Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-04-2018, 05:45 PM
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Not an issue I've encountered on the K3, was already impressed with the 17-70 on the K3 but needed stopping down to be properly sharp (F4 or F5.6, not really an issue), The 17-50 from the two weeks I've had it has impressed.
But, as I said, I think all three are damn good lenses which would fit the bill. The differences are marginal between them.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-04-2018, 04:06 AM
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I have the Sigma and it's a stunner. I already owned the 17-70 version which now lives on my K5, so the zoom working "backwards" is something I'm used to. Have to say though, all three have a great reputation.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
10-02-2018, 03:49 PM
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Self timer and infra red remote modes will switch it off automatically - camera is assuming a tripod/camera support is in use. There's probably more but can't think of any at the moment.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
10-02-2018, 09:10 AM
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For hiking I'd go with the 18-50 RE and the 55-300PLM, both compact, both weather resistant, both take 58mm filters. Add in a 1.4 converter, maybe a short compact prime of your favoured length (21mm, 40mm?) and you're good to go.
Can't argue with your "less mobile" choices at all.
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
10-02-2018, 09:05 AM
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Haha watch the market shrink even more once the affluent grandpas realise their slim, sylph-like mirrorless body has to have heavy, REALLY heavy lenses strapped to it. And then their knees will give in, and their wallet, and their interest.
In the meantime I'll be shooting with K5 & 21mm Ltd and K3 with the 300 PLM wondering what all the fuss is about.
Doesn't anyone take photographs any more?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-02-2018, 02:50 AM
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I have this, the 40 Limited, and the 'M' 40mm. I guess I just like pancakes.
They are all much of a muchness, especially the XS and the Limited, hard to tell apart blind testing.
They do sell pinch caps which will fit (i believe they're aimed at video cameras) on the Well Known Auction Site, the little rubber one supplied is just begging to get lost. On the other hand a step up ring will allow the use of filters if you're wanting them.
It would also allow the use of a hood which helps with IQ, only thing being if you hang a hood and filter mount on the front there's not much point buying the XS lens :)
Apologies for the awful mobile pic but you get the idea.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
10-02-2018, 02:03 AM
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I'm still holding out hope for a K1000 Super Plus Anniversary Edition next year but the grape vine tells me they have no technicians left who can build and design one, they're all digital experts now.
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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
09-26-2018, 11:12 AM
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So there's likely nothing wrong with your camera, cards, or PC.
If you use the same hardware to view the same file and one piece of software shows it fine, and the other not, them the software looks the likely culprit.
Apologies if I'm mis-reading.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-20-2018, 06:31 AM
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Second hand DA L 55-300 ED would be the cheapest, there are aftermarket hoods for it.
If you can afford it a second hand 55-300 WR is also very good, and a little more sturdy feeling.
The Sigma 70-300s are very variable in quality, personally I'd stay away from them.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-19-2018, 04:43 AM
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I taught my partner to take photos without auto-everything mode. She asked me to, I'm not on some evangelical quest! She couldn't understand that F-stop is F-stop, regardless.
It took one loooooooong session with old manual lenses, auto lenses, moving the diaphragm lever on the lens with my thumb and changing lenses without changing camera settings for her to "get it". It's just a number, but a very important one.
To me, it's one of those "penny drop" items, once you've grasped the principle it's very simple, until that point, not so much. I think my explanation was lacking, not her ability to learn. I had no-one to teach me, save library books, a Praktica film camera and dirt cheap postal film development to allow me to experiment. I've included a couple of old negative scans from the MTL5 and Pentax 50mm - these show me working out what shutters and F-stops did. There were many worse attempts! :)
Once you understand how shutter speed and F-stop work together, then you can understand how ISO also fits in, and about DOF and hyper-focals. At that point, you can operate any camera, film or digital, and your concentration is left to the important thing - finding the picture and taking it.
We may not shoot so much onto film and plates any more, but the fundamentals still apply.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
09-17-2018, 12:48 AM
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Nice captures, really like the disconnect between the reflections in the figures and the background
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-15-2018, 04:19 AM
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Zooms from 10-300 - plus "standard" WR zoom as I live in the UK, two full kits, one kit for the K5 and another for the K3, no duplication of lenses
Six 50mm Pentax-M, -A, -F
Two 40mm one limited (my finances are more limited than the lenses)
21mm Limited
Many 28mm
Couple of -A zooms
oh and the film kit for the Z-50 which is different again, covers 28-300
The struggle is real
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-10-2018, 10:41 PM
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For what I have spent on my K3 & K5 kits, I might be able to spring for a Z6 & standard zoom. Not a Z7. But both are ugly and wouldn't fit in my hands. And I currently have two full kits 10-300mm, one lens will be restrictive, and frustrating.
Why do I stay with Pentax? I can't really put that into eloquent prose, but give me an afternoon in a target rich environment with the K3, 21mm ltd, 28mm 'A', 40mm ltd, & 300mm PLM zoom and the stupid grin on my face will probably get the message across.
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
09-05-2018, 04:19 PM
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For me, the SLR was the style of camera I cut my teeth on. And it was small enough, but had bigger negatives than those awful cheapo 110 cameras, so that you could get a good enlarged image out of it.
The SLR fit in my hand, my luggage, felt right. The way of shooting (eye to cup) suited me, but then I appreciate this is because there were few alternatives and it was what I was used to.
