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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
08-03-2016, 11:11 AM
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Hello, its arrived by DPD this afternoon :-)
Have only had chance to pop it on the tripod and have a quick go, initial thoughts are that it seems well made and I'm very pleased.
It seems quite heavy on the tripod but not dangerous or unsteady but I think I might perhaps attach a weight or something on the hook on the tripod to make it feel safer. A better/heavier tripod may feel more balanced as I am pushing the weight limit of mine.
There's no chance of creep at any angle, so it will achieve what I bought it for. I can't detect any play or wobble in the head - my slightly flimsy tripod is the only part that moves!
As a couple of the reviews noted, its best to ensure the unlocked free turn adjustment finds a gear to avoid it jumping but something I will probably only encounter this initial once or twice as I seem to have the hang of that now.
The fine adjustment is really easy and smooth and definitely an aspect I will find pleasing and very helpful, I'll be able to concentrate on whats in shot rather than fighting with the head. Also although not something I generally do, I think at a push I could probably hold open the free turn knob and use it for panning.
My other head allowed nearly 90 degree upward angle and this one as expected is probably going to be a little limiting at 30. Swapping the plate direction though solves this and the knobs are still accessible which once set up I won't be altering during shooting. Position on tripod looks a little alarming like this but it is steady and in no worse a position than when setting to 90 portrait.
This brings me onto the mount/plate, its metal and has a bigger footprint which is better than my plastic one. The release operates in much the same way but at the minute I find it a little fiddly. I do tend to be cautious when handling the big lens and no doubt I'll soon get used to it. What may be a bit of a pain though is that the plate it is non reversible you have to loosen it and turn it round on the camera/lens then tighten again rather than just releasing and swapping the kits direction.
I leave the plate on the big lens but now I'll need to slacken the plate and rotate it if I want the knobs on the head facing me. Admittedly this swapping would be on different days at set up depending on subject rather than mid shoot but I feel this could get a bit annoying, I'll change the screw for one with a loop for finger tightening rather than having to dig in my pocket for coin or penknife.
Hoping the evening remains clear, Mars and Saturn visible tonight after dusk so I'm hoping to have a go at that but likely too far away so I may try some stars instead.
Cheers
Liz
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
08-02-2016, 12:20 PM
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Thanks everyone.
Just thought I'd let you know that I have ended up ordering the 410 Junior as this seemed best value for money for what I'm looking for. Although not lugging it around I think the 405 would have been too big and heavy and I don't think I would have benefited from the more than double price. After a few internet searches I found Harrison Cameras had one in stock for £119 which I thought was a fair price, not a company I have used before but they despatched the same afternoon as I ordered so look to be on the ball.
A good ball head as a few recommended would have worked but I'm keen on the geared sort to allow easier fine adjustment.
I agree entirely with the balancing recommendations, I've been positioning as best I can on plate/lens mounting points and whilst its not bad, it is a little front heavy which is why it has the tendency to creep when pointed up at the sky. I will look for a more balanced mounting arrangement and use my head on an old but very sturdy car window mount I have, so it will be useful to have the two heads.
Hopefully I've made a good choice!
Thanks everyone.
Liz
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
08-01-2016, 02:32 AM
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Thanks for the replies, very useful information.
I haven't really set a budget but was looking for something at the lower/middle pricing bracket although there is always the danger of "...this model is only a bit more expensive". I guess I'd be happy to pay around £300 or $400.
I'm not particularly worried about weight of the head as I don't often take it too far from the car or walk round with it all day, just as long as it doesn't overload the tripod.
I too thought the Junior seemed better than the XPRO as it rather conversely promises to hold more weight.
I have perhaps underestimated a fluid ball head and had anticipated a similar creeping problem, now back to considering those too!
Thanks
Liz
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
07-31-2016, 08:28 PM
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Hello,
Just looking for some advice on a new tripod head please.
I've a Vanguard Alta Pro 263AP Tripod Kit, I'm happy with the tripod part but not so much with the head. I like the 3 way pan/tilt head action but I have a job to set position and then tighten without it moving. Also when using with a big lens at an angle off level then it tends to creep and then the whole positioning problem starts again.
I have a K3II and mainly use the tripod for Pentax 150-400mm DFA lens where the main creeping issue occurs but also do a little macro with it too.
So I was thinking a geared head could stop the creep problem and be similar in operation than my current head.
I've read a few reviews and I've come up with geared Manfrotto options - Junior, XPRO or 405. Just thinking, I presume one of these will fit perhaps with a screw adaptor (I'd better double check).
My thought is XPRO over the Junior as it has the quick unlock feature for ease of large movements. Reviews do say that it can tend to be a bit jumpy into the gearing though. 405 seems to have more accurate and smooth gearing and although around twice the price, I'd rather pay a bit more now to get one I will keep for a while.
