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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-29-2011, 07:10 PM
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The camera is reminding me a lot of my favorite S.L.R., my Nikkormat, which had some fun little "extras" that took it out of the range of amateurs and "compact enthusiasts" and into real unique territory. The Green Button is definitely one of those little features that's making me happy I jumped into digital photography with the KX.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-29-2011, 03:04 PM
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This is my first digital camera - I usually shoot with a Leica M6, IIIC or vintage Nikkor. I've learned well enough what kind of exposure works with whichever camera/film/lens combination I'm rocking at any moment. It's probably the same kind of learning curve on my new Pentax.
The benefit of the blinking under/over on the Preview and a quick check against the meter is that the majority of what the camera calls "shutter speed" or "I.S.O" aren't that. They're digital representations of analog measurements. There isn't even a shutter. And I haven't learned to trust this particular meter yet (not that it seems wrong), so having a quick check is kind of the modern equivalent of shooting a stage with a Polaroid before knocking out a bunch of large-format images.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-29-2011, 02:53 PM
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I mean to say that I don't like having the L.C.D. on, so the Digital Preview allows me to use it in the extremely rare cases that I do need it or want to double-check exposure, etc. And when I tap the shutter button it goes away and doesn't come back. So it's convenient for that. Make sense?
Especially if I'm using center-weighted metering, I can use the +/- to meter and grab a shot, but the Digital preview (Green Button) to tweak and then right back to shooting with a tap of the shutter.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-29-2011, 02:40 PM
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The reason I use the "Digital" preview is because I don't like having my L.C.D. monitor on. Ever. So with that button I can make an actual choice to see my exposure or image only when I want to, and the over/under exposure is helpful, kind of like "zebra stripes" on other cameras, right?
You have the Green Button set to "Optical", as in depth-of-field preview? The stopped down meter (+/- Button) gives a quick depth-of-field.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-29-2011, 01:42 PM
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So I've got a good manual lens that can be expected to function as a basic K-mount. That's cool.
Is it sensical to use the +/- as my meter and reassign the green button to something else so they both don't do the same thing?
Did I just answer my own question?
Is it a good lens?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-29-2011, 01:33 PM
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I'm still confused about the "green button" - It does the same thing as the +/- button, right? That seems to meter as well, stopped-down, of course. I've set the "green button" to a depth-of-field preview.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-29-2011, 01:26 PM
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So this is a standard manual Adaptall, i.e. gives me the basic functionality of stopped-down metering and absolutely no love for Aperture Priority?
For Aperture Priority I'd have to find one of those expensive "PK-A" adapters that go for $50-$100, right?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-29-2011, 01:24 PM
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I'm using a KX with fully manual (M) lenses.
I've readjusted the Green Button (is it a proper noun?) to now show a preview with highlights and shadows, sort of a modern depth-of-field preview, and the +/- button is still rocking as my stopped-down meter. This works for me because I don't like having the L.C.D. monitor on ever,
so it gives me a choice to see a preview only when I want it and check exposure.
Does that make sense?
I guess that adds a little more and duplicate functionality, right?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-29-2011, 12:51 PM
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For stopped-down metering on manual lenses, I've noticed that both the green button and +/- button (exposure compensation?) do the exact same thing - Is there something I'm missing here?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-29-2011, 12:13 PM
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Hi there,
I just purchased the attached Tamron 24mm/f2.5 for my KX.
It's obviously a K-Mount so it should stick on the camera without a problem, but I'm a little confused as to "how" I can use it.
Is it a model of lens that supports aperture priority (Av mode)? Is my KX capable of using any kind of automated mode with this lens or am I limited to the normal manual (M mode) with stopped-down metering?
Thanks a bunch,
Noah
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-16-2011, 02:25 PM
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Living in a gigantic city (Los Angeles) has its perks, like being able to find a repair shop made of actual "brick and mortar" so I can drop the camera off, say it needs something simple like a focus screen and foam and look a dude in the eye and say "Shoot a quick test wide-open at minimum focus before you give it back to me."
I also just realized that scenario can actually result in quick calibration or changes because that test isn't waiting for film to come back from a lab. I immediately like this digital thing.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-16-2011, 10:04 AM
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Not to go off on a tangent, but I'm surprised to see all this emphasis on split focus screens. I've shot film my whole life, and still do, mostly on Leica rangefinders, which use split focusing (slightly different style) and basic Fresnel/grid, like this stock Pentax, on my Nikon S.L.R. for years. I always found the split screens to be confusing, especially looking through the lens. Maybe not wider than f2.8, but frankly, I've always been surprised at a sharp image shot at a wider aperture than f2.8!
There's no doubt that it's a matter of taste. One thing I definitely noticed was how dark the K-X's viewfinder is with the stock screen compared to my film cameras. Is this common?
Also (last technical question, thanks for bearing with me!) - If I were to have my repairman handle the installation (he'll replace the mirror damper foam as well, which has flaked), I can just ask him to check and calibrate the focus, which would be just as normal a process for any camera repairman on this type of equipment as it would be on my Nikon or Leica film camera, right?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-15-2011, 11:57 PM
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How would I know if it were out of alignment after the fact? Would my focus just be off?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-15-2011, 07:12 PM
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Thanks for the reply.
I'm hoping that whatever "stock" screen they replace it with is actually from the manufacturer - It's an independent shop that I go to who I trust, but also have their own way of handling things.
Is it also safe to assume I'm splitting hairs if I start worrying about minimum focus at f1.7 on an older lens after the replacement? In other words, is that a little too neurotic?
I'm new to digital photography and things like minor back-focus when wide-open are kind of a given in the film world, but I don't know if they're within reason on a DSLR.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-15-2011, 03:53 PM
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Hi there,
I just joined the forum after getting a K-X and reading a ton of awesomely supportive and informative posts here. Well done, you guys!
After some searching regarding replacing focus screens, I couldn't find a specific answer to my initial conundrum;
My focus screen is hazy and made worse by an attempted cleaning so it's going to need to be replaced. The stock "brass" shim is still in there. Assuming that I have it replaced with a stock focus screen (nothing fancy) and ensure that stock shim is there, is there any calibration needed?
Thanks,
Noah
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