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Forum: Photographic Technique
08-09-2010, 05:30 PM
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I will be touring Italy, Monaco, Spain, France, and Greece. I am seeking advice on what equipment to take along. Is it best just to use a pocket camera in some places to avoid getting my gear ripped off? If I take my SLR, which lenses are recommended from among my 12-24mm, 55-300mm, 1.4 50mm, 18-55mm?
Is at least a monopod a good idea for shooting interiors?
How much of the interior of the Vatican can be photographed?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-11-2010, 04:55 PM
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Politics makes more sense to me. This helps explain why I wasn't a science major.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-10-2010, 12:18 PM
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Based on your explanation, this appears to be more of a S/N ratio issue not so much related to heat generation as I was somewhere led to believe. So, to attempt an analogy, in audio if you turn up the gain of a weak input, the Signal to Noise ratio will decrease, creating more distortion. With a powered antenna system, simply amplifying a weak signal received by the antenna will increase the noise. Is that what is happening with light when a processor attempts to aggressively amplify a weak signal from the sensor? Simply decreasing the number of pixels that will respond to and send an electrical signal to the processor will not reduce the distortion created by the processor in amplifying the low light signal.
I will try another analogy: The camera lens is the microphone, collecting the light instead of the sound. The photo sensors are the preamplifier, transforming the signal from the lens for the processor. In that analogy, if the pixels in the sensor were larger or more sensitive, they would give a cleaner signal to the processor under low light (low input) conditions. Am I getting close?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-09-2010, 09:54 PM
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Is the K20d still being manufactured today? Or are the ones being sold "new" leftover inventory from earlier manufacture?
What is the typical duration of a manufacturing run of this sort of camera? I'm sure it depends to some degree on popularity.
How long do you think the K-7 will still be manufactured?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-09-2010, 09:39 PM
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The K-7 street price is now $899 on Amazon, and $829 at Camera Kings, down from original list of $1,099 6 or 8 months ago.
When do you think it will sell for $700? $600? That is the range that will get my attention.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-09-2010, 07:40 PM
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Now that is interesting. I wonder why stills with smaller file sizes couldn't also use proportionately fewer sensor pixels (vs. compression), thus meaningfully reducing heat:noise with smaller file sizes, e.g. 6 or 10 mega pixels. For example, if only every other pixel in a 14 mp sensor were active, i.e. generating heat in the exposure process, wouldn't it be possible to reduce noise in a theoretical 7 mp file by roughly 50%?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-09-2010, 06:26 PM
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The K-7 Jpeg options for file size are 2, 6, 10, and 14 mp.
Do the 10 or 6 megapixel settings allow for any less noisy high ISO images?
If not, why not? Can someone describe the relationship between file size and noise in the K-7. I'm guessing that all photo receptors are still active in the sensor even with the smaller file sizes and the jpeg software squishes the file size down. It is not as if fewer receptors are used to reduce the heat. Am I warm? Is there technology to reduce the active receptors for smaller file sizes thus potentially reducing noise in smaller file sizes?
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
02-09-2010, 09:25 PM
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My spots looked similar to yours. I believe mine were caused by condensation when the camera was taken from the air conditioned car out into warm humid air. My lens and viewfinder were fogged over for several minutes. Repeat that a few times and you are certain to eventually get sensor blobs.
I purchased a sensor cleaning kit comprised of serveral swabs and cleaning fluid for about $25 at Calument.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-29-2010, 04:00 PM
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Im an old far-, err, fogey, and I love digital - I will take it over film in one of my limited remaining heartbeats. Some who have been around awhile also prefer vinyl audio, 8-tracks, and cooking over wood. Comfort levels are very constrictive things - much like fear.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-14-2010, 05:27 PM
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I just received my Pentax DA 55-300mm. As I play with it the next few days, what differences in image quality (aside from its reach) should I expect compared to my 50-200 kit lens. I noticed it weighs almost twice as much.:cool:
I do feel like I have an excessive overlap with my 50-200. Is there much of a market for these if I choose to sell? It appears they are selling in the $70 - $80 range.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-01-2010, 10:48 PM
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In the context of the above, why would he suggest post processing image downsizing to make the comparison with the K-X rather than in-camera downsizing for testing and comparison purposes. Granted, in-camera cannot be later upsized. He made it sound like shooting lower mps in-camera (12 instead of 14) would not allow for a valid comparison with the 12 mp K-X. Why wouldn't it?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-01-2010, 08:29 AM
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What is the difference in processing and effect between selecting lower MP in the camera an "resizing the pics in the computer?"
