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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
18 Hours Ago
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Well, that's disappointing:
 Quote: Shipping: No shipping to USA.
Shipping only to countries in the European Community (EU) |
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
3 Days Ago
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Plenty of good input so far! Just dropped in to say Welcome to Pentax Forums. I think you'll find the site amazingly helpful and the members just as helpful as well. There is a lot of experience here.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
4 Days Ago
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There was just another fairly current question about buying from Japan. You may find some of the comments there useful for your situation. I do agree that there are likely similar items to be found in the US as well, particularly from PF members.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-09-2024, 09:09 PM
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In my case, I was shopping for items of top quality, top condition, not cheap price. I was looking for highly rated vendors with plenty of feedback. I agree that the rating system used by many sellers now seems to be highly variable and even questionable.
A decade or dozen years ago, buying from Japan was more of a "no issues" experience all of the time. These days, either sellers have changed hands (thus preserving the long feedback record) or some have simply abandoned honesty in the pursuit of profits.
My experiences have been more along the lines of asaru in recent years. For those who have purchased one or two items, I might politely suggest that's a small sample size compared to many purchases over years. Run into one of the poorer sellers and it becomes a hassle at top dollar until the credit finally comes back.
---------- Post added 04-09-24 at 11:12 PM ----------
Interesting, as I'd written about two particularly bad cases that I experienced, not including the "well, I'll keep it, but it's not exactly what was described or what I expected" situations.
Like, as another example, a lens that did appear to be in good condition and clean, but the case it was enclosed in was riddled with mildew and caused a stink in the house, so that I threw the case into the outside garbage can. That doesn't inspire high confidence.
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Forum: General Photography
04-07-2024, 09:50 PM
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I've only had positive experiences with them so far. No issues, no complaints (I'm a complainer if there's a reason), and no problems with the gear. I found the descriptions to be accurate.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-07-2024, 09:48 PM
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Rather than all good experiences, I'd say mine are about half and half. Some have been good. Others are very carefully worded to give the impression that an item is in very good condition, but there's a little wiggle room in the wording. The ubiquitous "it won't affect images" or similar language should be suspect unless there are very good images showing the lens to be reasonably clean with the listing.
My advice would be to accept no one's word for anything, but to use your own light (cellphone flashlight works well) to make an inspection of your own. I've written before about weird cases, like a "mint" lens, "like new for sure" that had a chip in an internal element and not on the edge. Or a lens where "usual dust won't affect images" was a large black lump between two internal elements.
So, proceed with caution. Know prices back home (or have a way to check them) and inspect lenses closely. Some of the current sellers are sullying the reputation of previously good sellers. I assume that would be the same for used shops, as many purport to be used camera businesses or "photography professionals" on the auction site.
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Forum: General Photography
04-03-2024, 10:37 PM
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in all sincerity (full of sarcasm), it seems we could still see through the viewfinder when it is lowered to street pavement level to get that reflection in a puddle of water. It's flippy-proof! :D
---------- Post added 04-04-24 at 12:38 AM ----------
I'd love to have a loft that size! Check out the cars below! :)
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Forum: General Photography
04-03-2024, 10:34 PM
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Making it a pay option may have been a marketing aim to increase revenue (maybe). But, as mentioned may have proved unworkable in practice as a pay feature.
Pentax might be well-advised to find or create more features like this one purely as a loyalty move and issue it worldwide.
"Look at the value we are adding to your cameras!"
That would have the benefit of possibly retaining some customers who are tempted to leave for the feature-rich field of mirrorless cameras. Any additional selling points can only help Pentax. I love my cameras and (too many) lenses, but sometimes it feels like I have to love Pentax, the company, in spite of themselves.
Tying certain "looks" or preset outputs and the ND filter to either certain cameras or certain lenses or pay per feature is just ... well, sometimes just unfathomable for me. \_0_/ :)
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Forum: General Photography
04-02-2024, 02:39 AM
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:D :D has someone stolen my other 9? 1990s. \_O_/ :D
And, yes, compared to anything today, it's quite heavy with a tiny little screen. The keyboard is awesome, though. They don't make 'em like that any more!
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
04-02-2024, 02:37 AM
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First, I use a blower to remove all visible dust. That can potentially reduce scratches.
Then, I use ROR Residual Oil Remover from B&H. I think it works great.
