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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
01-07-2015, 08:00 AM
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In terms of market share, how much would not including Wi-Fi cost?
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Forum: General Photography
12-11-2014, 09:12 AM
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CCSTV is pretty much as unbiased as they come. They pretty much only promote things that they find are good/have features that they are proponents of - and as such, Chris and Jordan sometimes have quite different opinions.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
09-20-2014, 09:04 AM
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
09-04-2014, 12:33 PM
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Here it is after:
And here's the gallery:
Burning Man 2014 - Imgur
Just hosed it off when I got home, still works perfectly!
Quick notes:
I used the FA 1.4 50mm at the burn itself - it got dusty but seems OK.
I used the AA adapter and must have taken 1000 photos on one set of Amazon AA rechargeables. Amazing.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
08-27-2013, 05:51 AM
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Summer is almost over again. I collected few photos from this summer and you can view all of them on my blog.
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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
08-13-2013, 11:28 AM
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
06-23-2013, 04:01 AM
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They may not be forgettable to the people who took them.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
05-25-2013, 02:59 PM
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I also thought that Pentax could open 10 real b&m shops wordwide, in Apple-like style, to show people the Pentax experience.
• They could immediately try medium format camera and lenses
• Setup a studio booth with models once a day
• Full range of DSLRs, inside their environment;
—in one corner a DSLRs in rainforest-like wet environment
— next to it a DSLR half buried in deset-like sand, etc.
• A full range of K-mount optics
• All compacts
• Binoculars
• History of Pentax;
— lots of images with the Beatles, with Beatles music playing
— first SLR, then Pentax through decades
• Then short showcases and presentations "How a (D)SLR is made", or "the art of lens design", or, "wedding photography for mums and dads", "beach photography", etc.
• Weekly workshops on how to get to know your camera in fine detail
• Etc.
Where shops would be located?
I thought Tokyo and Hong Kong obviously, then New Delhi, eastern and western US coast (New York, San Francisco?), one in London, then Paris, one in Moscow. One in Sydney or Melbourne Australia. Etc.
If Leica can do it, Pentax can do it too. They have lots of history to show.
Nothing grandiose; just presence to allow experience. That's all.
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
03-17-2013, 02:44 AM
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I wrote this for the local forum.
Mainly targeted at non-Pentax users who have never considered Pentax or maybe never heard of it.
Hope this will be helpful for those considering a K30.
Still a work in progress.
I'll update here too whenever I update the local forum page.
The Pentax K30 has been released for some time now (announced in May and available in about Jun'2012)
So why such a late review?
Its a personal camera that I got recently in December so I'd just like to share my impression on using this camera after a few months of usage.
(ie. yes, bought on my own money and not passed over by some distro to review)
With weather sealing, per lens AF fine tuning, 100% coverage viewfinder and 2 control wheels, so far (as of writing) features reserved for much higher end cameras, the K30 (on paper) promises to offer features never before seen in a 'entry' camera at its price point.
So does it deliver? (read on)
K30 -A veritable travel kit with small primes in a small bag.
Lenses :
UWA - DA15mm f4 ltd
Normal - FA31mm f1.8 ltd
Short Tele - FA77mm f1.8 ltd
Just for reference and as a base for the review :
Pentax K-30 specification highlights
1. 16.1MP CMOS sensor
2. In-body image stabilization
3. Weather-sealed polycarbonate body
4. ISO 100-12800 (expandable to 25,600, with user-defined Auto ISO range)
5. 1080p HD movie recording at 24, 25 or 30 frames per second
6. Per-lens AF fine adjustment
7. Focus peaking
8. 2 scroll wheels for an 'entry' level/priced camera
9. 100% coverage viewfinder
For those interested in datasheets (and existing reviews):
Official site : PENTAX - K-30 Black
DPReview : Pentax K-30 Review: Digital Photography Review
ImagingResource : Pentax K-30 Camera - Review
Rather than bore anyone with spec sheets which are a google search away anyway.
I'd just cut to the chase.
Talk about the end results (photos) and user experience.
What better way than to go on a tour.....
