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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
05-05-2013, 11:18 AM
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Been photographing a lot of live music recently. Il Cattivo's front man from Denver Colorado.
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
12-30-2012, 10:21 AM
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I like the K-30 and it feels good in-hand but the couple of problems I have with it are as follows:
1) The upper-right corner thumb rest doesn't need to be as sharply pronounced. It makes that corner of the camera more prone to hang-ups in a variety of situations
2) Bottom edge is a little too sharp, for my personal tastes. It feels solid and easily handled, but again, some times a bit too much is noticeable in a variety of ways
3) The pop up flash housing doesn't need to be as forward and pronounced. Seems to be an added amount of material that could be refined a bit more in overall - hand-to-camera feel.
4) I like the new body texture on the K30, but honestly, Pentax nailed it with the K-5 & K-7. That particular finish feels very durable and has excellent traction, and the sense of the body being metal alloy extends right through the finish to the hand. It's a very satisfactory grip feel and provides a much different confidence in-hand. The squared and angled edges of the K-5, perhaps slightly larger, maybe closer to the K10D size, would be simply dreamy.
The battery grip for the K-5 is what I would consider near-perfect. The thumb rest is nothing short of an ergonomic masterpiece. The button feel, however, needs a bit more indication for the thumb. The relatively flat nature of the surrounding areas makes it difficult at times to get the sense of what button you might actually be trying to use and can require an actual glance to be sure. That can be frustrating but could also be easily remedied to just getting used to the camera feel over time. But, even still, a more pronounced design, perhaps with small braille-type 'nubs' would help and may lend itself to a shorter adjustment time for such things.
I only just recently made the switch to Pentax after years of using Canon, which felt very clunky and, at times, overly large with only 'just-enough' ergonomic design to be utilitarian. The Pentax ergonomics was one of the big factors in my decision, with the obvious aside involving the superior innerds of the thing. Nikon feels good in-hand, and they hit a lot of key points with fit/function, but I'm going to have to kiss Pentax's butt on this one and say that they, by far, are the best form factor designers I've seen yet, in my amateur opinion.
For a Full Frame Pentax, the size of the K10D, which I've previously owned - with battery grip (keep in mind, I've never held a K20 but I would imagine that it feels virtually the same with minor advancements in design) would be my recommendation for a design basis. Less rounded features and more like the K-5/7 and I think you would have a camera that, by feel alone, would set itself apart even further in excellence by design. I'm going to go out on a limb and ask what people would think of moving the aperture preview to a dedicated button on the side of the shutter compartment. On Nikon bodies, the aperture preview button is a perfect default location for one of two fingers that fall comfortably in to that position at all times. Not that I don't like it being on the power toggle on Pentax, but I think that location can be distracting at times and may put unwanted stress and wear on the main power switch over extended time. Any way, open to hearing thoughts on that if any one has experience with Nikon bodies. Canon puts it on the left side of the shutter compartment which has never seemed to be the exact right spot for it to be, although it does fall right under your thumb when holding the camera in a horizontal position. It works, but it's a very forgetful spot for it to be. Nikon's is mint, Pentax's is good but I can only wish for that to be different.
http://photofan.jp/camera/html/uploads/img499e4baf6ba67.jpg
I need more coffee.
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
12-30-2012, 08:18 AM
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Oops, I voted for FF Mirrorless. Useless, IMO.
I totally meant to hit FF DSLR.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
12-23-2012, 06:15 AM
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Thanks for your input, but I need to start a new thread and maybe some one who could understand what I'm explaining can help. This has nothing to do with working in AF mode, choosing AF points, or any thing along those lines.
The circle of buttons locks up some times and doesn't work. They won't respond to any change when they were working just fine seconds before. Simple. Doesn't have any thing to do with AF piont selection, AF points not working, any of those symptoms.
Wondering if any one else had the SAME problem. It's sounding like you're attempting to apply a suggestion problem to this situation that I'm not experiencing. The Selection buttons just stop working and have 3 different times, requires camera reboot with lens off.
Thanks for reading and understanding my problem.
And, no, Multi point AF does not work (you can not select points with manual lenses on the K-5, re-read owner's manual) with K-mount manual focus lenses on, it defaults to center point meter averaging, for how I have it set up to meter.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
12-22-2012, 04:40 PM
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Correct, that's what I read in the manual. doesn't sound like that's my problem. Normally, one should be able to review an image, click out of review and then be able to change white balance, color medium/mode, change the start timer, etc - the issue I'm experiencing is that the buttons simply don't work. I usually shoot manual focus even with AF lenses, so the AF point selection feature is turned off in that mode when the AF switch on the side of the bayonet is off.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
12-22-2012, 03:26 PM
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Yes, that's exactly where it's set. You've seen this, too? Known issue?
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
12-22-2012, 12:18 PM
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It's happened 3 different times with a couple of different lenses being used. The first was the DA 18-55mm kit lens, the other lens was my brand new sigma 10-20.
Seems to occur very randomly where the selection/multi-directional buttons on the back of the camera fail to respond to being pressed. Every thing else works fine.
To fix, it requires shutting down the camera, removing the lens, start camera with lens off - check button function, replace lens, restart camera - works properly.
No idea what causes it, there are no error messages, no particular function combinations, etc. Mystery failure.
