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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
11-11-2014, 01:00 PM
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Love that 18-135 WR, especially in Fall weather.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-25-2015, 12:39 PM
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from anyplace other than Japan :p
As a belated birthday gift to myself, I just ordered (this past Friday 6/19/15) a Cosina 28-210 4.2-6.5 and a few hours later a Tamron 28-75 2.8 XR Di, both from the same seller on eBay. I got the EMS tracking info on Saturday with a projected delivery date of 6/30. To my surprise they were delivered on Monday 6/22, both in sturdy boxes with nary a blemish. The lenses were as advertised or even better! The only downside was taking away the thrill of the buildup waiting for the new arrival. ;)
Makes me wonder why deliveries within the US can't be this good and quick. I probably will continue to buy domestically, but I'm no longer leery of ordering from overseas. I'm one happy (Pentax) camper.
Now I need to get out and use them!
Jeff
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-25-2015, 01:29 PM
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These were not new, but they were in great condition. For new, that's a whole different ball game.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
05-26-2015, 06:10 PM
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It's happened with my K5; usually solved by removing and reinserting the battery. A few days ago my K3 had something similar and totally spooky. I had just changed lenses and after powering on the drive settings got spontaneously changed to high speed continuous. Nothing, including turning off and back on, or even removing the battery seemed to solve the issue. When back home I did a complete factory reset after writing down my preferred settings. Thankfully everything is back to normal. I put my settings in a memo on my phone so I can do a reset in the field if necessary.
I hope it's not a bad or failing motherboard - can't stand to be without my K3 for any length of time.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-10-2015, 12:51 PM
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I have the same combo as mikeSF, but find I rarely use the Sigma due to the weight and bulk. I'll probably lug it around more as the weather improves. For now, my latest acquisition, DA21, hardly ever leaves my K3. The focal length sings to me like a siren song. In the few weeks I've had it I think I've trashed fewer pictures than any other lens I use.A real joy to use.
Jeff
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
03-27-2015, 01:04 PM
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Thanks to johnmflores, there are now posts on Facebook & Reddit. Kudos to you John!
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
03-08-2015, 04:58 AM
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Having adapted to the wrong-handed world my entire life, I was finally gifted a pair of left-handed scissors. Couldn't use 'em!
It's the same with cameras and I do agree that only needing my wrong hand for button pressing is preferable. It can handle that.
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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
01-29-2015, 08:09 PM
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Well, not unless you want to shoot in JPG or convert everything to TIFF, neither of which interests me.
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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
01-29-2015, 01:59 PM
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Along the lines of what bodies are supported, I installed this and activated with no problem. Stuck an SD card I had with me at work and was pleased to see the program quickly and easily download a module for my 18-135 WR lens. The pics in that folder were pretty crappy due to the lousy weather in which they were taken, so I tried another folder. "no supported images" displayed in the browser section. WTF? Same for everything else on the card, except the folder I first opened. It was then I realized that those were taken with my K5 & all others were with my K3, all in DNG format, btw. (I had decided against taking my still new K3 out in the very snowy conditions. otherwise I wouldn't have been able to open anything in this test.)
Their website says they support K3 and lists a slew of body/lens combinations. So, maybe this only applies to newer versions of the software? It makes me wonder how a company expects you take on faith that when you buy a newer version it will work for you when the giveaway version to entice you to do so falls short?
Another high hopes adventure smashed against the rocks of software uncertainty...
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
12-02-2014, 06:28 PM
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Adam, dead or alive I don't think you, or we here, have anything to worry about. Being curious, I hopped over just to look around. A couple of things jumped out at me. That email was somewhat misleading - it is NOT a new website (or even a new forum), merely a new section on the Ricoh Imaging website. When I clicked on "SHOP" and entered my zipcode in New Jersey I was presented with a screen that showed "Beach Camera of Maine" in Edison. In fact that is their warehouse; their retail location is about 10 miles away. I'm sure the mistake is due to Ricoh shipping merchandise to the warehouse and not the store, but such a mistake doesn't exactly build a whole lot of confidence in their accuracy. So far I'm left with a rather empty feeling. For now I'll keep coming to the table where my Pentax hunger is fed - PENTAX FORUMS!
