My First Post and it's about Me

Verdae · 01-09-2015, 05:53 AM - **1 Like**

Hi,
I bought my first Pentax in 1979 when my daughter was born. It was a Pentax ME, which I still own, and still works well.

I later bought a point and shoot 35mm, which my wife could operate, and Pentax Optios. Recently I have bought an *ist Dl and a 100D that were broken and which I have fixed. So I am now back to SLR land which I loved, and even better, it's digital which means you can experiment and see the results without delay. What is better than that? And the lenses for my ME work on my DSLRs! Bonus!

I am an engineer who has always been curious about how things work. And I have been a learning machine all my life which means I have a wide background of knowledge in technical things. I have also have an artistic bent, which means I sketch, paint, and like photography.

Giklab · 01-09-2015, 06:59 AM

Originally posted by Verdae

an *ist Dl and a 100D that were broken and which I have fixed

Details.
Now.

Also, welcome to the forum

Rimfiredude · 01-09-2015, 07:01 AM

Glad to have you. When or should I say if my camera breaks, can I send it to you to fix. ha ha

Johndav · 01-09-2015, 07:03 AM

Welcome to the forum. I really like the advantage of digital that lets you check how settings have worked immediately, although you have to discipline yourself to avoid chimping.

Verdae · 01-10-2015, 06:28 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by Giklab

Details.
Now.

Also, welcome to the forum

I bought the istDL last October on ebay auction for about $35 including shipping. The seller noted that the battery symbol displayed on the top lcd, but the camera would not turn on. When I got it, I put fresh alkalines in it, got it to turn on and noticed the date was not set, so I set it. Looked around the menu, took a picture. Turned it off. Turned it on and got a batt symbol on the top lcd and nothing else. Put some charged NiMh batteries in, it turned on, and I noticed the date was not set again. I took a few pictures and it died.

I discovered that Pentax uses a super cap ( a large capacitor) to maintain the date, instead of a battery. Very cool. A capacitor is like a rechargeable battery that wants to charge up instantaneously, and can deliver a lot of power instantaneously. Super caps are a fairly new technology, and can hold a big charge. My theory: The camera was left in an off state for a long period, and the super cap drained. And now the super cap was charging as fast as it could and eating batteries. So I kept putting charged batteries in. I also think the on board program was too sensitive to transient voltage changes. So as soon as the camera stopped eating batteries, I upgraded to the latest firmware hoping that got fixed.

And now it works well, with little effort on my part. I bought a DA 18-55mm for about $50 including shipping and a DA 50-200mm that will not autofocus for about $20 and a FA 75-300mm for about $50. I also have 50mm f1.7 and 28mm f2.4 (great lenses) from my ME days.

Last November I bought two broken 100Ds: one with a broken shutter for about $20 and one several things wrong with it including a manual/auto focus button that did not work, but would take pictures for about $50. The latter one was missing most of its screws, a spring that held a door shut, the hinge for the battery compartment, and the nut that a tripod screws into. I took parts off of the broken shutter camera and used them to fix the other and it now works well. I found a site that provides a pdf of a Pentax manual on how to take both cameras apart, and that was very helpful.

Verdae · 01-10-2015, 06:33 AM

Originally posted by Johndav

Welcome to the forum. I really like the advantage of digital that lets you check how settings have worked immediately, although you have to discipline yourself to avoid chimping.

Thanks! I plan to chimp away. I was thinking of hooking the camera to a tripod and a computer and trying out all the bells and whistles and seeing the effect of different changes. And I want to see what my lenses will do.

But when I am taking real photos I will take your advice and avoid chimping.

---------- Post added 01-10-15 at 08:36 AM ----------

Originally posted by Rimfiredude

Glad to have you. When or should I say if my camera breaks, can I send it to you to fix. ha ha

Thanks! I am not going to get into the repair business, but would be glad to offer any advice, realizing I am still a nube with DSLRs.

normhead · 01-10-2015, 06:45 AM

Welcome to the forum....

Personally I love chimping.

**Kerrowdown** · 01-10-2015, 04:07 PM

Welcome to the forum, great intro and it's good to have you here.

**yucatanPentax** · 01-10-2015, 04:24 PM

Welcome to the forum, Verdae!
Great intro and nice to know you.
I particularly enjoyed reading about your fix-it successes.
You'll find some threads here celebrating the CCD sensors in those older models. They do have a nice look in good light.

camerasup · 01-11-2015, 05:10 PM

Welcome, wow fixed up the cameras. What was wrong with them?

Verdae · 01-12-2015, 04:03 AM

Originally posted by normhead

Welcome to the forum....

Personally I love chimping.

Thanks!

---------- Post added 01-12-15 at 06:04 AM ----------

Originally posted by yucatanPentax

Welcome to the forum, Verdae!
Great intro and nice to know you.
I particularly enjoyed reading about your fix-it successes.
You'll find some threads here celebrating the CCD sensors in those older models. They do have a nice look in good light.

Thanks for the info YucatanPentax. I will take a look.

---------- Post added 01-12-15 at 06:06 AM ----------

Originally posted by camerasup

Welcome, wow fixed up the cameras. What was wrong with them?

See my reply to giklab above.

