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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests 06-02-2017, 01:22 AM  
Sundial Bridge
Posted By charlie_lucas
Replies: 24
Views: 1,399
Artfully captured, a wonderful, mythical bridge into the sky.
A bridge to heaven?
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 05-28-2009, 08:10 AM  
The True Pentax Spirit Returns!
Posted By charlie_lucas
Replies: 40
Views: 9,641
Thank you so much for your encouragement chaps!

I must apologise, once again, for impersonating a 'Hoya plant'... I didn't mean to wind anyone up. I am genuinely fascinated by the emotional, as well as rational, appeal of brands and do, in fact, make my living from advising companies about brands and what they stand for. Where it overlaps with my hobby as an amateur photographer, I cannot help but be intrigued; part of the reason why I use Pentax is because I have always been attracted by a brand that stands for creativity before technology (yes, I am also a Mac user!). I can't imagine many people, for example, getting misty-eyed over an old Canon AE-1 like a seasoned Pentaxian would over a well-loved ME Super or MX (just as no one misses an old Dell Latitude like they do an Apple PowerBook!). The only camera brand that comes close has been Olympus, whose OM-1 and OM-2N were, frankly, Pentax in all but name (hence the subconscious tribute paid by the tellingly-named MZ-5N).
What prompted my original post (and a similar thread in 'another place') was a desire to encourage debate about the brand and see how owners felt about the core values that lie at the heart of Pentax. I am heartened by many of the responses and do believe that if Pentax can focus its energies on delivering the special qualities that owners desire, rather than spending money running after and trying to keep-up with, the market leaders, we could see the renaissance of a brand with a truly unique and distinctive positioning.
To be honest, the K10D and K20D left me cold. They seemed to be be aping the technically-ostentatious and oversized products of the market leaders (I even managed to inflame passions in 'another place' by claiming, on its launch, that the K20D had been 'beaten with the K10D's ugly stick'!).
For me, the K7 is refreshing because it represents something of a return to the uniqueness of the Pentax ideology. The fact that it will, inevitably, trail behind Canikony models in many technical areas is fine by me, provided the things that matter most to creative Pentax photographers are there instead. So, while the metering, focusing and burst speed have now simply caught-up with the industry norm, it has the finest viewfinder and rear screen to facilitate superior image composition, the best in-body SR to enable treasured lenses to be used in lower-light and discreet styling and compact dimensions that, with the Limited Edition primes, enable it to be used where other, mainstream, gear would be cumbersome and inept.
This marks a brave reversal from the temptation to chase the rest with the K10D and K20D (no doubt with some coercion from Samsung), to finding a unique white space that Pentax can 'own' and credibly defend in the future.
I am optimistic that, with the K7, the first steps of a Pentax renaissance might indeed have been taken.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 05-26-2009, 02:42 AM  
k200d or k20d? Help!
Posted By charlie_lucas
Replies: 22
Views: 4,160
I pondered the same dilemma a couple of months ago and opted for the K200D to replace my much-loved ist DS.

All the technical advances that I wanted were covered by the K200D (SR, 10MP sensor, weather-proofing, remote flash control) with the extra refinements offered by the K20D (dual controls, pentaprism vf, focus fine-tuning, 14MP) simply not being worth the sacrifice in terms of size and weight.

If you think you need those extra bits and pieces, and don't mind toting around a canonikony-sized hunk of technology, the K20D is probably a very good buy. Alternatively, you could keep saving for the K7, which seems to offer the best of both worlds, maybe picking-up a K200D to enjoy while you're waiting!
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 05-24-2009, 10:47 AM  
The True Pentax Spirit Returns!
Posted By charlie_lucas
Replies: 40
Views: 9,641
Thanks Robin. I appreciate your comments and have read with interest your K7 evaluation on Theatre of Noise. I am delighted that the notions of 'Pentax spirit' is one that evidently resonates among the user community. I really hope that Hoya and Pentax will pick-up on this because, from my experience, most Japanese consumer electronics firms are technology/production-led; they benchmark each other and rarely pick-up on consumers' emotional responses (look how staggered they all were when ipod appeared from 'nowhere' and stole the personal audio sector from their own back yard!).

I found your evaluation to be refreshingly down-to-earth and it certainly cuts-through the pre-launch hype to give a sober analysis of the forthcoming product.

