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Forum: Ask B&H Photo! 04-18-2011, 07:55 AM  
B&H Passover hiatus
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 5
Views: 3,906
Sorry for the desperate post, but I'm not sure what else to do, and Henry doesn't accept PMs.

Heeding the warnings of B&H Passover closure, I placed an order on Friday during business hours for fastest shipment to Canada, for gear I need this week. This was well before the Sunday noon cut-off for orders.

Now, the holiday has set in and my order is showing as "in stock, order sent to warehouse". I'm not sure whether the WEBSITE is simply behind reality (and not likely to be updated during holidays) or if my order didn't ship. If it didn't, I'd want to cancel and order from somewhere else. But I'm afraid if it HAS shipped, I'd end up with redundant gear (on a pretty damn big order).

SUGGESTIONS? IS THERE ANYONE I CAN CHECK WITH AT B&H DESPITE HOLIDAYS? DO I BUY REDUNDANT GEAR AND PRAY I DON'T END UP WITH 2 SETS? (Most of what I'm after is not available at a bricks & mortar store, so I'm facing returning a bunch of gear by post if I end up with 2 of everything.)

Thanks in advance from anyone who can help, Henryp or otherwise.
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 12-08-2010, 06:44 AM  
K-5 focusing screen
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 35
Views: 11,805
Has anyone else tried putting K7 Katzeye into K-5 to corroborate Wheatfield's success? Wheatfield, any further experience with the katzeye performance in your K5--focusing & metering behaving right?
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 11-25-2010, 11:30 AM  
Price of K5 in Canada.
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 388
Views: 70,678
Well, since you ask, I got the D&R $1428.99 price without lens, because I snuck in & got it before they adjusted to reserve that price for "+ lens" purchases. But it seems Simons & others' good prices have pushed D&R out of the "cheapest in Canada" category now anyway, so the question is probably moot.



Indeed, my understanding is that HST is operated Federally (I know for Charities getting rebates, provincial rebates are claimed from CRA as a supplement to GST rebates, and I believe remitting taxes works the same way) any seller registered for the GST, even in a non-HST province like Quebec, has to charge HST of the province they're selling to. So an Ontario buyer buying from Quebec has to pay HST since the Quebec business is GST registered & thus HST kicks in, but a sale to Quebec from any other province (HST or not) does not incur Quebec PST. That's why it's called "la belle province".

This said, people are clearly confused about PST and HST rules and what any given store does might not follow this rule (if I've even got it straight). As far as I can make out, GST collection seems to be virtually on the "honours system" as I've seen no evidence of enforcement. I know the charity I work for keeps collecting GST rebates without ever providing any evidence to back up our claims, which get rubber stamped (unlike old Ontario PST rebates, which would be picked through with a fine toothed comb, and routinley adjusted to our disadvantage).

To whit: R&D erroneously charged me HST on my K-5, despite saying on the phone when I ordered that they'd only charge GST. To their credit, they had noticed the error themselves and were already in the process of crediting me back the extra tax before I got around to calling them about the mistake. So I'm not complaining about R&D, just noting how confusing & dicey sales tax gets in Canada.

DW
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 11-18-2010, 11:24 AM  
Input from DA* 200mm Owners: Owners Regrets over 300mm ?
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 57
Views: 16,309
A bit like reeftol, I found my Tokina 80-200 was used mostly at max length (and at 200, I was often wishing it reached further), with some wider angle for people shooting, so opted to switch to 2 lenses by function: DA*50-135 for mid-range/people/portraits + something for long.

Initially, I was thinking 200 for long, but forum members persuaded me that for one long prime to contrast with 50-135, I'd be happier with a 300. For me, they were absolutely right. BUT, I'm finding the 50-135 as long as I'd want for most portraiture, and the 300 is for extreme reach (mostly wildlife).

I don't have (and no longer feel tempted by) the 200 as a result: I don't mind the 135/300 gap: different lenses for different situations, with nothing begging to live in the middle. By comparison, though, if my longest prime were 200, I'd definitely want a longer option and wouldn't want to count on TCs for reach.

