The Ideal Camera Bag for Pentax Users?

Manfrotto Advanced Active Backpack II

By PF Staff in Gear Guides on Nov 14, 2014

Like many of our readers I have also gone through a good number of camera bags in search for the "ideal" bag. My search may finally have born fruit!

I never liked backpacks too much although I have two of them... they are cumbersome, they have to be laid down on the (wet and muddy) ground to be opened unless they are of the flipside variant which has its own usability issues.

I have therefore resorted to the messenger style bags which allows one to organize a lot of stuff neatly, including the non-photo stuff like phone, wallet, passport, maps, etc. But these bags have no room for that extra sweater or rain coat, and they put an awful lot of weight on just one shoulder, in particular if you also have to drag a laptop along. So my search continued.

Then I saw an ad for the Manfrotto Advanced Active Backpack II, and it looked as if it would meet all my needs, and then some. So I ordered one. At US $119 I found the price more than reasonable (click image to enlarge):

The cool thing about this bag is that it allows you to carry two or three Pentax K-Mount bodies with lenses mounted "nose down" in the bag, which is how I prefer it. I don't like switching lenses in the field all the time, so the ability to have at least two bodies at the ready with the lenses most fit for the occasion already mounted is a big plus for me. And it doesn't hurt that the bag stands upright when you open it - you don't get muddy on your back with this design!

I said Pentax K-Mount bodies.  The beauty of the Pentax system is its compactness - camera bodies as well as lenses. This is what allows for carrying a lot of equipment in this bag with two or even three kits at the ready at all times. Wouldn't work so well if you shoot with a Canikon D4 or 1D, or a big lens, though.

Read on to see how much equipment this bag swallows with ease.

Pros and Cons of 4K Camera Options

Ultra-high resolution video

By jgmurphy88 in Gear Guides on Aug 2, 2014

4K technology has made a big splash in the video world over the last two years or so, trying to establish itself as the new cinema standard. With crystal-clear pictures coming out of Hollywood, it's left a lot of independent filmmakers and videographers wanting access to the same kind of resolution. Though the Red One is still considered the best in the field for 4K resolution, unless you have a budget of over $20,000 it might be out of your reach. However, a whole host of great options have sprung up covering a range of budgets and accessibility as manufacturers jostle each other for a position at the 4K table. Take a look at some of the most popular.

First of all, why should you care about 4K technology at all? 4K is the next step up in resolution, delivering four times as many pixels as 1080 Full HD, with a resolution of 4096 x 2160 (8 megapixels) compared to 1920 x 1080 (2 megapixels). You get greater detail, textures, clarity, and depth in your images. Take a look at a comparison between a 4K image and a Full HD image at the top of this article to see the difference!

Unless you have a 4K monitor you won't be able to fully appreciate Ultra HD, but you will still be able to see a difference thanks to the extra sharpness and additional resolution in the 4K image.

For video, 4K is swiftly becoming the standard, and is not a technology that can be ignored. Aside from a higher picture quality, it brings a few other benefits: if you're a professional videographer, sooner or later, your clients will start asking for 4K (if they haven't already) and you need to be able to tell them yes. It's a great way to future-proof your business and your projects, as 4K viewing will be around for awhile yet. If you do any post-production work with graphics or visual effects, 4K also offers greater control: it's easier to place and work with graphic elements when you have more pixels

The Benefits and Joys of a Superzoom Lens

Focus more on your activities and less on your camera

By EarlVonTapia in Gear Guides on Jul 9, 2014

This past May I hiked the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail, a 47km hike on the west coast of Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. Having done similar hikes in the past, I knew to expect some gorgeous landscape scenes, as well as some wildlife if I got lucky. Weight and space for non-necessary items like cameras were an issue. With that in mind I brought along my Pentax K-30 and my Pentax DA 18-250mm so I could photograph anything interesting I came across to share later on with friends and family.

The extreme range of the lens paid off. On the second day, shortly after I had photographed the stretch of beach I had just hiked through, an eagle I spotted earlier in the distance was now flying in my direction. The eagle swooped almost overhead and I was able to get a good picture of it as it turned and accelerated back over the treetops. Getting that close to an eagle is something that will rarely happen to me, and I’m glad that the DA 18-250 was equipped so that I could capture that photo so soon after photographing a landscape scene.

Top 10 Hiking Cameras for Photographers 2014

Trimming weight and size while taking outstanding photographs.

By carpents in Gear Guides on Jun 3, 2014

We are in the midst of a sea of change in photography.

Largely from the envelope-pushing designs of Fuji and subsequent effort from Sony, cameras boasting top-of-the-line imaging sensors are getting steadily smaller. This fat-cutting by the camera manufacturers is of particular interest to one segment of photographers - long distance hikers.

Whether setting out on a 5,000 vertical feet day hike or a week-long trek, a 10-pound versus 20-pound pack could mean making a summit or turning back. Hikers know that size and weight are expensive to minimize; for many, the cheapest and easiest way to drop pounds from their pack is by leaving the DSLR at home.

These cameras offer an alternative for serious photographers to keep the camera and shed the mass.

2014 Recommended Pentax Gear Guide

A hand-picked collection of the best Pentax cameras and lenses

By PF Staff in Gear Guides on Jan 14, 2014

We've just updated our Recommended Gear page with the latest and greated products by Pentax and for Pentax.  All the equipment featured on this page is something we truly enjoyed while putting together our in-depth reviews and homepage reviews over the course of the past year.  We've picked out gear for every skill level, and we're confident you'll be happy with its performance, so don't miss it!

The page features 4 cameras, 6 zoom lenses, 10 prime lenses, and 6 different accessories suitable for all different kinds of kits.

So, whether you're a beginner looking to start to expand your kit, or a seasoned shooter looking to add a lens to your lineup, click here to check out our Pentax gear recommendations.

Of course, different photographers have different needs, so if you have questions about any items listed above or if you'd like personalized advice, don't hesitate to post on the forum!