Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
04-26-2012, 10:07 PM
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to slackercruster I have back ups, I have 2 *ist-D, 2 K10's 1 K20, 1 K7, 2 K5's (now down by 1 k10 and 1 k5 that have been sold to help fund gear) Its not the point of having backups to backups to backups, why should I have to stock 4 of the same darn lens when I am a member of PPS who is supposed to be able to get said lens for loan/rental when needed. I dont know about you but I cant afford 2x most lenses, and as far as repairs go CRIS did a great job the problem was pentax not having the parts in stock at all, anywhere, for weeks on end!
I love pentax, ask anyone here, I didnt loose money for 3 years running a pentax workshop/meet and greet for nothing. I love my k-mounts but the problem came to the fact that the support became non existent when I needed it most and has seemingly been so for a while (not my first time with PPS being "out" of everything I needed)
Yes you can now rent some pentax things from great places like barrowlenses.com (just to let you know I am a member there and have been renting and purchasing various nikon gear from them for the last 2 months) but thats only because I am awaiting my NPS membership approval and for some things like a month long rental of a lens, NPS is not likely to provide me with as a brand new member. I also have been wisely trying out gear to see if I should spend $$ on it or not as a purchase. and to Tuco yes I can find Nikon gear almost anywhere to buy and rent, My local shop has some stuff (no big glass like a 300 2.8 or above) but enough that if needed I could grab a body for a day or 2 locally, and online rentals are full of just about any glass or body I want to try/need to use for an assignment at a reasonable rate. Also most of my fellow photographers have nikon gear that I can and do trade around with for specific assignments/needs, in retrospect my closest pentaxian about 20 min away had 1 body and a few consumer oriented lenses
Just to make it clear I am not 100% jumping ship, and I am only switching to the D3 bodies (eventually a D4 and/or a D3x) is because Its the top of their line and with my experience messing with the lesser bodies is just asking to pay more in the end as they can't take all the abuse I put them through. the full frame is ok, I dont notice it too much as my widest nikkor is a 20mm and my widest pentax was a 14mm (about a 20mm equivalent with the 1.5x crop) also the thing I love with the top end bodies is the ability to quickly record a sound clip to the image for image info (I am a photojournalist and must have peoples names, whats happening etc to put in a caption w/ the photo)
I still LOVE my k5, heck I still love my *ist-D but fact of life smacked me in the face too many times that i was just running a 4x4 race in 2wd the thing I miss most about not shooting many assignments on the pentaxes is how much lighter they were and quieter, and of course, I loved some of the glass!
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
04-25-2012, 10:09 PM
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Well many of you may have said, that guy who shoots a tone hasn't been around lately, your right, not because I havn't wanted too but just haven't had the time. With the addition of a Division 1 college to my client list I had been shooting upwards of 10K+ frames a month and been busy as hell. I have also in this mess decided to start running 2 systems. After needing to send in a K5, 16-50 and my FA* 300 f2.8 for repair and getting basically no support from PPS (I have been a PPS member since they started, I even helped supply pentax with many images in the days before the great pentaxians they have now, and have promoted them more than anything I called up seaking the free loaner gear they say is part of PPS and could get none. Not because of anything I did, its because they removed the 16-50 lens they had in the program from it (they offered a 16-45 F4, thanks, but I have that, I needed the weather sealed 2.8 for a reason) A k5 to tyde me over for the week or so I may be with out a camera, nothing... no cameras available at all... Really? Before I could finish, the one 300 F4 they had, I was told was already out too.
So I said fine, they said If repairs took longer than expected they would try to work something out. Ok, not too big, I got cases of older gear for a reason, back up...
So Off to CRIS camera (pentax's US repair center) call ahead, and 2 day ship everything...
They did a excellent job of CLR my old 300 and had it back to me a week later, but due to pentax's lack of parts the 16-50 and K5 would have to wait, nothing they could do, its Japan they said...
Needless to say it took almost a month to get the K5 back, a little less for the lens
All this was the final straw, after a week I dropped $$$$$$$$$$$ on a Nikon D3 and various lenses, I enjoy the ease of use the D3 has and sim high ISO like the K5 but the weight of the nikon's is killer. I love my K5's and other bodies, great, fast, small, light... the D3 is faster in most aspects but at the cost of about another pound and 1/2 the batter life my K5 with battery grip. NPS (nikon pro service) is much better than PPS as they actually have equipment to loan, and their support is second to none IMHO)
Overall I still love my K-mounts and still use the K5 for golf (its like a pee-shooter next to a loud shotgun of the D3) and for my art repro biz... Its higher rez and having already gotten the kinks of color management keep it in that place) I still pack the K5 and lenses for travel and my car-camera when I am supposed to be off, but the Nikons are my main guns now for sports and news-coverage (though I really miss the video function of the k5 and bring it with me just for that sometimes.