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Forum: Homepage & Official Pentax News
05-05-2013, 11:09 AM
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Reading years of laments on this Forum I gather there are two lines of complaint
- Those against Pentax the manufacturer and its product shortcomings
- Those against Pentax Ricoh Americas Corp.and its handling of marketing the brand in the US
Many have said they want PRAC to do at least the following:
- Advertise
- Television
- Paper Media
- Online
- Build a more robust relationship with the Online review community
- Which takes an investment of time, and will require someone do that instead of something else (or hire to do it)
- Which requires expensive Full-Time employees
- Place physical cameras in the market that can be handled (B&M Stores)
- B&M stores require service by Rep's
- Rep's earn commissions
- Rep's have fixed benefit costs like Social Security and ObamaCare
- Rep's have travel expenses
- B&M Stores require Support
- Salesman Training (by the Rep
- Traffic-generating "Events"
- Take-Back support
- In-Store Display support
- Co-Op advertising support
- Brand Swag and other gives-away
- B&M Stores require Dealer Credit Arrangements
- which are an expense and a risk to PRAC *see Nikon / Ritz Camera
- B&M Stores require Direct Purchase Agreements
- At minimum annual volumes that reflect the current environment
- Which require expensive full-time employees at HQ to track and account
- B&M Stores require Store Demonstrators
- Deliver better Telephone Customer Service
- Which should be brought back In-House for QC
- Which requires expensive Full-Time employees
- Deliver better, more up-to-date Website
- Which should be brought back In-House for QC
- Which requires expensive Full-Time employees
- Deliver better, more comprehensive Webstore stocking all Pentax items
- Which requires Inventory investment
- Which requires Warehouse space
- Which requires at least some voice Order-Taking capacity
- Which requires expensive Full-Time employees
- Which requires Packing and Shipping capability
- Which requires expensive Full-Tinme employees
- Deliver better Repair Service arrangement
- Which should be brought back In-House for QC
- Which requires expensive Full-Time employees
- Deliver more "Customer Affinity Events"
- Which require Rep's or Trained Demonstrators
- Which requires expensive Full-Time employees or contract hires
These are just a few things I can think of off the top of my head. I know many here don't need any of these things and are content to buy online without seeing anything first. But these are the sanme people who want a FF and accessories and TC's and third-party lenses in K-mount and all the other things that by definition require more volume and a higher market share.
So I ask you to show me
Where is Jim Malcolm supposed to get the money to do all those things and more over the next 3 - 5 years, to make Pentax once again a full-line, competitive dSLR Brand, without raising the PRAC profit on the lenses he buys from Pentax Japan? His only option is to raise the prices to the level they should have been the entire time Ned Bunnel was blogging Leica and abusing Pentax in the USA. Pentax is perceived in the market as "cheap," like a Japanese car was 40 years ago, because low price is associated with low quality.
So tell me, instead of complaining, tell me how to fix this brand.
And if you want to assign blame, assign it to Ned Bunnell.
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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
05-05-2013, 10:58 AM
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Just got my show flyer from Hunt’s Photo in Melrose MA for their weekend show,
The K-30 with 18-55mm AL lens after rebates $449.95
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
04-18-2013, 08:40 AM
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Snow is finally melting (and fast). Ants are coming also alive and so my macro season begins. :)
Here is one shot from yesterday. First time I managed to freeze this. Ants defend themselves by spraying acid to its enemies.
(Click to view bigger on my photoblog)
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-18-2013, 09:24 AM
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I have several Pentax lenses at the moment which cover "the most used" focal lengths. As already mentioned before you really need to figure out what focal lengths and aperture values you use the most. If you buy a zoom and it doesn't do what you are used to or expect it to, it only frustrates you and you end up searching the new one. As you can't get everything with one lens, just figure out what you need and it will be easy then on.
DA 18-135WR/3.5-5.6: Good range, excellent center sharpness at all focal lengths (bit soft after 100mm though), pretty good at corners 24~70mm, weather resistant and good build quality, reasonable size and weight. This is ideal kit lens replacement if you need weather resistance as it gives more reach. Changing lenses in bad weather may not be possible, so longer reach may be a big plus. At least my copy seems to perform best ~F5.6. This is ideal hiking/walkabout lens. Bokeh is pretty good.
DA*16-50/2.8: Bit soft overall at F2.8, especially at 50mm, but center sharpness is excellent. CA is noticeable at F2.8. Excellent build quality and handling, big and bit heavy. Only weather resistant normal zoom available which can do F2.8. If you don't need 16mm wide end, F2.8 and weather resistance, buy something else. Otherwise you don't have much choice and buy this. Bokeh is very nice for a zoom IMO.
