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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
10-04-2013, 05:26 AM
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Absolutely 'wise' .. for myself I somehow feel I 'need' back up gear .. two cameras two lenses (for each camera) .. I'm of the 'no guts no glory' society, I change lenses while crossing rapids and in pouring rain (yet I have waterproof or weatherproof gear) .. I'm not saying be a FOOL I take every precaution up to and sometimes including not making the switch in lenses .. very often having just ONE camera/lens will help you improve your photographic skills by forcing you to re-think how to get 'THAT' shot with what you have .. If you are married it really pays to put your wife above everything you own .. the amount of anxiety avoided can yield an African safari or a trip to deepest darkest ALASKA!!
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
05-31-2013, 04:35 PM
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I've got a Black one . . The K-30 is AWESOME . . really high photo quality, excellent photos in low light . . Weatherized! . . Though I use the new Pentax 55-300mm
f/4-5.6 (which is not weatherproofed, still my favorite lens) . . I also own the 50-200mm (WR) and the 18-55mm (WR) . . the camera is great though . . so many features. love it.
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
05-31-2013, 04:26 PM
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I have gone through 2 of the Pentax O-ME53 units . . they are nice . . BUT . . the rubber that forms the eyecup is too flimsy and rips very very easily . .
after the second O-ME53 caught a branch and ripped I ordered the Tenpa MEA-P 1.36
Which fits perfectly . . and very pleased both with the quality and fit of the unit . . assembly is easy and if the directions are followed practically fool proof.
The rubber eye cup can be used (or not) the unit also comes with a shred-proof rubber jacket if you don't want to use the eyecup . . the eyecup can be turned
down or pulled out as desired . . This TENPA 1.36 Unit is head-and-shoulders above the Pentax unit a quality item . . the cameras own diopter lever is used
to focus on the focus screen bars (as is done for the stock viewfinder) . .
The quality is great . . I have read several commenters who say that the 'information' that is delivered to the eye piece from the K-30 is "hidden" by
the Tenpa unit . . but I have not found that to be the case at all . . in my opinion the Tenpa is the unit to buy (its a bit more costly than the Pentax but well worth it.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
04-07-2013, 05:15 AM
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Thank you thank you thank you !!!
Thank you Pentaxians for your answers and comments . . both in this thread and in others on
similar subjects . . what have I found/done?:
#1) Learned how to removed the 'focus' screen and to clean it (in the event that a rocket blower is not enough).
#2) Successfully removed 'focusing screen' . . the 'key' to a successful cleaning is NO DUST . . a prepared
as dust free as possible environment (at least a temporary one) . . STATIC free is a MUST.
I found the 'focusing screen' to be 'touchable' it won't break and not all THAT easy to scratch but you know
I handled it like it was an armed explosive device anyway (lol)
Problem Solved.
#3) Recommendations:
Plan lens changes with care, do not change lenses unless it's really necessary,
(for example learn how to get 'closer') to a subject instead of just immediately switching lenses
or learn to shoot 'landscapes' at moderate telephoto.
If you feel a 'need' to point and shoot . . get a point and shoot camera :-))
#4) OK that last one wasn't very helpful I know, sorry about that. I did not have to learn the hard way . . but in spite of
all the input and advice that's available on here I did . . now I know why this is called the 'beginners' forum :-)
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Forum: General Talk
03-18-2013, 03:23 PM
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Put me in for #42 . . I love them all.
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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
02-19-2013, 07:16 PM
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Pentax K-30 . . . have enjoyed it now through many lenses . . bearing in mind that the camera is not weather sealed if one isn't using a weather sealed lens as well (ie; SMC DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR and SMC DA 50-200mm f/4 - 5.6 ED WR) which are 'also' referred to as 'kit' lenses however I feel that both are better lens than the standard 'kit' 18-55 and 50-200.
Of the four my favorite is the 50-200 WR . . Amazing sharpness across the range but the REAL winning feature is near zero aberration !! I mean shots of dark skinny branches against bright sky and NO purple edges to me that takes the prize.
To date the sharpest lens I've been blessed to own for the K-30 is 'old-glass' SMC Pentax-M f/1.7 50mm ASAHI . . manual focus but the focus peaking and viewfinder indicator works. The old 50mm can be had cheap too, got mine for about 25 dollars on E-bay.
Another 'old glass' deal was a Quantaray 100-300mm f/4.5-6.7 LDO . . at less than $25 in superb condition (E-bay). However the 100-300 while fine for fairly serious Telephoto is not blessed with the amazing low distortion of the 50-200 WR Pentax lens . . so I stay away from high contrast shots and if I want 'sharp' I need to get closer. Even so my point is simply don't ignore the 'old' stuff available for super cheap . .
