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Forum: Photographic Technique
11-30-2013, 07:33 AM
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Thanks! A million would be nice! I think I will need more books to reach that goal though. :-)
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Forum: Photographic Technique
11-28-2013, 06:41 PM
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Amazon was pretty good to deal with. The most important thing is to format it for EPUB from the start. Mine was originally formatted for PDF since it's a photography book. It took some time to get it into EPUB since Amazon doesn't work well with PDFs. Otherwise the whole process was pretty straight forward.
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Forum: Photographic Technique
11-28-2013, 05:41 PM
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Sorry for the bit of shameless self promotion. :-) I wrote a book! And it's finally published...well, as an ebook anyway. I know most of you are well versed at landscapes and such but if you're relatively new or know someone that could benefit, the book is "Getting Started With Sunrise Photography". It's available on Amazon in Kindle scaleable format at...
Amazon.com: Getting Started With Sunrise Photography eBook: Jeff Bartelt: Kindle Store
And on our website in PDF non-scaleable format at...
Eagle Vista Studio - BOOKS
It's pretty new and hasn't had a full-fledged advertising campaign yet. Most of the pictures in it were taken with a Pentax K10D, K20D, or K5.
Successful or not, I'm just excited that I actually finished a book. It's been one of those bucket list items for awhile.
Jeff
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-08-2013, 07:09 AM
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Completely agree. We were talking up Pentax FF rumors when I purchased the just-released K20D several years back. Every year since, we've been saying "this is the year! I just have to hold out for one more year!". It's never happened. Rumors flew...we got the K5. Rumors flew...we got the Q. Rumors flew...we got "colored bodies". Rumors flew...we got the K-x. Rumors flew...we got the K5-II. Rumors flew, we now have the K3. All this in the face of a very vocal fan base asking for Pentax FF.
I see comments about how "Nikon is giving their fans the back of their hand" when it comes to the D600/610. Hmmm...so what is Pentax doing to us pros who've been loyal to them for 25+ years!
Facts is facts folks. We just have to admit that Pentax does not want to enter the FF/high end DSLR market. They've decided to focus on a niche in the APS-C market. I can understand...you have to stake your ground and fight for it. Try to take too much ground and you spread thin and open yourself to more risk. It's just business.
Pentax makes great cameras. So does Nikon, Canon, and Sony, et al. Each has their market strategy. If you want high end FF DSLR's, we are apparently not getting them from Pentax. Either settle for APS-C and move on or abandon them for another brand with FF and move on.
There's the old saying that hope springs eternal. It doesn't apply to ever-improving camera technology. Miss the boat and catch-up is nearly impossible...unless you never planned on catching the boat to begin with. I've come to accept that Pentax falls in the latter.
Jeff
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-07-2013, 04:47 PM
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Bought a D600 when they first came out because my brand of 25 years (Pentax) refuses to manufacture a full frame camera. It's now been over a year and I have absolutely zero complaints about the 600...zero. For me personally it was the best camera purchase I've ever made. If Pentax would have made one, I'd still be a customer buying bodies AND lenses. Now I'm neither.
Business is business...no hard feelings. I still have my K20 and a 16-45mm for old times sake. But I honestly do love my D600. The quality and low-light results are phenomenal. Never seen a speck on my sensor out of the ordinary that I haven't seen with every Pentx DSLR I've owned. Actually cleaned it only once in a year. I cleaned my K5 three times in the year that I owned it. For what I do now, there can be no turning back. The K3 isn't even an option. As for resale? I'm never selling it so it doesn't matter. :-)
Jeff
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Forum: Sold Items
05-04-2013, 04:48 PM
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#15 50mm lens is sold and #3 K10D body sold.
ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN SOLD!
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Forum: Sold Items
04-19-2013, 03:45 PM
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Only two items left!.....the K10D body and the Super Tak 50mm.
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Forum: Sold Items
04-17-2013, 08:51 AM
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#11 teleconverter sold.
