Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
04-02-2010, 08:35 PM
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-15-2010, 03:56 PM
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I believe that Canon developed ring USM technology early on and it was a major step forward. They then committed simultaneously to changing their AF system around this and the mount to fully take advantage of the fully electronic EOS system. It was a gamble to piss off all of the FD mount customers, but it was such a good new system and AF was clearly the future at that time, they went forward with it. The rest is history and some companies are still playing catch up.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-13-2010, 01:37 PM
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That is what they said when SLR mechanisms first came out. What is wrong with looking through a little rangefinder window? Too complex!
Much bigger? These cameras are scaled to handle 24x36 film. The sensor long dimension is less than 24 mm for APS-C. You must not do much in the way of vertical shots on a tripod because this would be very handy. Rube Golberg? Maybe you like cameras more like the simplicity of a large format camera which I do use on occasion as well. I understand your point, but cameras are now electronic-high-tech devices. We might as well take advantage of what can be offered to help us.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-11-2010, 12:33 PM
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What they really need to patent ASAP before someone else does (it will happen) is a sensor that can rotate 90 degrees in about a second or so for vertical shots without having to rotate the whole camera. No more need for heavy, extra hand grips, L- brackets, or other contraptions for flash. Just press a button. Now that would be something worth paying for.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-06-2010, 02:15 PM
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-06-2010, 12:25 PM
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sounds good to me. Also, I want 3 smallish in-lens-shutter primes. One made for portrait use.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-04-2010, 08:40 PM
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In Alex video for low light, is it just me or is does the lens never achieve clear focus? They all seem blurry. Of course the lens sounds as if focus lock is achieved. This is confusing to me.
Alex, I appreciate the time an effort of showing your samples, but that one has me confused.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-04-2010, 12:45 AM
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FF can go to a higher fstop to get the same DOF with the same diffraction effect as APS-C. Only time smaller format can win in wide DOF contest is at f22 or whatever the limit is for the lens. Smaller system cannot decrease DOF in the manner that FF offers on the other end because they run into a lens restraint road block. The question is, which end of the aperture scale do you like to hang out at?
At base iso a good quality APS-C will look similar to FF. But, sensor only has one real iso setting and this is the base iso. Each iso higher is made by amplification and the FF pulls ahead slightly at each higher iso and will have better DR. You need to decide what iso and DR you will need and if it is worth the additional investment. Nice to have choices.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-04-2010, 12:24 AM
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The difference between a good APS-C and a similar specd FF seems to be about $900 to $1,000 of you look at Nikon and Canon.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-04-2010, 12:21 AM
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Sony A850 already goes for $2,000 or slightly less.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-03-2010, 11:18 AM
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Falk, I like the way you think. I have similar thoughts. Would it be feasible to have a mirror-less camera with similar dimensions as the k7, but with a movable sensor? This would allow the sensor to provide some tilt ( minor shift); could provide a type of AF for non-AF lenses; and could provide better macro focusing range for some lenses. And, of course, good old horizon adjustment. It would also allow the use of all other lens brands via adapters by moving the sensor to whatever registration distance as needed, adjusted for the thickness of the adapter of course (well maybe Pentax would not want cut into lens sales for this feature). I hope I do not get banned for mentioning such a crazy notion, but with the mirror mechanism out of the way, there are new possibilities for creative engineers. Think outside of the mirror-box.
For me, the option of an EVIL style camera reducing the thickness of the body a bit, but still not being a pocket camera is very minor advantage. This of course would provide easy use of all existing Pentax lenses without an adapter needed.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-03-2010, 09:49 AM
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If a particular brand name is believed to have value then it is wise to not dilute the value. If an EVIL camera comes out and they decide to give it high grade specs and call it L-X, this should not be a problem. The key is to give it the full specs if that is what the target market is.
If the L-X names has such great marketing value they could have an L-X E version for electronic viewfinder system and L-X R for reflex system.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
01-28-2010, 10:55 AM
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It would be very easy to offer a one inch or so adapter that would provide all of the functionality of current Pentax lenses EXCEPT screw drive AF. So, if you have lens-based AF lens (SDM, HSM, etc.), then no problem for full functionality, otherwise manual focus only but WITH all other lens features, info., etc. This is what Samsung is working on right now to offer with their NX camera.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-14-2010, 11:43 AM
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Next time you may consider using a target with more color and detail. A gray target does not reflect the real world very well and so it will not show the potential problems that can show up.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
01-06-2010, 11:48 PM
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I think the main point of EVIL is not too see how small you can make it but:
Make it significantly lighter
Have fewer moving parts and so more reliable
Make it quieter
Make it have less vibration
Make the AF more simple, more accurate, and more reliable (though still slow today)
Make it less expensive for the same image quality
Has this potential been achieved yet? Not completely, but this technology is just starting. SLRs have been around for over 50 years.
