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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
1 Hour Ago
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Here are my random speculation worms from the can:
The last several times recently that Pentax has upgraded a camera---K1mkII, the K-something apsc camera, and the K3mkIII----only this last was a significant upgrade. I think that K-something camera that so disappointed people was only upgraded because parts for the previous version became unavailable. The K1mkII wasn't that significant an upgrade---to the extent that they offered a board replacement(!) for K1 owners. I took advantage of that. The K3mkIII's significant upgrade, who knows how long that was in development?
It seems only the huge Sony corporation is really going with incremental upgrades in this current market. So, for Pentax they seem to be looking now only at major upgrades. I think they even mentioned something like that a couple of years ago with respect to the 645 series, noting the problems/challenges with that. And these days a major upgrade for Pentax on the K1 line may mean as significant an upgrade as in the K3 line.
I think Photoptimist, one of our most knowledgeable members, recently stated that sensor technology was starting to reach its practical limits unless some very significant technological change occurs. Perhaps this is playing into this upgrade trajectory, along with Pentax adding better video, for instance, something they did with the K3mkIII. But of course video isn't in their DNA really, and its unlikely they have the requisite video engineers in the way Panasonic, Sony, and Canon do, all of whom make video cameras and have been for decades. The other thing is the new prism technology, and perhaps that's difficult to scale up. Then there's the AF, which is fine for me but seems to bother everyone else.
All speculation of course. What I do know is that my now 10 y.o. 645Z still does a fantastic job in my line of work, cultural heritage, and for my personal artwork. And my K1mkII is a noble backup---I know if I can't use the 645Z for some reason I'm going to get superb shots with the K1mkII. And I know that I wouldn't jump into an upgrade as quickly this time as I did with those cameras unless the K1mkII was indeed a significant upgrade, and possibly the same for a new 645 camera (although here I'd also be considering the age of my trusty unit).
I'd make a quick jump to purchase if:
- the new K1mkII had much better video, and video-helpful features, like a touch screen for focus.
- the new 645 was FF 645 and/or had pixel shift and IBIS, and maybe some other internal features like focus stacking, & etc., or FF video.
- Pentax came out with a compact FF camera, ideally fixed lens
- Pentax came out with a compact crop frame 645 camera, ideally fixed lens.
Those above give you some idea of my perhaps esoteric needs, and how I sit in the camera market as a potential customer!
But one final thought on this, my most significant upgrade lately, besides lighting equipment, was my phone. I upgraded to a Samsung S24 Ultra. The reason I did so was the additional lenses on the camera, that my Note 9 was getting a little long in the tooth, but what really sealed the deal was Samsung's commitment to 7 years of major Android upgrades. I'm wondering if that's not suggestive of something they know and we don't, namely that significant tech upgrades will be slower in coming now. And it makes me speculate that this is where Pentax finds itself.
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
2 Hours Ago
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Well, no idea for artistic effect, like adding actual film grain, is crazy. But I think it's a weird idea.
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Forum: Photographic Technique
2 Hours Ago
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W/O the DOF scale, you've just got to memorize some key fstops I think. Obviously much harder with a zoom like the 28-105. I'd have to look at my lenses, but possibly one could make a little bit of adhesive tape with markings. But I'll bet you've thought of these things and maybe rejected them.
During film days, all I ever did was zone focus for my style of shooting. My first decent camera, the Rollei 35, basically required it.
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Forum: Post-Processing Articles
1 Day Ago
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I started on an old program called RSE, which became RSP---then bought out by Adobe and had some of its dna incorporated into the very first Lightroom, which I had thanks to an unexpected bit of Adobe generosity which gave a license to all RSP purchasers. I then settled on a program called LightZone---the very first completely non-destructive raw editor, and I used that for many years until its creator abandoned it, and then co-led a rescue mission in 2010 to keep it alive, financing a website for it after a number of great volunteers helped compile it for public access for free---and it still is on Github. It's quirky, though, and now behind in its tech, although it does have one cool trick up its sleeve.
Along the way I have briefly tried other things and found none so compelling to stay with. So, today i am all in with Lightroom, and in its current iteration it has all any "straight" photographer needs. What it doesn't do is composite, and that's what Photoshop is for. But IMO PS is not a pure photography program, despite its name---it's a graphics program with all of the complexity (and legacy pre-digital graphics terms!) that that entails.
My advice is go with Lightroom, it's great. I have no problem with the subscription model. And BTW, LR includes a DAM.
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Forum: General Talk
3 Days Ago
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Feist, Multitudes
You Tube
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src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FqxOBxFRgHY?controls=1" allowfullscreen>
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
3 Days Ago
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All who wander are not lost! I think we're just seeing a bit of a retrenchment in the industry---good examples are Nikon's move to mirrorless and its purchase of Red, Canon's move to mirrorless, Sony's continued diversification of its lineup, and our own dear Pentax committing to DSLR's as one of the last makers. And all of this is a reflection of what you delineated above (and more...)
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Forum: General Photography
04-15-2024, 07:15 AM
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Yes, I have them for different uses. I have an old aluminum Manfrotto with a 1/2 bowl leveling head that is now dedicated for video. I have a small Jobey for cell use. I have a Feisol travel tripod, and then a really big Leofoto for serious work (generally too big to travel with, but with the legs fully extended and the center column up, I can walk under it---I'm 5-11/180cm). The new one coming may replace the Feisol, we'll see. Then there's the heads---2 Acratechs, 1 video head, the thing on the Jobey, a geared head.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-15-2024, 07:08 AM
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That is very strange looking! Don't know what to say....looks like it's been chewed. But I guess a fragment has just busted off. If it were mine I'd put a call into Precision, then I'd try looking in Japan.
