|
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
07-25-2023, 03:01 AM
|
| |
Check the screws on the lens mount if they are still secure. Likely the focal length sensor (typically a set of electrical contacts) is damaged. There may be other damage to the focus and zoom mechanisms that may take time to manifest. Optical elements may be out of alignment as well.
Only way to know for sure is to open it up to inspect for damage and put it on an optical bench.
The body may have other damage as well.
|
|
Forum: Sold Items
07-13-2023, 06:52 PM
|
| |
| |
|
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
03-01-2023, 05:11 PM
|
| |
FYI, the Head of Marketing for Ricoh Imaging in Germany is present in the German Pentaxians forum and e.g. ran a thread "Who actually shoots film?" two weeks before the announcement. He follows discussions, relays announcements, occasionally comments on product topics to correct misinformation and otherwise describes his role as providing input (e.g. having put a FF TC on the wish list for quite a while) and feedback to the development group, but not having a say in decision making.
|
|
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
03-01-2023, 04:38 PM
|
| |
@bdery and @wsself I think gaijin discussion boards, with all their dissent, trolls and public ignorance make any traditional Japanese corporation types shake their head. There are Pentax ambassadors who used to post here, but not anymore. There's only so much unrelated "Why are you showing off a new K-3 or GR when I want a 24mm prime?" crap they can put up with. :)
The signal to noise ratio of a place like DPR is far worse, to a logical, dignified Japanese executive it would be page after page of combative, uninformed babble.
Youtuber Tony Northrup once gave his expert's opinion that we shouldn't have the K-1, that making a full frame camera instead of concentrating on APS-C was a mistake by Hoya. That's how unrepresentative his - and any social media influencer's - views are.
Pentax has instead always consulted its own domestic audiences (see the clubhouse meetings) and got feedback and testing from established professional Japanese Pentaxians like Kimio Tanaka and Yoshiaki Kobayashi in developing anything.
I have seen the western Ricoh ambassadors say they simply get sent a pre-release camera to try, it just appears, they are not counted as being 'inner circle'. It's all happened beforehand.
We choose the advantages and disadvantages of buying a foreign brand, one in particular that is and has always been strongly Japanese in personality. Asahi Optical company who made the Pentax brand has been around since 1919.
Anyone not understanding that will forever be scratching their head as to why they are thinking of resurrecting film, doing a monochrome K-3, and releasing so many blingy accessorized models. The coloured Q series back in its day seems to have been a hit amongst younger Japanese folk.
These don't come from the wants of a Gen Z European, a millenial American, or a middle aged Aussie like myself.
|
|
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-24-2023, 02:06 PM
|
| |
Pentax only releasing 1.5 new cameras and a handful of lens is likely what a camera brand needs to do nowadays in order to stay above water or maintain a small profit. Of course I'm keeping this statement i context of the entire camera industry which certainly has been a pond of water that seems to keep getting smaller. Some companies, like Nikon, have layed off workers and shut factories in order to get to a point where they produce less product(s) from smaller operations...
|
|
Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
02-22-2023, 03:25 PM
|
| |
My 22 yo daughter has been using a cheap film P&S for a couple of years. Last Xmas her gift request was a better old P&S because the new cheap P&S cameras regularly malfunction. I found her a good copy of a late 1980's Nikon AF3 which she loves. She has the latest smart phone and is an avid social media user. So 'why does she want a film P&S camera" I hear you ask. Well, I have asked this many times myself - why bother with the poorer IQ, expense and delay of film???
She uses her film camera for more special occasions - friends 21st parties or a special trip somewhere with friends. I have offered my GR3 many times - surely the compactness and image quality will do the job but it's always a "no thanks dad". She also has several friends who also use film cameras, so I am not surprised that Pentax/Ricoh is talking about a camera for this market.
The main reason my daughter loves her film P&S is the excitement she feels when she sends her film in for processing and she gets her e-prints back (she gets a scan back rather than prints). In an era of instant gratification, she loves the thrill of seeing the photos she took 1/3/6 months earlier and being reminded of the occasion and then sending the photos on to her friends to re-live the moment too.
Secondly, she likes the look of the film photos. Her phone camera is so sharp and good, she actually enjoys the contrary look of the film's lower resolution and IQ and grain. The weak in-camera flash also adds to the vintage look.
To a lesser extent, she also likes the cache of having a genuine vintage camera to take her vintage photos with.
Good copies of these old P&S cameras are in high demand on ebay etc. I paid $270 AUD (~$180USD) for my daughter's. These old camera's are slowly wearing out and with no spares available, I am not surprised that Ricoh/Pentax are looking at filling this niche. I think a Pentax brand compact, simple to use, film P&S with a half decent flash would be attractive to this young group and would introduce them to the Pentax brand. The fact that Pentax is a real deal vintage brand that is relatively unknown aka exotic, might work in this market niche. I look forward to seeing Ricoh/Pentax bringing a modern 'Nikon AF3' to market.
|
|
Forum: Pentax KP
12-15-2022, 06:41 AM
|
| |
First they'd have to sell me a K-P.
They aren't made in the same plant by the same people, unless of course the woodworkers who make the handles are also trained in camera software creation. When I did my journeyman's in cabinetmaking, Camera programming wasn't an elective. It would be an interesting addition to the calendar though.
"Wanted: Woodworker capable of running a small woodworking product line who also has Camera programming skills. "
There has to be one somewhere right?
But I digress. :D
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-21-2023, 12:37 AM
|
| |
I recommend you check this thread: Post your Telephoto Landscapes! - PentaxForums.com
I have the 70mm smc version, had it for years. Compared it with the DA* 50-135mm and found it to be a step up for sharpness from what is an excellent zoom lens.
I kept it despite picking up a K-1 as it does work on the K-1 providing softer edges with a natural looking vignette if shooting at faster apertures.
It's getting more use since I picked up the K3-3 and the HD version of the 43mm LTD. It is a lightweight kit for the motorbike when I also add the DA 15/4 smc.
How can you use it? Here's three examples:
1. Action  Bluesy Rider by noompty, on Flickr
2. Telephoto seascape Pastel reflections on the wading pool by noompty, on Flickr
3. Sunrise boat photos  Sailing the inferno by noompty, on Flickr
I have used my 70 using extension tubes. It became manual focus but it's not an expensive option if you decide to go with the 70 and also want to use it for macro.
Tas
|
|
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
02-21-2023, 09:48 PM
|
| |
 Originally posted by jimyoung999  I have hockey tonight, so I'm going to try at faster shutter speeds - and let the ISO rip - to compare the final filtered results. Thanks again
