[lauravp77]

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My name is Laura,



I am new to the forums here, and am looking forward to learning as much as I can about my Pentax camera. Just last week, I bought a used K10D. I found the manual online, but I have never used a DSLR previously. I started out on my photography journey in 2009, when I bough a Nikon Coolpix L20 and quickly discovered my fondness for photography. in 2013, I upgraded to a Nikon Coolpix P520, and I have been very impressed with it (though lately I am wondering if the lens needs to be re-calibrated, as the auto-focus doesn't work as well as it once did.). Anyway, I am always looking to improve my skills with a camera, and coming up with new challenges. I would really like to learn my K10D as well as possible so that I can maybe try my luck at some night sky landscapes. If anyone knows of any good tutorials that could help with this, I would greatly appreciate any assistance.

[Tas]

Hi Laura, welcome to the forums.

My first DSLR was the K10D, it has a lovely sensor and can take great images.

Here's a good resource for learning about photography: Cambridge in Colour - Photography Tutorials & Learning Community

I'm sure other suggestions will be along shortly.

Tas

[lauravp77]

Thank you Tas! Much appreciated!

[lauravp77]

Oh, perhaps I should also mention that I am using a 28-200mm lens. I was told this would be sufficient to take night sky landscape shots.

[photolady95]

Hi Laura and welcome to the forums. I have two K10Ds.

A book I suggest you your hands on and is most helpful is called Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. It can be found on Amazon.ca

[MarkJerling]

Welcome to the forum, Laura.

[Unregistered User 8]

try my luck at some night sky landscapes.

Hi Laura. Welcome to the Pentax forums. Many members will happily offer help and advice here. Good to have you here.


PS. Hope this link is of help.


Photographing Skyscapes | Nature Photography Tips

[Kerrowdown]

Welcome, many members here have a soft spot for their K10d's myself included, enjoy.

[BigMackCam]

Hi Laura - welcome to the forums, great to have you with us There are many K10D owners here, so you'll have plenty of support.

The Bryan Peterson book that @photolady95 mentioned is well worth reading. Developing an understanding of exposure and how to control it manually ("M" mode on your camera) early on in your journey will pay dividends. Often it's the last thing that new DSLR users learn about (many people never switch out of auto or "P" programme modes), but it's actually quite easy once you understand it, and it will give you complete control of your camera.

If you have any questions, just ask

[TER-OR]

Welcome aboard! My first was a used K10 as well. You'll find a lot of people here still very much like that camera.

[lauravp77]

Hi Laura and welcome to the forums. I have two K10Ds.

A book I suggest you your hands on and is most helpful is called Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. It can be found on Amazon.ca

I just ordered a used copy of Understanding Exposure from Amazon It says it's in very good condition, so hopefully it is!

[normhead]

Welcome to the forum.

Having lived out in the towers near Bramalea City centre and having taught at St. Thomas Aquinas H.S. i'm reasonably familiar with Brampton. Welcome to the forum. If were still there I'm sure I'd be hanging around at Heart Lake Conservation Area a fair bit looking for images., although it was tiny compared to what I have right out my back door now.

[BigMackCam]

Oh, perhaps I should also mention that I am using a 28-200mm lens. I was told this would be sufficient to take night sky landscape shots.

I forgot to reply to this part...

Your 28-200mm lens (known as a "super-zoom" because it provide an extremely wide range of focal lengths) is a very general lens that will be great for many uses (including the night sky shots you mention), though it's a compromise in terms of outright image quality and your ability to creatively blur areas in front of, and behind, your subjects. You probably won't notice this to begin with... in fact, it may never become an issue for you - but if and when it does, you can review your images to analyse what focal lengths you use most, and perhaps at some later stage add a lens or two that are more specialised to your requirements.

That's in the future, though... For now, I'd say you're all set

[lauravp77]

I forgot to reply to this part...

Your 28-200mm lens (known as a "super-zoom" because it provide an extremely wide range of focal lengths) is a very general lens that will be great for many uses (including the night sky shots you mention), though it's a compromise in terms of outright image quality and your ability to creatively blur areas in front of, and behind, your subjects. You probably won't notice this to begin with... in fact, it may never become an issue for you - but if and when it does, you can review your images to analyse what focal lengths you use most, and perhaps at some later stage add a lens or two that are more specialised to your requirements.

That's in the future, though... For now, I'd say you're all set

I actually went to see about a macro close-up lens yesterday.. I was shocked that it was $650! lol Well at little anyways. I figured they might be cheaper, being that it's an older camera. Long story short, I can't afford new lenses right now D: Hopefully in the near future!

---------- Post added 08-18-16 at 06:14 AM ----------

Welcome to the forum.

Having lived out in the towers near Bramalea City centre and having taught at St. Thomas Aquinas H.S. i'm reasonably familiar with Brampton. Welcome to the forum. If were still there I'm sure I'd be hanging around at Heart Lake Conservation Area a fair bit looking for images., although it was tiny compared to what I have right out my back door now.

Brampton is okay, but I really want to flee the city lol I was raised in the country, and it never left me. We were just up camping at Awenda Provincial Park. I grew up in Penetanguishene. We also took a day trip to Tobermory and crossed over to South Baymouth, Manitoulin Island on the Chi-Cheemaun. It was nearly heart-breaking to return here. I got some great shots up there at least

---------- Post added 08-18-16 at 06:15 AM ----------

Hi Laura - welcome to the forums, great to have you with us There are many K10D owners here, so you'll have plenty of support.

The Bryan Peterson book that @photolady95 mentioned is well worth reading. Developing an understanding of exposure and how to control it manually ("M" mode on your camera) early on in your journey will pay dividends. Often it's the last thing that new DSLR users learn about (many people never switch out of auto or "P" programme modes), but it's actually quite easy once you understand it, and it will give you complete control of your camera.

If you have any questions, just ask

I have just set it to M mode Now to search the manual for some basics!

[photolady95]

I actually went to see about a macro close-up lens yesterday.. I was shocked that it was $650! lol Well at little anyways. I figured they might be cheaper, being that it's an older camera. Long story short, I can't afford new lenses right now D: Hopefully in the near future!

There are cheaper lenses to do the same thing. I have a Tamron Adaptall 2 90mm cost me around $139. There's the older Pentax M-100mm f4 Macro lens at around $100.
I started out in macro using closeup filters, usually very cheap, under $60. And then there is the Raynox adapters, a DCR-150 and DCR-250, these can be had for under $100 too. They work pretty good for macros. Take a look in this Forum.