[SpecialK]

OK, at least two people have mentioned auto iso, so I'm gonna toss in my 2 cents worth on the "auto iso bug".

In my opinion, auto iso is a useless feature anyway. I don't allow my camera to determine aperture setting, I don't allow my camera to choose shutter speed, why would I let the camera decide what iso setting to use?

I realize lots of people out there disagree, but that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

If you are not shooting truly manual, the camera will adjust something. In fact, the 10D has a sensitivity adjustment setting so you can keep whatever shutter and aperture you want, within reason.

I've used the Auto-ISO in the 200-800 range from about the beginning, and frankly, I don't think about it much. Though as I'm mostly outside anyway it doesn't really shift very often. However, in museums, etc it can be handy. But, as Edvinas pointed out, the compensation defeats the shift, as I remembered a bit too late at a car show (though most images were OK regardless).

You'd think it would be an easy firmware thing.

[mattdm]

You'd think it would be an easy firmware thing.

Speculation:

The firmware is probably pretty knotty code, written in an ugly ad-hoc way that grows as new features are added -- like almost all software whose source is only seen inside one company. Auto-ISO was spliced on top of the existing exposure program logic, and when that logic was originally written, the part which introduces EV compensation was done in what turns out to be an inelegant way. Fitting the two together wouldn't be impossible, but would require a rewrite.

That'd take a lot of time, time equals money -- so instead, put it in the manual and call it a feature.

[Jonson PL]

Now It is not my style to flame another poster but I will make an exception in this case. Rice High is a nit picker that has trashed everything Pentax. He tears the cameras and gear down and really has no clue about most of what he says. He NEVER posts pictures or truly verifiable proof of his issues and problems with the gear. Those that have been around this and other forums have for the most part learned to ignore his rants. I don't believe I stand alone in these comments.

Yeah, it is surprising to see Mr. RH be drawn to a thread titled “Bad thing about the k100d (super)”


Like a moth to a flame…

He has some personal agenda with Pentax and as I said, he never posts images on his blog so has no credibility in my book.

Want a much better opinion of the camera? Have a look at the threads from Tom Lusk ( I hope Tom you don't mind me using you as an example, if so I apologize in advance and will delete this response) and Tom is only one of many excellent shooters here that get great results from this camera.

See his post here:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/12875-fog-frog.html

I'm not saying it's the perfect camera for everyone. No camera ever could be. But it can stand on it's own and produce excellent results in the right hands. It's a tool, that once you learn how to use it, can do most everything you want. It's more about your skill, vision and technique than anything else.

[Edvinas]

In my opinion, auto iso is a useless feature anyway. I don't allow my camera to determine aperture setting, I don't allow my camera to choose shutter speed, why would I let the camera decide what iso setting to use?

Could you clarify then, how do you manage to set correct aperture, shutter speed and sensitivity without relying on camera metering system.

[MPrince]

Ultimate Exposure Computer

I use my brain to meter.

[Cloudy Wizzard]

Ultimate Exposure Computer

I use my brain to meter.

interesting site, I didn't read all of it (just glanced over it actually) but this sounds interesting :

If your shutter speed is slower than the reciprocal of the focal length of your lens, you must use a tripod.

For example, if you are using a 200 mm lens, your shutter speed must exceed 1/200 second (I.E. 1/250 or faster). If not, you should use a tripod. If your subject is moving, double this shutter speed. If you are moving (such as in a boat or plane) triple the speed. If you are doing macro work (.25 magnification or greater), always use a tripod. If you're using a format larger than 35mm, use a tripod. To be safe, weld your camera to the tripod.

At least now I have an idea on when I would need a tripod and it doesn't sound that hard to remember.

[MPrince]

At least now I have an idea on when I would need a tripod and it doesn't sound that hard to remember.

Keep in mind, though, that with shake reduction you can break this rule by a couple of stops or more.

[jgredline]

jth, let me say first that almost without exception this is a very friendly forum. There are some excellent shooters here and until the thread 2 above mine you have gotten some good advice. I own and like my K110D which is almost the same as the K100D (missing the Shake reduction) and I have used it many times to shoot weddings successfully as my second body. As for white balance, it has not been an issue as I almost always manually set the white balance for indoor lighting and it has done a very good job of that.

Everyone has a right to their opinions and posters here often disagree on many aspects of the gear and the craft. I've learned a lot from new members and long time camera owners, both. Here comes the 'but'.....

Now It is not my style to flame another poster but I will make an exception in this case. Rice High is a nit picker that has trashed everything Pentax. He tears the cameras and gear down and really has no clue about most of what he says. He NEVER posts pictures or truly verifiable proof of his issues and problems with the gear. Those that have been around this and other forums have for the most part learned to ignore his rants. I don't believe I stand alone in these comments. He has some personal agenda with Pentax and as I said, he never posts images on his blog so has no credibility in my book.

