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Forum: Pentax Price Watch 3 Hours Ago  
Pentax lens price reductions at Harrison Cameras - UK
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 1
Views: 129
Nice catch, Kevin... Thanks for posting.

The price of the HD FA50/1.4 is exactly where I wanted it to be, and I got right up to PayPal checkout before realising I'd blow my budget for the half-frame Pentax film camera. What a great deal, though...
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 4 Hours Ago  
Film camera news
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 274
Views: 11,429
I like that idea... but I don't know how economically (or even logistically) viable it would be in today's more limited film photography market. Here in the UK, there are enough labs - from small one-man operations to professional setups and even a chain or two - that you can send off a 36exp colour 135 film by Freepost and have it developed for around GBP £10. If there's any margin to be made on those prices by Ricoh, it would need to be small so as not to price itself out of the market.. and that requires large volume to make it worthwhile. Anything's possible, though :)
Forum: General Talk 5 Hours Ago  
Heads up about Ford wheel nuts.
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 32
Views: 686
In recent years I've taken to carrying a torque wrench in the car (admittedly, I've only had to use it once, but it's there if I should need it again). Around 120nm / 90 ft lbs is a good general level for wheel nuts. The length of the wrench - compared to the short wheel brace supplied with the car - is far better for leverage and makes it easy to apply the necessary force, while the ratchet mechanism means you don't have to keep removing it and placing it back on the nut. I can't remember exactly what I paid for mine, but I seem to recall it was around GBP £40...
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 5 Hours Ago  
Film camera news
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 274
Views: 11,429
My experience with half-frame thus far, Eric, is that Soviet models may not be the way to go... there are very few Chaikas in genuinely good working condition (though your "good" may differ from mine), and so many examples - faulty but also fully-working - have been butchered for the lens, which is easier to sell. The Agat-18K (of which I own a mint example) is another possibility, but it's very plasticky and - worse still - quirky and temperamental in a number of ways including film advance (I've chewed up a couple of films to the point of jamming :o).

IMHO, the Olympus PEN cameras are some of the best vintage half-frame choices, not least because of the excellent lenses - but again, finding one in fully-working, not "dropped and dented" and not-messed-around-with condition is becoming increasingly difficult. The one to go for (again, IMHO) is the PEN S - but truly excellent examples can cost 50 - 100% more than a "full frame" Olympus Trip 35 in similar or better condition (there are plenty at much lower prices that I wouldn't touch - others might feel differently).

Yet again IMHO, the choice of half-frame for the new Pentax camera is something of a master-stroke from Ricoh Imaging - whether intended or not - since there are so few dependable, decent-quality vintage half-frame film cameras available, and there's a demand for them. It's a niche demand, but Ricoh / Pentax is already comfortable with that kind of market...
Forum: Welcomes and Introductions 6 Hours Ago  
Introduction Tom Miller
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 6
Views: 202
Welcome to the forums, Tom. There are lots of film fans here, and several of us shoot more than one system, whether film and/or digital. You're in good company ;)
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 7 Hours Ago  
Film camera news
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 274
Views: 11,429
Probably ironic, yes - though in fairness the early Chaika cameras were pretty solid... but none of the Soviet compact 35mm or half-frame cameras of the 1970s onwards were especially well-built, and some were very plasticky indeed. All of them had fairly capable lenses, though.



You may be right about best use... but I tend to balue preservation of vintage items, even mass-produced ones, and the thought of butchering cameras - whether fully-working or faulty - for lenses doesn't sit too well with me. That's just my personal position - I realise it happens, and if that's what folks wish to do, it's entirely their prerogative; I don't judge.

Just as there are people like me who collect Soviet lenses, there are those who collect Soviet and other film cameras, and whilst I accept you wouldn't spend money on one, many would. Actually, if I found a Chaika-II in excellent and fully-working condition at a sensible price, I'd probably buy it... to use occasionally, perhaps, but mostly just to own and mess about with. The new Pentax half-frame is a different matter... I'd buy that to use :)
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 8 Hours Ago  
Film camera news
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 274
Views: 11,429
There's conflicting information on the Chaika's Industar-69 2.8/28 lens... Mike Eckman claims it's a triplet (and I'd usually believe him, as his info is typically good), but other sources suggest it's a four-element three-group Tessar design. I'm leaning toward the latter, but I could be wrong.

