|
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
07-04-2009, 09:07 AM
|
| |
I also highly recommend an old Pentax M 50mm lens. I picked up a dandy 50mm f/1.4 on Ebay for $30, and used that with extension tubes (and occasionally a reversing ring) for quite a while--until I found a even dandier Pentax M 100mm dental Macro lens for $100 on the site classifieds here.
Watch out, macro is an addiction! Now I have ring lights, teleconverters, piggyback adaptors, focusing stage, a brand new ring flash.....all for shooting only the occasional fly fishing entomology article.
DAN
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-03-2008, 02:47 PM
|
| |
I should add that anyone considering using an old flash on a DSLR to please *search this forum* for threads about this, and look up the flash model to be sure the trigger voltage is not too high! Or, you can measure it yourself off the flash. Too high a trigger voltage can fry your camera.
My only problem has been finding a ring flash for the k10d that works in P-TTL, I found one that's from Germany but it's rather expensive. So I went with a Digi-Slave LED ring light instead.
DAN
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-02-2008, 05:38 PM
|
| |
Fairly exciting new old gear for me here recently, so pardon me for just spouting off!
My decision to go with a Pentax k10d for my new DSLR last year is just looking better and better as time goes by.
I started with a K1000 30 years ago, and still have it.
Now I'm finding all kinds of great old Pentax gear at bargain prices, and snapping it up from photographer friends, Ebay, pawn shops, and Craigslist. And it ALL works with my k10d! This, to me, is complete justification of my decision to go with Pentax once again. Most people have said their gear is for sale because they went to Canon or Nikon a few years back because Pentax didn't have a pro-level DSLR. Now they do...Pentax's decision to make their DSLRs backwards compatible was brilliant.
Recent acquisitions include a Sigma 400mm f/5.6 A; an Asahi Pentax 500mm f/4.5 (my big fat gorgeous baby!); real Asahi Pentax extension tubes; a nice old Asahi Pentax 50mm f/1.2 prime (that I also use for macro photos with a lens reverser); and an AF200S flash.
The cost of all this new old gear is so far, TOTAL, is only about half the cost of the k10d body. The camera has paid for itself in photo sales.
A couple more magazine photo sales, and I'll be getting a k20d for a second body (so I can leave the big 500mm always hooked up for wildlife photos......)
Thanks Pentax, for making backward compatibility a priority, and for that awesome 'green button' in manual mode.
DAN
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-30-2008, 09:16 PM
|
| |
There was a long thread about that here recently, give the board a search.
I use the GIMP with UFRAW for my raw work----both are free, and both are available for windows, mac and linux. I adjust the color balance and exposure, then make JPGs only of what i need.
There are better options than what I use, but what I have is easy to use and give good results. And free! If you are up for paying money, the Biddle Labs software works really well and has some 'easy' modes for working on RAW files, making corrections for lens distortion and CA, etc.
DAN
|
|
Forum: Photographic Technique
04-26-2008, 10:48 PM
|
| |
You can make a quicky JPEG out of a RAW file right on the k10d if you need to post a photo to a website or such. I rarely shoot JPGs at all anymore.
DAN
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-26-2008, 10:39 PM
|
| |
I'm really pleased with my new system for photography 'road trips,' and have explained the details below. I'm also interested in what laptop computer systems others use for long trips. I need to have the laptop anyway for communication with the home office, and I can dump photos to it. Yes, a 16 gig SD card in a k10d holds LOTS of photos in RAW mode, but on a 3-week road trip SD cards are still not enough.
Computer: Asus Eee 4g. I love this tiny new machine! It's the size of 2 DVD cases stacked on top of each other, and fits in the side cargo pocket in my pants. It uses SD cards for storage instead of hard drives....no moving parts except the fan. 7 inch monitor. Comes with Linux on it, though you can install your own copy of windows XP. I installed the GIMP and ufraw on it for making sample JPGs to send to the office and making them for my blog postings. A SD card reader is built in, and you can use it for reading k10D SD cards, for installing extra applications/storage, or both. The machine is only $399 brand new.
Backup storage: Western Digital USB2.0-powered 250g external hard drive. About the size of 2 packs of cigarettes. no power supply!
So, this entire system, including computer, backup drive, power supply, extra external mouse, cords, etc. fits in a standard foam lined hard pistol case from Sportsmans Warehouse, the case is 12" x 9" x 4". Which I covered with stickers so that people don't think I'm carrying a gun into Starbucks to use the internet! Mostly I get gasps at how tiny the computer is. The keyboard is JUST big enough to type fast on.
