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Forum: Photographic Technique
12-31-2010, 07:53 AM
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I have an older Photo Bank, a 30 GB model. This is an internal-battery powered HDD that reads SD and CF cards directly, and can also input/out files via its mini-USB female port to USB 2.0 male connector. I use this device when I travel and don't take my laptop with me as it's much smaller than the laptop. I always want a backup of the SD cards I have.
The problem I have is the Photo Bank only can read 2GB and smaller SD cards, where my newer cameras can use 4gb and larger cards. So when I'm going to Europe for instance, and don't take my laptop (for photo file backup), I have to use only older 2GB SD cards in the camera.
Someone thought I could use a new SD card reader and connect that to the Photo Bank via a USB 2.0 female to mini USB male converter/adapter cable. Then the card reader would read the 4GB cards okay and transfer them onto the Photo Safe. But that sounds almost too good to be true.
Anyone have any recommendations here? I know I can replace the 30GB Photo Bank with a newer one (I think they now start at 80GB for about $150), but I do not need the additional storage and would rather not spend that much money.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
12-09-2007, 07:58 AM
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I can't ague with that. Mine measured a lot less, about 6-8 volts I think. I have not measured it lately, but it's working fine with the K100d, although I still want to get a dedicated P-TTL when I can figure out which will work best for me and not cause me to sell a kidney.:rolleyes:
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
11-29-2007, 07:12 AM
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"a link to instructions on how to do the test."
Thanks for that link, I'll add it to my bookmarks.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
11-28-2007, 07:01 AM
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".....It is meant to cover two different distance ranges...."
A-HA! That makes sense. Thanks.
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
11-28-2007, 07:00 AM
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Here is some data on exterior strobes. Your camera might be in the list, but probably not. It's easy to measure the voltage, but I have forgotten how I did it!
There is an explanation of how to measure the voltage somewhere on this forum, I have seen it lately. Do a search for 'measuring' and 'flash' and 'voltage' and surely it will pop up.
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
11-27-2007, 03:31 PM
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I measured mine 2-3 years ago when I used the Sunpak with my Panasonic FZ-20. I don't recall the volts, but it was under 10.
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
11-27-2007, 11:20 AM
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Thanks so much for replying, Fritz! That helps me a lot. Those two on settings really had me wondering! I will play around with the flash this week and see how it goes. It's been a good flash; I think this will be the 4th camera on which I've used it!
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
11-27-2007, 08:02 AM
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Any more ideas why my Sunpak 144 has two "on" settings with vastely different f stops?
On the shutter speed, I think I'll just try setting the camera on Manual exposure and set the shutter to 1/180 second and whatever the flash indicates as the f stop, although I still don't have any idea why it has those two "on" settings. I suppose I can experiment to figure this out, but I was hoping someone could save me the time; I'm impatient sometimes! |
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
11-27-2007, 07:47 AM
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If the AF signal is that green icon in my view finder, then no, it's indicated within a very short time of pressing the shutter halfway down. I don't actually trip the shutter until I see the the AF icon on and steady.
When I trip the shutter as described in the original post, the mirror drops/raises? so that the viewfinder is black for maybe .3 second, then I heard the "shutter sound".
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
11-27-2007, 07:43 AM
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"..trigger voltage of your flash.."
Thanks. I meant to add to my original post that I've done so already.
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
11-26-2007, 09:34 AM
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Thanks, but I have more questions!:D
Which one is Auto? If both ON settings are Auto what's the difference?
Are you saying BOTH the two "ON" settings on the Sunpak are Auto? So BOTH settings are Auto, but the two position switch gives me a CHOICE? So I could use either f2.8 or f8 depending on which f stop was more appropriate based on the lens (not wanting to shoot wide open, wanting more depth of field, etc). But in EITHER setting I'd be using the same shutter, 1/180th or slower (not faster, right?:confused:0)
Roger that. I use bounce a lot with the Sunpak, although it can tilt but not swivel. It is handy.
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
11-26-2007, 07:53 AM
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Rechargeable batteries and even Lithium non-rechargeable are not that expensive. Just try a different newly charged or new set of one of the other with the camera and see if it's better. If not, something is wrong with the camera.
Rechargeables do not last forever, and I think new sets MIGHT require some cycles before they become fully useable. But I figure yours are not new, and/or you have already tried to re-charge them again.
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
11-26-2007, 07:41 AM
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I thought I sent a similar thread yesterday but cannot find it today......sorry about a duplicate if if does show up..............
