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Forum: General Talk
08-21-2014, 09:06 PM
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Very sorry you had the complication: I can empathize, for sure. I'd be curious to know what the going rate for the complete CLA + seals (which I understand are fairly labor intensive to replace in the LX) might run these days. Good luck.
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Forum: General Talk
08-19-2014, 06:25 PM
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@Robert_1... Interesting... but, ah well, not so encouraging regarding the mechanical details involved! I never actually got mine out into the field -- beyond the front yard, anyway -- but I have to agree wholeheartedly with you on the virtues you mention. By contrast, my 45-year-old Nikon F Photomic which I acquired about 19 months back has surely never been serviced (having barely been used), but it runs smooth and snappy in all respects after all those years. The most compact little FG-20 would be a similarly smooth and very companionable model among Nikons and is generally overlooked, for no good reason... and pancake 40, 45AI-P, 50E, 50AI-s, and 50AI-s (Japan special) 'walkaround' lenses are available for it from Cosina-Voigtlander and Nikon.
Thanks for the additional information.
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Forum: General Talk
08-19-2014, 02:28 PM
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While we're on Chinons, I picked up a LN mechanical CM-4 awhile back which I immediately took to for its compact size, spare classic styling in gloriously unpretentious, ultra-lightweight black plastic, Nikon FE-like rewind smoothness, and quiet, low shock shutter. Plus the large, bright, totally unobstructed view on a featureless black background. A camera for artists, I might suggest. However, after 25 or so clicks sitting on my bed -- oops, the shutter release jammed! I haven't tinkered yet; so would anyone have some insight on my chances for a simple DIY fix/re-set of the shutter release linkage? This is definitely not a for-Eric job.
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Forum: General Talk
08-15-2014, 04:02 PM
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You've been a busy fellow, Chris!
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Forum: General Talk
08-13-2014, 03:22 PM
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Oh. Don't mind me -- doing all this (for now) on a seven inch tablet without the option for opening 2nd and 3rd windows does, at times, tend to leave some of the pertinent dots unconnected in my noggin. Well, thank you in any case... for the edit and for the advice! That does look like a great ball head deal. I kind of liked the straightforeward ARCA p0 inverted panning head in the basic form, but I haven't yet readjusted to its jumping in price $60 (26+%) even as it sat at the more friendly price in a still fresh B&H catalog. Seems like they could have eased into price increases more gently... Have you any thoughts on the relative merit of the inverted form factor? Less to go snagging on things, that much is for sure.
I guess I need to sit down and do the math on the possible combinations: it isn't really a matter of apples to apples comparisons at that web store, as the presentation of the various bits currently stands. Plus, it seems from the SVC website that Sunwayfoto did have some kind of production/Q.C. glitch with a new clamp introduction, so I should see how the extended warranty might serve to ease such concerns.
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Forum: General Talk
08-12-2014, 04:30 PM
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__________________________________
*Sorry, I got my message sandwiched into the wrong spot above (darned 7" screens, 3/4-occupied by a virtual keyboard!).
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Forum: General Talk
08-11-2014, 02:46 PM
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Nice pick up. I very recently acquired a ZX-5 (not the 'n' version, alas) in "was this ever used?" condition. I can pack either the 12-24mm or the 20-35mm Tokina zoom, plus this or my ZX-M, and have a WA coverage option down to 18-20mm FF to complement the K3 in my pack at minimum weight penalty.
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Forum: General Talk
08-06-2014, 02:16 PM
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On an entirely serious note, I always thought he was, without fail, a composed and properly cultured gentleman when he appeared on the late night talk shows, magkelly. Lots of celebrities could learn a lesson there. But they probably won't.
As far as the rich Corinthian leather goes, I'd have to think it represented a distinct step up from what I've seen pass for luxury elsewhere in an auto interior... perhaps these days, especially. I wouldn't have cared to own one of those Chrysler cars of that vintage, though. It probably would have made my mechanic happy.
BTW, thanks for your many amusing literary excursions, er, posts, magkelly. We benefit from variety around here. If you've seen my posts, you know why I can relate. Hope you don't mind the jokes. And, hey, I see you got another new toy, so have fun! -- Fred
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Forum: General Talk
08-06-2014, 01:07 PM
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Thanks. Back in the mid '70's, I think, one of the Japanese hi-fi manufacturers -- either Sony or Yamaha -- briefly marketed a loudspeaker with driver cones treated with (magic?) water from Mt. Fuji. At the fairly sophisticated small audio emporium (now a museum) where I was working cheap -- real cheap -- we were somewhat amused... say what you will about audiophiles.