A PEC pad is handy for cleaning if at home. Otherwise, I use a clean microfiber cloth for optics, which I usually make sure to pack with me.
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Forum: General Photography
03-31-2024, 11:46 PM
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Really interesting idea: bad camera reviews. I had an off-brand digital camera that was 1 mpx in the 1990s. There was a rudimentary optical viewfinder. No screen at all. No controls. It actually did take good photos though. Some of the 5x7s I took are still on display at friends' houses.
I have no idea what happened to it.Somehow, it disappeared It was a little larger than 1 1/2 decks of cards. Very flat. That may have been how it disappeared - slipped into someplace unnoticed, like a car seat or fell off a counter somewhere. It used Smartcards, which I'm unsure I could even read today. I have a couple old readers, but I think they're serial connections, which my laptops don't have.
Gets complicated, doesn't it? I still have an old IBM ThinkPad from the early 1900s. B&W screen. It works on AC power. But I can't remember much about the operation of it.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-26-2024, 02:28 AM
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My own personal battery would have trouble at -10C! :D I've unfortunately grown averse to the cold.
---------- Post added 03-26-24 at 04:30 AM ----------
I did high school basketball in the early 1970s. TriX film, sometimes a flash (110v and it had a loud whistle while recovering before the next 'BOF'!), sometimes not. Pre-focus. Judge the action. All manual. Calculate in your head, quick on your feet.
If those things could be done and sharp newspaper photos obtained, then certainly auto-focus will serve today, although I readily admit there can be differences in equipment.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-25-2024, 03:04 AM
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I still have my K-5iis which, if yours is a "plain" K-5 is a couple small steps up. It's proven to be a satisfactory camera over many years, including now. But you find the K-5 not quick enough or suitable for your use.
And you seem to be saying that the K-3iii is far too expensive. Very likely so. Yet, the KP, the K-3 & K-3ii are all still available, used, and don't come near to the cost of a K-3iii. I don't find the KP battery life to be "poor" at all. At my most recent use I shot over 200 images documenting a historic site without any worries about battery life. I did carry a spare with me.
Along with that, there are also the K-70 and KF models. All of these other cameras are an advancement over your K-5, should you decide to pursue the Pentax line.
As you have at least one good lens, the 18-135mm, you may want to consider whether by keeping your eyes open for a good buy, Pentax may be the way to continue. However, if you are perfectly happy with your Canon, well... there you are.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-22-2024, 02:32 AM
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I have a Pentax DA 55-300mm lens that came without the hood. I bought a 3rd party one from China that claimed to fit and it did. That was probably 2-3 years ago.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
03-20-2024, 02:17 AM
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There is a film market out there, for now. Other camera makers have reported increased film camera sales. Maybe that will help expand film adjacent resources, like film supply, developing options, etc.
For me, at this point in life, I'm using digital and not film. So, unfortunately, it was "not buying at any price," but I wish Pentax well with this pursuit.
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
03-19-2024, 02:40 AM
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Show a pic of the mount to see if it is Auto Focus.
I have an AF version that has the APO DG designation with the red stripe. It's surprisingly sharp when stopped down a bit in good light. If you can get it for a super good price, I'd say it's likely worth it.
For a really great 50-300mm, get the Pentax PLM version, but it will cost you more than this lens up in the low $100s. This one should be roughly $60 to $90 if it is AF, depending on condition. Have you examined the glass with a flashlight?
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Forum: Photographic Technique
03-16-2024, 02:41 AM
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I'm trying to fully understand the OP and your subsequent comments.
Does your experiment include intentionally moving the camera while pressing the shutter? Are the movements controlled mechanically somehow? Or is the camera hand-held throughout the exposures?
What are the experiments intended to examine? The accuracy of the Shake Reduction mechanism? Isn't the SR designed to address minor unintentional shaking? Unintentional movements may be much less than intentional movements.
If all the exposures are completely handheld during intentional movements, doesn't it follow that the movements would vary in degree and amount with each exposure?
Or maybe I don't understand the "pitch and yaw" and "circular movement" comments?
It seems that many are trying to be helpful with suggestions on how to keep the camera steady and movement-free while pressing the shutter, but the experiment seems to be intentional movement while pressing the shutter.
