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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
01-22-2024, 04:57 AM
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Hi guys,
As a almost 10 years K-3 user I try to switch to Sony mirrorless (at least for my work as a realtor), step by step. I got AF-540FGZ flash and also similar Sigma flash for Pentax. I just browsed a flash remote triggers, i.e. JJC JF-UF2 433 MHz wireless remote flash speedlight trigger (they offer set of 1 transceiver + 2 receivers), These triggers seem to have universal hotshoes. My queston is if any of you Pentax owners did use Pentax flash remotedly combined with Sony alpha series III body succesfully? AF-540FGZ has flash auto mode (unlike AF-FGZ II) so would be great to know in advance if this kind of wireless remote could trigger Pentax flash in Auto setting (shortening workflow on the site)?
Regards from Europe ;-)
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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
04-18-2020, 08:07 AM
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While since January 2015 I was using Lexar Professional 400x 128GB U1 60MB/s SDXC card (then $42.30), which is faster than same age Sony 128GB 40MB/s SDXC card (then $39.95), and both were very suitable for my K-3, recently I bought two Lexar Professional 1667x 128 GB U3 V60 UHS-II SDXC cards (£25.61 + p&p amazon.co.uk) for faster RAW downloads with UHS-II card reader still to be ordered.
The first batch of Lexars was from Micron (made in Korea), the latest Lexars are from Longsys (made in Taiwan).
There is 'free Image rescue 4 software' note on older Lexar Professional SD card box from 2015, and there was a code inside the card box - I keep that 17-digit code leaflet.
My QUESTION is:
Which download source would you recommend for that Lexar by Micron image rescue software (v.4 or newer)?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-08-2018, 07:07 AM
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As I own[ed] two of the 16-50mm DA*s (one sold yesterday), there was a paperwork from 2010 included with No 902xxxx and paperwork of 2013 included with 905yyyy serial number.
There were black & red Pentax boxes, with 'All-Weather' marking only on one of the boxes; I believe 'All-Weather' marking was on the older of two boxes, but I might easily wrongly swap the boxes.
Older lens bought secondhand (Europe) had slightly stiff focus ring somewhere in 2/5 of the range, while there is NO focus-ring stiffness with newer lens (905yyyy).
After more than a year of cupboard/photobag storage of the older lens (as I was using newer one), the AF was slow to wake-up (seemed to not work at first).
Newer lens bough from France said to be new (as much as you can guess with internet purchase), but both lenses had exactly the same NOT stunning image quality.
Now I'm to buy secondhand No 906zzzz in silver Ricoh box, might be my third attempt to this standard-range zoom and the last one if this Tokina design keeps to be so mediocre.
Main use: family photos.
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
07-25-2017, 04:29 AM
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Genuine Pentax AF-540FGZ infra-red assist light works with my K-3 the same way as Sigma 610 Super does (while red-light pattern of Pentax strobe seems much bigger in size on the target).
So please define precisely 'some modern Pentax camera models'.
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
07-24-2017, 05:03 AM
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I attached Sigma 610 Super flash unit to Pentax K-3 body.
There is near-infrared pattern sent by flash unit, provided we set camera for single autofocus (AF-single) or auto autofocus (as this is not working when in AF-C continuous mode), and one uses optical viewfinder.
When LCD viewfinder is in use, K-3 sends its own green focus-assist light from the on-camera LED. The pity is on-camera LED beam interferes strongly (is shadowed) with lenses' shades, and even with unshaded bigger lenses (i.e. 200mm/2.8).
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
07-21-2017, 04:42 PM
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Just marketing muble. How do they know your input source?
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
07-21-2017, 09:29 AM
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You might be better of getting 4k (UHD) TV set. Sony may be your choice, as they are preferable TVs as 4k monitors over other brands, but the edge might be very narrow (Samsung, Panasonic etc.).
You need 4k (3840x2160) capable graphics card in your PC/Mac, while card output frequency (i.e. 50i/p, etc.) is not important for stills.
What I regret a lot my, K-3 (an also K-1 / KP I believe) do not have 4k UHD hdmi output, just Full HD (1920x1200 or 1920x1080, I can't remember right now). I can watch photos directly from camera body with usb 3.0 cable connection, but unfortunatelly I am unable to delete [unwanted] photos this way (at least with my Samsung UHD menu - other manufacturers TV menus might be more friendly in that specific function).
