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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 11-29-2012, 12:44 PM  
DA 16-50mm not autofocusing
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 12
Views: 1,495
I've had my 16-50 for around 4 years, > 200k shots around the globe.
Now, sometimes (mostly in warm conditions) it gets stuck, or has problems to focus from infinity towards close range.
What works for my lens is the following:
Put the camera *and* lens in manual focus mode.
Swiftly turn the focus ring on lens in both directions a few times.
Put both AF switches back to AF mode.
Problem should be gone for some time now.

Good luck, Bert
Forum: Homepage & Official Pentax News 01-26-2012, 10:17 AM  
Pentax introduces Optio VS20 compact camera with 20x zoom and vertical shutter button
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 1
Views: 3,312
Again no AVCHD....
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 01-02-2012, 09:00 AM  
Recommended settings for new K-5 owner
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 8
Views: 16,210
For JPEG: increase sharpning, I use Natural plus extra sharpness for the rare occasion that I don't shoot RAW....
If you are wondering what colour setting to use, make a picture, change the colour settings.
The camera will interactively show the impact of the colour settings on the last picture taken.

Another approach is to shoot RAW and handle the lot in post processing.

Bert
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 12-17-2011, 10:49 AM  
Battery Charging Problem
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 3
Views: 2,336
It sounds like a battery problem, not the charger.
You can find cheap 3-rd party batteries everywhere on the Internet.
I've got 3 from dealextreme.com, they seem to have different capacities, but what am I complaining about considering the price...
Get a new one for a few $$'s

= Bert
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 11-23-2011, 02:46 PM  
Evaluating the GPS device for the K-5
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 8
Views: 4,125
I use a Garmin Dakota 20.
It is a very handy GPS, with many more functions than just geotagging.
For our trip through Botswana, Namibia and Cape Town I used it for street navigation, off road navigation, predefined way points, compass and finding the nearest gas station (a problem in Africa) or the lodge we were staying.

Besides the very good Garmin maps, you can also load custom maps.
Like the extremely detailed and very up-to-date Tracks4Africa maps, the topo maps for countries, maps for bicylce riders, hores riders etc.

With small laptop on the road I geotag JPG, DNG and PEF files (I stopped using PEF by the way).
The program I use is the free copy of Geosetter.
It is very versatile and user friendly.

A screen copy:

Attachment 109885

The Dakota 20 is very small and I just turn it on and put it in my photo bag....
It runs on 2 standard AA NiMh batteries for a day or 2.
Just make sure to carry an extra set of batteries.
The interface is touch screen and it can do other fun things like geocaching etc.



Here the Dakota 20 is a little cheaper than a O-GPS 1.
The difference is € 195 for the Dakota versus € 199 for the O-GPS1

Still I prefer the Garmin.... I guess DSLR makers should half the price to make it competitive. And No, I do not use my camera to make long exposure star photo's.


Bert
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 11-13-2011, 12:52 PM  
Should I keep it or exchange for something else?
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 35
Views: 3,590
I agree with Excanonfd and I think you see too many problems and that you should make your own judgement.
Don't be influenced by all them pixel peepers on this forum.
The 17-70 is a fine lens, yes there are better, but at the end will you be able to tell the difference all the time?

Now on the pictures you are showing:
- The weather you are testing in, is *not* helping you. Dull flat light.
- PF can easily be corrected (automatically even) in Lightroom, Bibble and others.
If you spend serious money on a serious camera, you might start shooting RAW (if you are not already) and spend money on a serious S/W package as well.
- Did you make comaprison shots with the kitlens and how do that compare?
- The images on this forum lack the complete resolution, the only one doing the comparison between the 17-70 and the kitlens is you.

Overall sharpness, bokeh, handling, AF speed and flare are the issues to look for.
For sharpness, do AF fine tuning before shooting test shots. Some shots look a little off (BF if I'm right).

Having said this all. If there is no *real* issue with the lens, I'd be happy with the gift if I were you, and be very gratefull to the people spending so much money on you.

= Bert
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 11-10-2011, 08:57 AM  
DA* 60-250mm likes leopards...
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 16
Views: 2,430
Lucky indeed.
We found leopards often in trees right at the road side.
All tree leopards I found myself, not our guide.
All others were tracked by the guide, looking at tracks and baboon behavior.

