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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 01-30-2017, 07:01 AM  
Pentax KP Officially Announced, New Forum!
Posted By lowlight
Replies: 409
Views: 41,034
Thanks Tatouzou. I do need a tilt screen for waist/chest high shooting but as you say those cameras you mention are good and meet some of my criteria. I did look at them. The ISO 819200 setting will I've no doubt look like a blotchy mess if all they are doing is ramping up gain regardless, but importantly at lower ISOs between 51,200-102,400 half-decent image quality might be just about salvageable. Also I am hoping for better video quality than Pentax have so far provided and hoping the KP could provide it, but is this is the triumph of hope over experience? We'll just have to wait for full testing.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 01-30-2017, 06:04 AM  
Pentax KP Officially Announced, New Forum!
Posted By lowlight
Replies: 409
Views: 41,034
As someone who has rarely posted on this forum but quite often uses it for the excellent lens reviews, I thought I would comment about this camera as it does look very interesting indeed. I'm a keen 35mm film photographer with old Pentax cameras and some vintage Pentax glass, and have a cheap compact digital camera for point and shoot convenience. I've been researching DSLRs both full frame and with smaller sensors (e.g APS-C and 1" as in Sony RX10 range) for years (and I mean about 8 years which is ridiculous) without actually pulling the trigger on anything. I do want a degree of weather resistance and stabilisation for run and gun video. I wasn't sure about spending the money, but also knew something would follow with more of the features I wanted, so I kept waiting for better cameras to come onto the market. It's fair to say technological advances especially in sensor design have been rapid over the last decade so actually I'm glad I've waited. I'm sure there are lots of people like me who fall into that category. My main aim was to get a reasonably priced mid-range camera that could also shoot genuinely decent and nicely stabilised video at a good bitrate, especially in low light. An example would include the Sony A7sii which, alas, is beyond my price range.

I've finally this morning bought a Sony RX10 which is a very good weatherised run and gun video camera as well as being a more than acceptable stills camera. And guess what, an hour or two later this Pentax KP shows up online. I did consider Pentax mid-range cameras such s the K-50 etc, which seem to be exceptional value. But movie mode in Pentax has always (so far anyway) fallen behind other manufacturers and is basically unsatisfactory if you are serious about it - I've checked loads of video examples, and the moment you move the camera the image quality just starts to fall to pieces. I appreciate some here may disagree with that view, but really I was hoping for something better from Pentax.

What has impressed me about this KP is its extraordinary high ISO capabilities (yet to be fully tested), probably very good stills IQ, a weatherproofed body and upgraded IS - and I can mount PK vintage lenses. Brilliant. Prices are likely to come down after launch too. So to a potential customer like me with no strong preference for a particular manufacturer, this camera appeals. I'm sure there are others looking for the same sort of features I am, so I just wanted to say I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of interest is shown towards this camera from non-Pentax users. I'm looking forward to comprehensive reviews to check out image quality and video and may end up buying one for shooting stills and video in poor lighting and bad weather conditions, while using the Sony RX10 for daylight. I wouldn't say the KP is cheap of course, but it really does seem to tick a lot of boxes.
Forum: Pentax Forums Giveaways 09-07-2016, 11:40 PM  
PF 10th Anniversary - Pentax K-50 1-Day Giveaway! - Entries closed, winner announced.
Posted By lowlight
Replies: 1,825
Views: 90,883
I would love to have a K-50. I need a camera with good image quality for shooting in difficult weather conditions, and this would do the job well.
Forum: Pentax K-01 03-09-2012, 01:49 PM  
my K-01 with 10-24mm and LCDVF
Posted By lowlight
Replies: 24
Views: 4,928
OK, thanks jogiba. No continous AF mode in video is going to be a deal breaker for some, but as you say, a lens with a wide depth of field can work around that - up to a point.
Forum: Pentax K-01 03-09-2012, 08:40 AM  
my K-01 with 10-24mm and LCDVF
Posted By lowlight
Replies: 24
Views: 4,928
Thanks, 3200 is a bit better than I expected, not bad at all. I would also be interested in your thoughts about the AF in video when you have shot some.
