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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 01-21-2024, 03:32 PM  
AF540FGZ II is discontinued
Posted By superdave
Replies: 194
Views: 10,665
And newly released Godox Flash and trigger do not support Pentax anymore :(
Forum: Pentax K-3 III 01-10-2024, 10:44 AM  
Can someone check the accuracy/difference of all AF points in AF-S Select
Posted By superdave
Replies: 179
Views: 13,484
In AF-S I never had the oscillate behaviour.

In AF-C, it may be possible, especially if the AF micro adjustment is not right for the AF point you are using.

Strange that you have the same issue with two totally different lenses, and two bodies.

For 16-50, I still think that the lens complexity make extremely difficult to get a good copy.
Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing 01-04-2024, 10:58 AM  
Pentax Wifi tethering API, SDK, and software
Posted By superdave
Replies: 20
Views: 2,637
Hi, thanks a lot, I will have a look at your link! Too bad for focus adjustment, that would have been cool to be able to change AFMA, defocus, take a picture, download image, change AFMA, defocus, and so on... automatically.
Forum: Pentax K-3 III 01-04-2024, 10:48 AM  
Can someone check the accuracy/difference of all AF points in AF-S Select
Posted By superdave
Replies: 179
Views: 13,484
Here a few news:

As my lens was still within the two-year guarantee period in the EU, I contacted Amazon to request a replacement, and they sent me a new lens.

However, upon receiving it, I noticed that the seal of the box was missing, leading me to suspect that it might not be a brand new lens. Today, when I tested the lens, unfortunately, the autofocus was not reliable. I had good hopes because when doing test on a target, an autofocus adjustment of +6 for 50mm and 16mm, and for the middle, left, and right focus points seems to work. But in practice, it did not work so well. During my initial outdoor test at a greater distance, setting it to +6 resulted in a totally out-of-focus image. The left and right focus points also exhibited issues in practice, requiring a different AFMA.

Moreover, this new copy is noticeably less sharp when wide open (when focusing using LiveView) in the center compared to my current copy. It is also softer overall at almost every aperture and focal length. Additionally, there are areas of super blurriness on the left and right thirds lines at 50mm. During these tests, I discovered that my current copy also had these blurred lines, but at 35mm. However, the blurred lines disappear from f/5.6 and above at 35mm with my copy, while we can still see the blur at f/8 on the new copy.

In conclusion, I've decided to keep my current copy and I will try to live with the focus issues when using the viewfinder. I'll try to find settings that minimize this problem.

So far, I've tested a total of 4 copies of this lens, and the first two had one side of the image consistently soft at f/8 (I do not tested focus with those lenses).
My current copy was initially decentered on the left side, but was fixed by the Pentax technical service. Left side is still softer but not so much.
At least I know I have the best copy over 4 copies. It is almost perfect at f/8 for landscape work, center and right side are super sharp at f/2.8, left side is softer at 35-50mm f/2.8-4. And center focus point is working well using viewfinder.

Why is it so difficult to find a good copy of a (zoom) lens?
I'm starting to wonder if I expected too much of a zoom lens. Is it possible to find a perfect copy of 16-50 that is both sharp and focuses well? Perhaps my extensive use of prime lenses before returning to zoom lenses has affected my expectations?

As a side note, before acquiring the 16-50mm, I tried several standard zoom lenses. One observation I can make is that the 16-50mm PLM seems to be at least as sharp overall (considering all focal lengths) at f/2.8 than all the other lenses I tested at f/8 (two copies of 16-85, two copies of 20-40, Sigma 17-70). The exception is the Sigma 18-35 which may be sharper, but it's less convenient, focus so badly using the viewfinder, and I haven't been able to find a good copy after three tries.

Ah, and I tested my lens a lot with K-3II and the focus issue is also present, so it is not specific to K-3III. Probably that the construction of the lens make it difficult to properly focus with all AF points. A wavy field curvature may explain the issues I guess.
Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing 01-04-2024, 10:05 AM  
Pentax Wifi tethering API, SDK, and software
Posted By superdave
Replies: 20
Views: 2,637
Thanks for the threads and for the idea of web archive, but it seems the page has not been archived using your link.
Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing 01-03-2024, 01:43 AM  
Pentax Wifi tethering API, SDK, and software
Posted By superdave
Replies: 20
Views: 2,637
I already tried this great peace of software, and I will probably use it when I need a tethering tool, it contains far more features as Image Sync.

