Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
04-04-2011, 11:23 AM
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I wonder if anyone has tried the "flipbac" mirror (flipbac.com) on a Pentax DSLR - might be a very simple and inexpensive solution for those that want an articulating LCD. They say it fits on a K7 - has anyone used one of these?
Looks like it is $20 + shipping
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-25-2011, 09:36 AM
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Hi bonaprof, what are you planning to use this telephoto zoom for? Sports, birds, etc
If it is sports take a look at the 70-200 f2.8 review in Pentax Forum Fast Sports Zoom Lenses for Pentax | Sigma 70-200mm vs. Tamron 70-200mm vs. Pentax FA* 80-200mm F2.8
If it is birds, 200mm is most likely too short. Also note that as you get into higher quality and longer zooms they start to get fairly large and heavy. Not as convenient to carry around.
Take a look in the lens review section in Pentax Forums also photozone.de has lens test that are worth reading.
My advice is really give it some thought on how you are going to use the lens and read the reviews.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
03-24-2011, 09:35 AM
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One of my first pictures with the DA 15mm - Supermoon shining on Lake Ontario
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
03-22-2011, 07:03 AM
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It was taken in Bluffers park. Got very cold and was difficult adjusting the camera with numb fingers and poor light. I should have read the forum before I went out - looks like I should have used a faster shutter.
There seems to be a little CA, I tried to remove some of it in PP, but not sure if this is from the lens combination or the moon being so close to the horizon.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
03-21-2011, 08:53 PM
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-01-2011, 04:39 PM
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The advice is - buy one - either one. Both are good.
Do it now!
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-01-2011, 01:33 PM
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-01-2011, 08:28 AM
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Hi antifreez - If I was in your shoes, I would go with the DA40 as my go to lens and back it up with a zoom (18-135, 18-200 0r 18-250). In many cases with the DA40 you will be able to get the framing you want by either moving closer or farther from the target. If you can't get the framing then you will need to do a lens change (which for me is always a pain). I would also look into a small light tripod that could be used for long exposures and shots with you in it.
I think the main criteria for the kit will be size, weight and minimizing lens changes. The smaller and lighter the better.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-26-2011, 07:05 PM
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You have all the primes you will need already (40, 50 and 70mm) but I think you will want a zoom to make life easier for youself. I can't recommend a particlar lens, but you might want to consider the 16-50, 16-45 or even the new 18-135
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
02-21-2011, 08:13 AM
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I have not done a lot of HDR but did find that I liked the results of SNS-HDR. I have been using the Lite version which is free. I think it is gives a slightly more natural look. Here is an example that I took last summer
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-21-2011, 06:42 AM
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
02-14-2011, 10:36 PM
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Just wondering if camera shake could be causing your problems and not focus. Did you use a tripod? Did you hand hold with a slow shutter? Was shake reduction turned on (it should not be on if using a tripod)?
Did you try focusing with Live View?
Hope you get this resolved!
I have had some focusing concerns with my K-5, but I think it was either a lack of contrast that confused the camera or user error on my part (shutter too slow).
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
02-01-2011, 04:56 PM
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Enjoy the camera and take lots of pictures. I suspect before your shutter wears out, you will be struck down by a Camera Buying Adiction - and you will buy the newest and greatest camera. You will not wear out your K-5, it will become obsolete in your eyes. Enjoy the K-5 before the adiction strikes.
By the way have you experienced the more common LBA yet. You should read about the Pentax Limited Primes.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
01-23-2011, 03:16 PM
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You should be getting a shutter speed of 1/180sec - make sure you are using flash X sync mode, this is the red "X" on the Mode Dial
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
01-21-2011, 09:37 AM
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This is not a major problem, I am sure there will be a firmware fix for this soon (P-TTL bounce flash works with my K10D - so I assume they can fix it on the K-5)
The work around I am using with the AF-50FGZ when bouncing is to set the ev on the flash to -1 or -1.5. Works for me!
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
01-09-2011, 09:56 PM
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I am a little confused here - If I understand it correctly the pentax A50mm f1.7 is a manual focus lens, yet the thread is talking about auto focus. Hmmm?
