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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
11-30-2013, 04:48 AM
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Hi Danny, Heie, Adam, Ter-or and anyone else reading this thread - I tried to get the K-5 ii + 18-135 WR deal from B&H but was a bit late and it was out of stock. In parallel, the bestbuy deal for the D7000 + 18-140 VR was back in stock and my brother ended up ordering that. He'll collect the camera from a store in Florida and bring it over during christmas vacation.
Are there any specific checks he should do with the camera? I can instruct him to charge battery, and do on/off so that we know the camera is not DoA. What other checks can be easily done? Any response appreciated.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
11-26-2013, 01:13 AM
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Hi Danny
I live near Delhi now (in Noida). Pentax has officially been launched this year in India but the service center contacts given on the Pentax India page (which is the RICOH company page actually) don't work. :( . The brand's known amongst a very niche community of followers but nowhere close to CaNikon or Sony (which would is likely the best known brand here of the three due to association with other electronics).
I understand about the dilemma buying electronics from the US but my previous two experiences - one of the current nikon DSLR and second of a denon micro system have been very positive (touch-wood). The only time I needed any repair done on Nikon was when I wanted the sensor cleaned this year and it worked out fine here.
He can do the DoA check fine I think (I'll ask him nicely). I checked at the costco site but the 18-135 WR bundle is not available nor is the Pentax K-5ii.
Thanks for warning me - I'll think over this in the next two days (before the sale opens) and proceed accordingly.
-Vaibhav
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
11-17-2013, 10:45 PM
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Heie (and anyone else reading this):
If you get a few minutes today, could you please look at this image gallery. Its on another forum. It should give you an idea of the kind of shooting I do. I think walkabout best characterizes it. Through my eyes - India Travel Forum | IndiaMike.com.
Just thought it might give a better idea if the lenses / cameras you've suggested would work well for this?
I bought my current D40 + 2 lens combo + flash (sight unseen) based on reviews only back in 2008 from the US (had my brother bring it over) and it has served me very well so I'm going the same route for the upgrade too.
thanks in advance
Vaibhav
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
11-17-2013, 07:34 AM
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The more I look at the 'no more tests' thread, the more I realize that keeping a single walk about zoom is convenient but would seriously compromise image quality. Also, cant tell you how beautiful those images are! Superb.
Also, another thought - though it does call for two lenses is to purchase the K-5 ii new (body only), the 16-45 lens (there's an extra 2 mm which would help go wider and the color rendition is very nice), I've seen a used piece on Keh.com and a 55-300 WR as heie pointed out. It does overshoot the budget by 30% though :(
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
11-17-2013, 01:31 AM
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Thank you Jean, Ivan and kerrowdown for the welcome. I've posted my queries on this thread: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/115-pentax-k-5/242694-moving-nikon-d40-pentax-k-5-ii-s.html. Your opinions are very welcome.
Another photo in-line (while i figure out forum etiquette, hope it's OK to post here?). This is the iconic monument of my hometown, Jaipur. Called Hawa-mahal or the Palace of Winds, its essentially a facade through which the women of the royal household could watch the proceedings in the busy main market without being seen by outsiders. Photograph was taken on the eve of the festival of lights 'Deepawali'.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
11-16-2013, 04:27 AM
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Heie
Thank you ! Very helpful post. Ok, so I will look at K-5 ii and possibly the K-50 as well.
As you've rightly said that we have more than adequate sunlight here (no point taking pictures of monuments here past between 10 am and 2 pm or so, they just look so faded) , I've found the dinky sb-400 very useful in many situations (fill flash in monuments, rock carvings, temples and what not in India). Are there any inexpensive Pentax / compatible brand equivalents? What I saw on october deals page was about $400 or so.
The aspect of weather sealing I'm attracted to you've adequately shown in the thread you shared (dust storm, I've been through more than one, had the sensor cleaned). However, on re-reading the thread and soaking it all in, the fact that you are inclined to photograph and share your experiences while doing defending your country, I salute you!! :)
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
11-16-2013, 12:05 AM
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Thanks Hawkeye86 !! I had a look at the non-pentax forum but didn't see a nikon photo thread. So, here're two taken with the D40 and the 18-55 (non VR). This first one is from my hometown (clicked in 2010) and second from Jaisalmer (in 2011).
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
11-15-2013, 11:49 PM
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Thanks Adam for the welcome and the suggestion. The leaning towards 18-135 is due to the overall good reviews the lens gets plus the climatic conditions I live in and my photography style (best characterized as walkabout). Not changing lenses in the field (or minimizing atleast) would significantly help though the more images I look at (on this forum and elsewhere) taken with Pentax, the more confused I get. I'm even open to the idea of looking at another body with two lenses so as to better spread the 1000 dollars I have in mind.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
11-15-2013, 10:04 PM
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Hello! :)
Second post here (after the introduction). I live and work in India and photography is strictly a hobby. Over the last 5 years, I've taken about 20,000 photos with my nikon D40 and while I'm in love with the camera, I feel I've outgrown the camera mostly due to few dedicated controls, inability to crop much and the initial choice of lenses I made.
I only have the kit lens 18-55, an additional 55-200 VR and the SB-400 flash.
I analysed the exif data on about 5000 of my images and realized that about half the shots are at the 18 mm APS-C end. About 92% are in 18-85 mm range. Thus, my needs are at the wide end (photograph the ancient monuments of India more than anything else, very limited people, some street scene, flash usage is about 10% of the time so can dispense with that possibly?)
I was contemplating upgrading to a nikon D7000 (and a matching lens) when the thought of getting a Pentax K-5 ii occurred. I reckoned I'd spend about $1000 if I buy the nikon combination of D7000 with 18-105 or perhaps the 140. For the same amount of money I can look at the K-5 ii and the 18-135 WR (there's a sale on Amazon).
my primary considerations for making this move would be good image quality, reliability of equipment (lots of dust where i live and shoot) and usage for next 5+ years? I'm also confused about spending the extra 100 on a K-5 iis (without the AA filter) as opposed to the K-5ii.
As pentax doesnt sell in India, I'll have to get the camera from my brother who lives in the US. I plan on ordering by end of the month.
Any suggestions would be great.
thanks!
- Vaibhav
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
11-15-2013, 09:54 PM
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Hello !
I came across this wonderful forum while doing some research on a possible K-5 ii / s purchase. I live and work in India and have only used nikon cameras since I was a child (I'm 35 now). I've moved from a nikon 35 mm film automatic to a point and shoot to a Nikon D40. Part of the reason is the unavailability of Pentax as opposed to CaNikon gear here in India. Even sony has a better presence here.
I love traveling and exploring India, including some offbeat destinations. Photography is strictly a hobby but the camera is indispensable to record much that I see. Pentax seems to offer some distinct advantages for where I live - desert state of Rajasthan (weather sealing most notably) and hence I've just started reading a bit about the system.
I will post a thread in the Pentax K-5 forum shortly with some questions.
thanks!
Vaibhav
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