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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 05-20-2014, 06:51 AM  
K-mount lens roadmap updated
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 571
Views: 98,628
Exactly my thoughts!

Pentax K-x was already just a hair bigger than Canon SL-1/100D, K-r almost there as well. Then, they killed that line. I wonder why? Even K-50 is close enough, I am sure its size can be optimized to match SL1, different body shape (a bit "boxier" would look smaller, Fuji X-T1 shape anyone?), less protruding grip, smaller popup flash, no weather sealing (if that would result in even smaller body), and we will have nice compact DSLR. This is what K-500 should have been.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 06-16-2013, 06:46 AM  
Pentax K-500 Specs Confirmed by Pentax (viewfinder, batteries, etc.)
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 145
Views: 21,124
Although I wrote it, neither do I! I was just trying to think like Pentax marketing (playing devil's advocate) aiming at the general population that does not ask for more Beethovens and Mozarts, but for more Justin Biebers and PSYs. I guess that's what Pentax is trying to adjust to, widest possible general population, instead of being focused on us "Pentaxians" - people who generally know what they want and how to use what they get.



That would be me :) :) :)



Precisely! The way they were doing it so far required an updated Rosetta Stone counterpart following each release! I hope that is now past.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 06-15-2013, 03:34 PM  
Pentax K-500 Specs Confirmed by Pentax (viewfinder, batteries, etc.)
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 145
Views: 21,124
That's possible. In fact, an entry-level DSLR K-5000 and K-mount mirrorles K-05 (styled like a camera, not like a toaster) would complete the "5" lineup. The only problem is, K-5 successor should go down to 3 (traditionally skipping 4), while other models are expected to keep counting up. But even K-3, K-60, K-600, K-6000 and K-06 lineup would not look that bad! (Better than *ist XX(N) naming convention for sure.)
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 06-15-2013, 02:02 PM  
Pentax K-500 Specs Confirmed by Pentax (viewfinder, batteries, etc.)
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 145
Views: 21,124
Technically possible, but those would be purely software changes. Assuming hardware remains the same, sooner or later someone would come up with a bootleg firmware that can turn K-500 into a K-50. One good example is now almost exactly ten years old Canon 300D which was effectively built around prosumer Canon 10D with only minor hardware differences and some features simply disabled in firmware. An unoffical firmware was circulated turning 300D into (close to) a 10D at no cost!!! If I am not mistaken, Canon has never made the same mistake since 2003, and I'm not expecting Pentax would in 2013.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 06-15-2013, 01:27 PM  
Pentax K-500 Specs Confirmed by Pentax (viewfinder, batteries, etc.)
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 145
Views: 21,124
Precisely! I remembered K100/110D while writing my post on K-50 and K-500, and was about to comment on one more thing, but here it is now: these two cameras should have been called K-50 and K-55, leaving K-500 for obviously different and differentiated entry level body (say, pentamirror, single control wheel, smaller), and then for the purpose of creating a "hook" for consumers, make two of them: K-500 and slightly stripped down K-550. In the end, K-55 would help sell K-50, while K-550 would help sell K-500. Success of K-55 and K-550 from the financial point would be completely irrelevant.

The only confusing thing with current naming is that "huge difference" between 50 and 500, making us believe there should be something much more or less in each, creating unrealistic expectations for us who follow Pentax lineup for years (or decades for some, including myself). Choosing K-50 and K-55 names would have been much better, and closer to K100D and K110D.

So what we are really struggling with here is how to understand how Pentax has managed "waste" K-500 slot for a camera with almost insignificant difference from the production and design perspective when compared to K-50.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 06-15-2013, 07:17 AM  
Pentax K-500 Specs Confirmed by Pentax (viewfinder, batteries, etc.)
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 145
Views: 21,124
Very interesting discussion here about technical details. However, technicalities aside, I think it is pretty obvious that K-500 is made NOT TO SELL. It should serve as a reference for comparisons, to have consumers look at it and then notice/try K-50 with just a few extra features for a few bucks more. The trick is, for an average consumer the biggest step it to decide to spend any money on a particular product. Once there, it is quite easy to decide to spend a little bit more. Happened to all of us many times, from ice cream and candies, to cars and houses.