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
01-07-2011, 04:58 PM
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Using Firmware 1.02, I did a test with the AF-540fgz (in P-TTL) - the bounce flash is still overexposing by about 1.5EV.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
01-04-2011, 07:39 PM
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I see you are shooting in manual - did you by chance change the shutter to faster than 1/180 of a second - if you did, that would explain the flash not firing. (maybe check the EXIF data of the failed pictures)
I would also check that the transmitter is fully seated on the hotshoe - maybe take it off and put it back on again.
Hope you get it going
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-30-2010, 08:08 AM
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-29-2010, 08:36 AM
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I just looked up the DOF numbers for a 50mm lens.
If I got it right;
- at f11 with a 5 foot distance from the object, the in focus area is 4' 4.9'' to 5' 9.2''
- at f8 the in focus area is 4' 6.8'' to 5' 6.2''
So I suspect a 50mm will do the "shoe" job with a little cropping in post processing
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
11-11-2010, 09:29 AM
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Some suggestions
I found setting the white balance a little tricky the first time since I had the auto focus point set to SEL so when I used the 4 way controller (for WB) it moved the focus point. Now that I know how it works, it should be easy, but a suggestion would be to add WB to the Control Panel.
The Control Panel is great! I wonder if there could be an option to let the user pick 2 or 3 things that could be added to the Control panel.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
11-11-2010, 09:19 AM
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Hi aleonx3, I got the K-5 from Henry's - they did a price match on a Vancouver store Dunne&Rundle
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
11-11-2010, 08:13 AM
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As a K10D owner, I have been looking forward to upgrading to the K-5. I bought one this week. Following are first impressions of using the K-5 after my first outing with it.
1. It took too long to charge the battery. After I attached the strap, lens and card, I had to wait before I could play with it.
2. In outdoor shooting with matrix metering, I found it slightly overexposes the high lights under some conditions (for example direct light hitting a white object in the picture). I suspect if I set the EV to -.50 or -.66 the issue will be resolved. I have since turned on the blinkies (exposure warning). The K-5 metering seems to give more consistent results than the K10D.
3. Shutter very quiet. The shutter will no longer be scaring animals when I take a picture!
4. Very little "hunting" for focus - seems to get it right the first time.
5. Changing the focus point is very easy - I found I was changing it from shot to shot. Seemed so much easier than with the K10D
6. ISO button makes it a lot easier to change the ISO, also I was not afraid to go over ISO 200
7. So far AWB seems to handle most outdoor shooting, so I won稚 have to change it as much as I did with the K10D
8. I found setting the white balance a little tricky the first time since I had the auto focus point set to SEL so when I used the 4 way controller (for WB) it moved the focus point. Now that I know how it works, it should be easy, but a suggestion would be to add WB to the Control Panel.
9. I set the electronic level to display in the viewfinder - just have to learn to give it a quick glance before I press the trigger. I shoot in AV mode 90% of the time, but if I decide to use Manual mode I will want to shut off the level so the exposure meter is displayed.
10. The Control Panel is great! I wonder if there could be an option to let the user pick 2 or 3 things that could be added to the Control panel.
11. Seems a little lighter than the K10D, as well is a little smaller but still fits nicely in your hands. No issues using the buttons or getting a good hold on it
12. Overall I found the K-5 very easy to use and the total experience at lot more relaxing that using the K10D. I found I didn稚 have to fiddle with settings from picture to picture or get frustrated trying to get focus lock.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
11-01-2010, 08:30 AM
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If you are going to be shooting manual flash, you might want to look into the Cactus v4 radio triggers. So far they work great with my K10D
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
10-30-2010, 07:23 AM
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Not sure about the type of pictures you like to take - I think that will be the key to the lens decision. I know you are talking about zooms, but I would give primes a little more thought.
You already have a 35mm and 50mm - so that generally covers the normal lens range.
If you are into landscapes etc you might want something a little wider - maybe save for a DA 21 limited.
If you are into portraits then the DA 70 limited
From what I have read, the DA 55-300 is a good lens and I think it would cover off your needs for a telephoto if you are doing wildlife pictures etc. But I see you already have a Tokina 80-200 - will you need both?
My advise is think about the type of pictures you like to take and then try to pick a lens that will do the job in the price range you can afford
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