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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
06-01-2015, 11:11 PM
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I installed firmware version 1.16 in march 2014. No problems with focussing either.
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Forum: Pentax Forums Giveaways
12-14-2014, 08:28 AM
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I'm in! Can't wait to try this famous lens :)
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-10-2014, 02:02 PM
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I own this Sigma 18-250 now for two years and its my most used lens on my K-5. Fits almost any situation for me at daylight. When I need a faster lens for use inside or a narrow depth of field I use a Sigma 18-50 f2.8 or the Pentax DA 50 f1.8.
But, thanks to the great high ISO performance of the K-5 (and K-50), you can even use the 18-250 with good results on dark cloudy days. I shoot a lot of fieldhockey games, and I have learned to make use of the high ISO capabilities. With shutter set at 1/320 or 1/400 and aperture f6.3 at 250mm, I get very nice results, even when the ISO goes up to 3200. Of course, a 70-200 f2.8 gives better results in less light, but the price is 3 times higher, and you miss the wide end of the 18-250. This lens is very versatile, and I like the advantage of not having to change lenses to often.
The 18-135 WR would be a good alternative, as mentioned in this thread, but then you miss the long end up to 250mm.
Aaarrrhhhh, life is full of choises... but I'm very happy with this 18-250, despite of its compromises.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-14-2014, 05:21 AM
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In january 2011 I bought a K-x at the webshop of a big and well known German camera store, without ever holding one in my hands. At that time, I was looking for a nice DSLR set (just above entry level) at a good price. It really could have been any brand... Then I saw that nice offer of the K-x, combined with a Sigma 18-50 zoom. I did not look at Pentax so far, so I gathered a lot of information on the internet, and I found this to be a very nice camera to start with. It offered more value for money than the Canikony models at that time. And I never did regret it. When I visited some big media stores afterwards, I took some Canikony models in my hands, and I realised that I made the right choise ;)
Two years after that, in january 2013, I bought a K-5 at a webshop. The K-5 was running out at that moment, otherwise I would not have made the upgrade, Still happy with it (not saying that Canikony make bad cameras).
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
08-02-2014, 01:28 AM
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I also never had any problems with upgrading firmware, neither on my Pentax gear (K-x, K-5), neither on any of my smartphones. :D In fact, in 99.99 % of the cases there are no problems with updates.
But if you search the internet for problems with firmware updates on any device from any brand, you will find messages where it goes wrong (mostly due to people who didn't follow the exact update procedure) ;). A firmware/software update is always a small risk, and though the producer tries to make it as easy, stable and foolproof as possible, once in a while it goes wrong, and that can simply be bad luck.
It's up to the producer to solve these problems on a correct and professional way, and keep the customers happy. :)
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-23-2014, 02:38 PM
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If you are going to use the lens mostly inside, I would definitely go for one of the 2.8 models. You won't regret that. Your K-01 has a high ISO range, but at higher ISO values noise and/or noise reduction is introduced. It's better to have a large aperture. At DXOMark the Sigma scores a bit higher than the Tamron. It also scores higher in the member reviews on this forum. So I would choose the Sigma.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-30-2014, 01:10 PM
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For your information:
I did some tests yesterday in de late afternoon sun (5 PM) with the Sigma 18-250 DC Macro HSM on my K-5. I took several pictures from a swan, splashing in the water, surrounded by grass and trees, all at 250mm, F8 and speed 1/400 (I use TAv mode on the K-5, so it automatically selects the appropriate ISO value). I used multi-segment light metering.
In those shots the ISO varied from 400 to 800. If I had chosen a speed of 1/125, the ISO value would have been less.
I often shoot fieldhockey games. On a cloudy but bright afternoon, my settings are F7.1 to F8, speed 1/320. At 250 mm the ISO value then goes up to 1250. When it's less bright (heavy cloudy), the lens goes open (F6.3), speed stays at 1/320 to avoid blurr, and the ISO value will go up to 2000 or even 2500, which is still acceptable.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-21-2014, 05:29 AM
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Just to warn you:
My Sigma 18-250 DC Macro HSM with mounted UV filter, front cap and back cap is exactly 112mm long. So its total length depends on how you want to stow the lens...
Btw I got a carrying case supplied with my Sigma 8-16mm, but I never have used it. I prefer to keep my equipment in just 1 bag, which I have choosed carefully to fit my needs. I don't like to carry several seperate cases with me.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-16-2014, 01:56 PM
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I would recommend the Sigma 18-250 DC Macro HSM. I prefer not to change lenses when I'm on a citytrip, at the beach in the wind etc., and I find the use of this "superzoom" very convenient. IQ is of course not the same as a bunch of primes, but still very acceptable (I'm not a pixel-peeper). Compared to the Pentax 18-270 it's slightly sharper, specially at the tele end, has a bit faster AF, and you'll even save some money. I am using it for 1.5 year now and am very happy with it.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
05-15-2014, 04:34 AM
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When the K50 is mostly used for traveling, I would suggest the Sigma 18-250/3.5-6.3 DC Macro HSM:
Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro HSM Lens Reviews - Sigma Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database
It's my most used lens for the last 1.5 year. It's not WR, but it has a great range, is surprisingly sharp and has a fast and silent AF. It almost doubles the tele-range compared to a 15-135. I use it for traveling, landscapes and sports. Sometimes I wish the lens was a bit faster, but you can't have it all :) The recent Pentax DSLR's do a very good job in compensating this, because you can easily use higher ISO values.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
05-07-2014, 03:55 AM
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Me too (with a K-5 and Metz MB 44 AF-1). It gives me more exposure control and more predictable results.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
03-10-2014, 04:09 AM
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My Norton Internet Security 2013 didn't complain about the update file. The update went smooth and within a few minutes on my K-5 (as usual).
