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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-28-2011, 01:16 PM
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Thanks much for contributing to LBA. I'm wondering if Santa would listen to my 'need' for a 18-135 so I could do my own comparison?
After much waffling, I ended up with the 18-250 and it has become a good friend and cherished travel partner. I really do hate that creepy lens aspect though, and the mention of rain made me think LBA truly is justified. At home, you get lousy weather--you probably stay in doors for the day. You don't really have that option when travelling. No one (not even cockroaches) want to stay in my hotel rooms--my motto is go cheap, go more. So out in the rain I go with my 18-250 because who want to change lens in the rain?
So until Santa drops off my new WR 18-135, anyone have any suggestions for a quickie rain set up? Plastic bag with elastic garters were what I ended up with, but it wasn't ideal.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
09-28-2011, 10:47 AM
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Went to check on the reviews of one of those 'bargain' camera stores and I found this blog review. Currently, this camera store is coming up with the cheapest prices on the K-5. At first glance, their customer rating also seem good. After reading this blog review and a closer look at the comments on the review sites, I'd ONLY want to risk my money at one of the more 'expensive' trusted retailers. At least I'd be getting a genuine Pentax and my credit card information would be safe.
But read the review.... teleoscope: BestPricePhoto Jack Webb Version: Just The Facts Ma'am |
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Forum: General Talk
03-02-2011, 03:50 AM
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*Gasp* She runs off to complain to Paypal. I sent my sister-in-law some money last week from my bank account as a gift. I want my 12.00 back. Thieving %!$#@.
Sigh, I'd still rather deal with paypal than the old Western Union, checks which bounce, or international bank transfers which in the US are more of a rip off. I did recheck their fees so I'm 'relatively confident' I'll get the money back.
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Forum: General Talk
03-01-2011, 08:49 PM
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The seller doesn't have to worry about the exchange rate. You'll still get your $100.00 - 3% unless you tell someone (against rules) that they are responsible for the paypal fees. Doesn't matter if the person is in the USA or France. The seller is going to end up with the same sum either way. The buyer is the one who gets a so-so exchange rate. But really, PayPal exchange rates aren't any worse than many banks. Personally, that whole sending money as a 'gift' seems silly. The fees are paid on one side or another no matter how it's designated. It just confuses the nature of the transaction.
Regardless, as others have said, if you REALLY want to sell your goods; consider worldwide. You'll have to fill out a customs form (easy) at the post office, but that's about the only 'issue' I can see. Your likely to sell faster and at your asking price--if it's realistic.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-22-2011, 04:36 AM
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Oh, I so feel your pain. I just recently had a similar experience--I was using a 12mg P&S--hence the new DLSR. I got pictures from a friend using a 'nice' Nikon--same problem. I suspect it has little to do with the camera and a LOT to do with how you are taking pictures. If you aren't using high resolution you cannot crop those photos. That pricey Nikon wasn't doing much better than my P&S because the photographer was doing the same thing I was--saving space on a memory card. BAH! How short-sighted of both of us. It's painful, but this is probably user error, not camera error. I'm not making the same mistake 2x though. From now on, high resolution and Raw. I want to be able to crop photos until I learn to make better compositions.
You might indeed want a new camera, but you'll get the same results if you do the same thing. Investigate the problem before you investigate a new camera.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
02-15-2011, 05:08 PM
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That's probably the one that one of the posters referred to that I wanted to read (which is why I was trying to find the one I stumbled upon). However, your general methodology is wonderful. It will solve many a search problem. Thank you.
@ SlickYamaha, thanks for show of support. It's nice to know I'm not alone in search frustrations. I'm glad you threw your body in front of the train and started the 'unofficial dumb questions' thread so those of us suffering in silence could brave the humiliation of admitting our ignorance.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
02-15-2011, 01:48 PM
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This one is so awful, that I'd like to sign in as 'anonymous'. Is there a secret to the 'search' function that I'm missing? I stumbled upon a post titled something like "Recommended equipment for a beginner" One of the posters suggested referring to another similar post. I have tried 30 variations on that theme, cannot find it. I get scads of posts every time I search for something, but little of it directed to what I'm really looking for. I'm assuming the search is looking for tags, but darn, is there an efficient search method? And can anyone find the above referenced post?
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
01-29-2011, 07:35 PM
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With me, "cheap" is almost a religion. I'd start out with the best cheap-o tripod you can find (look in thrift shops, garage sales, etc) The scratch and dent Tiltall, the Dolica, if 2nd hand isn't possible. Buy it knowing it's a temporary solution. A cheap tripod is a rite of passage. Throw your lose change in a jar and by the time you are are ready to use that tripod as a weapon to beat yourself, you'll know what you want next. Besides, you'll have all that lose change to pay for it. If you spend $25-50, it's not that big of a deal to throw it away or use it as a flash stand. You've solved a temporary problem and learned something--that's worth 25.00
All the old, well-used, and still usable tripods have expensive names on them: Gitzo, Manfrotto. For your 2nd tripod seriously consider doing the cheapskate thing--buy a tripod you'll keep for decades. A tripod isn't just made of aluminum or carbon fiber, a lot of the real value and quality of tripod comes in the parts they use to put these things together and the way they do it. Quality is rarely 1 thing--it's 100 small details that add up to make something durable. It's using the 1.00 part instead of the .50 part, it's investing 10 minutes in doing 'X' instead of 2 minutes.
