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Forum: General Photography
09-26-2023, 04:46 PM
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Recently, as posted elsewhere in Pentax forums, I acquired the discrete Panasonic Lumix LX100 ii, because I wanted a camera for informal photography (family gatherings and opportunistic photography) which would fit my jacket pocket. Pentax and Ricoh had nothing that met this criteria - I don't always want to lug around a DSLR and its accompanying lenses . I bought it after Panasonic discontinued manufacturing it from one of the few (UK) dealers who still had some in stock and am glad I did while this was still possible. This little gem fits my needs, as mentioned above, perfectly, It's not burdensome, and still accommodates my preference for being in full control of the process of taking photographs like I was with my first Pentax - the venerable MX. Image quality is good and the zoom lens is sufficiently versatile for my intended use.
Does this mean I am abandoning Pentax? Absolutely not, not one little bit, I have no intention of selling the Pentax gear which I use.
My photographic passions are Landscape, especially coastal landscapes, and Architecture. I enjoy nature, so also do a little macro and wildlife photography. So no need for hyper focus speed or countless frames per second.
I'm content with the wonderful (for me) K-1 and K-3ii for which I have suitable photographers back packs to accommodate the lenses I anticipate using. Sometimes I travel lighter and hike with the delightful K-70 and attachable O- GPS 1 with one or two lenses in a shoulder camera bag. I have all the apsc and full frame lenses I want and these are quality goods from Pentax. (None of my seven elderly SDM lenses have ever let me down, and this is also true of the cameras). I really enjoy what I have and see no need to add to it, so I'm no longer waiting for the next release. My only want is to improve creativity - and changing systems won't achieve that for me!
Thank you for your posts BigMackCam, the first part of it had me downhearted initially then the penny dropped! Thanks also to the others who have posted the many positive comments here.
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Forum: General Photography
09-21-2023, 03:43 PM
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If I go out with the sole purpose of taking photos, yes, I take a bag or a backpack depending on what Pentax camera and lenses suit the occasion.
The rest of the time I just take an LX* in my jacket pocket.
* That's the LX100 ii, the camera Pentax should have offered us when they discontinued the MX and Q series.
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
08-21-2017, 07:30 AM
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Is it possible that you inadvertently turned off the rear screen? If so, switch on the camera and press the info button to toggle rear LCD info.
Hope it's as simple as this.
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
07-19-2021, 12:57 AM
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The outstanding photograph for me is Number 6.
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
06-27-2017, 06:02 PM
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I had a 645N and 7 FA lenses, but could not afford to splash out on a 645Z, even at used prices. I traded it all in for a new K-1 and some new Pentax FF lenses. The camera shop gave a good price for the 645 gear, more than I paid for it but will still be able to turn a fair profit on it.
Photography for me is just a hobby, I don't use a studio, preferring to shoot landscape, architecture, nature and family. I'm also getting on a bit in age now, so what follows needs to be read with this context in mind.
I can't compare the Z with the K-1, but I can say I am happy using the latter because it is very portable - compare the 645 Z + 35mm or 120mm macro with the K-1 + 31mm or 100mm macro and you'll see what I mean. It also has shake reduction, plus a host of features which are not on the 645Z, like pixel shift, astro tracer, and so on.
The other issue is choice of lenses. 15 of my lenses are current FF Pentax lenses - most acquired for my K-3ii. The rest can also be used in crop mode on the K-1. There's also quite a few legacy lenses some of which are getting a new lease of life. Perhaps that's all a bit over the top, but I do enjoy working with different combinations from 15mm - 450mm on either FF or APS-C. A 645 setup, excellent as the quality of image is, could never offer that range.
If your work is professional, I am sure the higher price of 645Z and lenses is justifiable , although even then you will want to pause for thought before stumping up for any new lenses. Sadly Ricoh is also falling behind with the release of new lenses, some of the 645 FA lenses appear to not have the resolving power of the camera. Having said that, images that I have seen from the 645Z are truly outstanding.
It's difficult to give definitive advice without knowing more about your approach to photography, and your preferred subject matter. In a studio nothing will touch the 645Z especially when paired with new 645 D FA lenses. Treking up rain soaked mountains, however, may well be more suited to the K-1. Remember the 645 FA lenses are not weather resistant, are heavy, and you are more likely to need a sturdy tripod.
I'm certainly glad that I stuck with K-mount, kept my K-3ii, and bought a K-1.
