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Forum: Pentax Forums Giveaways 12-10-2014, 07:58 AM  
Win an FA 31mm Ltd: PF 3 million post giveaway!
Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 2,237
Views: 143,923
This is cool! I want one!
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 08-30-2014, 04:14 AM  
K-5 Freezez up
Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 15
Views: 2,496
Did you find any solution to this? Is this repairable and how much it might have cost?

My K-5 seems to have similar problem (mirror freezes up, shutter stays closed even powering off the camera and top LCD stays on, live view not working (no image)). The mode-dial stopped working as well (always in M-mode, regardless of the position of the dial). Is it worth sending to repair or just send it to dump pit?
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 12-12-2013, 11:14 AM  
Why are you shooting with a Pentax?
Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 129
Views: 13,425
I still shoot with Pentax because I like it and there are some lenses that are not available in other systems. But unfortunately I do it less and less. Most of my shooting is with Nikon system these days and I sold most of my Pentax lenses to fund it. I could get the system I wanted for Nikon much cheaper second hand than I would be able to get that for Pentax so that was just simple maths (D7100 + Sigma 8-16 + Sigma 30mm + Sigma 150-500 DG OS). I still have my light weight combo with 18-135WR + A*300/4 (+ A1.4x-S teleconverter) and some old manual primes that I adore (Tokina AT-X 90mm/2.5 macro and K135mm/2.5).

But for me it's just what I need (or what I think I need) and I go with that. I couldn't care less with market shares. I care what suits me best.
Forum: Lens Clubs 10-13-2013, 02:41 AM  
The A Club
Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 3,996
Views: 622,312
Long time since I have posted this thread. I have explanation as I have made a sidestep with D700+Sigma 150-500 OS. But that combination is sometimes just too big and heavy and really cannot replace my K-5+A*300/4 combo. Image quality is better but it doesn't matter if it's at home. So here are some latest shots with A*300/4. I have to say it again that I really like this little lens. Joy to use. Maybe not as sharp as some other alternatives, but joy to use. That's what matters.















Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 10-11-2013, 11:42 AM  
The best 3 AF lens setup for cheap
Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 19
Views: 3,607
Really depends what you like to shoot, but if you want to cover as much as possible with best price/performace/weight/size ratio, my take would be

Sigma 10-20/4-5.6
Tamron 17-50/2.8
DA 55-300 (I would ignore DA-L because lack of quick-shift; very usable with this lens as focus may hunt)
Forum: Pentax Full Frame 09-14-2013, 08:48 AM  
why is a full frame Pentax such a holy grail?
Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 427
Views: 51,846
DR is not as good as K-5 as the sensor is older tech but it's surprisingly close. Shadow recovery is pretty good also. Also the colors after shadow recovery seem better to me on D700 than on K-5. Here is one example, not the best sample but you get the idea (it was shot ISO 500, ISO 200 would have given better result of course). Very difficult situation as the sky was still blown out even the foreground was heavily underexposed. First one is original, second one is pushed +0,50 EV and shadows pushed +100 in Lightroom 4 (click for full size image):



High ISO seem to be pretty similar also but it seems that D700 keeps the detail better at higher ISO's. ISO 3200 on D700 is still excellent and 6400 very good.
Forum: Pentax Full Frame 09-14-2013, 04:11 AM  
why is a full frame Pentax such a holy grail?
Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 427
Views: 51,846
I have owned Nikon D700 now 2 months. I decided to go for it as I could find very low shutter count unit for very good price. I used Canon 5D with some PK lenses before and really liked the "FF look", especially the fast 35mm, in some situations. I have to say that there is no going back for me. My fast 35mm on D700 is the inexpensive 35mm/1.8. It vignettes quite heavily on D700 but is more than usable in my use, especially after Lightroom lens corrections. Also the cheap 24-120mm/3.5-5.6 VR is excellent, easily comparable to DA*16-50/2.8 in sharpness. Also Samyang 14mm/2.8 is just brilliant.

I have always kept the K-5 quality good enough (and it really is) but that pixel level sharpness and the amount of details D700 12MP sensor brought "blew me away". Now pictures taken with K-5 look a bit soft. I shouldn't have bought it. And even though the K-5 is never camera, after using the D700 it feels dated (believe or not). Maybe because of the better autofocusing system, better viewfinder and better manual lens implementation on D700 (you can set non-CPU lens data and see proper F-stop in viewfinder, get proper exif data and see the manual focus aid in viewfinder (which way to turn focus ring etc.)). I also got Sigma 150-500 DG OS HSM on Nikon mount as I could get it couple hundred euros cheaper on Nikon mount than on Pentax mount on used market.

