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Forum: Pentax Compact Cameras
08-31-2011, 04:32 PM
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What's intriguing is the shallow DOF clearly present in all shots. 8.5mm lens @ f2.8 has a hyperfocal distance of 3 feet. Is this software blur? It's impressive.
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Forum: Pentax K-r
01-10-2011, 02:01 AM
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The problem is that modern marketing is so effective in hyping that it's impossible for a product to exceed expectations. It can either meet the hype (best case) or disappoint, but never exceed.
I haven't bought anything in the pas 10 years that exceeded the marketing hype. When I buy something that works as advertised, it's not something to brag about or be excited about - I only got what I paid for, so I'm quiet. Any problem with it, though, and I'm over the forums complaining.
Pentax, where is the product that EXCEEDS expectations?! Then you might read positive reviews on your forums instead of constant complaints.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-23-2010, 02:47 PM
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Demand for K100D is high. It will sell right away. It's one of the best cameras Pentax made - ergonomics, function, IQ. It's the best back-up camera.
Th real limitation is the slow AF, which isn't much improved till K7/K-r. The other pet peeves are easily compensated by a knowledgeable operator.
I would suggest to stay away from SDM lenses if you can find alternatives with a drive motor. SDM is not very reliable and will probably not hold well over time. For some reason Pentax will not let you use an SDM lens with the drive motor of an SDM body, although the SDM lens has a screw-drive all well.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-23-2010, 02:15 PM
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If you don't need SR and weather-sealing, I'd say go with the Canon.
Pentax is no longer a value proposition with the current lens prices and there is much less choice of affordable third-party lenses.
Sell your Pentax lenses into the demand and get a system with more competition and value.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-11-2010, 11:03 AM
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You may not get the effective resolution bump you expect when switching from 6MP to 14.6MP, because the low-end lens are the limiting factor. If you have the kit lens, do not expect pixel-level improvement in resolution.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-23-2010, 09:41 PM
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-22-2010, 11:48 PM
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I read the Tamron has better resolution, but more CA than the Pentax. The current price of the Tamron is hard to beat.
I like the 55mm range of the Pentax - more versatile.
Any advice on which one to get? I did a lot of reading on the subject and cannot make up my mind.
BTW, a Tamron 28-75 is my main lens.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-02-2010, 02:05 PM
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Tired of repeating the same topic over and over again. It's sad to see so much fanboism in both camps.
Real profs are not fanbois. They know why they bought what they bought.
Yes, real pros don't buy Pentax, but you would never hear a pro joking "are they still in business?"
The quasi-pros can't tell their ass from their mouth. They buy what they observe the pros are buying and think they magically turn into pros just by owning the same equipment (it's the same with musical instruments - that $5000 custom made guitar doesn't automatically make you a rock star). Cargo Cult syndrome.
What I hear from pros about Pentax is:
- Great prime lens.
- Last time I checked, one couldn't rent them. I could rent Can/Nikon everywhere.
- Last time I checked, auto-focus sucked for sports. I had to buy that Nikon and a ton of lenses, now I'm struck with it.
- Last time I checked, Pentax flash system wasn't good enough for me. I had to get that Canon, now I'm stuck with the system.
- Oh, yeah, great primes with Pentax. Unfortunately I've accumulated a ton of expensive Canon lenses, so I'm kinda stuck.
- Full-frame is nice. Nice DR - can get all the highlights of the brides white dress. Too bad K7 has worse DR then the prev model.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-01-2010, 10:25 PM
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Maybe I am confused about what is being discussed, but the color aberration (purple firing) shown in the picture happens *inside* the lens, not *outside* and no filter can fix that.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-13-2010, 08:44 PM
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The exposure is consistent to how the camera meter works - it exposes for medium gray, it doesn't have an idea how things shoud "look" like.
The mountain and the rocks are darker than medium gray in real life, so -1/2 step exposure correction had to be added.
On top of that the sky is too bright - this is not normal blue sky, but heavy overcast, white sky. The sky gets overexposed.
One should learn to evaluate the scene and dial exposure compensation to help the camera meter. If the scene is darker than middle gray, put negative compensation, if it's lighter than med. gray, add exposure comp.
Try shooting RAW - the raw converters can extract some more highlights that the in-camera jpeg engine.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-05-2010, 11:37 AM
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There is some truth to that, however lens are not at their best wide open. A F2.8 lens set at F4 will be noticeably sharper than a F4 lens at F4. This is the reason I like fast lens - to step down a bit and still have a fast aperture.
Also, shallow DOF is one of the main reasons to use a DSLR - a good portrait with background separation simply cannot be achieved with a P&S or even 4/3rds.
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Forum: Sold Items
06-28-2010, 08:24 PM
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Maybe because for $120 more I can buy it new from Amazon with warranty?