Leopards are very territorial. At night, they were rather "easy" to find with a strong light in Zambia.

Perhaps you should pay a visit, there are a lot of South Africans travelling around these countries with their 4x4 and a GPS...

= Bert
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 11-10-2011, 08:52 AM  
DA* 60-250mm likes leopards...
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 16
Views: 2,430
Yes, we did see our share of leopards in Zambia.
Here are a few pictures I've shown before.
I also like the one lion night shot.

Again, done with my DA*60-250mm, but with a K-7.
These were all taken in the Kafue NP.

Have fun,

= Bert







Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 11-09-2011, 03:44 PM  
DA* 60-250mm likes leopards...
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 16
Views: 2,430
No actions shots (unfortunatly), but still a few nice pictures.
Shot in various places in Botswana.
We were also lucky with leopards in Zambia 2 years ago, I think my lens attracts them.

All shot with a K-5 / DA*60-250mm combo.

Have fun

= Bert











Forum: General Talk 09-30-2011, 02:06 AM  
How much is a gallon of gas wherever you are?
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 46
Views: 5,519
It is clear that oil as we know it is limited in its availability.
Over the last decade or so, people have been trying to predict the moment that the world oil production will not be able to keep up with the (growing) world oil demand.
This moment is call the "peak oil" moment.

You can find many web sites on this topic.
It is generally assumed that as the peak oil scenario develops that the oil prices will sky rocket.
Now, when will this happen? If we are to believe the peak oil publisists: SOON!

Here is a picture from the Peak oil wiki:



From heatingoil.com, http://www.heatingoil.com/blog/dept-of-energy-acknowledges-possibility-of-pe...fter-2011406/:



The general agreement is that a peak oil scenario will happen, the disagreement is when.
Some say 2015, some say 2030, etc.
I think it is wise to prepare ourselves and our children for such an event.

Bert
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 09-29-2011, 10:34 AM  
Noise optimisation
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 8
Views: 1,722
Sorry, I just checked the Exif:

ISO: 40000
Shutter speed: 1/125
Ev: +1.3
Focal length: 400mm
Aperture: f 6.7

Handheld.... I guess if I used a higher shutter speed @400mm, it might have been a lot sharper picture.

- Bert
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 09-29-2011, 09:51 AM  
Noise optimisation
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 8
Views: 1,722
This one was done using ISO 40000 and LR 3.4 NR:



Handheld @ 250mm, through a window, almost dark.
Forum: General Talk 09-28-2011, 03:02 PM  
How much is a gallon of gas wherever you are?
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 46
Views: 5,519
Well,

I live in the Netherlands, the sad #1 in this list:

CNN/Money: Global gas prices

No, so far it has not stopped many people of getting into their cars....
Fuel efficient cars have never been more popular than now, however.

Bert
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 09-28-2011, 02:42 PM  
Late-appearing sensor stain
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 15
Views: 3,347
I had my K-5 professionaly cleaned this weekend.
It had a stain that I could not remove using blower and dry swipe.
The shop uses some kind of special suction device and they had a lot of problems with it.
My last resort would have been wet swiping, something I only do if all other means fail.

This does not look like a stain, it looks like dirt.
And dirt specs can be hard to get rid off.

Bert
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 09-28-2011, 02:37 PM  
Noise optimisation
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 8
Views: 1,722
Hi,

Noise reduction software has come a long way and can deliver stunning results.

I've been trying to get my K-7 noise under control since I had it.
Unfortunatly it needs it for any ISO starting at 1600 for low contrast pictures.

Experimenting with many, many utilities, my choice is:
- Lightroom 3 noise reduction for 80% of the pictures needing cleaning up.
- Topaz DeNoise 5 for the big problems.

Both manage to limit the amount of smear and retain a good level of detail.
I do not use my K-5 at ISO 51200, but I do have made some pretty nice birding photos at near dark at ISO 40000 with it. Nice enough to me.
Topaz I never use anymore, the K-5 noise is such (small, not so grainy) that I leave it with the Lightroom noise reduction. LR 3 is good enough.

I do shoot RAW only, so do not care about the in camera noise reduction functions.

Hope this helps.

