Pentax general discussion

[WDWFigment]

I smell more goodies for Marks New Toy Thread.

You're one to talk! Mr. "I've sold 25-30 lenses on eBay" (the unwritten portion of that is probably..."and have purchased 65-80 on eBay."

(I don't know what emotion this dancing banana is supposed to embody, but I wanted to indicate that I was joking).

 

[gokenin]

You gotta love Pentax this camera will be able to use the original Medium format film camera lenses. So at least if you have one of those or you can pick one up you wouldn't have to go out and buy all new glass.

 

[pjacobi]

OK, it's medium format camera, not a traditional DSLR.

I would classify it more as a DSLR, since it has focal plane shutter.

The traditional medium format camera designs have a leaf shutter in the lens, which allows for flash sync at all speeds.

-Paul

 

[Gdad]

You're one to talk! Mr. "I've sold 25-30 lenses on eBay"

"Sold" is the key word here.

 

[Groucho]

You gotta love Pentax this camera will be able to use the original Medium format film camera lenses. So at least if you have one of those or you can pick one up you wouldn't have to go out and buy all new glass.

...and, you can go on their website and buy adapters to use your medium format lenses on your regular $500 K-x DSLRs!

From what I understand, the competition for the 645D costs 2-3x as much (I think the next cheapest is the Mamiya at $18k but that's off the top of my head) and most of them offer fewer features and lesser performance. Sure, they've been talking about it for years now but it's finally real and certainly has the potential to shake up the medium format market.

Note that it's built for ultimate image quality and dynamic range, not high ISO performance, so it will not make a good camera for Peter Pan's Flight. It's much more of a studio camera than a sports camera (like any medium format camera.)

I have been saying that I'd like to get into medium format some day......

But even with this being a bargain, it's definitely waaaaaaaaaaay out of my price range!

 

[justcantwait]

Anyone have any experience with this? I currently have a Canon SD1100IS and really like it, but am always on the lookout for something better. Just looking for a small P&S to take to the World in Dec for a family trip. This one on Woot looked good but I'd like to get opinions if I could.

http://www.woot.com/

Thanks for any help you can give!

Kathy

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

Heres where you can show future Pentaxians what you can do with your equipment!! Don't be shy show us what you got!

Just wondering who on here uses a Pentax and what gear they tote around for everyday trips and for the parks.

Lastnight I pulled the trigger and bought the FA 50mm f1.4 Figure I'll keep my A 1.7 until I decide if I'll like it more (I'm sure I will). I'm really liking the Fixed lenses over the zooms but wat to get an all around walking lens like the 18-250 I have the FA 28-200 and am really enjoying the results at f8.

What gear would you keep and or suggest for the Hobbyist?

In my over stuffed Slingshot 100 (and what doesnt fit)
Kx (Boring Black)
DA 18-50
DA L 55-200
FA 28-200
FA 50 1.4
A 50 1.7
A 28 2.8
M 200 4
M 50 1.7
AF 240Z (no TTL) whatever that means
Star filter
Macro filters 49mm and 52mm (fun to use but DOF Disappears!)
Tiffen filter set
Remote F

A bunch of others but most are kinda cheap and cheesy but I bought in bundles from thrift shops and such. What else is a must for my Kx?

Ukcatfan I expect to see some prime examples!

 

[ukcatfan]

Here is my DSLR gear list:

K100d
K-x
DA 18-55mm
DA L 18-55mm (Red)
DA 50-200mm
FA 50mm f/1.4
A 50mm f/2
Sigma 28-80mm Macro
Tamron 80-210mm (hunk o' junk but was only $25)
AF-360FGZ Flash
Gary Fong diffuser
Cokin filter system with ND, graduated ND, and blue/red polarizer
Star filter
CP filter

I really only use the one prime. The A 50mm f/2 is in the K100d bag. There are some others here with more of them.

 

[gokenin]

if you search for Groucho you will see some fantastic pictures of Disney world as well. Have you been over to Pentax Forums by the way?

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

You dont use your FA 1.4? Do you feel the A 50 f2 is better IQ wise? Cause I have one of them too! Lol, I went on a spending spree in the last month and am still on it.

I forgot to put in all the filters I've picked up as well, but I rarely use them. I would really like to get some ND filters and see what they can do. I've been so caught up trying everything that the DSLR is capable of I haven't slowed down to focus on any one thing.
I truly enjoy the manual fixed lenses, it just seems more like it was back in the day when I'd shoot a roll and I'd be lucky to get one photo worthy of the photo album!