I can say that I find the 300 staggeringly sharp, even wide open, and holds up to TC use or just plain cropping very well (frankly, so well that I'd sooner crop than bother with a TC, which sits sadly unused). Without a 200 I can't compare my 300 to it directly but on its own merits, and based on being used to shooting DA* zooms, I'm very happy with its IQ including wide open. And I'm OK to hand-hold it in many situations too, though good bracing if not tripod are helpful (I got a spare QR plate to live on its tripod collar).

Now in your case, for portraiture, yes the 200 probably makes more sense, BUT for me I leave it to the 50-135 for that. Particularly indoors where the 300 would be a bit nuts in most rooms and I don't readily see how the 200 would be that helpful. Whereas, outdoors opens up room for long shooting distances and I've taken some sweet portraits with the 300 that way, and as noted the longer FL means f/4 is plenty shallow DoF:



Also, the reach of the 300 can facilitate some discrete candids from afar if that's your thing, though I suspect the 200 would be plenty long for that purpose too.
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 11-12-2010, 01:58 PM  
Price of K5 in Canada.
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 388
Views: 70,678
Thanks to Babbs for posting the Dunne & Rundle price. I learned of that just in time, between asking & hearing back about limited stock levels (I think one each) at The Camera Store in Calgary and Broadway Camera in Vancouver. Stock wasn't in but I held off based on promise it was imminent.

Stock is now in at Dunne & Rundle, and I've put my order in! Finally! By price, that would seem the place to look for others struggling to find K-5's in stock in Canada. Or if you prefer, those two K-5's which were being held for me at TCS and BC should now be up for grabs too. Note that Broadway Camera normally price matches locally to Vancouver BUT wouldn't go below $1499 for the K-5 "because it's a new camera". But at least they knocked $30 off their list price (which was decent to begin with) and also offered to do a deal on a package. Someone wanting to do a lens+camera purchase might want to try them.

K-5! K-5! K-5!
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 11-11-2010, 09:07 PM  
Sticky: K-5 vs K-r vs K-7 - DSLR Comparison
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 40
Views: 78,913
I dunno, there's something to "K-5 vs K-r vs K-5". Kinda like a salesman:

Would you like the K-5, or the K-r... OR, the K-5? (Hint: I think you want the K-5.)
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 11-05-2010, 10:57 PM  
Pentax K5 or Nikon D700??? Help!!!
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 83
Views: 35,804
...or, just about equally tongue in cheek, they also do the direct comparison (bodies only, mind, which I concede defeats the point of this thread) as well:

Compare the Nikon D700 vs Pentax K-5 - Snapsort
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 11-05-2010, 10:50 PM  
Pentax K5 or Nikon D700??? Help!!!
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 83
Views: 35,804
I just happened to stumble across this web page:

Compare the Canon PowerShot SD600 vs Pentax K-5 - Snapsort

...as long as we're comparing...
Forum: Sold Items 11-05-2010, 09:52 PM  
For Sale - Sold: Pentax K-5 Body (US)
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 4
Views: 2,609
PM sent, but I'm in Canada so it's probably just wishful thinking.

EDIT: I was overly hasty. Seller was very generous about offering to extend sale to Canada for a modest fee, but I won't be buying this, so others... go for it!
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 11-05-2010, 10:19 AM  
Price of K5 in Canada.
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 388
Views: 70,678
Trying to order from The Camera Store. They tell me their stock is all spoken for but there may be a cancellation freeing one up.

CANCELLATION? Someone hasn't read the DxOmark review!

Anyhow, if it's one of you cancelling... hurry up and confirm you're backing off so that I can get my order processed & hopefully shipped today!

WHEEEEE!
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 10-28-2010, 08:02 AM  
Nikon D7000 High ISO Samples
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 48
Views: 23,620
...OR, before anyone goes and moves this thread, perhaps just add to the title "for consideration vs K5" (wait, is that possible? I think it didn't used to be, but I've been away from the forum for awhile and I'm rusty on the mechanics).