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Forum: General Talk
08-06-2014, 12:09 PM
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Say, will you guys give me the story I need to know on these: "early" serial number, lead or no-lead coatings, brown bag, etc.? I can see the MIJ, silver, all white lettering part, and compare some serial numbers with eBay *claims*... [ahem.]. Being new to this one, I'm just trying to avoid having to re-invent the wheel, so to speak. Thanks, kindly expert Pentaxians!
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Forum: General Talk
08-06-2014, 11:13 AM
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Have you started on the Cheryl Tiegs Collection yet?
---------- Post added 08-06-14 at 02:18 PM ----------
Ha, ha... I've been perusing the same this week myself. That very thought occurred to me.
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Forum: General Talk
08-06-2014, 07:06 AM
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Got something against Ricardo Montalban? 😄 "Ze plane, Boss, ze plane!"
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Forum: General Talk
08-06-2014, 05:19 AM
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With that bad boy in hand, we'll have to start calling you Robo Bee, or something...
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Forum: General Talk
08-05-2014, 06:32 AM
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As noted elsewhere on the Forum, I am really trying to tackle the lens options covering the 18mm to ~28mm FL range, sitting between the F.O.V. of my DA15mm... and that of my SMC-'K' 28mm/3.5 & FA31mm. To that end, I've recently received 2 copies of the FF-coverage Tokina 20-35mm/3.5-4.5, second version. Both are clear and free of internal dust, minty on the outside, and mechanically tight (in a good way). So I'm pretty happy about that; and I'll proceed to see what performance differences, if any, can be discerned when I can.
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Forum: General Talk
07-22-2014, 07:24 AM
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I'd characterize the slim little V/K 70-150mm zooms as "reassuring", TonyTurley, rather than hefty -- good score. But then, I didn't start off back in the day (a ways back) with 6.9 and 11+ ounce plastic kit/consumer zoom lenses (as weigh the one on my Nikon N75 -- the 28-80mm AF G that K. Rockwell chooses to tout -- and the 80-200mm/4.5-5.6 [?] AF-D -- the lightest weight Nikon tele zoom with an aperture ring... also as used at f.8-f.11sometimes by G. Rowell, according to Thom Hogan: must be O.K. occasionally for carry weight minimalists, then).
I just received a Tokina which is the metal minimalist MF zoom counterpart to the V/K at 80-200mm/4.5-5.6, the SZ-X model. It's just wonderful sitting in the hand looking little larger than some circa f.3.5 35-70mm... but doggone it, it turns out to be hazy, though having zero visible dust inside. It is well reviewed in the database; though I might wonder about the experience of some of the four reviewers, not to be critical. I wanted it to carry when I was expecting to use only prime lenses for the day up to the HD DA 70mm and Contax G 90mm/2.8 adapted to my K3 partner, Olympus m4/3 body. I'll have to try again for that one.
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Forum: General Talk
07-21-2014, 10:59 PM
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Gee, don't go over to the Dark Side on account of a plastic, circa $120 retail lens! ...Yeah, I can't ditch much from the ol' 'Nikon Museum' here as yet. So pretty... so gone and unrepeatable. I even spent a tenner picking up a Rockwell-approved and essentially unused Rebel G, just in case I ran across a tempting lens in modern Canon mount sometime [...not the same thing, of course]. And a Yashica 108, in case of a Contax-Zeiss L.B.A. attack!
And, BTW, I just love to fondle, er, click off... er.. whatever, my oh-so-smooth and quiet [if slightly 'ping-y'] Canon FTbn, criminally neglected these days... at $18 to me. Turn green with envy, shutter-shocked A7R owners! Too bad, though, I really should have a split prism to focus that thing precisely now; and I still have those great old Nikons to fill all possible 35mm needs and niches, incl. AF...
Heaven help me, I even bought a Miranda Sensorex! Too cool...
