Forum: Pentax K-3 III
03-03-2024, 09:20 PM
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At least I know I'm not loosing my mind...
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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
03-03-2024, 11:55 AM
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Mikey: we live close enough ;)
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Forum: Pentax K-3 III
03-03-2024, 11:44 AM
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Thanks. The deal is I have never had this issue on my K10d, K/20d, K5, K3, K1II, and 645z, and yes, they are generally as you describe. ---------- Post added 03-03-24 at 10:53 AM ----------
Thanks for this as well. However, when I go to the Data Adjustment menu, I get one bar containing the date format, M/D/Y (or whatever is selected), then the time HH:MM. That's it, there is no option to select 12 or 24 hours on my menu (or anywhere else that I've looked). It's just not there. Firmware 2.12 by the way.
Weird.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 III
03-03-2024, 09:40 AM
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I've had my K-3III for almost a year now and yes, it's really a great improvement over my old K-3 (or K-5 or...). The menus though continue to confuse me on a number of small issues. One of them is how to change the display from 24 hour time to 12 hour time. After a number of searches manuals/K-3III PentaxForum book etc. I can't seem to find any discussion about this. Usually that means it can't be done, but I know I still coulda missed somthin' somewhere.
So, will I just have to live with my K-3III just always in 24-hr clock display mode? Or, what have I missed in my searches?
:confused: Wondering.
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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
02-28-2024, 03:32 PM
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Mike: My copy got similar use. Every so often, I'd pull it out and wake it up. Last fall, it wouldn't wake up at all, no matter what I did. It doesn't even try to move (you could hear that sometimes). So the SDM AF is dead. Still works manually and yeah I have a fair number of fast 50's. I'm convinced that there is no point to repair it. [sigh]
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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
02-27-2024, 07:10 PM
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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
02-27-2024, 06:33 PM
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Just because I wanted to be sure of what I said, this is the message I get from Precision's repair estimate site.
"Repair Service No Longer Available
We're sorry but we are no longer offering service on this model. We suggest that you contact the manufacturer to determine if there are other repair service options available. Thank you, Precision Camera"
Real helpful...
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Forum: General Photography
02-27-2024, 01:42 PM
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Nice shot and great comp there. The boat in the distance is a brilliant feature.
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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
02-27-2024, 01:38 PM
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So, I have a DFA 50 f1.4. ---------- Post added 02-27-24 at 12:40 PM ----------
Interesting...
A shout out to you Uncle V. for an excellent conversion of my DA*16-50 and 50-135 to screw drive. Still working - of course!
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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
02-27-2024, 10:52 AM
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Having been a Pentax digital camera user for now almost 17 years, one would think at this point I should be able to answer my own questions, but for this question, I'm willing to entertain suggestions.
The problem is that my DA* 55, which has been in my kit for many years at this point, has finally given up any hope of even a little AF movement. Clearly, the SDM system has failed. For quite a few years it was in the "sleepy" class, but no longer. It never got a lot of use by me, but when it did, I liked the results. Several years ago, I considered sending it to Precision for SDM motor repair, I gagged a bit on the quoted price, and then...it started to work again, so I passed on that possibility. A few months back I decided to get it fixed regardless of the cost (well, mindful of it anyway) and looked up the current price by Precision to repair it. Basically they said, 'we don't repair that one anymore because blah blah blah.' I could guess why, lack of parts, or the like, but what if I really wanted to get it repaired?
So, I've been wondering if there are any other US based facilities that would tackle this one. KEH perhaps?
I've also been asking myself why bother, I have a lot of lenses (LBA is a sickness, and I'm sick), and the niche that this lens fills (filled?) I have covered in a number of different ways. So, why bother? It works well manually if I really need it, but my upgrading of my old K-3 to that K-3III has caused me to return to the love of APS-c (ok, I still love my K-1II and 645z). The DA* 55 is such a nice size and is very sharp, I just wish it was back to its old AF self.
I know it can't be converted to screw drive (the panacea for my old DA*16-50 and 50-135). My choices seem to be - do nothing, perhaps get it repaired somewhere, sell it for parts, and ? :confused:
Any thoughts? I know I'm not unique in issues with the DA* 55.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-04-2024, 04:01 PM
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Had that one a long time ago. I was able to fix its auto focus issues though.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-04-2024, 10:57 AM
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I've had mine for a number of years (13ish) now and on my old K-5 it was really nice for portraiture. The SDM autofocus though, is and has been a problem. Initially it was smooth and quiet, then it got 'sleepy.' Every so often (monthly for awhile) I used to pull it out and give it some exercise to wake it up. Now, it is almost a dead AF lens. Yes, optically and as a MF lens it is a nice one to have around, so are others... Every so often I get ready to hold my nose and send it off to Precision for an $300+ fix, and then I balk as I have other good lenses in its range. It continues to be hard for me to justify fixing it, just to use it once in a while.
