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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
06-07-2015, 02:34 PM
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I stand by what I said "looks should be irrelevent unless you are wearing it as jewelry": and that applies to speakers and cars and homes as well as cameras. The key phrase is "should be". However, as you say, people are human and if an object looks good to them their reaction to it is much more positive to it. The problems start when (too much) emphasis is put on looks and not on functionality and, in the case of cameras, ease of use, reliability, how comfortable it feels to the user.
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
06-07-2015, 02:01 PM
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Given the current prices of both cameras (in the UK at least) I do not think that holds true now, if it ever did.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
06-07-2015, 04:03 AM
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At current prices the K50 is sanity, the K30 is vanity!
Only good reason for spending a lot more on the K30 is if you personally find it handles a great deal better. The K50 however has more features. Looks should be irrelevant unless you are wearing it as jewelry.....perish the thought!!!!!
If really you do have that little extra burning a hole in your pocket why not look at the K-S2. The way the prices are these days it is not really that much more expensive than the K30. Its handling however is a little different, having a slightly smaller grip, and is not to every current Pentax owners taste. It is however excellent value for money and those who own one really seem to like it. Alternativly put it (the little extra) aside for more glass later in the year.
The K3(ii) is a very different camera from all of the above. It is much more demanding on technique and requires good prime or semi-pro zoom lenses to make the most out of it. I would advise against it unles you are seriously into wildlife or sports photography, in which case its increased relsolution could be a cheaper option than a lens with a longer focal length; in the short to mid-term at any rate. It also appears to have slightly better auto focus (not a Pentax strength) than the K30 or K50. On the negative, for a new Pentax owner, the paper manual in the box ought to be much bigger; but a least it has one. Also it has a built in GPS instead of a small (emergency?) flash, which is not to everyones taste. Its is however a good camera.
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
11-22-2014, 08:21 AM
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I agree with the above.
At a recent meeting of my Photographic Society we had an "Amateur" Photoshop Expert as a speaker. He showed some excellent pictures but, from his comments, one gained the impression that the idea of taking a picture which would require little or no manipulation (as opposed to simple and basic tidying and exposure modification as above) was foreign to him. This positiveness of view may have been slightly coloured by the fact that he had created a number of DVD's on Photoshop Techniques available to buy, but I did however leave the meeting thinking that the DVD's were the egg and not the chicken!
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Forum: Pentax K-S1 & K-S2
10-23-2014, 08:26 AM
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
10-22-2014, 09:26 AM
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I have replaced the straps on nearly all my cameras, Pentax or otherwise. I have gone for comfort and practicality to add enjoyment to my photography. It also makes the cameras look more like picture taking tools rather than expensive items of photographic jewellry. Use the K3 for what is meant to be.....a camera!. Choose the most useful strap for your style of photography. It does not matter who makes it as long as it works for you. Who knows you might even find your ideal strap is (a used) one made by Canon or Nikon (never mind the purists!) Some good suggestions for OEM's products have however been made in previous posts to this thread.
By the way the original straps that came with my cameras are now in cold storage along with boxes in the event of trading, in the hope of getting a better price. I agree with other forum member who has already suggested that you do that as well.
Enjoy your K3 and do not forget to post some pictures once you have got a vague idea as to what all its bells and whistles do.
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
10-14-2014, 02:52 AM
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Why not try joining your local photographic society. If it is good one you will get acess to plenty of free practical advice which is camera indpendent. Even Nikon and Canon owners know a thing or two about taking great pictures....they keep winning competions in my Club! Grrrr! For specific model related help you might be a liitle less lucky as the majority of members of the society are unlikely to be familiar with Pentax specifics; for that this forum can be a good source.
As a bonus you will also have a real opportunity of making new friends and teaming up with others in the same position or have the same photographic interests as yourself. In addition there can plenty of practical advice on improving your pictures. Photographic Societies are however not always for everybody. Although I have lasted nearly 40 years in mine, others feel the need to leave after only a season or two.
If you think you would like to show your pictures outside your immediate family and friends in the future, as well as photographic societies and threads in the K50 Forum, there are, ther are number of other forums / special interest groups availabable online.
Best of luck and good picture taking. You have chosen a great camera....I know, I have recently bought one myself.
Lochness
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Forum: Pentax K-S1 & K-S2
10-05-2014, 09:01 AM
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The Japanese link seems to suggest it could be done in /Setup Menus 3 / Indicator Lamps / Other Indicator Lamps / Setting. As the Manual however only displays "High" it would have to be actually tried out for conclusive proof. Your reply does however give some hope to those of us who prefer discretion over display. Thankyou for it.
