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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing 19 Hours Ago  
Reminder: Keep your software up-to-date
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 8
Views: 904
I don't believe FastStone is capable of that but would be curious to know if it is.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 02-29-2024, 11:56 PM  
Lens question for Alaska cruise
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 17
Views: 784
I've used three lenses for each of a dozen or so Alaska cruises: roughly 10mm - 250mm and a macro. I wouldn't have wanted to do without any of them.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 02-16-2024, 09:59 AM  
Pentax KF, colossal failure, or viable upgrade?
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 43
Views: 2,089
As the megapixel count has increased, I've become increasingly unable to adjust AF sufficiently for all the combinations of focal length (for zooms) and subject distance. Ultimately maybe that drives some of the mirrorless adoption.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 02-05-2024, 07:15 PM  
What camera functions have you discovered long after buying the camera?
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 89
Views: 7,423
I didn't know that about the KP.

Actually the K-70 has the old unimproved shake-the-camera sensor cleaning vs. the older-but-more sophisticated K-5 system, but I knew that when I bought it. I didn't know it wouldn't have the handy feature to (easily, obviously) show me where the dust bunnies were like on the K-5. Does the K3iii have the better K-5 dust removal system and the dust alert with the red dot on the LCD?
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 02-04-2024, 08:04 PM  
What camera functions have you discovered long after buying the camera?
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 89
Views: 7,423
My surprise was a missing feature I'd used on the K-5: the much newer K-70 didn't have dust alert. I could sort of simulate it, but without that red dot I always have to remember to invert but not reverse. Or reverse but not invert? Whatever.
Forum: Visitors' Center 02-04-2024, 09:41 AM  
sigma 50mm f/ 1.4 EX DG HMS pentax fit
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 7
Views: 691
Thanks for that information. I hope my Sigma 17-50 and 10-20 HSM lenses, and screw drive macro lenses, will continue working if I buy a newer body, but as you say you never know.
Forum: Pentax K-3 III 01-27-2024, 09:48 PM  
Is my K3iii faulty - can it really be this noisy?
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 24
Views: 1,761
I don't have a K3 of any generation so I can't compare to my own experience, but I suggest repeating the test with the same ISO on both your older and newer K3 models, and then posting that result. You have a good image to check for noise; it would just be much more helpful to compare results at the same ISO.

I would guess the odds of an individual camera body (vs. design) defect resulting in higher-than-normal amounts of noise would be almost zero.
Forum: Visitors' Center 12-28-2023, 01:42 PM  
sigma 50mm f/ 1.4 EX DG HMS pentax fit
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 7
Views: 691
Not intending to hijack the thread, but is the issue with K-1 or "K-1 or newer" bodies? Are there issues with K3iii and some Sigma HSM-era lenses (other than the ones discussed here and in the linked thread)?
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 12-20-2023, 04:52 PM  
Disassembling a DA 55-300 PLM
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 6
Views: 697
Thanks, that will be very helpful to anyone with the same lens and similar problem (not unlikely, I'm guessing.)
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 12-20-2023, 12:03 AM  
Disassembling a DA 55-300 PLM
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 6
Views: 697
So how did you remove the front element?
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 12-19-2023, 03:43 PM  
Used K5iis for a casual hobby photographer? Is it good enough?
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 40
Views: 1,871
I wouldn't say anybody should have only one working body, at least not if you photograph events that are "special" - even if just to you, like a vacation trip. I always bring two bodies and some overlap in lenses, because it would be disappointing to me if I couldn't do photography.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 12-18-2023, 03:30 PM  
Used K5iis for a casual hobby photographer? Is it good enough?
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 40
Views: 1,871
I have a K5ii and original K5, plus a K70. My observation is that the used prices are extremely reasonably for a K5, a little less so for a K5ii, and crazy-high for a K5iis. By all accounts the sensor in my K70 will out-resolve any K5 variant considerably, but for what I do I'm happy with the resolution out of all my cameras. It's really very lens-dependent - you need very good lenses and technique to take advantage of any differences. My understanding (including from reading here) is that after sharpening, the effective difference between AA filter vs. none shrinks considerably. Someone will say that there can be artifacts, etc. and of course you can't manufacture resolution (vs. the appearance of resolution) once blurring has occurred, but I know I wouldn't pay the same $100 extra for a K5iis vs. K5ii now - the same as the price differential was in the original MSRP. And that's often the difference I see, although with used prices always vary. So sure if you find a screaming deal on a K5iis that's nice. And for the uses I have - similar to yours, seemingly - I don't get much out of the K5ii vs. original K5. So there's that to consider too.

