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Forum: Sold Items
06-10-2013, 06:54 AM
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Yeah I've read all that... no idea if the lens ever had the FW updated. It focused fine on my camera, with a little fine adjustment in body. The lens has been sold anyway.
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Forum: Sold Items
06-07-2013, 07:17 AM
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Hello all. I got into Pentax not too long ago, and as much as it pains me to do so, must now get out. Some financial troubles have arisen, so I'm selling off my gear, which to be honest doesn't make me very happy. All prices listed are more than fair, so please don't try to haggle a bunch with me. However, that doesn't mean I won't at least consider a VERY reasonable offer on any of the pieces.
Thanks for looking. All shipping is included in the price (I will ship priority through USPS), so please consider that as you make your decision. Some items are also listed on Amazon, so if they sell there before I receive your payment, I apologize. All payments done through PayPal.
1- Pentax K-5 IIs body- $850- SOLD
This body is in 'like new' condition. I have used it for street photography, and for one sporting event (hockey), so my guess is that it has somewhere in the realm of 1k clicks, if even that many (likely less). Absolutely excellent condition, and takes amazing pics. Comes with absolutely everything (box, paperwork, cables, etc), and as a bonus it includes 2 extra Wasabi Power batteries with a quick charger (which as you Pentaxians know is a great thing... otherwise the batts take FOREVER to charge).
2- Sigma 50-150mm f2.8 lens- $600- SOLD
Absolutely excellent condition. I used this lens to shoot the hockey event mentioned above, and that's IT. It is in perfect condition, and also comes with everything. Lens was bought refurbished (neglected to mention this previously, my apologies, and due to my forgetfulness, I've lowered the price $50), but is as new, perfect glass, fast AF.
3- Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO macro lens- $150- SOLD
Barely used. In perfect condition, and really a decent lens for the price. Remember this is the APO version, not the cheaper non-APO version. This lens sells new on Amazon for $199.
4- Pentax FA 50mm f1.4 lens- $250- SOLD
Bought used on this forum (traded actually). Comes with a rubber hood that retracts; pretty cool engineering. The lens is in good condition, focuses fast, and is sharp pretty much from f2 on. Sorry no box or paperwork with this one; just the lens, both caps and the hood.
5- Metz Mecablitz 44 AF-1 flash for Pentax- $150 (not pictured)- SOLD
Forgot to put this in on the first go-round. This flash has been fired all of *maybe* 6 times total. Never used for an event or otherwise, just tested out. Perfect; comes with everything.
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Forum: Sold Items
05-24-2013, 09:53 PM
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PentaxForums.com Marketplace Listing
Item for Sale
Sigma 10-20mm 4-5.6 EX DC
Asking Price
$375 USD
Item Location
Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Item Description
I've owned this lens for a couple of months. I just don't use it as much as I thought I would. It's a great lens though, and certainly deserves to be used. And I could certainly use the money, so here it is.
Lens comes with everything: box, paperwork, bag, caps, everything.
Sorry no photos of the lens currently (because I'm lazy), but if you'd like to see a photo let me know and I can make it happen. However, I will attach one taken with the lens.
Are you the original owner of the item being sold?
Yes
Are you selling or trading this item?
Selling
Item Condition (Key)
Used
Like New
Shipping Destinations
United States
Shipping Charge
Included
Shipping Services
USPS
Accepted Payment Types
PayPal
Return Policy & Additional Details
Will consider a return, though the lens is in perfect condition currently.
Please send me a private message if interested in the item!
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
05-20-2013, 05:13 PM
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
05-02-2013, 06:42 AM
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
04-29-2013, 08:30 AM
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A few taken with my Siggy 17-70mm 2.8-4 (2nd gen):
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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
04-21-2013, 12:47 PM
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I Appreciate the feedback, if not the incredulity. I prefer to be able to hold the cam in my right hand with minimal effort, as I do a lot of street photography, and walk around with no strap. I let the K-5 IIs hang from my fingertips; it's quite comfortable. I also like shooting one-handed (right hand), and just find the grip (or lack thereof) very uncomfortable for this reason. I'm sorry if that offends anyone or if I'm an idiot because of it , but it's simply one person's opinion.
