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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
04-01-2019, 06:32 AM
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Formatted card in camera, then stuck it back into the slot on my laptop (LENOVO W-7) and copied the *.bin file from a folder in a USB drive where I had extracted the ZIP file copied onto the download folder to. Even deleted the DCIM folder on the card which format installs automatically, apparently.
Tried the ON switch with the Menue button mashed; just turned on normally. Went through the firmware install (again) and lo and behold!; this time I got a blue block in which the installation option was displayed!
When I selected install, it did!
(upgrading from V. 1.0)
Now to fire up the K-50 and see if it works... not that it ever has all that well...
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
08-08-2018, 02:39 PM
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Making videos of church services with K-50, uploaded on You Tube for members who can't attend.
Preacher often goes over 25 minutes when camera shuts down. Can re start but causes a skip in the clip.
Is there any way to override this pre set shut off feature?
Manual says its to prevent over heating, but others claim it's a legal issue as any camera that takes more than 25 minutes is considered a video cam in some areas and taxed accordingly.:(
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
01-02-2017, 05:48 PM
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Sunrise over Norris Hill, Monmouth Maine
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-06-2016, 10:22 AM
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Thanks.
I was afraid I was stuck with that out of the way button.
Never quite figured out how to use 'live view" and read somewhere that it had a habit of eating up batteries rapidly if utilized.
I'll have to look up where to extend the review time on the LCD screen.
Here's another question - maybe I should start a new thread, but just took several shots today which show up on image review but none of my PC programs will recognize them. Plugged the SD card into the laptop slot and most of the archival images were there, but no file for today's pictures.
Then plugged the USB patch cord directly into the camera with the SD back in it - again no file or images recognized.
I backed up the card onto an external HD and want to re format it, but hate to lose the several pictures I put on it today.
Thought they were lost but there they are on the review menue. Any way to find and salvage them?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-05-2016, 10:54 PM
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BTW - I'm running a PENTAX-A 1:4 70-210mm Zoom on a 2x Vivitar MC Tele Converter extension tube, so I've got a lot of lens hanging out there. When shooting offhand at wildlife etc. I like to support the weight of the lens with my left hand, but in order to take a test shot I have to move that left hand back to the body to find the little FX button, leaving the weight of the whole assembly on the body held in my right hand, or reach over the top of the body with my right finger and grope around for it.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-05-2016, 10:45 PM
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On my K-100D I can push the power switch lever that goes around the shutter button over a notch to trip the shutter and take a test shot that shows up on the LCD screen to check (mainly) my exposure settings. It's a feature I appreciate and use a lot, especially when working from manual settings.
The K-50, which I got because it takes video (a feature which I'm not using as much as I thought I would) and is weather resistant, does not work that way. I managed to program the preview trip to the RAW/Fx button over on the left side of the body, but it's really hard to find by feeling around for it while trying to compose a shot and really awkward to use while trying to keep a moving subject in focus, as I usually focus with my left hand, keeping my right hand on the shutter button.
Is there any way to re program the test shot release to operate off of the green button, which is located much more conveniently just behind the shutter release?
If it's in the user's manual I have yet to find it.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-21-2015, 12:04 PM
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I ordered the SanDisk 32GB "Extreme" from B&H.
Filled in my order to qualify for free shipping with a spare battery for the Pentax Optio W-80 and a AA battery adapter for the K-50.
B&H actually had better prices than Amazon, so I pulled a couple of items off of my Amazon cart and got them from B&H in stead.
Their sponsorship of this forum is another incentive to trade with them.
I'll let you know how it works after it arrives and we get to experiment with it a bit.
The next trick is to dig into the manual and study up on fine tuning the focus; Have had focus issues with the K-100D which I've learned to compensate for somewhat, but they are worse with the new K-50, especitally in closeup and macro, and now it sits in the bag while I take my shots with the 100D.
Initial testing has been quite disappointing. Hopefully nothing that can't be fixed with judicious tweaking.
The idea was to use the K50 as my new primary and the 100D as the back up, but with the focus issue the roles have been reversed.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-19-2015, 02:54 PM
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Thanks; I have an order going on Amazon but B&H prices are actually a little better and since they are a sponsor I'll throw them the business.
Now I need to spend another $7.18 to qualify for free shipping... Now what little gimcrack do I need that I don't have???
Looked for a case but they don't have one I like - Amazon has a cheap one that looks OK so I guess I'll get that.
Like to have a little protection for the camera when I've got it strapped around my neck swinging around.
Was sitting in a steel folding chair the other day and when I stood up the lens had hooked under the back plate and pulled off hard - no damage that I can determine.
Good thing Pentax makes a rugged camera!
Have had problems with some of my SD cards - double exposures, frames cut off etc.. Seems like the higher capacity ones are most apt to mess up like that.
I only format once, but perhaps should follow condor's example, back up my files and re format every so often, eh?
The K-100D has had a firmware upgrade since I bought it and I think it's the latest version. Have heard so many horror stories about firmware updates bricking cameras that I'm reluctant to even try it with my K-50 unless it's really necessary.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-19-2015, 10:57 AM
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The manual for my K-50 recommended the use of a "High Speed" memory card in order to capture video data properly.
