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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
01-25-2012, 10:54 PM
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If it doesn't have a veiwfinder, along with the LCD, it is a worthless waste of money. A two or three hundred mm lens in marginal light can't be handheld without a tripod if you can't brace it against your face. You might as well buy a point and shoot. In marginal light it is hard to get a sharp picture even with anti-shake.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-01-2012, 11:53 AM
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I like the Sigma 17-70mm 2.8 - 4.5. Sharp, reasonably priced, reasonably fast. Great carry around and portrait lens. Sharper than than the Px18-55. I use it on my K-10D. Priced around $300. Now all I need is a K-5.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
10-05-2010, 06:37 PM
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My K10D is somewhat sluggish when I use the AF360 wireless on a bracket. Would a hot shoe cable to flash improve performance? The long delay and flashes do not make it effective when shooting people.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
12-03-2009, 02:38 PM
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I have been having trouble understanding how to set these two up to use the flash for fill instead of doing the full lighting. The instruction books are really confusing.
Does anyone know how to do this and get consistent results?
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Forum: Photographic Technique
11-11-2009, 09:37 PM
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I understand the appeal of large LCD's, but a camera without a viewfinder seems crippled to me. You can't see the LCD in bright sun, you can't possibly hold the camera steady at arms length in low light, even with anti-shake. Now they are even coming out with interchangeable lens cameras with no viewfinder. It is hard to find a small p&s camera now with a viewfinder. All they are good for is bright sun (faster shutter to freeze movement) or with flash under 9 feet for the same reason. Back to box cameras?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-24-2009, 10:12 AM
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Newarts, can you elucidate the details of the f*(1+m) formula? What is f and m?
While at it, what is the 1/f rule? (I think in know: 1 over focal length is shutter speed? With digital I believe it is 1*crop factor over focal length.)
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-24-2009, 09:54 AM
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I find one of my favorites has been quite neglected. With macro lenses costing upwards of $600 to $900 and much more, an old solution can work very well. If you have a bellows, or even a set of extension tubes, this will work great.
Enlarging lenses are designed for close, flat field work. A Leica thread to pentax thread adapter, and, perhaps a Px thread to Kmount adapter makes a superb macro setup! Find the lenses and tubes, adapters etc. used, and there you are. Don't forget a reversing lens adapter for the kit.
Used bellows: $70;Enlarging lens:$10-25;Adapters(thread-to-K-mount, Leica to pentax thread, reversing--$30-40; Extension tube set: 10-$20 Total: $135 $30 more for a slider rail for those who can splurge. Ext tube set is either bellows or ext tubes for most uses.
Not as convenient or fast, but equal in quality, and a lot cheaper. Probably with more range of possibilities. Of course you learn more too.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-07-2009, 07:31 PM
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I have a K10D and recently got a Pentax-M 28mm lens, k-mount lens.
I choose the 28mm SR setting, and press the AE-L before the shutter button, but I cannot get a meter reading, whether the diaphragm is stopped down or not.
The "allow f-stop ring" is activated. The diaphragm does close down when the shutter releases. If I set the right diaphragm - f-stop settings the exposure is right. But the camera gives me no clue as to the setting. Do I have to get a manual meter?
The manual gives no clue, a forum indicated that the meter should at least show a desired setting. ?????
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
03-25-2007, 05:55 PM
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I have been through some ride trying to get flashes to work properly with the K10D. I had 3 old flashes that work fine, but the trigger voltage was too high to use them directly. Solution: An inexpensive $30 radio trigger to one, and the others fire with the standard photo triggers. The photo triggers will not synch with the on board flash. You can spend about $35 each for Wein's special triggers that can ignore the pre-flashes of the on board flash.
I bought a Pentax 360 flash, and it works fine off the camera reading pre-flashes. I can set it to manual and fire the other flashes, but that is without the automation of p-ttl. Or set it to manual and use the radio trigger. Unless I buy the special photo triggers or extra radio receivers to get all the flashes to work with all the flashes manually.
All reviews and discussions I have read, say that the Sigma flash really doesn't work properly off camera unless it is set off with a cable and adapter ($70 to $100) or another Sigma Super, so far. I called Sigma support to confirm that.
Of course, consider, the automation is not usually a big deal when you are using many other flashes, i.e. more elaborate set-up, or studio use. On the other hand it is often important to have one flash you can carry and use off camera or on a bracket, essentially on the fly. Diffusing and Bouncing with "A Better Bounce Flash" is pretty effective for that. But using the old flashes with a p-ttl flash............only radio triggers or the special new photo triggers.
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Forum: Pentax Lens Articles
03-06-2007, 03:40 PM
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I just ordered a new one from B&H Photo Video in New York. $15 and Pentax brand. It should fit flush and work reliably. I made the mistake of ordering one from Hong Kong through ebay, and it would not focus to infinity.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-04-2007, 10:31 PM
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I was chicken, and got the Sigma 17-70 and the Pentax 50-200, it's only been a few weeks but it covers the range with very high quality. I'm still feeling out the camera. A lot more fun than film, and the potential seems great. The Sigma is great for carry around and much more. It works great and fast in low light. The 50-200 is small and easy to use. The smaller zoom ratios are safer and sharper in most cases. At least all the reviews point that way. I'm waiting for the adapter for the M50/1.4. The Sigma has a reasonable range. 28mm to 105mm in 35mm parlance.
By the way, Duh-Vinci's pics are stunning.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
03-04-2007, 07:36 PM
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Ditto for me. I just made the mistake of getting the one with the flange, and it won't focus on infinity. Why do they even make it? I am ordering a proper one from B&H tomorrow. I'll use the flanged one on my macro lens, which doesn't matter if it doesn't focus to infinity.
But the screw mount 50mm/f1.4 I will want to get infinity. It says Super-Multi-Coated Takumar on the lens, and has f-stops down to 16. What series of lens would that be?
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