A good few years ago (1990s?)I bought a Kodak digital camera, the quality was awful, put me right off. I continued with my Pentax SLRs and was quite happy.
Then two things happened at the same time, I started using Android smartphones and bought a DSLR (K110D). This would be 2007-ish.
The smartphone cameras are amazing for the subjects they're good at, but I never liked the "screen" composing and setup, even though the pixel count was high. I still use them for snaps, on the grounds I always have one with me.
The DSLR however was right up my street. Everything worked as it should, it spoke the same language of ISO/F stop/speed as my film cameras. I was hooked.
Now as I type I still have my film camera, and (via a K70, K10 and K100) a K5 and a K3. I think the K5 and K3 are awesome ergonomically, and the images they produce are great for me. I'm a keen amateur not a pro which leaves me in full control of what is "acceptable".
The SLR/DSLR world is where I live. I know, I'm a dinosaur. I know, mirrorless is the future. I know, EVF is the way forward. But I look at the Nikon and Canon announcements and see highly uncomfortable looking cameras, no smaller than my "K"s with the lens adaptor on, and I'm not tempted. At all.
There have always been other formats, other ways of capturing images. I'm not criticising any of them, if someone enjoys photography that's great in my book, regardless of the make and model they use. If I'm asked why I use Pentax, I'll tell people, but I won't persuade. If they want Canon, Nikon, Sony, M4/3, mediums, rangefinder........ go for it, it's a personal choice.
So, out of the ramble above (sorry!) I'll be quite happy for Pentax to keep making boring, traditional SLRs which I'll keep using until i can't hold one any more. I've never had a Pentax I disliked, or one that failed to impress. So I hope they keep it that way.
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Forum: Photographic Technique
08-30-2018, 04:03 PM
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Composite and average should do the trick, but I'm not sure you'll need ND filters, composite exposures tend to be short anyway
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Forum: Pentax K-70 & KF
08-28-2018, 02:14 AM
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My partner used her K50 & my K70 interchangeably, they're quite similar in layout, you should be able to replicate everything you did on the K50 very easily.
There's more the K70 can do of course, but to get back to where you were with the K50 as a baseline should be very easy for you.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-21-2018, 05:08 AM
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I have fond memories and good images from a K110D & 18-55 kit lens. It's not as if they are "bad" lenses, it's just that I now have "better" ones.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
08-21-2018, 04:55 AM
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I have the HD version and it's a good performer On K5/K3. It also comes with the dedicated hood which the DA L version doesn't and if you want the genuine article they're not cheap. The hood is similar to the one on the 21mm limited and its an effective design. I remember reading the reviews when I bought mine and one or two appear to be of the DA L version but in the HD section.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
08-16-2018, 02:18 PM
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Nice buy.
I'm a fan of the 35-105 'A' lens you have there, its macro mode is no better than a long zoom but it's a good sharp lens even at F4 and if focus is right can give stunning results
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Forum: General Photography
08-15-2018, 12:39 AM
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Go somewhere and shoot something you normally wouldn't. If you've been shooting landscape/candid/street where you are, go try a local motocross meet, an airshow, a car club meeting, the local birds of prey display, get a friend to sit for portraits....... when I get to the "oh I really can't be bothered" stage that's what I do. The challenge and the leap out of my comfort zone gets my interest - even if the shots aren't prizewinners
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Forum: General Photography
08-11-2018, 04:00 PM
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On the fence really.
If one of my manual lenses produces, say, purple fringes and the image as a whole looks good I'm not too fussed. I don't pixel peep much my target is the image not pixels 5455-5962.
If it's overbearing, or the geometry needs correction because it's ruining the image, then I'll fix in PP.
So i guess I'm 50/50, I like the rendering, colour profile and good old-fashioned "mood" or "feel" that older lenses can have (not all of them do) but I won't allow an image to be ruined because of them.
The comment above about the subtleties of rendering surviving targeted PP particularly chimes with me.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-11-2018, 02:22 AM
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It's a shame, I bought the DA version used expecting very average, but I wanted a WR "standard" zoom for my K5 kit and this was pretty much the same price as the 18-55s then available, I paid £79 from memory.
It surprised me, not only due to its size, but on how effective the gimmicky hood is, and how good the image quality is at 5.6.
The RE button-twist-shoot is odd at first but you get used to it. Silent quick focus. Great bokeh.
It's way better than any 18-55 I've had.
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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
08-09-2018, 09:58 AM
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I'm not the person to answer that given I don't have, and haven't used, a II or IIs. I'm very happy with the vanilla K5 although I only tend to use it for static/landscape type shooting - my K3 is better at focus tracking for moving subjects and the higher pixel count means I can crop more if needed.
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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
08-08-2018, 03:55 PM
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If you're a happy man with the K3 then the handling on the K5 will please you, although superficially almost identical, the K5 just seems to mould itself to my paw. Never had a camera like it, film or digital. Just seems to balance perfectly and the button layout is very intuitive.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
08-05-2018, 05:09 PM
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DA 21mm is a fantastic lens, even the "old" SMC version which I have. The Sigma 10-20mm lenses are also a good bet for low distortion and wide angle (in my very humble opinion).
A shot from both taken today to show you the relative FOV of both, the Sigma is at 10mm. As others have said the 21mm is not particularly "wide" in comparison to the 10-20mm range lenses, but image quality is very impressive.
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