I have always thought if you do not worry about the thickness of the camera, you could do some great things with a moving sensor such as tilt and AF since the mirror box is not in the way. How about small prime lenses that do not even need a focus mechanism as in LF type design? I know, sounds crazy but you never know what the future holds.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-04-2010, 04:56 PM
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There are quite a few wedding and portrait photogs that use JPEG. You have to like the JPEG output options of your particular camera and get the exposure just right like with slide film.
The advantage is time savings which is the same as money savings. Some people hate messing with a lot of post processing. Maybe they shoot raw plus JPEG and only use the raw if there is a problem.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
01-04-2010, 04:29 PM
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I agree. This is one of the less mentioned benefits of getting rid of the mirror box and reducing the registration distance significantly.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-02-2010, 12:29 AM
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In the past, it has been hard for Pentax to get those little red lights to be in the correct spots anyway. In other words they are not always that accurate such that you can be 100% sure what you have focused on. There is always a little guess work and luck but most of the time if you inadvertently focused on the background instead of the subject you will be able to tell right away even without indicator lights.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-02-2010, 12:18 AM
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There are also times if you use AF tied to shutter button when you need to delay the final shot because of facial expression or other and you have to sit there with your finger delicately pressed half-way down to hold the focus so you can be ready for the quick shot. You may twitch and take the shot before you are ready, or if you take your finger off the button you will have to go through the AF process all over again when you are ready to take the shot. If will double check again to make sure it is still in focus. With AF tied only to AF button I say: "Focus once and be done with it!" This advantage is not as great for moving objects where AF-C may be better.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-02-2010, 12:01 AM
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Get rid of your 4/3 option. Just a drain of resources.
Make K1 full frame in 12 to 16 MP range. Drop frame rate a bit. Keep price at least 20% below Nikon similar spec'd full frame.
There you go.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
12-31-2009, 10:46 AM
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DR no worse than Pentax K-7 according to dpreview tests. It is a little strange how Canon can make the DR flat at about 8.3 all the way to iso 1600 though. Is this very fine tuned noise reduction at each iso to achieve this result?
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
12-21-2009, 12:57 PM
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If you know a bit about marketing you should know that price points create discrete markets that do not compete much. A couple of simple examples is with cars or homes. With cars, just a $1,000 difference will keep a particular market buyer from going up to the next model. People establish budgets and value notions and they usually stay in their range. With cameras, a $300 increase may be enough for a buyer to stay out of the next price segment. Yes, an $8,000 FF camera could compete with a $10,000 MF, but that is not what Pentax is looking at doing.
The biggest hesitation Pentax has had for not offering FF is the huge expense of doing it right (including new lenses), and the uncertainty if there will be enough units sold to cover the investment. Pentax currently has VERY few pro photogs in the customer base that would be willing to spend in the $2,500 and up range that Canikon does have. So, Pentax had to wait until they could do FF for under $2,000. Sony jumped in early but they stand to gain by developing and selling the sensor for other makers and they are a huge company that can afford a loss leader. MF digital is a higher margin item and it could be that you can make a profit over time with a lot fewer units because of this. Also, the tech upgrade cycle is slower. AND, there is (was?) an established base of Pentax 645 lens owners, many of who are pros willing to spend more.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-21-2009, 12:37 PM
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Usually keep a good hand strap on that can easily be converted to full strap by adding via clips.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
12-19-2009, 10:54 AM
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They, will if they are going to offer a FF camera. Probably will announce together.
A 24-70 pro grade zoom is the most important, and one of the most expensive lenses to design and make. Pentax has never offered a 24-70 2.8 as far as I am aware so they need to come of with a specific new design. They have to decide if and how they will improve SDM as well. A lot of very important and expensive decisions. It has to be right or it will hurt the FF camera success.
The makeover of the 100 macro is very easy and relatively cheap. If they decide to never bring out the FF, it will still add value to the APS-C lens family.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-09-2009, 04:10 PM
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Pro camera is the most reliable, most durable, highest quality, offering all possible features that a pro would want, that money can buy
AND similar specs for flash and complete lens system
AND full pro support for quick repair turn around
Pentax is a notch below this and does not have pro support system
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