Bert
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 09-28-2011, 02:16 PM  
Electronic Horizon
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 20
Views: 5,048
I have one of the first K-5's in the Benelux, when I received it in december last year, the level was off as well.
I did send it in for service and spoke with the engineer at the Beukelaer in Belgium who did the level calibration.
It took him 2 weeks then, because they had to wait for special K-5 calibration software from Japan.
If this is true, a change of the main PC board is not the type of repair needed for level adjustment.

Many posters have rightfully suggested Pentax to make the level user calibrated, like the AF fine adjustment in the custom menu.

Bert
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 09-26-2011, 10:02 AM  
K20D deleted all—not 1
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 8
Views: 3,440
Hi there,

Try recuva.
Works fine for me.
The link is here: Recuva - Slim

If you search for dng files, Recuva will recognize them as TIF files.
Recover the files, then later change the .tif file type to .dng (make sure your windows explorer is set to display file extentions)

Bert
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 09-21-2011, 11:23 AM  
ALBA problem
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 11
Views: 1,531
Conversion of your pictures is most often done using sRGB, what only has 8 bit resolution per colour channel.

If the contrast in high light is small, you'll get circular lines around light sources.
Most likely your source is your program you use to convert to jpeg.

Try in postprocessing to increase your Ev (exposure) and darken in the shadows.
It will wash out the sun somewhat, but you'll have less lines.

- Bert
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 09-21-2011, 11:07 AM  
Dust in CMOS?How to clear it?
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 12
Views: 2,285
For that kind of dust you'll need a wet swipe.
You could try a dry swipe first; take a small, new, makeup brush, wash it with soft soap, rise it, dry it. Then swipe the sensor, then use a rocket blower.
If that does not help, you'll need to buy wet swipes, the Internet is full of offers and instructions. It is not difficult, but be carefull.

Bert
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 09-20-2011, 10:12 AM  
why so many used DA* 60-250 on Amazon?
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 6
Views: 3,088
I think you better compare the 60-250mm with the 55-300mm.
I bought both and use the smaller, lighter 55-300m for hiking purposes.

The DA* 60-250mm is a superb lens, perhaps the best I own, but alas its size...

Bert
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 09-20-2011, 03:37 AM  
looking for some good advice
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 17
Views: 3,092
As said before, 18mm is for most purposes wide enough.
I'm not a landscape photographer, and have not many pictures on line.
But let me try and show a few examples:

- Landscape with depth:


- Morning mist:




Sky:
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 09-19-2011, 08:05 AM  
looking for some good advice
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 17
Views: 3,092
Lowell is right, create depth by adding foreground objects.
Position yourself low, near the ground, to add front subjects.

For the waterfalls, try slow shutterspeeds, slower than 1/10 (you'll need a tripod for that).

Make sure the oversee a lanscape at dawn and dusk, the long and red light can be magic.

Do not forget to shoot details... A red leaf floating in still water can be as good as any landscape.

Look at the sky, clouds and sunlight trough clouds can make / break a landscape picture.

Morning mist in a valley with a little sun...

Try to know the area and sceneries before nightfall and pick your choice.

Mind the bears....

Bert
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 09-19-2011, 01:41 AM  
K5 Anyone had over exposure problem
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 19
Views: 7,225
I've had this with both my K-7 and K-5.
It took me a long time to find the cause... it is my right thumb...

In my case, it is not the camera, it is me.
What happens is:

- I take my camera out of my bag,
- Accidently press the AEL button grabbing the camera,
- Switch the power switch in the same move, while lens cap is still on,
- Take lens cap off,
- Make picture.

Since I pressed the AEL before I take the lens cap off, the exposure is locked to pitch dark.
Hence that picture is over exposed...

Perhaps something similar is happening to you.

Bert
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 09-14-2011, 10:42 AM  
K10d dissasembly/repair
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 11
Views: 6,722
Here is a link to the K10D service manual.

http://www.pentax-hack.info/firmware/k10_gx10/k10d_sm.zip

Cheers, Bert
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 09-11-2011, 02:00 PM  
K-5 Annoyance, wild exposures off eye
Posted By bymy141
Replies: 12
Views: 2,028
If you expect such a thing; add +1.5 Ev, always shoot RAW, compensate later in post.

Cheers, Bert
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