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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
09-07-2019, 05:50 PM
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I would like to nominate this photo
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
03-20-2019, 12:34 AM
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Hmmm. thanks everyone for ongoing commentary from experienced perspectives.
It does seem the jury is still out on the K70 which I had been thinking of buying. It has a solenoid not stepper motor? But supposedly improved??
The KP seems a larger camera and more expensive.
I would rather buy new with appropriate warranties than try to do second hand. But it seems there are few Pentax stockists in rural France and online is the only choice. That makes it difficult to get a feel of a camera in your hand and when you are on the move...
I do not want to attempt any repair myself and will probably keep the K30 body for use with my A Sigma 100-300 lens.
Thanks
Kerri-Ann
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
03-18-2019, 12:16 AM
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thank you Photgem and reh321 for your particular responses, and for links to previous explanations - very helpful in understanding the issues.
I am now in France and of course don't want a failing camera.
Ironically, i left my AA battery adaptor and Li-AA batteries at home as a weight saving action and, being in a country with power all the time, I thought it wouldn't be a fall back option needed (as eg in remote Nepal or out bush in Oz for weeks)
That said... I am concerned by the implication in the threads that Pentax have this as a fatal problem across their range of DSLRs.
Should I be looking to replace by body with another Pentax? If so which one is closest to K30 (but with improved noise :) ) Are K30s sold new now or are they only re-conditioned ones?
Or should i be looking elsewhere for a whole new kit? (Nasty question on a Pentax forum i know..)
THANKS
Kerri-Ann
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
03-17-2019, 02:48 AM
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Thank you SO much for this master post.
I have a Pentax K30 (about 5 years old) with a kit 18-135 lens. Just recently, I have been getting an inexplicable dark photo problem for the first shot taken but second and subsequent shots are correctly exposed.
I did the tests you set out using my Sigma 100-300 which has a A setting on the aperture ring. I tend to frequently use the TAv setting. The readings of the camera's chosen ISO are the same although the resulting shot is extremely different. It only happens for the first shot after the camera has been off for a while. If i turn the camera off then on again shortly after, the shot is correct. But if say 10 minutes have passed, the first shot is very dark but the second and subsequent are fine again.
It seems to indicate my problem may be the first stages of aperture block and that it will only get worse. Is this correct?
I LOVE my camera and don't really want another one... but sadly think it might be coming. I have just left my home country for a year overseas. Bad timing.
What are your thoughts?
Thanks so much
Kerri-Ann
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
05-02-2017, 01:05 AM
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Thanks again Des, Normhead, Pres, MikesBike et al
Thanks for observations on my pics and further comments and suggestions.
I have been having a busy time test shooting a boring but indicative line of bushes with little shrubs in the foreground and bigger trees in the background to check fstop differences for focus and depth of field at different zooms. A good lesson in taking care to stop down as much as possible but to ensure a fast enough shutter speed to enable hand holding (which I almost invariably do)!
I also pulled out my old Sigma 100-300mm 4.5 - 6.7 lens that I have not used on my DSLR and gave it the same test (also checked out its review here on the site: not too bad for its market positioning). I think it performs better at that 100-135 cross over. But I will need lots of luck or use a tripod more to get sharp shots in low to average light when using longer range.
Without thinking about it, I guess I have already been using the crop in to get rid of the soft edges where necessary!
I'm off overseas next week with my (newly re-loved) 18-135 and will contemplate further options in the future. The forum is providing a great source of info and there seems to be quite a choice of ways to go.
Thanks all
Kerri-Ann
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-29-2017, 05:22 AM
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Thanks all!
I can't believe the speed and helpfulness of responses. The discussion and example photos made me think carefully about my issues. I've pulled out some of my pics to illustrate, as suggested. Hope my posting has worked ?
As Des points out, there are many photos where edge/corner softness does not matter (eg monitor (135mm, 1/60,ISO 800, 5.6), grasshopper (135mm, 1/160, ISO 400, f13). These are usually when picking out a subject against a relatively incidental background.
My main concerns arise at 135mm or close to that zoom in two circumstances - when the subject is all on one plane in the distance such as the pelicans (135mm, 1/180, ISO 400, f5.6) or all on one plane closer in such as the Christmas beetles (135mm, 1/15, ISO 400, f5.6).
I also find a softness at full 135 zoom when shooting just a landscape eg the surf and cliffline (100mm, 1/750, ISO 400, f9.5). But maybe that is lack of accurate focus? If i think critically, I have not always optimised my selectionof f stop and speed. I'm never really on a photo shoot -
usually just cycletouring or bushwalking or at home. So I should take more time...
There are some great suggestions here, and I'll look more positively on my 18-135mm as a pretty good all-rounder, but consider some of the DA type lens options for future investment. Perhaps as suggested by a few, the DA*16-85 but sadly beyond my budget unless I rob a bank the DA*60-250, as suggested by WhiteFeather and normhead. I might just also look at an old manual fixed telephoto. I've recently worked out (thanks to this forum!) how to use my old ME Super manual M lenses - a 50 mm f1.7 and 28 mm f2.8.
Thanks again
Cheers
Kerri-Ann
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-26-2017, 11:45 PM
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Hi folks
I'm new to this. I have a K30 with an 18-135 zoom (SMC Pentax-DA etc WR).
While I'm mainly happy with it, as I have progressed in my photography, I realise it does not seem very sharp in various circumstances - in particular, it's very 'soft' on the outside edges when zoomed in on something, and in darker conditions.
I love the flexibility of a zoom, and having it dirt and water resistant is helpful as I use it out bush a fair bit.
Any suggestions?
Thanks
Kerri-Ann
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