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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
10 Hours Ago
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The K-70 is well worth "learning". I too struggled with the grip initially, not because it was "big and beefy" but because I was having problems pressing the various controls accidently … there's a setting for that in the menus!
As mentioned, once the "muscle-memory" has learnt a new set of tricks (not so quick with an old dog) it all becomes second nature ;)
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
11 Hours Ago
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Thanks both for the video and the instruction how to find the auto-translator :)
I'd been in two minds about considering a new body … starting to decide ;)
Pending release of the full specification I can see my KP being offered up for trade-in very soon!
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
16 Hours Ago
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As I like it "straight from the camera" is not a problem for me … what makes me uneasy in this scenario is the fact that I have to do so much to other photos to get them "up to standard" … I often sit down and try to figure out what makes a "right first time" image so special, so I can apply these parameters to other pictures, as yet the magic formula eludes me!
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
21 Hours Ago
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Assuming the OP is using a Pentax camera, why not try the Digital Camera Utility software that came with the camera on CD?
A little cryptic, admittedly, but it's "free" and it uses the same terminology as the camera uses, so it's easy to translate between one and the other.
Keep the help file open alongside, you'll need to refer to it frequently in the early stages, but it's all there ;)
Use your on-line translator of choice to read the Japanese-language pages here ???????RAW??????????Digital Camera Utility 5 ?1??????? | PENTAX official for an "expert's" introduction to the program!
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
1 Day Ago
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The history of my DL2 is similar. It was sitting unloved and unwanted in a "junk" shop with no lens and a £20 price ticket on it. I was allowed to test it briefly, so I fitted lens, batteries and card and lo and behold it worked :)
I really don't notice any difference in the penta-mirror viewfinder of the DL2 or the pentaprisms on my other cameras, but that could be because I only usually use it in good light so I don't reach it's limits. If I can find a hand-held meter that still works, maybe one day I'll set up a test rig and check the light actually transmitted to the eye through the DL2 and one or more of my other cameras.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
2 Days Ago
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Exactly correct!
Pentax have made a reasonable effort to maintain a degree of backward compatibility with their earlier lenses, the very reason I moved to Pentax when my "other brand" screw-mount film camera died … I already had the lenses ;)
You may read reference to the magic Pentax "Green Button" performing all sorts of wonderous things when in manual mode on the later cameras. This is true, but what may be less well realised is that the functionality was included on the early cameras in that the AE-L button performs an alternative role when in manual mode :)
If you don't have a manual, it's available for download from Ricoh at http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/support/man-pdf/istdl.pdf |
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
2 Days Ago
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Porst were (maybe still are) a German retailer who branded OEM equipment with their own name. As such, a Porst 135mm lens may have been produced by any of a number of Japanese manufacturers and simply had a Porst "beauty ring" fitted for resale. You would need to compare your lens with others of the same age and try to find one that looked identical, then use that as your reference.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
2 Days Ago
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The *ist cameras are well worth using. Despite owning three later bodies, one or other of my *ist cameras gets used regularly, both for infra-red photography, which they cope with surprisingly well, and for that somewhat elusive "CCD Sensor quality" which can seem somehow lacking in the newer cameras.
The Sigma 18-50mm is a fine general-purpose lens. I have one, bought new for my *ist DS and it is contemporary with your body. If you want to go wider, the Sigma 10-20mm is a good choice, and likely to be cheaper than any Pentax-branded similar lens. For telephoto work, any of the major brands will perform well. I use Tamron, Sigma and Pentax-branded lenses. As to exactly which, this really depends on the nature of the subjects you're interested in and the depth of your pocket! Be aware that some newer lenses require separate power contacts to operate. These are not a feature of the *ist cameras, which only have "screw-drive" a/f capability.
The Pentax-branded adaptor is the M42-PK adaptor of choice if you wish to retain infinity focus. As mentioned above, there is no "AF chip" for Pentax cameras. All my Pentax cameras have a little green hexagon in the viewfinder that lights up when focus is achieved, I'll assume this is also true of your body ;)
Be aware, if your M42 lens doesn't have an "a/m" (auto/manual) switch, a slight modification will be necessary to the lens if you wish to be able to work at other than full aperture.
Panasonic 'eneloop' batteries are the rechargeable "battery of choice" for these older cameras. Although not having experienced performance problems with other brands personally, many have reported issues that have been resolved when switching to 'eneloop's. I now use them as my first choice. They also have a ridiculously long shelf life, retaining a useable charge for very many months, even when in the camera!
