Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 
Log in or register to remove ads.

Showing results 1 to 25 of 150 Search:
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 01-24-2017, 03:11 PM  
Pentax "KP" DSLR registered in Indonesia
Posted By JanG
Replies: 1,319
Views: 166,301
Thanks for answering this.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 01-24-2017, 03:10 PM  
Pentax "KP" DSLR registered in Indonesia
Posted By JanG
Replies: 1,319
Views: 166,301
Found it: "You can customize the PENTAX K-70’s operation by assigning the desired functions to the set of buttons, including the Fx1 and Fx2 buttons." Must have overlooked this on the K-70/K-1.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 01-24-2017, 01:35 PM  
Pentax "KP" DSLR registered in Indonesia
Posted By JanG
Replies: 1,319
Views: 166,301
I do not know whether this has been discussed already, but what does this stand for?
Horizon Level? - Okay.
But 'Fx2'?
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 01-24-2017, 09:44 AM  
Pentax "KP" DSLR registered in Indonesia
Posted By JanG
Replies: 1,319
Views: 166,301
I am already missing the grip of my K-3.
Why?
Because it has an indention for the middle finger that is positioned above the center of gravity of the cam. Thus, it can help stabilizing the cam - a bit like a gimbal when you let the K-3(II) "hang" from the indention. Ingenious design.
And nothing like that on the KP. Three grips to choose from but none of them offers this feature. Too bad. :(
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 11-24-2016, 05:25 AM  
Update Software Version 1.30 for PENTAX K-3.
Posted By JanG
Replies: 58
Views: 7,259
Just updated the firmware on my K-3. Everything looks fine so far.
Forum: Pentax Forums Giveaways 09-07-2016, 01:22 PM  
PF 10th Anniversary - Pentax K-50 1-Day Giveaway! - Entries closed, winner announced.
Posted By JanG
Replies: 1,825
Views: 90,822
What a nice offer, Adam.
I know of a few refugees here in Germany who could make great use of a K-50. And I would add my own (old) Sigma 17-70 to make it a starting combo.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 06-17-2016, 02:59 AM  
HD PENTAX-DA 55-300mmF4.5-6.3ED PLM WR RE
Posted By JanG
Replies: 659
Views: 87,105
If confirmed and if Sigma should decide to offer their lenses in K-mount only with KAF-4 for simplicity (as suggested on dpreview) I will not only be sad but extremely frustrated as my budget currently won't allow me to buy one of the much desired Sigma 150-600 lenses plus a new cam. :fedup:
Come on Ricoh! Create a new firmware for the K-3 if ever possible!
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 05-27-2016, 03:26 AM  
Lens tests on K-1 : 15-30, 24-70, 70-200, 31, 43, 77, 100 Macro, 28-70 and 80-200
Posted By JanG
Replies: 14
Views: 4,836
Ah, okay. Thanks for the explanation.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 05-27-2016, 03:19 AM  
Lens tests on K-1 : 15-30, 24-70, 70-200, 31, 43, 77, 100 Macro, 28-70 and 80-200
Posted By JanG
Replies: 14
Views: 4,836
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
I am surprised that he considers the corners of the DA* 70-200 2.8 "insufficient" at 70 mm. Is there a true weakness of the lens? Or did he just get a bad (like misaligned) copy?
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 02-24-2016, 11:57 AM  
CP+ Interview Question Suggestions
Posted By JanG
Replies: 127
Views: 15,753
+1
I am still wishing Pentax had bought the mirrorless cam department of Samsung. What a start it could have been in ML cams. It could have become the video/sports line of Pentax without eating up much of Pentax classic business.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 01-22-2016, 02:13 PM  
CES Pentax K-1 Rumor or Fact?
Posted By JanG
Replies: 286
Views: 49,338
It would not be any different to your current situation. The question is: Wouldn't you prefer it if your nose was not hitting the screen or the controls? It would disturb me(!). That's why I would always prefer a right handed camera over any left handed one. But that's just me. :)
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 01-20-2016, 11:20 AM  
CES Pentax K-1 Rumor or Fact?
Posted By JanG
Replies: 286
Views: 49,338
I am left handed, too. But more important for photography than my hands are my eyes. And I have a clear preference for my right eye when looking through the VF. I would hate to have to use a left handed camera with my right eye because of my nose being all in the way. So, in my case, thanks for the idea of a left handed camera - but no thanks.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 01-15-2016, 12:42 PM  
CES Pentax K-1 Rumor or Fact?
Posted By JanG
Replies: 286
Views: 49,338
The K-1 will come with a full leather nose scabbard included. Replacement scabbards are 59 $ for small and medium and 69 $ for the Cyrano version in any of 256 colors. A fur-lined winter model will be released next autumn.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 01-06-2016, 04:57 PM  
Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 Art Focus Issues Thread
Posted By JanG
Replies: 233
Views: 42,050
Thanks again for your very valuable input.
Actually, I have decided to test the the lens under real life conditions asap - something like a gallery opening, a party etc., one of the settings I actually bought the lens for. As it would not make any sense to send in the lens alone I will definitely send it in together with my camera should I feel the necessity after the test run.

