Forum: General Talk
05-18-2012, 05:09 PM
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I'm there for 5 years now. You need less than the advisers tell you, unless you waste money. In which case it doesn't matter how much you start with. Learning to separate needs from wants helps a lot.
It's not what you earn, it is what you keep that matters.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
05-05-2012, 09:34 PM
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Taken handheld. cropped and converted to B&W.
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
04-26-2012, 06:44 PM
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I think that the education system in US is certainly is affected, judging by the lack of understanding and fact checking :-)
Using DutyCalculator.com, it seems that while Netherlands charges a total of 6.7% duty/6% VAT on lenses from Japan, and Canada charges 0% duty/13%HST, US does in fact charge 2.3% duty. Add in the various state, county and city taxes and the tax/duty burden is not so different from the 'socialist labelled' countries as you like to label them.
NY State, 4% state + 3-4.75% county tax,
CA State. 7.25% State + 2% local
Maryland, 6% state
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sales_taxes_in_the_United_States)
No taxes in US is a myth, you just spin it differently. Phrases such as Board of Equalization, and Transaction Privilege Tax come to mind.
I am tempted to comment on the socialized medicine dig but your system and its costs to individuals speak volumes for themselves :-( Ok, that is a comment, sorry.
Gerrit
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
04-26-2012, 03:06 PM
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Futureshop in Toronto just popped out a flyer with lots of Canikon, Sony and Olympus P&S and DSLR's. Nothing from Pentax. As you said, in Canada we still have B&M's and I include Costco, FutureShop and Best Buy in that list as well as others such as Japan Camera. Blacks, London Drugs etc. And thankfully we have Henrys who I find competitive in Pentax but for Sigma I buy from B&H :-)
I try to keep in mind while reading all the doom and gloom on pricing that a) the pricing focus seems to be some higher end lenses, not the whoe line, b) the Pentax line is much broader than DA* lenses and top end DSLR's. They have lots of P&S models, WG2, binoculars etc.
I look forward to seeing more shelf space for anything Pentax in the stores that I visit, assuming of course that they step up visibility here as well..
Gerrit
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
04-24-2012, 07:57 PM
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Well, you could call some up and ask them? Or ask the countries' Pentax distributor? It will get you a real answer quicker than on the forum here.
Gerrit
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-20-2012, 10:03 PM
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His point ( I made a similar point earlier on the 'Ned hasn't responded yet' thread) is that Ned/Pentax USA might or might not read every last post on this or any other forum. After hundreds of posts on several threads, no one of the 'I am really ticked off' group has formulated a message to Pentax USA directly that I am aware of. Maybe they will listen, maybe they won't but it is folly to assume that 10 or 20 people vowing on a forum not to buy anything more at MSRP will impact anything except perhaps their own enjoyment of the hobby.
Additionally, from direct experience learning to escalate issues in companies, you don't make much progress starting with threats of boycotts. There really is not much of a bargaining position left after that. Changing the approach might effect change. Focus all that energy on that approach. At least you know that the message was delivered.
Gerrit
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-18-2012, 11:05 AM
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I'm with Eddie1960 and Wheatfield
Docwrm et al, your complaining, whether justified or not, is totally ineffectual on a forum. If you want change, then write concise factual letters to Pentax Japan and US.
The big issue in North American retail IMO is that bland rules. Home Depot, Lowes, Costco, Best Buy etc all put the common, most likely to sell stuff on the shelves. If you want a range hood, it is Broan only here in Home Depot. Since that is all most people see, guess what they buy? It's all about margins, nothing else. It has little to do with item A being better than item B. Being technically better only works for the educated buyer, everyone else goes with what is 'trending' and 'most popular', like good consumer lemmings.
Gerrit
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
04-17-2012, 09:11 AM
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Has any one of the anxious people here tried to call Ned?
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
03-26-2012, 09:09 AM
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Wow, do the same people switch cars after having the first issue? Or their marriage/relationships?
If something needs adjustment, get it looked after, then move on and enjoy what you have.
Gerrit
(who is not fixated on finding things wrong with any of his stuff.)
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-26-2012, 06:25 AM
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I think I read somewhere that the DA is a bit tighter to reduce zoom creep, otherwise it is the same as the Tamron. You can also choose the Sigma 18-250 OS HSM for your K5. My reading of its reviews indicated that it was very comparable to the Tamron 18-250. Plus I get the almost silent focusing.
Abbazz's series shows the huge advantage of this range for unpredictable situations. RioRico worded it very well indeed, Travel photos almost always are taken where the location or situation controls you.
Gerrit
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-25-2012, 09:15 AM
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I can only describe the physical differences, image quality is close enough to the same for me. I don't fuss over stuff like that, more interested in the composition and capturing the moment/ambiance.
The Sigma has OS and HSM. It focuses much quieter than the Tamron. The focus lock is IMHO in the wrong location on the Sigma, much easier to do single handed on the Tamron. On the other hand, the Sigma is so far not as prone to lens extension as the Tamron.
Both are on the heavy side but not oppressively so.
On the Sigma you have to use the lens switch to go to MF or Auto.
I have Hoya Pro clear filters on both.
I bought the Sigma at same time as my K5, we were planning more trips and I couldn't imagine 1) giving my K100D to wife without the Tamron, 2) doing without a wide range zoom.
Gerrit
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
03-25-2012, 08:25 AM
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Sorry, I wasn't clear. The 50 f2 is going on my K5, I was only mentioning the Sv and Super as cameras I had wih little or no automation with a similar lens :-)
I now have the lens, good condition and fair price. Works well on the K5 although I need to do a small mod to make it easier to use on manual.