The only thing I am lacking with Linux on the Eee PC is a tethered mode for the k10d into ufraw, but I expect to see this GIMP plug-in soon, if it isn't already out and I just missed it.
Charging system: For road trips in remote areas, I maintain the K10d batteries and laptop batteries, plus ham radios, GPS, etc. with a small solar photovoltaic system mounted in a plastic tub in the back of my pickup:
-100 amp-hour 12 volt deep cycle marine battery
-40 watt flexible solar PV panel (no glass), 30 foot cord to the truck
-800 watt portable inverter
-backup power with a switch to charge the battery from the truck's alternator
-shore power switch and 20 amp battery charger to plug it in and charge at campgrounds or motels
The portable inverter was FAR cheaper than getting individual 12 volt charging adaptors for the k10d, computer, gps, radios, etc. i estimate I lose only 10% by converting 12vdc to 120vac then back to DC again for charging.
Please post info info on what YOU use for photography road trips!
DANBOB
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-21-2008, 07:55 AM
|
| |
I sure like the split image screens from Katz Eye optics; I have one in my K10d and they do make them for the k100d. You can get all kinds of options added to them, also--different lines etched in the screen for layout, AF pattern, etc..
Katz Eye™ Optics - Custom Focusing Screens
DAN
|
|
Forum: Photographic Technique
04-21-2008, 07:45 AM
|
| |
THANK YOU everyone!
I'm headed to Sportsman's Warehouse today to try on some Tilleys.
They don't look even remotely military, and I like the gaurantee.
I'll try to avoid elephants!
DAN
|
|
Forum: Photographic Technique
04-17-2008, 08:16 PM
|
| |
Ah! And they have a store in Denver, only 3 hours away, where i can actually get a Tilley hat fitted. Thanks!
I see you are a Sigma guy. I have the Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 as my main lens on the K10d, and a Sigma 400mm f5.6. I am VERY happy with both of them on the camera.
THanks again... DAN
|
|
Forum: Photographic Technique
04-17-2008, 07:58 PM
|
| |
OK, sorry if this sounds silly. But maybe it's not so silly!
I've been using a Lumix FZ20 for a couple years now, and it's not an SLR. So I had an LCD backplate view of what I'm photographing. I've upgraded to a K10d since I'm now once again a professional photographer. I love my k10d!
I NEED to wear a hat, since my balding 40-year old head gets sunburned. And when I raise the K10d to make a photo, of course my baseball cap is in the way or gets knocked off my head. My favorite cap is now floating in the Caribbean Sea, near Bluefields, Nicaragua (my last assignment, last month)---making photos at 35 mph on the open ocean in a 15 foot panga in 5 foot seas. I hate wearing a baseball cap backwards, no sun protection on my face and I Iook like a punk gangbanger.
Back in the film SLR days when I was previously a professional photographer, I ditched the baseball cap for a khaki military-type 'boonie hat' with a soft brim that doesn't get in the way of the camera. But those hats have the sewn elastic loops around them, for shotgun shells---this is NOT something you want to wear while going thru a Nicaraguan maritime military anti-drug-smuggling checkpoint, as I did 2 times last month! The grim-faced gentlemen in fatigues carrying AK-47s that inspect your boat and baggage do NOT like to see any clothing that's even remotely military in appearance.
So, what do other professional photographers here wear for a stylish hat with brims for sun protection, that does NOT interfere with or come off when looking through the viewfinder of an SLR?
I hope this isn't too silly of a question. But it's become a real issue for me recently.
DAN
|
|
Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
01-29-2008, 10:18 AM
|
| |
THANK YOU ALL for these detailed responses. I thought that joining this board when I bought my K10D would be a good thing, but the expert knowledge here has exceeded my wildest expectations!
I've been examining some of the RAW converter software that people have linked to in this thread. Some, like Bibble Labs, has 'automatic' correction routines for the RAW conversion. Most of my critical photos I just send into magazines as RAW files....the publisher's art dept. does all the correction work.
So, what I'm thinking is that I might as well just start climbing the learning curve on the GIMP or the other free linux softwares that people have listed here, instead of buying something with 'automatic' correction. Just seems like I'm missing out on some knowledge by using an 'automatic' routine, instead of first learning to do it by hand.
