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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
07-20-2022, 04:42 PM
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I snagged one of the multiple units available when I'd initially posted. Neeeed it? Not sure but wanted to try out the PLM with my KP and then decide.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
05-18-2022, 11:06 AM
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This is a fun informative episode, whether a Pentaxian or not. We delve into why we use this incredible and surprisingly affordable camera.
Why We All Shoot With It - The Pentax K1
Youtu.be
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src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qigGXEcf7hE?controls=1" allowfullscreen>
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
05-14-2022, 05:14 AM
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The lens uses purely mechanical aperture. If the blades are slow it needs servicing.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
05-13-2022, 03:08 PM
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Sounds like could be some lube wandering in the aperture mechanism, getting on linkages and such.
I had it happen with a 35 Macro, I sent it off to Advanced Camera in Portland, OR.
They did a nice job fixing it, and reasonably priced, was less than $100 including shipping back and forth.
I know the 300mm is potentially a different kettle of fish, but worth reaching out to them and see.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-10-2014, 06:34 PM
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
08-26-2014, 07:09 AM
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On a trip with a lot of photos, I never like to have the SD card be the only place my photos are stored. I've had too many of them break or go bad. I shoot Raw+, so the cloud takes a lot of bandwidth. In the old days (just a few years ago) I carried along an Ebook to back up to its hard drive. These days, I seem to like to travel with the iPad Air, and an underpowered notebook is a bit cumbersome.
My current solution is one of the 5 in 1 WAP/battery/SD card readers. I have tried two of them (EasyAccess and RavPower), and I thought I would share my experiences with them. Both models have a battery backup, a wireless access point (WAP), an SD card reader and a USB port which will accept a USB HD. Both will charge another device through a USB connection and both are charged by micro USB port. Both are about the size of a USB hard drive, but a little narrower. Both are sold on Amazon.
The first I tried was the EasyAcc 5 in 1. The pros to this device are that it has a whopping 8800mah backup battery. It can charge a smartphone 5 times. It also has a wired ethernet connection and can act like a wireless router. However, it has one firmware shortcoming that makes it a problem for shooters of Raw files, especially for the 24mp K3. Its transfers from the SD to the USB HD are over wifi, and must go through the tablet. It takes hours to transfer a day's raw shooting. What is worse is that something always seems to happen to the connection during the hours you leave the iPad (or smartphone) and WAP connected for the transfer, and you end up starting where the transfer stopped. You can't just leave it going all night. I reviewed the device on Amazon and wrote the manufacturer about the firmware, and they just tried to convince me to change my review rather than improving their product.
The next device I tried was the RavPower 5 in 1. It is half as thick as the EasyAcc, but the EasyAcc has almost 3 times the battery power. At first, its wireless seemed a bit buggy, but there had been a number of firmware upgrades to the Ravpower which seem to have fixed the issues. It also has a free iPad app, while EasyAcc asks to you buy FileBrowser (an excellent app, BTW). However, the biggest winning point for the Ravpower is that its SD card transfer is internal. You access its browser interface and tell it to copy from the SD to HD, but all the transfer takes place through the internal, wired connections. A dump of a day's shooting which would take hours on the EasyAcc takes 10-15 minutes on the Ravpower, and your iPad is not monopolized. This device is the clear winner for photographers.
I still use both products. The extra battery alone on the EasyAcc is worth the $40. Either device will do a good job getting your jpegs to your tablet for posting on social media or display. However, for backing up SD cards full of raw files, the Ravpower is the only good choice.
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Forum: Pentax Q
07-21-2014, 08:16 AM
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Not misplaced humor at all, just misplaced ire on my part perhaps. :)
I ride a motorbike and this weekend saw one too many close calls. Perhaps I was a bit wound up from it all. Definitely wound up.
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Forum: Pentax Q
07-21-2014, 03:02 AM
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Let's not get carried away here, this was clearly taken from the passenger side.
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Forum: Pentax Q
01-10-2013, 09:46 AM
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Wow, thanks guys.
