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Forum: Pentax DSLR and Camera Articles
01-24-2013, 12:22 PM
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It appears that everything works smoothly. I cannot compare the grip to any other makers or to the original Pentax unit but the dials work both ways properly with the exception of all grips dials that can become "stuck" between 2 indents preventing the camera dials from working. It appears to be a software issue opposed to a hardware issue. Pentax grips have this issue as well. A few minutes practicing seems to solve that by feel alone. No, I do not have any connection to any ebay seller other than myself. I just am on a limited budget as this Pentax system is a second one after my Sony system I acquired a few years back. I only provided the ebay link to ease comparisons to other sellers. I find ebay seller pages not well documented in general. From a previous posting on this forum, it appears there are 2 different qualities for 3rd party grips. One cheaper and less expensive than the other. Without a clear cut description or review I took a guess buying this one and so far it has been working well.
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
01-18-2013, 01:12 PM
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So impressed with it's simplicity! The DA* lens is amazing-ly light for some reason.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
01-18-2013, 08:14 AM
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In the competitive world of camera companies, it would appear, the company that delivers the brightest, biggest or whatever feature first wins.
Maybe it's time to deliver on something different. Why not look at the complete digital photography workflow to lead you into the biggest thing(s)?
Maybe a "Lytro" style sensor capable of capturing the entire depth of field at sharp levels. The sensor resolution becomes less of an issue as photos could be completely changed depending on the requirement of the moment and the post photo work would be through a Pentax approved or designed importing tool (like Adobe DNG Converter/Lightroom mix) that allows depth to be altered when exporting to a final format for post work. The camera(s) would offer only RAW shooting but the import would be DNG format for regular apps (works like todays importing) or full depth of field adjustment for more flexible alterations later in a new Pentax tool. The software is offered in basic mode for free with every camera sold. The software can be "opened up" with a medium and expert mode with more features and benefits through a simple builtin payment system. The software could connect to major printer services to allow the DOF photos to be printed onto aluminum, metallic stocks to enhance the DOF qualities. The consumer market, pro-sumer market and professional market would get exclusive access to the DOF features in varying degrees and the family of Pentax cameras now become more attractive to their existing client-base. The Pro-DSLR purchaser gets full access to all features, the compact to basic + features and the compact user to basic features only.
Exports to Pentax's online showcase (called DEEP) is free to all registered users of DOF cameras. The abilities to manipulate customers photographs using only a web browser, opens up and ties to 3-D, depth motion photos are linked directly to YouTube's services. Pros can push their works through extra DEEP services that publish amazing online galleries that allow photos to be opened up to paying clients and photographers are in control of the ability to alter their works based on clients needs. All copyright info/EXIFs are deeply embedded and non-removable naturally.
So imagine a semi-pro using a 24 megapixel imaginary K-9S DSLR with DOF features. The pro-sumer compact would offer the same DOF sensor (slightly dumbed down) for extreme portability. Same data format, same basic set of benefits, same family of equipment, same software tools used. The consumer pocketable version would have a smaller DOF sensor that opens the door to new clients or for existing clients with a need for extreme portability. The entire line emphasizes not only the capture phases of photography but the more fun side of post shooting. One photo with infinite possibilities. One photo that gives consumers and professionals alike the ability to manipulate shots forever after.
Digital technology opened up photography to more people worldwide than ever before in the history of film. Its conveniences are proven. The problems is that it only emulates an existing dead medium of film (apologises to film shooters / I am too). There seems to be static and motion camps and they differ so much. The moving picture/ DOF photo would literarily bring static photos to life easy but offers so much more when you look at the possibilities. We only need to let go of old standards to learn and play again. Your great grandfather saw the first photos produce, your grandfather saw the introduction of consumer accessible photography, your father saw consumer photography overtake professional photography, you see digital photography from all levels of cameras to cell phones and your child sees just captures of your life in constant motion. The static photo seems to antiquated now….
(living in my old fantasy world ;-) )
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
01-18-2013, 05:59 AM
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Entering for NR software giveaway! Yahoo Pentax Forums. Making games for adults more fun...:eek::eek::eek:
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Forum: Pentax DSLR and Camera Articles
01-17-2013, 05:55 AM
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Forgot to mention that the manual claims "buttons, body joints, and retractable parts are dust-proof and water-resistant."
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
01-17-2013, 05:41 AM
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Matte olive green for me please!
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Forum: Pentax DSLR and Camera Articles
01-16-2013, 02:39 PM
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Hello Pentaxians,
Having recently succumbed to the Pentax fever here on the forum, my used K-7 finally arrived from Taiwan (eBay), a marvellous 16-45mm SMC Pentax Zoom, 18-55mm WR (new) kit lens for travelling but I am always frustrated by not having the ability to shoot all day without the hassle of extra batteries, chargers, car chargers and so on when travelling. My camera bag seems to warrant full checking every time and the more I bring the more I seem to have to demonstrate , holding everyone up at security checking. So with my previous Sony A33, I found a third party battery grip that allows my little Sony to hold 3 batteries at a time (although each barely squeezes out 300 shots realistically at a time). It was very plastic'icky' construction and not terribly well made. As the camera was never designed for a grip, they came up with a concoction of cables to wire the grip to the camera's A/C jack instead. It worked well enough but in my earlier posts keep away from humidity or water of any sort. My last trip to Barbados was a photographer's joy but the grip dies in use with salt spray/humidity killing it off.
So today with my Pentax K-7 in hand I started my search for a clone grip for the K-7. eBay had literally hundreds to choose from but they seemed to fall into really cheap to decently built but higher costs. I decided to try the higher cost unit and today it arrived and I ran it through my personal testing. Here are the photos unboxing and my humble opinions with the shots :D.