I doubt any monitor 'work well with raw files', I expect they work with just JPGs embedded in RAW/PEF file.
For 14 bit check 'HDMI UHD colour'.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
07-20-2017, 07:03 AM
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If the main task of any camera is watching its viewfinder you might be right :lol:
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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
07-20-2017, 06:53 AM
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Or to EU. Here even iron ball comes with compulsory two year guarantee. But you pay 40%-80% more upfront...
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
07-20-2017, 06:40 AM
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Check at your SD card manufacturer website, most of SD card makers offer recovery software for their products.
Good software has different modes available (i.e. quick mode or deep & thorough mode).
Get decent external card reader, I recommend fast, reliable and cheap Kingston MobileLite G4 (USB 3.0).
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
07-20-2017, 06:24 AM
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As there seem to be substantial price drop (check e..y.co.uk sites and sellers from Hong Kong), I just ordered Sirui L-20s tilt head with QR clamp to match my CF Sirui monopod (for K-3 with RRS L-bracket, no collared glass), but I have questions to those of you experienced with monopod heads:
* Do you tilt your camera head vertically (front / back, up / down) or horizontally (sideways, as to keep proper horizon level)?
** In which direction do you fix your camera on Arca Swiss (or similar) QR clamp: from back to front, or from right to left (I mean direction of dovetail groove) - esp. that QR clamp direction is 90° adjustable on new L20s.
The latter may be personal preference, but I'd like to learn pros and cons (i. e security, convenience, etc.).
*** Do you find any use of panorama monopod head base (as L20s got one)?
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
07-19-2017, 12:27 PM
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THX, might be worth giving a FD 300mm/4.0L + K-3 a try, at least for fun :rolleyes:
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
07-19-2017, 03:30 AM
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Tell me more pls as I have some bunch of Canon FD lenses. Were you successful to mount FD glass on Pentax body?
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
07-19-2017, 03:24 AM
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I believe quality charger preserves battery life. For genuine Pentax rechargeables (which are somewhat expensive) use genuine Pentax charger.
When switching camera bodies I bought universal HAMA Delta Base P/V charger (00 081200) with D-Li50 (00 081269) and D-Li90 (00 081321) Adapter Trays. HAMA charger is 12 VDC (car plug included) / 110/240VAC. I am to check if HAMA makes KP-battery compatible adapter tray.
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
07-19-2017, 02:44 AM
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Never buy this Canon Backpack, as it may unzip on it's own (no straps securing main flap) with all of your $$$ stuff falling on the floor.
On the contrary, Canon 1EG gear bag is very well made, with all-metal clips etc., recommended.
BTW I find Lowepro Flipside (they make different sizes) as a backpack which I use most often (as this is the only bag I own which houses K-3 with 2.8/50-135 lens with hood (!) & AF-540FGZ attached (!!) for fast action + two more lenses). Buy it from Far East, the price incl. shipment is like fake, the item is like genuine.
-----Magnum is VERY huge, I ordered that online and my jaw dropped, I can't manage to fill it with the stuff :cool:
I use Lowepro Stealth Reporter to keep Pentax lenses (very neat and houses six including 2.8/200 and 2.8/50-135, incredible).
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-19-2017, 02:35 AM
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Actually - this is OT, but - are there any binoculars with built-in camera (besides NSA/DEA profs)?
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
07-19-2017, 01:42 AM
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I believe you had a misfortune of unscrewing the stud together with the head, rather than stud staying with the tripod.
I have Gitzo 2227 legs with Gitzo ballhead dismounted and then Arca Swiss Z1 head mounted.
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
07-19-2017, 01:19 AM
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Frostbites? I do not like the touch of aluminium in low temperatures. You may need leg warmers, which are not necessary with carbon fibre legs.
Salty weather (seaside)? Aluminium corrodes, but magnesium corrodes even faster.
-----There is no way to screw small plate with small footprint as tight as possible without plate collar/lip. I experienced that with very similar Gitzo 2xxx series plates, both cork- and rubber-lined (cork does not hold enough, rubber gives 'spongy' fit).