I just had an idea, but all the contributors have added the real value to this thread.
Keep up the good work, and thanks to all those that have contributed to date.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
06-05-2014, 10:06 PM
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Well, I understand your issue a little better now. I buy that there could be an issue with the frame-line-equipped s-screen and the new metering system on the K-3. In the other thread I mistakenly thought you were saying that the problem existed with all bodies.
As you know, my screen in my K-3 has no markings so I can't do an apples-to-apples comparison, and my screen in my K-5IIs has the grid lines, not AF area markings, so those are still not really in the same part of the screen. Plus, that screen required shimming so I'm not really eager to do a swap.
It is unfortunate that you had to find this out the hard way, especially since it seems to have been substantiated by another. I still understand the seller not wanting to offer a return on such a delicate item, but I agree that he should be willing to put a notation on his site about this particular combo. Of course, we all know that customer relations are a weak point with him, so I guess it's not too surprising.
Anywho, kudos for a fair assessment of the screen and your situation and for the heads-up to others.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
06-05-2014, 09:31 PM
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I would actually be much more skeptical of that than I am of the underexposure you guys are getting.
---------- Post added 06-05-14 at 11:38 PM ----------
Ok, I'll see if I can do that sometime in the next couple of days.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
06-05-2014, 05:44 PM
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M mode metering is matching the other modes. Generally OK with faster lenses and often severely underexposed with others. I took the combo on a one day photo safari a few weeks ago and probably half of my shots were underexposed despite shooting with relatively fast glass most of the day.
After several attempts, I was able to contact focusingscreens.com by e-mail. Their response was that it is my responsibility to determine the appropriateness of a screen for a particular camera and that they only accept returns of unopened items within the first 7 days after receipt.
In other words, even though it is described as being made for the K-3, if it does not work with that camera, it is my fault for being dumb enough to give them my money. Great product, lousy post-sale customer service.
The stock screen is back in my K-3 and I am pondering the $100 hole in my wallet along with the white elephant screen on the table. One bright spot is that the camera metering is 100% spot on most the time again.
Steve
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Forum: Photographic Technique
04-09-2014, 02:50 PM
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Get a few cheap manual flashes, some cheapo radio trigger and go to town with your kit... I hated flashes more than anything for the same reasons most people do... doesn't look good, looks un-natural, exposure is weird etc.
But once I started playing with off camera flashes, boy did it opened a bunch of new opportunities. Using softboxes and the such will take the harshness away and setting your flash power levels for the exposure you want instead of setting your exposure according to the flash power level will make the exposure a lot better. Managing where your flashes are and where the light is going will ensure a more natural looking effect. A little tweak of your white balance and it'll take the coldness of the flash away.
When thinking of flashes, most people think of flat looking, white faced/red eyed, over-exposed subject with under-exposed background (like you 8yo birthday polaroid picture your mom took, where all you can see is how white your ceiling is and how much blood there is inside your eyes). Which is kind of what you get with the pop-up flash... Harsh, white, lens level, in your face blast of light.
Constant or natural lighting is simple and a lot easier to work with. Using flashes is harder, might take a few shots before you get what you're after and it is one more thing to deal with. But it is also one more thing the PLAY with ;)
I love flashes. I love constant lighting, I love natural light, I love the golden hours, I love light... I just love photography. The more stuff to play with, the more fun I have.
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Forum: Sold Items
04-09-2014, 06:08 AM
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Do students of life qualify?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-08-2014, 07:14 AM
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Damn, I need to polish my crystal ball ;)
Just got my 43 a few days ago. Looks good! For now I'll be good with 15-21-43-70.
Congratulations on having all three amigos :cool:
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
04-04-2014, 05:41 AM
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Okay, so a six month old photo then,.. as, like others said, Autumn.
Or, colour grade and see if anyone notices.....
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-27-2014, 05:55 AM
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I agree with this...
And I know this because I have owned both of them. The Tamron is on par, IQ-wise, with the the DA*.
There are pros and cons to each lens. I say IQ is a wash.