Sadly, most Chaika bodies have been relieved of their lens, to be used in adapted form on APS-C or micro 4/3 digital - and I confess (with some embarassment) this is the way I've used mine. Like most Soviet-era glass, it's sharp enough without being stunningly so, and has a bit of personality to it in when pushed into shallow depth-of-field territory - which, at this focal length, is generally with the aperture wide open (or close to) and at very close range. It's not unlike the Industar-50-2 3.5/50 in terms of rendering, which again has me leaning towards the Tessar formula. I don't have any images worthy of sharing, but I can say I like the lens - then again, I like a lot of Soviet glass, so I'm a tad biased :p

I suspect the Pentax lens will be better - but I'd also imagine there's a limit as to how much you can optimise a small triplet. Coatings and Internal blacking to reduce flare and reflections should be better with Pentax, but that's assuming they're aiming at serious photography rather than the premium end of the "lomo" crowd (who tend to embrace things like flare) - and we don't know the target market for sure. We've been guessing, but that's all it is - guess-work...
Forum: Photographic Technique 9 Hours Ago  
Is there any trick for doing longer exposure with shake reduction?
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 46
Views: 1,358
Understood, biz :) I appreciate any sharing of useful information, however it's presented - and I'm sure others will too...



Thanks for that. I think I understand what you're describing. Presumably you shoot in Live View for this method, yes? I'm just thinking that it would be difficult to watch the plumb line with your eye to the viewfinder, but if the camera is in Live View and held away from the body slightly, you should be able to see it with peripheral vision whilst composing with the screen. Is that how you do it?
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 1 Day Ago  
Poll: Do you see a Pentax Half-Frame in your future? Best of PF Newsletter March 6 Poll
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 126
Views: 5,428
If you get good results from it and it suits your workflow, that's what counts :)

The Plustek scanners are very reputable. If I was buying a brand new dedicated film scanner, I'd probably go with a Plustek - but it would have to be the OpticFilm 120, simply because I sometimes shoot 120 film in addition to 135...
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 1 Day Ago  
Poll: Do you see a Pentax Half-Frame in your future? Best of PF Newsletter March 6 Poll
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 126
Views: 5,428
Indeed... and that's a huge advantage (at least for C41 film - it doesn't work with true B&W film, of course). However, it's much easier to obtain perfect focus and sharper detail with a digital camera setup, especially if you have a method of keeping your film perfectly flat without introducing Newton's Rings. Most current mid-range flatbed and dedicated scanners don't have AF, so even if you have the means to flatten your film perfectly, the holder usually needs shimming in order to obtain perfect focus across the entire frame and the quoted resolution. There are other pros and cons to both, such as faster digitising speed with a camera - offset by longer clean-up time. It all comes down to personal preference... Mine is to use a DSLR and macro lens, with a high CRI light panel and good film holder that (a) keeps film flat and (b) exposes the entire width including sprockets and/or info - but I've seen great results from any method :)
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 1 Day Ago  
Poll: Do you see a Pentax Half-Frame in your future? Best of PF Newsletter March 6 Poll
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 126
Views: 5,428
I prefer to use the term "digitising", which pretty much covers any method - flatbed and dedicated "true" scanners, feed-through photographic "scanners", and photographic copying with DSLR / mirrorless and macro lens. Aside from the cheap feed-through photographic "scanners" (that aren't really scanners), they're all capable enough, but with different advantages and disadvantages...
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 1 Day Ago  
I want to support Pentax, but…
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 173
Views: 5,721
Since a number of these example were taken with older 10 - 20MP cameras, I'm waiting for someone to suggest that the 18-55 is less capable on newer, higher-resolution models... but Gary's last shot above - the "rainbow shower" - proves that it can work just as well on a 26MP sensor without AA filter. Even where the sensor significantly out-resolves the lens, and diffraction impacts resolution due to a small aperture, good processing (whether in camera or software) and sensible dimensions result in great-looking images. Just don't print at large poster size and view at 30cm looking for problems...
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 1 Day Ago  
I want to support Pentax, but…
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 173
Views: 5,721
Superb, Gary. I particularly like that monochrome stitched pano of the fields... Skilfully captured, stitched and processed - and, dare I say it, sharp (looking at the larger reproduction on Flickr was worthwhile!). Taken with a K-01 and a DA18-55 kit lens, you say? No need for anyone to turn away from Pentax with results like that ;)
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 1 Day Ago  
I want to support Pentax, but…
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 173
Views: 5,721
Funnily enough, I almost mentioned you in one of my recent posts, David, but didn't want to put you on the spot. I thought I remembered you'd made some wonderful images with the 18-55... and I was right. As usual, the results reflect the artistic and technical skills of the photographer - not the limitations of the lens. Beautiful photos :)
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 1 Day Ago  
I want to support Pentax, but…
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 173
Views: 5,721
Thanks, Lee... and I tend to agree with your final statement - they're all similar sharpness-wise... or rather, none of them is amazing, but they're all "good enough" for their respective prices and entry-level status in lens line-ups. Where one might be optimised for wider angle, another might be better in the mid-range or at the long end. One has a plastic mount and so-so build, the other metal and more robust build. One has silent in-lens AF, the other noisy camera-driven screw-drive. One is weather-resistant, the other isn't. One has in-lens stabilisation, the other relies on the camera's SR. One has distance markings for manual focusing and range confirmation, the other not so. One comes with a hood, the other doesn't... etc., etc. You can claim any one of them is "better" than the others by cherry-picking individual features and specs, or quoting test-chart results for resolution and aberration control at specific focal lengths and apertures, but it's largely irrelevant and misses the point of these lenses. It's not a competition, and which manufacturer has the "best kit zoom" (depending on your criteria) really doesn't matter - it's lipstick on a pig... they're all compromised. Go out and take photos, learn the strengths and weaknesses of the lens, shoot accordingly, and you'll be rewarded with broadly the same great images with any of the kit zooms - assuming (a) you understand the basics of photography, and (b) you print or display the photos at sensible reproduction sizes and view them from typical distances. Pixel-peep at 30cm from your monitor and you'll find obvious and significant weaknesses in all of them... as you'd quite reasonably expect from entry-level lenses.

