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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
10-11-2013, 03:03 AM
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I have multiple cameras. Quite a few older film bodies, plus two DSLR bodies. Generally when I totally replace a body it goes to a photography student at the local colleges or to one of my nieces who are currently learning. I don't replace bodies though just to replace them, to upgrade and have the latest model. I replace them because I have a genuine need for a new body for work. I tend to put serious mileage on my cameras shooting. I'm estimating but I think I can shoot minimum 4K-6K shots a month if I am working a lot plus doing my own stuff. I don't just take my camera out a few hours a week and shoot 500 photos. I can shoot several hundred photos in one two hour photo shoot and I try to book 3 a week at least. That's what it takes to pay my base bills. Some months its less because I don't get the work I'd like. Sometimes it's more during busier times of the year but I think it averages about that and I'm nowhere near as busy as some of the other professionals on here I'm sure.
My K-x has been used a lot. I do want to replace it next year with a K5II. I really could use the AF upgrade. It will last my niece a year or so too. But I probably would not sell it because of the mileage. By the time I am "done" with a camera it's seen a lot of abuse. With the old film bodies it a lot easier to maintain them in some ways and I have options for that. I can send a body out to Eric eventually. With the digital cams there's no one local who can repair them and mine are not under warranty so if one goes I'd better have a backup or I am screwed. I can't just go out and drop $500-1000 on a new camera whenever. I just don't have the income level for that yet and unfortunately I don't have the credit for it either.
I've had credit problems for a long time because of major illness, and a couple of bad car accidents and the surgery that followed. I had to stop working a regular job. I can only work so many hours now. The financial mess that came with all that really hurt me. I had to retrain and even now I'm not working as much as I'd like. I can only do so much every week before my body poops out, and I have a lot to do besides my own stuff. I take care of my Dad who's older. I have a lot of stuff I have to do for him all the time, shrug.
I only have two credit cards. One for Walmart and one MC and the MC has a very low limit actually. It's a bit annoying. In the 3 years I've had that card I've only a couple of times had a higher balance and I've never missed a payment but I'm still stuck at a level where I can't quite go and buy a decent new DSLR body. Believe me I would if I could but I just don't have the room on there. I'm stuck in a low limit, high interest hell and I'm usually too busy paying off vet bills, medical bills, unexpected household repair bills and that to go out and just buy a new camera. I put money away in my Hello Kitty bank when I can. But that's my reality. Big purchase things they tend to come very slowly if at all around here. Actually budgeting for a K5II body is a major challenge for me, even used. I'll probably buy a K5II used next Spring. By then I'll be able to find one sub $550 and I'll have the $$$ saved up for it. But a K-3 brand new is simply not in my budget.
I'm trying to buy a K-7 now to replace the K-x with. I'm working on buying the loaner I've got. Depending upon how expenses look this Spring it might even be later till I get the K5 but eventually I am going to have to go there. I do need to replace the K-x with a WR body. It's just more practical for both of my bodies to be WR where I live. I really like the K-7 though actually. It's a nice working camera and as a backup it will suit me just fine having that in the bag too. I think if I wasn't needing the improved AF and that I'd probably just get another one actually. I could do most of my work with one easily. A K5II as main body is what I'd prefer but I could make two K-7's work too if I had to.
I have several people I know, photography buddies, all well intentioned lovely people, thoughtfully sending me links to good deals on a K5 or a K30 from time to time. I just smile when I see them. That they care enough to do that is just so nice. But they just don't quite get that I can't just go plop down a credit card and and pop on a deal whenever. That I've really got to have all the $$$ actually in hand to go there and that it usually takes me a while life depending to be able to afford something like that. I think a lot of people who do photography just take it for granted that they *can* go out and upgrade. But I don't. When I finally do give up a camera I pass on my gear to someone I know who needs it and will use it. I have actually donated a lot of film cameras to a local college over the years for their students.
When I was in school there I really wanted to take photography and could not because the expense of the class was just not affordable at all for me. Above tuition you had to buy a camera and a basic set of lenses and there was like 2K in lab costs on top of that. I checked. I just could not do it even with a grant and a student loan. It's easily triple that figure that now and that despite the fact that they finally allowed DSLR's. The tuition and that is still just crazy. I can't pay a kid's tuition, or buy one a DSLR, but I can see to it that a couple of kids now and again get a film body and a couple of lenses to offset some of that so I do.
My teachers both of them they were really good to me with donating time and their expertise and not charging me anything for that. While I was studying with them they let me use their equipment to learn. My one teacher gave me my first good film SLR and a few lenses an original Spottie. Unfortunately I never got to use that kit. I was about to move and it got stolen from me. I didn't get another one until some guy on CL gave me one a few years later. My teacher he was still paying it forward from when his teacher taught him and that was like 50 years ago so that tells you something about the kind of man he is. I think if I had stayed there and completed his master class with him he'd have likely given me a DSLR set up too. But I ended up nearly losing my shirt because I got ill, lost my job and ended up moving back here. I had to quit for a while, and it was only later I found another teacher locally.