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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
04-21-2013, 07:21 AM
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Well, I hate to say it, but the K-01 is going back. I THOUGHT I loved it... until I walked around with it for half a day shooting. My hand cramped so bad from holding it that I had to stop shooting after only a few hours. I've never held a less comfortable camera (though my OM-D sans grip came close). I'm sure others will disagree, and I'm so glad it suits those people, but it just won't work for me. It was a real bummer because I truly wanted to love this camera, but I just can't do it. My K-5 IIs is almost the same size and far, far more comfortable (in fact THE most comfortable camera I've ever used). I was super excited about it, and love the way it looks (as my previous posts will attest), but...
Sorry Adorama... great deal, but no amount of money is worth a yellow brick just sitting there looking pretty in my apartment. =\
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
04-20-2013, 09:02 AM
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The real bummer about this is that DX is awesome. I never really realized how awesome it was until I owned the K-5 IIs. It's so compact; it's the perfect in-between of mirrorless and full frame bodies. Absolutely comfortable, easy to carry, and just makes sense. LOVE my Sigma 50-150mm 2.8 zoom. It's fast, light, and a great size. Perhaps previously DX didn't make as much sense because sensor tech wasn't there yet. But it is now. I think the D7100 is an incredible camera with a lot of attractive features (though I prefer my Pentax for sheer enjoyment and usability), and the K-5 IIs is incredibly competent; easily good enough for pro work.
I think the crop factor is also helpful in certain types of photography.
Hopefully we'll see more dedication to the DX lines, but what a bummer that Sigma seems to be leaving Pentax behind. I certainly hope (but am fearful) that doesn't continue.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
04-20-2013, 08:43 AM
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Fully agree. I think f1.8 in a zoom is extremely useful for low light venues, especially if it's good wide open. If not, theoretically by the time you stop down to the 2.8 of the current fastest zooms (minus Olympus's f2 43 zooms), the image should be better than those zooms wide open. I think any idea that this is not at the very least a worthwhile venture is ridiculous. Sigma is striving to make improvements, kudos to them for doing so. I honestly find it difficult to believe that CaNikon hasn't done the same.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
04-19-2013, 09:59 AM
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I agree with Edgar... WTF? Why would they ever do that? It's not up to them anyway, as far as I know... but maybe I'm wrong. Can't Sigma make lenses for any mount they want? If they feel they can make money producing the lens for a certain mount, they will produce it, yes?
And even if what you say is true, they are wrong. They do need Sigma/Tamron. Without them the system just becomes more niche and less viable in total, IMO. Perhaps not everyone feels that way. But I bought Sigma lenses specifically because of all the issues with SDM motors, and I'm very happy with them. I own 6 lenses, and only ONE (FA 50mm 1.4) is a Pentax. The rest are Sigma, and they perform extremely well.
I would think that a 1.8 zoom such as this would be the perfect thing to release for Pentax, seeing as their top end dslr currently is DX format. But oh well, I guess.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
04-19-2013, 08:40 AM
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"Hello Zach,
Unfortunately we have no plans at this time to produce the lens in the Pentax mount.
Yours Truly,
Paul Pizzano
Sigma Corporation of America"
Well there you go everyone. I asked the question and I got the answer and it blows. *sigh* Seems like Sigma doesn't care much about Pentax anymore. :\
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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
04-19-2013, 08:00 AM
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Got mine 2 days ago. LOVE that it uses the same battery as my K-5 IIs, since I already bought extra batts for that cam, and now I have another one. Great! Updated the firmware after doing a quick AF test, and after updating it is much faster to AF, which is great. It's still no OM-D (not even close), but it does well enough. Things I don't like: the non-existent 1 fps rate for RAW shooting (which I'm really fine with but it could have easily been better; even 3 would have been something), the buffer for continuous jpeg is abysmally small (again, knew this going in and am fine with it, but also again, could have easily been better), and the god-awful rubber flap for the SD card slot/plugins... it is horrid. Why you wouldn't make it a nice metal or even plastic door makes absolutely no sense to me. Minus those issues (and really the rubber flap is the worst of them... it's truly annoying), I love it. It's a gorgeous little cam, even in yellow, and I've already had multiple 'ooo's' and 'aaah's' from people seeing it for the first time. Very happy with my purchase, and for $249, I really can't imagine getting a better deal (unless the body goes on sale for $199 or something... lol... then I may get another one).
