Originally posted by popellis So I bought a K-x on reading the stellar reviews, I have not had much luck with getting sharp photos with this camera either.Then when the K-r came out, i read how bad the K-x really was.
I do hope you are joking? I have many images taken with the k-x that sell regularly. It is *still* an excellent camera and in some ways I like the color rendition from the k-x sensor better than the k-5 or k-3. My son still uses my old k-x and is quite happy with it.
Originally posted by popellis Now that the K-3 has been out for awhile, and the bashing of the k-5 and how bad it is has started. I am starting to believe that all the wow photo's of these cameras has more to do with processing software than the actual camera. Is this true?
Again I do hope you are joking? The k-5 had it's share of issues but image quality is not one of them. There are threads active right now arguing whether the IQ of the k-5IIs is better than the IQ of the k-3. And while image processing is important it is only one part of the chain: Photographer's concept and skill-->lens-->camera / sensor-->image processing-->printing. The image is only going to be as good as the weakest part of that chain.
Originally posted by popellis I think my own problems with my k-5 has been missed focus. I have posted images in the past and had a lot of comments about the photos being soft. I don't know if I have to adjust for all my lenses or what I need to do. I am looking at the K-3 but I don't really believe the faster AF and more Focus points will really help me.
Let me give an example: Joe homeowner goes to the store and buys a power saw because he wants to cut up some wood. He does not sharpen the blade, does not test and adjust the alignment of the guides, does not read the manual to learn how to use the saw, does not bother to learn anything about carpentry so has no idea he should be using a rip blade instead of the cheap crosscut blade that came with the saw. The wood cuts are not square, they are splintered and rough, the blade is burnt and the saw cuts slowly and poorly. So Joe homeowner takes the saw back to the store and demands a 'better' saw because obviously the one he bought was 'bad'. Sound familiar?
Originally posted by popellis Don't get me wrong I believe my skills are more of the problem than the gear. But I have to believe that as gear evolves it should be getting easier to use just like any other tool. I usually shoot in jpeg, I would like to use photo's out of the camera versus spending so much time processing images. Is this possible?
Not really. New gear gives the potential to do new things or do them faster but fundamentally a camera is a light tight box with a sensitive media in it. That has not changed since they used glass plates. I take much better images with the k-3 than I did with the k-x. But that is ME not the camera. I took (IMHO) quite good images with the k-x and good enough to sell. But if my skill was the same as it was when I was using the k-x then the k-3 images would be no better. I think you are falling into the trap that many of us have, believing that just buying a new 'better' camera will somehow improve your skills. New expensive gear gives you the POTENTIAL to make better images but without the skills to go with it things can actually get worse. Unless you can drive a minivan I would not suggest you try driving a Ferrari.
Originally posted by popellis Again please do not be to hard on me. I have not had any photographic training
And there you have your answer. I hope you do not take my comments as harsh, they were not intended that way. But I have been in your situation and truely do understand. I started in film then left photography for years. When I came back it was with a series of super-zoom bridge type cameras which I replaced every few years because there was always a 'better' model coming out. Then I bought a k-x and the quality of my photography DROPPED dramatically. How can this be I said? This is a BETTER camera!! I nearly returned it and went back to my super-zoom. Fortunately I stuck with it, read some books, took a class, researched everything I could find on the internet. But all of that had nothing to do with the camera, it was me that had to be upgraded not the camera.
May I suggest a couple of books to begin: "Understanding Exposure" by Brian Peterson to teach the fundamentals of exposure, And "Learning to See Creatively" again by Brian Peterson. I have read both numerous times.
Just like any other skill you will not get better without lots of practice and learning. And in photography that means learning both photography itself and how to select, tune and adjust your gear properly.
---------- Post added 11-22-14 at 11:18 AM ----------
Originally posted by Brooke Meyer Invest in learning. It is the difference between camera owners and photographers. There are no short cuts.
We posted at the same time. But you said in two sentences what I spent a whole page on. Brief, concise and precisely on target. +1