I have a new K100d and an old Sunpak Auto 144 Thysistor flash I'd like to use.
I am pretty inexperienced, but I have used that Sunpak with other digitals cameras, namely my Panasonic FZ-20 that allowed use of an external flash. So I know at least that the flash can be made to work.
I am a little confused, but I think this is what I need to do:
- On Flash - Mount and Power On
- On Flash - Set ISO, read f stop to be set on camera
- On Camera – Power On
- On Camera - Set to same ISO as flash unit
- On Camera - Set camera to Manual Exposure mode
- On Camera - Set shutter speed to 1/180 or slower
- On Camera - Set the f stop indicated above
I have not tried the steps above yet.
However, yesterday I tried the K100d with the Sunpak just a little. I used Aperture Priority Exposer mode however, and set the f stop to what the Flash indicated, with the ISO the same on both the flash and camera. That worked, at least the flash fired and I got an image, but the shutter seemed VERY slow, around 0.3 second. I was not able to find on the camera what the shutter speed was.
Just to confuse the issue, my Sunpak actually has TWO "ON" settings. They are not labeled on the Sunpak 144, and I no longer have the manual for this unit. If I select, say, ISO 200 and turn the flash to the first ON setting, the flash indicates I need to use f2.8 at 6.6 to 33 feet. In the second "ON" setting, it indicates f8 at 2.5 to 12 feet. So which "ON" setting should I use? I suspect the two ON settings have something to do with maybe manual or auto operation of the Sunpak but I can't find anything on that. I have checked and the firing voltage is okay with this unit.
I would love to get a P-TTL unit, but right now I have other places to put $200 or so.
Assuming I can get the Sunpak to function, can anyone give me a reference of its power? I've found a guide number for it, but I'm confused trying to compare apples to apples with other units. See the link above. I know that feet and f setting and affect the guide number, I just want to be able to compare this and other units.
Also, can anyone tell me if I could use this flash remotely, like as a slave unit? My guess is no as it would probably fire on the pre-flash on the k100's flash (assuming the K-100 has one; not sure of that either!)
Thanks!
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
11-25-2007, 03:31 PM
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Here is a link showing many flash units' voltage, but I did not see that Revue model. The 1.5 x 4 doesn't give you the info you need for the flash voltage.
The two Review flashes listed at that link do not show encouraging data; I'd NOT use your Review on your camera until you can check its voltage. Radio Shack will be a good place to get a meter or have them show you how to use it on you flash.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
11-25-2007, 10:45 AM
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I have an old Sunpak Auto 144 Thyristor flash. I have a new K100d, and while I plan to get a P-TTL flash eventually, I'd like to try the Sunpak before dropping another $150 plus for camera stuff!;)
I guess I understand in general how to use the Sunpak, but not sure. Would someone look over my ideas below and tell me if I'm on the right track?
The Sunpak 144 has a slider settings for ISO, which then directs which f stop to use. For instance, if I set ISO 200, the f stop directed is f 2.8, which I cannot set with the 18-55mm kit lens, so I bumped the ISO to 400. Now the Sunpak indicates I need to use f4. Also with the directed f stop the flash gives the effective shooting range, which with ISO 400 is roughly 6 to 33 feet. I use ISO 400 as the flash setting in the example below:
Camera/Lens: K100d/18-55mm f4.5 (I can't set f4 with this lens so I just open it all the way; seems better than bumping the ISO to 800!)
- Turn on and charge Sunpak - Set it to ISO 400. Aperture directed is f4.
- Turn on the Camera - Set it to ISO 400 (same as flash)
- Set Camera to Aperture Priority exposure, set to f 4.5, close to f4 as directed by Sunpak.
But when I try this, the shutter seems to be very, very slow, like maybe .3 second. I can't see the shutter speed, or maybe I don't know how to find that yet. The picture seems to be okay as seen on the LCD, I haven't down loaded to the PC.
It took me a few minutes of screwing around with the Sunpak to discover the ISO slider switch on the Sunpak has two stops. For ISO 400 set at the first stop, it says to use f4 on the camera, but if I slide the switch up to the second stop, it now says to use f11- What in the WORLD is that about? Is the switch busted or something? I don't have directions for the Sunpak 144 and there are no markings on that switch. I'm thinking this might be the "Auto" and "Manual" mode for the flash, but I don't know which is which.:confused:
Also, can someone please help me determine the guide number for the Sunpak 144 compared to say, the Pentax 360 P-TTL flash unit. They really confuse me with varying the distance, ISO and other factors - hard to do an apples to apples comparison. If the Sunpak has a very low guide number compared to the Pentax 360 I will probably upgrade sooner than later.