In other words, K-500 primarily exists to maximize K-50 sales. If a few K-500s sell as well, not bad. Note that K-500 is zero risk to produce: the only real manufacturing difference is painting the model number - that is the only tool on the whole assembly line that is specific to each model!!! The rest is accomplished simply by skipping some steps during the assembly process and firmware configuration.

(Which bring us to the next interesting detail: why no gazillion color combinations for K-500? Well, notice that K-500 and K-50 model names have to be printed on those colorful plastic shells. But if K-500 full rainbow palette does not sell, which is the intent as mentioned, they'll have to throw shells away! Thus, print name labels onto full palette of something that is expected to sell: K-50!)

To understand what Pentax Ricoh is trying to do, I would highly recommend the following TED talk by Dan Gilbert:
















You Tube




Also, on a similar topic, good read is "Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions" by Dan Ariely:
Predictably Irrational - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

So stay calm, everything is under control: Pentax is trying to become Canon! :lol:
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 06-12-2013, 12:54 PM  
New PENTAX K-50
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 752
Views: 120,203
Yeah, I posted it on DPR after seeing it here. But it seems Pentax users on DPR are not so excited, or simply no one has left there to show much of excitement because Adam has managed to teleport us all to the Pentax Forums Mothership!
Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50 06-12-2013, 07:17 AM  
K-500? Did I miss any announcements?
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 36
Views: 6,996
I am hoping the same 16MP as in other models, in a simple(r) and small(er) body, a 100% viewfinder would be a bonus. I personally do not care much about the rest, even if they just put the current 16MP sensor in a K-r body I'd be fine.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 06-12-2013, 05:59 AM  
Pentax K-500
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 36
Views: 6,264
Both K-50 and K-500 have already been added to the K-mount DSLR list:
Pentax K-mount DSLRs - Pentax Pentax Digital Cameras - Pentax Camera Reviews and Specifications

(Edit: No details, no product images at this point. Just placeholders.)

I am hoping K-500 will have the same sensor/viewfinder as K-5 and K-50 (16MP and 100% coverage w/ pentaprism) with other things scaled down, like no weather sealing, single control wheel, lighter, and perhaps smaller.

If so, well................ (gone to grab my credit card).
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 01-07-2013, 03:42 PM  
MX1 new Camera model
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 486
Views: 63,482
X20 $600, MX-1 $500 which is a small difference, $100 more is IMO justified for X20 based just on construction.



I guess you are referring to poor RAW support for X-Trans sensors at this point? Other than that, X-Trans should perform well.



Remains to be seen with new X-Trans. I must say XZ-1/XZ-1/MX-1 lens is really great, I was really impressed (I owned XZ-1). Comparisons on DPReview between X10 and XZ-1/XZ-2 appear to support your statement, but the difference is more pronounced with RAW I suspect due to suboptimal conversion, less so with JPEG. Since X20 will have no AA filter with the new X-Trans sensor all that remains to be retested. So many variables have changed and it is hard to judge X20 now, best we wait for tests of both X20 and MX-1. I guess in March we will know.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 01-07-2013, 02:26 PM  
MX1 new Camera model
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 486
Views: 63,482
It's not just you, they are in fact identical, as well as 90% of the hardware. And since I have owned XZ-1 which has the same lens, I can say the lens is REMARKABLE! It is not a compact camera toy lens, it is well corrected, sharp across the frame at all apertures, and fast. Zooming mechanism is smooth and precise. Wise choice by Pentax to procure the same lens as in XZ-1 and XZ-2.

I just don't like the name... MX-1? I mean, I already have MX (1) that uses film though. If they are taking hardware from Olympus, why not naming ideas: how about MX-D Pentax? (Upgrade would be MX-D2 and so on.) Well, I guess this is better than picking *ist MX... :D

Anyway, following Panasonic/Leica sister models, I would expect MX-2 to be the based on Olympus XZ-3 and so on. So Pentax fellows, let's keep our eyes at Olympus from now on!
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 05-22-2012, 04:55 AM  
Pentax K-30 Officially Announced!
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 245
Views: 49,166
John Carlson (Sr. Manager of Sales & Marketing at Pentax) has answered this question in DPReview:

"The K-30 does not have the connections on the bottom to facilitate a battery grip."
Forum: Pentax K-01 02-02-2012, 03:11 PM  
Poll: OFFICIAL K-01 Styling Poll
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 136
Views: 16,893
How would you rate the look overall?
Fresh and interesting. However, it seems design was a priority over ergonomics: for example, where is the thumb rest on the back? Also, it would do better without that mode dial "chimney". Next, silver dials on a silver top plate (with everything else in black) would look better than current black dials on a silver top plate. (Fortunately it will be easy to make one like that.) Finally, the name is a bad choice: we will eventually have K-01 and K-1, or evolutionary paths may cross at K-03 and K-3. Go figure.