I've had the Kx since late January and have over 6000 shutter releases so far. I hope Pentax is good about their warranties cause I don't think I'll be slowing down anytime soon especially with the nicer weather getting up here now!

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

if you search for Groucho you will see some fantastic pictures of Disney world as well. Have you been over to Pentax Forums by the way?

Yes I'm over there as much as I am here. I couldn't remember what Groucho shot with, I thought he may be one of the "others" lol

 

[gokenin]

think he still has the k20 but know he upgraded to the K7 when it came out and his list of lens i think is longer than mine

 

[ukcatfan]

You dont use your FA 1.4? Do you feel the A 50 f2 is better IQ wise? Cause I have one of them too! Lol, I went on a spending spree in the last month and am still on it.

Nope, what I mean is that I only really use the FA 50mm f/1.4. The other one has not seen much action since I got it. I put it in the "backup" bag with the K100d. I am starting to teach the kids some photography, so the smoothness of the manual focus on the A 50mm will be good to teach them with.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Here's my list:

K10D (2)
LX (film)
DA 18-55 f3.5-5.6 AL
DA 18-55 f3.5-5.6 AL II
DA 50-200 f4-5.6
M 50 f1.4
Tamron 70-210 f3.8-4 Adaptall
Sigma 28-70 f2.8 EX DG
Sigma 70-200 f2.8 II EX DG HSM Macro
Sigma 100-300 f4 EX DG
Sigma EF-530 ST (flash)
Sigma EF-530 Super (flash)
Cokin filters (numerous)
CP for all above
Tripods (3- Slik, Cullmann, Gorilla Pod)
Numerous Bags to carry it all!

PS Numerous P & S's laying around everywhere.

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

Great lists, now post some examples! I would really like to see what the Pentaxians can do with their gear!

GianniPapa, how do you like the Sigma 70-200?

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Great lists, now post some examples! I would really like to see what the Pentaxians can do with their gear!

GianniPapa, how do you like the Sigma 70-200?

I really like it, especially the HSM. I purchased this lens primarily for low light action. I thought at times it was a little soft, but two weeks ago, I was shooting with both the 70-200 and 100-300 (daylight). I had difficulty telling the difference between the resulting images. The 100-300 is the sharpest lens in my kit. I just love that lens!! The 100-300 may have a little edge, but not by much. I wish that Sigma had the HSM for that lens in the Pentax mount. I can't wait to use the 70-200 at our race track this summer. With the 50-200, I had to use ISO 1600 and with the K10, the images can be slightly noisy. With the 2.8, I'm hoping to lower the ISO and therefore lower the noise. Obviously, the 70-200 is much heavier than the 50-200, but I prefer a heavier camera. I use a battery grip on one of the K10's and that balances the heavier lenses very well. I'm not fighting the forward tip, hence, less fatigue. The DW primarily uses the second K10 with the lighter lenses, but likes the flexibility of 2.8. She likes the 28-70 and keeps 'stealing' it. I will be using both the 28-70 and 70-200 at WDW in June for the night time parades. During my last visit I had to use a flash and unfortunately I left my big flash back in our room! I was not happy with the results. This year I'm hoping I will be able to photograph the parades and night activities without the flash. At least, that's the goal.

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

Thats why I am reallly excited about the 50 1.4! Hopefully it will produce great images at low light! At f2 its really supposed to be very sharp. I wish I had the money for a faster zoom, but alas I will get a 18-250 and pretend that it makes me happy for a while!

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

I was hoping to get the Sigma 30 f1.4 before our trip for the dark rides, but financially I don't think I going to be able to swing it. I have the M 50 f1.4. It was the lens we originally purchased with our LX film camera. Its a very good, sharp lens. On a DSLR it is a manual lens and therefore takes a little longer to take a picture. I'm working with it to speed up the process. Early on, I would have been off the ride before I would have been able to shoot one image. If I can't get an AF 1.4 before the trip, I'll have to make do.

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

With the M lenses you have to shoot wide open right?

 

[ukcatfan]

With the M lenses you have to shoot wide open right?

No, you just have to set the aperture with the ring old school style. I believe that you also have to use the AE lock button to correctly meter.