YMMV,
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Forum: General Photography
03-31-2021, 08:38 AM
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There are so many Pentax lenses to choose from in that range. Like you, I have the K-1, and I also have the D-FA* 50/1.4. For sure it can take the very best quality photographs, a pixel peeper's delight, but now that I am in retirement age and less fit than I ought to be, I find lugging the D-FA* 50/1.4 around for more than a couple of hours a bit of a chore - unless it is in a back pack with a couple of other lenses. My walk about lens is the D-FA 28-105, but if you are looking for a standard prime consider the following:
The FA 50/1.7 is, in many respects, better than the FA 50/1.4 which is probably more of a portrait lens, (it also takes me back to my first Pentax MX with M50/1.7!)
The DA 40/2.8 Limited is so miniscule you might not think it's there, reminds me of the 1.7's sibling the M 40/2.8.
I do agree with comments about the FA 43/1.9 Limited, it's a little cracker!
Macro's tend to focus hunt when I don't want them to so I keep them for their intended purpose,
But the unsung beauty is the DA* 55/1.4 It's a softly spoken SDM rather than a whiney screw focus lens, and it does take sublime photos. On full frame you will only notice the slight vignetting when it's wide open, and can easily remove it in post processing.
There are some lovely photos taken with it on the K-1 here and some test photos here.
There are others, but maybe we already have too much choice with the above.
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
03-16-2021, 07:21 AM
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For me it was a close thing between #8 and #13, both are excellent.
Today I chose #8,
on another day it might have been #13
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
03-09-2021, 06:49 AM
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I would like to nominate this photo
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
01-23-2021, 08:35 AM
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I am sure that Ricoh's reasoning will win a lot of supporters: improving frame/s rate, buffer depth and process time, for example, is important for photographers who wish to catch action.
I am a primarily a landscape and architecture photographer, and the K-1 fits my needs most of the time. I had hoped for an aps-c body for other occasions and when travelling lighter (lenses included), but the lack of built in GPS and tiltable rear screen means that I have ruled out buying this camera.
I do hope Ricoh bring out a similar to the K-3iii with the inclusion of these features.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-04-2021, 11:27 AM
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Like others I do enjoy the DA 21mm F3.2 Limited on the K-70 and the FA 31mm F1.8 AL Limited on K-1 - lovely moderate wide angle zoom lenses and so compact. However, as no one has so far mentioned it, I will put in the DA* 11-18mm F2.8 ED DC AW on APS-C. It is a very high quality wide angle lens, and very useful for that big country style of landscape photograph. It is much larger and heavier than a limited lens, but is weather proof, offers a focal length range, a silent fast zoom, and top quality image rendition and resolution. For me it is the best APS-C lens available, noticeably better than the otherwise commendable DA 12-24mm F4 ED AL [IF] or even the DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 Limited DC WR.
The DA* 11-18mm F2.8 is expensive but it is one of very few Pentax lenses which users have given an overall 10 in their evaluation. The user reviews are here HD Pentax-DA* 11-18mm F2.8 ED DC AW Reviews - DA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database
There is also a an in-depth lens review here: HD Pentax-DA* 11-18mm F2.8 ED DC AW Review - Introduction | PentaxForums.com Reviews |
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Forum: Pentax K-70 & KF
09-10-2020, 06:16 AM
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Good choice, K-70 is a very likeable lightweight DSLR camera.
I use mine more frequently than the excellent but heavy K-1 or the fixed rear screen K-3ii.
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Forum: Pentax K-01
03-25-2017, 11:02 AM
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I know I'm late to the party, but thanks for posting your humorous story Papillon, very entertaining read, glad to hear that you're liking the K-01.
Just as I enjoy Marmite, I like the K-01. First I bought a Yellow one from the US which came fitted with a folding screen hood, and really liked its simplicity and of course the design. I knew the sensor was very capable because I was using a K-5. Then I noticed a black one going very cheap in Ireland with the XS 40 so bagged it. An interest in full spectrum photography spurned me on to splash out on a converted white K-01 - IR is lots of fun. Finally, to complete the set I snatched up a very inexpensive silver one. Of course you geeks will have noticed that four is not the complete set, as indeed did I. The Smurf was not imported to the UK, but I did come across one on Ebay (mode dial top missing) and when the price fell to the correct level, I scooped it up (mode dial now on order).
Only a few people will really understand my curious behaviour - surely one is enough! Yes indeed, just one in each of the five colours, that's one for each DA limited lens.
I also use them to park DA* lenses on so that capacitors are kept charged. Now I have been told that this is nonsense, but hey, none of my old * DA lenses (7) has suffered from SDM failure so I'll stick to the superstition and every few days press the shutter, do a little fiddling with focus, and keep my fingers crossed. It tells the lenses that I care for them, and they reciprocate by performing perfectly.