01-09-2015, 05:53 AM - 1 Like	#1
Verdae New Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 5	My First Post and it's about Me Hi, I bought my first Pentax in 1979 when my daughter was born. It was a Pentax ME, which I still own, and still works well. I later bought a point and shoot 35mm, which my wife could operate, and Pentax Optios. Recently I have bought an *ist Dl and a 100D that were broken and which I have fixed. So I am now back to SLR land which I loved, and even better, it's digital which means you can experiment and see the results without delay. What is better than that? And the lenses for my ME work on my DSLRs! Bonus! I am an engineer who has always been curious about how things work. And I have been a learning machine all my life which means I have a wide background of knowledge in technical things. I have also have an artistic bent, which means I sketch, paint, and like photography.

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01-09-2015, 06:59 AM	#2
Giklab Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Slovenia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,182	Originally posted by Verdae an *ist Dl and a 100D that were broken and which I have fixed Details. Now. Also, welcome to the forum

01-09-2015, 07:01 AM	#3
Rimfiredude Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Washington Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,176	Glad to have you. When or should I say if my camera breaks, can I send it to you to fix. ha ha

01-09-2015, 07:03 AM	#4
Johndav Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Sunny Dun(ny)fermline, Fife Posts: 405	Welcome to the forum. I really like the advantage of digital that lets you check how settings have worked immediately, although you have to discipline yourself to avoid chimping.

01-10-2015, 06:28 AM - 2 Likes	#5
Verdae New Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 5 Original Poster	Originally posted by Giklab Details. Now. Also, welcome to the forum I bought the istDL last October on ebay auction for about $35 including shipping. The seller noted that the battery symbol displayed on the top lcd, but the camera would not turn on. When I got it, I put fresh alkalines in it, got it to turn on and noticed the date was not set, so I set it. Looked around the menu, took a picture. Turned it off. Turned it on and got a batt symbol on the top lcd and nothing else. Put some charged NiMh batteries in, it turned on, and I noticed the date was not set again. I took a few pictures and it died. I discovered that Pentax uses a super cap ( a large capacitor) to maintain the date, instead of a battery. Very cool. A capacitor is like a rechargeable battery that wants to charge up instantaneously, and can deliver a lot of power instantaneously. Super caps are a fairly new technology, and can hold a big charge. My theory: The camera was left in an off state for a long period, and the super cap drained. And now the super cap was charging as fast as it could and eating batteries. So I kept putting charged batteries in. I also think the on board program was too sensitive to transient voltage changes. So as soon as the camera stopped eating batteries, I upgraded to the latest firmware hoping that got fixed. And now it works well, with little effort on my part. I bought a DA 18-55mm for about $50 including shipping and a DA 50-200mm that will not autofocus for about $20 and a FA 75-300mm for about $50. I also have 50mm f1.7 and 28mm f2.4 (great lenses) from my ME days. Last November I bought two broken 100Ds: one with a broken shutter for about $20 and one several things wrong with it including a manual/auto focus button that did not work, but would take pictures for about $50. The latter one was missing most of its screws, a spring that held a door shut, the hinge for the battery compartment, and the nut that a tripod screws into. I took parts off of the broken shutter camera and used them to fix the other and it now works well. I found a site that provides a pdf of a Pentax manual on how to take both cameras apart, and that was very helpful.

01-10-2015, 06:33 AM	#6
Verdae New Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 5 Original Poster	Originally posted by Johndav Welcome to the forum. I really like the advantage of digital that lets you check how settings have worked immediately, although you have to discipline yourself to avoid chimping. Thanks! I plan to chimp away. I was thinking of hooking the camera to a tripod and a computer and trying out all the bells and whistles and seeing the effect of different changes. And I want to see what my lenses will do. But when I am taking real photos I will take your advice and avoid chimping. ---------- Post added 01-10-15 at 08:36 AM ---------- Originally posted by Rimfiredude Glad to have you. When or should I say if my camera breaks, can I send it to you to fix. ha ha Thanks! I am not going to get into the repair business, but would be glad to offer any advice, realizing I am still a nube with DSLRs.

01-10-2015, 06:45 AM	#7
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Welcome to the forum.... Personally I love chimping.

01-10-2015, 04:07 PM	#8
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,863	Welcome to the forum, great intro and it's good to have you here.

01-10-2015, 04:24 PM	#9
yucatanPentax Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Dallas / Yucatan Posts: 1,841	Welcome to the forum, Verdae! Great intro and nice to know you. I particularly enjoyed reading about your fix-it successes. You'll find some threads here celebrating the CCD sensors in those older models. They do have a nice look in good light.

01-11-2015, 05:10 PM	#10
camerasup Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Bay Area - California Photos: Albums Posts: 103	Welcome, wow fixed up the cameras. What was wrong with them?

01-12-2015, 04:03 AM	#11
Verdae New Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 5 Original Poster	Originally posted by normhead Welcome to the forum.... Personally I love chimping. Thanks! ---------- Post added 01-12-15 at 06:04 AM ---------- Originally posted by yucatanPentax Welcome to the forum, Verdae! Great intro and nice to know you. I particularly enjoyed reading about your fix-it successes. You'll find some threads here celebrating the CCD sensors in those older models. They do have a nice look in good light. Thanks for the info YucatanPentax. I will take a look. ---------- Post added 01-12-15 at 06:06 AM ---------- Originally posted by camerasup Welcome, wow fixed up the cameras. What was wrong with them? See my reply to giklab above.