| Review of: Pentax P5 / P50 by Richpax on Sat February 1, 2020 | Rating: 9 | View more reviews | |
Views: 57179
Reviews: 6
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This camera is often overlooked. This might be because it’s seen as a bit amateur, with it’s mountain vs runner icons in the LCD. However, it has a good viewfinder, solid feel, and my copy has been very reliable. It has the basic auto capabilities, and the meter generally accurate.
One drawback for me is that you can’t set the iso without a dx code, meaning I can’t use my self load cartridges.
But for the price you can’t go wrong!
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| Review of: Pentax MZ-30 / ZX-30 by Richpax on Sat January 18, 2020 | Rating: 10 | View more reviews | |
Views: 83531
Reviews: 13
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For the money, you can’t beat this camera. This was never intended to be a premium product, but Pentax really got the feature balance spot on with this camera.
It’s almost ridiculously lightweight, and has the feel of a plastic toy camera. However, it does appear to be pretty robust, and matches something like a da35 f2.4 perfectly for balance. A seriously comfortable set-up with a compact prime of any kind. I find the penta-mirror viewfinder is actually reasonable. The handling generally is great, and feels much like a modern DSLR. Only lighter. You can’t underestimate what a bonus such light, easy handling is.
It’s feature set is pretty comprehensive. When I first got it, I would look at that simple plastic exterior while thinking I bet it can’t do this or that, only to discover that it can. Mostly.
Bear in mind it will only work with lenses with auto aperture capability: that’s A series onwards.
Handy flash, all the modes you need, DX override, Exposure compensation. The auto wind won’t win any races, but it a has no-fuss quality to it, really quick and easy to load film. The auto focus seems similarly workmanlike and reliable. It kinda looks pretty cool too, from a distance. Really, it gets the job done, well and without demanding your attention. Perfect. And remember, if you load it with Portra, put an fa77 on it, you have absolutely top drawer image quality too!
Seriously, if you just want a cheap, comprehensive camera to dabble in film without breaking the bank, you can’t do much better.
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| Review of: Pentax K-70 by Richpax on Fri March 2, 2018 | Rating: 10 | View more reviews | |
Views: 89760
Reviews: 21
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I was considering a k1, but with the additional cost of getting my lens collection up to full frame, I looked at what the k70 offers with my nice compact primes, and figured it is such a bargain. So I went for it, and although I would love a k1, I'm really pleased. It's a big upgrade from my k30.
I find the grip is comfy and the back button is handy for focus duties. I have found with mitts on my palm can catch the rh function button so a settings lock would be useful. Generally the build feels solid and reassuring.
One of the first things I noticed is that low light focus is massively better than I'm used to, and in general with my 16-85 and my limited primes, the focus hit rate is excellent. Not really tested the focus tracking ability much, but not expecting it to be great.
Pentax really are getting great Iso performance out of their cameras these days. Up to 1000 the images are really clean, 1600 is fine and even 3200 gives good images, so for handheld indoor shooting I'm finding it to be great. The noise has a granular quality and is more film like than my k30, which, when you push it too far looks quite digital. The colours are more refined and the dynamic range is fantastic. I find I can draw more detail from blown highlights than I had thought was possible.
I haven't had my tripod out much and I find PS mode unrealiable without rocksolid stability. That said the basic look of PS images is just gorgeous. The idea of hand held PS on the k1ii sounds amazing.
Overall, Pentax have smashed it again for value. The only things I wish it had, are a quieter shutter, a separate AE lock button would be good for back button shooters, and settings lock. Ok gps, SRii, twin SD slots, and the new dynamic PS would be nice too, but that's basically a k1, and more money. The k70 is really capable and great fun to use.
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| Review of: Pentax K-30 by Richpax on Tue January 23, 2018 | Rating: 9 | View more reviews | |
Views: 155486
Reviews: 91
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First off, after approximately 40,000 actuations, the aperture control has never faltered. The camera has been completely reliable and a joy to use. I haven't tested the weather sealing to extremes but it's a nice feature for this price.
I find the sculpted thumb grip perfectly shaped, working well with the twin dial set up, and the feel the design is bolder and more stylish than the k50. Mine is a white one, which always attracts admiring glances, although personally I wouldn't be so keen on a coloured one. I believe there is a version of the latest k50 firmware adapted for the k30, which allows KAF4 compatibility.
The image quality is excellent. Dynamic range was an enormous step up from my k100d. Pulling detail from shadows works a treat, so I will tend to underexpose for highlight detail. I'll admit I find the noise on my k70 nicer and more film like, and in hindsight, I have avoided high ISO and visible noise on the k30. Added to the fact that the White Balance can be slightly suspect, I think the more up to date bodies are much much better for indoor shooting in particular. However shooting in raw with some old school off camera flash works a treat.
I have used this quite often with a DA40mm limited, and it feels light and easy to handle. I find that combination produces gorgeous colours.
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| Review of: Pentax K100D by Richpax on Mon September 18, 2017 | Rating: 10 | View more reviews | |
Views: 70013
Reviews: 23
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I gave this a 10, not because it's in anyway perfect, but because the look the old CCD sensor cameras give is essential to have, and for the price these can now be picked up, they are a total bargain for Pentax shooters.
Ok its pretty outdated, the ISO/noise performance is laughable, the shutter noise can trigger avalanches, the screen is tiny, and at 6mp, it's definitely not for large prints.
But the images produced are gorgeous. The rendering of colours has more of a natural flavour than most modern sensors can provide. Stick a limited prime on it and you can't beat it. I have used it extensively with my A50 f1.7 and my A35-105 f3.5, and with those older lenses you get a lovely artsy, film like, painterly look. I have read some people keep these old cameras for their m42 Tak lenses.
The white balance in tungsten lit environments can be awful, but I have come to realise that in most naturally lit situations it is much more reliable than the WB on my k30. I think overall it is a bit warmer. The colours generally have lots of saturation, but in a balanced way, without anything booming out looking wrong. Wouldn't it be great if Pentax could produce a more modern camera with this type of sensor?
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