But I do not often need to use tethering tools, I am more looking for the SDK for the fun to experiment something for my Camera. For example, I want to see if I can use the SDK to develop a tool to automatize focus adjustment. Or now that .NET is cross platform with .net Core, may be I can develop small apps for my Android phone.
Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing 01-03-2024, 01:10 AM  
Pentax Wifi tethering API, SDK, and software
Posted By superdave
Replies: 20
Views: 2,637
Hi all, I just got a new K-3iii that is compatible with Wifi, and as a developer, I wanted to have a look at the Pentax Camera SDK that was released a few years ago, but unfortunatly they are not available anymore.
So, I am wondering if anyone still have a version of the SDK on its harddrive (especially the .net sdk) and could share it?
Thanks!
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 12-06-2023, 12:51 PM  
Poll: What's your next Pentax Purchase? The Best of PF Dec 6 Poll
Posted By superdave
Replies: 67
Views: 2,486
Probably the 100mm Macro, unless Pentax release a 50-135 mark II.
Forum: Pentax K-3 III 12-04-2023, 02:53 PM  
Can someone check the accuracy/difference of all AF points in AF-S Select
Posted By superdave
Replies: 179
Views: 13,484
Yes I see those posts and I especially like the idea to have multiple targets aligned to AF points. Your K-3III and lens combinations seems to work well. I will try to see if all my lenses or only the 16-50 do not work well with outer AF points, and after that I will probably go the to store to test another K-3III with my 16-50 or another lens copy will my K-3III...
Forum: Pentax DSLR and Camera Articles 12-04-2023, 11:08 AM  
Achieving Better Manual Focus with the Green Hexagon
Posted By superdave
Replies: 8
Views: 7,591
Hi @c.a.m, I would like to try what you explain in your article however the link for the ImageJ plugin is dead, do you know where I can find the Image Quality plugin? Thanks a lot!
Forum: Pentax K-3 III 12-04-2023, 09:41 AM  
Can someone check the accuracy/difference of all AF points in AF-S Select
Posted By superdave
Replies: 179
Views: 13,484
I'll report, but I first need to run a few more tests to check if those kind focus issues are also present on my K-3II and if I can reproduce that behavior with my others lenses. I did only used 16-50PLM for landscape on my K-3II, but I never noticed such issues with K-3II and 70mm Ltd for portraits.
Forum: Pentax K-3 III 12-04-2023, 07:20 AM  
Can someone check the accuracy/difference of all AF points in AF-S Select
Posted By superdave
Replies: 179
Views: 13,484
Hi, I run across that discussion after I purchased a K-3III and noticed focus issues with 16-50PLM and non-center AF point... Basically I encounter the same weird behavior as several users in this discussion.

I didn't had time to do many tests at the moment but I am glad that I am not the only one to get issue...

As the others, the center AF point is working properly, but the others points are way off... for example, if I move 2 steps right with the joystick to align face/eye on the line of thirds, I cannot get sharp eyes... and it is far from being acceptably sharp... it is out of focus. I retried many times, and cannot get the eyes in focus.

So, after reading that thread, I tried other AF points, and some where BF, other FF...

However, focusing using the center point and recomposing work, but what is the point to have all that AF points and a joystick if I can't rely on them.. I'll have to do more tests but I am not sure that the issue is related to 16-50PLM... I quickly tried 70Ltd, and center was sharp, next point on right was BF, next one is FF :(

Also what is the point of focus tracking, if the AF points are all missaligned... very frustrating.

If only the body allowed to change AF offset for each focus points, and also for Wide and Long end of a lens... Do you think adjusting focus for all AF points is something that service repair can do with their own tools?
Forum: Pentax K-3 III 11-23-2023, 07:27 AM  
Shots per battery and weird sound from K3III
Posted By superdave
Replies: 18
Views: 1,686
Ok, thanks for report this, so its probably nothing to worry about.
My K-3II is also silent, may be the sound is only on recent models, or may be electronic variations...

I just hope the battery will last longer in normal use, but its too early to know.
Forum: Pentax K-3 III 11-22-2023, 03:55 PM  
Shots per battery and weird sound from K3III
Posted By superdave
Replies: 18
Views: 1,686
Just got my k3-iii and noticed that sound too. On my K-3III, the sound is more audible when I turn the camera vertically. It last as long as the focus button is pressed, and 2-3 sec after release. Good to know that it was not just my camera. Also, my first battery lasted a very short amount of time to my taste, I was surprised too and was wondering if it was related to the sound too. Could also be related to a particular settings, or because I played a lot in the menus.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 05-13-2023, 12:23 AM  
HD Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4 and smc Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4 Classic
Posted By superdave
Replies: 331
Views: 22,584
Depressing news... why the hell they want to confuse the buyer with a SMC and a HD version of the same old Lens...and why they release SMC?!

If they want classic version, another look and straight aperture blade is ok, but it must be HD, not SMC. Unless the HD is not suitable to upcoming film camera... but that old look will not seduce new buyers.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 09-30-2022, 03:28 PM  
How good is the water resistance of the 20-40 lens?
Posted By superdave
Replies: 19
Views: 1,520
The hood is so small that WR or not you cannot use this lens when it's raining.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 11-17-2021, 02:46 AM  
DA* 11-18 Sunstars
Posted By superdave
Replies: 22
Views: 2,113
Thank you. Yes, it is a great lens and not only with colours, focusing @ f/2.8 is more easier than f/4 with my old 12-24, sunstars are better, sharpness is better, contrast is better, less CA, etc...
I really like it, even if it is not perfect: the range is a little to small, flare can be an issue and it has a strong field curvature with require to focus somewhere between the center and the edge to get the edges in focus.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 11-17-2021, 01:55 AM  
DA* 11-18 Sunstars
Posted By superdave
Replies: 22
Views: 2,113
In fact its because each line of the sunstars may looks "doubled", its very visible around f/8 and f/11, less after but the lines are never thin.
But even if they are not the best looking sunstars, I ended up appreciating the ones of 11-18mm.