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
11-12-2014, 12:38 PM
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Roses this time of year are nowhere near as lush as over the summer, but this pair (or is it a trio?) caught my eye as the early morning light gave a nice glow. I probably could've found a better example, but I was out walking the dog with several others and didn't want to fall too far behind! Sigma 17-70 DC Macro.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
11-11-2014, 07:40 AM
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Ron, as one who also trusts my wife (and I hope we're not a dying breed) I understand your situation completely. When you're married for a long time, habits as well as desires are known to each other, so it's not usually a camel's back-breakng straw, now is it? My guess is you just want to do right by your wife, so you need the PF community's advice on that 16-45. I do own both; while being close at the long end those 2 mm give the 16-45 a completely different feel. Perhaps it's the closer focus of the 16-45 (28 vs. 40 cm), but it gives a more intimate view in my estimation. I look at the 16-45 as an all-purpose for walk around in good weather and the 18-135 as the same for inclement conditions.
i probably haven't helped you much here, Ron. I'll be interested in what others say. At least for now having put these thoughts in writing helps me to appreciate the value of each lens.
Jeff
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-24-2014, 07:45 AM
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This post is not an attempt to throw cold water on the entertainment value of the Lens Tournament (it is entertainment, right?). Heck, I haven't even read each and every comment interspersed between the voting affirmations. I am struck, however, by the angst among our members in having to choose one family member over another. We all have our favorites for particular situations of course - few if any of us tote our entire collection with us when out taking pictures. But isn't it nice to know that in the end we have a great selection of current and past high performers to choose from? And that, dear members, is a good part of what makes choosing so difficult.
Jeff
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
09-27-2014, 06:33 AM
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
08-25-2014, 05:44 PM
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At least this proves it is possible. I would think that with the pace of technology it would be possible to product a better rendition of this type of lens, but perhaps it's just not practical.
At any rate, as promised, here's my contribution to this wonderful thread. A leaf floating on Lenape Pond, Union County, NJ.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-08-2014, 01:06 PM
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Can someone please take a picture of my head @ 1/500 or higher and send it back to me. i want to see what it looked like before it began spinning! :lol::lol:
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-04-2014, 06:01 PM
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Now this was the first, and so far, only reply that directly addresses the situation. Indeed, it's straight to the point and has the potential for something good to come from it. It sure beats my initial reaction - half my mind wanted to be politically incorrect and put the instructor's name out there in full public view. :mad:
Then again I'm too chicken and would have to change my sig. :o
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
06-14-2014, 04:37 PM
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A little bit of perspective is needed here. While I instinctively agree that Ricoh should make good & lasting relationships by making good on all affected cameras, in or out of warranty, it's certainly not as feasible as it sounds. To use the automotive industry example alluded to earlier, we should remember
a) How many defects do you think would be fixed if there wasn't any government oversight?
b) Products do wear out. Should Toyota or GM or Ford or any other manufacturer be responsible for parts that wear out prematurely, if there is no safety issue involved? Apparently our society has deemed that this is not the case. Beyond the stated warranty period for these other parts/functions the free enterprise system kicks in. Rarely do poorly made cars have a long sales run and repeated poor quality forces companies out of business. Those of us saddled with the issues, which may not show up until beyond the warranty, experience no solace in this fact, but a fact it is nonetheless.
c) So, if this is not a safety issue, and if our cameras basically perform (with a little cajoling from time to time), we should base our inclination for repeat business on the entire package. Build quality as a whole, cost of ownership, performance, availability of options that complete a kit, features, and the ever-omnipresent customer service response issues. In every phase, expect possibly the last, I think Ricoh/Pentax has done a remarkable job considering the position they occupy in the camera industry.
Now, all this being said, it would be a smart corporate decision to ascertain just how prevalent this problem is and when it is likely to occur. This knowledge would enable them to decide to maintain their present position or step it up to some extent. I'm sure we'd all like to see the step-up, but I'm equally not sure if Ricoh/Pentax knows yet how much this might cost.
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
09-20-2013, 01:42 PM
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Sorry if we're all jumping on you. Some statements just elicit emotional responses. This would seem to be one of those.
Perhaps you equate being a model with an actor or actress playing a role. We don't really believe Sir Anthony Hopkins is a cannibalistic serial killer do we? But this is different - we don't normally assume models are portraying a person or scene, despite all the hoopla and trappings surrounding the typical circumstances in which they are seen. So we see them as who we believe they are, as wrong as that might be. And seeing an advert like this crosses not just the theatrical fourth wall, but the line between person and profession.
