|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-24-2017, 11:10 AM
|
| |
The grass is greener over there, and their users are never unhappy about the products. ;)
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-05-2017, 03:44 PM
|
| |
I don't understand why she needs manual mode at this age. Let her focus on composition and timing without getting into the technical side yet.
My daughter (age 9 now) saved up her Christmas and birthday money and bought a Panasonic waterproof/shockproof/freezeproof camera a year ago. She lost it on a vacation with her mother last year so she got another one last month by the same means. She loves it and takes it everywhere and I love having a folder of images from her camera to keep track of her progress over time. It's fun for her, and I suspect that pushing any amount of technical control on her at this point would make it less fun and she would lose interest.
Obviously my daughter is not your daughter, just keep it in mind. Those waterproof cameras are very durable and the quality is excellent in good light, and decent in moderately low light. They use periscopic zoom lenses so they don't protrude from the body of the camera and almost never break as most zoom P&S cameras do. Plus they come in fun colors, and you can get them on eBay for well under $100.
I like the Panasonic, Sony, and Pentax models in that order.
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-25-2017, 08:08 AM
|
| |
I think it would be crazy to not use them in the studio. I guess if you're only using a softbox or two pointed away from the camera then it wouldn't be an issue, but for any interesting setups you're bound to get stray light coming back at the lens. Having the hood on means far less that you have to flag manually.
I usually shoot products, large and small (from homes to retail products a few inches in diameter, but mostly automotive), having mostly gotten out of paid portraiture several years ago. As a result of my habit of keeping a polarizer on my lens I did a studio session with one the other day (large group of corporate headshots) and made a ton of extra work for myself as it had the effect of increasing the appearance of skin imperfections. Fantastic.
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-24-2017, 01:07 AM
|
| |
Both, and I have a hood and polarizer for every lens. Even though some, like the 35mm f/2.4 and 15mm Limited, both take the same size, I have one on each so I never have to slow down and swap a filter. The only time it comes off of a lens is for low light situations since even a good quality polarizer costs you about one stop.
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-19-2017, 09:34 AM
|
| |
I digitized a couple thousand old family slides with one of those type units on a Nikon D70. It worked great. I highly recommend shooting into a diffused flash to improve exposure (low ISO, sharp rendition, good color fidelity), and use the flash white balance preset. Worked very well for me anyway, especially with wireless TTL flash.
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-31-2017, 12:01 AM
|
| |
I've been using the K-S2 for over a year doing automotive photography. I open the screen every time I shoot (I'm never shooting at standing entry-level, so I LOVE having an articulating screen), every time I get out of a car. Then I put it away again when I'm getting back in. Over and over and over. 20-30 cycles per car, thousands of cars in a year. Absolutely no sign of wearing out.
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-09-2017, 05:53 PM
|
| |
For the image quality concerns you've expressed you would do best with a full frame, so K-1. But that doesn't meet your budget concerns, so we're looking for best image quality for a cropped sensor body. As a general rule the later the body was released the better the image quality from the sensor. But that doesn't always hold up with the updated versions, like the K-5 II which has the same sensor as the K-5, which is almost as old a design as the one in your K-r (though a little bit higher resolution and quality and an unquestionably good one).
I agree that resolution will help for landscape work. It's helpful for most purposes, actually. :)
Personally I find an articulating screen invaluable. I shoot at knee height and at full arms-reach overhead every day.
High sensitivity quality is always good, but doesn't usually matter as much for landscape work, where tripods are most common, as for other kinds of photography which are more frequently handheld.
In short, the K-3 or K-70 would be very good upgrades for your needs and as body-only options they are rather affordable. If those are too much of a stretch then the K-S2 would be a good option (I love mine) but you might want to make do with the K-r until you can get one of the others.
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-08-2017, 06:36 PM
|
| |
My Panasonic LX-100 is incredible. The image quality is top notch, and it is the most responsive camera I've used in years. Focus is ridiculously fast. It's a non-interchangeable lens camera with an M4/3 sensor. My only complaint is that it's just a standard (but fast! f/1.7-2.8) 24-70 equivalent zoom. I wouldn't want it as my only camera. But as something to have for family gatherings and any other time when packing a bag of lenses isn't practical it is perfect. I've even taken it in the bag as an emergency backup on professional shoots. I've never needed to use it but I wouldn't be the least bit concerned about the quality I would get from it if I ever had to.
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-08-2017, 02:16 PM
|
| |
Not interested in a pissing contest. Move along.
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-08-2017, 02:12 PM
|
| |
| |
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-08-2017, 01:55 PM
|
| |
The lens is a big part of focus speed. Some a great, some are not. My Came in 90mm f/2.8 macro is delightfully sharp but it is not very fast focusing on any body. But it is definitely faster on my K-S2 than it is on my K-r. You should see similar (note that I haven't quantified the difference, but it moves faster and hunts less) improvements with any of your lenses on any newer body.
Feel free to conclude that someone who thinks he can assess your skills through brief, text-only comments in a forum can be ignored.
