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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
01-16-2014, 11:43 AM
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They have a few more -just bought one today!
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Forum: Pentax Price Watch
11-14-2013, 08:53 AM
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Black, red and white.
Mike
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
05-05-2012, 09:51 AM
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As others have said, the Zenitar comes from the factory with four filters, the UV being factory-installed. Since we pretty much all use digital, almost no-one will ever remove the UV filter. It will not focus properly without the UV filter and your focus looks fine, so I would say it looks like you have the UV filter.
Mike
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Forum: Pentax K-01
04-16-2012, 09:28 PM
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My original post (at least the choice of words) was bit tongue in cheek, but I really am curious if the gender difference observed in Japan exists in other countries/cultures.
I also wonder if camera enthusiasts have a few different cameras in their bag and might use a mirrorless differently from a DSLR. For example, I have a. k-5 as my main working camera but have a Panasonic lx-5 that I nearly always have on me. I sometimes dig out one of my two vintage Leica M2s when I feel the need to slow down and use film.
Mike
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Forum: Pentax K-01
04-16-2012, 04:13 PM
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An interesting article in today's Wall Street Journal says that the success of mirrorless cameras in Japan has been in attracting more female photographers who want the high quality of a larger sensor but don't want to lug round a bulky DSLR. It quotes one survey as showing that 75% of DSLRs are male-owned, but 70% of mirrorless are female owned.
I wonder if this is just a Japanese phenomenon or if this will translate to the USA and Europe also?
Mike
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-15-2012, 09:36 AM
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A few years ago, I bought an astronomical telescope from a well-known New York retailer. the telescope and mount were shipped in two large boxes by UPS with signature required for delivery. When they didn't show up, I checked tracking to see that it was reported as delivered and signed for! A couple of days later, I noticed two large boxes by a neighbor's front door - a seasonal visitor who was absent. Yep - it was my telescope - abandoned by UPS without signature at the wrong house!
Mike
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-10-2012, 07:41 AM
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I tested with Sigma 120-400 HSM and found focus to work, but more slowly. Optical results were ok, but not spectacular. I think you will find better results with the 70-200.
Mike
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Forum: Sold Items
02-22-2012, 09:04 AM
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That was quick! I guess I should have increased my asking price!
Mike
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Forum: Sold Items
02-21-2012, 03:12 PM
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PentaxForums.com Marketplace Listing
Item for Sale
Vivitar Series 1 105mm f2.5 Macro Lens
Asking Price
$295
Item Location
Arizona (United States)
Item Description
This is the classic Japanese-made 105mm f2.5 Macro lens that has appeared under several names. It has incredible smooth long-throw manual focus that enables exact control down to 1:1 magnification and has the "A" setting that permits automatic exposure control on Pentax DSLRs.
Bought new by me from Trader Jim a couple of years ago, this lens has seen very light occasional use and is in like-new condition. It comes complete with carrying case, strap, original box and all paperwork, including warranty.
$295 plus $10 shipping/handling (U.S.A.)
Are you the original owner of the item being sold?
Yes
Are you selling or trading this item?
Selling
Item Condition (Key)
Used
Like New
Shipping Destinations
North America
Shipping Charge
$10 US
Shipping Services
USPS, UPS, FedEx
Accepted Payment Types
PayPal Check/Money Order
Return Policy & Additional Details
Return accepted if item damaged or not as described.
Please send me a private message if interested in the item!
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-09-2012, 03:48 PM
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...has my vote for what you need, at least in part. I bought one for a smidge over $500 used and it's in like-new condition.
That would eat all your budget, though.
Mike
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
01-16-2012, 09:32 AM
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I just inherited my father-in-law's library of slides, prints and negatives. He shot in 120 format for a number of years before switching to Leica 35mm. I have something like 5,000 35mm color slides (mostly Kodachrome), a similar number of 35mm black and white negatives and around 600 120 negatives.
I was thinking of a batch scanner like the Pacific Imaging 5,000 or 3650 for the slides and then using a flatbed (like the V600 or V750) for the rest. It seems folks buy batch scanners for jobs like mine and then resell them.
Anyone here have any experience with batch scanning?
And how about cleaning slides and negatives - some have what appears to be fungus and a lot have dust.
Mike
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Forum: Sold Items
01-13-2012, 08:47 AM
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-09-2012, 09:48 AM
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.... Laur's photo blog
Describes how to engage the macro mode - like many of the Adaptall-2 lens features, it is a bit fiddly.