Cheers everyone, enjoy your new cameras!
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
04-11-2013, 08:46 AM
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That listing seems a little sketchy to me.
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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
04-11-2013, 08:36 AM
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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
04-11-2013, 08:33 AM
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Super pumped at this deal! I had been on the fence about grabbing one of these for a while... but $250 is just too great a deal. Yellow brick road time. Woot!
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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
04-09-2013, 02:48 PM
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When I have time I'd love to. Currently I don't, but hopefully soon. I think that would/could be a fun thread. Whether a new thread gets started or not, I'll post comparisons at some point. =)
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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
04-09-2013, 07:53 AM
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Well, I would agree that Nik's interface, specifically let's compare Color Efex and Topaz Adjust, is certainly quicker to use and get a pleasing result. It takes more time to produce a similar result from Adjust. I will agree that it does seem you can achieve a more 'realistic' looking faux HDR image from Nik, yes the presets in Topaz in relation to HDR are ridiculous. But since I never use the presets, it doesn't really bother me.
But I think there are some key differences and places where Topaz outshines Nik (at least, haven't messed with OnOne enough yet), though not having a whole lot of time with the latter, perhaps I'm wrong about these. One is the local adjustment brush for detail and selective color. The point interface on Nik, while fine and perhaps faster, doesn't compare to the manual brush process available in Topaz. If there's a brush tool for the items above in Nik, I apologize and have yet to try it.
The vignette feature is simply not as good as Topaz. They feather differently, and I prefer the more localized look I can get from the Topaz vignette (it works incredibly well in B&W Effects). There are things you can do with the Topaz vignette that simply are not possible with Nik, and that are miles beyond anything you can do with Lightroom.
Again, I personally think the detail enhancement in Topaz is much better and more localized than what you get from Nik (within say Adjust vs Color Efex). I have not had a chance to mess with the sharpening plugins from Nik yet, and I'm sure they're great if you say they are. But it's also another program to have to use, when in Topaz I can simply move the detail slider and voila. Topaz Detail goes even further, but I'm speaking purely of the sliders found within Adjust and B&W Effects, versus the Detail Extractor filter found in Color Efex (which is okay, but nowhere in the same league as what Topaz offers). One of the things I love about Topaz in this respect is that you can heighten detail apart from exposure, which allows you to get a lot more detail without getting too overbaked too quickly.
One great example is I had recently gone on a hike, and taken some landscape shots, which I then processed in Topaz B&W Effects. I then later processed a couple in Nik, both in Silver Efex and in Color Efex, then did final B&W conversion and touch up in Lightroom. What I noticed is that the clouds in the Topaz version came out much more realistic looking, and much more detailed, because the detail Topaz used was working on a much smaller scale (or so it seems). I didn't like the clouds from either Nik conversion nearly as much. Landscape was fine, I could have taken or left any of them, and felt that part was a bit of a wash between the three.
At any rate, remember this is based on my initial impressions, mainly of Nik, from a guy who's been using Topaz for quite a while and is used to it. It's not that I don't like Nik, certainly not the case at all, and the more I use it the more I like it. But I definitely wouldn't agree, at least so far, that Topaz is so incredibly inferior.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-08-2013, 02:28 PM
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I came from CaNikon to Pentax (with a lot of time in m43 as well), and I have ALMOST no regrets. What keeps me here though (because literally RIGHT after I bought my K-5 IIs, Nikon announced the D7100, sans aa filter, and I definitely went back and forth for a bit) is the way the camera feels and handles, period. The camera makes sense, more than any other camera I've used; it's an absolute pleasure to shoot with, and that, to me, is most important. I don't really like the Nikon interface or the handling (I actually prefer Canon in this regard), but there's no question their sensors are kicking butt and taking names. The D7100 is no joke of a camera. But despite the megapixels, the K-5 IIs is pretty much its equal.