(I apologise in advance for not knowing how to embed the photos properly with the text)
IMG-6578.jpg - The shipping box was sturdy, recyclable and no usual language errors, no damage shipping halfway across the world! - My rating 4 out of 5 stars
IMG-6581.jpg - The battery cartridges are solid and well made for AA and the rechargeable Pentax lithium ones. The recharge cartridge has the same SD card slot as the Pentax unit and I had no issues snapping a card in.
IMG-6584.jpg - Inside the battery grip. Clean contacts, no humidity damage and cartridges cleanly slide into place with a nice click sound. No jamming after many attempts.
IMG-6588.jpg - Tested all the buttons and dials and they function well and promised online. All are solid engagements, none were mushy feeling.
IMG-6591.jpg - As I only have one battery so far (awaiting 3 more to be delivered), I figured the camera would not work if the only battery was in the battery grip opposed to the camera. It worked perfectly, with nary a peep or complaint.
I cannot believe how wonderful the camera with grip feels. It is as if the grip is a perfect mate to the camera. Like a long lost love reunited again. The grip's feel is solid, well covered with a similar textured finish (not perfect but close) and I look forward to giving it a decent workout on vacation. They claim it matched Pentax unit by being dust proof and moisture resistant (I will certainly test this out on vacation). And all for $42.75 CAN dollars compared to the over $250 for the original. Yes I may be disappointed with the unit after a long test but I will drop the forum a line after my vacation is over. (Purchased on ebay: Battery grip pack for Pentax K-7 K7 DSLR D-BG4 Camera | eBay)
Regards
Chris Fugle:D
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
01-11-2013, 06:23 PM
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Bang on Jim!
VLC Player for Mac and Perian (discontinued but working 10.8) are excellent codecs/players for mac users.
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
01-09-2013, 05:27 PM
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After 2 weeks patiently waiting my K-7 arrived to Canada from Taiwan! Everything seems to be in order and tomorrow morning it will go for a test run to ensure all is well.
With 25,000 shutter actuations, the body is clean the sensor appears perfect and a 18-55mm WR kit lens I can finally go into the wilderness without worry.
My loved A33 choked in high humidity, cold weather the battery meter literally shrunk before my eyes and the kit lens jumped and skipped so using it for any video was awful.
I cannot believe the heft and solidity of the K-7. I bought it based on many reviews (and knowing it's shortcomings), and the extra weight of the steel body frame and magnesium body shell may mean I can hold longer shutter speeds as the A33 was wonderfull/too light. All tiny movements were bad shots in the end.
I have the Pentax 16-45mm zoom coming in a few days and I really look forward to the day I can proudly call myself a Pentaxian!
Loving this forum.
Chris
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
01-06-2013, 11:37 AM
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As a mac user also, some macs are more sensitive to the sd card casings than others. Any gentle movement of the card in it's built-in slot, the OSX will think you have ejected the card forcibly and your will receive the generic error dismount notice. A good quality card reader makes a huge difference to the fit insertion/removal of sd cards. If the card reader lights up on card insertion then all the better. The issue is that the size tolerances are so minute that one card batch can be different from another in the same make/model. CF cards did not have such issues due to their larger sizes and grooved insertion tracks that SD cards do not have.
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
01-01-2013, 11:11 AM
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Je suis un vrai anglaphone au Québec, mais je comprends un peu le français. Je parle mieux que je vous écris. Merci pour lLa bienvenus. Vous devez me faire savoir où il ya des magasins de matériel photo décent à Montréal / Laval car il n'y a rien dans les Laurentides. Merci Chris
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
12-31-2012, 11:26 AM
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Hi.
My name is Chris Fugle and currently I am in the mountainous Laurentians in Quebec.
I may be the only nuthead to buy a Pentax because of this thread. Currently I have a small refreshed Sony A33 system with a Tamron 90mm macro, Sony 30mm macro, beer-can 70-300mm cheap Sony and a kit lens along with various accessories for macro flash work.
As much as I love my A33 for it's blazing speed and fast AF it has it's limitations. I would love to upgrade to an A77 but the cost are out of my reach right now.
I had one of those flashbacks as a child (the older I get the more frequent these become) of my kind neighbour who worked for Pentax Canada back in the 60-80's. He swore to me that when I was ready he would take me on a tour of their HQ here in Canada (Mississauga I believe) and he let me use his Pentax LX with a removable pentaprism. It was so heavy/solid and I took a few rolls of photos with it. He offered me a great deal on a new camera (probably cost for him) but my father said it was still too much and I would need to live with my Agfamatic rangefinder. I loved pentax and drooled over the LX and the ME at the time.
Because this flashback was so thorough, I started to Google Pentax models from my childhood for fun and came across this forum/community.
The level of information, quality of communication and passion moved me. I read all the reviews of the K10-/20 models are started to actively search eBay for a good deal.
Today I completely an acquisition of a used K-7, 18-55mm WR kit lens which hopefully will arrive before my vacation late Jan to Barbados, as well as the grip and spare batteries.
My A33 has serious issues in the humid regions of the island where Barbados' small dense jungle exists. My passion for floral macro photography was severely limited as my system would just stop functioning until it "dried out" overnight.
We are not talking fog,rain or sleet here…just high humidity. If the K-7 arrives in time I will be grateful for the protection the better body offers. I am also excited for 2 command e-dials and mostly for the Hyper-program/Sensitivity function which does not have an equivalent on my Sony. How many times have I wanted to capture deep closeup of an insect or flower but lost the opportunity for having to mess around with menus and buttons while looking at a LCD screen for confirmation?
So here I am,excited to get and play with the new starter system. Looking for great advice on new macro lenses to consider.
Thanks for the hearty welcome!
Chris
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