Manual focus users poll

pinholecam · 10-28-2011, 02:13 AM

Only information I get from this poll is that there are too many old guys using Pentax (that includes me)

I have the perception that Pentax is the 'value for money' or 'poor student's brand' to both its credit and demise.
See it often enough on the local forum.
Once the young ones have harder wings (ie. more $$), they fly away to the neon lights of Canikony.

**Lowell Goudge** · 10-28-2011, 04:12 AM

Originally posted by FotoPete

Bollocks, i thought you were asking for our opinion on which age group uses MF. I'm in my early 20s and I'm 99%-100% manual focus. Its a more like in-the-zone method of shooting i find.

You are correct, that is all I was asking, and I thought the poll showed that, no other conditions applied. Too many others felt there should be conditions like use etc, which were not relevant to me

**Lowell Goudge** · 10-28-2011, 04:15 AM

Originally posted by pinholecam

Only information I get from this poll is that there are too many old guys using Pentax (that includes me)

define old. When the largest age group is 30-40 some might argue

Quote:

I have the perception that Pentax is the 'value for money' or 'poor student's brand' to both its credit and demise.
See it often enough on the local forum.
Once the young ones have harder wings (ie. more $$), they fly away to the neon lights of Canikony.

I don't disagree

But there is a difference between a poor student's camera and value for money.

value for money is a decision by an informed consumer and that is where pentax sits. people that research the product know they are getting a good deal, people that don't know anything will only buy one of the top 2 brands, regardless of function, and just expect it will do it all for them

**Lowell Goudge** · 10-30-2011, 05:30 AM

Bumpety bump bump. To the top of page 1

This will be the only time I bump from page two, so after it falls off page 1 again I will consider all who were interested in responding have done so

Thanks to all who responded

**jac** · 10-30-2011, 07:24 AM

Dear disillusioned stat nuts:
Go to item #7 on this link and seek out what you feel is most relevant and quit whining that a simple question cannot possibly have a simple answer. KISS.
Forum Suggestions, News and Help > FORUM USAGE GUIDE: an explanation of forum features!

pentup · 10-30-2011, 08:03 AM

Manual, only because even my aging eyes seem to be more accurate than the AF on the K-7 and the K-5 most of the time; I have some nice manual glass; and even with the inconvenient manual focus rings of some of my lenses, I'm getting better with practice.

I considered get a split-image focusing aid etc but any modification in which the word "shims" is apt to arise makes me break out in a sweat.

**Lowell Goudge** · 10-30-2011, 09:09 AM

Originally posted by pentup

Manual, only because even my aging eyes seem to be more accurate than the AF on the K-7 and the K-5 most of the time; I have some nice manual glass; and even with the inconvenient manual focus rings of some of my lenses, I'm getting better with practice.

I considered get a split-image focusing aid etc but any modification in which the word "shims" is apt to arise makes me break out in a sweat.

I ihave heard a lot about shims but not needed them for mt K10 or *istD. I think they are more used on pentamirror bodies but perhaps someone will correct me on this

sterretje · 10-30-2011, 11:45 PM

I had to shim my K10D and K100D; it's still not perfect

Haven't put a split prism in my K5; I seem to be able to nail it about one in three times without.

pentup · 10-31-2011, 01:44 PM

Aaaaaaaackkk! Shims!!

Seriously, while I used to complain about DSLR's not having split prisms and so forth by default, I find I really like the unobstructed view. I realized that much of my problem with focusing was simply not trusting my eye. Using a magnifying eyepiece helps a little too. But I think I can wean myself off of that also.

The right diopter setting for one's vision is crucial.

jeverettfine · 10-31-2011, 02:05 PM

Originally posted by maltfalc

hopelessly flawed poll. you can't measure the popularity of something if you count how many people use it, but not how many don't.

I agree this poll is fatally flawed as far as number of photographers is concerned, but I think it is interesting to see the age curve. It is very nice to see the relatively young mean. The fact that most cameras have some kind of manual focus capability (even point-n-shoots) is a good sign and confirms that there will always be people who want full control of focusing.

**Lowell Goudge** · 10-31-2011, 02:55 PM

Originally posted by jeverettfine

I agree this poll is fatally flawed as far as number of photographers is concerned, but I think it is interesting to see the age curve. It is very nice to see the relatively young mean. ..........

that was the purpose of the poll, so from that point and only that point the poll did exactly what it was intended to do. The fact that others read in more than the explicit and expressed intent is not a flaw in the poll, but those with bloody great mallets trying to pound a square peg into a round hole

View Poll Results: what age group uses MF lenses
under 20 yrs	9	4.71%
20-30 yrs	35	18.32%
30-40 yrs	53	27.75%
40-50 yrs	39	20.42%
50-60 yrs	47	24.61%
60-70 yrs	19	9.95%
over 70 yrs	4	2.09%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 191. You may not vote on this poll