Overall I am like another pentaxian, "duplo" or if your like me you know him as Thomas from Denmark/Greenland hes a great guy and great photographer and our last trip together photographing Arches National Park with our K7's back in 2009 was possibly my best photo trip ever and resulted in AWESOME photos. He too runs a Nikon for work and a Pentax for play.
but alas I will be soon supporting the site here and selling a few things (sorry not the 300mm) but some things I just dont need and have to part with to pay for stuff so keep an eye out over there
thanks again folks
Hoping to meet up with some of you again soon!
-B
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-15-2011, 08:06 PM
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About to ship it out... again, I get almost no MF control from the ring, but AF seams to be ok, not great/new, but ok
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
09-15-2011, 08:00 PM
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Now up to over 60K... Oddly have been having more freezes and only when the camera is in AF-C with 5-point auto selected and it freezes when it sticks on the right focus point. Really odd, has happened to me 3 times now in the last month (granted I have added about 12k in that time to it but just odd to repeat itsself so exactly)
Also just got a second k5 and put the K7 on back up duty with over 101K on it
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-15-2011, 07:56 PM
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Well I have now put the K7 on the back burner after over 101000 frames (still works fine) just got a second K5 as I was finding a larger and larger gap between the 2 bodies esp in Noise shooting night games and my current job has me doing 2-3 night games a week for the season so I upgraded to a second K5...
I still plan to use the K7 as a car-camera (in a bag with a small kit for days im officially off but as you may know a photojournalist is never really off...
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Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
09-10-2011, 10:47 PM
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Ok all, Official Update:
Due to lack of interest with FIRM commitments (though in the past everyone up north has said "come up north and I'll come") This is now OFFICIALLY Oct 29th after the ending of the Photoshow and will be a social outing only.
I will gladly guide you around a bit, but its social oriented only and will be mid-Manhattan only.
If you want a t-shirt made for the occasion they will be $20-25/ec and must be paid in advance, must have 5 commit.
No fee and no Sponsor swag, sorry its now a social only event, though I may have something left over from the others to raffle off :)
Dinner and Drinks are Dutch.
RAIN OR SHINE
Events will be as follows:
5:30pm (show ends at 4)
Meet around the statue of the buss-driver outside the bus terminal (625 8th Avenue between 40th and 41st st. Its about a 15min walk from the Javitts ctr where the show is).
5:45pm
Walk North to McGee's Pub (240 West 55th Street) about 30min walk if your taking in the sights and photographing along the way
8/8:30pm Head out of the pub to sober up :)
8:30pm
Walk to times sq. area to browse and photograph
9:30/10pm
I stop leading the group so I can drive back to Baltimore
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Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
07-25-2011, 10:57 PM
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Due to current participation/lack of, Currently we are now looking at the end of October, after the Photo Expo. Sorry folks, I have to have 5 or I can't run it and the sponsors dont like hearing anything less than 10 in reality. (Kingston has signed back on, Pentax May be interested this time and Lenspen)
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Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
07-19-2011, 06:30 PM
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Other option on time is to hold this in the Fall
October, around the time of the PDN Photo East Expo, Say do it the Sunday after the expo, (Sat Oct 29=expo day, Sunday Oct 30th = workshop day) Or Christmas time, but this would have to be the last weekend in november or 1st in Dec ONLY
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Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
07-19-2011, 06:40 AM
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I need to get 5 FIRM commitments for Aug 27th before I book hotel and Restaurant ASAP
thanks
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Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
07-11-2011, 08:55 PM
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Looking like 8/27 may be the date |
Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
07-10-2011, 10:24 PM
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Looking at Saturday Aud 20th or Aug 27th, Whos in. I need a Min of 5 FIRM and Paid to make this a full go, After getting burned I cannot afford the "at-cost" price I ask if we dont have a min of 5, Pref 8.
Other Options are 2nd Weekend in Sept, Sept 10th
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Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
05-11-2011, 10:49 AM
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Mike, Your Moderatorship should be stripped for such unloyality :) lol
I understand.
thanks for your help on the last one
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
04-17-2011, 12:33 PM
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look at the original post date....... 1.03 wasn't even out yet
However its now up to sim specs as your findings with all the latest firmware (I upgrade usually a week or so after it has come out BTW)
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
04-13-2011, 03:12 PM
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Its like a PC Crash, Whole system freezes up, must take out battery to reset. Nothing really lost other than some time but I have experenced this with every camera I have had in long-term service at one point in time or another. Its nothing serious, now some trools may b*tch and Complain about it if it happens more than once but serisously, Im using these bodies to the extreme. Heck I have seen Nikon D3's freeze for a sec or 2 and require a battery removial. Its something that happens to all electronic equipment at sometime or another.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
04-11-2011, 08:19 PM
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Dont worry, if yuor making good photos/art thats all that counts. I have a high shutter count because I work for newspapers shooting upwards of 15+ assignments a week
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
04-11-2011, 08:18 PM
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I would love a Silver 31mm Limited :)
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-11-2011, 08:16 PM
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With the K5 I shoot alot more in Jpg as its alot better in WB etc. I shoot the K7 in Jpg when shooting outdoors/sports
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Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
04-11-2011, 08:09 PM
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Thanks Mike!