I have already sold some of my Pentax lenses (Sigma 28mm/1.8, Samyang 35/14, Samyang 85mm/1.4) to fund that other system. I will most likely sell DA*16-50/2.8 and maybe some other zooms also. I have never really thought about it before but Pentax is losing appeal in my eyes. I have never bought the newest and "best" but the one which is best bang for the buck in my use (at the time). And now I tend to leave K-5 home most of the time when I go shooting. So, I guess the FF would be "holy grail" for me after all. The photography hobbyist's "holy grail" is the gear he likes to use after all. I have event to shoot next weekend and I will take only my Nikon gear and leave Pentax home.

The only lenses that keep me using Pentax at the moment are DA18-135WR and A*300/4 (and Sigma 50-150/2.8 but this can be had for other mounts also). There is still weight and size advantage on some situations. I was surprised how little I have actually missed the IBIS. But it has been summer and there is plenty of light. The situation changes when winter comes and light fades.
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 07-07-2013, 01:41 AM  
SMC Pentax-DA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 ED AL [IF]
Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 12
Views: 1,603
For $180 take it before anyone else does. It's great superzoom lens. It has distortion, vignetting and soft corners wide open (if you pixel peep) but it can do a lot of things well enough. Combine it with DA35/2.4 and you got nice travel kit. One advantage over third party lenses may be automatic in-camera distortion/CA correction if you shoot jpg (but may not be available in k-x). Build quality is also quite good IMO. Only feature I miss sometimes is quick-shift. WR and SDM/DC motor would be nice also but it may be too much to ask ;)

Here are some examples what it can do:









Forum: Pentax Q 06-19-2013, 06:30 AM  
Is the Q sensor that bad?
Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 19
Views: 4,752
I haven't had Q for long time yet but here are some full size samples with 02 zoom, so judge yourself (click image for full size). Shot DNG and exported from Lightroom with some levels/contrast and sharpness adjustments:

5mm, ISO 500


6,6mm, ISO 640


7,3mm, ISO500


8,5mm, ISO 200


11,8mm, ISO 125


14,9mm, ISO 125


And some with 01 prime (click image for full size):

ISO 125


ISO 125


ISO 125


Original RAW file may seem bit soft at first but with some careful sharpening it does pretty good. I haven't tried jpg as I shoot only RAW. I don't know what others think but IMO that's pretty good for small and "bad" sensor ;) But of course small size comes with a price as the details start to fade rapidly at ISO 800 and forward.
Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals 06-16-2013, 01:28 AM  
Travel Gear - my kit, what yours?
Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 94
Views: 11,877
Nice to see there is some variation here. I have also built various "travel" kits depending on where or how long I'm traveling. But if time and space isn't (big) restriction, this is what comes along (also includes my fiancees stuff)

white Q+01
black Q+02 and PK-Q adapter
2x K-5 (one with D-BG4)
Sigma 10mm/2.8 Fisheye
Sigma 10-20mm/4-5.6
DA*16-50mm/2.8
DA18-135WR
DA35mm/2.4
Sigma 50-150mm/2.8
DA55-300
DFA 100mm/2.8 WR macro
A*300mm/4

And my FF kit (all are K-mount so can be also used on Pentax DSLR; fits in lowepro 300AW bag):

Canon 5D
Vivitar 28mm/2 (PKA)
Samyang 35mm/1.4
SMC-A 50mm/1.4
Samyang 85mm/1.4
Tokina 90mm/2.5 AT-X macro
SMC-K 135mm/2.5

In addition there will be

Manfrotto 190MF3 Tripod + 498RC2 Ball Head
Pano-MAXX Panorama Head
Timer remote controller
67mm and 77mm circular polarizers
Lots of batteries, memory cards, cleaning clothes, lens pens etc.
And maybe laptop (fits in Urban Disguise 60)