But that's what I do. I donate it or find a kid to teach and let them use it. I think that we all should if we can. I think it's easy seeing all the lovely gear on boards like this to forget that there are a lot of kids out there who want to learn but who can't because they can't afford to. I think it's important to pass the knowledge and some stuff on when you can. Some of these kids they're going to be the great photographers of the next generation and and it would be sad if a good one never got there because they just couldn't afford a simple SLR set up, you know? Or couldn't find a teacher to show them how...
(MK steps off the soapbox, lol....)
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
04-24-2013, 08:06 AM
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Let me try to translate the last 3 questions (they are what we interested, right?):D
edit: I will translate them all.
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Q：以复古造型和精致纯铜外壳为亮点的宾得MX-1已经上市2周时间了，请问这款机器现在的销量情况如何？
Q: Using retro styling and brass casing as selling points, PENTAX MX-1 has been in the market for 2 weeks, how is the sale?
A：虽然上市时间短，但经销商数量的增多，对于此款机型的销量起到了正面作用。所以，销量还是不错的。
A: Even though it's time on the market is still short, but the of increased retailers (distributors) gave a positive push to the sale of the camera. So, the sale is not bad.
Q：宾得MX-1采用1200万像素1/1.7英寸CMOS传感器，但近期理光发布了一款APS-C画幅的紧凑型专业数码相机。想问下宾得是否在未来也会发布一款类似MX1风格的机器？
Q: PENTAX MX-1 uses 12MP and 1/1.7" backlit CMOS sensor, but Ricoh released a APS-C sized compact camera recently (The GR). Would like to know if PENTAX will release a (APS-C sized) compact camera that styled like the MX-1?
A：由于产品线的不断调整，宾得对于APS-C尺寸的紧凑型专业相机正在计划之中。
A: The production line keeps adjusting (to the market), PENTAX is planning it's own APS-C sized compact camera.
Q：在微单相机这块，宾得曾发布过K-01，Q和Q10这类相机。而K-01附有艺术创意的外形也吸引了不少的目光。但由于上市价格过高，能接受的消费者并不多。而后K-01又经历了一次大幅度降价，但实际销量并没有明显提升。我想问宾得之所以停产宾得K-01是否因为它定价过高，销量不好才出此下策？
Q: In mirrorless segment, PENTAX has K-01, Q, and Q10. K-01 creative artistic styling captured quite some attention as well. But due to the high MSRP price, it is not widely received by consumers. Even after the huge price drop, the sale of the camera didn't improved significantly. I wonder if the reason why PENTAX discontinued K-01 because it's sale price is too high and the sale is not good?
A：恰恰相反，宾得K-01的销量很好，甚至供不应求。
A: It is just the opposite of what you said, K-01 sale is very good, we can't even produce enough to satisfy the market needs.
Q：宾得在微单相机这块有什么布局？
Q: What is the strategy for PENTAX on mirrorless camera segment?
A：微单相机已占领了一部分的市场份额，接下去我们会研发饼干镜头并开发和优化K卡口镜头来满足市场需要。
A: PENTAX mirrorless already occupy a portion of the market, we will continue to develop pencake lenses and create better K-mount lens to satisfy the market needs. (I refuse to use 'optimize' to translate "优化").
Q：宾得是否已在研发全画幅单反相机？
Q: Is PENTAX currently working on FF DSLR development?
A：2年前已有记者问过我关于全画幅单反相机的事情。我现在可以说，宾得的全画幅单反相机已在研发之中，并会是一款与众不同的全画幅。
A: A reporter asked me about FF DSLR two years ago as well. I can now say that PENTAX is currently developing a FF DSLR, and it will be a unique FF camera.
Q：宾得645D在专业领域的市场份额是否有收到来自尼康D800高像素全幅单反的冲击？
Q: In professional segment, did high pixel count Nikon D800 affect the sale of the PENTAX 645D?
A：宾得645D是一款定位非常明确的机器，它针对专业人群而设计。尼康D800高像素单反相机则没有明确的定位，对于宾得645D的冲击并不大。
A: PENTAX 645D targets towards a specific market, it targets professionals. On the other hand, Nikon D800 doesn't have a clear market placement, thus the effect is minor.
** content in () is something I added from the way they talk, to complete the sentence. **
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Forum: Photo Critique
08-22-2012, 10:59 AM
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the first and the second last are quite good. their stage setup with everyone sitting behind mike stands and music stands would be a real challenge to say the least.