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
03-10-2014, 03:56 AM
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Recently I found this extensive polarizer filter review: Polarizing filters test - Results and summary - Lenstip.com, and I decided to buy the Marumi DHG Super because of its great value-for-money. I'm verry happy with it. As you can read from this review it's optically comparable with the much more expensive B+W Slim KSM.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
03-06-2014, 07:44 AM
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-28-2014, 04:46 AM
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+1
Now using this lens for more than 1 year. It has become the default mounted lens on my K-5.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
09-13-2013, 03:05 AM
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I received a confirmation from Symantec this morning (8:19 CEST) about the white-listing of the K-5 fw update file:
Upon further analysis and investigation we have verified your submission and as such this detection will be removed from our products.
The updated detection will be distributed in the next set of virus definitions, available via LiveUpdate or from our website at Virus Definitions & Security Updates - Symantec Corp.
Everyone is of course entitled to have his own meaning about certain AV software, depending on his own experience. Our company has used 4 different AV protection "suites", and for several reasons we decided a few years ago to use Norton Internet Security on all workstations. We believe Symantec does a very good job in this matter.
But, what's more important, a few members of the Dutch Pentax forums (also) report enhanced AF performance after implementing the new software release in their camera (K-5 and K-01) :)
I haven't installed the new software yet, but I will post my findings on this.
Greetz from the Netherlands
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
09-12-2013, 05:09 AM
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My Norton Internet Security 2013 also indicated the K-5 fw update 1.15 as a potential risk and put it in quarantaine. It's decision is based upon a combination of reasons, among them the fact that the file is created recently and not known yet in the Norton community database. I took it out of quarantaine and reported to Symantec that I consider this file to be safe. Within a few days it should be on their "white-list".
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-19-2013, 12:23 AM
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First, be sure to have the newest firmware on your K-x, because there were some issues in the past with the support of large SDHC cards.
A (professional) member of a dutch Pentax forum dit a test in practice with the fastest memory cards, and found out that the max. write speed of a K-5 was about 20 mb/s. with RAW bursts. Someone else on a forum mentioned a max. measured write speed of 18 mb/s.
Cards with a faster write speed are not usefull on a K-5. I suppose the K-x doesn't write faster than a K-5.
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
08-07-2013, 01:31 PM
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When you need a TTL controlled flash on your Pentax, it should support P-TTL anyway. But not all of them support "high speed sync" or "second curtain sync". You could look at B+H for more info on P-TTL compatible flash units:
On Camera Flashes | B&H Photo Video
I chose the Metz MB 44 AF-1 for my K-x, and it works very good in P-TTL mode. Neither "high speed sync" or "second curtain sync", but tilt/swivel and a build-in bounce-card. I recommend you get a flash unit with enough power, which you will need if you use bouncing light. I use my flash often at parties with bouncing against ceiling, using the bounce-card or a third-party diffusor cap. Having enough power also means a short time to recharge. I found my Metz to have sufficient power and I'm very happy with the results.
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
07-23-2013, 05:11 AM
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I took this picture last week on a mountain in Andelsbuch, Vorarlberg, Austria. It's a very popular place for paragliders, and now and then the sky is crowded with 20 - 30 of them. It must be a great feeling to float at the wind like a bird and still be able to choose your altitude and direction.
During the day most of them go high up in the sky and land on the mountain again. In the afternoon they all sail down to the valley and have a nice "afterparty".
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
06-27-2013, 12:38 PM
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
04-09-2013, 04:39 AM
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After I got my K-5, I also had problems taking out the SD card. Now I make use of the spring that pushes the card outwards (but just not strong enough).
When I have pushed the card down to release it, I quickly pull away my finger and let the card flip out, pushed by the spring. In this way the card comes out further and it can easily be picked out with your fingers (instead of your nails).
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
04-09-2013, 04:27 AM
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After my wife left me, my hobby in photography flourished (not kidding!). I swapped my K-x with a K-5 and bought a nice lens.
So if you want to spend more time and money on photography, just show this post to your wife. Perhaps it helps... :lol::lol::lol:
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
02-09-2013, 02:19 AM
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I think the level of protection of the ACMAXX protector is high, but personally I don't like to have such a "thick" object on my camera screen. I also had a look at a few video's about the ACMAXX screen protector, and I must say there is a lot of glare when you have applied them. It seems almost like a mirror to me.
On my K-x, K-5 and Sony compact I use digiCOVER screen protectors (made in Germany by S+M Rehberg). These are high quality protector films, very rigid, highly transparent, anti-glare and easy to apply without air bubbles. I would recommend these without doubt!
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