Weather sealing and range are pros the DA*. I was surprised how much noticeable difference there is with 10mm wider and 50mm longer. I thought It wouldnt make a difference, but it does.
Close focusing and wider aperture are pros for the Tamron.
Price is a big +1 for the Tamron.
The size is probably a wash, i am sure one is bigger than the other, but in practice, neither are small lenses that you want around your neck walking the streets of London.
---------- Post added 03-27-14 at 04:58 AM ----------
I think I would go with the HD DA 55-300mm for travelling over either of the two big guys.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-21-2012, 03:21 PM
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Yes I've had similar instances with my DA*300 which I've owned since it first came out. I've found the AF of the lens to rather sensitive to remaining battery charge (certainly compared the my 16-50). Especially if I've been running the metering for an extended period.
The lens flicked just off the infinity and back for 3 AF button pushes just last Sunday, not bothering to come into the 20' range where the target was... sure enough 10 exposures later the battery indicator on the K-5 dropped its first segment.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-18-2010, 09:27 AM
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DAL 35/2.4 - A Plastic Wonder!
I got the new DA35/2.4 lens along with my new K5 camera a few days ago. It is a beautiful looking lens, kinda like a smaller sized FA77. But when held in hand, it feels really light. It's probably the lightest non-pancake lens I've every had. Yeah, it's plastic lens with a plastic mount like all the DAL lenses, and it doesn't come with quickshift feature. Why Pentax called this one as a DA instead of a DAL is beyond me, but I'd call it as DAL35 in this short review simply because it has a plastic mount, it doesn't have quickshift feature, and it's easier to differentiate from the DA35 macro lens.
I got it purely because of its price and curiosity, not because I need another 35mm lens (I already have the FA31 and FA43 Ltd lenses, two of my favorite lenses). Well, after two days play, I really like this little lens, and think its light weight is a selling point instead of a drawback. It is so light and compact, I don't feel much extra weight at all when mounted on the K5 camera. Believe it or not, this has been the only AF lens that I've ever used to actually take photos ever since I got the new K5 camera. Normally I'd try all my lenses on a new camera just to make sure the camera and all my lenses are matching well. But this time I decided to give this lens a really good run.
30mm to 50mm happens to be my favorite focal length on cropped dSLR cameras, and I've had pretty much all Pentax 35mm lenses except that mystery SMC M 35/1.4 which never came to production stage. The results from the K5 and DA35/2.4 have been very satisfactory so far, and I do think I've got some keepers.
Pentax has made quite a few 35mm lenses, other than this new DAL35, there is a DA35 macro which is still under production, and the highly rated FA35/2 might still be in production too. I guess sometimes we are spoiled by so many options offered by Pentax, just don't know which one to buy or keep. A few friends asked me to do a thorough comparison between a few Pentax 35mm lenses, two of them even offered their DA35 macro, FA35/2 and a rare A35/2 to me for the comparison review. To be honest, I'm not really good at reviewing lenses, normally when I got a new lens, I'd just bring it out for a spin instead of shooting some charts at home. But since this is probably the only prime lens under $250usd currently offered by Pentax, I'd like to see how it stands against the other few 35mm lenses too.
Enough said, let's get to the points. Obviously Pentax designed this lens based on the FA35/2. Both lenses have the same 6 elements in 5 group optical design, both feature the AL element to minimize aberrations, and both can focus as close as 30cm. The new DAL35 is much lighter at 124g vs 195g for the FA35 (and 215g for the DA35 macro). To save the cost, this new DAL35 lens doesn't come with bayonet fitting for a matching lens hood, only a 49mm screw on lens hood can be used. But this lens has Pentax Super Protect coating on the first lens element to help minimize dust & water to stay on the lens. AF is very fast, even faster than the FA35/2 which is considered as one of the fasted AF lenses by Pentax. During the test against the other 3 35mm lenses, I felt that DAL35 is actually slightly faster than F2.4. Photos taken at the same settings (iso/aperture/shutter speed) appear to be brighter than those from the other 35mm lenses. It is more or less an F2.2 lens I think.
