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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
11-09-2014, 06:41 PM
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I must say, not one of these jump out as 'poor'! They are all pretty good. It's hard to pick a favourite!
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
11-09-2014, 06:18 PM
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Between different brands, I own over 25 lenses of 50mm, including SMC Tak, M50 1.4, two M50 1.7, an M50 2, DA 50 1.8. I also own the 3 FA limited. My test results depend on 1) presence of objects leading to PF 2) distance. Unfortunately, there is today so much variation in the old lenses samples that I am afraid the conclusion can not be generalised.
However, it is nice to see your test and I believe that your result for the 43mm remains true.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
11-09-2014, 12:55 PM
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Thanks for sharing!
The 43 looks to have a bit brighter exposure than the Ms, and also maybe than the Sears. Interesting. And also surprising (at least to me) that the 1.4 looks softer than the 1.7 at 2.8.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
11-09-2014, 01:44 PM
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Which again reinforces for me why I like my cheap Pentax-M 50mm F1/1.7!
Thanks for posting.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
11-09-2014, 10:25 AM
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You've no idea how many test charts I've shot, then dismantled the whole setup, and then realized I could have done something different/more (lenses, apertures, etc.)!
Another good reason for messing around another afternoon at some point in the future! ;)
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
11-09-2014, 10:02 AM
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lol funny kids you have there.... mine normally would not sit this still.
but good test.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
11-09-2014, 09:59 AM
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Interesting comparison and a nice set you have there!
Where did you focus, the eyes?
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-11-2014, 05:18 PM
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Few camera makers are. Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Fuji - all will have chips and other mechanical parts like shutter mechanisms from multiple third-party providers. Just look at any camera teardown - like the iFixit D600 teardown. Full of third-party parts.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-11-2014, 09:43 AM
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Fuji? Pentax is using a Fujitsu processor, not Fuji/Fujifilm. And I think Fuji is keeping their sensors to themselves?
A EVF on the Q? Interesting, but where would they fit it? Those cameras are rather small, EVFs aren't.
I truly hope we get a new mount with the mirrorless FF Pentax, though it should be closely related to the K mount, so it comes with an adapter that gives us a complete K mount should we want it.
I'm afraid the K-30 was next to the K-5 when I bought my K-5, and I considered both. The shop where I bought the camera has let me test both, and within a few seconds I knew I wouldn't buy the K-30. The video stabilizer is electronic, and it is very obvious. Will have to do further testing with my camera, but there are threads on this forum on that subject. Sadly I haven't seen any camera store in my area that even sells the K-5 II... at the very most it's a K-30 or K-50 (didn't we complain about Pentax' distribution chain?). Probably Pentax has fixed the problem with the K-5 II then, but I'm not changing my camera for such a small upgrade... the loss would probably be too big (shutter count is nearing 50000 now, and the paint has worn off... I guess the resale value isn't too good).
I don't think I really dropped my camera (at least seriously). Shock proofing would be still nice though... and I think that's probably easier to do on a mirrorless camera, as the mirror assembly is maybe a bit sensitive. Having all the metering, AF sensors etc. in the sensor would help.
Fair enough, Samsung doesn't have such a sensor yet. But a sensor based on their technology could be really nice, and maybe Samsung wants to supersize the NX-1 at some point, to compete with the A7...?
 Quote: Sony sensors can be found in cameras from several different manufacturers. How does your sensor business work?
When we make sensors we put them in several categories. [At any given time] one category of sensors is reserved purely for Sony cameras - we don’t sell them to other companies. Like the sensor in the A7S. But once we’ve enjoyed this advantage we might sell them on later, after some time has passed. This is the second category. The third category of sensors is completely generic - the sensors are created for use internally and to sell externally, to anybody. China or Taiwan or wherever. Photokina 2014: Sony interview - 'we still need to create more lenses': Digital Photography Review
Sony wants to keep their latest and greatest to themselves.
I used to move focus points on my *istDS, but I really don't like the way it is done on the K-5. So... another suggestion for a FF Pentax: Add a Fn button! Fn + one of the directional buttons = WB, flash, ... Directly pressing the directional button = move focus point.