So it will be one camera backbag (lowepro 300AW), one big shoulder bag (ThinkTank Urban Disguise 60), two medium sized shoulder bags (Lowepro Nova 180AW) and maybe one small sized shoulder bag (Lowepro 140AW). Most likely I would not use everything but what would be more irritating than notice the lens you would need/want to use RIGHT NOW is left home! The day is ruined right away ;)
Forum: Pentax Q 06-13-2013, 10:36 AM  
Let's share shots with Q!
Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 6,906
Views: 1,196,772
Finally got the C-PQ adapter so I was able to try my Q telezoom, the C-mount PH8X8-II 8-48mm F1.0 Canon TV zoom lens. At first I thought it's not that good, but it can produce some "interesting" images. At F1.0 it's very soft but at F2 it's pretty good. Here are some of the first I managed to get from it. If I remember right the apertures were

F1.0


F1.5


F2


F2


F2


F4


Between F1.0 anf F2 the rendering is pretty "artistic" and quite different than my other lenses (in any format). I quite like it. And I'm sure I will use it again.
Forum: Pentax Q 06-12-2013, 12:41 PM  

Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 10
Views: 1,454
I did the same thing, bought the 2nd Q. I got one earlier (black one) but my fiancee fell in love with it and I promised to by her one also. So as her birthday came I got her the white Q with 01 and 02 lenses. Price wasn't bad at all IMO as the two lens kit was 314€ shipping included. Lovely little thing, this Q.
Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50 06-08-2013, 06:27 AM  
From K-5 to K-30 experience?
Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 12
Views: 1,627
I had K-5 and K-30 for some time. I bought K-30 as backup body to K-5 and also for interest to try it out. For some time of using them both I decided to sell the K-30. Why? Here are the reasons:
  • K-5 felt much better in my hand. Very solid and ergonomics was much better (for me). K-30 felt too plasticky (when I was used to K-5). Dials were also better in K-5 (more smooth). Usability is one thing I value high.

  • Using them both simultaneously was pain as I always pushed the wrong buttons in K-30 (especially the delete button and image preview). This was maybe the biggest reason for selling it.

  • I had used to top LCD panel and I constantly felt it was missing in K-30.

  • K-30 mirror and shutter are louder and didn't feel as smooth as K-5.

  • If I had to choose one over another, K-5 would get one more point being able to take battery grip. I use it constantly when shooting sports and it really helps with bigger lenses and longer shooting sessions.

  • What also bothered me in K-30 was the over sharpened preview image for RAW files. When looking image right after the shot it seemed extremely sharp. But when opened in Lightroom it was "normal". Not a big problem but K-5 seems to show the preview image more normal.

  • I didn't find any advantages in K-30 compared to K-5 in my use. Only disadvantages. I hardly use live view and when I use it the K-5 does well. I preferred the optical viewfinder when focusing manually compared to live view and focus peaking. I have Ee-S focusing screen and O-ME53 eyecup. I do not shoot video.

  • Not a big reason, but K-5 just looks better.


That said the K-30 is amazing value. There is no difference in image quality (other than maybe tiny advantage of dynamic range for K-5) and I didn't find any difference in AF speed. But for the same price, you know which one I would choose.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 06-08-2013, 01:14 AM  
Which basic lenses should I invest in?
Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 31
Views: 3,552
Good advice here already but lot depends on your budget. Maybe the best value two lens kit you can get for Pentax is Tamron 17-50/2.8 (the original, not the "VC" version) and DA 55-300 (I prefer the DA, not the DA L, as DA has quick shift which WILL become handy as focusing may miss sometimes). It is quite versatile, reasonably small and lightweight kit and gives pretty good starting point. Tamron can do landscapes and portraits as it's quite good at 50mm and F2.8. DA 55-300 can also do landscapes, portraits and wildlife. It is F4.5 up to 200mm so pretty good. You can't get true macro with those but those focus quite close nonetheless (Tamron gives ~1:4.5 magnification and DA ~1:3.5). Good luck with your choice!

Couple with Tamron 17-50/2.8:





And with DA 55-300:





Forum: Lens Clubs 06-07-2013, 01:25 PM  
The A Club
Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 3,996
Views: 622,312
Yes, it can do pretty well in right kind of conditions. And beautiful roses! I really like the water drops.



