Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
06-06-2015, 10:10 AM
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"This is about sharpness, resolution, speed, fidelity, and so much more. It's a gamechanger."
IMHO, there are two possible related items that can be "evaluated" by those 4 conditions (sharpness, resolution, speed and fidelity). Who knows what "much more" stands for.
Those could be:
1) Optics (new lenses, improved coatings, wider apertures, faster autofocus, etc.)
2) Sensor (higher megapixel count, less noise, better color (16-18 bits per channel?) usable with moving objects (not like superresolution)
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
05-28-2015, 07:53 AM
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K3 +
FA*200/2.58 (purple flower and first humming bird)
DA 18-135 (second hummingbird)
DA 12-24 (gas station)
FA 100/2.8 macro (fungi on tree stump)
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Forum: Lens Sample Photo Archive
05-23-2015, 11:49 AM
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Great picture. But I notice a small hair (dust) on your sensor. Look above the second (left to right) tower type building in picture. The offending dust hair is right above it.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
05-18-2015, 08:45 AM
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Well, I am not really disappointed at the OP, but rather get a feeling of "well... here we go again..." Lets see if I can clear up this.
Many people in this world, including the OP, are the kind of people that thinks that the "music comes from the piano, not the pianist". It is normal to expect many people to feel that by having such and such gadget, instrument, tool, car, appliance, or whatever, automatically makes them better "performers" at any given craft for which whatever gadget was created for.
Of course, almost everyone knows that by buying a Steinway grand piano, automatically does not make you a pianist like Liberace... right? That's an easy one. But think about those office managers at a financial office, that upon bad results from the last quarter just yell: "bunch of morons.... we've just spent a million bucks on new computers and state of the art software... and this is the results you give me?"
Exactly; what this manager doesn't know (because of pure ignorance), is that having a better instrument for the trade does not make anyone "better" at that trade. They first have to take a few simple steps: 1 Learn the trade basics, 2 Learn the use of the available tools and at the end, try and be your best at the trade with your available tools.
Ask any airline pilot on what type of airplane they learned to fly. They will all answer you that it was (probably) a single engine Cessna, Piper, even a PT17 or can archaic as a Piper Cub J3. None of them learned to fly on an Airbus A340 or a Boeing 757. It was ONLY after many hours experience and several steps "upgrading" the tool of the trade (bigger airplane each step) that they got to sit at the left side of the cockpit in a Airbus A380 and at the same time, have 500 souls on board trusting you to a safe travel.
I would like the OP to answer a simple question: If you had the money (and the wish), would you buy a small airplane like a Learjet and try to fly it by yourself by just reading the "owners manual". I don't think so!
Fortunately, any error with your K3 will just (worst case scenario) make you unhappy for a few minutes. No lifes at risk nor expensive damage will happen. But as simple of complicated it may be (the K3 or any airplane), you first have to learn the craft to a level that will allow you to get the best out of your sophisticated tool (the k3 in this case).
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
05-17-2015, 06:25 PM
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For any newcomer to the K3, even if you are a well versed Pentax user, I would suggest taking the following 2 advices seriously:
1: Take time to go through the owners manual, as many times it needs to fully understand specs, features, results with different adjustments and such. Sometimes with and other times without the camera. Take manual when commuting, bathroom, office or workplace and nightstand. Make it a rule for you to read an understanding at least one feature/setting at a time.
2: Optics: Unlike the K20D and prior models, when using cheap, consumer grade or pro grade glass makes little differences, the K3's resolution and IQ really draws a thick line separating good glass from the consumer or cheap stuff. So be emotionally prepared for some disappointment when using vintage third party or consumer grade lenses, or be prepared for very nice surprises and bedazzlement if you own and use some pro grade glass (FA★ series for example).
Another small word of advice. REMOVE all your UV, skylight or whatever protection filters. The K3 is the most sensitive camera I've seen for image degradation ( quality loss) from using protection filters. Keep only your polarizers and use with known caveat.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
05-14-2015, 05:44 PM
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I can see the diagonal lines in the samples WITH FILTER.
What would be interesting to know, if such results happen with another camera (different model) or another camera (same model).
Also, since all diagonal "offending" lines seem to show about at the same angle test after test, It sounds logical to perform a series of Tests on which the filter is turned at leasr 1/4 turn each time. Do lines chane angle accordingly or stay the same?
So far the OP has proven "THE FILTER" is causing the problem. What I would like to know if such occurrence happens in the filter by itself or as a combination of this specific filter, a specific lens and a specific camera body.
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Forum: Pentax Compact Cameras
05-02-2015, 03:30 AM
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Kudos gt6plus!
Nice entries everyone. It was a good workout!
Anxiously waiting for the next exercise.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-30-2015, 07:50 PM
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Is there like s serial number datsbase from which we could knowsif a specific SDM featured lens has been manufactured before or after the "alleged" fix was applied?
Do all SDM lenses suffered or were prone to show the problem?
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
04-29-2015, 03:30 PM
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Cameras only perform logical (noy physical) formatting. Situations like this means the card has lost (corrupt) partition information. You can restore the logical AND physical partition info by doing a low level format. This is done in your computer by clearing the "use fast format" option under removable drives tools. Low level format takes several minutes and will definitely erase everything. After that, also do a logical format IN CAMERA.
it should clear your card of any errors.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
04-25-2015, 09:45 AM
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Exactly. The K-3 native resolution is such that its the only camera I've seen that can separate pro glass from consumer level optics without the need of a loupe or by pixel peeping. PSR may be nice to have, but only if you plan to face medium format "in studio" product shots or still landscapes "a la Ansel Adams" style.