Since my professional output just gets sent as RAW, there's no time problem with the learning curve.
ANy thoughts? And thanks again...
DAN
|
|
Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
01-23-2008, 08:04 PM
|
| |
Wow, I thought people would say 'what's Linux?' when I posted this.....
I believe that I got ufraw, and NOT dcraw with it. Off to the repository to check. Just ufraw, with the latest version that Fedora picked up, would not open PEFs.
I'll check out those other software links too--thanks folks!
DAN
|
|
Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
01-22-2008, 09:42 AM
|
| |
Hi all.
Is there any real difference in quality when shooting .PEF versus the generic Adobe .DNG formats? I sure can't see any, but I'm curious if others have noticed anything.
The reason I ask, is:
I've been a die-hard Linux fanatic for 8 years now, and I do all my image processing in The GIMP (The GNU Image Manipulation Program). It's an extremely powerful and FREE program, it has much the same capabilities as Photoshop, and it has been ported for Linux, Mac and Windows. It comes standard with most Linux distributions.
I'm unable to make my Linux machines read the Pentax .PEF files, but I've had no problem at all with reading .DNG. I had to install a plug-in module for the GIMP to do this, and thought that this might be of interest to any other Linux users here on the forums. The module is called 'ufraw' and you should be able to find it for almost any Linux, Mac or Windows machine that's running the GIMP. I was able to install it on Fedora Core Linux, Ubuntu Linux, and Windows XP GIMP with no problems, directly through the add/install software manager.
Frankly, the 'ufraw' user interface is (to me anyway) FAR more logical and easy to use than the RAW Silkypix WIndows-only software that came with my K10d. So unless someone advises otherwise, I'm sticking with .DNG and the GIMP for my RAW photo processing!
And if anyone has GIMP or Linux questions related to photography or publishing, I'm happy to help. I'm very enthusiastic about open-source software, and am currently wrapping up a 300-page book project that's been produced *entirely* with free software.....Linux O/S, The GIMP for photos, Inkscape for graphics, QCAD for CAD drawings, OpenOffice for text editing, and Scribus for layout and PDF generation.:cool:
GIMP - ufraw editing screenshot below.
DAN
|
|
Forum: Pentax Compact Cameras
01-04-2008, 09:49 AM
|
| |
I've taken underwater photos with my w30 in saltwater -- I've never had a problem, and I simply rinse the camera off in fresh water ASAP after exposure to saltwater...same as I do with my saltwater flyfishing reels. DAN
|
|
Forum: Pentax Compact Cameras
01-04-2008, 09:46 AM
|
| |
Main camera -- Pentax K10D
Backup camera -- Panasonic Lumix FZ20
Fishing trip camera -- Pentax Optio w30 waterproof
Tiny camera that's always with me -- Sony DSC-U30
Cheers, interesting poll!
DAN
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-16-2007, 07:22 AM
|
| |
I'll be photographing birds all winter, JC, and will indeed send some photos to the bird site.
DAN
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-15-2007, 06:20 PM
|
| |
I was feeling pretty smug about my brand new k10d, just made my first post here recently, and had even tried my favorite old SMC Pentax lenses on it already for manual use, which worked fine. Until the cheap Super Paragon 35-200 tonite, a cheapy from an old Pentax film camera....I thought I was about to blow a gasket. The lens was stuck tight and would not come off.
A whole bunch of internet research here on Pentax Forum defined the problem, and a whole bunch of feeler gauges later, after I found the right AF pin that was jamming it all up, down by the MF/AF switch (switch turned to AF). But I tried everything, even my most subtle jiggles of the lens while trying to jimmy the lens' AF pin with the feeler gauges. Nothing worked.
One of my buddies from town tonite who is a pro mentioned the "Ritz Camera Repair Dept. fix." I couldn't find any such thing online......but I tried it and it worked. No idea if it has anything to do with Ritz Camera's repair dept at all. He said, the K10d is built like a tank, of mettalurgically sound materials. Your crappy lens is built of pot metal--just force it. The K10 will be fine, the lens will suffer.
I don't recommend that anyone try this....but I have to say that anyone that knows a K-mount lens, knows how it's supposed to feel ,right before it comes loose or hooks in. I just forced it -with a hard twist- PING. The sheared AF pin from the cheap AF lens hit the floor as soon as the lens released and came off. The lens works fine now, and so does my brand new K10D with my real lens. But I'll be darned sure in the future to check for that kind of stuff before popping a random 'pentax-mount' lens on my new camera!