What came to my mind yesterday was a strange and maybe stupid idea that was partly based on the impression of less erratic focus problems with my K20D. Could it be that the highly sensitive AF points of the K-3 get misled by reflections in fast lenses, especially if it is as complex as the 18-35 (lots of surfaces)? The AF points go down to -3 EV and might be sensitiv enough to take even very weak reflections as a subject to focus on.
I have observed that if you focus on a subject and the camera misfocusses it will do so again and again - even when actuating focussing for each single photo anew. The only thing to my observation that might get you a properly focussed photo is to let the cam focus on a subject at a substantially different distance and then to refocus on your intended subject. Could it be that the defocussing would resolve the reflections and thus enable the camera lens combo to loose its false focus and to turn to the correct focus distance? - Just speculation.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 01-06-2016, 06:15 AM  
Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 Art Focus Issues Thread
Posted By JanG
Replies: 233
Views: 42,050
Just a brief update concerning my PDAF issues:
I just spoke to a service staff of my retailer and they admitted that "some" of the lenses are returned to them because of (unspecified) focussing issues. They did not offer to exchange the lens for another copy but suggested to send in my cam together with the 18-35 and let the combo be checked. Normal return time would be about 2 weeks (wow!!!). This offer would be valid throughout the warranty period of 3 years. The service staff also reported his private experience with a Sigma 18-50 2.8 (don't know the mount) which after purchase had been very sharp except for a band of focal lengths. He had send in the lens with his camera and had got back a perfect combo. So maybe Sigma indeed could do something as was reported here by someone from Australia, IIRC.
For now I will continue my testing for some more time and then decide whether to send my combo in or not.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 01-05-2016, 05:59 PM  
Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 Art Focus Issues Thread
Posted By JanG
Replies: 233
Views: 42,050
Thanks for your most valuable input, Class A. I have come to more or less the same conclusions and will contact my dealer about that kind of arrangement.

Concerning misfocussing I am still not certain that it is an issue of the lens. I sometimes experience unexplainable misfocussings even with Pentax lenses on my K-3 - though not at a rate of 20%, even 2% might be an exaggeration. Also the rate of misfocussings seemed to be substantially lower on my K20D. It really is a strange phenomenon. E.g. I had bad results when I focussed at wind energy plants on the horizon but got just the closest part of the open field in front of me in focus

All in all I am leaning to keeping the lens as it is fantastically sharp in at least 80% of the cases and I do enjoy its rendering. 80% super sharp photos means: without using the dock. The lens works completely as advertised in 80% of the cases. and that does not sound too bad to me. For critical shots I will always try to take several shots of the subject with refocussing to something at a substantially different distance in-between. This seems to be the trick to avoid series of misfocussed photos, as camera and/or lens seem to remember the achieved focus lock (wrong or right) as long as the lens does not have to readjust substantially.

Well, the next step will be calling the dealer tomorrow.
I will keep you updated.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 01-03-2016, 06:55 PM  
Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 Art Focus Issues Thread
Posted By JanG
Replies: 233
Views: 42,050
I've just bought this lens new from a well known retailer in Germany. At first I was extremely happy because I got quite a few super sharp photos with the lens even at 1.8 (the aperture I shot at almost exclusively of the past few days). So I think I can claim that I am not affected by the PDAF sharpness issue.
Yet ...
Yet, my lens seems to suffer from the unjustified focus confirmation issue. About one in five shots (26 in 128 shots) is blurry (without reason - like take three photos of the same subject in a slow series and you get 'click' super sharp, 'click' unusable, 'click' super sharp without moving the camera, focus confirmation acquired in all three cases) to the extent of not being usable (not even for small images by web standards). Now what would you recommend me to do?