---------- Post added 04-18-2013 at 12:03 PM ----------
#4 170-500mm Sigma lens is sold.
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Forum: Sold Items
04-16-2013, 07:05 PM
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By request, I've added some images of the 50mm 1.4 Super Tak (#15)...
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Forum: Sold Items
04-16-2013, 10:36 AM
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#6.....55-300mm has been sold.
#13....360 flash has been sold too.
---------- Post added 04-16-2013 at 02:24 PM ----------
#5 Power supply now sold.
---------- Post added 04-16-2013 at 02:34 PM ----------
#1 K5 body and grip sold.
---------- Post added 04-16-2013 at 05:16 PM ----------
#16 and #17 sold.
---------- Post added 04-16-2013 at 05:40 PM ----------
#12 Extension tubes sold.
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Forum: Sold Items
04-16-2013, 08:05 AM
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Not sure as I'm away from home today. I'll post when I get home this evening. Thanks!
Jeff
---------- Post added 04-16-2013 at 10:07 AM ----------
Items #14 and #7 sold.
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Forum: Sold Items
04-15-2013, 07:45 PM
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Oops! My fault! I forgot to include it. Post updated! $15
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Forum: Sold Items
04-15-2013, 07:20 PM
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PentaxForums.com Marketplace Listing
ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN SOLD!
Item for Sale
Pentax System Sell-off
Asking Price
$3300 for entire system or can piece/group USD
Item Location
Lake City, MN (United States)
Item Description
As some of you know, I recently made the gut-wrenching decision to switch to Nikon for the full-frame system option. I originally thought of keeping some of my Pentax gear but have decided it’s time to sell it all. So here it all is!
All equipment is in great to mint condition. Camera bodies are low-time. I’m a landscape photog so I’m not squeezing off hundreds of shots per day. Nothing here has been submerged in water or used in rainstorms or the like. I take very good care of my equipment.
I have a Paypal account for payment but have the option of accepting Visa, Mastercard, and Discover through our business if you prefer. The business has shipping supplies so I can professionally wrap and ship items. All items can ship either UPS or U.S. Postal Service. Shipping costs can be negotiated at the time of sale as it will depend on the number of items bought and the shipping location. At this time, I’m shipping within the USA only.
I can piece out stuff individually, group stuff together, or if you’re up to it, I can sell the whole lot for $3300. I’m open to a little negotiation but I can’t afford to sell them for pennies on the dollar.
Feel free to PM me with any questions. I'm pretty good at getting back to folks quickly.
Here’s the skinny on each piece (numbered in the attached picture)…
1 – K-5 body with battery grip. Comes with charger, USB cord, 3 batteries, additional AA battery insert for grip. $550-------SOLD!
2 – K20D body with battery grip. Comes with charger, USB cord, and 2 batteries. $350----------------SOLD!
3 – K10D body with 2 batteries and USB cord. $200
4 – Sigma 170-500mm f/5 lens with hood and tripod mount adapter $500--------------SOLD!
5 – Pentax AC power supply $20---------------SOLD!
6 – Pentax 55-300mm f/4 lens $225---------------SOLD!
7 – Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 lens $400 ----------------SOLD!
8 – Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 lens $375---------------SOLD!
9 – Pentax 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 lens $300--------------SOLD!
10 – Pentax 16-45mm f/4 lens $350----------------SOLD!
11 – Sigma 1.4x EX DG teleconverter $150---------------SOLD!
12 – Extension tube set (13mm, 21mm, 31mm) $40---------SOLD!
13 – Pentax AF-360FGZ flash $150-------------------SOLD!
14 – Pentax 28mm f/3.5 manual prime lens $75--------------------SOLD!
15 – Pentax M42 Super Takumar 50mm f/1.4 manual prime lens with DSLR adapter ring $75---------------------SOLD!
16 – AP-TR1C Timer/remote control for Pentax DSLRs $20-----------SOLD!