Also, is it possible it use the Sunpak as a slave unit with the addition of some sort of firing unit?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
11-25-2007, 08:58 AM
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"....Usually people buy digital gadgets at the end of the product life cycle remorse. So, why not wait until January or early February when I am sure you can still get the 100 Super at an even lower price, unless you need to have a DSLR right now......"
With that logic I'd NEVER get anything! I learned a bunch of years ago: If I see it, like it, and can afford it - BUY it NOW, the oportunity might not come along again.
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Forum: Photographic Technique
11-25-2007, 08:54 AM
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If you mentioned this I didn't see it, but having photo editing software, like Photo Shop Elements can really help out sometimes. Other than that, you've gotten terrific suggestions from the folks here. I really agree with using your flash in conditions you described.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
11-24-2007, 08:41 AM
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Thanks for taking the time to post that, Tom. Looks darned good! I thought it initially was a red tailed hawk, but I'm not so sure now. It's not an eagle, is it?
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
11-24-2007, 08:20 AM
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"..ask for serial # then call Sigma..."
Great idea - thanks
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
11-24-2007, 08:19 AM
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The chances of getting a laptops display to match a dedicated LCD montor's is probably not easy. I use two identical model Samsung LCD monitors, and it's tough enough to get them the same! |
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
11-24-2007, 08:15 AM
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You'd still need a camera/gear bag in which to store them, but I recently got several lens cases/pouches for my lenses from mrniceguy311 on eBay. They are very good quality for the price I paid. Once I put the lens into the pouch, I put them in amy ol' camera bag that I've been using for 20+ years. I don't know it's name, but it works good for me.
I don't think it's possible to pick out a camera bag without trying many until you find one (or more) that works for you. I have one of those "holster" bags that I got my my K100d, but it certainly wouldn't be considered a camera/gear bag; too small. But for an outing where the camera is wearing a shortesh telephone zoom, like 80-200mm, it fits find, and gives me enough room for a filter or two, lens hood and extra batteries, etc.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
11-24-2007, 06:50 AM
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I've not had my Sigma 135-400 zoom long enough to be able to tell you much, but I will say what I can.
It is heavy enough that I think I'll only want to use it with a tripod or other support. It does have the tripod mount on it as you say.
The AF feature of the lens works smoothly enough that I can't tell much difference between it and the other 2 AF lenses I have. But I have only had the camera for a few weeks and the lens for a week! I've been recovering from some minor surgery and not had much time to play with the gear.
Since you mention aviation shots, while you be taking "action" shots, or just shots of the aircraft on the ground? Personally I don't plan to use that lens taking photos of birds in flight or aircraft in flight for that matter, but that's just my assumption at this time; I have not gotten out in "the world" to play with it yet!
So, listen little to me and much to others and you will certainly get good information! :D
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
11-24-2007, 06:40 AM
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Thanks for the good info on the TCs. I had not thought of losing AF, that is something to consider. I figured the loss of light was an issue also. Well, I may still get a "low powered" TC to use occasionally, with the tripod and with lots of light I might be okay. Since these pictures would be taken at home, at least I don't have to worry about hauling around a lot of gear! |
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
11-24-2007, 06:34 AM
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I used to use a batch renaming program that worked very well. However, once I started using Photo Shop Elements I stopped, even though that feature in PSE wasn't nearly as good. But yu can probably do a search on the Yahoo or Google and find it again. It was freewhere. One nice thing about that software was you could not just change the name and add a counter to it, but you had a lot of flexibility in renaming files.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
11-22-2007, 08:40 AM
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I'm wondering what to expect if I were to get a 1.5 or 2x converter for my K100d and lenses. I have a nice Sigma 135-400mm f/4.5-5.6 APO that I can see might benefit from a converter occasionally. In the film SLR days, the rule of thumb I remember is I loose about half the "lens light" through a 2x converter, while my focal length doubles.
Specifically, I am wondering about static bird shots in my backyard. I'd like to be able to fill the frame with the bird. I plan to use a tripod even without the converter. My choices I'd think would be to crop the image using the current lens, or using a converter and not having to crop, but dealing with IQ issues?
What are your thoughts in the IQ, practicality and anything else I've not considered? I know that moving closer to the subject and/or getting a longer/faster lens are also choices, but let's leave them out of the discussion for now.
Thanks.
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