But you don't need the great tripod yet. Find out how committed you are, find out if you'll hike with one or if it will mostly be in a studio. Find out if you have special needs in a tripod. After this beginner tripod, you'll know where to invest your money.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
01-27-2011, 06:10 AM
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BBB is beyond useless. As long as a business is paying their membership dues, there has to be drastic issues before they give a truly accurate report or grade. My guess? Broadway Photo is about a month away from bankruptcy if BBB is reporting problems.
I would call up my credit card immediately and see if you have any recourse, like stopping payment. You have no idea what the options are until you call them to inquire. It would certainly be worth the $20 to return the camera with a signature required IF your credit card will stop payment. ('Import camera' is a rather vague term and your CC might be responsive to this deceptive practice on a sales site.) I've lived on O'ahu, mailing costs are more, but it's the restocking fee that is so high. I sort of suspect you'll be lucky to get the camera if Broadway Photo is in that much hot water. Make the call to the CC now.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-19-2011, 05:50 PM
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WoW, some impressive photos Jewell and just the sort of thing I'm hoping to achieve someday. Thanks for another recommendation to put on the watch list. It's just nice to know there are some good options without spending $500+ per lens.
Gene, Entropy, thanks for the feedback--being so new there are so many things I hadn't considered when reading reviews for different lenses. I always seem to run into a glowing review of the Tamron. Since it's been discontinued, I started thinking this might be my last chance to acquire it. That was distracting me from the larger picture so to speak. With everyone's input, I'm 'probably' doing the 18-135--I just have to leave room for one more night of waffling on the issue. :-)
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-19-2011, 10:36 AM
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This is sort of a double post, but if possible, I'd like some feedback from people who have used both lens. I know they are different and it's not an entirely fair comparison, but if you could only have 1 of the lens, which would you chose and why?
I can purchase a K-5 with the Pentax Lens 18-135 WR or with the Tamron 18-250, all equipment is new. I travel frequently and I'd like 1 lens that can cover a lot of situations. The price difference is minor (Tamron being $60 cheaper than the Pentax). Thanks
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
01-19-2011, 08:17 AM
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@ sterrtje--LOL, let's all play nicely. It does depend on how you read that response. I read it as: "You decide what you need. I decided X" implying that I might decide Y.
In reviewing all the options and prices, I stumbled upon yet a third. In the best of all world we'd get to test drive the equipment before buying, but that is not possible. I fully understand I'm comparing apples to oranges, but any further input is much welcome. I REALLY would like one travel lens that will cover a lot of situations, "a do most of it quite well, walk around lens." I initially thought I could get the Tamron 18-250mm for this purpose as it seems to be generally well liked for what it is. Alas, it's no longer made and the 18-200 is not nearly as well regarded. There seems to be a vast hole in the all-in-one market, leaving the Pentax 18-135 as one of the few alternatives. I have found 1 highly rated seller that has the Tamron, but he will not separate them. So when I run the numbers with applicable rebates and a unique tax situation, I get the following options:
K-5 with Pentax 18-55 lens 1,121
K-5 with Pentax 18-135 lens 1,560
K-5 with Tamron 18-250 lens 1,500
So now I'm at that apple and orange place. I'd like to test drive the 18-135 vs 18-250. Has anyone worked with both? Anyone love their Tamron so much they'd take this option without looking back? Is there a really good 'travel' lens (fairly wide range) that I missed?
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
01-18-2011, 06:44 PM
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Thanks everyone for the quick responses and the thoughtful comments which unwittingly made it a big quandary. All information sent me down all sorts of interesting paths.
- Andi Lo, love you lens recommendations. I am a huge traveler so I do have to take that into consideration. It's one of the reasons I started doing the compact auto-auto-idiot cameras. (The end result is just so poor though, I'm ready to take control of a camera again.)
- Adam, thanks for that review. Somehow I'd missed the in depth one just looking at the user reviews which aren't as detailed.
- Eddie, great advise on getting a wider read on focal lengths. I know that was a previous mistake as I ended up with a box full of lenses that were rarely used and a waste of money.
- Jasvok, I hadn't even considered that option, but that one additional lens would cover a lot of the needed focal lengths for a lot less money.
I'm going to puzzle my options for the next few days, but I want to do this before the rebate expires. Thanks for taking the time to help me look at this from a different angle.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
01-18-2011, 11:59 AM
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A long, long time ago I used to do a lot of photography with a SLR, but have forgotten most of it. (Some will come back and some I'll just learn as I go.) This will be my first digital SLR and I'm diving off the deep end and getting the K-5 as the WR and the high ISO suit my style and my needs. With rebates, it costs $70 more to get the 18-55 kit lens rather than just the body. Or I could get the 18-135 kit lens for $440 extra ($510 more than the body alone).
Since I have no lenses, I think the kit is a better value for me while I learn the camera. I'm inclined to think the $440 would be better invested in another lens--maybe better quality than the kit lens, but I'd like to get some feed back from the experts. I'd appreciate any guidance you can give. Thanks.
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