Stood up for K20D; Lens Prices

mccarvindh · 03-24-2009, 04:04 AM

As some of you know I had purple line (banding?) issues with my brand new K20D and I had to take it back. The retailer wanted to sell me a canon XSi and was trying to talk me into a sony alpha (K20D was, and still continues to be out of stock). I said that I was willing to wait for another K20D piece as i was quite impressed with the camera.
The other topic I want to talk about is the rumour that lens prices are going to go up from April 09. I called the Colorado pentax imaging center and was told that they are not aware of any such hike. If any of you know to the contrary please let me know. I do not want to miss out on buying some good glass (DA 40).
Meanwhile here is a picture taken with my faulty K20D and A 50 (you can see the line running through the butterfly's head):

Last edited by mccarvindh; 03-24-2009 at 04:08 AM. Reason: pic did not upload

**Rondec** · 03-24-2009, 04:25 AM

Most of the threads that indicate a rate hike originate in Canada, so it is hard to say if it is country specific or not. On the other hand, the last two lenses I have purchased have been from Prodigital 2000 in Canada, so that would push US prices as well.

chhayanat · 03-24-2009, 02:35 PM

My eyesight is impaired. Therefore, I can see a fine line running parallel to the vertical antenna above the head of the butterfly and about 0.5mm to its right. It doesn't continue below the head. It might be obstrusive in an much larger large enlargement. In my screen it is not noticeable.

millertime · 03-26-2009, 08:57 PM

Weird, I can see a perfect vertical line running from the very top to very bottom of OP's picture.

mccarvindh · 03-27-2009, 08:32 AM

Yes, there is a line through all my pictures. I have sen
t it in for a replacement. I am now forced to buy the kit lens becasue they are not doing 'body only' anymore.
REgarding the lens hike. I guess it is bound to hit the US as well, if it happening up in Canada. Let us see. REgardless I may delay getting a prime - will just play around with my old manual lens and use the kit for a while...

Igilligan · 03-27-2009, 09:13 AM

I ended up with the Kit lens with my package and it is a decent lens. Since I am not a wide shooter, so almost all of the primes I have bought have start around 28 and up. So the 18-55 comes in handy when I really do need a wider lens...

And it does ok too...

mccarvindh · 03-27-2009, 07:34 PM

It is good to know that the 18-55 comes in handy. I was worried that I was wasting money on sth I will not need once I get other primes and quality zooms.
Your picture is sharp!

borno · 03-27-2009, 07:51 PM

That's a real nice shot Gus

octavmandru · 03-27-2009, 08:04 PM

Originally posted by mccarvindh

Your picture is sharp!

Yeah, but he has a Catz Eye...

mattdm · 03-28-2009, 08:15 AM

Originally posted by chhayanat

My eyesight is impaired. Therefore, I can see a fine line running parallel to the vertical antenna above the head of the butterfly and about 0.5mm to its right. It doesn't continue below the head. It might be obstrusive in an much larger large enlargement. In my screen it is not noticeable.

I think it's more likely your monitor than eyesight. On my nice monitor at work, I can clearly see the line both above and below. On my older monitor at home (so old color calibration doesn't help much) I can only see it above unless I look very, very closely.

**dadipentak** · 03-28-2009, 09:30 AM

pentaximaging.com says,

Quote:

Now Save $200 – Our Lowest Price Ever
Right now, save $200 on the feature-rich K20D. Plus, you also get an extended FREE three-year warranty (1 year standard, 2 years extended) when you purchase the K20D by 3/31/2009

sebberry · 03-28-2009, 05:53 PM

Originally posted by Igilligan

I ended up with the Kit lens with my package and it is a decent lens. Since I am not a wide shooter, so almost all of the primes I have bought have start around 28 and up. So the 18-55 comes in handy when I really do need a wider lens...

And it does ok too...

Nice photo and cat

The Pentax kit lens is a pretty decent lens as far as 18-55 kit lenses go.

mccarvindh · 03-29-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

I think it's more likely your monitor than eyesight. On my nice monitor at work, I can clearly see the line both above and below. On my older monitor at home (so old color calibration doesn't help much) I can only see it above unless I look very, very closely.

This line is very prominent when viewed at full resolution. I have resized the pic to about 15% of original!

BTW, do you think this line can be removed using photoshop and other software effectively? I have tons of pics from an orchid show that I would love to touch up and use them.

**germar** · 03-29-2009, 09:13 AM

Originally posted by dadipentak

pentaximaging.com says: Now Save $200 – Our Lowest Price Ever
Right now, save $200 on the feature-rich K20D. Plus, you also get an extended FREE three-year warranty (1 year standard, 2 years extended) when you purchase the K20D by 3/31/2009

Ah, the trouble is ...they still want 1200 dollars for the camera body after the "savings." I just bought mine for 530 dollars less than that from an authorized dealer online. Jeepers, buyer beware!

best,

germar

GerryL · 03-29-2009, 02:04 PM

Originally posted by mccarvindh

This line is very prominent when viewed at full resolution. I have resized the pic to about 15% of original!

BTW, do you think this line can be removed using photoshop and other software effectively? I have tons of pics from an orchid show that I would love to touch up and use them.

It is easy enough to touch-up in photoshop but you also have to have the patience if you want it to be really unoticable.
You can use the clone tool and the healing brush tool.
Save as a differerent filename though so you can always got back to the original if you messed up the retouch.