Don't get me wrong here, I like the lens for a lot of reasons, but I would prefer it to have a working / reliable autofocus. Honestly, IIRC, there was a lot of buzz back then that the thing it lacked was a backup mechanical focus connection. So unlike my DA*16-50 and 50-135 lenses which had SDM issues to the point where I finally just had them converted to mechanical focus only. Can't do that with the DA*55. So there mine sits gathering a bit of dust. [sigh]
Update: On a whim after posting this, I wanted to see what the current rate for repair from Precision is...they don't repair that lens anymore...and suggest you talk to the manufacture.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
01-14-2024, 06:13 PM
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Actually, I thank you. I really hadn't thought to check on that feature. Used it long time ago, interesting, but not a go to for me.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
01-14-2024, 09:51 AM
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Well, digging out the old K-3III manual, extended bracketing is available for either Av or Tv. Go to panel 4 on the camera mode and select Drive Mode. Either can be selected when in Tav mode. However when I went back and looked at my K-5's extended bracketing, this option is not available on my K-3III, K-1II, or 645z either. Oh, and the K-5's extended bracketing was only on jpegs.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-13-2024, 10:48 AM
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Interesting. [wink, wink] But no Pentax user would put Canon on their gear... [wink, wink]
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-10-2024, 02:38 PM
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Thinking back to when this lens was released (2008/9?), which was also when I acquired mine, there was a lot of discussion on this forum about it. I believe a nearly similar amount of buzz was generated with the XS version when it was released. I have used mine from time to time mostly on my APS-c bodies. It tends to find its way into my camera bag when I'm out and about due to size and weight.
But...try as I might, I just have never really been able to find any love for it or a way for it to be unique enough to reach for it before other lenses in that range. Thinking about it, I don't think I've really spent much time with the DA40 on my K-1. More often than not, I prefer to use the FA43 over the DA40.
From time to time I feel like selling it off, but then I find myself saying, 'someday I'll need it.' So it stays around in my camera bag.
So much of this is personal preference. If the OP likes that combo, fine, great. It's just not my fav for shooting. YMMV
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-09-2024, 01:25 PM
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Put me down for loving the DA*16-50 over the years. I got mine in 2009 and until I got my K-1 in 2017, that was my normal go to zoom lens. I, like I'm sure many others had several issues with the SDM system and had it repaired, at least once. Several years ago, I had it and it's brother the DA*50-135 converted to screw drive only by member UncleVanya for essentially a very inexpensive fee. Thank you UncleVanya again for that work. After this conversion, I just haven't had to worry about the operation of the SDM auto focus with those 2 lenses. Honestly, other than the modest screw drive noise, I don't think their is much difference in focusing speed between screw drive and SDM.
After upgrading my K-3 last year to the K-3III, that's caused me drag out the good old DA*16-50 and continue to enjoy it on my newest Pentax camera body. I will admit to giving some thought to upgrading this to the PLM version. I've been impressed with the new to me HD 55-300 PLM lens. Clearly the PLM system is to be preferred over SDM, but the forum's side by side comparisons and user reviews, haven't shown - to me - a great need to upgrade what is already IMHO a great lens.
Given the price difference between a used DA*16-50 and a new PLM one, I would think that for a K-50 (a body I'm not familiar with), the older version whether the SDM works or not or is converted to screw drive, would be cost effective.
Is the older version perfect - nope - and a lot has been written about its idiosyncrasies plus and minus here on the forum. I just like the length of it and looking back on my results over the years, it's been a winner for me.
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Forum: Sold Items
12-31-2023, 12:53 PM
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Forum: General Photography
12-26-2023, 09:36 AM
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Well it was technically a black Friday acquisition but it's close enough for Christmas. I decided to take Pentax up on a HD 55-300 PLM lens. So now I have the complete set of DA/HD/HD-PLM 55-300's... :-0
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
11-14-2023, 08:31 PM
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With all my other cameras, my WG-6 is the one that goes in the kayak. At some point I'll read the manual.
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
11-11-2023, 06:02 PM
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Well, personally, I would suggest the DFA 24-70 it's a good lens, perhaps not stellar, but good. If not that, the DFA 15-30 would be my next choice. This lens is IMHO, a great landscape lens. If not those, the 'kit' FF lens 28-105 is ok. personally, I've found it to be just ok and not very exciting. One other possibility would be the DFA 100 (any of the three versions, but the second and third versions have rounded aperture blades and that matters.) The DFA 100 is not just a macro lens as it's a reasonable portrait lens and I've used it for landscapes too.
That might be more than you needed to know but that's my opinion and I'm sticking to it...
Just saw that Sandy posted too. Trust his opinions.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
11-06-2023, 08:46 AM
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Going back to my K10d up through my 645z and K-3III, no Pentax body I've owned has ever done an automatic switch between daylight savings and standard time. I would note that on my K-3III the reworked menus has just one place to change the time, which is different.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
11-05-2023, 10:09 AM
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I have a couple of them. ---------- Post added 11-05-23 at 09:10 AM ----------
Amen to that. It's a PIA
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Forum: Pentax K-3 III
10-15-2023, 02:36 PM
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Congrads indeed. Looks just like the one I lost my mind over this spring. Enjoy.
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
09-30-2023, 07:49 PM
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645 FA 80-160 f4.5. Not the greatest 645 lens but as a telephoto to carry, it meets my needs.
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