I'm not sure what else might be available, others I've looked at are really a bit too expensive.
Appreciate any thoughts and input.
Thanks
Liz
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Forum: Winners' Showcase
09-02-2015, 11:13 AM
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Love the composition and colours of this well chosen subject.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-01-2015, 02:41 AM
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Hi,
Yes, like you I couldn't find much on the internet about this problem, hence me posting to the old thread.
I had a quote for repair of my K-7 to replace the CCD which was around £350 and I was unsure what to do. I don't use my camera as much as you, so it seemed a big expense to either repair or replace.
After advices and consideration I bought a new K-3ii body and am really pleased that I did this. The improvements in terms of quality and especially at low light level plus better shake reduction are really good and well worth upgrading.
See this post for discussion on replacement bodies:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/6-pentax-dslr-discussion/300160-replaceme...ml#post3328541
Hope this helps.
Liz
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-31-2015, 06:21 PM
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Hi Everyone,
Thanks for your points of view, all very useful.
Just thought I'd let you know that I opted for a K3ii and have had the opportunity of taking a few pictures today. Very pleased so far, I like that it is the same layout as my old K7 so it comes naturally to use rather than fiddling about with settings. I must admit to being a bit dubious of replacing my camera body as I had thought it was good but my amateur snaps are vastly improved with the newer model.
The picture quality is amazingly better, an improvement which shouldn't really have surprised me but the difference is far greater than I expected. Also, I haven't taken many shots in dusk/darker conditions yet, but a few sample photos of my cat taken indoors under rather grim electric lights are far better and not grainy like they used to be, the ISO3200 is very good. A few sample shots with a big lens hand held at slow shutter speed also shows the shake reduction system is also significantly improved.
After quite a bit of internet searching and contacting a couple of dealers, I ordered from Clifton Cameras, their service has been great with questions and emails answered extremely quickly and helpfully. Delivery was next day in a well packed box via DPD which gives the advantage of real time online tracking. Clifton were also the only one I contacted who were good enough to offer me a discount on a non kit lens combination order. I hadn't used them before but will now use them in preference for any future orders and I highly recommend them.
Thanks again for your input.
Liz
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-23-2015, 03:44 AM
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Thanks for your replies, it's really helpful to hear that they will all be better than mine.
Less noise through the range and particularly at low light would be a real benefit as mine doesn't perform very well at big ISO. This confirms that I probably wouldn't need the flash as I only use that rarely now.
I had been wondering about by how useful the converter would really be given the light limitations so its good that the added resolution on the newer bodies will cater for cropping up to 50% as this will be enough for my needs.
I'm going to have another look at the KS2 wifi features as I thought that was more about transferring the photos post taking of them, but given that I can now rule out buying the converter, I am inclined to put the money towards the K3 or K3II and will look for a package with the 55-300mm lens.
Thanks again
Liz
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-22-2015, 05:19 PM
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Hi Everyone,
My K-7 has unfortunately developed a line of missing pixels and I've had a quote for repair at £285+VAT subject to full diagnosis.
Apart from the problem the body is in very good condition but I am a bit loathed to spend so much on this repair as it is 5 years old and am worried about other faults developing. I'm thinking if I purchase a new body I could also benefit from a better/more modern one. I find the choices however a little confusing and wondered if you could give me your points of view?
I never take movies, only stills. I take a variety of subjects, landscape/buildings, nature and motorsport although never portraits and generally I only take photos in reasonable weather and so not worried about having WR. I have been trying some nature shots at dusk time so performance under low light could be important.
My current lenses are:
17-70 DA-SMC SDM
100mm SMC D FA Macro
10-17 SMC DA Fish Eye
Plus an old 75-300mm FAJ which I used with my first DSLR istD camera although I am planning on replacing with a similar but better quality one and also adding a Pentax 1.4x teleconverter
Here's what I am thinking:
K-S2 - better pixels and looks good but I wouldn't use the Wi-Fi and similar features
K3 - much bigger step in price and not sure my level of photography would really benefit
K3 II - not keen on the idea of Geo replacing an inbuilt flash which I find can be handy
K-500 & K-50 - both seem pretty similar to my K-7 and so I then wonder whether to just have mine repaired after all
I like the look of the Flucard which I could use to set up on a remote tripod and monitor on my iPad, say at a bird table in the back garden.
It's all a quandary, so any and all input would be most welcome.
Thanks
Liz
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-21-2015, 02:56 PM
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Hi,
I have exactly the same problem with my K7, a line appears in what looks like an identical place on the sample photos of this post.
I appreciate that this is an old thread but wondered if vivi123 or anyone else knows what the problem is and whether it is likely to be an expensive to repair?
I will need to travel a reasonable distance to take it to a camera shop or look into posting it somewhere for a fix so was wondering if I should just consider getting a new body instead.
Thanks
Liz
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