17 - Pentax-brand flash cord $15--------------SOLD!
Are you the original owner of the item being sold?
Yes
Are you selling or trading this item?
Selling
Item Condition (Key)
Used
Excellent
Shipping Destinations
United States
Shipping Charge
Shipping negotiated at time of sale depending on # of items
Shipping Services
UPS, U.S. Postal Service
Accepted Payment Types
PayPal Other (Elaborate)
Return Policy & Additional Details
No returns unless negotiated beforehand.
Can accept Paypal, or Visa, Mastercard, and Discover through personal business.
Please send me a private message if interested in the item!
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Forum: Photo Critique
02-11-2013, 11:08 AM
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Thanks everyone. I have to agree it does look pretty white. I wish I could have got more detail in the water. That would've helped and then the point/counter-point composition aspect would be stronger.
Thanks!
Jeff
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Forum: Photo Critique
02-10-2013, 07:01 AM
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Thanks all. I agree with the white being distracting...too much white I think. I'm going to see if I can crop it to remove more white while keeping a standard ratio and not removing too much of the falls too.
Maybe if I flip it upside down like tromboads says, that might fix it? :lol:
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Forum: Photo Critique
02-09-2013, 05:07 PM
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Been awhile since I posted but wanted people's opinion about this shot. I took it a couple years back but put it aside as I wasn't too impressed with the results. I experimented with some different crops this afternoon and came up with this.
It's a river that runs right along a factory wall. The water stains on the wall were mesmerizing. Not sure if it's compelling or not or if the picture flow properly. Would love to hear what you think. Thanks for your help!
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
11-14-2012, 12:49 PM
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Gotta say again that I'm 100% happy with my D600. I've had dust but nothing any different than I had with my K5 or K20D/K10D...non-issue for me. As for the AF, I can see how someone who made their living using AF might get a little frustrated with the tight cluster but I'm a landscape shooter so it's not an issue for me.
FWIW, I shot a wedding as a second shooter a couple weeks back with the D600. It performed magnificently!...tons better with it's AF than I could even consider with my K5 or K20D. And the low light performance was fantastic!
Folks, there is no such thing as a perfect camera as we all know so well. The K5 is an awesome camera as were the K10/20. I loved them all. Pentax image quality, great glass, legacy support, etc. has been great, but they have sucked for some time when it comes to AF. Now we are arguing about the fact that a *better* AF system in the D600 someone isn't *better enough*. Quite honestly it kicked my K5's a*s in low light. There is no comparison. And it's super quick and spot on every time....every time...which I can't say for my K5.
As for you landscape shooters, the D600 and D800 are the best out there right now as far as I'm concerned, unless you want to pony up the $10K for the 645D. If you want to go full frame and don't want to wait indefinitely, the D600 is the best buy for my money. I have one and I can testify to it. It feels great in my hands and is NOT a cheap-looking or feeling unit like the Canon 5DM2. It is comparable in feel and quality to a K5...only slightly bigger.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
11-04-2012, 08:16 PM
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Haven't had a chance to use mine in really cold weather yet but I did have it out in 28 degree weather for a couple hours and it worked just fine. I used a pair of thin gloves and was easily able to work it. I'd say its just slightly easier to use with gloves than the K5 but very similar.
Jeff
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
10-18-2012, 05:18 PM
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It's true...the 645D is an awesome pro-level camera. But the jump between a K5 at $1000 to a 645D at about $9000 without lenses (which would have to be purchased as well) is such a huge jump that it is unrealistic for most people, including many professionals. I can justify a FF Nikon D600 for $2400 (with a lens) but the ROI for a $10K+ purchase is not there. Not that having a medium format digital camera isn't on the wish list...it's just not on the realistic list. And a profitable business runs on a realistic list.
A full-frame D600 is in the realm. I just wish Pentax would have made it. But now I probably will be investing in Nikon lenses in the future. Not only did they loose a camera body sale, they lost a lifelong camera system investor...one that has spent a lot of money on gear...and will no doubt spend more in the future.