Does the 40mm fit the camera well?
Not so good: looks cheap, and we all know that optically DA 40 is one of the best performing lenses available.

Are you planning on buying one based on what you've read about it in the official announcement?
Not at this point, already have all I need.

In buying a camera, how important is the look compared to the features?
Very important.

How do you think people who've never heard of Pentax would react to this camera?
Very hard to predict. For sure, some will laugh at it while some will pick it up for it's design only. The ratio between the two groups may in fact determine it's fate.
Forum: Pentax K-01 02-02-2012, 02:18 PM  
Chimneyless K-01
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 23
Views: 3,143
I like it without the chimney! (I hated it on the Q as well.)
Plus, I'd prefer top plate in silver with silver dials, or top plate in black with dials in black.
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 07-02-2011, 03:45 AM  
Poll: Pentax - do we want to be called Ricoh?
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 69
Views: 14,495
Looks good to me. The relevant part reads:
On completion of the Acquisition, Ricoh will begin to use the PENTAX brand name for some of its digital camera products, and HOYA will continue to use the PENTAX brand name for their endoscopes and other products.

Furthermore, with the Acquisition, both companies will cooperate with each other to increase the value of the PENTAX brand.
In fact, I am expecting Ricoh interchangeable module camera to be rebranded Pentax GRX!
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 06-03-2011, 07:26 AM  
focusing: do I have a problem?
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 21
Views: 4,517
You probably meant UV filter? There is no clear glass polarizer.



To my experience, do not buy any "protector" UV filter. No matter how good they are you may expect some image quality degradation, which is especially magnified with long focal lengths as you have already experienced. Just keep the lens hood always mounted to avoid banging the front elements against something hard and you'll be fine.
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 06-02-2011, 02:39 PM  
Stains found!
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 102
Views: 15,777
It's barely visible at f/22, can get just less noticeable at larger apertures. I'd say leave it alone for now.
Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals 02-08-2011, 04:23 PM  
Ashamed of taking my camera for a walk through town...
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 92
Views: 19,601
Most rent-a-cops or employees are poorly trained or simply not trained at all regarding the photography in areas of their responsibility. I have checked on numerous occasions the rules about photography in certain locations and in most cases what is really prohibited is photography for commercial purposes only.

Here is one good example: Some years ago there was a discussion about taking photographs of Toronto subway stations (accompanied with some scary tales of photographers being hassled, never happened to me though). However, Toronto Transit Commission has clearly stated in their own TTC By-law No. 1 the following: No person shall operate any camera, video recording device, movie camera or any similar device for commercial purposes upon the transit system without authorization.

If you find and check rules on photography there is a great chance you'll find some variation of the clause from TTC By-law No.1. So my advice is: let security approach you, stay calm, and politely agree with them, confirming that you know photography for commercial purposes is prohibited. Pause here. They immediately ask are you a professional photographer, who you are working for, what are you doing, where are you going to publish or something similar. You'll then have an excellent opportunity to explain you are shooting for yourself and, well, disappoint them. Show them your photographs, get into depth of field, bokeh, angle of view, composition, scene tonality, quality of light and they will most likely leave you alone.

Still, I feel uncomfortable shooting in certain locations. Security does not concern me that much, what does though are "loyal citizens" protecting their country, property, or children from terrorists, criminals or maniacs (that's us, photographers) and who report us as such to security or police. No wonder reports are taken seriously, fueled by campaigns like this one:

In U.S., dangerous misconceptions from TSA poster - Blog - Committee to Protect Journalists
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 02-04-2011, 03:05 PM  
Sadness...
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 63
Views: 15,941
Possible target market?
In Google Images enter "harajuku style" and hit search.
Enjoy... :)
Forum: Photo Critique 02-03-2011, 12:04 PM  
Landscape Do you wanna go for a walk on clouds?
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 24
Views: 5,287
Yeah, I tend to agree. Although I did not change color balance or saturation just the tonal range with levels, it in turn increased contrast and apparent color saturation. Perhaps a bit of desaturation should have been applied after correcting the levels.
Forum: Photo Critique 02-03-2011, 03:27 AM  
Landscape Do you wanna go for a walk on clouds?
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 24
Views: 5,287
99% UP!!! Good one, fantastic light.