Is this card:
"8GB Class 10 SDHC High Speed Memory Card For Panasonic Camcorder SDR-S26P/PC. "
And similar cards made for video cams compatible with the K-50, and is it OK to use in other Pentax DSLRs like my K-100D?
Are there any known issues with them that make them less optimal for still photography?
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
07-29-2015, 08:49 PM
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These are some wild cherries growing on the edge of our property.
Took this with the K-50 wearing the DA 18-55mm Zoom about as close in as it gets.
It seems to produce a better image than I can get with the 50-200WR, but the focus could use a wee bit more tweaking I think.
This is a "Thimble Berry" - we don't see many of these around here any more but they are delicious.
The blossoms look like pink wild roses.
I set the focus on the berry, but it ended up on my hand behind the subject - typical with all of my Pentax DSLRs so far. Sometimes on a macro shot I focus to what looks right and lean back a couple of CM before tripping the shutter.
there has gotta be a better way!
---------- Post added 07-29-15 at 23:53 ----------
On the cherries I did my "focus and lean back" thing, but since I was shooting pretty much straight down on the berry and had no stirrups upon which to rise (too old and gimpish for tiptoes) it back focused.
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
07-29-2015, 03:35 PM
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Have been shooting a K-100D for a couple of years now and just moved up to a K-50 to get the weather resistance so I can shoot outdoors when the weather is less than perfect, as it usually is here, and to get AV capability.
Have only taken about a dozen pictures with is so far with both the SMC PENTAX DA 1:4-5.6 50-200mm ED WR and the DA 1:3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL lenses.
The 50-200 is proving a little too long for general utility, but it might work well for sports and wildlife shots.
The 18-55 is what I've been using on my 100D with good results, and despite forgetting that I'd swapped it for the WR lens yesterday before taking some pictures during a hail storm where it got pretty wet everything seems to be fine - no evidence of moisture inside when I pulled it off.
I'm afraid my initial impressions are a bit disappointing, as I can't seem to get a clear focus or a well defined image, although results with the 18-55 are quite a bit better. I get better shots with the little pocket PENTAX W-80, and most people could get better pictures with their cell phones.
I'm beginning to think that the WR lens might not be all its cracked up to be, but I'm not ready to give up on the K-50 yet; There is something in the manual about "Fine Tuning" the focus, and I will have to look it up and try that. In most of my shots the focus seems to end up being behind where the viewfinder tells it it was; even the K100D was that way, but not quite so much.
Thought it might be the little focusing whackydoodle on the viewfinder, but adjusting that does not seem to help any.
Fine tuning the focus on this thing might require that I start out with a 17mm wrench and work down from there.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-27-2015, 05:47 PM
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An old manual 50mm prime, onto which I screwed a Pentax Close Up lens thinking to make a macro lens out of it.
.....
Not sure that it's working out all that well - having focusing issues.
When set to infinity it will focus about 3 feet out. Can get within about 4" of subject, and can't seem to get a really sharp image for some reason - but it was interesting.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-27-2015, 05:27 PM
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Recently got mine on Amazon.
Pentax K-50 16MP Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD - Body Only (Black)
Sold by: Amazon.com LLC
$290.46
New in box with battery, charger, USB cable, CD (FWIW) manual.
Wait a couple of months and the price will probably come down.
Depreciation on electronics is pretty typical, especially since cutting edge today is obsolete in a year or so.
Computers, PDs, and digital cameras don't make great investments - especially since you're probably going to lose it, break it, brick it, or get it stolen within 3 - 5 years on average. It's probably not going to be a family heirloom.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-27-2015, 05:17 PM
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Page 100 of the K-50 Users Manual.
Menu > Rec Mode > [3] V> Slow Shutter Speed NR.
3 choices; ^V to select Auto, On, or Off.
> Menu to exit.
I haven't tried it so don't know if it works. YMMV.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-27-2015, 12:03 AM
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-26-2015, 08:31 PM
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I bought a refurbished K-50 last week and have yet to take my first shot with it; spent a few hours studying the manual and setting up the camera, assigning button functions and the like. The weather has been lousy the past couple of days but hope to get it out to play with this week.
Noticed while setting up the system that there is a setting for muting or silencing the shutter / mirror action.
Suppose that might be a good thing to use when doing wildlife so as not to spook your subject.
I like the sound though, as well as the little quiver of "recoil" the unit makes when the shutter is tripped. It makes it feel like a "real" camera!
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-25-2015, 09:06 PM
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If I crank that VIVITAR Tele-Converter on to the long lens will I end up with a 420mm telephoto lens on the cheap?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-25-2015, 08:55 PM
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Last week I bought an old A3000 film eater off of a guy for $75....
It came with a 35-70 and a 70-210 Zoom lenses, along with a Vivitar 2X TC (on the right, with it's info leaflet).
If I hook that TC on to that lens (lying on it's side next to it), will I effectively have a 420mm telephoto lens?
