|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-22-2011, 03:42 PM
|
| |
Hey, just wanted to let you guys know how the service was for Tokina in their California service center.
I was experiencing some back-focus on a lens and sent it in. I didn't have any receipt but had the warranty card. Their website indicates receipt and warranty card required. They magically detected the date it was purchased somehow and repaired it in-warranty.
They also did not require me to send in my camera body. Sure enough, the lens focuses spot on now.
They service desk phone number usually goes to voicemail. Generally, communication is tricky and I didn't get any notifications on the progress. They received it and within 3 business days, I had it back in my hands. Suck a quick turnaround. Bear in mind I'm in CA too so shipping times are reduced. So thumbs up from me overall. They could make the user experience better if they used some simple software to provide customers updates in my opinion.
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
02-16-2011, 05:06 PM
|
| |
Thought I'd share some shots taken recently with the Tokina 50-135mm which shares its DNA with Pentax:
Feedback welcome!
The lighting was mixed on this one and resulted in kinda of a weird effect:
Exposure 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture f/2.8
Focal Length 125 mm
ISO Speed 800
Nice example of what the lens can achieve. Too bad there isn't eye contact:
Exposure 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture f/7.1
Focal Length 100 mm
ISO Speed 200
|
|
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-13-2011, 12:21 AM
|
| |
The 50-150mm 2.8 looked great until I noticed that the dimensions are the same as the Sigma full-frame 70-200mm 2.8.
Whatever happened to the supposed size savings of the APS-C sensor? :hmm:
|
|
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
11-07-2010, 02:04 PM
|
| |
Yes, SR was very nice in K10D. I shoot mainly landscapes, and occasionally people. For the shake-challenging scenes, I'll rely on the higher ISO on the D90 to compensate. As the technology improves in the sensors as the K-5/D7K has demonstrated, this hopefully won't be a long term issue for me. For the shots I may miss without SR, I hope to balance it with more recovered shots from the faster focusing.
I didn't really do a comparison between other Nikon VR lenses as I already had my mind set on the Pentax 12-24/50-135 equivalents in Tokina. The longest lens I had in Pentax was the 50-200mm and the nikon VR equivalent costs the same.
Keep in mind there also seems to be a larger used and market for Nikon lenses as some of the users upgrade to FF.
|
|
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
10-30-2010, 03:23 PM
|
| |
I haven't owned the Pentax variant of the 50-135mm so I won't have much to compare to. The Tokina variant has a non-removable metal collar mount. The specifications also indicate it has rounded aperture blades. Comparing the weight against the Pentax specs, it's about 80 grams heavier IIRC. I was a bit worried about the screw drive speed but it's not bad at all. The build quality is excellent...feels very solid.
The Nikon 35mm 1.8 is a marvel...not sure how they stuffed a silent wave motor is such a light small thing for under $200.
Once the D90 gets back from service, I'll be sure to post some photos. It's a shame about the back focusing too because it's not old stock, but new stock from this year.
For now, here's a shot from the 35mm 1.8:
 |
|
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
10-28-2010, 09:55 PM
|
| |
Well, it was time to upgrade and I had a tough choice to make...continue investing in Pentax or try Nikon.
K5 looks appealing but the price tag was too high along with the lenses I wanted (50-135mm, DA 35mm Macro). The SDM on the 50-135mm was not very assuring either.
So I compromised...picked up a D90 with what I dub the three kings:
* Nikon 35mm 1.8
* Tokina 50-135mm
* Tokina 12-24mm
My most used lens on the K10D was the 16-45mm with most pictures on the wide-end. I decided to sacrifice a bit of range in the middle (24 ~50 mm) since it seems I like to shoot wide, and just picked up the Nikon 35mm for the middle. I was finding the 50mm FA 1.4 a bit too long during most occasions so I think this will work well. This does mean I likely won't ever carry the 12-24mm and 50-135mm together as the two combined are too heavy for a walking excursion, but the 35mm is light, metal mount, and faster than the DA 35 2.4.
For a camera (K10D) that's a few years older than the D90, the image quality is on par to the D90. The build quality of the K10D is much better though. The D90's battery cover, and SD cover are pretty flimsy and the grip is less curved.
There are nice Pentax touches I'll miss such as the intuitive mirror lockup on 2 sec release...the D90 buries it in the menus. Or the way the K10Dt can display a histogram and hotspots overlayed on the picture itself during image review. And of course the shake reduction and weather seal.
What was gained was faster AF, better ISO, and more affordable lenses. I probably wouldn't have switched if Tokina didn't make equivalent designs outside of the Pentax mount.
Hope it works out well...but so far, the D90 is already being sent to service for back-focusing. :-(
|
|
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
10-19-2010, 11:34 PM
|
| |
can you let me know where to get the 50-135mm new for $489?
Cheers
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
11-27-2009, 08:38 PM
|
| |
I was poking around Sydney and took some photos:
1. Wave Crest:
16-45mm
2. Where people work:
16-45mm
3. March into the heavens:
77mm
4. This doesn't belong here:
16-45mm
5. Tulip Time:
77mm
 |
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
07-09-2009, 11:24 PM
|
| |
| |
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
05-10-2009, 12:47 PM
|
| |
gruesome! you captured it really well and the zombies really seemed to enjoy posing for you.
The 50-135mm looks great.
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
05-03-2009, 08:52 AM
|
| |
Thanks for looking everyone. A bit of the story on some of the most commented ones.
The fireworks shot was achievable by going to that spot really early (3pm) to beat the crowds. From there, it was a long, painful wait to midnight but well worth it. I think I am one of three people that had that vantage point where the bridge was symmetrical.
I will also say this about clouds in OZ...they are spectacular against the deep blue that I rarely find in the Bay Area.
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
05-02-2009, 08:55 PM
|
| |
Hi all, been a while since I posted. Thought I'd share some photos from OZ. Looking forward to receiving a 77ltd soon!
C&C welcome:
1 A wheel from a classic car during the Sydney Australia day (FA 50mm 1.4):
2 Flowers galore - NZ (16-45mm):
3 Viaduct - NZ (16-45mm):
4 New Years in You Know Where (16-45mm):
5 Dolly - NZ (50-200mm)
6 Glacial patterns - NZ (16-45mm)
7 Ice Trek - NZ (16-45mm)
larger version:
8 Anzac Bridge (16-45mm)
9 Darling Harbour (16-45mm)
10 Opera House (50-200mm)
11 Opera House (16-45mm)
12 Christmas
 |
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
09-29-2007, 10:44 PM
|
| |
Some pics from a visit to the Exploratorium in SF
 |
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
06-13-2007, 07:34 PM
|
| |
Wow, the girl is gorgeous. Great rendition. Love them all...except in the last one, the color of the dirt reminds me of something else. :D
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
06-10-2007, 09:11 PM
|
| |
I cranked the sharpness to max in Pentax photo lab, and ran smart sharpen and this is the output. Resized down:
 |
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
05-28-2007, 04:37 PM
|
| |
May 15, 2006 was when this thing was completed I believe. So if you haven't been to Chicago in a while, you may have missed it.
The ISO 800 really makes me want to sit on the fence a little longer from K10D pastures.
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
05-28-2007, 04:23 PM
|
| |
The world's biggest jelly bean? You decide:
 |