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Forum: Pentax K-1
4 Days Ago
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The mains adaptor will work by plugging into the DC socket of the cameras that have one, the "dummy battery" is simply not used in this instance. … the D-Li109 "dummy battery" is there for those cameras that don't have a DC socket, like the K-70. There's not a "large size" (D-Li90) "dummy battery" supplied, as might be needed for the K-01, which doesn't have a DC socket, I believe.
I have and use one of these adaptors (bought, coincidentally, from Bristol Cameras), on my three "K" cameras.
Unfortunately for the OP, this adaptor would not be an "instant solution", the D-Li109-size "dummy battery" supplied would still need to be modified for use in a K-1.
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Forum: Pentax K-1
4 Days Ago
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The "dummy battery" that comes with this kit is the smaller size, as for the K-70, which doesn't have a dedicated DC socket … not sure how much adaption would be necessary to get it to fit in the larger battery slot. Also bear in mind the K-70 is designed to use this, with a little cut-out for the cable by the battery door. On another camera you may have to work with the battery door open, with all the risk that might entail.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
02-16-2021, 01:06 AM
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They certainly do!
With my unmodified *istDL2 … 1/2sec @ f/2.8, 200ISO through a Lee 87 filter
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-14-2021, 03:06 AM
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I "resisted" the supplied Digital Camera Utility for a while, not so much "complicated" but certainly unfamiliar, and rather cryptic. The minimal documentation is an issue, but the supplied help file appears to be complete, if not very easy to work with, but well worth having open alongside the program … having two monitors can be useful here ;)
Then I found the Japanese-language pages at ???????RAW??????????Digital Camera Utility 5 ?1??????? | PENTAX official , applied an on-line translator, and much became clear ;)
For my purposes, a far more attractive solution than having to learn a third-party program, especially if I was to be expected to keep paying a license fee!
One characteristic of Digital Camera Utility that I do appreciate is the use of the same terms and descriptions in the program as used on the cameras, so any adjustments that are consistently required in DCU can be easily applied in-camera, thereby saving some post-processing "fiddling" ;)
Sorry, never really tried Pixel Shift, so can't help with that aspect of things, but if you're going to spend time learning a software package anyway, why not use the tool designed specifically for the job?
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
02-11-2021, 06:49 AM
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Although the K100D doesn't have LiveView, it does have "Digital Preview", which can be set as an alternative function for the Depth-of-Field control, see p152 in the manual. I use this feature on my *ist DL2 very successfully ;)
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
02-11-2021, 04:23 AM
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Looking at the specifications here, Wratten number - Wikipedia , a 720nm filter may be a little too dark for a K-5 to operate well, I'd suggest a 690nm (SFX, 89B or R72) might be a better choice.
Certainly a 740nm (87) is too dark to be practical, with this camera, unless you limit yourself to long exposures on sunny days.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
02-11-2021, 03:30 AM
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Are you checking your cameras with the TV remote in a darkened room? Remotes don't (usually) give a very strong signal, so any ambient light is likely to hide the effect. This check will need to be made with LiveView, not through the viewfinder, of course ;)
The K-5 will take infra-red pictures through an Ilford SFX, Wratten 89B or R72 filter (very dark red) but will really struggle with a visually opaque filter like a Lee or Wratten 87 … the older CCD sensors are much better in this respect with an unmodified camera.
Expect something in the region of six or seven stops of extra exposure necessary, eg. from 1/750 down to 1/8 @ f/4.5 or thereabouts with an R72 filter, so a good tripod can become a sensible accessory if you don't have a wide aperture lens.
I don't have a K-30 (or a K-1, I wish) so can't comment on those, but an unmodified K-5 will serve perfectly adequately within the parameters mentioned.
Enjoy :)
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Forum: Pentax K-1
02-10-2021, 01:09 AM
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Exactly what I was going to suggest :)
I have a "birding" combination that trial and error has proven to be a very good compromise (TAv 1/1500 @ f/8 when using a long telephoto) and have this programmed into my cameras that have the option. Saves a lot of fiddling about in and out of menus and twiddling dials etc., both when an unexpected opportunity arises and I'm doing something else, or from a first start.