I've had the K-30 underwater (briefly thank God) and it's been banged around and in sub zero cold with wind chill closer to 30 below . . Caution when attempting to change a lens in COLD sub zero (even if it seems calm and sunny) the cold will instantly KILL your K-30 . . if you expose the innards to it. It was a 'quick' switch and thankfully I found that changing the battery and restarting a couple of times and everything is OK . . better to not do it.
K-30 Battery does NOT like cold . . I usually carry three batteries with me for a day long trek, the two spares kept in inside pockets warmed by body heat. Don't get me wrong here, I've found that *even when the battery power indicator is just a red outline* I can get many more photos out of that battery by keeping the 'LCD' shut off and shutting off the camera when not actually using it . . sounds like a given but I like to have my camera READY to shoot as in ON all the time if at all possible. I've never had a problem though or been caught short when carrying two for past 2000 photos. After market batteries are cheap too . . just do your homework as to which ones are the best.
I have a Sony SLT-A57 for backup but in winter and rain only the Pentax will do . . there's a lot I like about the Sony as well but these two cameras are fairly evenly matched in capability and photo quality given equal lenses is close to the same as well . . while I don't expect to purchase another camera for a year or two (one never knows what may inspire or opportunity arise) . . I'm excited to wait and see what these two companies are going to be offering a year or so from now . . . whooo hoooo!
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
02-07-2013, 06:04 AM
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Correction correction correction . . . I had posted this shot as having been made with a SMC DA WR lens . . it was actually made using
my 'OLD' SMC Pentax-M f/1.7 50mm manual focus lens. Handheld was correct as I did not bring tripod on that day . . I got as close to the goldenrod as I could and still get decent focus using aperture of 2.8 . . Sorry about that.
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
02-05-2013, 07:17 AM
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Really enjoy the Pentax K-30,
Even though it is weatherized against cold and wet . . I keep a raincoat on it for the sake of the value
the camera has for me.
This shot was "handheld" as a burst of morning sunshine fell on the eye catching white topping glistening
in the late fall fields . . winter had yet to come on with vengeance.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-06-2013, 06:49 AM
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Hi . . Thanks once again . . I have a K-30 . . and the unlocking (for cleaning) of the viewfinder focus screen is very easy to do . .
and YES that is where I was seeing the dust.
Caution . . 'everything' above focus screen (and below/behind/beside) is incredibly 'sensitive' to DUST . . when attempting to
get the dust out from behind the focus screen or anywhere else for that matter, a VERY static free dust free work area is a MUST.
Another thing . . that little 'handle' which you can grasp (with forceps or similar) goes on the RIGHT as you look at the screen
with the Camera upside down (left side of camera) . . The 'screen' is not fastened in place, once the 'lock' is opened the screen will
fall out easily.
Once you've actually done this (carefully/gingerly/successfully) the operation will be seen as something you can do whenever
needed for yourself.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-06-2013, 06:06 AM
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Hello .
wow that is VERY interesting!! I've been living with "dust in/on viewfinder" for some months now . . and the dust is building up . . now exactly why should a
camera that is advertised as 'weather water/dust resistant" have so easy to get dust 'behind' the view finder focus screen ?? (my fault I'm sure, must be more
careful when changing lenses . . I am 'constantly' in the field no studio work at all)
Thank you for this 'solution(?)' . . going to get my courage up and set up a work place and . . 'try' it.
Thank you . . Happy New Year to all!
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
11-14-2012, 05:21 PM
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Thanks Dave, That was it . . Now I know where the [ [ ] ] is actually printed :-) . . yes a careful but powerful blast or two of the rocket did remove
the most annoying particles (specks) . . but I absolutely agree with you "it's just dust in the viewfinder" not a problem just an annoyance. Thanks again.
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
11-14-2012, 03:27 AM
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Thank you, Patrick
I'm Very glad to find such a place.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
11-13-2012, 03:14 PM
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Camera K-30 . .
Specks of (dust/dirt?) seen when looking through the viewfinder (not LCD).
The 'specks' are not on the lenses or visible in any of my photos (yet) . .
I've changed lenses, Cleaned the viewfinder, run the dust removal system, used a Giottos Rocket blower on
the mirror and the sensor nothing seems to make any difference at all.
What (where) could these specks be? Can I get at them?
Any suggestions appreciated.
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
11-13-2012, 03:09 PM
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Hello Everyone,
Very glad to find this forum. I've only recently purchased a Pentax K-30 and really enjoying it. I also own a Sony SLT-A57 . . I like them both.
I've fallen in love with Nature/outdoor photography . . Woods, Fields, Rivers and such, local game animals and birds. Landscapes tend to include
a sunrise or a sunset.
This Holiday season marks my fourth year of being seriously interested in Digital Photography, have Photoshop CS3 and Lightroom 3.2, post
photos on facebook and Flicker . . interested in learning almost anything photography related. No experience with models or people or movies
so there's a lot of room to grow here.
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