That's the intent of the thread, and as such I for one appreciated coming across it in the Pentax DSLR Discussion section. As I contemplate picking up a K5, I wouldn't have thought to go looking in the alternate brand section, but was pleased to see this here (especially since it reinforces my confidence in going with a K5, as I've got way to much K-mount glass to start craving a canikon. :D)

I like to think Creampuff's counter-eponymous gruffness was meant as dumping on Nikon, rather than vancmann, whose efforts with sharing those images and this thread I appreciate.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 09-20-2010, 08:32 AM  
Pentax K-5 Officially Announced
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 533
Views: 186,965
Finally back on the Board as I've been keenly watching in hopes the K-5 will be my reason to upgrade my K20D for high ISO & improved AF where the K-7 didn't do it for me. Then again, maybe I'll ignore those bashing on pure spec and see how the camera ACTUALLY PERFORMS to make my judgement! :p



A couple Babelfish translation problems are pretty easily guessed but to confirm them:

"The question that all deseais to know is: really it improves the high frequency of the K-5 with respect to the K-7? The answer clearly is IF, and enough."

"deseais" = "you want" and Spanish SI was clearly used in the sense of "YES", not "IF", hence:

The question that you all want to know is: does the K-5 really improve the high frequency with respect to the K-7? The answer is clearly YES, and enough.
Forum: Post Your Photos! 04-30-2009, 10:56 AM  
First day out with Kiron 28/2
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 16
Views: 10,614
Indeed glad to see such nice photos coming out of formerly-my lens. I've really got to give your Komine some exercise now. Things just got out of hand lately and photography's shifted to backburner. Especially when a cooling fan replacement unexpectedly turned into a hard drive replacement--without my authorization and with no backup nor keeping of the old drive by the repair people. GRRR!

Fortunately my photos were safely on an external drive. But I lost recent theatre headshots which I had kept on my computer. The one bit of shooting I've done lately has been another round of headshots (and indeed 77 Ltd showed its value over nice-in-its-own-right DA*50-135--so I wasn't crazy to also indulge in getting the Ltd!). Up in full res on my zooomr account, if anyone wants to see what I've been up to.

But that Komine is begging for attention now. Maybe this weekend I can find some time to shoot again.
Forum: Product Suggestions and Feedback 04-07-2009, 09:09 PM  
Sticky: Dear Pentax
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 1,335
Views: 412,949
@ mirlocal - if I understand correctly that you want pre-KA, I'm relatively certain that the lack of electrical contacts means that to "uncripple" the mount would require adding a mechanical connector to physically "read" the aperture dial setting (short of forcing a stop-down à la green button metering method). So I can't envision a software fix.

Unless someone has bright ideas? Maybe something involving adding manual program aperture info (akin to manual focal length programming to get SR to work) or forced-stop-down testing (e.g. new software would, if you had a pre-A lens mounted, force a stop-down upon dialing to Av mode???). Hmmm, maybe it can be done after all!

Did I read something once about hacked firmware? Anyone have any talents to share?

@Kunzite & Bophoto - ...so am I too late to suggest that the Russian pencil (vs NASA hi-tech gravity-independant ink pen) solution is to use a tripod head that allows 90 degree rotation without unmounting & remounting the camera? ;)
Forum: Sold Items 04-07-2009, 11:11 AM  
For Sale - Sold: Pentax 12-24mm f/4
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 13
Views: 2,242
It hurts so much not to get this... After my crazy LBA the last few months, I've declared myself done and I basically am, but this is the one lens left that still haunts me. I *know* I would use this lens. But no, I'm out. I'm frackin' out.

Someone else please buy it, and enjoy!
Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories 04-05-2009, 08:10 PM  
Let's tell a story
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 188
Views: 25,838
...catch some rays on the beach.



We were impressed by the remarkable wildlife, but what really caught our attention was...
Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges 04-05-2009, 02:18 PM  
Weekly Challenge #93 "Beautiful Bokeh" - Winners!
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 20
Views: 6,539
Sooooooooooooooooo many great shots this week. A very good theme for soliciting a collection of consistently good entires. Picking winners must have been agonizing! Well done all around.
Forum: Photographic Technique 04-03-2009, 08:25 PM  
Dream Assignment/Photo Shoot of a Lifetime: please read and consider voting!
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 100
Views: 13,401
Found out about this rather belatedly, but I did manage to get a vote in. Good luck!
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 04-03-2009, 07:58 PM  
Poll: Fast fifty vs. fa 35 f/2.0?
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 30
Views: 6,484
As has been said over and over, one key is focal length preference. For me, in my film days I loved my FA50/1.4 (first lens I ever bought new) for general as well as low-light use, and a K135/2.5 for portraits.