#1 is the best here i think good composition and exposure
#2 the composition and shot is generally blah. and focus is missed i think
#3 is focused on the stands (manual focus would have helped)
#4 is actually not bad nice and moody but there is no specific subject
#5,6,7 are all reasonable, the performers themselves aren't doing anything exciting but they are well captured
Shooting live music is always a challenge (light changes constantly and is rarely very strong, then there is capturing the moment- here it helps to know the performers from previous shows or just be familiar with their style so you can track for it. I've shot a lot of shows over the years and some musicians are tough to capture no matter what as well (rock shows are far easier IMO because they can be more animated in general than classical. the 43 definitely is a good lens to have in your arsenal for this. a DA* 50-135 or a 70-200 2.8 is also an excellent tool. I do shoot a lot of shows with Manual focus lenses but it means a smaller keeper rate (and generally less shots overall)
This is one of those things that the more you do it the better you get. Fortunately it costs nothing to shoot more frames in digital (I've shot shows in the 70's on bulk loaded b/w film and would have to limit myself to 1 or 2 rolls of 36 being too poor to shoot more - sometimes i would only walk away with a couple of shots i was happy with. Digital made me much better at it when i returned to shooting music in 2006 and could review as i went.
the hardest thingh is when you are on a press pass and have only 2-3 songs at the beginning of a show in the pit to get the shot. the band is rarely warmed up and putting on the best part of the show. I had this discussion with Iggy pop once when he complained that concert photography isn't what it was in the 70's, I countered saying in the 70's i could shoot a whole show with may camera unhindered by security goons and could then wait for him to really get going mid set :D
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
08-19-2012, 04:41 AM
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Just FYI for any hackers.
Since the Raspberry PI has been getting some attention recently from photographers, I found it cool to discover the other day that the open-source tethering app PKTriggerCord now runs on Raspberry PI too, with a binary made up and ready to run:
Deb file for Raspbian ( Raspberry PI ): pktriggercord_0.78.00-1_armhf.deb
So now you can control your Pentax DSLR via a Raspberry PI computer.
More info:
pkTriggerCord |
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-18-2012, 12:18 PM
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After trying really hard to master manual focusing by using the focus confirmation light only, I finally decided it wasn't possible to get an acceptable and reliable accurate-focus rate by just relying on that system. Something had to be done about it.
Ordering things from abroad is a really tedious task here in Argentina, hence, buying a chinese focusing screen was out of the question. So, after reading some threads about people cutting their own screens, I decided to give it a try.
I had an old Canon T50 lying around, which is supposed to have a very good focusing screen, the same used for the AE-1 Program and the nF-1. Bad news was that the T50 does not have a removable focusing screen, so I had to completely take apart the top part of the camera, where the pentaprism is located in order to reach the screen. Of course the poor Canon is now out of order, but it served a good purpose. Plus, I get to keep a nice pentaprism for my desk.
I have to admit I didn't take enough safety measures in order to keep the screen clean and free of scratches since all the procedure was pretty much improvised, but after the abuse that focusing screen went through during the cutting process, I have to say that these pieces of plastic are tougher than people say they are.
Cutting was done through scoring each line with a razor knife, and then snapping the borders out. Borders were then smoothed using a nail file. During this whole process, dust and some heavy uncareful handling left some minor marks on the focusing screen, really nothing to worry about. In the pictures it may seem that the screen is pretty damaged, but one's really not aware of those marks when focusing so, no big deal. I'll admit, if I had to do it again, I'd protect the surface with some kind of tape, but I didn't do this because I was worried it would leave some kind of residue.
In my opinion, the most important part of the whole process is good and careful measuring. I spent about an hour or two making sure everything was in place before I started cutting.
Once the worst part was finished, I proceded to clean using warm tap water and soap. Yeah, the screen looked pretty busted at this stage, so I didn't care a lot at that point, but after gently washing it and seeing that it wasn't that bad, I felt a little more satisfied with the results.
Focusing screen was installed on my K20D without any kind of trouble and so, testing begun. At first, a little bit of front focusing was the issue, so I removed the shim originally placed in the camera for the stock screen. After this, I perceived a more severe case of back focusing. I reduced the shim thickness by grinding it against a knife sharpening stone. After placing the shim, a little bit of front focusing was still present, but at this moment I had already spent nine hours working on that screen and I was tired, so I decided to leave it like that. Maybe I'll revise it again in the future if I get imprecise results while shooting out in the real world.
And here's what you all wanted to see... the results.
As you can see, the screen is pretty busted, all scratched and kinda' dirty. Nothing that will distract you or get in your way while shooting. Focusing now is easy and actually pretty fun.
Out of focus.
Focus placed on the blue pencil.
And this is the picture taken with the K20D when focusing on the blue pencil. Lens used was a Pentax-A 50mm 1.4 shot wide open.
So far, the slowest lens I tested the screen with is a 28mm 2.8 and, even in the darkest room of my house at night I couldn't get the split screen to black out. I remember the T50 suffering from split screen black out from time to time, mainly in interiors, but I'm sure it was due to the very slow kit lens it had mounted on.
Focus confirmation light still comes in handy. It lights up and beeps right when I get the split screen aligned.
The only minor detail is that I had to dial in a +1.0 exposure compensation due to metering errors, but that was only expected since the screen is a little brighter than the stock one.
I'm extremely happy with the results and the confidence I used to feel when shooting with my Pentax MX is back.
Cheers and thanks for reading.
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