All settings can be changed, as normal, but, provided the settings aren't re-saved, the camera will always switch on to the pre-sets, so you can effectively use the on/off switch or the Mode dial as a "global reset" ;)
Afterthought :- Do remember, the User Modes save virtually everything, including metering and a/f settings, so have all your options set as you like them when you save the mode.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-10-2021, 12:40 AM
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I too was a "dyed-in-the-wool" masochist, thinking Aperture Priority was all I ever needed and reverting to Manual in those extreme cases that Av wouldn't give the results I wanted … I stuck with manual focus for a long time as well, but that's another story ;)
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
02-09-2021, 01:38 AM
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Tamron Adaptall-2 PK/A mounts can suffer from two easily rectifiable problems.
1: The three electrical contacts can tarnish slightly. Polishing these contacts can resolve many intermittent "wierdies". I use a drop of WD40 on a rag to clean them … NEVER squirt aerosol lubricants directly into the camera or lens, it can get everywhere!
2: There's actually a fourth contact necessary! This is a "common" or "ground" contact and should be provided by the mount itself. Unfortunately the Tamron mount was designed before the advent of autofocus and the fourth "ground" contact on the camera aligns perfectly with the tiny screw/pin/rivet to the left of the obvious three contacts, beyond (clockwise from) the black plastic insulator. This is often/usually locked in with a touch of varnish, which acts as an insulator. Scrape this area clean and most problems will disappear ;)
I've used (and continue to use) Adaptall lenses since the '70's. Some of them have followed me through three or four system changes and I have three PK/A mounts, they've all needed the spot of varnish cleaned off.
Enjoy :)
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-08-2021, 06:56 AM
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I'd have reservations about attempting such a repair if there's any consideration of trying to claim a refund in the future.
Can the camera be used as it is, and if so are all functions working as expected? If you can't test the camera, there's no way of knowing what other defects may be hidden. The sort of impact that caused a deformed lens mount may well have left some other components mis-aligned or broken.
Having tried and potentially failed to achieve a satisfactory repair, the vendor may well be given sufficient reason to refuse a refund " 'cos it's been fiddled with! ".
Even if the mount from a donor camera appears to be the same externally, and possibly even fit, there's no way of knowing if any thicknesses or internal clearances are sufficiently different to cause possible focussing issues, if nothing else.
Good luck :)
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-08-2021, 04:02 AM
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I use my Pentax cameras for "birding" extensively, usually with a Sigma 150-500mm lens.
Some while ago I settled down and spent an evening or two analysing a whole bunch of pictures I'd taken with my K-70 to try to define what made some "better" than others.
My conclusion was simple - 1/1500 @ f/8 !
The high shutter speed to freeze most subject movement, the slightly reduced aperture to give a modicum of depth-of-field error.
To this end I now use TAv mode almost exclusively, simply letting the camera choose whatever ISO it needs to make a correct exposure.
The low-noise capabilities of the K-70, (and now the KP), mean that, in reasonable light, higher ISO numbers are not a problem.
I can still dial in exposure compensation as required, shooting against the sky can need a stop of over-exposure, against a dark sea, up to two stops of under-exposure (gulls etc. are very white!). The magic "Green Button" resets everything in a blink ;)
Inevitably, YMMV … but give TAv mode a try, you may be pleasantly surprised ;)
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-08-2021, 03:42 AM
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These links refer to the *istD and don't appear to include the specific information.
The original post referred to the film *ist camera.
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
02-07-2021, 01:07 AM
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Forum: Pentax K-01
01-31-2021, 10:04 AM
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Just checked with my K-5 (the nearest I've got, age-wise, to the K-01) and the LiveView screen appears on the computer monitor, no problem. I rarely use LiveView on the K-5, so there's all sorts of icons and stuff littered all around, but it does work, would just need tidying up for web-cam purposes.
Well worth checking on the K-01!
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Forum: Pentax K-01
01-31-2021, 03:17 AM
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If you've got a TV or monitor with an HDMI input (most do, these days), you can check the suitability of your HDMI output from your K-01 for the cost of a cable … maybe even borrow one for a few minutes.
Having established this, the very cheap HDMI-USB adaptor/converters do work, (I've just bought one, for a different reason), but I had to revert to Windows 7 for a seamless install, the current version of Windows 10 giving all sorts of error messages, both on a 32-bit laptop and a 64-bit desktop, with the four different freeware programs I tried, so system compatibility can be an issue!
As for power consumption, the battery should last a good time using HDMI out, as the LCD screen on the camera is (I assume) disabled in this configuration. It is on my cameras, but I don't have an actual K-01 to double check.
Good Luck ;)
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