---------- Post added 07-22-14 at 02:59 AM ----------
You can gently "direct force fit" a circa 1984-85 Nikkor 50-135mm/3.5 AI-S MF zoom to your rouge K-30 (a tether, or painter's tape, is a good precaution) and pick up a top-of-the-line Tamron SP (or Kenko equivalent) 1.4x tele converter, all for significantly less than $200. I did. Two 50-135's actually, as it happened. It's a sweet lens -- compare it at 100mm to the $2K stuff, give or take, at K. Rockwell's site yourself. See also John Shaw's use and endorsement.
Also, for good, lightweight, smooth, and cheap -- real cheap -- look at the Kiron/Vivitar 70-150mm/3.8 or 4.0 plus matched multiplier in Pentax PK mount. Nifty, small, and solid: Kiron Kid here (Quiet Light Photography) + Kiron forum members claim these match the performance of the somewhat fabled, if maybe sometimes over-hyped, Kiron-made Nikon Series E 70-150mm/3.5... which was good enough for Galen Rowell. Maybe one of these would interest you sometime when you are hoarding your nickles and dimes for a Pentax 60-250mm.
I have, er, 8-9 of this group, I think, one-touch, plus a Nikon AI two-touch... starting at $12. All these lenses look very clean and nice and are optically as clear as it gets. Twelve dollar+ lenses are all, as a class, weather [disaster] resistant! Gonna do some testing and cherry picking one of these days to select one of the four Series E's for Nikon and a cousin for my Pentax DSLR (doing double duty on the m4/3 Olympus). Just some left field ideas for you... since you are cogitating and word-y like me!
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Forum: General Talk
07-03-2014, 08:16 PM
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O.K., then. ...And the "leather wax" is...? Another old school waterproofing substance I remember is Sno-Pruf [sp?] -- that one may be too wilderness gear or shoes & boots oriented, possibly yielding a less aesthetic result on a bag than some alternatives. Thanks for the tips!
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Forum: General Talk
07-03-2014, 01:47 AM
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@magkelly... What's the best way to waterproof something like this... or, like your hat? I want to use the really good stuff when I bother to limber up the ol' limbs for some DIY improvements on things I like!
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Forum: General Talk
06-25-2014, 03:20 AM
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Thanks! Do you have some top of the wish list recommendations for practical Mamiya 645 acquisitions? I haven't approached researching this in a systematic way yet. Obvious candidates are those nominal focal lengths which fill gaps among the usual APS-C and FF DSLR options, or give telephoto reach in prime lenses at a bargain basement price. With your new acquisition, I expect you saved a few bucks compared to the conventional Sigma 70mm and Tamron 60mm macro*? options for K-mount. I don't have insight here into any subjective "rendering" advantages to the Mamiya.
Correction [7•23•14]: Following some research, I find that the Tamron was not manufactured in K-mount (just for Nikon, Canon, and Minolta AF/Sony). No wonder I hadn't seen it mentioned here!
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Forum: General Talk
06-25-2014, 02:29 AM
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@Oldhand... Is that an older lens for 35mm film, or a medium format lens? I don't recognize it, though it looks like the first with respect to proportion. If it is the latter, how about the quick course on Mamiya to Pentax-K adapters? I've had it in mind to look into the 645 series lenses from Mamiya in particular.
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Forum: General Talk
06-19-2014, 12:26 AM
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Same here, Jean. Despite having the 12-24mm, I just had to give in when the right opportunity for the right minty copy was suddenly staring me in the face on a recent night in the PF gear listings. Makes quite an impression sitting there in your hand for the first time, doesn't it?
BTW, regarding camera bags (and our correspondence about the LP Passport Sling), I decided to order the new Mountainsmith Andy Mann Signature Descent sling bag I'd had my eye on when Overstock.com put a generous Memorial Day Sale savings coupon into my emailbox. Highly recommended to all Pentaxians -- I haven't handled anything else with such a combination of sturdy construction, flexible volume at light weight, and real style. Andy's personal video on this model is what really sold me: Check it out at the MS website or YouTube, and see how slick it works. Cheers! -- Fred
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Forum: General Talk
06-06-2014, 10:59 PM
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I "went shopping" yesterday... and am now awaiting arrival of the same Tamron 17-50mm model; an FA 20mm f.2.8; and the FA 31mm f.1.8 Limited. When the stars align just so... it might be wise to take the hint and act. Or so I figured: 100 snaps (two outings) on the latter; and its beckoning whisper began sounding like a roar.
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