Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
21 Hours Ago
|
|
Oh my, those are nice! What a sweet little lens.
I had dropped it from my "wish list" because I have a DA 20-40mm Limited, but now I have second thoughts.
- Craig
|
Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
2 Days Ago
|
|
Hi, welcome to Pentax Forums.
You might wish to check the sold items here at the Pentax Forums marketplace: Sold Items - PentaxForums.com
There is a Search function, which can help to find specific items.
- Craig
|
Forum: General Photography
2 Days Ago
|
|
Sad news when printing operations are shuttered, especially when you've worked there. Sign of the times, I guess.
Likewise, I prefer the printed page. Online sources offer a glut of information, which usually requires sifting and curating by the reader. Just this morning, I tried to get insight into an exterior stain product -- the manufacturer's technical sheets were useful but I also wanted to read about users' personal experience. The long and deep online rabbit hole (i.e., forums and comments) revealed everything from "it's a great product, just apply two coats" to "apply only one coat" to "the product is cr*p."
I recently received a gift subscription to Popular Mechanics -- a magazine that I grew up with in my teens. It's still pretty good, but issued only six times per year. I wonder how many younger folks read the print edition now. Edit: I just noticed in Popular Mechanics a full-page ad for a kid's book -- "the Big Little Book of Awesome Stuff," containing 300 wild facts, fun projects, and amazing tricks, including "hilarious pranks to pull on your friends." Hopefully it also includes a few slightly-risky activities to encourage (mis)adventure.
- Craig
|
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
4 Days Ago
|
|
I was thinking of a notecard.
- Craig
|
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
5 Days Ago
|
|
@sebberry,
In post 57 above, you indicated that under indoor LED lighting, the lens seemed to AF better with an AF Fine Adjustment of -3 or -4. Could you not set AFFA to plus 4 when outdoors and set it to minus 4 when under LED light?
- Craig
|
Forum: General Talk
6 Days Ago
|
|
I recognize that Canadian site.
Perhaps use the chat function to see if they'll shave a wee bit off the price. And they're usually pretty good about price matching. :lol:
Free shipping at least?
- Craig
|
Forum: General Talk
03-06-2024, 11:43 AM
|
|
IMO, there have been fairly healthy discussions about upcoming (or imagined) new products. It's not obvious that everyone is waiting for them, but there seems to be interest in whatever Ricoh Imaging does. I guess that's all part of a multi-faceted camera and photography community. Some folks are interested only in images -- and they post in the appropriate forum topics -- while others are interested in the technical and technological aspects.
I've been slightly discouraged by the occasional comment about 'Pentax' not being competitive with 'the big boys' or not churning out new products at a breakneck pace.
I don't watch many other sites -- Pentax Forums is my main social exposure -- but I've noticed similar comments at DPReview. It seems to me that other brands attract more anticipation and expectation than Pentax. As soon as a new camera is released, folks are already clamoring for the next upgrade, Mark VI, newt eye AF, or whatever.
- Craig
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-06-2024, 06:52 AM
|
|
IMO, you're not unusual. Many folks make their buying decisions based on their personal financial situation. Many folks buy new gear, many also buy used, and some others really limit their gear acquisitions. Used products can work out very well, but we've also heard of disasters in which the purchaser discovered serious flaws in the used item. I bought a number of my modern lenses used (e.g., DA 15mm Limited, HD 35mm Limited), and I also picked up numerous vintage lenses for a steal. My K-3 Mark III was bought new.
But your 'All State' warranty would have been cheaper for longer coverage, no? The savings could have gone towards a new lens.
@Bourbonieer, if you would like to expand your kit of DA* lenses, have you considered the D-FA* line, e.g., 50mm f/1.4 or the 85mm?
- Craig
|
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
03-06-2024, 06:40 AM
|
|
Yes it makes sense that Ricoh Imaging would try to minimize their costs on the new product, while meeting their 'design brief' and desired features and specifications. I think that they are being cautious.
IMO, it's not obvious at all that Ricoh Imaging is working towards that sort of camera. What evidence are you drawing from? Why do you think that they would introduce such a 'cheap' product, given their heritage?
