SE Queensland

Gordon (gordon_l34) came around last night and we worked on getting him familiar with his new K20D. Coming from film he's finding it a very big learning curve (chasm?) and thought that, since I've been using a DSLR (K100Ds) for some time, I could help him. In a few days time he's going away for a month on work and wanted to start getting to grips with the new camera.

We worked with his DA, A and then M lenses. He mainly wants to use MF, but he had to get used to the controls first using his DA 16-45/F4.

Once he was comfortable with that, we switched to an A lens. This was pretty easy to use once I explained about the Focal Indicator.

Then we switched to an M and initially he had no shutter speed showing until we allowed the use of the Aperture Ring. This kind of thing can really confuse newcomers.

I showed him how to set the exposure with the Green Button. We also set up the Optical Preview and I showed him how to vary the exposure settings and see the EV change while in Optical Preview mode. I just learnt this myself by reading the forum a few minutes before he arrived. I had not seen this use for Optical Preview before. If thought it was only for DOF previewing.

We played with WB & ISO. We could not get the K20D to do a proper manual WB using a piece of white paper under my kitchen light. I can do this with my K100Ds but the K20D seemed to want to stay yellow-tinged and showed NG (No Good?)

I showed him how to use the histogram.

We investigated the difficulties of getting the correct exposure with an M lens and the built-in flash. From my experience I find I have to set the aperture between F4-F9.5 and vary the ISO too once I reach the 1/180s shutter speed limit in this mode. A lenses are so much easier to use with the flash in this respect.

We looked at exposure bracketing & the use of in IR remote control. (I recently got one off eBay.)

We tried using his Tamron 2AXF teleconvertor with an A lens but we could not get the exposure right. Will need more time to work this out.

We also looked at USB card readers, RAW processing, tone curve fiddling and some types of correction possible in the digital realm.

We covered a lot but I believe he left 3 hours later a lot more comfortable with his new camera then when he arrived.

I should have my new K20D & 2nd-hand DA 16-45/F4 by the end of this week, or early next, so it gave me a brief look at the differences from my current camera. I found the new camera a bit daunting myself, so I can image how a experienced film-only, first-time digital user would find it even more so.

Dan.

Welcome, Gordon. Looking forward to seeing some of your K20D shots when you get it.

dosdan_ @ _internode . on . net (remove spaces & underscores)

Sorry, I thought that it would be more involved.

Regards,
Gordon.
Ph 0429644042.
gcmcl@tpg.com.au

Hi All, What do I have to do to join?

Regards,
Gordon.
Ph 0429644042.

OK, keithq. Hope you have a good time with your Kiwi visitors.

I'll be there Saturday, Sunday & Monday morning. If anyone wants to contact me, my mobile number is:
0416-714-940.

I'll be there with my K100D Super and all my lenses.

I'll also be doing a video recording with a Panasonic NV-GS400, a Velbon DV-7000 tripod, & using either a Rode Stereo Videomic + Dead Kitten windshield or Rode Videomic + Dead Cat windshield depending on the venue.

I'm hoping to do some early morning panaroma shots over the range on either Sunday or Monday morning.

Sorry guys. I cant make it this weekend. Have t go the opposite way. Unless i can do some heavy talking lol. Cheers. Keith

greetings
thanks to Dan Bridges for that heads up
i"m not sure yet whether i'll be out and about for the parade or not and it will depend on my work whether I make any of the garden visits the following week if i'm not busy then i'll be around the place

Rohan (glad to know i'm not the only pentaxion in toowoomba (grin))

Being local in T'ba, I'll be there too. Parade on Sat the 20th at Queens Park, then various activities throughout the week after in the morning (I'll be working afternoons that weeK). Then the following weekend 27th-28th I'll also be around Queens Park and Picnic Point. Should be a great week.

Hi Dosdan. I have visitors from NZ at that time but im still hoping to get there. Know more closer to the event. Will be in touch.

Hi dosdan,
Aplogies for not checking back here more regularly. Thanks for the welcome.
You probably know Mal MCConnell, the local suzuki/aprilia dealer. Bought my Aprilia Pegaso from him, before switching to BMW. Miss the Aprilia though, nice bike.
I have been to Indy a couple of times, but that was enough, too much concrete and not many good viewing areas....lots of 'other' interesting subjects though if you look up.
The Carnival of Flowers: yes we definately want to go..BUT..we don't get off work until the afternoon of Sept 22. So our choice would be to go mid week.
I fully appreciate that will not work for everyone else, but if we can arrange a meet up that would be great.
I will post something in the "gatherings" section to see if there is any response.