This one is f/11


The others I don't remember but probably but probably f/11 for first one, and f/16 for the last one

Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 10-21-2021, 10:07 AM  
Received my DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 PLM today, first impressions.
Posted By superdave
Replies: 10
Views: 1,162
I should be unlucky, I already sent back two copies of this lens :(
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 10-06-2021, 12:30 PM  
HD Pentax DA * 16-50mm F2.8ED PLM AW is the second one.
Posted By superdave
Replies: 924
Views: 90,734
Argh, my order for replacement is delayed... $200 is really nice price, I got 150€ (10%) on mine. With the number of stores that sell photo equipment, a 10% discount happen several times a year, that help with current lenses prices!
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 10-05-2021, 01:58 AM  
HD Pentax DA * 16-50mm F2.8ED PLM AW is the second one.
Posted By superdave
Replies: 924
Views: 90,734
Its possible that it is a field tilt, I don't know and I don't care what the name of the issue is :)
I just want that at f/8 the two sides of my images are equally sharp (or soft) as I do mainly landscape work.

In an article of Roger Cicala I read something about manufacturer tolerance of 5° tilt on lens and camera.
He said if your camera have +5° and the lens have -5°, that is inside manufacturer tolerance and +5-5 will cancel each other and produce perfect images, but if this is +5 and +5... that will be a problem.

As I often have issues when purchasing lenses, I can't be sure but I suspect that my K-3II should be close to the tolerance limit (or I am really unlucky)... and its very anoying when purchasing lens.
- My first 11-18 was very soft on the extreme left side, my second was perfectly balanced.
- My first Sigma 18-35 was perfectly balanced (but has focus issue), the second was soft on left (as first 16-50), the third copy was the opposite (soft on right side)...
- My First 20-40 was very soft on extreme left, second was well balanced.
- The only 16-85 I tried was balanced... (but I expected better performance...)
And all my current lenses was balanced (70Ltd, 300, 50mm, 35mmn, my old 12-24).

16-50mm is be the most expensive lens I purchased, and except the "tilt" issue (if I only look at right side of images), it look like the best performing standard lens I tried so far (better than 11-18, same or better IQ than Sigma 18-35). Really hope the second one will work well on my K-3II.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 10-05-2021, 12:47 AM  
HD Pentax DA * 16-50mm F2.8ED PLM AW is the second one.
Posted By superdave
Replies: 924
Views: 90,734
Cool, thanks for your answers!
On my first copy, the left side was obviously very soft/blurry from the middle of the frame (even at f/8) and the right side was perfect up to the last pixel and from f/2.8.
And it was the opposite when I rotate the camera 180°.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 10-05-2021, 12:13 AM  
HD Pentax DA * 16-50mm F2.8ED PLM AW is the second one.
Posted By superdave
Replies: 924
Views: 90,734
My second copy should arrive today... I keep my fingers crossed that this one is not decentered.

Are any other early adopters also have had decentered copy?
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 09-23-2021, 12:25 AM  
HD Pentax DA * 16-50mm F2.8ED PLM AW is the second one.
Posted By superdave
Replies: 924
Views: 90,734
Just got my 16-50 a few days ago... but (as always) it has misalignment issue :(

- On the long end: right side is absolutly perfect, but left side is blury from the middle of the frame, even at f/8.
- On the short end: left side is great, right side is soft.
- Bottom-left corner is softer at all focal length than bottom right corner (which is perfect).

As I had 10% on it, I will try to have it exchanged.
But the good news is if I don't look at misalingment issue, the lens looks really excellent and now that I tried it, I will have no problem paying the normal price for a good copy.

- Build quality is excellent.
- Focus speed is impressive, even in LiveView on my K-3II.
- Focus by wire is totally silent and works very well (the only noise I can heard is when I zoom in/out with the camera on... may be the lens try to keep subject in focus when zooming?)
- Focus look precise enough.
- Zoom ring is harder and not as smooth as 11-18, but I know that the lens will not zoom by itself when manipulating.
- Sharpness (if not due to misalignment) look impressive, at all focal lengths.
- Sunstars looks good from f/8 (the good surprise)
- Field curvature is well corrected, I can focus at the center or near the edges, the result is the same.
- I cannot see a drop of sharpness from center to edge (on the good side of my lens, but may its a positive side effect of misalignment).
- Color look great
- CA seems to be minimal.

Basically, from first impression with a bad copy, this 16-50 looks better than the 11-18 (faster focus, better CA control, no field curvature, better edge sharpness, better sunstars) and now I can understand why it is more expensive! I just hope the second copy will have be equally sharp of both side of the frame, and on every corner...
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 08-19-2021, 01:38 PM  
Three new cameras under development?
Posted By superdave
Replies: 266
Views: 20,882
Just want a K-3 2.5 to upgrade from K-3II.
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