03-24-2009, 04:04 AM	#1
mccarvindh Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohio, USA/ India Photos: Gallery Posts: 478	Stood up for K20D; Lens Prices As some of you know I had purple line (banding?) issues with my brand new K20D and I had to take it back. The retailer wanted to sell me a canon XSi and was trying to talk me into a sony alpha (K20D was, and still continues to be out of stock). I said that I was willing to wait for another K20D piece as i was quite impressed with the camera. The other topic I want to talk about is the rumour that lens prices are going to go up from April 09. I called the Colorado pentax imaging center and was told that they are not aware of any such hike. If any of you know to the contrary please let me know. I do not want to miss out on buying some good glass (DA 40). Meanwhile here is a picture taken with my faulty K20D and A 50 (you can see the line running through the butterfly's head): Last edited by mccarvindh; 03-24-2009 at 04:08 AM. Reason: pic did not upload

03-27-2009, 09:13 AM	#6
Igilligan Guest	Sorry to hear of the line... I ended up with the Kit lens with my package and it is a decent lens. Since I am not a wide shooter, so almost all of the primes I have bought have start around 28 and up. So the 18-55 comes in handy when I really do need a wider lens... And it does ok too...

03-27-2009, 07:34 PM	#7
mccarvindh Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohio, USA/ India Photos: Gallery Posts: 478 Original Poster	Thanks Igillian It is good to know that the 18-55 comes in handy. I was worried that I was wasting money on sth I will not need once I get other primes and quality zooms. Your picture is sharp!

03-29-2009, 09:13 AM	#14
germar Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North Palm Beach, Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 728	200 dollars off .... still 500 too high Originally posted by dadipentak pentaximaging.com says: Now Save $200 – Our Lowest Price Ever Right now, save $200 on the feature-rich K20D. Plus, you also get an extended FREE three-year warranty (1 year standard, 2 years extended) when you purchase the K20D by 3/31/2009 Ah, the trouble is ...they still want 1200 dollars for the camera body after the "savings." I just bought mine for 530 dollars less than that from an authorized dealer online. Jeepers, buyer beware! best, germar

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03-24-2009, 04:25 AM	#2
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,666	Most of the threads that indicate a rate hike originate in Canada, so it is hard to say if it is country specific or not. On the other hand, the last two lenses I have purchased have been from Prodigital 2000 in Canada, so that would push US prices as well.

03-24-2009, 02:35 PM	#3
chhayanat Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The Cow Belt Photos: Gallery Posts: 173	My eyesight is impaired. Therefore, I can see a fine line running parallel to the vertical antenna above the head of the butterfly and about 0.5mm to its right. It doesn't continue below the head. It might be obstrusive in an much larger large enlargement. In my screen it is not noticeable.

03-26-2009, 08:57 PM	#4
millertime Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 46	Weird, I can see a perfect vertical line running from the very top to very bottom of OP's picture.

03-27-2009, 08:32 AM	#5
mccarvindh Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohio, USA/ India Photos: Gallery Posts: 478 Original Poster	Yes, there is a line through all my pictures. I have sen t it in for a replacement. I am now forced to buy the kit lens becasue they are not doing 'body only' anymore. REgarding the lens hike. I guess it is bound to hit the US as well, if it happening up in Canada. Let us see. REgardless I may delay getting a prime - will just play around with my old manual lens and use the kit for a while...

03-27-2009, 07:51 PM	#8
borno Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: md-usa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,580	That's a real nice shot Gus

03-27-2009, 08:04 PM	#9
octavmandru Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: somewhere around Posts: 615	Originally posted by mccarvindh Your picture is sharp! Yeah, but he has a Catz Eye...

03-28-2009, 08:15 AM	#10
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Originally posted by chhayanat My eyesight is impaired. Therefore, I can see a fine line running parallel to the vertical antenna above the head of the butterfly and about 0.5mm to its right. It doesn't continue below the head. It might be obstrusive in an much larger large enlargement. In my screen it is not noticeable. I think it's more likely your monitor than eyesight. On my nice monitor at work, I can clearly see the line both above and below. On my older monitor at home (so old color calibration doesn't help much) I can only see it above unless I look very, very closely.

03-28-2009, 09:30 AM	#11
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	pentaximaging.com says, Quote: Now Save $200 – Our Lowest Price Ever Right now, save $200 on the feature-rich K20D. Plus, you also get an extended FREE three-year warranty (1 year standard, 2 years extended) when you purchase the K20D by 3/31/2009

03-28-2009, 05:53 PM	#12
sebberry Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Frozen white North Photos: Albums Posts: 1,135	Originally posted by Igilligan I ended up with the Kit lens with my package and it is a decent lens. Since I am not a wide shooter, so almost all of the primes I have bought have start around 28 and up. So the 18-55 comes in handy when I really do need a wider lens... And it does ok too... Nice photo and cat The Pentax kit lens is a pretty decent lens as far as 18-55 kit lenses go.

03-29-2009, 08:57 AM	#13
mccarvindh Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohio, USA/ India Photos: Gallery Posts: 478 Original Poster	Quote: I think it's more likely your monitor than eyesight. On my nice monitor at work, I can clearly see the line both above and below. On my older monitor at home (so old color calibration doesn't help much) I can only see it above unless I look very, very closely. This line is very prominent when viewed at full resolution. I have resized the pic to about 15% of original! BTW, do you think this line can be removed using photoshop and other software effectively? I have tons of pics from an orchid show that I would love to touch up and use them.

03-29-2009, 02:04 PM	#15
GerryL Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 2,731	Originally posted by mccarvindh This line is very prominent when viewed at full resolution. I have resized the pic to about 15% of original! BTW, do you think this line can be removed using photoshop and other software effectively? I have tons of pics from an orchid show that I would love to touch up and use them. It is easy enough to touch-up in photoshop but you also have to have the patience if you want it to be really unoticable. You can use the clone tool and the healing brush tool. Save as a differerent filename though so you can always got back to the original if you messed up the retouch.