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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-29-2023, 01:02 AM
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Thanks @Joetitch I'm hoping some regular practice will help. Have been feverishly cleaning stuff and intend to go out as soon as the sun starts to shine.
The thread has drifted a little, but I'm not too worried, I will say tho that my OM1 will do 120 FPS, but I usually have it set around 5-10 FPS for birds. Autumn is such a lovely time and perfect for the K1 II.
Tim
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-28-2023, 12:55 AM
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OK I would agree that the Z9 is quite a good camera. However, I think I have the best of all worlds with a couple of K1 II's, a couple of K3's and a K3 III, as many lenses as I could want. Also I have a couple of OM Systems OM1 bodies and a few lenses, these come in useful when I'm on a long walk. As for comparing each camera has it's own strengths and weaknesses and part of the challenge/fun is trying to figure out the best tools for the job. Some folk would say dump the Pentax stuff, especially the K3 bodies but they won't get much on the open market and I prefer to have them as a backup. If I'm doing some serious work with a tripod etc. I would first reach for my K1 II and the 150-450, 28-200, 24-70 and the 15-30. A K3 whatever version is great for walk around and the OM Systems good for bird watching, but only in reasonably good light due to the small sensor.
So I think getting old and two years of radiotherapy and chemo have left me quite fatigued and I find it difficult to carry and use the full frame gear and that would even apply to a Z9, but I haven't used the K1 II for about a year and really have to reacquaint myself with it, over the years I have learned as well as technique there is also a feel for the camera and lens, you get to know the best way to use it. I think mine were just pissed off that I hadn't used them in a while.
Anyway, that ends my diatribe and keep the suggestions and advice coming and I would never ever dispose of my Pentax gear, still have my MX and ME Super and also an MX1 which is a fabulous little camera.
Tim
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-27-2023, 07:18 AM
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OK managed to take a few photos this afternoon, it's a bit dull but here we are...
Tim
---------- Post added 10-27-23 at 03:35 PM ----------
Forgive me as I am not used to uploading pictures to this site. However, a quick review in Lightroom shows me that the pictures are way sharper than yesterday. So I think it is a combination of cleaning, reseting and technique with the heavier camera which I've not used in a while. I will sort myself out and try and set up a web page with a few more examples from a variety of lenses so I can get your comments.
Tim
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-27-2023, 12:36 AM
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Thanks for all of the suggestions. I have reset both camera bodies and am currently leaving the batteries out for 48 hours then will reset again on fully charged fresh batteries.
I always shoot RAW so some of the settings are not relevant, but I will double check to make sure I haven't turned on something by accident when I set them up again. I do like photographing birds so usually have the camera set on TAV with a shutter speed of 1000 sec and an aperture of F4 and let the ISO sort itself out for birds on a stick but for in-flight I usually go up to 2000 - 3200 and thus a high ISO. So don't do much of that on dull days. I have a large range of lenses so will pick 3 or so and trial on both bodies and do some general shots of scenes etc. to see what happens. I'll probably go for the 28-105, the 70-200 F2.8 and the 24-70 F2.8. Also perhaps it might be good to try a fixed focal length so I'll take the DFA 50 1.4 which has always been super sharp. I'll try and publish my results as soon as I can and am always open to some friendly critique.
Tim
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-26-2023, 09:27 AM
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I will as soon as I can.
I'll also give the electronic shutter a try as well.
Tim
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-26-2023, 08:38 AM
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@filmamigo I take your point, I have calibrated my main lenses several years ago and they were actually spot on. I've just been perusing some of my old photos taken with the K1 II from 2016 and 2017 when the bodies were new and the pictures are quite stunning, in sharp focus and really no grain. I think it might be me in old age not being able to hold the camera steady anymore :) But I will go out again asap and do some more experimenting.
@FozzFoster - have started to pray, I am lucky to have so many Pentax lens that I would never ever consider jumping ship.
Tim
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-26-2023, 08:10 AM
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I've been out and about with my K1 II using various lenses and am really disappointed with the results. Most images are soft and quite grainy above ISO 6400. I know this is quite an old camera but I really remember it being a lot better performing, perhaps I've just got used to the more modern camera's. If I go out with my K3 III I get some really good pictures using the same lenses and I know the ISO performance is a lot better. However, even in good light and at low ISO around 640 the pictures are quite poor with the K1 II. So either the camera has developed a fault or needs calibration, both of my K1 II bodies display the same behaviour so it must be age.
Any ideas, I'm thinking ditch the K1 II's or at least one of them and get another K3 III.
Tim
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-30-2023, 01:45 AM
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Interesting, thanks for sharing. I have the PLM version version of this lens but very rarely use it. I will try and get out with the K3 iii and see what it does.
Tim
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
05-16-2023, 03:16 AM
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Missing the McBain show as I've moved back to England. Always nice to have a chat to the Pentax rep and buy an extra lens.
Tim
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
04-08-2023, 12:07 AM
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Thanks for your suggestions so far. I have aa number of Pentax batteries that I rotate around the cameras, but I will try a nice fresh set. Options on AF-S and AF-C are both focus priority. Focus point is spot. I tried again late yesterday afternoon and it worked and then it didn't. The next stage will be to try some freshly charged batteries and maybe some different lens such as the 16-50 and the 50-135. Also I will try and reset one camera to factory settings to see if that makes a difference.