I'm only giving you a little benefit of the doubt and hoping you meant no malice, but as usual others have said it better. I urge you to read what they have said above.
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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
08-20-2013, 01:45 PM
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I'm probably going to get flamed for this, but here goes:
Let's all keep in mind that we may have a clash of cultures here. I'm sure there are those who will say that CanoNikony are not so unresponsive and more New World-ish, but that doesn't mean that all Japanese companies are that way.
Don't get me wrong - I'm not offering an olive branch to management. There's a whole of blame to spread around. On the whole, the various delays in doing anything appear incompetent, if not suspicious. But injecting profane language only makes the writer feel better; it seldom makes the intended recipient anything other than more defensive.
I'm just glad I didn't order one of these lenses. I keep coming back here every so often to catch up on the latest just to see how Ricoh/Pentax is going to handle this fiasco. It's like a soap opera. To those of you who are justifiably upset, looking at it that way might help a bit.
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Forum: Photographic Technique
07-16-2013, 09:47 AM
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Love my 18-135 WR. When I first got it I was so impressed with the fast and silent focusing that I kept it on my K-5 even in good weather. I've gotten away from that since I've picked up some better glass, but if an outing looks to be spoiled by inclement weather I just grab the 18-135 with no regrets. It's not a true macro by any means but I thoroughly enjoy getting in close when it's all wet outside.
It's also handy to carry along a couple of plastic bags that you can slip over a non WR lens in the event a rogue rain shower sneaks up on you. I've actually found that cutting the bag open and using a wide rubber band near the lens mount works pretty well as long as it's not downpour - done this often with the Sigma 17-70 DC Macro to great effect.
Like others have said the use of a hood is an aid that goes a long way, so much better than a filter. Why put extra glass in front of your lens, especially when bad weather means less light to begin with?
Good luck, Ron, in this endeavor. I'm sure you'll find it enjoyable to be able to have your camera with you in good weather and bad!
Jeff
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
07-11-2013, 06:03 AM
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OMG, I've been doing it all wrong. I leave the lens attached to the camera and do the chasing myself. It's no wonder my dog is usually out of focus!:rolleyes:
And a big New Joysey welcome to you RyanGilbert! Keep reading here on the forum - you'll get great info to improve your technique and a whole gamut of opinions on gear. I glean something new almost everyday. This thread is a case in point. I am quite eager to read Docrwm's link Mastering Panning – Photographing Moving Subjects. I definitely need help with that.
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
03-02-2013, 07:52 AM
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Yes, in fact part of what you are saying is that interesting things, whether beauteous or not, exist all around us, if we but take the time to notice. That mind-set is what photography has brought to me - slow down, observe, absorb. Even in the commonplace the world has a lot to offer.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-09-2012, 07:40 AM
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I do more reading here than posting so I was "late" to the party. Still my first post in this thread was #462, almost 1000 posts ago! Simply amazing! Let's try to keep it going until we're no longer rare in the camera world. :D
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-24-2011, 01:26 PM
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@chattphotos: Just as it's the photographer and not the equipment that matters, it's also true that belonging to a rarified group does not automatically make you "friendly". Perhaps if I belonged to the other-guys' group I might feel different, but I always try to be friendly to all photogs. After all, you never know when encouraging words about Pentax might land on receptive ears!
I've always owned Pentax since getting my first SLR, but I've clicked the shutter on my step-father-in-law's Nikon Dsomething (can't remember which model, but he's the type that goes for big-ticket vs. value). it was probably pretty new at the time, so I can't comment on long-term build quality - but it did seem to focus fast and felt like a fine instrument. His boasting only served to keep me quiet and just nod (no sense arguing with an 90-year old!).
Now, as far as not hearing of Pentax, that's on the marketing (or lack thereof) of Pentax itself. We've all re-hashed time and again how Pentax must do a better job of advertising. Just the other very rainy day I remarked to a gal in my office that she could be shooting in this weather if she had a Pentax like mine instead of the C or N her new husband just got her as a wedding gift. She replied that she was actually interested in Pentax but hadn't seen one in a store in a really long time! So there you have it (Ricoh are you listening?) - we need to not only be in peoples minds (advertising) but in their face (physical presence at retail).
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