Now in digital, for me the 50/1.4, I do use 50 FL but not for applications where I appreciate its wide-open softness and often I'm not looking for super-shallow DoF, so it's strengths in portraiture are a bit wasted on me in digital. I tried forcing myself to leave it on the camera, but it didn't stick.

On the other hand, threatened with rarity and a massive Canadian price jump, I just got the FA35, though, and its width + sharpness wide open I find great for indoor dim lighting, outdoor night shots, and general use. For me, it can be the live-on-the-cam general use prime the FA50/1.4 was in film. And the loss of one stop is compensated by the fact I can hand hold it at slower speeds.

....but that's just me.
Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges 04-03-2009, 06:50 PM  
Picture of the Week 03/30/09 - 04/05/09 Everyone Join In!
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 39
Views: 9,188
OK, finally I have a moment to spare to check out & comment on all these great submissions:

planediver - I especially like the sunken boat - evocative!

dadipentak - sweet backlighting on #3

daacon - good on you finding signs of life!

peter - I was initially completely fooled by the scale of first shot (thought it was pinpoint of light on a log in a shed or some such). Nice Newfoundland series. Amuzing as a Canadian to see "the Rock" explained, but of course on an international forum that's what's needed.

daacon again - you're prompting me to use my fisheye more. here's one I shot today with the fisheye as a publicity photo for a play I'm mounting at the Ottawa Fringe Festival, "The Beer Tent" (as seen on the story thread):



bramela - my peachface lovebird would be so jealous of those colours!

venturi - nice flowers, but it's the last shot that totally got me! EXACTLY!

vinceloc - clever "spokes" and very relaxing shots on the water

borno - that sharp eye on the second shot w/ TC is bang on!

octavmandru - is "somewhere around" Japan? I, like others, like the 3rd shot best

daacon yet again - keeping at it despite the endless white. good on you.

seacapt - crazy bokeh in that first shot!!

rense - that fisheye shot somehow really works for that portrait (the round lenses obviousy suggest it). That's how I picture Professor Dr Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld in Alexander McCall Smith's Portuguese Irregular Verbs & subsequent novellas. If you don't know it, it's a hilarious quick read.

timbo 13 - enjoy the weekend in the woods. don't drown in the parking!

daacon revisited - those first shots are much like my tests of the new lenses; done with the snow yet???

tpeace - love the gators!

xs400 - yup, that's different!

borno - wow, I love herons and those are great examples

dantuyhoa - nice isolation of the subject in shot 2

WHEW!
Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories 04-03-2009, 05:51 PM  
Let's tell a story
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 188
Views: 25,838
...we decided to try some fancy Belgian abbey beer...



...but we may have drunk too much too early, because...
Forum: Sold Items 04-03-2009, 06:59 AM  
For Sale - Sold: Vivitar 28mm 1:2 mc wide angle no.22xxxxxx 55mm
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 33
Views: 7,779
...and as that thread is quite long now (and the nomenclature changed a couple times, so if looking for a list start from the end and work backwards to find the most recent list), the quick & dirty is "k04b" is an arbitrary designation invented by forum member rparmar (and adopted by many on the forum--and some off it I hear--since), to identify one particular variant. The "K" in that "k04b" is in fact an indicator that among the many 28mm primes Vivitar produced, that one has a K mount.

For anyone with the patience (seller or potential buyer) that thread has quite a wealth of information!
Forum: Sold Items 04-02-2009, 08:33 PM  
For Sale - Sold: Vivitar 55mm f2.8 1:1 Macro Komine
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 9
Views: 3,599
OK, rparmar's K01 Komine/Viv 28/2 AND a 77 Ltd BOTH just arrived in the mail last night. I officially announced "I have all the lenses now" and promised myself I'd stop buying. But dangling a 1:1 macro for basically free like that? It hurts so much not to buy...

Somebody make this go away!
Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories 04-02-2009, 08:25 PM  
"I Spy" Photo Challenge
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 37,257
Views: 2,170,140
I spy a tower:

Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges 04-02-2009, 08:19 PM  
Project 52, Week 42 - Sepia, 50mm
Posted By David Whiteley
Replies: 18
Views: 4,929
I wasn't aware of the tradition of posthumous portraits, but when shooting this I did find the ones where Rousseau's eyes were closed rather creepy. :(
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