Again, my apologies if I've misunderstood the OP and following remarks. Trying to see what info is really being sought.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-16-2024, 01:36 AM
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Practice now, well before the eclipse with your solar filter, your longest lens, and one or two teleconverters. Do it at roughly the same time of day that the eclipse will take place in your area.
Practice getting the right infinity focus (often not exactly at the focus stop). Decide how many teleconverters you want to use, how well you can track the sun.
Note that the normal ball head on a tripod may have too much movement when locking down to stay on track with the sun. Once you get to 300 > 600 > more with a 300mm + 2x + 2x or + 1.5 of APSC, movement at the ball head once you get the sun in the frame can be an issue.
So, practice to see how your rig works out. If you have to do something in compensation (like aiming high when you twist the ball head lock down, etc) then you'll know more about it and how to work with it during the few minutes of eclipse.
Also, even during 2-4 minutes of the height of the eclipse, the sun's going to move a noticeable amount at near 600mm or more.
You may want to take partial eclipse photos as the event proceeds, so practicing acquiring the sun in the frame now, beforehand, will be helpful. It's not as easy as it sounds with a TC, solar filter, etc.
Bring a lightweight white cloth to toss over your equipment between shots to reduce heating in the sunlight.
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Forum: General Photography
03-13-2024, 01:41 AM
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What sort of lens are people using? Can a large enough image be obtained without excessive cropping? I'm just curious of the mechanics of it all. tia!
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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
03-13-2024, 01:36 AM
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Interesting the K30 is listed, but not the very similar to internally identical (?) K50. And that the K-01 is still listed. I'll still say the KP deserved a lot longer life than it had, both in production and in spare parts.
But, as said, parts go out of production not only at Pentax, but at their suppliers. Nothing to be done then.
In an expanding rather than contracting photography world, there might be more spares warehoused. But "warehouse" became a dirty word during "just in time" manufacturing which flourished for a time, then that went to pieces in the pandemia. Ooops... there are no good answers or solutions.
Buy all the spares. Junk nothing. :D
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
03-13-2024, 01:29 AM
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Welcome to Pentax Forums. I'm often the idiot, but people are remarkably nice about it. I've overlooked things many times. No worries.
Show us some photos taken with your adapted Canon lenses. If you end up happy, great! If you end up unhappy, consider picking up a used Sony E mirrorless camera as most everything can be adapted due to the mirrorless registration distance.
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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
03-12-2024, 03:33 AM
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Do they really collect 13-14% of the sales price? That's a steep cut, isn't it?
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
03-12-2024, 03:31 AM
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My experiences with KEH have been very similar to @pepperberry farm's and @Oldbayrunner's
Bargain items that I couldn't find much wrong with. Better rated items that arrived looking like new to me. Maybe I'm not critical enough? Maybe the paint was faded on one side or a bit of brassing on the knurls. Never a defect with the lens or anything non-functional. In fact, I was very pleased, because my "Bargains" were real bargains!
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
03-10-2024, 01:47 AM
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I liked a lot of the OP ideas. In fact, a reduced down FF could be just about perfect for my uses. I'd avoid a lot of stuff I don't ever use. The premium version could be for all those who need the automation, extra features, etc.
I love this idea of split-screen focus. Instead of electronic visual representation for focus, just give us a great split screen OEM in the camera in a bright OVF. It's a great way to manually focus and, at least in my experience, very easy to do accurately.
Forgetting about the electronics for AF indication in the viewfinder would be a (maybe small or tiny) weight savings. It would reduce complexity for sure.
As far as the rear screen, I think that's something that most users of digital cameras will demand. The ability to see your images on camera, immediately, and reshoot or move on is very valuable. I can see it would be a weight and cost savings. But I don't think many would buy a digital camera without a screen. Even 100% manual shooters would likely want a screen.
As far as fixed or moveable, well, adjustable movement screens is a mature technology. Pentax used them on the K-S2, the KP, etc. Both those two were small form-factor cameras. Having a screen didn't noticeably increase the size. All other makers use them. And, yes, having at least the capacity to flip it up for low shots would be the minimum.
A lot of great ideas in this thread! Thought-provoking.
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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
03-09-2024, 03:11 AM
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Well over $2600 usd right now and 38 hours to go ! Have they usually gone that high? Well, it's a full set, including nice case.
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