Pentax has great equipment but no long-term marketing plan for their loyal customers who want to use their equipment to take things to the next level...without having to jump the ocean in a single bound to a 645. It is ultimately their choice. They have to position their company the way they feel is best for their resources and their brand. But I have a choice too and I made it.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
10-03-2012, 06:33 PM
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I work in design engineering and do companies actually plan on cutting such a small amount off a product to save money? You bet your a*s they do. It's the principle of scale. Shaving 1mm off the sensor size could possibly save a millions depending on the circumstances. And it's not just in material savings on the sensor. It might have saved a million on tooling or process expense as well.
I've had cost savings of thousands of dollars by simpy changing the sheet metal thickness on a silly little part from .032 to .028. It did absolutely nothing to affect its function or the quality of the unit but its a small change that adds up to the cost of keeping one worker employed for a whole year.
But I would whole heartedly agree that Canon just seems to produce cheap looking and feeling cameras. I held a 5Dii at the store and the model unit, which had only been on display for a couple weeks, already looked like the rubber grips had been through a war...they were all dried out and discolored. The Nikon D800 demo had been there longer and it looked brand new. Seeing is believing.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
10-01-2012, 11:14 AM
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Had my D600 for a week. I love this camera. As everyone else is saying, the images are crisp and sharp and the lack of noise is refreshing. I can easily do ISO 1600 with very little effect at all.
I was originally thinking I'd keep the K5 and several lenses around as my back up. I still will but I'm now thinking of selling more of my Pentax lenses than I originally had thought I would be willing to part with. More money for Nikon glass compatible with the new one.
For my needs, I can now see the advantage of FF. And the Nikon, with the battery grip, fits my hand like a glove.
It's exactly what I wish Pentax would have made.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
09-23-2012, 05:30 PM
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So far it's great. No complaints here. It's every bit as good as my expectations were. I love my K-5 but I have to admit...the full frame seems to create more natural and less "mechanical" looking landscapes (my genre). My only issue I'm having is that I need to re-purchase all my accessories...shutter cable, timer, battery grip, polarizers (mine are too small for the 24mm wide angle), etc. And since it's a new camera, some of the stuff isn't available yet, including Lightroom and Photoshop support.
No problem. I knew this going in. It's why I've waited so long to purchase a non-Pentax. I have patience. I've waited over 3 years for FF thanks to Pentax rumors. I can wait a couple more months for the extras.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
09-22-2012, 07:36 PM
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Just got my D600 yesterday along with the 24-85mm. So far, I love both the camera and the lens. Einstrigger is right...ergo is different than Pentax and pretty much a D7000 in feel. I also agree that it is very much the same feel as my K20D.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-19-2012, 06:46 PM
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I still have both a K10D and a K20D. I'll probably sell the K10 but I will be holding on to the K20. I actually still use it for many things, including as a second camera for the wife or other family/friends to use when out and about.
Don't get me wrong. I love the Pentax equipment I have. I wouldn't have continued with it if I didn't. It's just that the company seems to be heading in a different direction than I am. I could care less about the Q, entry-level DSLR after entry-level DSLR, or colored bodies. I may be in the minority but that's where I'm at personally. I was hoping to keep advancing with Pentax through the years but they aren't in it for the whole photographer...just the entry level and certain prosumer niches it appears.
I wish them well and I will still poke around here!
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-19-2012, 06:26 PM
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Well, I pulled the trigger and bought a D600 today. Sorry Pentax. Been a Pentaxian for 25 years and a loyal one at that. Too many rumors. Life is too short.
Pentax as a company parted ways with me. They are focusing on equipment I'm really not interested in. Companies have to do what they feel is best for their bottom line. But so do customers.
No regrets with Pentax...just wish they could've come through sooner. I'll keep the K5. It's an awesome camera and a great backup.
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