I think there is a reason to be worried about the longevity of Pentax, sure, but perhaps not for a while yet. CaNikon certainly seem more stable, but then so did Kodak, once.
I would, as others have suggested, make an effort to handle the bodies you are interested in from all manufacturers. I think I know what the result will be, but you have to decide for yourself. For me, once I held and used the K-5 IIs for the first time, I was hooked. I had the chance to go back to Nikon, as I wasn't really invested here yet, but I chose not to, specifically because I just didn't want to hold another Nikon in my hand.
But heck, you may pick up that D7100 and fall in love with it, and if so, more power to you.
Take it for whatever it's worth.
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Forum: Sold Items
04-07-2013, 08:36 PM
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Yes, Pentax K mount, but not sure about Canada. I suppose so.
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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
04-07-2013, 10:25 AM
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Well, after messing around with the OnOne software for the last hour or so, and Nik for the last two weeks, and Topaz for the last two years, I can staunchly say that they all have their good and bad points. But, hands down, the best detail enhancement is found in Topaz. No question, and the other two can't even come CLOSE to competing on this front, and it's a big front. Other than that, the vignette is weak in OnOne (pretty much the same as Lightroom), better in Nik, and best in Topaz. Nik and OnOne have similar HDR-creation looks, while Topaz has a unique look all its own.
I'd say they all have their merits; I'm certainly not going to use everyone's products, but there are a couple from OnOne that I like, a couple from Topaz that I like, and really just one from Nik that I like. But hey, for these prices you can almost have Nik and OnOne for the same price as Topaz suite by itself (of course you get more in Topaz suite).
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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
04-07-2013, 09:19 AM
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-07-2013, 07:43 AM
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Interesting. The ones I've experienced only show up after utilizing Topaz Adjust or B&W Effects (have not tried Detail, but I'm sure that would do it too), then sharpening in either FX Lab or Lightroom afterward. They are very easy to see if you push your settings farther than you normally would, say 2.3-2.5 Detail, 1.15 Boost, 30 (or higher) or so on Adaptive Exposure. Then when you start sharpening in either FX Lab or Lightroom, they appear 'en masse', especially in the shadows, but eventually all over the shot. They are apart from the noise normally induced when heightening detail.
I have noticed that (probably due to the inherent noise in higher iso's, which probably serves to mask the issue) it's hard to see them on higher iso shots. But they are very easy to find on lower iso shots.
Once you notice them, the unfortunate fact is that you start realizing that they are there even if you use a lighter application of detail/sharpening, which was what prompted me to download the Nik collection to try other software.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-06-2013, 06:26 PM
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Well, since this doesn't seem to be an issue to anyone else, I won't keep this thread going. However, I would like to end with this synopsis:
No one offered to send me a DNG file (well, one person did offer, never sent one), which is fine. So I took the liberty of finding some raw files online, which is what I should have done a long time ago. My conclusion is that this problem is not relegated to my particular camera. I found a tiff from another K-5 IIs, as well as a DNG from a K-5 II, both of which, after processing in Topaz, displayed the dots. It seems that, for whatever reason, K-5 II/IIs files don't play very nice with Topaz plugins. I now own the Nik software collection, which doesn't cause the problem, but is also not as fine in its detail enhancement, so the differing algorithms obviously have something to do with it.
There is one other person on Pentax Forums who I've found who has had an experience with the white dot issue. I've been back and forth with Topaz about it, having sent them various examples of processed versions of a raw file, and the raw file itself, from which they say they cannot reproduce the issue. I find that difficult to believe.
After all this research, I've come to terms with the issue and while it's a bummer, it's certainly not a dealbreaker by any stretch. I love my camera and will continue to, and though I'm used to using Topaz for most of my post-processing endeavors (and still can, albeit extremely carefully), the Nik plugins work fairly well. In combination, I'm sure I'll find a happy medium.
At any rate, I wish everyone still paying attention the absolute best.
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Forum: Sold Items
04-06-2013, 07:44 AM
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Bump!
---------- Post added 04-06-13 at 08:45 AM ----------
Price reduction to $350.
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