DAN
|
|
Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
12-15-2007, 12:59 PM
|
| |
Thanks for the welcome, folks!
JCsullivan -- you nailed it right on the head. Once a Pentax fan, always a Pentax fan! I preferred my old MX and LX to my brace of Nikon F3s (now sold off) for a variety of reasons. The only film camera I keep around anymore is an old K1000....and I shoot only B&W on it. My folks bought me that camera as my 11th birthday present, in 1978.
Initial observations:
-- the 'correct' exposure according to the meter on the K10D seems to be what I would call -1/3 or -1/4 EV. Which is fine with me, that's where I normally shoot anyway...but it's something to keep in mind. With my other digital cameras (Pentax Optio W30 waterproof, Panasonic Lumix FZ20) I always shoot -1/3EV, the K10D exposes this way by default it looks like, so I'll set it at 0.0 EV.
--the Sigma 18-50 f2.8 is noisier and slower focusing than the new and expensive Pentax SMC DA* 16-50 f2.8. I don't have any software updates for the camera yet though, not sure if they will affect the Sigma anyway. Anyone have info about that?
--I give the SIgma a "B-" or "C" at f2.8 on a macro shot, but of course how often do I shoot there? I'm on a tripod at f8 or more for most macro work.
--the bokeh on the Sigma seems pretty nice.
--I'd be happy to submit some bird shots from the new camera, JCsullivan -- one of my hobbies, and I feed the birds here and prowl the Colorado wilderness for more bird pics while I'm fishing. Still need to get the 400mm out and put it thru its paces on the new K10d....that'll be the key lens for birds here.
--I don't know much about putting shots online for 'evaluating' lenses, but I at least shot some macro photos of a cactus flower today at 3 different f-stops. The flower is about 1/2 inch around. For my job, I need to shoot macro photos a LOT, so that's what I did here. The shots are:
f/22:
http://www.otherpower.com/danf/cactus_sigma_22.JPG
f/8:
http://www.otherpower.com/danf/cactus_sigma_8.JPG
f/2.8:
http://www.otherpower.com/danf/cactus_sigma_2.8.JPG
Anyway -- CHEERS all. For me, climbing the learning curve for this new Pentax is the most fun I could ever have with my pants on! I'll be checking in regularly.
DAN
|
|
Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
12-15-2007, 10:52 AM
|
| |
Hello all. Great forum, by the way--extensive reading here influenced my buying decision for a new DLSR and lens greatly last month. I started out with Pentax film cameras, the K-1000 of course! By early college my outfit was a Pentax MX and an LX, with a variety of glass. At the college newspaper, I had to sell all my Pentax gear and buy Nikon F3s, so I could use all the goodies we had available (300mm f2.8s, and such), but I kept a couple of my favorite SMC Pentax lenses.
And finally it's come full circle.....I'm shooting professionally again, and recently bought a k10d body. Part of the reason being, I can still use my old sweetie SMC lenses that I fell in love with so many decades ago and saved in the closet--I'm a manual shooter most of the time anyway.
The k10d is everything I expected--it's an amazing thing to be able to 'switch film' while shooting (ISO sensitivity mode). By the time I bought the k10d, extra batteries, and a 10-pack of memory cards though. my budget was strained....I have to supply my own gear for my new job--no locker full of shiny glass to choose from here.
So, I bought the Simga 18-50 f2.8 EX DC macro, after reading many reviews from SIgma fans and Sigma haters alike, and also the reviews of the SMC 16-50 f2.8 (which is really pricey). B&H photo actually had the Sigma in stock, the only place in the USA that had it for immediate shipping as far as I could tell. I'm quite satisfied with it --- not quite as 'tight' as the SMC that I tried in a local camera store, but the picture quality is excellent and it was half the price. The first thing I did when it arrived though was a thorough test for defects--that's what I've always with any lens, and especially Tamron / Sigma / Tokina brands. Looks like I got a good one....accurate focus, no defects. I'll be posting some test shots here soon for this lens.
Now I'm cruising pawnshops looking for good old manual Pentax glass....and enjoying the fact that my old sweety lenses work on this new-fangled DSLR.
Anyway, thanks for a great forum. I'll be hanging around here a lot as I learn to use this new K10d.
DAN
|