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-08-2017, 11:43 AM
|
| |
Something that does more for you, such as showing you which focus point is selected through the viewfinder? Or maybe not missing the focus in tungsten lighting? The K-x was not an excellent camera. There's a reason it was replaced so quickly.
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-08-2017, 07:48 AM
|
| |
How much video are you going to be doing? The K-S2 and K-70 (and K-50, and K-30) do good, full HD video. No, they don't have every last possible video feature. Only 30fps (standard for ages, but some now do 60 and even 120), "only" full HD (not 4K, which for most people doing video work limits their ability to crop and still export 1080, more than limits their ability to publish in 4K). No external mic inputs. But for *most* people they are unquestionably good enough.
If video is a really big priority for you then Panasonic is probably the way to go, followed by Sony, as has been mentioned. But if it's more of a case of "and I would also like to do some video" then you'll be just fine sticking with Pentax. And I suspect that their next round of bodies will probably advance their video offerings further. (Much later than they probably should have, but still eventually getting there, much like their flash and AF systems.)
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-07-2017, 12:49 PM
|
| |
I went from a K-r (the immediate successor to the K-x and identical in most respects) to the K-S2. I quite like it. It's not like the D300 or even D3 that I have used in the past, before switching to Pentax while dead broke in the middle of a divorce, but it is quite capable and what it lacks in the dual screen and other functions of the higher end bodies it makes up for in being very compact and light weight. And at this point I will not buy another DSLR without an articulating screen.
Ultimately it will come down to your needs, budget, and priorities, but I think the K-S2 would be a great solution. Really you aren't likely to be disappointed by any of these options that have been suggested here.
|
|
Forum: Pentax K-S1 & K-S2
10-14-2016, 08:23 AM
|
| |
I know this is old but I just wanted to add that I find the lens awkward to use (after almost a year of daily use), and with a filter and hood on the front it tends to vignette at the top corners where it normally wouldn't simply because the weight of the filter and hood pull down the floppy (relative to better lenses) front section. I have to change my grip to lift the front section a little to prevent vignetting, but not so much that it vignettes on the bottom.
Mind you this is the kit supplied by my employer, and I tacked on my own 58-72mm step-up ring, slim 72mm polarizer, and a cheap retractable rubber lens hood. That's really not much weight. And it makes it look like a serious lens... I'm going to upgrade to a proper 58mm polarizer and standard petal hood, but the fact that this can be aligned without vignetting tells me that this combo works, optically, but that small amount of weight is plenty to throw it off. It almost feels like freelensing when I compensate for it. If I were in charge of the world I would have a 16-85 for my work (all f/5.6 or slower), but there is far too much potential for damage for me to want to use my own gear at work.
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-12-2016, 06:28 PM
|
| |
And I won an auction for a used LX100 in pristine condition. :)
Thank you all SO MUCH for the suggestions! My wife is excited and I am, too. I'm a little bummed that she won't have a K-mount body and develop a desire to purchase more lenses (yet). Hopefully she'll get the bug from this and want more. It's much easier to buy things the wife also wants. :-D
Interesting. I have a K-r that does that as well. In the middle of shooting it will suddenly reset itself. All system settings are lost. Date/time, time zone, format, quality, focus settings, etc. Gone. I had to learn to frequently glance at the info screen to verify that it still said RAW in the corner. As soon as it changed to JPG I knew it had been reset. Really irritating. And the battery is never low when it happens, and I don't recall the screen ever even turning off. Screwy. But that body is also plagued with the incandescent focus problem, and a battery level problem where it always thinks the battery is dead WAY before it actually is. It doesn't even turn on with fully charged lithium anymore. Only works with fully charged Eneloops, and even after it says "battery depleted" and I charge the batteries they only take about 200 mAH tops.
I sold all my photo gear (Nikon D200 and such) to help fund my divorce and custody dispute from 2009-2011. I got the K-r just to get a dSLR of some sort, and to start back into Pentax (where I started, with a Spotmatic), and it has taken me WAY longer to replace it than I had expected. I'll be getting a K-S2 in the coming weeks (the articulating screen is important to the way I shoot in tight spaces) and hopefully it will be a backup to my full frame body within the year.
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-12-2016, 08:55 AM
|
| |
I was not familiar with the LX100. I have loved the Panasonics I've had in the past (compact options, 2009-2011-ish), but I have largely avoided following camera releases for a while because I haven't had a budget for anything for quite a while.
That camera is BEAUTIFUL! But it's also quite a bit more than I had expected to spend. But it's tiny for an m4/3 sensor and f/1.7-2.8 lens.
Hmmm....
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-12-2016, 08:47 AM
|
| |
I posted this from work yesterday during lunch, only to discover that the firewall blocks all other vbulletin functions, such as replying. Weird that I could post it, though.
Anyway, I forgot to mention that I'm not interested in getting into another lens system at this time. I know there are great options, just not ones I have a budget for. If we're buying lenses then they will work on my cameras as well, so K-mount it is. :)
Thanks for the suggestions and feedback!
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-11-2016, 01:14 PM
|
| |
Wasn't sure which section made the most sense for this.