I'm fortunate to own and use some really nice quality glass, both primes and zooms. For wide-angle-to-normal zoom, I typically shoot a Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 HSM, which is a very decent lens with good performance characteristics in its class. Still, sometimes I'll use the DA18-55 WR in preference because it's compact, light-weight, weather-resistant, and image quality is "good enough" for my use-case on that particular day. I don't pixel-peep those images except when applying noise-reduction and sharpening in post... and when I view the images at full-screen reproduction on my 24" monitor, they look great. I don't ask for more from a kit lens...
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 1 Day Ago  
I want to support Pentax, but…
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 173
Views: 5,721
Do you have links to comparisons with images and/or MTF data? Not that this matters, especially... Comparison images would be much better - some that demonstrate the difference you've noticed in photos viewed at normal reproduction sizes.

Did you look at the forum photo search link I posted? Even if the other brands' equivalent lenses are so much better (and I highly doubt that, but I'm prepared to be convinced by hard data), does it matter if the end result - in capable hands - is photos as good as these?



Yes... but the 18-50 uses an internal DC motor. All are weather-resistant, and the 18-55 and 50-200 have metal mounts and robust build quality for the price point.

Many Pentax lenses are still screw-drive. It's a point of contention for some, not so for others. It doesn't impact image quality, except perhaps for consistency in absolute PDAF precision at very fast apertures and close range. If screw-drive is a deal-breaker, Pentax is the wrong system for you, as it will be many years before all lenses in the system have in-lens AF motors (if indeed that ever happens)...

----

EDIT: The conclusion of Photozone's review of the 18-55 WR:



I'd say that's a fair summary...

... and here's the same website's review of the Canon EF-S 18-55 II:



I don't know whether that's fair or not, as I've never used it. I have used - and still do use, occasionally - the Pentax lens, and it's a decent entry-level zoom that benefits from basic weather-resistance (the latter being my reason for using it over other glass). It takes great photos if used knowledgeably...
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 1 Day Ago  
I want to support Pentax, but…
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 173
Views: 5,721
As I said in my previous post:



Look, I understand that the 18-55 and 50-200 aren't the sharpest lenses in the range. They're inexpensive kit zoom lenses - the key points being "inexpensive" and "zoom", as both properties result in compromises... but between them they provide light-weight and weather-resistant coverage of 18 through 200mm, which is enough for the majority of day-to-day shooting applications - and used to their strengths they'll produce sharp images at normal reproduction sizes. Sure, if you pixel-peep at 1:1 you'll see weak performance in the borders and corners at wider apertures, but with a little sharpening in camera or post-processing, images presented at typical reproduction dimensions will look good (as the link above proves).