@normhead: What other brands are already doing = minimum that Pentax should be doing. And then some. What use is a Pentax that does something unique, but falls behind on all the other aspects?
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-11-2014, 03:30 AM
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I'd like to have some of that Samsung tech in a Pentax. Not in a Samsung, but in a Pentax. What's wrong with that? And most of my suggestions do apply to a Pentax, and I do want these things realized in a Pentax, not a Samsung. But if Samsung has a superior image processor, or a superior (at least on paper) sensor, then that's what I want in the Pentax.
I guess you've been to Photokina, well, those were preproduction cameras, so we'll have to see for the final camera they'll bring to market.
To give an example: 50mm 1.8, stopped down to something like 2.5 or 2.8. Photo of a group of people. I press the AF button while aiming at the head of one of them (cause that's where I see plenty of contrast). The focus ends up on the background. The group may be 4 meters from me, the background is more like 50 meters away. Why on earth did it focus on the background? Simple, the AF area for the center focus point is huge. I'm not the only one complaining. As I kind of expected I also did a few shots where I manually focused. And guess what... spot on. I think I read somewhere that the K-3 (and perhaps K-5 II) sensor is better, but the K-5 is rather useless. But still, you can improve on good. So:
Give me a PENTAX, APS-C or FF, that has a BSI sensor with small PDAF sensors spread across the whole sensor, with an extra amount in the center area. Since such a camera has an EVF, it's no problem to have only the exact AF sensor that got focus marked down (or maybe several AF sensors). So I can set the camera to center AF, and it draws a rectangle of the sensors that are being used. I can define the size of that rectangle, i.e. if I want to have the camera focus on anything that is generally in the center, or to only look for focus in a very narrow area. When I focus it'll look for the closest thing in that area (alternatively the biggest area).
There can also be a portrait AF mode, which looks for a face, and when it detects one pics exactly the focus points that are where the eyes are. It might make things too easy, but I have the suspicion professional event/wedding photographers will appreciate it. And again, the viewfinder needs to say what exactly was focused on, so that one can instantly correct it if it's wrong.
Btw., could it be possible that Pentax was planning to do a FF camera all along, but they wanted to go mirrorless from the start (hence no proper mirrorless APS-C camera yet, and no FF camera), and they wanted to release a proper product from the start? So they are working hard on it in the background, pouring resources into developing new lenses for it, which makes them look a bit slow. They don't want to leak that information to the public. They said they want to release something special, it has to bring something new to the table, a unique selling point. But until recently, or even until now they just don't think EVFs are good enough, there's too much lag, the resolution isn't sharp enough, ... so they are holding back. But this camera will be released once they can get a hold of the components they need to make it a great camera.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-11-2014, 01:27 AM
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That might not even be necessary. I have suggested it before, and I'll say it again... Pentax could just shift the sensor and take 3 photos, to cover all the pixels. The exposure time might be longer than for a regular photo, and it wouldn't work at all for moving motives (weird artefacts), but still it would give a significant advantage on certain photos. Combining the 3 photos into one raw should be pretty trivial.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-09-2014, 01:47 PM
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ehmmmm... thinking different... a better poor-mans-tilt shift?
imagine a FF camera which has a fully functional tilt-shift-sensor system, so you can really make use of the narrow DOF. Guess how many photographers would switch to that?) Its unique and fully pentaxian. even if it goes only for 6mm and 6° it will still be a bomb.
although an appropriate adapter for middle format lenses, so you can use all funktions.
P.S. i want a stake on this one...)
although multizone WB is quite promissing, so i would work on that.
And maybe not only metering, but adjusting WB, Dynamic range, etc. Splitting the sensor in arrays which would be Metered and adjusted separatly one of each other and then composed and adjusted into one picture, geveng you better dynamic range and true colors. fiction and not how its working, but still... idea..)
some new software would be nice, not for the FF, but for aps-c cameras. Pentax is really good with double exposures and time lapse videos. for most hobbists, although a panorama and bulb-composite function that saves in raw would be awesome.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-08-2014, 08:21 AM
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-06-2014, 01:06 PM
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I'm aware of that. Olympus said that too, not too long ago, they changed their position apparently after seeing how Panasonic is profiting from video. Fuji is seeing video more and more as something they need to improve, likewise Nikon, and both used to be on the not a priority bandwagon.