Anyway, after a couple of days play and some tests, here are my over impressions about this lens:
1. Looks beautiful, compact and light weight
2. Makes sharp photos even at wide open aperture
3. Produces very pleasing bokeh and colors
4. Hard to see any CA in the actual photos
5. SP coating for easy cleaning
6. Can focus down to 30cm for some nice closeups
7. Plastic mount might feel cheap, but it's not the first ever
8. Widest aperture is actually faster than F2.4, It's more like a F2.1 to F2.2 lens
Overall I'd say this is a plastic wonder.
In the following I'd show some testing results between these four lenses: DAL35, FA35, DA35macro and A35/2, with some sample photos taken by the DAL35 and a K5 camera. All chart testing photos were taken indoor under somehow controlled lighting condition with the camera mounted on sturdy tripod, 2 second mirror up was used for all testing photos (but not for the sample photos). Pictures speak for themselves.
Here is the lineup:
The FA35 has slightly bigger rear element:
Shooting the chart
The camera was set to manual white balance and manual exposure, same iso/aperture/shutter speed were set for all lenses in the same set photos. As I said above, from the chart testing results you can see that the results from DAL35 appear to be slightly brighter than the other lenses. But I kept all settings the same anyway.
Here is the chart:
Here I'll only show the 100% crops of the centers and corners.
F2
FA35 center:
A35 center:
FA35 corner:
A35 corner:
F2.4 (F2.5 for FA35 and A35)
DA35 center:
FA35 center:
A35 center:
DA35 corner:
FA35 corner:
A35 corner:
F2.8
DA35 center:
FA35 center:
DA35macro center:
A35 center:
DA35 corner:
FA35 corner:
DA35macro corner:
A35 corner:
F4
DA35 center:
FA35 center:
DA35macro center:
A35 center:
DA35 corner:
FA35 corner:
DA35macro corner:
A35 corner:
F5.6
DA35 center:
FA35 center:
DA35macro center:
A35 center:
DA35 corner:
FA35 corner:
DA35macro corner:
A35 corner:
F8
DA35 center:
FA35 center:
DA35macro center:
A35 center:
DA35 corner:
FA35 corner:
DA35macro corner:
A35 corner:
F11
DA35 center:
FA35 center:
DA35macro center:
A35 center:
DA35 corner:
FA35 corner:
DA35macro corner:
A35 corner:
F16
DA35 center:
FA35 center:
DA35macro center:
A35 center:
DA35 corner:
FA35 corner:
DA35macro corner:
A35 corner:
CA (or whatever it's called) in high contrast area
Wide open aperture (F2 to A and FA35, F2.4 for DAL35, F2.8 for DA35 macro)
DA35 center:
FA35 center:
DA35macro center:
A35 center:
DA35 edge:
FA35 edge:
DA35macro edge:
A35 edge:
F4
DA35 center:
FA35 center:
DA35macro center:
A35 center:
DA35 edge:
FA35 edge:
DA35macro edge:
A35 edge:
F8
DA35 center:
FA35 center:
DA35macro center:
A35 center:
DA35 edge:
FA35 edge:
DA35macro edge:
A35 edge:
Bokeh
Wide open aperture (F2 to A and FA35, F2.4 for DAL35, F2.8 for DA35 macro)
DA35:
FA35:
DA35macro:
A35:
F4
DA35:
FA35:
DA35macro:
A35:
F8
DA35:
FA35:
DA35macro:
A35:
Here are some sample photos I took w/ K5 and DAL35/2.4. All photos taken in RAW (PEF), then converted by Pentax Photo Utility v4.3.
For more samples, please take a look at here:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/118504-k-5-da-35mm...ny-photos.html
100% crops of a few photos (all taken w/ DAL35 at wide open aperture)
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Forum: Pentax K-01
02-02-2012, 07:51 AM
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I really think that Pentax is spot on for their entry level camera in the K-01.
First and foremost, I think they've come up with a design which is a seamless transition for point and shoot (P&S) users into the realm of serious photography.