By the way, when I put the Japanese Screen through my translator to English its automatic language detection routine decided the original was in Haitian Creole!
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Forum: Pentax K-S1 & K-S2
10-05-2014, 03:26 AM
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There are some entries for the Grip Lamps in the Operating Manual PDF File.
Page 9 (Page 11 in the PDF file) Gives some information.
In the Settings Menu S3 on Page 24 (Page 26 of the PDF File) there is an entry for Indicator Lamps. Only the default settings are shown. It is possible that in the "Other Indicator Lamps" setting (default "High" there is something that might do it.
In the Custom Settings Menus on Pages 25/26 (Pages 27/28 of the PDF File) and the Main Menu on Pages 19/21 (Pages 21/23 of the PDF File) there appears to be nothing of relevance.
There are one or two other references relating to specific functions elsewhere in the Manual, but again none that I have found so far appear to be of relevance. It looks as if the Grip Lamps cannot be OFF when the camera is First Switched ON in Exposure Mode. They only go OFF for some selected Exposure Settings and when the camera is in Display Mode. I could however be wrong and there is something buried somewhere. I think some real handling of the camera is now needed. I have a reasonably friendly store in Glasgow, Scotland which might let me do it at a quiet time. On the other hand it might be better to wait for some serious reviews.
The PDF of the Manual can be found via the K-S1 Downloads Menu under the Ricoh Products Website. The UK address is:-
PENTAX K-S1 - RICOH IMAGING UK LTD. |
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Forum: Pentax K-S1 & K-S2
10-04-2014, 04:55 AM
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I have been told that the Grip Lights can be switched off when not in selftimer mode, faces are detected and such like. A brief look at the manual has so far not been helpful. Can anyone assist.
Nice camera by the way. Would however have liked a grip much more like the K50/K3/ K5 etc.. I also found the near image of the main mode dial on the LCD screen a little disconcerting on first holding the camera. Having the main mode dial on the back of the camera is an original idea which will take some getting used to but the fact that the chosen mode lights up makes it a lot easier to confrim the setting, particularly for those without 100% vision like myself.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-22-2014, 02:51 AM
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I believe Pentax was once quoted as saying that they do not take much notice of Forums. Perhaps you should forward this entry direct to Pentax. It makes a good and serious point as there are a great many photographers out there for whom sport is a real subject interest, either in practise or on their wish list of phptographic skills and kit to aquire.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-21-2014, 05:00 AM
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Have now roughly measured the field size on a 21'' screen and it appears to be c 80mm extra large format. Are you viewing it on a phone?
I wonder what Ricoh/Pentax is really up to now
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-19-2014, 11:49 AM
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I can but hope Adam that, since taking over Pentax that Ricoh UK has taken the innitiative and pointed out their sponsorship of a sporting arena to the Pentax / Ricoh DSLR / CSC / Mirrorless System Camera (MSC) etc. design and development teams in Japan, there again do pigs have wings?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-19-2014, 03:29 AM
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Noticed, literally in passing, in a recent car journey south from the Forth / Clyde Valley in Scotland to Cambridge in the South East(ish) of England (don't ask) the existance of a Ricoh Arena in Coventry in the Midlands of England.
Given that it is used for sporting events is not about time that Pentax / Ricoh gives us a camera that matches Canikon for such things. Perhaps the impending (in 2015 according to the French) Full Frame will oblige.
A link to its website which hopefully will work:- Home | Ricoh Arena |
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-19-2014, 03:07 AM
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The question is purely hypothetical and, with benenfit of hindsight, probably a little unfair at this stage given the newness of the K-S1 and almost certainly lack of handling opportunities for most (including myself). Some interesting comments however. I must now re think my thoughts on touch screens for cameras and ignore the manky (scratched and messy amongst other things) of my unprotected phone screen.
I note in passing that I currently have a K5ll plus a K50 for backup. Currently my favourite walk round outfit is the Kll teamed with a 18-135 lens. I am however now waiting (and saving) for the planned 18-85 lens, which hopefully will be lighter than the 18-135 lens, If purchased it will be teamed with the K50 for family photos and (car boot) unplanned photo opportunities. New camera bodies are much more distant on the horizon.
My immediate real need in the short term is for a new iMac to replace my 8 year old one. I know what I want. All (sic!) I have to do is to persuade the family budget holder over the necessity of its purchase before Christmas (this year).