From my point of view, I have no quarrel with Pentax owners surfing the euphoria of launch hype. We have all waited long enough for this new model which comes despite many nay-sayers proclaiming the end for Pentax. We are enjoying those exciting moments before the party begins and, secretly, all know that we might be getting just a little carried away! But I, for one, am thrilled that it shows a move in the right direction, back to the true spirit of the brand rather than being tempted to ape the market leaders with the big, ostentatious, overly-specified hunks of technology and features that true photographic enthusiasts don't really need (articulated live-view screens, epic fps levels, etc.).
While the K7 may be no MX, LX or even the MZ-5N, it was a brave move to reverse the direction taken with the K10D and K20D in the direction of conformity and to try to recapture the distinctive Pentax spirit. I expect it has taken the competition by surprise and I applaud Pentax for having the courage to do it. If the Pentax community shares that enthusiasm and supports the product I believe it could mark a renaissance of the brand we love.

If, by your analysis, it is moving in small increments, is not really the point. It is bucking the industry trend and ploughing its own furrow; that, for me, is admirable.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 05-22-2009, 12:47 AM  
The True Pentax Spirit Returns!
Posted By charlie_lucas
Replies: 40
Views: 9,641
I'm flattered Gus, thanks for the welcome! I am, hopefully, not high on fumes either... but I am passionate about brand values and am interested to see how people respond to the emotional allure, as well as technical specs, of otherwise functional products. My opinions of the K10/20 provoked understandably-defensive responses from some owners, but, generally, I think Pentaxians are more sensitive than most to the special brand spirit that sets Pentax apart.

I am sorry if you confused me for a Hoya plant! (whatever one of those looks like - my botanical knowledge is limited and I've never seen one in England!)
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 05-21-2009, 03:13 PM  
The True Pentax Spirit Returns!
Posted By charlie_lucas
Replies: 40
Views: 9,641
Sorry if my enthusiasm for a resurgence in the genuine Pentax spirit has been misconstrued as either 'fanboyism' or 'marketing speak'.

I confess to having written advertising copy in the past for brands in telecoms, automotive and airlines... but never cameras! And I have never, ever, had any connection with either Pentax or Hoya - other than being a longstanding customer of the former.

I hope that helps dispel the paranoia!
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 05-21-2009, 11:43 AM  
The True Pentax Spirit Returns!
Posted By charlie_lucas
Replies: 40
Views: 9,641
Anyone concerned about Pentax' fading spirit and brand personality, will be rejoicing that the K7 shows a spectacular return to form. It is not just about competitive technology (the K10 and K20 delivered well in that area), but about elegant solutions, attractive design, compact dimensions and sheer pleasure of ownership.

To be brutally honest, the K10 and K20 looked and felt as much at home with the Samsung badge on their Pentaprisms as they did with the Pentax one. They were, to my eyes (and hands), rather bland over-sized, Canikony-style bricks which were technically worthy but aesthetically dull with little to identify them with the elusive Pentax-ness that we all 'feel' but often struggle to put it into words!

The K-m was an encouraging first step in reviving the brand spirit and the K7 is a glorious return to form. I rather think that, next to K7, the Canikony competition is going to look fat heavy, ostentatious and pointlessly complex (which is just what you would have said about Pentax competitors of earlier generations!).

How refreshing it is to see the spirit of MX, ME Super, LX, MZ-5N, DS, et al returning to imbue this new flagship with a special distinctiveness that is unique to Pentax.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 05-21-2009, 11:41 AM  
K200D Firmware
Posted By charlie_lucas
Replies: 5
Views: 3,406
I've heard of so many people commenting about improved AF after the firmware upgrade on the K20D that I was rather taking the rumour to be fact. I could be wrong and, sadly, have no technical proof or test results to support it. Given that the K200D has never, to the best of my knowledge, had a firmware update and that all Pentax models seem to get one at some point in their lives, now might be the moment inject the newly-developed focusing algorithms and SR tweaks that lurk within the latest software.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 05-21-2009, 05:21 AM  
K200D Firmware
Posted By charlie_lucas
Replies: 5
Views: 3,406
Now that the K20D firmware has been updated with the improved focusing algorithms of the K2000/K-M, what hope is there that the K200D might be similarly enhanced with a firmware update?
It could be just the tonic a K200D owner needs to tide him or her over until they can afford a glorious new K7!
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