Forum: Pentax K-01 03-09-2012, 05:27 AM  
my K-01 with 10-24mm and LCDVF
Posted By lowlight
Replies: 24
Views: 4,928
jogiba, great stuff. Like others, looking forward to seeing some video. Personally, I would be very interested in seeing how well the SR system works in video mode while walking -.with your Rode stereo mic the rig should be fairly weighty which helps remove minor vibrations. One question now you have the camera and instruction manual, do you know if the maximum ISO setting is capped in video? Thanks
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 04-10-2011, 12:57 AM  
Wildlife videos with K-5
Posted By lowlight
Replies: 11
Views: 2,757
garyk, wonderfully sharp bird photos. I don't know what your budget is for video editing software, but check out Edius Neo 3. It's designed to be quite straight forward to use and can deal with just about any type of video format you can throw at it. Also I suggest you have a look at Sony Vegas 10 HD which is cheaper but still pretty sophisticated.
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 04-10-2011, 12:42 AM  
very low light k-5
Posted By lowlight
Replies: 19
Views: 5,670
Thanks for the advice regarding lenses, low shutter noise and the interval shooting option. When the camera is programmed for automated time lapse does it power down completely in between shots? Just thinking about the battery. For example , if I set it to take a shot every 15 minutes would it switch itself off between shots? Perhaps it goes into a low power consumption sleep mode. I understand the interval can be programmed between 1 second and 24 hours, and the number of shots between 1 and 999. Also wondering if the camera activates AF each time it is 're-awakened' for the next shot. Thanks again.
Forum: Video Recording and Processing 03-12-2011, 01:51 AM  
k5 16:9 aspect ratio stills
Posted By lowlight
Replies: 17
Views: 13,125
deltoidjohn, thanks. It hadn't occurred to me that you could 'scale to fit' into the NLE so glad you mentioned it. Neverhteless, I think I would follow your advice and do the crop first before slotting it in.
Forum: Video Recording and Processing 03-02-2011, 02:14 AM  
k5 16:9 aspect ratio stills
Posted By lowlight
Replies: 17
Views: 13,125
Yes, it's OK to crop in post to get 16:9, or as has been suggested, use a frame grab.
Forum: Video Recording and Processing 02-24-2011, 02:22 AM  
k5 16:9 aspect ratio stills
Posted By lowlight
Replies: 17
Views: 13,125
Thanks for checking, it's appreciated. It's not a great deal of work to crop a jpeg to fit the 16:9 ratio so not a deal breaker. Nevertheless, it's a feature valued by video users.
Forum: Video Recording and Processing 02-23-2011, 02:44 AM  
k5 16:9 aspect ratio stills
Posted By lowlight
Replies: 17
Views: 13,125
pxpaulx, thanks for that sensor info. I have been following the video advances made by Panasonic with their GH1 and GH2 and the GH1/2 is still probably the best DSLR for video. It certainly trumps the k-5 on that score, if only because of the fast AF in video mode and the articulated LCD panel. However, the k-5 has higher ISO capabilities and is more weatherproof, hence my interest for low light shooting in a damp environment. I am still not completely sure if the 16:9 aspect ratio is available but Ubuntu user thinks it may be. A dedicated camcorder is always likely to be better than a DSLR for 'run & gun' video, but the all-in-one package of the k-5 is appealing despite some missing video functions such as the adjustable LCD panel and fast AF.
Forum: Video Recording and Processing 02-22-2011, 07:22 AM  
k5 16:9 aspect ratio stills
Posted By lowlight
Replies: 17
Views: 13,125
Thanks! I assume this would be lowering the MP value. This would be a good idea anyway because otherwise the resolution would be too high in comparison with the HD footage and so would not blend in well.
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 02-22-2011, 05:53 AM  
K-5 Firmware Suggestions
Posted By lowlight
Replies: 259
Views: 43,480
An option to shoot stills in 16:9 aspect ratio for compatibility with video.
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 02-22-2011, 05:50 AM  
Fonction Video du k5
Posted By lowlight
Replies: 10
Views: 2,779
Yes, I guess setting aperture at f6.4 would offer good depth of field and reduce the need for constant adjustments, but I haven't tried this. If anybody has experience of shooting video with the k-5 and can recommend some settings covering most situations that would be useful.