Want a much better opinion of the camera? Have a look at the threads from Tom Lusk ( I hope Tom you don't mind me using you as an example, if so I apologize in advance and will delete this response) and Tom is only one of many excellent shooters here that get great results from this camera.

See his post here:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/12875-fog-frog.html

and to see others, look here:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/search.php?searchid=189819

You could also spend some time browsing the Pentax Gallery here that has photos specific to the model:

PENTAX Photo Gallery

I'm not saying it's the perfect camera for everyone. No camera ever could be. But it can stand on it's own and produce excellent results in the right hands. It's a tool, that once you learn how to use it, can do most everything you want. It's more about your skill, vision and technique than anything else.

BTW Keith, the AF system needs contrast in order to focus on something. That is true for many brands I think (I may be wrong of course). So unless there is some contrasting colour in the FOV the system can't lock. Very similar to a split screen on a film camera that you need a defined edge of something in the FOV to bring the top and bottom together to be sure that the picture is in sharpest focus. Also the AF can hunt with certain lenses when it is dark if they are slower at max aperture and so on. It may hunt a bit more on my Sigma 50-500 @500mm f6.3 but not on the 43mm ltd f1.9 etc.

Good post!!
Thanks jg

[jgredline]

I switched from a Canon setup to a Pentax setup at the beginning of this year, with the k100d. The things I've found I don't like have pretty much all already been mentioned. Overall I love the camera, don't get me wrong, but I'm just trying to stay on topic and say only what I don't like:

1) Loud shutter
2) High ISO performance, while not poor, is poorer (noisier) than current generation Canons (not sure about Nikon)
3) Slow autofocus
4) Inability to trigger an external flash with the built-in flash (the k10d has this capability)
5) Only one control wheel; some settings that I'd like to use more often are somewhat awkward to get to because of the menu structure (ISO, choosing AF point, changing metering mode, changing AF mode)
6) AA batteries are both a blessing and a curse; the NiMH's I've used haven't lasted nearly as long as the proprietary Canon Li-ion pack...however, they are cheaper and it's easy to have extras on hand
7) Lack of good, fast, modern telephoto glass -- Pentax seems to be real slow at bringing out new lenses, and third-party support is weaker than for Canon/Nikon
8) Auto ISO doesn't work well

1) I agree with number 1..It is easily twice as loud as my K10D
2) I disagree with number 2..It is the same as my D40 and about the same as my D200
3) I also disagree with 3..I have found that it comes down to the lens being used..
4) I have never noticed this...
5) Has never been a problem with me
6) 3 sets of rechargeables took care of this..
7) I agree...But it is getting better
8) I agree here as well...

[jgredline]

i had a couple of people look at me weird and one of my friends has a canon Xt and he says his canon is equal to my K10D, so we went to the beach one day and i told him yo lets go down close to the water and he was like, hell no man not with my slr water might get in it, and i replied ohh but i thought canon is the best camera?

P.S

you know what i dont get this whole b.s about the image quality on a k10d being dull! "its not an out of the box camera"

1) OF COURSE NOT! its an advance camera!
2) if you want out of the box get a P & S
3) you can always change the settings.
4) OK im a newbie, but my opinion everyone's eyes are different others dont see the same! so all this BS about dull. Dpreview and bs reviews that say this sorry but what standards are we going by over saturated pics?

I could not agree with you more...
I have a NIKON D40 that I bought the first day they came out...Shortly there after, my wife claimed it as hers.. No biggie, so I went out and purchased a Pentax K110D two weeks later...I quickly fell in love with it and was really glad my wife took the D40...Well soon after that I purchased a K10D figuering it has to be better than my K110D and to my surprise, it was really not...I even complained to the folks over at Samys camera and they assured me that I simply had to learn it...Well the next day I went to Ritz camera and purchased a Nikon D200 and to my surprise it was the same as My K10D..
So that is when I sat down to really try and understand all the settings and what they do and their purpose...Well when It was all said and done, MY K10D is my favorite camera by far...I am glad I kept it...It is by no means a point and shoot...One simple adjustment that I made to it was move the sharpness all the way to the + side and I usually shoot at iso 200 unless I am outdoors on a super sunny day...

Usually I use my K110D as I keep it with me everyplace I go..It is always with me in my car, but just ''today'' I bought a K100D SUPER to replace it...
My K10D I take out on weekends when I go on photo shoots...
My D200 has just been sitting there in bed room..I have only used it twice..

Pentax hit the nail on the head with their K series, now they need to step it up in the lens dept..

[Antitrust]

A very bad thing is lack of Super's RAW support in photoshop prior to CS3.

But you can always convert them to dng . The DNG converter supports Super.

edit: minor corrections