What I am saying is that Pentax should start to rethink their position... it doesn't have to be the main priority, though it could be quite profitable to do so, but at least doing something would be nice, and I'd argue that if they don't they'll lose sales.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-07-2014, 12:21 PM
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I've embraced it. Finally, a phone where the buttons are not too small for my fat fingers!
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-06-2014, 12:16 PM
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While I would like to see new, improved hardware, my main issues are with the firmware. Fix that... and how expensive can that be? As the K-3 successor might still take a while, why not improve the firmware? The hardware is pretty good to great, but the software is a let down, and it doesn't have to be.
As for what we can expect for the K-3 successor I think the D5300 and the D750/D810 show the way it'll go. They have really good video quality thanks to newer sensors, and apparently the Milbeaut makes it possible. Add mechanical SR and a firmware that doesn't neglect video functionality and I think Pentax would have a winner, especially with the crowds that need to shoot video without additional stabilization... I'm thinking of journalism for example. A Pentax sounds like a dream for those areas.
Using 2 processors is I don't think possible. That is a feature of the Canon chip, the Milbeaut doesn't support it. I'd like to see Pentax switch to the Samsung processor though.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-06-2014, 11:34 AM
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I completely disagree. USE NEW HARDWARE! And go64mn!t use 2 CPU's for a higher framerate! But I really love the outside of the K-5II and think they should design the buttons and levers on the FF according to the philosophy of the K-5II and the 645Z!!! So handy! Changing the settings so lightning fast! I can not stop to repeat it. The design is nearly flawless. (Except the mode wheel that has to be unlocked by pressing the button on top of it. The K-3 is doing much better with the mode wheel. AND the Focus mode lever sits on the wrong side on the K-5II, it should point away from the display so your thumb does not have to glide over the AF button in the middle of it. Anyway it would be so much easier to handle it this way.)
AND AGAIN:!!! locking the pictures(to protect them from accidentally deletion) by pressing the AE-L(in review-mode) should be implemented. ON ANY FIRMWARE ON EVERY CAMERA!!!
So it would be easy as cake to declutter photo series!!!
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-06-2014, 10:50 AM
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Just a short reply... I'm just asking Pentax to return to the video abilities of the K-5. MJPEG, mechanical SR and the improvements the K-3 received. Is that unreasonable? It should all just be firmware improvements. And maybe take a look at what professional videographers ask for... zebra, flat picture profile etc. No need for a new processor... just make use of the hardware that is already there.
I can do things in terms of video with my K-5 I couldn't with a K-3. Why?! A mixture between a K-5 and a K-3 would be great and could sell a couple of cameras (the IBIS in the Olympus OM-D series is a big deal for some, and Pentax could have that too, with more frame rates (which really hinders the Olympus).
Last night I shot video at a concert, with a 200mm lens handheld standing in the audience, and it turned out quite fine. There's no way you could do that with another camera other than that Olympus or the K-5.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-06-2014, 07:06 AM
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This is not allowed because of rights bought by tv networks. Coming wednesday I'm going to UEFA Womens Championsleague Game and I'm not allowed to shoot video.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-06-2014, 07:31 AM
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Adam should set up the Forum so this Reply auto-responds to every post about bad Pentax video.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-06-2014, 07:27 AM
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Pentax basicly has two electronic highways inside the camera's.
- PRIME M(II) for 12 bit RAW in K-01, K-30, K-50, K-500 and now K-S1
- PRIME III for 14-bit RAW in K-3 and 645Z.