There's an expectation for compact, inexpensive, entry-level zooms like these for beginners and those on a tight budget, just as there's expectation for high quality 24-70 f/2.8 and 70-200 f/2.8 zooms for full-frame users with the money to buy them and willingness / stamina to carry them. It's not just a Pentax thing... so what would you have them offer instead at the price? :confused:
Forum: Photographic Technique 2 Days Ago  
Is there any trick for doing longer exposure with shake reduction?
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 46
Views: 1,358
I only asked if you'd considered it. You were keen to mention it in this thread, and I thought it would make a great article. It's something I know I could learn and benefit from, and I'm sure others could too - but it's entirely up to you whether you share it or not...

EDIT: I'd have been interested to read an article on 300Mp prints workflow, too... Unlike the plumb line, it's not something I'd use, but it would be an interesting read, I'm sure...
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 2 Days Ago  
I want to support Pentax, but…
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 173
Views: 5,721
As kit lenses go, the later version of the DA18-55 is known to be competitive (some would say superior) when compared to OEM equivalents for other DSLR brands... even more so the HD DA18-50 (I own and occasionally use both). The DA50-200 is fine if you use it wisely (I sold mine and wish I hadn't - there are times I could use it). The DA35/2.4 and 50/1.8 are actually quite excellent for the money, especially the 35 (again, I own and use both). At their price points, these are all optically very decent if used knowledgeably (for example, the zooms - like most budget lenses - benefit considerably from being stopped down) and AF fine adjustment is set correctly. If you use the image search facility in these forums, you'll find some outstanding photos taken with all of them. Of course you can't compare them to the considerably more expensive, faster and heavier Sigma 17-70, and especially not the DA*16-50... but not everyone can afford those. The lower-end DA lenses get you started, and if used with an element of skill they're capable of excellent results... In some cases, they may be all a photographer on a budget needs.

If anyone has trouble taking good, sharp images with any of the low-end DAs, the first thing I'd ask is to see some example photos and EXIF data. Assuming they're not faulty, the zooms are more than adequate and the primes are really very good indeed...

EDIT: Here's a link to forum photos taken with the more recent 18-55:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/samplesearch.php?do=photos&lens=15&sort=likesratio&pp=40
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 2 Days Ago  
I want to support Pentax, but…
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 173
Views: 5,721
You're welcome :)

It's possible that K-mount AF adapters for other systems will continue to improve... but I wouldn't expect them to provide a 100% seamless, unlimited and inconvenience-free experience any time soon, if ever. The problem is, the manufacturer would need to have full and unfettered access to the camera<->lens protocols for both Pentax and the target system - or else, as I believe the folks at MonsterAdapter did, reverse engineer them... and the latter usually isn't without its issues (as we've seen with Sigma K-mount lenses from time-to-time). Although, to be fair, the E-mount LA-KE1 seems pretty good (if not perfect). Certainly, in the unlikely event that Ricoh developed a Pentax AF adapter for one or more mirrorless platforms, they couldn't and wouldn't rely on reverse engineering - for legal and reputational reasons, and because a major brand product needs to be that much more "bullet proof" than something from a small third-party company. Folks hold brands like Pentax to higher expectations.

In any case, Ricoh already provides four Pentax-branded products that enable anyone to mount and use any Pentax K-mount lens without optical and functional compromises or incompatibility concerns... the KF, K-3III, K-3III Monochrome and K-1II :D
Forum: Photographic Technique 2 Days Ago  
Is there any trick for doing longer exposure with shake reduction?
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 46
Views: 1,358
^^^ This...
Forum: General Talk 2 Days Ago  
Heads up about Ford wheel nuts.
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 32
Views: 686
I might order some third-party replacements for my rusty Dacia wheel nuts, too... and for a bit of fun, I can bury the originals in a field somewhere for the local metal detectorists to find. Given the state of them, they'll probably think they're Roman artefacts. It'll make their day... :lol:
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 2 Days Ago  
I want to support Pentax, but…
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 173
Views: 5,721
Some time back, one of our members more-or-less encouraged me into a Techart Pro M EA7 for my Sony A7II, so complimentary was he of its capabilities (without actually having used it). After months of dithering, I bought one... and it's a seriously compromised piece of kit.