How do you get those incredible macro shots with a telephoto lens?
I cant focus much closer than 2.5 ft. with my 35-70 - which I just screwed an old Pentax Close Up lens on to.
That helps a little but now I can't focus to infinity with that on there.
Also in the collection is an old M-42 (I think) screw mount TC that will not fit on every lens in the lot:
Is that still good for anything?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-25-2015, 08:21 PM
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I hear ya!
Just posted my latest Classified ads ("Uncle Henry's" up heah in Maine) find; a guy was selling his A3000 kit... which included two auto zoom lenses along with a boodle of accessories.
.......
For $75. I didn't feel used too badly, and the 35-70 takes some impressive shots - possibly even better than my new 18-55. Since these are auto there is very little they won't do that a $500 lens will, and I think the opticals are just as good if not better.
As we all know, "Normal" people shoot Nikkon and Cannon...
Now I might be accused of being lots of things, but "Normal", I can assure you, ain't one of them.
That's one reason I've been a loyal PENTAX fan ever since the old Spotmatic back in '68.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-25-2015, 08:02 PM
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Have used a lot of vintage glass including M42 screwmounts with adapters on my K-100D for the past couple of years until I got lazy and bought an 18-55 Auto Zoom for it. On the auto I minimize AF use and that camera does not have live view; as stated that LCD screen is an energy glutton as is AF.
Now I have a new K-50 with live view and it takes movies; I have a feeling that my battery usage is going to increase significantly.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-25-2015, 01:56 PM
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I updated my K-100D with no issues, but having bought a new K-50 and reading ivanvernon's experience, I think I'll just leave it the bloody hell alone!
It's just way too easy to brick one of these things!
BTW; just figured out how to look it up, and my firmware version is 1.0.0.
Have they come out with any K-50 upgrades since then?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-24-2015, 11:28 AM
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I'm content with Photo Filtre on Windows; just looking for something to use on LINUX.
Since no one has come back with suggestions on how to install it and I'm at the end of my IT rope, I'll do the best I can with what I've so far got.
The CD is going in the bottom drawer O junk; perhaps revisit it some day... probably not though.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-22-2015, 10:59 AM
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I just took ShowPhoto for a test spin developing some images I took with the K-100D and a film lens I stuck on it (KA 35-70mm Zoom off of an old A-3000 camera I bought used a couple of days ago).
Set on AV, ISO 400 manual focus and click. Not bad for vintage glass, I'd say!
Showphoto takes a little getting used to but seems to do most of what I need a graphics program to do, as well as anything I've tried so far on Linux.
I may just scrap this CD "SilkyPix" program all toghether; it's more of a PITA than it's worth IMHO.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-22-2015, 06:35 AM
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Thanks 4 suggestions; I may order a battery rack so I can use AA NiCad batteries in the K-50 at least for back up, since that's what I use in the K-100D.
I'm thinking that this block battery might last longer than the AAs.
The little battery block for the Optio W-80 is still going strong after several years.
Tried to buy a back up via Amazon and it didn't fit - returning it was such a hassle I gave it away.
Good advice on the packages via SW Manager; I never could figure out the magic incantations of "sudo apt-get" etc. to make the terminal work, even when I paste the code in.
Lately is asks for my PW but when I try to type it in the cursor just sits there blinking at me and won't accept any input.
It's like it's saying "Go back to Windows; you're not smart enough to be using Linux!"
Tried hugins but couldn't get it to even open, so out that went. Right now Photoxx seems to work about as well as any of them and there is lots of stuff I can't do - or figure out how to do - in that.
At least I can do basic rotation, tweakage, and size reduction so I can post them on line or in e mail without soaking up a lot of bandwidth or hitting the Mb limit.
---------- Post added 07-22-15 at 09:38 AM ----------
Will I need to update the firmware in this new K-50 like I did with the K-100D after I got it?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-21-2015, 06:58 PM
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 Quote: =pepperberry farm;3318638]LightZone 4.1.1 should be available for Linux - I use the OSX version (and am slowing moving to PS Elements) and find it simple, powerful, intuitive and free...
---------- Post added 07-21-15 at 01:45 PM ----------
Thanks, but after wasting about an hour registering on the LZ forum, having my quesitons blocked, trying several other repositories, pasting in the terminal codes to no avail, I've pretty much given up.
If I can't download an *.exe setup file and just open it and let it install the software for me, I'm lost.
Some people are just too stupid for Linux and I'm probably one of them.
---------- Post added 07-21-15 at 10:09 PM ----------
Oh good! Linux is interesting, but I don't think I'm quite smart enough to be using it... I might run some questions by you about it from time to time.
Thanks for the tip; I plugged it in to my software manager search window and *sha-zamm!*; There it was - so I installed it.
That was relatively painless!
I'll run some of my next batch of pictures through it and see how it works.
If showfoto doesn't work out I'll try Darktable.
Have tried several graphics programs on Linux which were so terrible I just dumped them.
The battery pack for the new K-50 should be charged up by tomorrow and if the weather is any decent I'll give it a whirl!
Stay tuned!
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