10-28-2011, 04:15 AM	#78
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,891 Original Poster	Originally posted by pinholecam Only information I get from this poll is that there are too many old guys using Pentax (that includes me) define old. When the largest age group is 30-40 some might argue Quote: I have the perception that Pentax is the 'value for money' or 'poor student's brand' to both its credit and demise. See it often enough on the local forum. Once the young ones have harder wings (ie. more $$), they fly away to the neon lights of Canikony. I don't disagree But there is a difference between a poor student's camera and value for money. value for money is a decision by an informed consumer and that is where pentax sits. people that research the product know they are getting a good deal, people that don't know anything will only buy one of the top 2 brands, regardless of function, and just expect it will do it all for them Last edited by Lowell Goudge; 10-28-2011 at 06:13 AM.

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10-28-2011, 02:13 AM	#76
pinholecam Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,709	Only information I get from this poll is that there are too many old guys using Pentax (that includes me) I have the perception that Pentax is the 'value for money' or 'poor student's brand' to both its credit and demise. See it often enough on the local forum. Once the young ones have harder wings (ie. more $$), they fly away to the neon lights of Canikony.

10-28-2011, 04:12 AM	#77
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,891 Original Poster	Originally posted by FotoPete Bollocks, i thought you were asking for our opinion on which age group uses MF. I'm in my early 20s and I'm 99%-100% manual focus. Its a more like in-the-zone method of shooting i find. You are correct, that is all I was asking, and I thought the poll showed that, no other conditions applied. Too many others felt there should be conditions like use etc, which were not relevant to me

10-30-2011, 05:30 AM	#79
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,891 Original Poster	Bumpety bump bump. To the top of page 1 This will be the only time I bump from page two, so after it falls off page 1 again I will consider all who were interested in responding have done so Thanks to all who responded

10-30-2011, 07:24 AM	#80
jac Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Clyde River, Nunavut, Canada Posts: 2,364	Dear disillusioned stat nuts: Go to item #7 on this link and seek out what you feel is most relevant and quit whining that a simple question cannot possibly have a simple answer. KISS. Forum Suggestions, News and Help > FORUM USAGE GUIDE: an explanation of forum features!

10-30-2011, 08:03 AM	#81
pentup Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Flushing NY Photos: Albums Posts: 413	Manual, only because even my aging eyes seem to be more accurate than the AF on the K-7 and the K-5 most of the time; I have some nice manual glass; and even with the inconvenient manual focus rings of some of my lenses, I'm getting better with practice. I considered get a split-image focusing aid etc but any modification in which the word "shims" is apt to arise makes me break out in a sweat.

10-30-2011, 09:09 AM	#82
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,891 Original Poster	Originally posted by pentup Manual, only because even my aging eyes seem to be more accurate than the AF on the K-7 and the K-5 most of the time; I have some nice manual glass; and even with the inconvenient manual focus rings of some of my lenses, I'm getting better with practice. I considered get a split-image focusing aid etc but any modification in which the word "shims" is apt to arise makes me break out in a sweat. I ihave heard a lot about shims but not needed them for mt K10 or *istD. I think they are more used on pentamirror bodies but perhaps someone will correct me on this

10-30-2011, 11:45 PM	#83
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	I had to shim my K10D and K100D; it's still not perfect Haven't put a split prism in my K5; I seem to be able to nail it about one in three times without.

10-31-2011, 01:44 PM	#84
pentup Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Flushing NY Photos: Albums Posts: 413	Aaaaaaaackkk! Shims!! Seriously, while I used to complain about DSLR's not having split prisms and so forth by default, I find I really like the unobstructed view. I realized that much of my problem with focusing was simply not trusting my eye. Using a magnifying eyepiece helps a little too. But I think I can wean myself off of that also. The right diopter setting for one's vision is crucial.

10-31-2011, 02:05 PM	#85
jeverettfine Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Austin, Texas Photos: Albums Posts: 328	Originally posted by maltfalc hopelessly flawed poll. you can't measure the popularity of something if you count how many people use it, but not how many don't. I agree this poll is fatally flawed as far as number of photographers is concerned, but I think it is interesting to see the age curve. It is very nice to see the relatively young mean. The fact that most cameras have some kind of manual focus capability (even point-n-shoots) is a good sign and confirms that there will always be people who want full control of focusing.

10-31-2011, 02:55 PM	#86
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,891 Original Poster	Originally posted by jeverettfine I agree this poll is fatally flawed as far as number of photographers is concerned, but I think it is interesting to see the age curve. It is very nice to see the relatively young mean. .......... that was the purpose of the poll, so from that point and only that point the poll did exactly what it was intended to do. The fact that others read in more than the explicit and expressed intent is not a flaw in the poll, but those with bloody great mallets trying to pound a square peg into a round hole