Cheers
Tim
Update: I think I may have discovered the problem insofar it is the batteries, or rather some of them. Both cameras were telling me that the batteries were good and as I don't often use my K3's I took it as gospel. Fresh set of recharged batteries and everything seems to be back to normal. I tried the batteries coming out of the K3 in another body and they registered as nearly depleted. So I suspect leaving the batteries in a camera for a long time doesn't mean they are not drained even if the battery monitor indicates they are good.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
04-07-2023, 08:59 AM
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I have two K3 bodies and I know they are both almost 10 years old, but I have a curious problem with both. Using two different lens the Pentax 18-270 and the Pentax 55-300 PLM (latest version) both exhibit the problem of focussing from near to far which is most noticeable at the long end of the focal range. For example if I have the 18-270 at 270 and focus on something quite close it's OK, not quick but good enough. I then move the camera to focus on a far away say 70 yards and it will not focus, even if I press the shutter button again, it usually should automatically refocus in AF-C mode. OK so I tried it in AF-S mode and same happens, I have to press the shutter button several times and then it will refocus. Same happens on the 55-300 using both K3 bodies, although in live view mode it is much better on both. It's like the the focussing has lost its sensitivity.
To try and work out if it is the lens or camera I used my K3 III body with both lens and each works perfectly and quite quickly which I would expect. So it isn't the lens.
So I wonder if I have changed something in the settings for the K3's, although I don't remember this happening recently. Both cameras have fully charged batteries and the latest firmware, I also cleaned the contacts. Using the AF back button exhibits the same behaviour.
Any ideas esteemed forumites, as I would hate to think that both K3's have the exact same problem.
Thanks
Tim
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Forum: General Photography
09-20-2022, 12:16 AM
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I've also been considering a bridge camera, the reviews suggest the Sony RX10 IV is the way to go. But I'm wondering as it is quite an old design that they might update it soon and the successor would be a lot better.
Tim
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-10-2022, 01:08 AM
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Now I have the new DFA 21, I think I will pair this and my SMC 77 on my K3 III and see how I get on. Also in my bag I'll have the DA*300 and 1.4 convertor. A nice fairly light set to wander around.
Tim
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
05-18-2022, 08:33 AM
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Oh this is good Eddy, the pictures are quite wonderful and inspires me to go out and try the SATOBI settings you have used. I don't really have any vintage lens, but I'll hunt round to see if I can find a couple I don't usually use as a bit of a challenge.
May I ask what software/package/system you use for your website?
Tim
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
02-14-2022, 09:35 AM
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I've just got mine, it's a bit clunky but I hope a bit better than Luminar 4.
Tim
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
10-02-2021, 12:22 AM
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Please accept for first submission in a monthly photo contest.
A group of Starlings visited my garden one morning making a terrific noise and looking like they were having fun. This one in particular stood out and looked like it had had a really good night out and was a bit worse for wear.
Tim
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Forum: Pentax K-3 III
09-25-2021, 08:04 AM
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Thanks, the latter could be where I have been going wrong.
Tim
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Forum: Pentax K-3 III
09-24-2021, 11:43 PM
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OK thanks for the comments, I will have another go this weekend.
Tim
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Forum: Pentax K-3 III
09-24-2021, 03:29 AM
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I wasn't using the O-GPS1, just using my iPhone as the GPS tracker through Image Sync and using Bluetooth to transfer the GPS info to the camera.
Tim
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Forum: Pentax K-3 III
09-24-2021, 01:48 AM
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Been using the manual to try and set up geotagging. The app on my iPhone set up OK and I can connect to the camera and on the info display I have the bluetooth and GPS icons.
So my first test this morning I turned on the camera and started the app on my iPhone (not sure if this is necessary) made sure date and time was synced and went for a wander. Now loading my photos into lightroom I see they all have the same GPS data, exactly the same although I did walk quite a long way.
Any suggestions on what I might be doing wrong.
Thanks
Tim
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Forum: Pentax K-3 III
07-18-2021, 12:26 AM
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I'm wondering what other forum members think of the review in Amateur Photographer of the K3 iii.
From my perspective if the AP Staff were not working virtually one would of heard a collection groan and who gets the short straw and has to review the Pentax, but would rather be gushing over the latest Sony, Canon or Nikon. I'm someone who likes a review to actually tell me what the camera is like from someone actually using it and then reviewing it. I thought the AP review was quite shallow in this respect and maybe have benefitted from the usage of more of a wide range of lenses. Additionally a lot, but especially this review seemed to have a large element of cut and paste from other sources of information. That being said specifications, etc. do not change. In my digital copy off the review the author even managed to refer to the camera as a K3 ii, but I think that may have been corrected, we'll see when the actual print magazine turns up.
No, it's not a mirrorless camera and the review seems to take pains to point out that Pentax is effectively running down as a company and relying on existing products and the odd refresh to keep afloat. However, comparing apples to oranges is not helpful and maybe needs to include comparable +ve and -ve for example I do also own an Olympus OMD-E M-1 Mark 3 supposedly one of the excellent newer cameras. Yes it's nice but when I'm out for a days shoot I can easily get through 4 batteries and upping the ISO even a bit produces grainy pictures and I need to add noise reduction to my workflow. The K3 III ISO performance is actually stunning and this really wasn't captured in the review.
I don't apologise for being biased and additionally it's always nice to see space dedicated to Pentax equipment. However, the review did leave me a little perplexed over a job not so well done.
KR
Tim
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
05-07-2021, 01:48 AM
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I'm lucky to have one. Slowly working through the menu system and getting an idea of what is what. However, first impressions are that the ISO response is bloody amazing.
Tim
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
03-31-2021, 01:16 AM
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Just ordered the black premium kit from SRS Microsystems in the UK, looking forward to it!!!
Tim
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
02-16-2021, 06:52 AM
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Thanks, that will save me a trip into the loft. Been trying to clean my K3 focus screen but have a tiny little hair on the bottom right that I can't remove. Perhaps it might be on the prism, the sensor is clean as a whistle tho.
Tim
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
02-16-2021, 01:58 AM
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Just wondering because I have a couple of spare focus screens for my MX, might they fit into a K3?
Tim
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