Obviously, I got a lens that at least can PDAF perfectly with my K-3 and in very demanding light (like ISO 6400 with f/1.8 and 1/15s at 35 mm focal length in artificial light).
I really like the lens. And the next copy might well be worth. I think I could live with the 1 in 5 percentage - but it might affect shots I will miss bitterly.

I have about one more week to return the lens and step back from the purchase but in any case I would try a second copy.

Any recommendation? What would you do?

Thanks.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 12-17-2015, 05:23 AM  
HD D FA* 70-200mm f/2.8 -April, May, June, 2016, 2017, 2018
Posted By JanG
Replies: 206
Views: 36,121
My thinking and certainly a viable option for us Pentaxians. But it would be a disaster for Pentax as a lens developing company. This is the one lens you have to be able to provide to be taken seriously as a lens maker. :hmm:
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 12-17-2015, 01:17 AM  
HD D FA* 70-200mm f/2.8 -April, May, June, 2016, 2017, 2018
Posted By JanG
Replies: 206
Views: 36,121
Sure, but there has been some discussion of its sharpness at the long end, too. I am afraid they might be in trouble with their design. Reminds me of the 60-250 development, unfortunately. :(
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 12-03-2015, 04:54 AM  
Some FF news
Posted By JanG
Replies: 436
Views: 64,298
Also we have this "official" denial news now: amateur photographer
So probably it is time to stop the Nikon discussion.

The question whether it would be a good idea for Pentax to seek cooperation with / buy resources from an electronics company remains open, though. At least in my humble opinion it indeed would be a wise step.

---------- Post added 12-03-2015 at 01:02 PM ----------


Yes, and I think that does imply that Pentax within Ricoh has to become much more of an electronics company than it is right now - whether by internal knowledge transfer or by external acquisitions. Samsung tech still looks like an opportunity to me.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 12-02-2015, 05:34 PM  
Some FF news
Posted By JanG
Replies: 436
Views: 64,298
I disagree. To reply to your points:
1. If electronics does not hold its value and is replaced every half year Pentax better should be on the forefront to remain competitive.
2. DSLRs also are heavier. And electronics has a lot of headroom. Have you ever seen the internals of an iPad? There is about 10% chips the rest is battery. There may be quite some space to use for larger batteries in mirrorless cams.
3. Reportedly, Sony is giving up APS-C and developing a cheap entry FF mirrorless. Should Pentax reply with an APS-C DSLR to be competitive price-wise?
4. Not better, but neither was it worse than the best on the market. Plus the NX can fire at 15 fps, has excellent 4K etc. Any competitors?
5. Yes, Sony focused on the sensor and somewhat missed on the usability and the system. Samsung did not miss on the usability but on the system. Nikon won't on either. Concerning the price: when an APS-C DSLR for 400 € will be great in the near future you will probably get the same specs in a mirrorless for 200 €. Why? Because it has only about 125 screws compared with 300+ in an DSLR. Especially in the low cost entry models the price will rule - and there is little hope DSLR designs will proof competitive here, e.g., they will need a PDAF system while the mirrorless will just make use of its sensor. In expensive cameras this might not be important but in entry models with low margins it will be crucial.

