50/1.7. I also got to meet Mark Dimalanta and see his slide show. He is a really nice guy that is VERY enthusiastic about what he does.

My impressions:

The new kit is really nice
The DA 15/4 is double-plus really nice (I want one)
The K-7 is a little small for my hands in the same way that the MX is small for my hands...A little cramped, but I could definitely get used to it

Thanks to Pentax Imaging for dropping by!

Steve

**Marc Langille** · 08-12-2009, 08:57 PM

Nice cap! I have one too...

I am glad Betsy got the K7!! Good for her.

Cheers,
Marc

Arpe · 08-12-2009, 11:19 PM

Have to start a "Post a photo of you in your Pentax cap/gear" thread!

*cardinal43* · 08-13-2009, 05:18 AM

Originally Posted by Marc Langille

Nice cap! I have one too...

I am glad Betsy got the K7!! Good for her.

Cheers,
Marc

I have one also. Have had it for about a year and I wear it all the time. Was recently on a trip to Olympia, WA and while in the local Costco, someone noticed the cap and said...."too bad Pentax went out of business". They were surprised when I informed them that Pentax was still in business and had just released the K-7.

*LeDave* · 08-13-2009, 08:55 AM

Wow nice hat man. The only thing I got from the K-7 Road Tour is a red Pentax twist pen.

kerrowdown · 08-13-2009, 09:34 AM

Aye, but with my luck it would be the wrong size.

*Ratmagiclady* · 08-13-2009, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by cardinal43

I have one also. Have had it for about a year and I wear it all the time. Was recently on a trip to Olympia, WA and while in the local Costco, someone noticed the cap and said...."too bad Pentax went out of business". They were surprised when I informed them that Pentax was still in business and had just released the K-7.

Wow, hostile marketing really did a number on Pentax. *Definitely* time for some new marketing.

Maybe something like "Pentax: the Tradition Lives." Or something like that.

stevebrot · 08-13-2009, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by LeDave

Wow nice hat man. The only thing I got from the K-7 Road Tour is a red Pentax twist pen.

I got the pen too! And a Pentax note pad!

I supposed I could have "traded" my M 50/1.8 for the DA 15/4, but I thought better of it.

I really like the M 50/1.7. They were not keeping too close a tabs on the lenses...tiny little things that they are. I did have to rescue my M 50/1.7 from some guy that was inspecting it. I think he was wondering if it was some sort of prototype!

Steve

Barnster · 08-13-2009, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by kerrowdown

aye, but with my luck it would be the wrong size.

one size fits all!

rormeister · 08-13-2009, 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by stevebrot

Instead I got a Pentax Hat. A pretty nice hat too.

My impressions:
The new kit is really nice

The DA 15/4 is double-plus really nice (I want one)

The K-7 is a little small for my hands in the same way that the MX is small for my hands...A little cramped, but I could definitely get used to it

Thanks to Pentax Imaging for dropping by!

Steve

Hi Steve,
I too scored a cool cap and pen. Did anyone at the Portland visit ask about the dreaded "GREEN LINE"? In Seattle, someone did, and the response was a decisive "it's been corrected in firmware 1.01". Turns out that might have been a stretch.
I'd also be curious of your real impression. Did you think the demo of the K-7 menus and functions was really 'professional' or just an attempt at really understanding the camera. I left feeling I knew way more by just using the camera and reading the manual.

stevebrot · 08-14-2009, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by rormeister

Hi Steve,
I too scored a cool cap and pen. Did anyone at the Portland visit ask about the dreaded "GREEN LINE"? In Seattle, someone did, and the response was a decisive "it's been corrected in firmware 1.01". Turns out that might have been a stretch.
I'd also be curious of your real impression. Did you think the demo of the K-7 menus and functions was really 'professional' or just an attempt at really understanding the camera. I left feeling I knew way more by just using the camera and reading the manual.

The presentation was done over the lunch hour 11:30 - 1:30 or thereabouts. Mark gave his presentation first and it was a long one. By the time he was done and the technical demonstration had started, people were getting a little fidgety in their seats and a few guys had actually drifted into the back of the room to play with the cameras. As a result, the technical demo was rushed and pretty minimal.

I did not ask about the green band issue, but did ask if I could mount my M 50/1.7 to check the meter performance. When I asked if the metering had been improved, all I got was a sort of blank look and a shrug. I got the same sort of response when I asked Mark about routine use of AF for certain types of sports. I guess that is the safe response in a public forum when asked about product issues. FWIW, I was impressed with the AF speed on the K7.

Also, FWIW, the metering with old lenses appears to be much improved. I did a short exposure series against a blank wall and had about 1 stop underexposed at f/1.7 and spot on at other apertures. Good enough for government work...

Steve

bdery · 08-14-2009, 11:23 AM

Fat chance of that tour coming to Quebec city...

*pbo* · 08-15-2009, 02:51 AM

Also, FWIW, the metering with old lenses appears to be much improved. I did a short exposure series against a blank wall and had about 1 stop underexposed at f/1.7 and spot on at other apertures. Good enough for government work...

It's not only improved, but green button is SOOOOO much quieter! I almost couldn't believe it! I mounted a Vivitar 135/2.8, focused and pressed the green button. Not even a HINT of the ZZZZ-ZZZZIIIPPP that I was used to from my K10D!!! Uber quiet!

Oh, and I didn't score a hat... But I, eh, took 4 miracle cloths

and the pen

mi2nc · 08-15-2009, 03:07 PM

Is there a list somewhere of the cities that will be hosting the tour? I think I got an email about it, but it was lost in the sea of digits called my inbox.

*Blue* · 08-15-2009, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by mi2nc

Is there a list somewhere of the cities that will be hosting the tour? I think I got an email about it, but it was lost in the sea of digits called my inbox.

I' curious about this as well.