DA17-70/4 SDM: Falls between the previous ones. Faster than 18-135WR but shorter focal length and lacks WR. Longer focal length than DA*16-50 but slower. Has the most balanced (very good) sharpness across the frame at all focal lengths. Build quality is worse than the previous ones (zoom creep and doesn't feel as good put together). Is bigger and bit heavier than 18-135WR but smaller and lighter than DA*16-50. This is the best compromise. Bokeh is quite good also.
DA18-250/3.5-6.3: Quite good across the range (maybe best somewhere around 28mm-135mm) but as you can guess can't really compete with previous ones. Very usable at F8, even at 250mm. Ugly bokeh though. Build quality is pretty good and has zoom lock. This has it's uses when really only one lens is needed/can be taken (long day walks, when you are too lazy to change lenses). But as said before, cannot beat the previous ones. If you don't need the 135-250mm range, buy something else.
So those all has their uses. Some are better in other areas and some in other. Just pick the features you prefer/need most and choose based on that. There are also third-party lenses but I don't have experience on those other than Tamron 17-50/2.8, which is very nice lens for a very nice price. Best value normal zoom lens IMO, unless you want Pentax branded or need weather resistance. Very usable even wide open and build quality is also good. Size is also pretty small and weight is reasonable. DA*16-50/2.8 is much bigger, especially hood attached. Search and choose well and enjoy using what you choose.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
04-17-2013, 03:59 PM
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We had a beautiful day today. Sunny, plus 10C, the song birds are back in town singing a happy tune, and the snow is rushing through the forest towards the Madawaska River. Here are a few photos to commemorate a lovely day within a week of sadness.
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Forum: Pentax K-r
03-01-2011, 08:46 AM
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Well, I got to spend a couple weeks with the camera in February while writing a review. Overall, I have to say I was really impressed. Everything that made the K-x an incredible value is there, and most of it is improved. With the retail price hovering just above $600 for the kit, I can't imagine buying another entry-level dSLR.
Ergonomics and build seem slightly improved over the K-x. The camera is very, very solid and has a pleasing weight in your hand. (It's a little smaller than competing dSLRs but also a little heavier, which is a good combo, IMO.) The larger, higher-res screen is fantastic (same as the K-5, so it would be, wouldn't it?). AF is snappy and generally very accurate. Live view is fast and deadly accurate. Image quality is, of course, absolutely stellar and the high-ISO capability is incredible for a camera at this price point. On the downside the HD video recording is pretty crappy, both in terms of the options available and the quality of the video itself, but that's to be expected from Pentax at this point—seems clear they see it as a checkmark on the features list rather than a real area of concern. Like some others, I noticed what might be considered "amplified" purple fringing with this sensor, though of course that varied by lens and aperture. I also noticed a slight trend toward overexposure in high-contrast scenes, which is kinda dumb since the sensor retains so much shadow detail/information.
Anyway, some photos:
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Forum: Pentax K-r
02-18-2011, 12:11 PM
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Watching the K-r ff "debate" is just too funny. Here's a metaphor for what I'm reading about this issue:
The K-r is like a really nice car which only makes right-hand turns.
- The people who only ever make right turns are trivializing the problem and calling the left-turners a bunch of whiners who are simply looking for problems.
- The people who only ever make left turns say the car has a major defect and demand a recall right now!
- The people who make both right and left turns and are Pentax fanboys admit that there is a problem, but they are really enjoying their nice new car with its nice leather interior and great sound system and can simply work around the problem by making three right hand turns instead of a left.
- The people who make both right and left turns and are not necessarily fanboys are wondering if maybe they should return their car to the dealer... They can be heard muttering, "A car should be able to turn left and right, yes? This is true, yes? ...hold on, let me try making a left turn again. Yep, still broken. What to do... What to do..."
EDIT: And then there are the chickens who know full well that there is a problem but are too afraid of the K-r FF problem bankrupting Pentax to tolerate discussion of the topic. :) Can't forget those folks!
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Forum: Photo Critique
02-17-2011, 06:38 AM
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Terrible vignetting. Just kidding :).
I think it is a nice shot and the nice little red berries give a special something to the scene. The bird is in focus, but I think is a bit dark; it would have been better if he was lighted more from our perspective rather than the left.
P.S. Unrelated question. I used to be able to see camera/lens/etc. settings on top in the critique forums. I don't any more - is it just me or are they gone for everybody?
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