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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-04-2012, 01:53 PM
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
08-18-2011, 08:16 AM
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Interesting discussion I sparked up here :lol:!
Cheers again for the help though, glad to know what the streak is being caused by. That's the risk buying used though - I only hope it's not a pube . . .
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
08-12-2011, 12:11 PM
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I don't really have anything that fits the bill at home, I don't think, so I shall look into the Rocket Blower, since that seems to be the thing to use.
The only thing I have in the house that can move lots of air is my amp, but I fear it needs to be rather more concentrated than that :p
Thanks!
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
08-12-2011, 09:59 AM
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As I thought. Thanks for confirming. Rocket blower it is (unless there is an alternative that might be lying around the house - probably not, right?)
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
08-12-2011, 09:12 AM
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On this pic below, there is a streak about 1/3 of the way down in the middle, right by the street light. It comes and goes, on pictures taken with my kit lens, but not on the other two. Is it sensor dust (looks like a hair), or lens dust - I rather think it is sensor dust but I just wanted confirmation from someone who knows more than I do! These streaks have been on some, but not all pictures since I bought the camera second hand. Suppose it is about time I bought a rocket blower . . .
Excuse the crap pic :o
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-10-2011, 08:27 AM
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I guess I can see how it would be worth it putting it like that. Although, I've upgraded from a 35mm SLR, so even a 2GB card is way more convenient than having to put a new film in every 36 shots :lol:
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-08-2011, 08:44 AM
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OK, well I have all the required elements - card reader, fully charged batteries et cetera but is it an absolute necessity to update though? Seems to work fine on v 1.00. If it doesn't change anything other than the ability to use bigger SD cards I'm not sure I want to take any chances because knowing my luck something will crap out on me and I'm left with no camera :(
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-08-2011, 06:38 AM
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That's kind of weird because mine's the opposite! I haven't updated the firmware because I'm too scared even fully charged batteries won't be enough to keep it on while it does it.
My DL woks perfectly on eneloops. I bought the power pack off Amazon that comes with the charger after buying the 'Duraloops' (the rechargeable Duracells with the while tops are basically rebranded eneloops apparently) and they were the only battery that has worked. It's weird, I used one set of Energizer lithiums in there when I bought it - lasted maybe 6 months. Put in some normal rechargeables and they lasted 3 days :lol:.
After those, I couldn't get any other battery type to work. Not Ulitimate Lithiums, not even normal bog standard AAs, nothing but the crappy rechargeables until I found the 'Duraloops' in Walgreens. I got about 8 months out of them and during that time I bought the eneloop pack, and now I go through them quickly but that's because I'm taking a lot of indoor with flash shots. The best thing is, during a shoot, the battery icon will go to the almost empty reading - I turn off the camera for a minute or two and then it's back up to full again! Can stretch a set out quite long that way!
I think you are definitely right about the *ist DL being a picky camera, and this is probably likely due to it being 6 years old, but I love mine and as much as I'd love a Kr or a K7/K5 I just don't think I could bring myself to update her right now. I'm sure there are a million reasons why one of the Ks would be better but I just like the way my DL takes photos :)
One thing though - how long does that firmware update take, and does it do anything for me other than enable me to use SDHC cards and 4Gb and above?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-08-2010, 01:39 PM
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Was reading through this thread and a thought occurred to me - I have a 500mm/f8 mirror lens on my film SLR (a Minolta MD mount) that uses a T2 adaptor so I can mount it on the camera body.
Does this mean I can get a T - Pentax K mount and use that 500m lens on my *ist DL?
Sorry for hijacking the thread!
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-08-2010, 07:18 AM
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Nice one - bet you get a good few interesting shots with that. I can't wait for spring either - I already photographed the snow this winter, and I really think that once is enough with snow!
Maybe we'll get our wish soon though, supposed to get up in the 50s this week round here :)
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-06-2010, 01:44 PM
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I'm not planning to dump it especially now I know the LSD duracells work perfectly. Quite the opposite, now I will be looking to buy a bunch of eneloops and lenses!
If you are referring to the resetting time issue, I will be keeping and eye on that but it hasn't happened since I put in the duracells.
Thanks again :-)
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-05-2010, 04:43 PM
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UPDATE!
Well, I got pretty despondent today after doing some reading in work, which made it look like I had a busted camera on my hands.
Feeling pretty dejected I headed to Walgreens on my way home from work, with a view to buying some CRV3s to try and lo and behold, they had a bunch of white-topped Duracell precharged, which I had heard being referred to as Duraloops. Bought a set for $15.00 and threw them in the camera and it powered up, full battery charge. I'm very happy and think I will definitely look into that eneloop bundle from Amazon now to keep me stocked up.
Whether these indeed are re-branded eneloops I will never know but they are the Made in Japan white-tip ones, and they were marked as 'new' on the packaging. So check out your Walgreens if you need some new ones!
Thanks again for your help and patience, and I will work on getting some pictures up for you to critique and advise me on how to get better. One day I wil get that K-X/7/20D/whatever the new one is when I have the money, but for now I think lenses and a decent flash gun are the way ahead.
One more +1 for the eneloop/hybrid rechargeables, they seem to be the way to go for these cameras. Of course, the real test will be next week to see if they still retain a decent charge. I'm sure they will!
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-05-2010, 07:24 AM
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Ah, would it were that simple! Much as I'd have loved a K-X (or K20d or K7 for that matter), I don't have the funds for an upgrade just now.