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-31-2009, 06:49 PM
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I just sprung for a couple of new Pentax lenses: 12-24 and 55-300.
Other than taking tons of photos, are there specific tests that get to the essence quickly of whether these lenses are a good copies for my K100D?
e.g. depth of field/focus test. Any others?
Does the K100d have a focus fine tuning buried in the menu to correct fron or back focus issues?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-31-2009, 06:33 PM
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-23-2009, 01:38 PM
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It would REALLY be nice to know what it does, though.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-22-2009, 05:24 PM
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I'm interested in focus performance with the following lenses:
Pentax 50mm 1.4 FA
Pentax 55-300 mm
Pentax 12-24mm
Pentax 18-55mm
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-22-2009, 07:11 AM
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I'm in exactly the same situation. I have a K100D. As I mentioned in a seaparate thread regarding "Autofocus", that is one of my main considerations. That feature definitely leads me to the K7 vs the K-X. There are many other features the K7 has that makes that one worth the additional price to me.
As for the rare occasions that really high ISO may be required (1600 or above), a $49 piece of noise software and 10 minutes of time will fix that.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-21-2009, 02:22 PM
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Thanks, everyone. It does sound like the K7 has a somewhat more robust auto focus system than the K-X. This appears to be the case in both the close range/dim light scenario due to its built in assist lamps, and in the distant, long lens scenario due to the stronger focus motor and increased focus points. Do I understand correctly?
Are the K7 focus points more precise than the K100D focus points, which seem to be approximations of the focus points. I wonder how broad (how wide an area) each focus "point" covers?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-20-2009, 08:38 PM
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Was that with NoiseWare plug-in or stand-alone? Using Photoshop or Elements or something else?
Do you recommend Noiseware? The plug-in from the NoiseWare site is $49. What is their competition and how does it stack up?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-20-2009, 08:20 PM
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How about focusing speed differences between the K7 and K-X WITHOUT using the focus assist lamp - when I'm using a longer lens where the lamp will not be of any value? Any thoughts?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-20-2009, 08:10 PM
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The K-X does not?
I had a Sony f707 5 or 6 years ago that had an infra red focus assist lamp - it focused in pitch black. That was nice. That feature would definitely favor the K7 for me.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-20-2009, 08:01 PM
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I know that single criteria judgements about cameras is not the way to go. However, with my K100D, the one main thing I wish it did better is nailing the auto focus quicker. It hunts a lot. If this criteria is important to me, which camera does a better job: the K7 or the K-X?
I understand the 55-300mm Pentax lens prefers manual focusing, especially with a 1.5X or 2.0X Kenko. But which camera is likely to do a better/quicker auto focus job with that lens if one HAD to use autofocus, the K7 or K-X?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-17-2009, 07:30 PM
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What len(s) do you use for most of your interiors? Is the Pentax 12-24mm one of them?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
10-22-2009, 11:47 AM
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It never ceases to amaze me how subjective allegedly objective reviews can be.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
10-20-2009, 08:20 PM
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For those of you who might have encountered a malfunctioning shutter release button - where upon a half press it snaps the shutter instead of finding focus first - I have a "lesson learned" to share.
I was out on the Blue Ridge Parkway at about 4,000 feet, 31 degrees, and light snow and sleet blowing nearly horizontally, with my K100D last weekend. After hiking a few miles and shooting a few shots, with some snow accumulation on the camera, :(we headed back to civilization. I later noticed my "malfunctioning shutter release." For a whole day, it didn't work properly.:o
I am happy to report that two days later, after the moisture in the shutter release had a chance to dry out, it now works as designed.
The moral to this story is: If you insist on getting your camera wet and the shutter release doesn't work right as a result, give it a couple of days to dry out before you send it in for repair.
This is a good reason for a weather sealed body such as the K-7.;)
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