My wife wants a new camera. I, of course, have no objection. :)
I thought she would want something small so I showed her a number of options online. Then when we talked more she pointed at one of my photos on the wall (my daughter with a blurred background, somewhere in the neighborhood of f/2 on a dSLR) and said, "I want to be able to do that."
So pocket-size cameras are out. But she doesn't want something so big that she won't take it with her regularly. I've looked at specs and sample images from every sort of compact camera I can find, including the Pentax MX-1 and the Canon G-series (I have a G10, was hoping the G-?-X series would be a workable option), but I can't find anything short of M4/3 that can get appropriately shallow depth-of-field.
I'm thinking the K-01 might be the best choice for her. I've always wanted the pancake lenses anyway, and this way she'll support the purchase of them. :-D
I know a lot of people hated that camera, but I thought it was a great concept and I've always liked it, but didn't feel the need for that form to actually buy one. What do you think? There's nothing wrong with that sensor (!), the live view focusing might be slower than newer models but it's faster than we're accustomed to, and based on the comparisons I showed her at camerasize.com she's fine with the size to go in her purse for daily stuff and taking a bag for photo-specific outings.
Please let me know if there's some camera I've failed to consider that will accomplish what she wants, as well as your thoughts about the K-01.
Thanks!
|
|
Forum: General Photography
02-16-2015, 09:41 AM
|
| |
Has anyone tried this site? Photography Locations - Shootipedia Shootipedia
It's a great resource for keeping track of places where you have done a photo shoot, and sharing them with others. Obviously that leads to finding places to shoot based on what others have shared. Very cool concept, but right now there are only a few dense clusters being reported. It needs a widespread boost from a group with the variety and diversity of Pentax Forums. :)
Full disclosure: The site was created by an online acquaintance (we are both members of the same facebook group) after a group discussion about the need for such a tool. I don't really know him, but I like what he has done and I would love to see it reach critical mass where enough people are posting that it really becomes a great tool for everyone to use. He doesn't know I'm posting this and I don't get anything from it beyond the selfish motive of finding more places to shoot, and being able to view photos from different parts of the world by clicking on a map. :)
Please go check it out and post some photos from your part of the world. Right now it is mostly being used for portrait shoot locations, but there's no reason it can't be used for landscapes, street photography, and everything else as well.
|
|
Forum: Pentax Full Frame
02-04-2013, 09:04 PM
|
| |
Pentax is where Apple was in the mid-1990s. Several changes in leadership, capable but rarely truly exceptional or innovative products, pathetic marketing and PR, and losing their user base at an alarming rate. Their full frame offering needs to compensate for their Newton, er, Q (among other missteps) in as dramatic a way as the original iMac did. A "me too" full frame camera isn't going to cut it. A "me too, but travel size!" full frame camera isn't going to be enough, either. Slow sync speed, no tethering, and poor distribution? And heaven help them if it can't focus in incandescent light.
Blow away the competition. Do what Pentax always does well (size, weather sealing, image quality, price point, etc) and then be as far ahead of the competition in at least one category as the D800 was in resolution. They have to do at least one thing AMAZINGLY well to get the market attention they need. For the original iMac it had the tremendously novel appearance. Other than reliably compact, that's not a good idea here. The iMac was also easier to set up and use than any other computer previously made. (The iMac name comes from Internet Mac, a reference to the fact that you could unbox it and be online in under 10 minutes.)
I suggest Pentax lead the market in an affordable high speed and/or high resolution video mode. 120fps at 1080p MINIMUM. No less than 2K at 60fps, with native 24, 25 and 30 fps modes and professional audio connectors and uncompressed output. Do 4K at at least 24 fps and under $3,000 and REALLY get people's attention.
If they do this right they could actually become again the innovative company they once were, with the kind of cash flow they've only dreamed of.
Do another "me too" camera when they finally get around to going full frame and much of the remaining user base will disappear. Then it's just a matter of time until they're gone. They can only milk the loyal user base for so many generations when they have very real expenses even to tag along years behind other manufacturers.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-03-2012, 09:48 PM
|
| |
In the process of setting up my budget for new lenses as I am switching back to Pentax, this ridiculous new pricing rollercoaster started. As a result I have changed nearly all of my lens selection to Tamron and Sigma options because I can't depend on Pentax having the lenses I want at a reasonable or predictable price. If this gets corrected soon I can afford to buy my preferred Pentax glass. Otherwise Pentax will be missing out on about $5000 from just this one buyer over the next couple years.
Enough with the rollercoaster! Don't screw around with your customers, particularly your core market!
|
|
Forum: Pentax Price Watch
11-23-2012, 10:20 AM
|
| |
I just opened most of these and none are showing discounts???
|
|
Forum: Pentax Price Watch
11-23-2012, 10:10 AM
|
| |
Yep, but the Newegg deal is only good for 50 more minutes. HURRY!!!
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
11-09-2012, 12:27 PM
|
| |
I put together a shopping cart on Amazon yesterday for several items. Logged in today to review a few things and it notified me that the price of the 70mm f/2.4 DA lens went up from $549.95 to $699.95. That's more than 25% increase in price! I checked around and found that the price is up everywhere. I'm getting really sick of this! Why do they screw around with their buyers like this?!?
Grrrrr!
|