Gerrit
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-25-2012, 08:02 AM
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i have a Tamron 18-250 on my wife's K100D, a Sigma HSM 18-250 on my K5. We travel, a lot. The zooms provide for hassle free (i.e. not changing lenses in a Land Rover bouncing around during a safari like I had to do in 2010!) shooting. Yes, low light is a problem indoors but with a K5 (even K100D) you get more than decent photos.
It depends in the end on your style. If every photo you take gets pixel peeped and analyzed to death before printing, then perhaps the 18-250's are not for you. If you want competent photos with much reduced risk of crap on your sensor, then get one. If you travel a lot, then get one.
The distortions introduced by the lens are easily cured with LR if they bother you on some specific shot so that should not deter you either.
Just another opinion :-)
You can see some results at Gerrit and Pat’s Travels in the 2011 (Sigma 18-250 on K5 and Tamron 18-250 on K100D) and Europe 2010 (Tamron 18-250 on K100D and Optio Z10) voyages pages.
Gerrit
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
03-19-2012, 03:42 AM
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Well. I'll know in a week how happy I am with the 50 M 1:2 that I just bought. For me it was a trade off on price, I want to go back to manual like my Pentax Sv and Super Program and this was the ticket.
If/when I get good with this one then I will spend more money. Chances are very high that the issues will be me, not the lens.
Gerrit
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
03-19-2012, 03:34 AM
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Excellent start, love the K5!
Gerrit
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Forum: General Talk
03-17-2012, 02:30 PM
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SMC 50 f2 M from eBay today for my K5. I need to re-focus (pardon the pun) on the basics. Forgotten so much since the film days with Pentax Spotmatic and Super Program and earlier
Gerrit
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Forum: General Talk
03-16-2012, 07:08 AM
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-09-2011, 06:23 AM
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We went on a few 1 day safaris in early 2010. I used mostly the 55-300, other times the kit 15-55. No real issues as it was all day time. We found that the animals don't really move around much during the day. The biggest problem was the moving vehicle we were in :-) The main issue you will have is whether you get to take the shots when standing still or from a moving vehicle. But the guides would stop at best location/time so that we could take our time taking shots. I since bought a Tamron 18-250 so that I no longer have to swap lenses, too many cases of dust when doing that in a hurry. And when I bought the K5 I got the Sigma 18-250 (wife has the K100D setup now).
Some days: Mon Feb 22nd – Cape Town (Day 2) | Gerrit and Pat’s Travels, Wed Feb 24th – Port Elizabeth | Gerrit and Pat’s Travels, Friday Feb 26th Durban | Gerrit and Pat’s Travels
Gerrit
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
12-07-2011, 06:02 PM
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Good shots, excellent timing on many to get the feeling of action. The K5 certainly worked out well at the ISO levels needed?
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Forum: General Talk
12-06-2011, 02:52 PM
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Actually a Ferrari, if you pick the correct model, is perfectly fine as a daily driver. Eg the 348, 355, 308 series all do well except in snow and ice. My 308GT4 had a very usable trunk, and rear seats sort of. I relish the time I had with mine, 10 years. Many pleasurable trips to Montreal for the F1. But I also relish my K5, although I didn't have to wait most of my life to buy it :-)
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Forum: General Talk
12-05-2011, 07:27 PM
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Don't think for a moment that some of those cars won't be repaired. I have seen worse safely brought back to life, and driven afterward. There was a totaled F40 years ago that was rebuilt. And I helped on a 360 that kissed the wall (front and rear) at turn 2 at Mosport. If you didn't know.... you couldn't tell.
The bodies are aluminum (or carbon fiber in the case of the Enzo non-related to the latest Japan crash). They always look crumpled after a hit.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
12-05-2011, 04:00 PM
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Do some test shots before your daughter performs to help you decide. I have used all the way up tp 12800 on the K5 with amazing results.
A mediocre shot would be better than no shot at all? I know, not a purist answer, instead somewhat pragmatic.
Gerrit
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Forum: General Talk
12-05-2011, 10:00 AM
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I went on one ride like that when I had my Ferrari with a group of about 30 Ferrari's, Lambo's, Ford GT's, Vipers etc. Never again, too much testosterone.
You just can't predict the skill level of other drivers. Thankfully no one got hurt, a testament to good design.
I did my 'fun' driving on the track, thankfully we have Mosport nearby.
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Forum: General Talk
12-01-2011, 06:20 PM
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Is he in Toronto? Some of us could perhaps visit him and get a copy of the shipping receipt?
Seriously:
If you paid by Paypal and he shipped from Canada then I can assure you he would/should have created the Canada Post shipping label via Paypal (we get a discount on postage that way). You should ask for a copy perhaps to reassure yourself?
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Forum: General Talk
12-01-2011, 06:37 AM
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I agree that CAD20 is cheap, (anything from US to Canada is $25 with tracking #!) so it is most likely that it went Surface. Which means slow. I recently sold some CP/M3 manuals to someone in Italy, it took 3.5 months to arrive. But I kept in touch with the buyer, which I think is the real issue here. I even sent a pdf of the shipping receipt.
According to Canada Post Delivery Standards even ExpressPost is not guaranteed to Aus (or Italy or a few others.) Parcel is 4-6 weeks general.
We receive wool from NZ once or twice a year, also by surface and is too is slow.
As to eBay, I usually only list on eBay.ca but sometimes also on eBay.com even though I am in US. It is all about exposure.
Gerrit
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