These are users that may not have ever even used a viewfinder, or may find the idea of a viewfinder worthless after years of P&S. It seems that every time I hand my K-5 to someone to take a picture with me in the frame, they look at me as though I've just handed them a snake. "Why isn't the screen lighting up with the image?" "How do I know it's in focus if I can't see the image on the screen?" "Can't I just use my iPhone instead? But it takes great pictures, I post them on Facebook all the time."
For those of us that are serious photographers and camera enthusiasts, we value having a viewfinder that is shielded from other light sources, but this camera clearly isn't designed for us. That is what we have the K-5 for.
The design is a little strange, but users aren't holding this camera up to their face the same way I am with my K-5, so maybe this design will work better for what most people do: Hold it about a foot in front of their eyes, look at the LCD, and click the picture.
Simplicity is king in this space, and I think their button layout has removed about all that you can remove before it becomes unusable for a skilled camera handler, while still keeping it without looking more like a P&S. Obviously we haven't seen the user interface yet, but similarly to my other points in the previous statement, when I hand my K-5 to someone else, they are daunted by all the knobs, buttons, and labels that to may be written in a blend of ancient Arimatheac and Klingon. "Which button do I push?" "Wait, I think I pressed the wrong button." "What the heck are all these numbers on the display?" "When is this thing in focus again?"
I think the K-mount is key. It provides people that come into this space from their point and shoot, the ability to step up to a full DSLR when they are ready without having to re-buy all their glass. I think the XS lens line with a few super small lenses doesn't represent much of a hurdle in this respect, although I expect we'll see a future K-5esque camera that can use those as well. I really like the idea of being able to pull more of the lens inside the camera body. I think that most of the people that buy this camera wont move up to a DSLR, but that they have the option will be a major selling feature.
I've high hopes for the video on this model. If this can function to your average consumer as a fully functional camera and as capable at video as their current miscellaneous camcorder (and keep in mind, this means auto-focus), but also allows someone more skilled to use manual controls, this camera could be appearing all over the place in no time at all.
If this was an Apple product, we'd all be sitting around shouting about how this camera isn't white! Instead I'm seeing a lot of feedback about how this camera isn't well suited to current Pentax shooters. I think those people are absolutely right. This camera is about bridging a market from P&S into DSLR, while still having something that looks snazzy enough to get noticed. For the rest of us, what we're looking for is an updated K-5, and a full frame K-5 sister camera. Who knows, maybe those are on the way?
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Forum: Sold Items
09-18-2011, 07:23 PM
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You're not imposing, I'll have the hood out in the mail to you tomorrow :)
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Forum: Sold Items
08-31-2011, 09:19 AM
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Hi guys/gals: I want to apologize first because my comments created an opportunity for hijacking this thread. The least I want is to cause the seller to be affected by it. I want to clarify several things:
1) I don't own or have owned the lens for sale here.
2) The comment above is my honest expression based on two Tokina AF lenses I have, the 28-70mm f2.6-2.8 and the 19-35mm, both excellent lens.
3) I was surprisd by J-rod comment about my evaluation of this lens and asked him to clarify or PM me directly, because I have had not owned this lens. I then visited the post that allows review of this lens and indeed found a nasty review by me. That was a surprise (my wife calls this: beginning of Alzeheimer, but I refuse to go there regardless of the age).
4) I deleted the post because it was a mistake. At first, I did not intend to review this lens for sale here. I do not even remember the lens I was reviewing because I bought a lens o Ebay that was probably in this same focal lenght, but it was not AF nor f2.8. I returned the lens immediately and moved on. I wrote the review in the wrong place, that is the reason I deleted. Leaving it there would have cause more harm than its deletion.
5) I apologize again to the seller for this issue. My intention has always been to provide my opinion on things that can help others, not to denigrate or consagrate anything.
Thanks to J-rod, his vigilante attitude is very helpful to maintain this forum truthful. Sorry if this confusion created any inconvenient to anyone. Sincerely, Pepe
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