Back on the K-01, I do wish that Pentax would bring out an updated version with EVF and maybe the FF sensor. Same styling by Marc Newson, but slimmer body (grip apart) and an 'aperture ring' to maintain flange distance and free up the rear dial for shutter speed or +/- exposure. I do agree that other features like improved focus speed, full HD video, etc as suggested above would make it a nice camera.
But please, Ricoh/Pentax, just in one colour! ;)
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Forum: Pentax K-01
07-08-2017, 04:58 PM
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K-01s - perfect attachments for the 5 DA Limited lenses.
(Storm trooper is full spectrum, Smurf how has replacement mode dial.:o )
Looking forward to the K-02 (FF with EVF) :)
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
02-01-2020, 12:14 PM
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You'll need a set of Lensbaby aperture disks to work with a range of apertures other than wide open. These cost less than $10 (in the UK) and fit perfectly into the Fotodiox PTX 110 P/Q lens mount adapter.
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Forum: General Photography
01-27-2020, 02:07 PM
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Rob, with the publicity you have given Pentax by being one of only five winners of the flickr 2019 Your Best Shots competition, for which there were over 17,000 entries, I think Pentax owe you a K-1!
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Forum: General Photography
01-26-2020, 07:36 AM
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With 17,000+ entries, for Robert Span, a Pentaxian, to be one of the five winners in Flickr's '2019 Your Best Shot' is a considerable achievement, something to celebrate. See his wining photograph plus the other four here - they are all wonderful photographs. Looking up each of these photographer's Flickr photostream and profile reveals a wealth of outstanding work. I quote Robert's comments for 'Over the Edge' here:
How this moment was captured: "It was taken on a late summer afternoon at a time when there were some very interesting cirrus cloud formations in the sky. I was concentrating on shooting butterflies that afternoon, but I ended up taking a few quick shots of the sky before I put the camera away for the day. To be honest, I wasn't really expecting anything spectacular. Later on that evening, as I was doing some post-processing, this one particular photograph stood out as it suggested to me a large wave or the edge of a waterfall. I manipulated the colours slightly with Nik Color Efex to strengthen that impression. So, you might want to call this picture a happy accident."
The photographer: "I'm a 51-year-old amateur photographer based in Ontario, Canada. I've always been a Pentax user and have a keen interest in using their older CCD-sensor DSLR bodies with vintage manual-focus lenses. For me, photography is a rewarding hobby, and I derive much pleasure and enjoyment from it, even though I still have much to learn."
Clearly he is both a self-efacing and very skilled photographer! Congratulations Robert! :)
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
11-22-2019, 09:47 AM
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16-85 every time. Bulkier than the 20-40, less range than the 18-135, not as neat as the 17-70, but in my experience it is far better than these others irrespective of its excellent range.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
11-22-2019, 06:15 PM
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I tested some of these recently but just at 200mm and 300mm, with the following conclusions.
Standard is set by the 200 and 300 DA* primes which I would rate as excellent, or the new DFA* 70-200 which I rate as perfect. For me, clarity and colour rendition are the critical factors. WR and quiet quick focus matter too.
DA 55-300mm plm: very good at 200 & 300 (but will vignette at 55)
F 100-300mm: I don't have this one but do have the FA equivalent (see next)
FA 100-300mm: Poor at 200, very poor at 300 (both versions of FA 100-300 lenses)
FA 80-320mm: OK at 200, poor at 300
FA-J 70-300mm: Poor at both 200 and very poor at 300
I also used to use the Sigma 28-300 which I thought was good for such an extensive range.
In conclusion, of the above, I would recommend the HD Pentax DA 55-300 ED PLM WR RE, (compact - despite is enormous name). Crop where necessary at the short end if p.p. anti-vignetting at does not give the desired result. In addition to image quality, I like the WR and PLM (silent) focus. You'll get used to 'un-retracting' this lens after a while. It's a nice partner to the HD Pentax DFA 28-105.
If on a tight budget, consider the Sigma, but not the F, FAs, or FA-J.
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
10-24-2018, 02:14 PM
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The focusing screen on the 645N doesnt have frenzel or split prism to aid focusing, and won't accept the screen from the older 645 which has. So to be sure of focus, I would advise the autofocus FA 75mm f2.8. Alternatives which will cost more are the 35mm for wide angle (landscape?) and the 150 which is a fantastic portrait lens. Skip the 45mm, it's just not that good a lens, but if your into macro, the 120mm is fantastic.
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Forum: Pentax Compact Cameras
09-07-2019, 06:05 AM
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Oldish post I know, but still interesting.
I agree, a GXR II with built in EVF coupled with a K mount module (including IBIS and autofocus) would appeal to me, but I doubt it's going to happen.