*Not to toot my own horn here, but I am certified from 4 different computer companies for internal diagnosis and repair of computers (not those mail-in pay-for degree courses, btw ;) - so I've only been able to reproduce the situation very randomly despite trying to get it to repeat the failure. It happens ever so randomly ...
I usually notice that it's happened after a review of an image, and going to change a setting like color mode or white balance, at which point I realize the buttons are no longer working.
Any one else experience this before with their Pentax DSLR?
Thanks,
Mark
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-05-2012, 02:28 PM
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By the way, who ever said they could count on one hand how many brick and mortar stores are left in the country has definitely not taken the time to research his answer. There are 3 shops within 30 miles of the store I work at, alone. That leaves 7 fingers and 49 more states to count. *and* Ritz just re-opened a few dozen stores under the same name but different ownership.
It affects every one, not just Big & Huge.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-04-2012, 05:14 PM
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I'm all in for lesser expensive lenses and camera bodies but I come from the Canon school so things already seem far less in price than what they do from the big C. I do like that IS/VR/OS is not in Pentax lenses which really seams to affect the bottom line. Personally, I've been shooting old primes and a cheap Quantaray zoom since I picked up my K-5 and I've been perfectly happy. When the time comes to finally invest in some Pentax lenses, I'll be looking for the main 3-4 options like a super wide, a normal wide zoom, telephoto and possible a modern silent focus 30/40/50. I've been doing as much research as possible and reading reviews on every thing and by all accounts, Pentax lenses seem to be spot on for sharpness from what every one says.
I think as long as cost increases are reflective of new innovations and quality improvements, then prices should be subject to change. If Legacy builds are the norm (say lens designs older than 4-5 years), then prices should reflect their age and era of design.
Canon just went through a HUGE policy reform for dealerships in that they are finally policing MAP policy for places like Big & Huge where they had been blatantly ignoring pricing scheduling which was literally killing the Mom & Pop shops across the country. Some have grumbled endlessly over this and have pointed fingers in every direction for cause ... not realizing that Canon had just intentionally been looking the other way for years on the subject.
If Pentax felt they needed to up prices to stay in line with current market value, then they should make a public announcement in regard. After Ricoh had purchased Pentax, I assume that's when this price increase actually took place, it was most likely done to try and ensure some sort of future financial success for Pentax. Has it backfired? Possibly. Did they write off the hard-core Pentaxian that won't even look at the lenses because of price? Again, possibly. But who's to say this wasn't a necessary move for them to make?
I just think, like I said, if you're going to continue to market lens designs that are years-old, then prices should match accordingly. There's no need for the price on a 4 year old lens to shoot back up to what it would have cost at release. You lose customer faith and support. A clear negative reaction. That's just simple business 101.
I'm all in for Pentax. Again, I just went and traded all of my Canon digital in for Pentax gear and I've never been happier. I look forward to throwing a Pentax Limited or DA Prime on at some point, but I, too, will always look for the best price and deal when it comes time to do this. Perhaps the target of the increase wasn't even directed at its current customer base? Perhaps Ricoh had bigger plans for the upstart of owning Pentax. I have no crystal ball to peer in to but one would hope they see the affect of the increase and re-structure accordingly.
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
11-24-2012, 01:54 PM
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Hello, fairly new here, myself. Welcome!
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
11-16-2012, 07:35 AM
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Doing well, how about yourself? New here, myself.
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
11-14-2012, 07:58 AM
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I can completely relate to that lens buying philosophy. I've had such good luck with old manual primes on Canon cameras. You know, the ones you can pick up for $20-30 and take images that are so sharp it convinces you that there is no better alternative for the investment.
I have never modified a lens to fit a bayonet but wouldn't be opposed to it if I knew all the 'ins and outs' the design and felt ultimately comfortable with the fact that I could ruin the lens in the process. Just so psyched that all lenses for K mount will work. I have what I consider a nice introductory complete set of options within a week of having switched and all less that about $100 in additional lenses to augment the 18-55 kit lens.
Thanks for the warm welcome, too, guys. Good to know there are some supportive, serious enthusiasts here. - Mark
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
11-13-2012, 03:59 PM
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Thanks, all. The comments are much appreciated. Hopefully will be able to keep my standards high here!
As for the Quantaray lens, indeed, it is Sigma just re-branded for US sale by Ritz. It's not the sharpest tool in the shed but for wide open landscape work, it seems to do the job.
I do have access to a couple of dremels, why do you ask? Are we up to no good?!?
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
11-13-2012, 12:56 PM
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Recently switched to Pentax - loving the decision to have done so. Shot Canon for years. I'm not a pro, nor do I strive to be (enough people already) I simply make photos. - I work at a camera shop and have access to a great deal of used gear so I tend to get my hands on things I wouldn't normally even consider.
I do mainly Astrophotography with Modified Canon cameras. Within the last couple of years, really branched out to landscape and scenery. Pentax seems to fit just about every aspect, known or unknown, of my needs. I feel like I finally have a tool that will allow me to create what I envision. Looking forward to building up a lens collection and pushing the K-5 as far as I can.
The accompanying shot was from this past Sunday.
Pentax K-5 with Quantaray 24mm f/.2.8
Tiffen 870nm Infrared Filter - 67mm
1 x 30s ISO400 @ f/5.6
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