$690 is a lot of money to pay with no guarantee whatsoever that the product will perform.
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Forum: Pentax Compact Cameras
06-25-2010, 12:35 AM
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The weakest spot of Pentax W90 is video. If HD video is not a priority, then W90 is a very good choice, and is $50 less than the Panasonic/Sony.
The reviewers themselves conclude:
"Unfortunately the W90 lost as many as 12 points for weak quality of movies. If it wasn’t for this slip-up, it could have competed with the Sony for the second place."
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Forum: Pentax Compact Cameras
06-23-2010, 10:03 PM
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Return the W80 and get a W90. Better yet, a used W60.
The proposed Panasonic TS2 is almost twice as expensive as W80.
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Forum: Pentax Compact Cameras
06-21-2010, 03:14 PM
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I'd go with the W60 - it has the best picture quality from the group by far.
The W90 is more rugged. If ruggedness is a top priority, go with the W90. They are all waterproof, though.
The W80 is the worst of the bunch - bad IQ and not so rugged.
The WS80 is as bad as W80, but at least is cheap - maybe an ok "beach" camera - pics in bright sun and sand-proof.
From the competitors, only Canon D10 measures up, but is more expensive and bulkier.
Also, the Pentax line is the only one with 28mm wide lens (others start from 35mm). To me, that's a big +++ for Pentax.
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Forum: Pentax Compact Cameras
06-05-2010, 09:52 PM
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Has anyone attempted to disassemble a W10? How difficult is it, considering it's a waterproof camera?
My W10 is acting weird - AF does not work, but zoom does. When power up, the screen shows the blue Pentax logo and then it dies (powers down). If I power up with the "menu" key pressed, the camera starts ok after a long pause in the logo screen.
I tried with two freshly charged batteries.
Sending it to Pentax for repair will certainly be more or par with buying a new camera. The problem is, I don't like the new model and cannot find a reasonably priced older (like w60) on ebay.
Any advice?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
05-21-2010, 11:51 AM
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I'm an engineer who deals with marketing spec on a daily basis. The original question cannot be answered as formulated.
- First choice is from APS-C to FF. Although the level of improvement is sufficiently defined, the cost benefit is not. Would you, all that voted for FF, spend $10k to get that camera?
- Second choice is "improved AF". How much improved? Still worse than Canon or much better than anything in the world, but costs a million $$$ ?
A better question to ask is:
"For a camera in the price range of K7 (MSRP $1200), would you rather have FF sensor or improved AF at par or better than, say, D90?"
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Forum: Pentax Compact Cameras
05-05-2010, 08:45 PM
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S90 is 10MP sensor, same as G11. Canon went backwards from 14.7MP in the G10 to 10MP in G11 for better IQ. This tells me the megapixel wars will soon be over.
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Forum: Pentax Compact Cameras
04-26-2010, 10:35 PM
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The W90 has terrible image quality. You're better off with an older model, like W60 or even older.
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Forum: Pentax Compact Cameras
04-22-2010, 10:47 PM
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There is a protective glass window in front of the lens. The lens is all internal. The protective glass is very hard and scratch resistant. It doesn't seem to degrade the IQ. The same protective glass has been used since the first WR model, and W20 and W30 have excellent IQ reviews.
My last camera was W30 and got lost. I will not buy a new W camera from Pentax until the pixel count goes back to 7MP. Pentax fell victim of the megapixel rat race and sacrificed IQ for a marketing spec. That's why the newer W60, W80 and W90 have worse IQ than the previous models. The protective glass has nothing to do with it.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-17-2010, 12:01 AM
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Get an auto-flash, not a dedicated P-TTL. I find auto-flash more reliable than P-TTL, plus P-TTL increases your chances to get blinkers (there is a pre-flash that makes people blink).
I would recommend Sunpak 383. I'm not sure if you can find them new, but they were all the rage a couple of years ago (and rightfully so). Check eBay.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-14-2010, 01:29 PM
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You don't need to switch b/w modes to meter. When in M, the meter in the viewfinder tells you how much your current settings are off from the current exposure. You can adjust the speed until is reads "0.0".
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-13-2010, 01:56 PM
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I mean to say "cheating spouses under street lights". Shagging in public is still illegal in the USA.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-13-2010, 12:56 PM
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Are you a private-eye? Taking pictures of cheating spouses at night under street lights?
A Nikon will probably do better here due to its superior auto-focus, or at least a K-7 with the improved low-light auto-focus.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-13-2010, 01:16 AM
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I just tested myself and can do 40mm 1/30 without SR no problem. I get ghosting at 1/10 and SR does help here.
However, if SR were not available, I could have taken the shot at 1/30 with higher ISO or just fix the exposure in PP (with K100D noise doesn't scare me).
In my reality, lack of SR for short/normal lenses is not a deal breaker. I'd trade SR for Canikon-like auto-focus.
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