Few weeks ago I posted this example of K-3 resolution, paired with the FA*200/2.8 lens: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/122-lens-clubs/77477-f-fa-club-36.html#post3188704 |
Forum: Pentax Compact Cameras
04-23-2015, 04:51 PM
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Very nice panning/blur effect. Love the 60's look!
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
04-23-2015, 09:09 AM
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Quite interesting. With the pixel shifting turned on, still produces a 24 mpix file, similar as K3. i Would have expected a 48 to 96 mpix file but aparently, this is not the case.
I also noted that in the sample pictures at that website, there are three specific pictures that show that the camera was handheld, or at least, the pictured subjects were moving or not completely still (as in a landscape). The elephants, the tiger and the girl. Dunno if those three pics were shot using pixel shifting high res, but if that's the case, then we have our answer as to how still means "still subjects with camera on tripod" needed for high res pixel shift.
But anyway, even without this feature, the K3 (K3ii) has damm sharp sensor and with proper quality glass... it becomes "surgical".
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
04-20-2015, 06:03 PM
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My apologies. I didn't know shutterstock was a low end low dollar photo stock exchange or "trade for peanuts" business. Anyway, then, considering this fact, then what the heck are we even doing considering what submitters to shutterstock use? Under such presumption, using full frame +$2500 cameras (plus glass) for submitting to shutterstock, would be like using a shotgun to plant your beans.... right?
In other words, how would we even consider what anyone drives if he just enjoys driving around the block? (and no further....!)
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
04-20-2015, 12:25 AM
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Just a brief comment. This numbers only say that shutterstock is a cheap (as in promoting just marginally "good quality" stock, by claiming that only 6 out of their ten top providers (suppliers) use full frame Dslr; the other 4 use apsc and NONE USE MEDIUM FORMAT!
When a company ( or person) lends the use of their own name to promote (endorse) someone elses, at the cost of bashing its own reputation, then something is really wrong with them; no matter how much was paid for such endorsement.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-19-2015, 09:51 PM
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LBA: Lens Buying Addiction
CBA: Camera Buying Addiction
Its like herpes... it was once considered a "shame" disease. Now its not only socially accepted, but sometimes actually mandatory in order to be accepted among certain elite groups! :lol:
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-16-2015, 03:02 PM
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Let's add my 2 cents along this great thread... (NOTE, THIS IS A SMALL CROP FROM THE WHOLE FRAME, ABOUT 1/3 AREA OF THE FULL FRAME)
of course, with my DA 18-135 and K3 body to match!
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-12-2015, 09:26 AM
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Ha, at least you can brag about having an excellent LBA control.
We know everyone gives in eventually. Still no known cure!!!!
It took me just 20 pages of this thread to give into the insomnia, night sweats, lack of concentration, jitters and dry mouth normally caused by severe LBA episodes. I enden up getting my fix of DA 18-135... with a K3 body to match....
All good for the time being... but its only a matter of time when the LBA nightmare will attack again!!!
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Forum: Lens Clubs
04-11-2015, 11:23 PM
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Great image. Love those sharp feather details.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
04-10-2015, 07:44 AM
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Brrrrzzzztttt! It does:
The Pentax PC35AF-M
(I still have mine in perfect working condition, except the battery door broke!
And the Pentax 35 Pino: |
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-10-2015, 07:33 AM
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Those are some class A photographs. Excelent combined light (white balance) and crisp sharpness.
Would you be kind enough to share with us simple mortals.... what camera was used and what white balance setting? (of course, a full EXIF pour would be better!)
Kudos!
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-09-2015, 01:24 PM
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Check lens for signs it has been disassembled. Mount screws in back and/or retaining rings for elements may show very small signs of tooling. If it does, you can suspect the lens has been disassembled, probably for cleaning, adjusting and lubricating.... and at the end, one of the inner elements was installed backwards.
It happened to me many years ago. I sent a SMC-A 50 f1.4 for cleaning, and after that, it showed exactly what you describe. Center sharpness and surroundings out of focus, or the whole way around. I took it back to the service shop and the guy that did the job had to take it apart again along with another lens (identical) from another client, just to compare side by side where was the difference.
When found, the offending element was turned over, cleaned again and the rest was put together as it should. Perfect focus corner to corner and center now!
Note: Focues issues with field curvature are normal at close distances, like 2 or 3 feet away, but not at 10 ft or more. If your lens is showing this issues at distances beyond 10 feet or more, then it is most likely that one element is put in backwards.
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Forum: Pentax Compact Cameras
04-09-2015, 07:22 AM
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Let's throw in my third entry...
Same camera, day and technique as the one of my grandchildren riding the train roller coaster... Hope you like it!.
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Forum: Pentax Compact Cameras
04-08-2015, 10:06 PM
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Not an App... Picture is a crop of about 1/4th of the full frame, then with the help of Corel Photo Paint, I masked out the locomotive and kids; applied a 20 pixel feathering to the middle of the mask zone. Finally applied a 40 pixel motion blur effect to the "outside" of the mask. Blur motion was oriented 30° from virtual horizontal (0°), following coaster's downward direction.
Whole operation took less than 5 minutes from pick-crop-mask-feather-apply blur-resize-upload...
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Forum: Pentax Compact Cameras
04-08-2015, 12:41 PM
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Thank you. Kids are fun to watch and take pictures, especially when they are having a great time and their expresions are true honest signs of happiness.
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Forum: Pentax Compact Cameras
04-08-2015, 08:18 AM
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My MX-1, shooting in HDR mode1 (no cropping, full camera frame)
This is a vintage Westinghouse Hydraulic Generator (exhibit), not in use since about half century ago.
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