It focuses by moving the entire lens back-and-forth, so those that focus by moving anything other than the entire optical block either won't focus or won't perform as they should... That back-and-forth movement has a range of just 4.5mm, which is too short to allow focusing of longer focal length lenses all the way from MFD to infinity - meaning you have to manually pre-focus them... It has no electronic or mechanical aperture control... There's no electronic communication with the lens, so focal length and aperture aren't picked up by the adapter and have to be "programmed" by the user via the camera's aperture control if needed in image metadata... The firmware is buggy and can freeze unexpectedly, requiring a reset procedure... The maximum weight of any attached lens must not exceed 700g (though long-term user experiences suggest this is way too generous and ought to be more like 500g or even less)... The single motor and "moving mount" design is prone to drooping and/or wobble after a very short period of use... and the overall design means it's very easy for dust to get inside both the adapter and camera. These are the shortcomings I can remember... there may be others I've forgotten.

I bought mine in 2018 and used it just a few times over a two month period, before putting it back in its box where it sits to this day :o I now use a decent manual focus stop-down adapter instead - it's a lot more robust, and I can live without AF on the few occasions I want to use my K-mount glass on my A7II.

I understand the later (current?) EA9 version of the adapter addresses a couple of the EA7's shortcomings... Significantly, it replaces the single motor with four, which reduces the possibility of droop or wobble and improves focusing speed - but the maximum lens weight limit is reduced to just 300g, further limiting the number of lenses it can be used with. Most of the other compromises remain.

The Monster LA-KE1 adapter for Sony E-mount is a far better product from everything I've read - but it's not without its own problems, isn't compatible with every K-mount lens, and it's expensive... more than half the price of a brand new Pentax KF (now there's a thought ;)).

Thus far, these adapters seem to be mostly of use to folks who already switched from Pentax to another system, but can't let go of their favourite K-mount glass (well, some of it) and are prepared to accept numerous compromises as a result. I can sympathise to a limited extent.

Why do I mention all this? Well, I can't see Ricoh selling a whole bunch of new Pentax lenses on the basis of third-party adapters. It could develop its own superior OEM Pentax adapters for each system, as you suggested, but that would require collaboration with - or co-operation from - each manufacturer, some or all of whom I expect would be quite reluctant to assist (they want people to buy OEM glass, not Pentax)... and the end result would be products that actively encourage folks to use other-brand mirrorless systems. I think it would drive more of them away from Pentax and the K-mount system than it would attract - and that's quite the sacrifice just to sell more lenses :o

It's an interesting idea and viewpoint, though, and I can see how and why you came up with it - but we'll have to agree to disagree. I just don't see it working... and, again, I'd rather Ricoh concentrates on development of Pentax cameras and lenses.
Forum: Photographic Technique 3 Days Ago  
Is there any trick for doing longer exposure with shake reduction?
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 46
Views: 1,358
That sounds excellent, biz - what a clever approach! It seems like a technique that could benefit a lot of folks in these forums (and elsewhere). Have you considered writing an article or longer post on this? I imagine it would be greatly appreciated if you did...
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 3 Days Ago  
I want to support Pentax, but…
Posted By BigMackCam
Replies: 173
Views: 5,721
I can't see Ricoh Imaging spending time and money developing adapters for other brand cameras in the hope of (a) selling lenses and (b) maybe attracting folks to shoot DSLR because they're a hipster-cool retro novelty. I sincerely hope it doesn't. Personally, I'd rather it spent whatever limited resources and budget it has developing new cameras and lenses for those of us who enjoy shooting the K-mount system (and OVFs because we actually prefer them - not because they're "retro") - which is why I'm here :p

If other manufacturers want to put their time, effort and money into developing adapters so mirrorless camera users can enjoy Pentax glass, I'm all for that. I understand the attraction... There's plenty of interesting - even excellent - lenses in the line-up...
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