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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 10-23-2023, 05:26 AM

The K20D Club
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 607
Views: 113,341

I got there! Finally, the new drag strip in Adelaide (Actually Tailem Bend ~ 100km/60mile from Adelaide) opened: I nearly didn't though: The night before, my car broke: Tailshaft support bearing gave way with ZERO warning. Guess what I was fixing early the next morning...

Any way, got there about 4pm: And remember how I wanted to use the K20, and my (only WR) 18-55 DA because of dust?? Yep, the event was called off at 7:30 pm, rather than 9pm, due to dust on the track. In fact dust had restricted them to 1/8th mile rather than 1000ft/quarter mile...
But we also had drizzle! Go figure.
My mate had his Nikon P900..... Guess who wasn't worried about drizzle??? This guy :)

Anyway: I am wrapped with the result. Initially, I set exposure under 1/2 a stop; was shooting RAW+, and using P mode, @ F11, @ 100 ISO. Spot metering, and focus just to the right of centre.

First action shot, bit too blurry.
2nd and 3rd pictures here are where I reduced shutter time; and they are much better IMO.
4th was last run of the day around 7:30 when the lights were already on for several runs.

So these are cropped pretty heavily; I'll keep my eyes pealed for the 50-200 WR; That should do nicely. And I'm 100% new to 'photo editing' so I just bumped the exposure with Darktable until they looked 'right'.

Would people pay for these images? Hell no. Am I proud to show them? You betcha!

The weather was actually quite dull, and it was approaching sundown for most of the pics I've included... K20 does far better than what should be expected of 'an old camera'... Where all I hear is "they're no good in dull light".

Bit longer focal length, full sun, short shutter, and I will shoot some gold IMO. Oh, and get their earlier so I can be on the fence, not half way up the bank.

Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 08-29-2023, 06:51 AM

The Six-Megapixel Club
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 4,392
Views: 402,458

Thanks guys.

I did have an initial look: I'll get it out in day light and have a close look.

Yes, it's my 'special' card that I've used for upgrading firmware in all my bodies: I'll recheck it functions just to confirm though.

Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 08-28-2023, 05:18 AM

The Six-Megapixel Club
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 4,392
Views: 402,458

I'll repost here given it's a 6mp body, and you guys are familiar with older equipment:

Quote:

It finally happened: I got a 'bad' used pentax.

It's a *istD L

Was listed properly on ebay, so can't complain. I have bought 6,7,8 early 6mp, K10d's, K20d's etc... and they have all worked perfectly once I've checked them over. (mostly it's just battery issues, or someone played with way too many settings)

Starts up ok (so not the 'weak' battery issue sellers continually fall for). But then says "memory card error". (What it was listed as doing). These are well know for needing old, old, 1 or 2gb SD (only) cards..... I put mine in... nope. Still "memory card error".

I've tried all my other low capacity sd cards, no joy. It is still on firmware 1.00, so an update would be great.... but I think it can only be done via SD card.

I even put some paper between the card and the door to see if more pressure would help, but still no good.

The rest of the camera seems fine, auto focus works, the beep/chirp works; without the memory card in there I can do the 'preview' by twisting the on/off switch. So it's not like the motherboard shows signs of failure.

Any other ideas? I'm not sure what to look at from this point.

Read more at: Your latest acquisition - Page 1766 - PentaxForums.com

Other than squirt some isopropyl alcohol in there, any ideas?

If I can't revive it, no harm: I can use the af/mf panel and toggle to repair the one I gave to my sister back to pristine: I can keep the solenoids for if my K70 dies... and I assume the screens etc are interchangeable with most of my other 6mp bodies, so it's got plenty of value to me still.

Forum: General Talk 08-04-2023, 07:07 AM

Your latest acquisition
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 27,222
Views: 2,109,984

It finally happened: I got a 'bad' used pentax. :(

It's a *istD L

Was listed properly on ebay, so can't complain. I have bought 6,7,8 early 6mp, K10d's, K20d's etc... and they have all worked perfectly once I've checked them over. (mostly it's just battery issues, or someone played with way too many settings)

Starts up ok (so not the 'weak' battery issue sellers continually fall for). But then says "memory card error". (What it was listed as doing). These are well know for needing old, old, 1 or 2gb SD (only) cards..... I put mine in... nope. Still "memory card error".

I've tried all my other low capacity sd cards, no joy. It is still on firmware 1.00, so an update would be great.... but I think it can only be done via SD card.

I even put some paper between the card and the door to see if more pressure would help, but still no good.

