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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-25-2009, 01:23 PM
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Wouldn't be without it. The only time it comes off the body is to change the battery (have 3, one in camera, one in grip, one on standby). Love the grip for it's heft, carrying the battery, and an extra card. The weight is more than compensated for by having the accessories in it, rather than carrying them in a pocket or having a case weighing me down or getting in the way.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
06-13-2008, 07:03 AM
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When shooting, just look at the zoom ring. On the 18-55, there is a mark for 24. Set it there or lower and you should be okay.
After shooting, take a look at the EXIF information. While viewing the image in the camera, press the info button. It will give you all the pertinent information. If the images are downloaded into the computer, you can also see all the info you need using the Pentax photo browser software. It will probably show up in the properties of the image in Windows, too. Right click on the image, then left click on Properties, the click on the advanced button to see the information.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
06-11-2008, 07:27 PM
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It was just my impression because of the low level marketing that Pentax did. Nikon and Canon have always marketed and catered to the professional community. There were a few ads out from Pentax, but no where near what the giants were putting out. And it's been that way for a long time, at least that's the way I see it. I had a Nikon Photomic Ftn back in '72, at the time blowing away all competition. Pentax was in the game, but Nikon was known as the "Professional's" camera. Pentax, except for the LX, didn't really get marketed as a pro camera. In fact, the K1000 was always thought of as the ideal student's camera. It was just my impression from those early years that Pentax was a player when it came to digital, but certainly not one of the giants.
I've always liked Pentax glass, and the bodies are rugged, but you didn't see many on the sidelines at NFL games.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
06-11-2008, 01:57 PM
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What I was try to get across is that the camera SEEMS to be marketed towards many first-time byers of DSLRs, who don't know about RAW. I do use Pentax Browser/lab for converting my RAW images. Can't afford Lightroom/CS3, I also use a lot of freeware. When I batch converted the 500 shots I did, it took about 1/2 an hour. I also batch converted to 16-bit TIFFs, which took over an hour. No processing, just conversion.
I DO agree that is was a silly thing to be overlooked, making the button programmable to allow RAW only, and a firmware update would certainly be welcomed. It was poorly thought out and should have been included. But it appears the K10 has been left in the dust, and we who do want those types of features will have to upgrade. Sorry if I made it sound like someone saying "stop complaining and deal with it". Didn't mean that at all.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
06-10-2008, 06:08 AM
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I don't want to start an argument, but I thought the K10D was meant for advanced amateurs or entry level pros, so making RAW+ seems to make sense. Switching from film to digital, I had very little knowledge of RAW. Shooting jpg for a while brought me up to speed, and I still shoot it for snaps, switching (in the menu) to RAW for the serious work. I would think many people are/were in the same predicament.
Shooting RAW, then having to process each and every shot would put off a lot of amateurs. It's like handing a film slr to someone, then telling them they have to learn how to develop and print, rather than taking it to the local one-hour shop before they see any results. I recently did a model shoot, taking over 500 RAW images in 2 hours. Imagine how long it took to convert them to jpgs!
I agree it would be a nice feature to be able to program the camera so when the RAW+ button is pushed it will shoot only RAW, but it isn't there. If that is a very important feature, upgrade.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
05-20-2008, 12:21 PM
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
05-20-2008, 12:01 PM
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I'll see what I can do. The manual is a pdf so I can copy the images, but I've never posted on PentaxForum. Soon as I learn how, I'll try it out.
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Forum: Photographic Technique
05-20-2008, 11:59 AM
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Depending on the lens you have, if it has an aperture ring, it should have aperture numbers and short lines on it that extend to the focus ring. These lines correspond to near and far depth of field. For instance on my 50mm 1.4 lens, I show DOF as being from about 3 meters down to approx. 1 meter or about 10 feet to about 1.4 feet at f16.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
05-20-2008, 11:25 AM
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I downloaded a copy of the Samsung GX10 service manual (the one presumably used by Pentax service technicians) and found a section detailing checking autofocus. The chart, instead of being at 45 deg, was set at 30 deg, with a half white/half black card on top of the chart. They manual shows the camera being focused at a point on the bottom of the white/black card just above the focus chart. The chart itself was set vertically, meaning the lines were running up/down rather than horizontally (across) the viewfinder image. And in the manual, it specified 30 deg. The chart was angled so the far end of the chart was on the left side of the image, the close end was towards the right. This goes against everything I've seen discussed where a focus chart is set at 45 deg, and the far end of the chart is at the top of the viewfinder, the close end at the bottom. They also specify that the focus point is not on the chart itself, but the dividing line between the white and black, at the bottom of the card nearest the focus chart.
I found this rather interesting, given the huge amount of talk given to BF/FF for the past couple of years. So, I guess my question is: which is correct, 45 or 30 deg, vertical or horizontal orientation of the chart?
I didn't bookmark the download site, but search on the pentax forum in dpreview for the topic on a russian program for turning on the debug menu in the K10D with pc software.