Thanks for the suggestion, I guess I'd try to print it A3 size but I haven't got yet the results I have wanted from my recently acquired Epson R2880 printer. Haven't got the colors right when printing from Lightroom 4. Need some more practicing (also) in that area :)



Thanks. I was also in the edge of getting the DA*60-250 but skipped it for now. It is super lens but I have already lenses to cover that range so there was no real need after all. I like the 18-135WR + A*300/4 combination as it covers quite a lot and is reasonably small and lightweight. And I have also sigma 50-150/2.8 which covers the sports/action shots. So there wouldn't have been too much room in my bag for that. But if I find one with attractive price I know I cannot resist it ;)
Forum: Lens Clubs 06-06-2013, 08:29 AM  
The A Club
Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 3,996
Views: 622,312
Here are few with A*300/4 to show some of it's bokeh character:











Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories 05-26-2013, 12:08 PM  
Thematic Show me your insects
Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 6,692
Views: 516,694
All your insect shots are absolutely stunning! I guess you use macro flash? Honestly, your photo series are the best insect shots I have ever seen.
Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories 05-26-2013, 11:52 AM  
Thematic Post your waterfalls and moving water.
Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 2,343
Views: 205,470
Very nice. I have visited Jotunheimen once and these shots makes me want to visit there again.
Forum: Post Your Photos! 05-25-2013, 04:48 AM  
Landscape Before the Rise
Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 11
Views: 1,049
Great mood and light in both of them but the first one really pops out because of the great colors. Makes you really feel that you should have been there. I wish I'd see similar scenery one day and would be able to capture it as well :)
Forum: Pentax Full Frame 05-23-2013, 01:22 PM  
why is a full frame Pentax such a holy grail?
Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 427
Views: 51,846
Is it "holy grail" or not, it's personal taste. There are certainly some advantages in some situations but of course not always. It is up to personal taste and need. Do I see advantages in my use? Yes. Would it replace APS-C in my shooting? No. These are the kind of shots where I see advantage of FF in my shooting (better subject isolation with wider FoV):







Here I don't see any advantage:







Here I see advantage on APS-C:







And my FF is Canon 5D with Pentax manual focus lenses. So it's not "holy grail" but gives bit more possibilities in some situations. I do not care about better low light performance as K-5 is already good enough (for me at the moment; I don't shoot black cats in a coal mine but I shoot horses in a riding ring). I don't care about better dynamic range as K-5 has already enough for my use (I have never needed more, I can already expose wrong and save the image in post processing). I don't really need more megapixels either as I can already crop quite a lot and get good enough results when printing. So for me it's basically bit better subject isolation with wider lenses. So not much "holy grail" for me :lol: But just a little bit more in some situations than APS-C can do.
Forum: Lens Clubs 05-23-2013, 08:17 AM  
300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses
Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 40,767
Views: 4,310,258
Nice photos in this thread!

I just qualify to this club with my A*300/4. Lovely little lens. Some of these are posted in the A Club also but here we go:





























Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 05-19-2013, 11:08 AM  
Some Full-frame shots & thoughts
Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 5,589
Views: 733,041
What a beautiful series. Thanks for posting.
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 05-18-2013, 09:26 AM  
K5 + S type screen + f4-f5.6
Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 6
Views: 1,382
I use the S type focus screen constantly with A*300/4. I have also O-ME53 magnifying eyecup. Viewfinder is darker yes, but I don't find it a problem. Also 18-135WR at tele-end (F5.6) is easily usable. But it all depends of course on the general light level. Midday is not a problem at all. But when it gets darker in the evening the viewfinder darkness is emphasized with slower lenses. But usually faster lenses are preferred anyways those situations so I don't find that problem either (and s type screen works best for fast lenses, which you may already know).

Only time I found it problematic was with A*300/4 + 1.7x AFA combo and in the winter when the viewfinder was too dark to focus manually. That's the reason I sold the 1.7x AFA. Also DA18-250 at tele end (F6.3) feels too dark. Other than that I have had no problems. And of course you can change the original screen back if you need bit of brightness for slower lenses ;) I would draw a line at F4. Slower than that and the viewfinder darkness may be a problem.
Forum: General Talk 05-18-2013, 03:09 AM  
Your latest acquisition
Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 27,110
Views: 2,080,735
I decided to lean bit more towards FF lenses by getting Vivitar 28/2 PKA, Samyang 35/1.4 and K135/3.5. Got them at the same price I sold the 17-70/4 so it was kind of exchange. Seem to work well on Canon 5D.
Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories 05-18-2013, 02:52 AM  
Other Challenge +Show us your bokeh+
Posted By jpyykonen
Replies: 5,418
Views: 539,639
Here is some bokeh also:

Samyang 35mm/1.4:




Tokina AT-X 90mm/2.5 macro:








And some with A*300/4:




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