---------- Post added 12-03-2015 at 01:41 AM ----------


But you will need cutting edge technology to remain competitive. Sony has it all in their own company: EVF, sensor, memory etc. Pentax and Nikon already have to wait for half a year to use the 42 MP sensor. What will be in the future? The market is concentrating. How many manufacturers of the electronic parts will stay in the game when the big three decide to use just their own resources? The big ones may not need third party chips and electronics anymore. Pentax will.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 12-02-2015, 04:57 PM  
Some FF news
Posted By JanG
Replies: 436
Views: 64,298
Pentax is a DSLR manufacturer, yes. But for how long can they limit their activity to this niche? The achievements of Sony and Samsung are based more or less exclusively on their ability to develop new sensors, faster computing, faster pipeline, lower energy consumption and so on. It requires great knowledge in microelectronics and chip design to develop and build cameras like the A7 and the NX series. Pentax neither has this knowledge nor the capacity to design their own chips. If the Nikon rumor is true all three main competitors now own there prerequisites of technical break throughs in electronics. Therefore, Pentax will be in trouble to truly compete with the three big ones at least in the field of mirrorless cams. Of course, FF DSLRs won't die anytime soon, but mirrorless designs will have their share in the FF market. And in this segment Pentax might be just a me too company as I just have explained.
And yes, Pentax cameras are full of electronics. But it is me too electronics not breaking edge technology developed by themselves. And this might not be enough to stay alive in the future. And I am speaking of 5 or ten years here. If true Nikon has just bought Samsung's devision - and for a very good reason. They know that the A7III might be up to the D750 concerning AF. And the A7IV might be able to beat any other existing camera in this field (or the A7V - that is not the point) and shoot at 30 fps full resolution. And at that point, according to dpreview, it will be the one and only best camera on the market and for all purposes in the various models of the A7 series.
No, of course not, optics will not disappear anytime soon. But what will keep a camera competitive will be more an d more the electronics.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 12-02-2015, 03:29 PM  
Some FF news
Posted By JanG
Replies: 436
Views: 64,298
Probably true, Nicolas and Ron. I hope they have a good business plan for staying niche and optics centered in a market that might see an acceleration like the IT industries in the next years when electronics will become more and more crucial for economic success.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 12-02-2015, 02:59 PM  
Some FF news
Posted By JanG
Replies: 436
Views: 64,298
This would make a lot of sense if true - and it would be a missed opportunity for Pentax. To me it makes so much sense that I more or less take for granted that this rumor is true.
Nikon urgently needed support on the sensor-video-electronics-mirrorless side of technology to remain competitive with Sony and Canon which both cover all aspects of digital camera manufacturing with their companies. With the NX technology Nikon would be on par.
While this would be good news for Nikonians it would be bad news for Pentax and Pentaxians, I worry. It could mean that Pentax will have to accommodate in an even nichier niche if the impact of mirrorless systems in FF / high end cameras continues at the same speed as in the last 2+ years.

Regarding the mount question I am pretty confident that Nikon will keep their own mount as long as technical implications should not make this impossible. They have all the lenses etc. to offer a mirrorless system far superior over Sony's limited one. Everyone invested in Nikon will probably stay loyal with them. Now the task for Canon will be to get their low ISO low DR problem solved and Sony will have to decide whether they still want to become competitive system-wise or whether they should (again) focus on "just" making sensors.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 11-23-2015, 08:59 AM  
Some FF news
Posted By JanG
Replies: 436
Views: 64,298
I will try to explain it more thoroughly.
Sensor technology:
I am pretty sure that Samsung has some future advancements of the NX1 sensor up their sleeves that now will never see the light of day if not by selling the technology to another camera manufacturer. That this technology exists can be concluded from normal development cycles of let's say 2 to 4 years for cameras. This technology could be anything from a FF BSI sensor to sensors with faster read-out, lower noise, deeper electron wells - nobody of us knows. Ricoh could buy this technology or pay Samsung to finish the development. Ricoh could than let Samsung or any other chip manufacturer do the production of the chip. No need to buy larger parts of Samsungs sensor development department.

With the term "mirrorless technology" I was trying to refer to things like EVF, focusing technology, fast read out for high frame rates for stills and video, wireless technology, energy saving options and so on and so on - all concerning soft- as well as hardware. Again there would be no need to buy e.g. the production line of Samsung cams, neither their sales channels or whatever else that does not belong to development.

It would then depend on Ricoh alone whether they just licensed technology for a camera or bought the whole development group(s) with the intention to strengthen their chip and electronics know-how (as we should not forget that Pentax was an optics company from the very start but chips and electronics will become even more important for future cameras than they already are today).

Again, please keep in mind, this is nothing but an idea of mine. I do not even have the faintest hint that Ricoh has any interest in Samsung or Samsung's technology. But I am sure Samsung would be happy to make some last money with there camera division. And, of course, others could be interested in Samsungs knowledge, too. E.g., Canon for better low ISO DR for their chips.
Search took 0.01 seconds | Showing results 1 to 25 of 150

 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:02 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top