The rest of the camera seems fine, auto focus works, the beep/chirp works; without the memory card in there I can do the 'preview' by twisting the on/off switch. So it's not like the motherboard shows signs of failure.

Any other ideas? I'm not sure what to look at from this point.

Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories 08-04-2023, 06:53 AM

Panorama-orama - Post your Panos
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 3,222
Views: 303,526

Crater lake??? Is it sad I recognize that from a video game....

Forum: Welcomes and Introductions 06-30-2023, 07:23 AM

Hello from cold windy Adelaide
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 19
Views: 487

Hi there, from another Adelaide-ian.

Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 06-15-2023, 04:39 AM

The K20D Club
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 607
Views: 113,341

Good news. That drag meet that got cancelled, is now selling tickets for October. K20d will be getting it's work out.

Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 02-18-2023, 03:59 AM

The K20D Club
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 607
Views: 113,341

Was supposed to be in another 3 or so weeks, but I check the website and I can no longer see it on the calendar, I guess they've cancelled it.

Forum: Pentax K-70 & KF 01-08-2023, 08:05 PM

Tony and Chelsea's "Worst Camera of the Year" the Kf
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 180
Views: 12,256

Well, wasn't expecting that attack. Normhead, it's a bit of light hearted fun: Your photo's are great, and proof that it can be done: But the reality is it's a fair take on where pentax has been. Even Ricoh aknowledge this, going all out on updating AF for the K3 III, making it simply the best APSC DSLR in the world; that tech in the K1, and it is the best DSLR in the world. You even admit you had to 'work' with the auto focus, where as other brands have hidden this struggle for most users with tech and defaults that they don't have to spend hours trawling manuals, testing settings and huge amounts of time executing just to learn how to get clean shots.

Again, you prove it's possible.

Can you get amazing wedding photo's with a iPhone. Absolutely. Do we see pro wedding photographers using iPhones?? No. It's just not the right tool. It can be done, but it's the hard way.
Do we see pro baseball photographers, with crystal clear and sharp batters mid swing with perfectly blurred backgrounds using Pentax's??? No, not really: Can it be done, hell yeah: but it's just that other brands deliver, easier.

It's like a front engined corvette owner saying the cruze is a low tech boring car that brings nothing to the modern car market... except the corvette is still using a push rod low reving, fuel hungry V8... There's a reason for that (pushrod v8 is far shorter than ohc, so the bonnet height is reduced)... Same with pentax: man they can deliver, but most people don't get that experience out the box.

So nah: I stand by that. The KF is a cool bit of kit, hitting the right segment.

We should all be celebrating the fact that Ricoh has remained in the entry level end of the market, and committed another manufacturing run to such a device: Instead we're 10 pages into arguing why it is or isn't the right move. For any pentax faithful, it is the right move.

Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 01-08-2023, 07:48 PM

The K20D Club
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 607
Views: 113,341

Thanks. I'll see how dusty it is. I expect bad!!! If so, WR lens all the way.

Good point about panning in low light: I'd never thought of that.

Was playing with K20 last night: How easy is it to play with bracketing!!! I spent ages menu diving: Ended up having to load up the pentax manual, and there's a button just for bracketing!!!!

Cool stuff.

Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 01-08-2023, 04:06 AM

The K20D Club
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 607
Views: 113,341

Thanks for reply Grimmus: Yes TAv mode exists. I don't plan on getting many shots of them blasting down the track: I intend to get mostly on the stage/burnout/start line. Hadn't thought about the car color changing the exposure.... that was partly the idea of exposure bracketing, to catch mistakes I'm missing. Manual would be best, and I'll have a play, but as the light will change (I expect it to be day/night drags.... night is better, hot track for grip, cold air for power) I'd probably waste too much time messing around and frustrating myself :(

Thank you, you brought up stuff I hadn't even considered.

Forum: Pentax K-70 & KF 01-08-2023, 01:41 AM

Tony and Chelsea's "Worst Camera of the Year" the Kf
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 180
Views: 12,256

Surely is the most talked about Pentax camera at the moment right???

So re: the Northrupts, there's 2 sides to every successful media/entertainment offering: Where does the bulk of revenue for Northrupts come from??? Selling their books (they have an episode on this, and don't call themselves youtuber's, but consider themselves publishers....).... so who's gonna be the best source of customers for their books??? Sure as hell ain't the 4% of camera buyers who buy Pentax's....

But throw their shananigans away, and I find Tony's stuff is usually on point, and Chelsea is a good laugh. But you gotta look past the "Canikon buyer hunting" that will get them books sales... and they have to entertain... so why not make fun of the 4% that buy Pentax's... You think M$ and Samsung don't make fun of Mac and iPhone.....