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Forum: General Photography
04-14-2024, 09:30 AM
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I've almost caught up to you....waiting for my latest to be delivered.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-14-2024, 09:24 AM
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Could we see a photo, please? I haven't had this problem, and I got my camera in 2014.
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
04-11-2024, 09:46 AM
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Your image has very little information in it---very few details or color. I would expect the export to be small.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-06-2024, 08:55 AM
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He should be careful. Lenses and bodies can be expensive in Japanese shops---they can treat stuff like it's very precious. I've never had a problem buying from Japan on eBay, but the one time I was there some of the camera shops were like little jewelry stores.
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Forum: General Photography
03-30-2024, 10:08 AM
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I definitely prefer....both.
For travel my go-to heads are Acratech. Some years ago DPR did a test and found that (at that time) the Acratech held better than others. This has been my experience, using a 645Z) and I have 2 of them (great deal on a used one, then got the other which had better features for me). They are lighter than other heads with the same holding power/weight rating.
But for most of my pro work I use a geared head, the heavier sibling of pan-tilts. Very precise movements are possible with ease, which is not something that can be said for ball heads, which can be precisely adjusted but not with ease (but YMMV applies).
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-25-2024, 03:43 PM
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I have had the opposite experience in low light, indoor situations, with both the 645Z and the K1mkII. What am I doing...wrong? They're not quick like Canon---but they're quick enough and more sure in my experience than the 5DmkIV I have worked with side by side with the Pentax cameras.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-25-2024, 03:38 PM
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[LIST][*]
Point(s) of order:
- The Sony is not a lousy little camera.
- The Nikon's were not ever intended to chase toddlers
- Focus point "right on the edge of the frame" is ....an odd need.
- "Modern capabilities"---I rather think it's horses for courses. I haven't any need for the things you seem to---and that doesn't mean I'm going to try to convince you to get a 645Z.
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
03-25-2024, 07:56 AM
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The justification is entirely up to you and your use case. I have had the A version of the 120 and have the 90. The 90 is indeed excellent, but I have serious doubts that anyone but we here could ever detect the difference. Having worked in a major museum for the last 13 years and having worked in the arts prior to that for another dozen years, I now despair of general viewers---even many experienced ones---even seeing the work in front of them in any kind of complete way, nevermind niceties such as we routinely speak of here. At best maybe there's some kind of subconscious realization?
So, ball's in your court, and I say it comes down to 3 things: the stabilization of the 90, the 1:1 capability of the 120, and how deep your pockets are. I got my 90 used for a price I couldn't refuse. If you find that get the 90. But lately I have been sniffing around the used markets for an FA 120....
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-25-2024, 07:46 AM
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I have always been a bit mystified by people having difficulties with Pentax in general photography situations. I've never had these problems. Now, I don't do BIF or sports (like soccer, etc...). Indeed, if that was my bag I'd probably use a different system because Pentax is probably a step behind (although we have motor sports shooters here who seem to do quite well....). But for general purpose imaging I don't see the problem with Pentax in my experience---which includes shooting side by side with a 5DmkIV in lower light. Oh, indeed the Canon was quicker...and often wrong. From that shoot the usable images all came from my Pentax.
I daresay a lot of this has to do with the user and getting the camera dialed in.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
03-23-2024, 05:48 AM
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I just read something that said it was moving along; not sure how reliable, and it seemed like it was recycling some older news.
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Forum: General Talk
03-15-2024, 01:06 PM
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Well, I once had nuts on a vehicle that were 2 part---an inner nut and then some sort of stupid shell that would disintegrate under torque. Much swearing involved the first time. Immediately replaced all of them.
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Forum: General Talk
03-13-2024, 03:21 PM
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Jean Fery Rebel :
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src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0gPsTQext80?controls=1" allowfullscreen>
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Forum: General Photography
03-13-2024, 11:13 AM
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Hmmmmm....comet and an eclipse....END OF THE WORLD!
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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
03-12-2024, 08:18 AM
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Well, probably not, although there will be more pain/delay involved now. If it's a parts problem they're having, it might be wise to pick up another KP for backup/safety's sake/parts. it may be that Pentax in Japan can/will repair your unit if necessary.
Time to investigate some non-authorized options as well. There have been very good ones out there. It's not like you have to worry about the warranty.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
03-11-2024, 08:41 AM
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Oh, man. Didn't know this was being done! I loved my Rollei 35's---I had an LED and an S. But I left 35mm film behind more than 30 years ago. Now, the folder rangefinder Mint is producing is more interesting to me----IF I could shoot a type 55 film. But that stuff is gone, and so is its revival.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
03-10-2024, 01:03 PM
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I'm not sure the suggestions above would substantially reduce the weight/bulk enough to make that big a difference. I travel with my 645Z with no issues! If it's small you want, then go Sony. But beware: a camera can be too small. It's one thing if it's a limited body camera with fewer buttons and options, it's another to have the same functionality and haptics/ergonomics.
I just want to see Pentax come out with a K1mkIII that has some of the goodies the K3mkIII has, which includes much better video. I also want to see a K1 series monochrome camera. That I would buy right away; the color version would need to offer some substantial upgrades to my K1mkII.
I also would like to see Pentax come out with a FF fixed lens pocketable camera with an integral viewfinder. That's what I'd have with me all the time. And I'd do a deal with the devil for a medium format one!
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