Both processors are not capable to handle 4k video in a way that it is practicle. Or the sensors inside the camera don't pull out the data fast enough. So a next generation processing engine will, but those will be seen at Photokina 2016. Maybe earlier if the market demands 4k video, but it is cheaper to run these electronic systems for a few more years, since the number of camera's sold isn't so high to make it cheap enough to upgrade a faster tempo.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-03-2014, 08:17 AM
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The Pentax advantage is that so many of us were 35x24 shooters for years. To this day some of my favourite images were taken on 35x24 cameras, and some of them wouldn't be the same shot in APS-c. Even for folks like me who are essentially sitting on the fence, and feel we can get along without FF want to see what they come out with. There is probably more latent understanding of FF in the Pentax community than anywhere else just because, we don't have one, and because we grew up with it. I expect when Pentax releases their first FF, the results will surprise some. And there are a lot of us who wouldn't say we'll buy one, who will if what is offered suits us.
As Jay points out, the Canikon market is sewed up. If I'm my buddy Brian with his D800 and 14-24, 24-70 and 70-200, and Pentax comes out with an FF, why would i care? Or If I'm a sports shooter with my long lens with built in 2x converter available at the flip of a switch. Pentax releasing an FF doesn't make them competitors of Nikon or Canon. It makes them the producers of an FF body to go with the Pentax philosophy, small, lightweight, rugged and built for compromise lenses that are centre sharp and often edge soft, but extremely small, light weight and rugged. Pentax is going to make an FF to sell to the Pentax demographic, which is different from the Canon or Nikon demographic. If at some point they decide to compete with the big boys, they have some serious work to do.
My biggest fear with the Pentax FF is that under Ricoh's guidance they decide to take on the big boys, and ditch their demographic. While it would be exciting to some, most of us who shoot pentax do so because we are in tune with their philosophy. If they become Canikon clones, well I could have switched to the Canikon model whenever I wanted. It wouldn't be any different than switching brands...
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-02-2014, 12:28 PM
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Answering the question stated:
It could be a little bit bigger!
People would buy the Pentax FF even if it is 2-3 cm taller(height) and plus 2 cm wide, who exactly would care about that? Even if it comes in a format similar to Canon 1D or Nikon D4S people would run for it.
And we have an equivalent to the desired specs (when talking about Size and a FF Sensor with SR) --> sony's A900 it is app. 156,3 × 116,9 × 81,9 mm.
And yes; I could live with a Pentax FF that has the same or approximately the same measures as the A900.
In the contrary! There are people who praise the handling of the pentax, but who want to rest their little finger on the camera body but they just can't. Neither on the K-5 or on the K-30... We could even pull some Nikonian-Candidates over to the RICOH-PENTAX brand back again with that larger body and the classical KISS handling of the K-5II(Button and element aligning just make so much sense on this great camera body.)
I just imagine my K-5II with the exact same button aligning but app. 3cm bigger (width and also height) and with a FF SR sensor and i would just say WOW. I wanna have that, because it is easy to utilise. And changing settings on this premium body goes lightning fast. The only advantage on the K-3 body that i see, is that you don't have to press down a button on the mode dial.
Ah. Yes, maybe the AF switch lever (mid focus, Sel or Auto) shoud point to the right instead of pointing towards the screen. Besides those odds and ends i find the K-5(II) the more perfect design for full frame.
The handling beats Canon and Nikon DSLRs in just every way. I recently tried some of those. But every time i have Canikon in my hands, I am reminded to that catchy song "wicked, wicked wonderland..." and i think: "How the AF works is really cool, but it just looks and feels so goddamn tacky-swanky."
AND PLEASE RICOH!
Locking Pictures !!!! We really do not need an extra lock button, but you should finally implement locking the pictures in review mode when pressing the AE-L button.
Because no one needs the AE-L button in Review or Play-Mode for anything else. It should just lock the picture i am reviewing on my display when i press it instead of throwing me out of review mode or doing nothing.(on K-30 it throws you out of review mode, on K-5II it exactly does nothing when pressed while reviewing a pic.)
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-02-2014, 12:14 PM
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"Software SR" only works for video. where the shifting of pixels can be done between each captured frame.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-02-2014, 12:13 PM
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All the mirrored cameras are mechanical SR for still images. Q is mechanical SR for still. Video on some models employs digital image stabilization.
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