As for KF... i see all points, but I think Pentax/Ricoh are on the correct path here. As a 20+ year business student, and decade + small business owner and 2decade + investor, lowering prices into a shrinking market is STUPID. There I said it. I'm sure I offended plenty of you. But the reality is 7/10 purchases aren't price based and there's a whole host of psychology going on behind it.

So I can see KF being successful: I haven't seen if there's any processing update in it: Are there firmware updates that take it past what k70 can do? Is there any chance of GPS-less astrotracer being introduced? etc.

Here in Australia K70 is a bargain right now, if you've got any pentax lenses laying around from film era, then you're in a good place to consider KF above other options.

And we haven't even touched the weather sealing, tilt screen, etc that other manufactures simply don't offer at this end of the market.

Now if the new 35mm is Kmount.... and the hippies flock to it (as I expect they might), then their 'daily' Digital camera will almost certainly be a Kmount... and guess what? KF is right there for them.

It's funny watching Pentax owners with some of the worst autofocus camera's of their era, justify them... but then slag off KF because it's not improved over K70... KF/K70 s a seriously good bit of kit, that I suspect 75% of users never get out of scene mode anyway....

Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 01-08-2023, 01:00 AM

The K20D Club
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 607
Views: 113,341

I've got a car drag race event in about 8 weeks I plan on going to: I want to take the K20d, and (the only WR lens I've got because it will be dusty as hell) DA 18-55. "First" serious time out with the k20: I've been spoiled in that up until now, I've been able to use camera's with auto/scene settings.... The K20d doesn't give me that: So I'm madly reading the k20 ebook. So any tips most appreciated:

I'll only have general admin entry, so no start line close up access.

I've got about 5 batteries, so I'll just charge them all.... I actually have the hand grip so I'll load him with a battery too.

I'm thinking most of the time shoot in exposure bracket mode so between 3 or 5 exposures I should have some keepers.
I'll also give burst mode a go (jpeg only I know).

I guess shooting in Av mode, should give me an ok result???

I'm all ears, like I say, I've been spoiled.... I've even got a Z1-P here I've loaded with film... but with no real auto mode, it's all new to me. Technology may progress, but it's truly dumbed us down.

Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 11-09-2022, 08:08 PM

Pentax KF
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 425
Views: 35,314

Welp, I guess us K70 users get to have that nice feeling that our DSLR is still current generation.

Wait a minute....

Seriously though, the camera world is in a weird place: (Don't cuss me) I'd really like a Nikon P1000, I keep an eye out here and there for it's replacement, but there never seems ANY hint of a replacement: Most theories revolve around it's replacement cannibalising their ILC sales.

At the end of the day: Any of the pentax DSLR's produce incredible images, and I suspect 80% of users have no idea how to use their pentax to it's limits, buyers STILL buy on specs and features... knowing they'll never use them.

Enjoy what you got. Buy what you can.

Forum: General Photography 10-31-2022, 06:54 PM

Seen a Pentax User Picture Submitted in the Australian Geographic Comp
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 7
Views: 960

Oh yes! I did see that...

---------- Post added 10-31-22 at 06:57 PM ----------

I think you're right: His astro struff is from K1 by the looks.
His shots are really nice.

Forum: General Photography 10-26-2022, 09:00 PM

Seen a Pentax User Picture Submitted in the Australian Geographic Comp
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 7
Views: 960

Just by luck we were in Adelaide CBD, and popped into the Museum, and the Australian Geographic Photo exhibition was there. We really enjoyed it.

I only seen one pentax image sadly (pretty sure it was only one): Image 5, on this page AG Nature Photographer of the Year 2022: Urban Animals shortlist - Australian Geographic

I reckon there's an opening for someone to make waves in the astro-photography class with astrotracer :)

Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 10-24-2022, 07:39 PM

The Six-Megapixel Club
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 4,392
Views: 402,458

I second the advice to leave the batteries in for a while: These old things can take a while to 'wake' up if they've not been used for a long time. I just use energizer rechargeables.

Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 10-17-2022, 05:55 AM

K-m fitted 50-500 mm Sigma
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 11
Views: 801

Hold up! So this is a used SCREW DRIVE focussing lens?

I went through something similar: Stiff Focus Ring / AF not working - PentaxForums.com

Local camera shop was able to sort it out no dramas! Works on all my DSLR's.

Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 10-17-2022, 05:34 AM

Use SD card or USB cable for downling files.
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 26
Views: 1,097

Interesting convo. I was thinking about this the other day with my old 6mp stuff. I was thinking of getting an SD card with built in wifi, so I can hook my phone straight into it...
In all the years and messing around I've done, I've only had one USB plug fail, and that was in a phone, that spends 12+hrs a day in a tradesmans pocket... lint, dust, metal, you name it, it's been in my pocket... I was able to swap out the 'power board' in that phone for like $6.
I assume it wouldn't be that easy in a DSLR. Although the port itself can probably be changed: I casually watch some of the PC and game console repair guys on youtube, they are incredible what they repair: HDMI sockets seem a common thing, and I would imagine a SD card slot would be similar...
All the same, I don't wanna lose any camera due to usb/sd slot issues....

Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 10-15-2022, 06:30 PM

The Six-Megapixel Club
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 4,392
Views: 402,458

The replies above are correct.

Only thing I'd add is, always check firmware on them: Every single one I've bought had been on original firmware, and restricted to small SD cards, so you'll need an old/small capacity SD card to update the firmware (My last one I used an old Nokia card).

Second thing is batteries: These old girls are super, super grumpy (more fussy than grumpy) I've bought two for 'parts' simply because people put batteries in them and they don't fire up. They work 100% perfectly fine. I use energizer rechargables, and they get me through my small shooting sessions just fine. It's wise have a spare set of batteries, and put a set in the night before you head out. Sometimes 5/10 minutes is enough to wake the pentax up from sleep, but no harm in putting them in earlier.

I would suggest using an AC adaptor to update firmware, I just use a universal one with changeable tips and adjustable voltage.

All of mine are in beautiful condition, my latest, the silver *ist DS, has two scratches on the flash cover: But it seems Pentax users take care of their gear. (We do seem an eccentric bunch right?)

Only wish I had for the 6mp brigade is Weather sealing, I don't believe any are. I've got a K10D and K20D for that.

Typical of technology: Most people look at them and say "oh they are old"... just because new models have come out, doesn't mean they've lost ability though!!! Would I take a 6mp to say an air show? I might. But if I'm swinging my 170-500mm around, I'm going to use my k70 with SR (in body shake reduction), faster frame per second speeds, far better resolution and focus speed etc etc.

Do I drag my k70 around the back yard? Nope, I use my 6mp stuff :) In fact, the 6mp stuff goes with me most the time.

And for wet weather, I use a K10/20 with my weather sealed lens.....

What a system pentax is.... Just wish I had that epic K3 III with current tech lenses... but to be honest, I just don't need that.

Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 10-02-2022, 05:54 AM

The Six-Megapixel Club
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 4,392
Views: 402,458

Mmm.. Interesting.

Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 10-02-2022, 04:38 AM

The Six-Megapixel Club
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 4,392
Views: 402,458

Took the *istD S out for a quick run with my Pentax SMC DA 3.5-5.6 18-55 AL WR. I'm starting to wonder if the lack of shutter count is maybe a software issue, I run Linux, and have not come across this before: It's not a big deal.

Anyway, shot raw, used GwenView to save as a jpg, and as expected, great colours.

Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 09-28-2022, 01:48 AM

The Six-Megapixel Club
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 4,392
Views: 402,458

Thanks guys: It was an unedited image.
Took a few more in the yard today, but no luck, still says undefined. I noticed it was recording jpg, so changed to raw, but no difference.

But, a handful of shots, and it wont turn on: batteries are flat... swapped with some fresh ones... but dies rapidly, much faster than my other 6mps... I'll round up my AC adaptor, maybe it's got a voltage issue and isn't recording properly. Unlikely given the rest of the exit data appears intact.

Is strange, that's for sure.

Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 09-27-2022, 04:46 AM

The Six-Megapixel Club
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 4,392
Views: 402,458

Thank you. Yeah I'm pretty happy with myself. Now to find some matching lenses.... Pentax or sigma....

Charging batteries for firmware over night.

[EDIT]

Got the batteries charged, went to update firmware: Of course my little sd card has gone read only (Usually means it's dead).. Luckily found an old Canon one (of all things) and got the update done. Version 2.02.

But I snapped a picture, and run exif over it: It says shutter count is 'undefined'. First time I've seen that. Do these old girls (*ist D S) not record shutter count?

Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 09-27-2022, 04:28 AM

The Six-Megapixel Club
Posted By Aussie Matt

Replies: 4,392
Views: 402,458

Haven't been on much lately.

But still trawling second hand sites...

This beauty popped up. Seller saying the battery warning just flashes, parts only.

Of course, put some fresh batteries in it, and it powers on. I'm yet to put a lens on and use it, but it appears to function: Firmware ver 1.00, so I'll have to update that for bigger sd cards IIRC.

And in silver, sooooo cool.

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