Remaining 1%: just a bit of tonal correction, and less foreground to put more emphasis on the actual landscape (subject to discussion, but this is what I would have done):

Attachment 82609
Forum: Photo Critique 02-03-2011, 03:10 AM  
Black & White Piano
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 7
Views: 2,830
Good composition and crop, however black & white processing is what I call "gray & gray" processing: part of tonal range was left unused (upper 20-30% on the histogram with almost no values, resulting in a dull mid-gray effect.

I made a few changes, 5 minutes in Photoshop:

1) Levels to stretch tonal range. Moved right slider down for whites, with a slight touch of gamma to make desired tone.

2) Added vignetting effect to darken somewhat distracting upper left corner and completely darkened upper right corner (to remove the triangle pointing "out" of the frame).

3) Increased local contrast by unsharp mask (USM), radius 40px, amount 15%.

4) Sharpened USM, radius 0.3px, amount 50%.

5) Added 50px white frame around. This is IMPORTANT: gives photographs some space to exist, separating them from user interface, text, buttons, links, or other design elements NOT under your control. I always recommend adding a simple frame (white or black) with NO other effects.

The result:

Attachment 82608
Forum: Pentax K-r 01-26-2011, 03:30 AM  
K-r Sensor Stain??
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 18
Views: 7,661
Blowing dust with the mount down appears to be more logical. With the mount down after blowing I wait 10-15 sec for dust to fall down and out of the mirror box. With the mount facing up I guess more dust would just go back where it came from - not really what we want.

So: mirror up, camera down, blow, wait, turn off (mirror down). Just be careful not to hit the sensor (filter) with the blower, that's all, but you don't need to get really close. Practice with blower not going deeper into the mirror box then the lens mount.

I would recommend blowing dust from your lenses too. Each time I blow dust from my camera in preparation for a shoot, I blow dust from the rear element of the lens I am about to mount.
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 01-25-2011, 02:31 AM  
Sent my K5 to Pentax here is how it is going.
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 273
Views: 46,711
It's not there. I suspect the problem develops incrementally with use.

Could you find some older images at small apertures and relatively clean background with image numbers around 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000 and inspect them?

Here is the theory I would like to verify: something in the mirror box throws a small oil drop (or a few drops) each time picture is taken. When that happens and if a drop is large enough you get a visible spot on the LP filter. With time more and more spots appear until the problem gets noticed. Also, since oil gets "fired" from the same mechanical part each time, it could explain why all drops remain clustered. Different size could be attributed to camera position, temperature (viscosity changes), or less and less oil in the mechanism (which means spots should get smaller and smaller, perhaps even within one shooting session).

Makes sense?
Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 01-24-2011, 08:41 AM  
Sent my K5 to Pentax here is how it is going.
Posted By Ivan Glisin
Replies: 273
Views: 46,711
I am reading about this scenario more and more often: new cameras tested, passed clean, then problem suddenly appears and gets noticed.

Is it possible the problem is not some initial manufacturing defect (like defective glass in LPF), but in fact develops with use? (New cameras with spots could develop it during final testing, thus again with use.)

Canon has similar problem with EOS-1D Mark III:
Canon Professional Network - EOS oil spots

The interesting part is "The oil is used inside the mirror box to lubricate some of the camera's moving parts. If the oil is applied too liberally when the camera is manufactured, it can become scattered onto the surface of the LPF through normal camera operation."

Could someone inspect mirror box in K-5 (including lifting the mirror) and check if there are any parts lubricated "too liberally" (I like their definition)?

It looks to me that even an in-store inspection may not guarantee you'll get a spotless :) camera. Pentax should definitely issue a statement about this. It would be good to know if they have identified the problem and took care of it. If the root cause is the same as with Canon EOS-1D, that would mean any K-5 could develop the problem at any point in time.
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