So I went L-bracket way (RRS & K-3), but I have to admit that unfortunately none of my long focus lenses (with the exception of Canon 300mm FF) have their own tripod mount / tripod collar :o
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
07-19-2017, 12:19 AM
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How do you secure this small QR plate against camera body that i does not (or it does?) twist in vertical shooting position?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-18-2017, 01:54 PM
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Might be Metz with interchangeable SCA modules.
I do not know if Metz still manufactures SCA for Pentax (manual -> AF film -> digital).
You'd be better off having two separate units, film/TTL are cheap on auctions.
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
07-18-2017, 06:43 AM
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You may want to check compatibility with Sigma EF-610 DG Super, which has definitely stronger HSS output than Pentax AF-540FGZ, which combined with Sigma's 105mm internal auto-zoom lens (just 85mm with Pentax strobe) could make the difference outdoors with longer focals (but beware stronger Sigma's overexposures at closer distances).
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
07-18-2017, 05:33 AM
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Which Manfrotto QR (plate, clamp) do you use, as there are many of them?
I found small rectangular Manfrotto QR plates too fiddling (i.e. with telefoto/zoom lenses with no tripod mounts, relying just on camera body tripod mounts), while big Manfrotto hexagonal plates were perfect fit but very cumbersome (huge!) with full frame/APSC bodies.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
07-18-2017, 04:20 AM
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Guys, if you say 'manual' flash mode, please be precise, as there are at least three different flash manual modes with Pentax K-3 and Pentax flash:
* on_the_flash manual mode (from 1/1 down to 1/64 flash power);
** camera program manual mode (Av, TAv, M = manual, B, X, ...);
*** camera menu Manual Flash Discharge mode (the one you find under down four-way joystick controller) from 1/1 down to 1/128 flash power.
Some of the above modes override the others, some influence other camera settings (mostly allowed shutter speeds, i.e. 1/180 or 1/90 as the shortest sync time, with the latter not feasible for long focus/tele lenses).
Actually, I doubt there is any manual mode with HSS or with trailing (second) curtain sync.
To mess things up, it looks there is some incompatibility between at least Pentax K-3 body and Pentax AF-540FGZ (ver. I) flash unit, as even with on-flash selector set to last fourth HSS setting, camera quite often disallows shutter speeds shorter than 1/180 sec. - or I do not know how to operate it to get into HSS mode whenever I want (which I doubt - as solved by switching-off both units, separating them, taking-off both batteries, than assembling again, then HSS mode (shutter times shorter than 1/200 sec.) comes back as accessible :o
Good news:
In the meantime I found out some workaround how to learn an ISO when in TAv mode.
Press 'MODE' on your Pentax AF-540FGZ strobe as to get into flash 'SB' (Spot Beam) mode, than 'Auto' (ISO) reading on your K-3 dissapears and you see an ISO value which K-3 chooses for the ambient light.
Pressing the on-strobe MODE button is much simpler than switching-off that flash.
-----You go strange way :o as my (and other people I know) flash exposure compensation always goes minus (-0.3 down to -5.0 with very close distances), but may depend on the strobe unit (i.e. Sigma tends more to overexpose than Pentax).
-----Too simple answer.
Might be the camera menu 6. Auto EV Compensation 'On'?
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
07-17-2017, 02:28 AM
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That's interesting and questionable with the upper ('too low') range - as camera has the flash to further lit the scene.
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I have nothing against doing strobe pre-flash (which is relatively weak and do not distracts your subject as far as actual trial pre-shot) after I press K-3 green button...
Or ISO value blinking saying "Pentax/Ricoh did their best to measure ambient light EV (ISO with TAv) without pre-flash".
Hello Ricoh/Pentax, please fix the above in new K-3 firmware :fedup:
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
07-16-2017, 09:53 AM
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Guys, I simply wanted to know upfront which ISO uses my K-3 in TAv mode with flash on, i.e. after I press green button. No way. After you switch on your flash, you get only 'Auto' ISO reading. That's my complain to Pentax/Ricoh.
Hello Pentax/Ricoh, please get a fix in K-3 firmware to allow ISO reading in TAv mode with flash open/attached, i.e. after your valuable prosumer presses camera green button.
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