Mike
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
01-02-2012, 06:56 PM
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Nearly all battery chargers and computer power supplies these days are "universal voltage" and will operate from Japan's 100 v to the USA's 120 V as well as Europe's 220/240V. Just pick up one of those plug converters at the airport and you'll be good to go (if you can find a plug in the U.K., that is!)
I've traveled all over (USA, UK, Europe, South Africa) with my Pentax K10D and K20D and the charger worked just fine everywhere.
Mike
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
01-02-2012, 12:02 PM
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For what you need, Picasa will be perfect. I have Lightroom on my main PC, but in the field when I download photos, I use Picasa and it can do most adjustments I need quickly. The price is right too!
You can always upgrade to a more comprehensive program as you gain experience and feel the need for more control over your images.
Mike
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
12-31-2011, 10:06 AM
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The best products (cars, electronics, you name it) should be able to be used intuitively without reference to the operator's manual. Although you might expect advanced functions to require fuller knowledge (read the manual!), you should be able to do basic operations without first reading the manual. Also, nothing bad should happen if you don't!
There have been some wonderful examples of manufacturers who have failed to follow this principle and in an effort to put in many advanced features, they lose the user in a maze of non-intuitive menus.
Apple is perhaps the best in applying this - their products have been consistently user-friendly. Who ever read an operating manual for their iPad?
It's hard to make things quite so simple in something as complex as a DSLR, but dedicated buttons for important functions and an easy escape back if you mess things up are needed.
In my view, the Pentax K-5 falls in the middle of the pack in intuitive use and still has some complex menus and features that can be hard to find. The K-5 manual, while better than those of earlier models, is far from perfect and many of us would like a better organized guide.
So, please don't beat up on folks who don't read the manual - you shouldn't have to!
Mike
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-29-2011, 10:02 PM
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Fellow Pentaxian Pepe reports that the 140 teleconverter will not mount on the 19AH because of interference with the rear elements. This agrees with what the buyer of my lens reports.
Unless someone produces a photograph of the two successfully mated, I am inclined to believe that they do not play nicely together.
Mike
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-29-2011, 07:09 PM
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It all depends on your style - some (like me) swear by zooms for the flexibility, others prefer primes for the optical quality. I have done most of my walk-around shooting with standard zooms - the Sigma17-70 and Tamron 28-75 are two that spring to mind. You can pick those up used for a bit over $300 apiece. if you're prepared to do manual focus, there are still some relative bargains out there. I have an A50 f1.4($80) and an A 35-105 ($130) that I am rather partial to. You might also want to comsider some of the newer 17-50 lenses (the Pentax 16-50 would blow your budget).
If you're like most of us, you will buy and sell lenses as your tastes or budget changes.
Mike
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Forum: Sold Items
12-29-2011, 09:33 AM
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Sent original from my iPad, resent from my computer.
Mike
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-29-2011, 08:24 AM
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Yes, I read that about the stationary lens elements too. I definitely remember mounting my 140 teleconverter on a number of Adaptall-2 lenses that I owned a year or two ago and am pretty sure that included the 19 AH. I wonder if the new owner of the lens might have a defective 140?
Thanks for checking the 2x. I am pretty sure if that fits, the 1.4x will as well.
Mike
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Forum: Sold Items
12-29-2011, 08:18 AM
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-28-2011, 10:00 PM
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I sold my nice Tamron Adaptall 19Ah (70-210 f 3.5) to a forum member and he is reporting that the Adaptall-2 1.4 teleconverter does not fit.
My hazy memory tells me that I mounted a 1.4 teleconverter (140F) to this lens a couple of years ago and that it worked OK, but was rather fiddly to mount.
The Adaptall-2 web site says that the teleconverters were optimized for the prime lenses, but also worked with most zooms.
Is there a forum member with this lens and teleconverter who can check to see if such a coupling works?
Mike
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Forum: Sold Items
12-21-2011, 09:45 AM
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Forum: Sold Items
12-20-2011, 05:32 PM
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I found this languishing on a camera store shelf, new, unused and unloved. It was brand new and had never been unboxed before I bought it.
I was actually considering raising the price to see if that would help!
Mike
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Forum: Sold Items
12-20-2011, 12:11 PM
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$190 includes genuine PK/A adapter and shipping to USA destinations. $180 plus shipping elsewhere.
Mike
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