The problem with any K5 now is lack of KAF4 compatibility, so that's another reason I wouldn't pay a lot for any K5 variant at this point.
Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories 12-18-2023, 09:27 AM  
Recommend me a decent UV filter?
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 44
Views: 3,271
I would have guessed that like with B&W "nano" products vs. earlier models, that last layer is the "nano" layer. I don't about the differences with the other layers, but I have found that "nano" filters actually do seem easier to keep clean.
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II 12-16-2023, 07:42 PM  
K3 not weatherproof enough...
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 20
Views: 1,418
I've had good luck with my Pentax cameras in the rain. Did you make some attempt to protect the body from actual driving rain? My experience has been that when there's some force behind water the body can be compromised. My K5 behaved erratically after being hit by a wave (salt water), but recovered after a few days. It still has salt in some of the crevices, especially around the flash, but has behaved correctly for some years now. When I'm out in the rain I try to drape a cloth other the camera and lens so as to prevent water build-up on the body.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 12-15-2023, 12:52 AM  
K70 first macro lens
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 20
Views: 800
I've had 50mm, 70mm, and 105mm Sigma macros (the latter the DG variety), all f2.8. In my limited experience it's pretty difficult to find a poor macro lens in terms of optical performance; the differences are more in the handling, AF, etc. I also have the Nikon multi-element screw-in supplemental lenses. The biggest difference I notice is that the real macro lenses produce better corner resolution than the supplemental lenses.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 12-13-2023, 09:09 AM  
K-5 IIs finally died
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 30
Views: 1,256
I'm increasingly annoyed by carrying my APS body and a few lenses, and I use my phone more, but it's notable shortcoming (besides the small sensor) is the lack of telephoto. It as .6x, 1x, 3x, but 3x is what... 75mm equivalent? Certainly an APS body like a GR would have much better image quality, but it just seems like there wouldn't be much disadvantage to a GR having at least a modest zoom lens (or an interchangeable lens, even.) But even that that no viewfinder is annoying for me.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 12-13-2023, 08:49 AM  
K-5 IIs finally died
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 30
Views: 1,256
I guess I just don't understand the appeal of travel with a single focal length, which I haven't done since... my Instamatic 414.

---------- Post added 12-13-2023 at 09:54 AM ----------


If I had lenses I liked I'd just get another body, and if I didn't have the cash for a newer model, just another K-5. Just an original is fine - I have both it and the ii is of course a little better but for most purposes it doesn't matter. The iis seems almost cult-like-expensive so I would be less likely to go that route unless I found a good deal. You could barely pay the shipping for a rental for what you might find a working original K-5 for.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 12-10-2023, 10:16 PM  
Pentax Crises of Confidence - switching
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 70
Views: 3,024
I think there was hope that the Tamron 11-20 f2.8 would come to the rescue, providing filter functionality (which it does), but there are mixed reviews about image quality (especially corners) with it as well. On the other hand if you're going to have mushy corners better to pay less for them.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 12-09-2023, 11:58 PM  
Pentax Crises of Confidence - switching
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 70
Views: 3,024
The 10-24/4 seems to not generate much enthusiasm in reviews I've read, and I believe Fuji only recommends their similar-range f2.8 model for the 40mp sensors.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 12-01-2023, 10:16 PM  
Recommendation on zoom lenses
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 48
Views: 1,587
Regarding newer bodies I would say the K5's sensor - the same in all varieties - was somewhat game-changing for me in terms of dynamic range, and presented more of a jump in functionality than other bodies before or since. Possibly the K5iii autofocus is such a jump in terms of AF, although my understanding (not from personal experience) is that it's still handicapped by limited AF fine-tuning capability. When I last looked the original K-5 tended to be very inexpensive vs. the K5II or especially the K5IIs, the latter of which I've rarely found for a price that justified the extremely marginal difference in resolution from losing the AA filter. I wouldn't spend $500 for a K5-anything; the last original K5 I bought, in excellent condition and low shutter count, was about $160. All varieties of K5-generation bodies are incompatible with the aperture control on current-generation KAF-4 Pentax lenses, so you have to consider that. But for a price in the $100US range the original K5 bodies at least are an excellent value for people who only have/want older lenses, and I would definitely upgrade if I had an older body.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 10-30-2023, 06:27 PM  
DA 16-45 lens wobble
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 2
Views: 530
Mine wobbled quite a bit out-of-the-box (new.) Maybe it got worse. I didn't notice it affecting the image at 6mp but did at 16mp; whether that was because the lens had gotten worse by the time I got to 16mp, I'm not sure. It affected the image more on vertical than horizontal images.