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-18-2014, 07:58 AM
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The K5ll and KS-1 are similarly priced, at least in the UK. Which would you spend your money on assuming you had the funds and needed (i.e. wanted) to buy a new body in the near future and what would be the reasons for your choice? Or would you just do without and make do with the "house" compact or smart phone while saving up to buy the K3 or its successor (if any) next year?
My own photography and handling preferences points me to the K5ll, despite its heavier weight and lack of an anti-alising filter option and also lack of focus peaking. I also prefer buttons to vulnerable touch screens that get greasy finger prints on them and perhaps more importantly cannot have a hard LCD screen protector to prevent scratches. Resolution is not an issue.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
09-16-2014, 03:18 PM
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-05-2014, 02:17 PM
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Yes, but a lot more sophisticated.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-05-2014, 01:45 PM
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Many thanks to all who have replied so far.
To answer one question, I have in the past not found a piece of software to create Audio Visual Presentations (NOT Videos) which are directly readable on a Windows machine. The conversion process was very time consuming. Running Windows on a Mac has been seriously considered but I would prefer not to do it if possible.
I also believe that tethering software for K5ii is more likely to available on Windows rather than Mac. Recent history suggests that products that run on Apple hardware are not the quickest to be updated for new Ricoh/Pentax cameras. I have also found items of Freeware which I would like to have but are only available for Windows and there has been no Mac equivalent.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-05-2014, 12:06 PM
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I am intending replacing my old 32 bit iMac, which has served well for eight years, with a new 64 bit iMac. My preferred choices are the top of range 21.5 inch or the lower end 27 inch. I would upgrade them both to include a fusion drive and 16 gb memory. The 21.5 inch is cheaper but the 27 inch allows me to upgrade the memory (probably using Crucial Memory) myself at a later date. My main current heavy use is the editing of photographs. I am also hoping to get involved in the creation of Audio Visuals sooner rather than later. I intend keeping the computer for as long as it keeps working or until the next genuine really major hardware upgrade, which ever is the earlier. I note in passing that prior to my iMac, I had a Windows (486 I think) for at least another eight years. I am definitely one of the last big spenders!
Objective advice please and also any other suggestions for usful upgrades at the time of initial purchase.
I have considered going back to Windows for access to a wider range of photographic software and compatibiliy with the PCs being used by the majority of my photographic club members. Laptops for mobile backup are also a lot cheaper too! Family pressures however from the family budget holders sort of preclude this at present.
Thanks in advance, lochness
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
08-31-2014, 12:42 PM
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Why don't we digress for few pages to say why we won't by a KS-1 for a change???
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
08-21-2014, 04:59 AM
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Anyone out there think that the KS-1 could be a replacement for the K50?
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
08-13-2014, 03:57 AM
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What kind of idiots are mel and Tjopompen1968! Pentax make weather resistant cameras and lenses not weather proof and extreme conditions conditions proof. For jet boat ride the only sensible thing was to use a water proof compact or else a weather proof housing, as for steam as opposed to humid conditions I am not sure what the best solution would be. Weather resistance cameras and associated lenses are a good partnership for milder weather conditions or beach use on a slight windy day, for anything else you can take your pictures when owners of other makes put their cameras away but have keep your fingers crossed as at times you may taking too much of a chance.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
07-29-2014, 06:54 AM
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Re some of the above, the only really important thing is that quality and competitively specced K mount cameras are continued to be produced under a brand name that buyers easily recognise and is trusted and, just as importantly knows how to market them. We like PENTAX now, even allowing for its apalling marketing in the past. RICOH may be better longer term bet (I do not know) but firstly they will have make a better Bridge camera for the market as the reviews for the latest offering are so far muted and secondly they will have to resolve the mirror flutter issue in the K3, as well as giving more options on the choice of which card slot to use.
Now can we please get back to a cheese sandwiches / toasties / burgers etc.! Its 2:53 pm here in lovely Ecosse and I have a light meal to start thinking about for guests expected later this afternoon.....ideas please.
P.S. Aren't we doing well in the Commonwealth games, as are all the other home countries, in Glasgow!!!!!
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
06-29-2014, 05:37 AM
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Why not just use Gimp, Pentax Digital Utilities and other free software and say to hell with Apple, Adobe and all the other Megaliths? Yes, using a single standard piece of software for all Camera Manufacurer's Raw files has its merits, but being over dependant on a single massive Manufacturer for any purpose brings its own problems. Just look also at the latest developments with Amazon and smaller British Publishers where its becoming case of not being able to live with them but going bankrupt without them.
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