Forum: Video Recording and Processing 02-22-2011, 05:25 AM  
k5 16:9 aspect ratio stills
Posted By lowlight
Replies: 17
Views: 13,125
Thought I should check the specs again and can't see 16:9 stills offered - the aspect ration is exclusively 3:2. Panasonic offer the 16:9 ratio option for stills with their GH1 and 2, and in fact with many of their compacts. I think Canon do with some of their video-capable DSLRs. Would be nice if Pentax could acknowledge what a useful function it is for videographers, considering they have implemented HD video on the k5, and do a firmware update if this is possible.
Forum: Video Recording and Processing 02-22-2011, 02:57 AM  
k5 16:9 aspect ratio stills
Posted By lowlight
Replies: 17
Views: 13,125
Hi
I would be grateful if anyone would confirm if the k-5 can take stills in 16:9 aspect ratio so that the stills can be mixed in with the 16:9 video. If not, is there are alternative aspect ratio offered that is close enough to avoid heavy cropping? Thanks
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 02-21-2011, 02:51 PM  
very low light k-5
Posted By lowlight
Replies: 19
Views: 5,670
Not sure if this forum allows links to YouTube videos but found this k-5 waterproofing effectiveness demonstration.
















You Tube



Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 02-19-2011, 01:13 AM  
very low light k-5
Posted By lowlight
Replies: 19
Views: 5,670
Thanks, that's reassuring.
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 02-18-2011, 03:24 PM  
very low light k-5
Posted By lowlight
Replies: 19
Views: 5,670
smc, just noted you are in BC and that is exactly the forest type I will be shooting in. You know how wet it can be, I just wanted to ask do you use the DA 18-135mm WR lens and if so are you confident it is reasonably weatherproof? Being new to Pentax I don't know how weatherproof the WR designation is supposed to mean - rainproof, or splashes OK but don't let it get too wet? It's 3.5 which I would say is quite bright for a zoom lens going to 135mm.
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 02-18-2011, 02:58 PM  
very low light k-5
Posted By lowlight
Replies: 19
Views: 5,670
jbinpg, glad to hear the wide dynamic range will be of help for me, that's another good point. smc, thanks so much for those images, and for the denoise suggestion. The ISO 12800 is surprisingly clean anyway, but I can certainly see the improvement that the denoise software makes. You both seem pretty confident about the camera which is reassuring.
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 02-18-2011, 09:27 AM  
very low light k-5
Posted By lowlight
Replies: 19
Views: 5,670
That encouraging, thanks. The anticipated Sony A77 is rumoured to have even higher ISO speeds than the Nikon D3s, but won't know this for sure until they tell us the specs. But the weatherproofing on the k-5 is a real asset if you are out in a humid forest and getting rained on. Also the battery grip would be useful as I will have no opportunity to recharge lithium batteries. There's something to be said for the convenience of AA batteries. I haven't handled a k-5 yet but have been told it's surprisingly compact for a serious and tough DSLR, which is another good point as I need to carry the camera in a rucksack for extended periods. The Nikon D3s is just a touch too big, heavy and unwieldy for my purposes.
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 02-18-2011, 06:16 AM  
very low light k-5
Posted By lowlight
Replies: 19
Views: 5,670
Well, the animals themselves don't have to be perfectly shot, it's more the movements so it could be just a blur or a set of indistinct points across the image. I know it sounds an unusual requirement. However, I would also like to do shorter exposures (e.g 30 seconds or a minute) to capture animals staying still in very dark conditions, so interested in how the camera performs for these types of photos.
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 02-18-2011, 05:08 AM  
very low light k-5
Posted By lowlight
Replies: 19
Views: 5,670
I'm considering buying the k-5 for wildlife photography, specifically for low light conditions found in dense conifer forest. I would be interested to know if any k-5 owners have tried long exposures in such an environment in very low light, and I mean almost competely dark. The k-5 has a very high ISO capability (although not as high as the Nikon D3s) and this is what attracted me to the camera, that and the weatherproofing. Not having tried long exposures myself, what are the potential pitfalls? Is it likely that marginally lighter areas blow out and spread across the image wiping out the detail in the darker areas? I guess it's a question of finding exactly the right length of exposure using trial and error. I don't expect perfectly balanced shots, my aim being to track animal movements in the dark, which could be OK using a tripod and exposures of several minutes, possibly longer. The astrophotography thread is useful but it's not quite the same as shooting into a dark forest. Maybe I am expecting too much from the sensor but would interested if anyone here has tried something similar. Thanks.
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