- Craig
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-01-2024, 06:30 AM
|
|
That's the thought that I had also. Seems uncharacteristic of that particular seller. They seem to downplay the fungus.
- Craig
|
Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
02-29-2024, 05:36 PM
|
|
Hi and welcome from Ottawa!
What a wonderful way to become familiar with photography -- a nice-looking K1000 and a pair of lenses. I think you'll be able to do quite a lot with the Pentax-M 50mm f/1.4, and the 28mm will give you a wide-angle option. I'd also suggest an affordable Pentax-M 135mm f/3.5, which should be fairly easy to find in the used market.
A good book or two can be helpful. Many people would recommend Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. I also like Peterson's Understanding Composition Field Guide.
Have fun!
- Craig
|
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-28-2024, 12:33 PM
|
|
|
Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
02-27-2024, 11:05 AM
|
|
For what it's worth, I'll mention that I have resisted buying a DA* 55mm for that exact reason. I converted my DA* 50-135 to screwdrive after its SDM was replaced twice, and I really don't want to bother with another SDM failure. As much as I've been enticed by that lens -- its optics are certainly excellent, I've managed well enough with the 50-135, a Pentax-F 50/1.7, and a FA 43mm Limited.
I guess I would ask myself whether I really 'need' the lens.
- Craig
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
02-27-2024, 09:21 AM
|
|
|
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-26-2024, 09:03 AM
|
|
Sorry to hear that you are without a camera. But I guess that every item in your home is clearly labelled now for easy identification? ;)
I think you will enjoy the K-3 Mark III. I love mine.
- Craig
|
Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
02-25-2024, 11:11 AM
|
|
Interesting comments. Agree, integrating new techniques may lead to improved products.
I wonder if the team at Ricoh Imaging needs to 'recreate' a lot of the design knowledge that went into the manual cameras of 40-60 years ago, or only in specific areas. Will they be able to effectively adopt and apply the knowledge and guidance from the retired engineers who have been engaged to help out? (As an aside, loss of 'corporate knowledge' often afflicts organizations.)
Yes, gears and levers (and springs) haven't changed much, in principle. But aren't there lots of options and trade-offs, such as choice of materials? I'm surprised that a specific gear fails in some of the FA Limited lenses, so even the former designers didn't get things quite right (but, granted, perhaps the lenses are not suited to the new camera AF drives).
- Craig
PS. My coding background was almost exclusively FORTRAN, and I wasn't very elegant. My wife (a Computer Scientist), who saw some of my programs years ago, still pokes at my 'spaghetti code'. Meet Craig, King of the GOTO.
|
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
02-24-2024, 12:56 PM
|
|
To my eye, it's an extremely attractive camera. The dimensions of its face are within 5% of the Golden Ratio geometry, and its lines are clean and subtle. The latest version adds a number of enticing features.
Sometimes, I've looked at an X100 variant, and daydreamed [cue daydream music and wavy lines] that with such a camera, gee, I could silently cruise the streets of Ottawa taking all sorts of masterpieces to hang in a gallery. But realism takes hold, and, no, I don't even try to do that with my current excellent Pentax kit. :o
The X100 VI lists at CAD $2160. Add to Cart? Nope, not this time.
- Craig
|
Forum: Photographic Technique
02-24-2024, 09:25 AM
|
|
Great lab work! I love this sort of thing.
Maybe the post could be placed in the Member-submitted Articles subforum? (@Adam ?)
- Craig
|
Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
02-24-2024, 09:21 AM
|
|
Good news that the camera is working. It was an unusual problem, I think, and certainly a frustrating experience.
IMO, I don't think that Pentax gear is worse than other brands in terms of problems, failures, or frustrations. Certainly, there have been issues, such as lens SDM failures, buttons falling off, lenses breaking, and so on. I've had my own Pentax gear serviced (under warranty) several times over a 12-year period.
I guess you'd want to be confident that a Sony camera would offer more reliable service. However, owners of Sony and other brands seem to have their share of problems, as seen on various user forums or online blogs. For example: https://photographylife.com/sony-mirrorless-problems, and https://www.sansmirror.com/cameras/camera-database/sony-mirrorless-cameras-2...ss-issues.html
Good luck with your Pentax, or whatever other brand you adopt.
- Craig
|