I am primarily a Pentax user who, since when Ricoh bought Pentax, have taken an interest in Ricoh cameras. At times, their diminutive size is a nice alternative to the weighty Pentax cameras, especially as I recede into the my later years.
My foray into Ricoh began with the little known GX200 +EVF and subsequently original GR Digital and then version IV with its IBIS(!) In time, much as I liked these and still do, I decided to move up to the APS-C Ricoh GR and really took to it. A few days ago I capitulated and joined the GR III club! It is an amazing camera/sensor/lens combination. In between these I also investigated the GXR series plus EVF with a GXR and 24-72 full spectrum (for infra red) module plus the P10 28-300 module. Despite the small 1/1.7 inch sensors in these, they have much to offer but mostly because they give access to the GXR body and system. The recent addition of the 16 MP APS-C sensor 24-85mm A16 module offers good resolution and I am happy with the system.
The next step will probably be the last. I am looking for the GXR A12 Leica M Mount module* which I will couple with the Kipon Pentax K mount (DA) lens to Ricoh GXR M mount adapter. Put simply this will enable me to mount Pentax lenses to the GXR with full aperture control.
I remain a dedicated DSLR Pentaxian, but am so looking forward to using the Ricoh GXR with the eight Pentax Limited and 100mm WR macro primes! I reckon it's as close we'll ever get to a Pentax mirrorless with EVF in my lifetime!
* Should you have one to sell, drop me a message, please! I'm UK based.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-20-2019, 04:27 AM
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I'm still betting on an articulated rear screen. Notice how the viewing area (dark) is asymmetrical? I think it might house a side hinge. Looks like this aps-c combines the best of K-3ii and K-70 so I will part exchange these for the new baby. Delighted to see that so much of the K-1 is finding its way into this little beauty.
Pentax patented a type of hybrid viewfinder a couple of years back, so hopefully they make use it with this new beauty!
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
08-27-2019, 09:28 AM
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Shout out for the D FA* 50mm F1.4 !
For a standard focal length prime, it is a beast to carry around, but never fails to reward the effort.
DA* 55mm F1.4 and FA 50mm F1.4 are in semi retirement. Curiously the old FA 50mm F1.7 still gets out when travelling light, but it just cannot compete with the D FA* when it comes to everything one looks for in a 50mm lens.
For other occasions Pentax does offer an excellent range of primes, e.g. all the Limiteds, the 100mm F2.8 macro, and the two big DA* SDMs
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
06-25-2019, 11:03 AM
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Looks like most people here are happy with the Pentax they have. And quite rightly so.
Life, for me at least, is complex enough without having to change systems. It must be such a faff, doing all the research, selling the products from previous research, loosing out financially hand over fist, and then having to go through the new learning curve that goes with a different system. It would only frustrate me to find out that the new camera did not improve my photography.
It's not a question of brand loyalty, more a case of enjoying the perfectly good and durable equipment which I already have, and just occasionally enhancing it with another lens or maybe a camera if Pentax offers something I might enjoy or find useful. The slow rate at which Ricoh release new equipment makes these gradual additions possible without putting me in debt or requiring me to sell an old lens or body which I have an established photographic relationship with.
Yes it's nice as it is to open a box with something new inside, however I do find it much more rewarding to open up or print a freshly taken photograph that illustrates improvement in personal photographic skills. The moment when my partner says, "Welll, that really is a beautiful photograph Ronnie, you should be very proud of it. Would you print it out for me, please?" matters more than anything else.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-07-2019, 04:48 AM
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Dare I suggest that you sell all three and buy the SMC Pentax-A 135mm F2.8?
Yes I do. It's a really good lens for the price.
But I would not dare to suggest the SMC Pentax-A* 135mm F1.8.
There are so few that these should only ever be attached to Pentax cameras.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
05-03-2019, 04:22 PM
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Big thanks to Mike for his opening post and his excellent responses to the various posts here.
The problem is that Pentax users seldom write in and say my camera and lenses are working just fine and always have done. This is not because their cameras and lenses have failed, it's just because it's not news.
So when people write in with their grievances of damaged Pentax gear, the impression given is that there is a problem with the brand.
All machines do eventually fail either through usage or old age, as do all living creatures including ourselves, and we know this to be true. Some fail sooner than others but I want to go on the record and state categorically that:
None of my Pentax digital cameras have failed or in any way ever let me down. The same is true of all my Pentax lenses.
And the chances are that they may well outlast me! :asleep: but if I am around when, by the law of averages, an aperture block or sdm motor or whatever fails, I'll remember that on balance I should be happy that everything else is working fine and just get it repaired or replaced and without telling everyone that the sky is falling down. (reference to Chicken Licken)
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