I don't know know if this would apply to the K10D and K20D, but I can't think of a reason why setting AF in the GX10 would be different.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-10-2008, 05:35 AM
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I dropped my DS a couple weeks back after releasing the quick release from my tripod. Landed on the lens (plastic mount, so it shattered), but the DS is still working great. I do have an issue with it in manual focus (auto focus servo is running on) and difficult to do White Balance because of the focus issue, but otherwise, no problems. I thought about sending in for repair, but for the minor inconvenience, I don't think it's worth the cost of repair.
It's a difficult decision about repairs, but it really boils down to how bad the problems are and if they interfere with the picture taking process.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-20-2008, 06:30 AM
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I bought the DS as my first digital, am now using it every day at work for product shots. It's also my trusty backup for the K10.
BTW - dropped the DS off tripod from 4 feet. Shattered the mount on the lens (Sigma, plastic mount), but camera still works great.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-22-2007, 06:22 AM
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You mentioned you're shooting in DNG format. Have you tried plain old jpg just to see if they'll appear?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-15-2007, 09:20 AM
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Same here. Not sure about Ebay batteries, supposed to be some bad ones there. But Impacts from B&H working very well for about a year now.
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
12-06-2007, 05:33 AM
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little laker's link is correct. Those are the full programs, not patches. They're updated, but you do not need the original version to install these. They are the real thing.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
11-30-2007, 06:58 AM
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The first time I read about hot pixels, I took a look at my images a little more closely. I saw 1 hot pixel and thought OMG! the camera is bad. Then I calmed down and thought it out. One pixel that appears intermittently and depending on shooting conditions out of a little more than 10 million pixels. That ain't bad at all. I stopped worrying about it asap and started shooting. Now I couldn't tell you if I have any or not.
I agree with one of edvinas posts. Stop looking for problems and start shooting. If it gets worse, then yes, you may have to do something about it.
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Forum: Photographic Technique
11-16-2007, 04:12 PM
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
10-25-2007, 02:16 PM
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I also use Palm protectors. A little trimming, care in applying so there are no bubbles, and super cheap compared to "Digital Camera LCD Screen Protectors".
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Forum: Photographic Technique
08-28-2007, 09:27 AM
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I pretty much agree, although I did get caught up in the "gotta have the latest" when I bought the K10 after having the DS for less than a year. My DS, as well as a K1000, ME SE, and ZX-60 all do great, but I really wanted the K10. I use all of them, but mostly the digitals, now.
What I can't understand, but did see though, and one thing you'd mentioned, was people asking what the next camera is going to be like, almost before the previous one was on the shelves. I literally saw, on another forum, questions being asked about what the next body would be, 5 days after the introduction of the K10D! 5 Days! Most people asking the question hadn't even gotten the K10 into their hands before asking the question. Why?
We live in such a throw-away society now. Cell phones that work perfectly well get thrown away because the newest model has an extra button that turns the other buttons purple. Never mind that's the ONLY thing it does, it just does it. By the way, I'm only one of two people on the planet who does not have a cell phone and has dial-up internet at home.
My point is that I don't understand why we have to know what the next upgrade is before we've even had a chance to get to learn the last upgrade. I plan on using the DS and K10 for at least 5 years, maybe more, before I upgrade. Mostly because of money, but also because I haven't used half the features of the ones I have now. Of course, I'm an old curmudgeon who drives a 15 year old pickup, too.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-23-2007, 06:36 AM
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The Pentax Remote Assistant software (download from Pentax) gives you that capability. The picture won't appear full-screen, but much larger than the LCD. I believe it works only with the K10D, not sure about the K100D.
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
08-21-2007, 06:59 AM
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Hello. I've been reading the forum for a few months and decided I'd join.
I started in photography back in '72, having bought a Nikkormat from a friend and mentor. He was teaching photography at a USO in Germany, was a former photojournalist. He taught me b&w shooting/developing and soon I was shooting about 10 rolls a week and processing at night. Film was cheap, $1.00 a roll for Ilford 125.
Built up a nice Nikon system, FTn and lots of lenses, and of course, the trusty Nikkormat. After many years, came into hard times, had to sell the system. Got a KMart Focal brand slr, used it for many many years. Eventually, bought a Pentax ZX-60 and kit lenses, the started getting into digital with the ist-DS and now a K10d. Love them both.
I'm now doing imaging and technical writing for a manufacturing company, taking product shots for instructions on building as well as catalog shots, portraits, company sponsored events, etc. Was using a company supplied Nikon 4500 (it's really a great little camera), then started using my DS with the higher resolution, more control for DOF and white balance, so my product shots are looking much better. I use a DIY light table w/flourescents, also use tungsten halogens and flash.
That's about it. Hope this isn't too long or boring.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-21-2007, 06:44 AM
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I got the same strap w/my ZX-60 (film cam), decided to use it on the DS. Thinking the pockets would be perfect for memory, I put one card in one pocket, went out shooting, filled the first card in the camera and went to take the second out. It was broken in half! I didn't think I'd been roughing it, just taking street shots, but there it was. Luckily, it was only a 256MB card. Glad it wasn't full of a day's shooting!
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