If the internal battery issue is just causing me to reset the date/time every so often, I'm not too worried but if it is causing the other issue then I'd need to get it looked at. I'm going to guess that the camera was at least 3-5 years old when I bought it, so that little internal battery might be due a replacement, because my 5 year old watch battery just bit the dust last month and they're similar kinds. Is this something that is not recommended to be a DIY attempt though, or is it just unscrew cover, replace battery, screw back cover?
I'm half tempted to get a pair of CRV3s over the weekend as a stopgap while I wait for the eneloops, or is that a bad idea? I'm still hanging on to the glimmer of home that the still working Kodak rechargeables are providing.
I am very sorry about all the beginner questions - I should be out taking pictures to post on the forum instead. I'll get there though!
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-04-2010, 03:33 PM
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Sorry to bump the old thread but I tried this - actually let it sit several nights but to no avail. Kodaks still believe it of not have a bit of charge left in them but it is getting slightly worrying because one time I had to reset the date and time and everything. I hope my camera isn't on the way out :(
I still have to try cleaning the contacts, which I will do tonight, then I will look into buying the eneloops. In the meantime - is there any likelyhood that the ultimate lithiums I bought were just duds, or at least one of them anyway?
Ah, I'm just thinking out loud - Peter, I will still be taking your advice that more lithiums is a waste, and if I can get use out of the regular rechargeables then the eneloops look good.
Will update when I can. Thanks for all the help :)
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
02-26-2010, 10:02 AM
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Thank you. I will try to get some pics on soon, but it's hard to do anything away from the baby right now because I feel bad if I'm doing something other than taking care of her!
Thanks for your help in my other thread about the batteries as well.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-26-2010, 09:54 AM
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This is starting to renew my confidence a bit in my camera because I would guess if there was an issue then even my Kodaks wouldn't work. Must just be an anomaly with the lithiums I have because that was the kind I put in after I bought it.
Oh well. Lots of things to try over the weekend!
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-26-2010, 09:24 AM
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Good stuff. Is the charger that comes bundled with the batteries a good one? Amazon currently has a set with 8 AAs and 2 AAAs with a charger and C/D adaptors for $33.00 that looks like a good deal that I could probably take advantage of over the weekend.
My main concern was that even if I get the eneloops that they will end up giving me the same problem but by the sound of things I should be OK. I'd like to get back to the only thing to worry about being what new lens to buy, rather than is it going to work when I switch it on!
Thanks for the advice :)
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
02-26-2010, 07:35 AM
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Hi
I very rudely went and posted a question about a problem I'm having before I actually introduced myself so I thought I'd better stop in here and say hello.
I'm new to digital but not photography - been shooting in 35mm film since I was 17 and got into photography at the end of high school. I decided to make the jump to a DSLR this year, as a birthday present to myself and also because we had a new baby on the way and the hassle and cost of processing the films was getting me down.
Having only $300.00 to spend, I managed to find a deal on a *ist DL on eBay that I couldn't pass up, and I've been very happy with my new toy, using it to take pics of our new house, and most recently the new baby.
I hope I can become a regular here, if my time allows it. I look forward to adding new lenses and getting better with the digital photography, and if I get my little battery issue sorted I will be happy!
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-26-2010, 07:16 AM
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Thanks - luckily the camera had been already sitting without batteries since the other night when I last tried the lithiums in it. I have left them out over last night and I'll try again when I get home tonight.
Are the new Ultimate Lithiums I bought last week still considered good or should I buy a new set? They are essentially brand new as I doubt the camera has drawn much power from them in the few times I got the error message.
Also, I read somewhere in another post about cleaning the contacts with rubbing alcohol - is that something I should try before I put batteries back in again?
Fingers crossed this works, then I can buy a bunch of eneloops and get the battery issues sorted once and for all!
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-25-2010, 02:28 PM
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Hi, I know this is my first post and I'm sorry to bring this up again since others had discussed it recently but it was actually while I was browsing this forum for info on LSD rechargeables that it started.
Anyway, long story short, I bought a 2nd hand *ist DL as a 30th birthday present to myself in the summer, and after the first set of batteries I put in (Ultimate Lithiums) ran out, I went out and bought a set of Kodak NiMH rechargeables (2500's) and a charger in Wal-Mart (uninformed decision I know) and sort of dealt with the constant recharging over Christmas until I found out about the hybrids/LSD/eneloop style batteries.
So, while waiting for the funds to become justifiably available to buy some, I recently needed my camera when we just had a new daughter. Knowing that the Kodak's probably were on their last legs, I stupidly threw in a set of 'emergency' alkalines. Depleted battery meter flashed, fair enough - I thought they were just not powerful enough so I threw in the Kodaks which held out at 1/2 charge enough to take plenty of pics of my new baby girl.
The problem was, in between I had gone and bought a new set of Ultimate Lithiums, which I thought would give me another 500+ shots like the first set, but the depleted battery warning flashed (and continues to flash). The really weird thing is, well over a week after the last charge, my Kodaks are still showing a half-full reading when I stick them in.
Am I missing something really obvoius here, or did I somehow screw up my camera by putting in the alkalines? Perhaps I just got a dodgy set of lithiums, and I'd try a new set, or some CRV3s but that would become an expensive experiment. Can someone shed some light on this before I get the eneloops? Other than this, I really love the *ist DL and I was looking forward to buying some new lenses and having fun over the summer with it. I'd hate to have to go back to film again because processing is getting to be a real hassle these days and I still have undeveloped rolls from who knows when!!
Well, sorry for retreading old ground but I appreciate any help you guys can give me!
Thanks.
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