I have a Sigma 17-50mm now that I'm relatively happier with, although 16mm would be nice to have.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 10-17-2023, 03:37 PM  
Lens Hood
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 9
Views: 652
For me most of the value of a hood is protecting (from impact, fingers, etc.) and also helping to keep rain/snow off the front element. Even a "token" hood can help a little. Last week I was photographing in the rain and one photo (well, I took ten of the same thing so really ten) ended up with a couple of "blobs", but the hood (on a 17-50) was a huge help (along with frequent wiping) to keep the other photos from being affected. Sometimes just a fraction of an inch of extra depth is enough to matter.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 10-14-2023, 09:25 PM  
Who NEEDS A Lens That's Weather-Sealed?
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 101
Views: 4,874
I'd say that weather sealing isn't going to be a benefit with regard to lightning.

However it's a nice feature in rain/snow or other water (beach, etc.) situations. I commonly photograph in the rain and have experienced some water intrusion in non-sealed Pentax bodies (notably, under the top LCD.) The cameras have survived but it's still disconcerting to see little bubbles floating around.

I have some weather-sealed and some non-sealed lenses. My experience so far has been that sealing matters less in lenses; I've never experienced a problem with even heavy rain and non-sealed lenses, with some care being taken. I've experimented by squirting water at the base of a mounted non-sealed lens to see if the lack of an O-ring results in water intrusion at the mount, and haven't observed any. I did drop a non-sealed lens in a (very clean) stream once, and while it functioned okay after that, it had a slight internal haze and I would have had to disassemble to clean. Even a sealed lens would likely have suffered the same fate since sealed lenses aren't sealed when unmounted.

My K-5 with a sealed lens was mounted on a tripod when it was hit by a larger ocean wave (so, salt water) that was sufficiently forceful to knock the assembly over, although it was never fully submerged. I didn't observe any water intrusion, but after drying it for a few hours, a number of electrical functions either didn't work at all, or were different (buttons took on different functions.) After another day of drying I tried again, and surprisingly everything was back to normal. To this day the pop-up flash has some salt deposits in the hinge that I haven't been able to completely clean out, but it's been years and the camera has functioned okay.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 09-06-2023, 11:26 AM  
Lens Sizes
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 19
Views: 914
The OP really needs to clarify what body and what the lens will be used for,
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 08-26-2023, 09:20 AM  
Min Lenses?
Posted By tibbitts
Replies: 56
Views: 3,037
I might be more interested in 4/3rds and the OM-1 except that the reviews I've read - contrary to OM claims - indicated that despite the newer 20mp sensor, dynamic range hasn't improved, even to the point of my K-5. The improved dynamic range of the K-5 vs. earlier Pentax bodies had an impact on my photos. And I don't mean by using ISO80 and standing on my head or whatever it took to get to 14 or whatever the theoretical maximum was, but I mean at ordinary ISOs (200, let's say) vs. earlier Pentax cameras. Also I believe 4/3rds is actually 16mp when using a traditional 3/2 format - which would be okay with enough dynamic range. Have you found more favorable review of the dynamic range?
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