And Mel, maybe you should work, remember the last time you stayed in the city ? LOL (sorry that really wasnt funny) Lodging... Need location/place ideas in the $200 or less/night price range |
Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
04-11-2011, 07:50 PM
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Thanks to everyone again for a great time, Now for the next one... 4th Annual gathering will be in NYC sometime in late July to August.
Announced INFO HERE |
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-11-2011, 06:50 AM
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The same thing we do every night pinky... try to take over the world, Oh sorry... Send it back again for replace/repair. I have had a full replacement lens and the rest they have striped out the guts and fixed, depending on time frame I have had to pay $0-$300 for repairs
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Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
04-11-2011, 06:46 AM
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I was thinking the same Dave, I was looking at the china-town area along with the brooklin-bridge and maybe on the long Is. side to a bit shooting back onto the city than head uptown for dinner and night-shooting at times sq.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-11-2011, 06:44 AM
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I shoot for newspapers, Mags and the occasional wedding etc. Its a fulltime gig really. The largest problem is digital storage, I have a Drobo that I have upgraded all the disks now at least once to larger ones and have an additional allotment of other HDD with older stuff on them
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Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
04-10-2011, 09:05 PM
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Not a true photo op, but that Backpacker "get out" tour that Pentax is sponsoring is stopping buy the area:
REI - Thursday, June 16, 2011
7pm
1701 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-10-2011, 09:02 PM
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*ist-D 120K+ (Almost retired)
K10(s) about 60-80K/ec (Used for remote/rental cameras only now)
K20 70K+ (Backup/trunk-camera)
K7 almost 90K (Main 2)
K5 over 30K (Main camera)
(I do this for a living BTW)
:D
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Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
04-10-2011, 08:55 PM
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This is now OFFICIALLY Sat Oct 29th After the ending of the Photoshow and will be a social outing only.
I will gladly guide you around a bit, but its social oriented only and will be mid-Manhattan only.
If you want a t-shirt made for the occasion they will be $20-25/ec and must be paid in advance, must have 5 commit.
No fee and no Sponsor swag, sorry its now a social only event, though I may have something left over from the others to raffle off :)
Dinner and Drinks are Dutch.
RAIN OR SHINE
Events will be as follows:
5:30pm (show ends at 4)
Meet around the statue of the buss-driver outside the bus terminal (625 8th Avenue between 40th and 41st st. Its about a 15min walk from the Javitts ctr where the show is).
5:45pm
Walk North to McGee's Pub (240 West 55th Street) about 30min walk if your taking in the sights and photographing along the way
8/8:30pm Head out of the pub to sober up :)
8:30pm
Walk to times sq. area to browse and photograph
9:30/10pm
I stop leading the group so I can drive back to Baltimore
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]4th Annual gathering will be in NYC sometime in late July to August.
This will be a LONGGGGGGG day with a lot of walking, subway riding and tones of shutter clicks. General game plan will be sunrise, breakfast/official start, street shooting etc. sunset will probably not be officially shot though I am thinking of hitting the empire-state for that, Dinner at my favorite NYC Irish Bar and night-shooting in Times Sq area. Sunday all will be welcome to go to one of the 2 NYC super-photo-vendors, B&H and Adorama for geek and wish time
Est Cost between $75-$100
(gets you dinner, pro support, cool swag, t-shirt and maybe more)
Lodging TBA and will be at your own cost, but thinking we should determine 1 hotel (I am open to Ideas)
----------------------------------------- Update: Potential Date of Aug 27th
I need to get 5 FIRM commitments for Aug 27th before I book hotel and Restaurant ASAP
thanks
----------------------------------------- General Timeline: (We may/can do this all on a Sunday instead of Saturday) Saturday
Sunrise (Informal)
9am Official Start in Lower Manhattan
12noon Brooklyn Bridge and area around it
3pm start heading north/break
6pm Dinner @ McGees Pub 240 West 55 Street (meal and one drink included with cost of gathering)
8pm Head to Times Square for Night-Photography
10pm Farewells
(Optional: Empire State Building? Day or Night??)
Sunday
10am? Informal gatherings @ B&H and/or Adorama photo stores
--------------------------------- Links to previous gatherings: 3rd 2nd 1st Please note this first post will be edited with information as it comes about so always check this first for the official info |