Pentax general discussion

[Groucho]

FWIW, here's a similar shot from our K100D (same sensor as the *ist DL). ISO 3200, 50mm, F1.4, 1/15th. This one's from Disneyland, though.

...and back to WDW, K20D at ISO 6400, 31mm, F1.8, 1/20th.

 

[RBennett]

And here is mine with the K100D from back in 2008. Using my 50mm f/1.4 at ISO 1600 and a shutter speed of 1/10.

 

[Golf4food]

Are you running the photos through any noise reduction programs or in camera? I've not tried any of that outside of what little noise reduction iPhoto can do...


Aslo, as previously mentioned, the auto WB in the newer ones are outstanding. I haven't had to tweak the WB on almost any shots whereas I used to have to treak it all the time, nor do I need to manually change the WB before taking shots - just leave it in auto WB and shoot away indoors and out. Love it.

And the auto rotate feature saves all sorts of time over the old one where I had to manually rotate everyting in iPhoto after loading the card...

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

My Kx doesnt auto rotate the file only the viewer. Is there an option I need to turn on?

 

[ukcatfan]

My Kx doesnt auto rotate the file only the viewer. Is there an option I need to turn on?

If I view them on a real imaging program, they are already rotated, but Windows cannot seem to figure that out. The only real inconvenience is that the photo screensaver also cannot figure out to rotate them.

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

Ahh, thats where I usually view my photos with the friends and missus. Its easy to view in there with no worries about messing them up. Thanks.

 

[ukcatfan]

Ahh, thats where I usually view my photos with the friends and missus. Its easy to view in there with no worries about messing them up. Thanks.

Try Irfanview. It also installs "Irfanview - Thumbnails" where you can run a slideshow. Whatever you do, do not rotate them in the Windows viewer. It does degrade the quality of the image.

 

[Groucho]

If you're looking for a photo screensaver that respects the rotation information in jpgs, try gPhotoshow - I linked to the free version. I've used it for years because it properly supports multiple monitors (different picture on each monitor)... it works very nicely. Irfanview can also launch a slideshow easily if you want to view them on-demand.

Golf4food, I just double-checked and the first two shots that I posted (the dunking scene and Captain Jack hiding in the clothes) were both noise-reduced with Dfine. The other three only had minimal noise reduction done in Lightroom. I am looking forward to the final release of Lightroom 3 which supposedly have dramatically improved noise reduction features... there's also a new version of Noise Ninja that claims to be a huge improvement too, but I haven't checked it out yet.

I love my K-7 but the K-x obviously has to be the go-to camera right now if I want on-ride shots...

 

[Groucho]

I'm still drawn to the Pentax K-X. My limitations are not hand related. I walk with a cane so having the ability to take pictures with one hand (I'm guessing with the camera on auto) would be fantastic. When I need to use the camera with two hands I will need to be in my wheelchair or in a sitting position. The Pentax (with the exception of the 4/3rds) is the only DSLR that says it can be operated with one hand. Any thoughts on this?

The biggest problem with using a DSLR with one hand is that you can't zoom. On some PnS camera, you can use zoom buttons that are on the back of the camera, but with DSLRs (and the mirrorless cameras - and the Sonys look like they might quickly dominate the category), there is a zoom ring that you twist on the lens itself, usually with your left hand while your right holds the "grip" on the camera itself and operates the shutter and the various buttons.

As long as you are OK with the focal length the camera is set to, though, you should be OK shooting with one hand. You don't need to be in Auto mode, any mode will work fine with one-handed shooting. You would want the camera set to autofocus, which is where 99% of shooters keep it 99% of the time.

Image quality is great, the K-x is great, it's an amazing deal, etc, etc - you can't go wrong with one.

 

[Groucho]

I bought a cheapie from Dealextreme - was $3.27 shipped and works with most any camera. You can get 'em from Meritline as well and probably a number of other cheap made-in-China places.

I haven't tried it with the K-x but it works fine with the K-7 - once I remember to tell the camera to listen for it!

 

[MinnieForMe]

I was so excited to see one of my fellow students had a Pentax K-X in class this week. I finally got to hold one. Anyway, I snapped a picture and it only appeared on the screen for a fraction of a second. It wasn't even long enough to notice if it was clear. As the camera was only a week old and we were starting class, we couldn't play with it to see if there was a way to keep it on the screen longer. She did press the button that brought it back on the screen but I thought it was funny that it didn't automatically stay on the screen for a few seconds. Is this normal for the K-X or is there a setting that needs to be put on?

Thanks for answering such a stupid question!

 

[disneyboy2003]

Congratulations on your new Pentax K-x. I have a Canon camera, but I've heard very good things about the Pentax K-x. Sounds like you're gonna have a great time with your new dSLR.

I went ahead and read your user's manual (link), and looks like page 249 describes how to change the Instant Review display time. Currently, the default setting for Instant Review is 1 second. However, looks like you can change the display time to 3 seconds, 5 seconds, or Off.

According to the manual, go to the Rec Mode 3 menu, select Instant Review, and press the right arrow (►) on the 4-way controller to select a different display time.

See if that helps.

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

Shot with my M 200, f6.3? ISO 200, 1/250 cropped in half I guess that would be 50%?

This bird has taken up residence in the Birdhouse my daughter and I built.

 

[MinnieForMe]

Thanks!

I don't have the camera yet! I'm still trying to decide between the Pentax K-X, Nikon D-5000 or the new Sony NEX (I think that's the new one).

I was just curious about the Pentax! You are so sweet to look it up for me! I didn't expect someone with a different camera to do that!

Thanks.

 

[ukcatfan]

I was so excited to see one of my fellow students had a Pentax K-X in class this week. I finally got to hold one. Anyway, I snapped a picture and it only appeared on the screen for a fraction of a second. It wasn't even long enough to notice if it was clear. As the camera was only a week old and we were starting class, we couldn't play with it to see if there was a way to keep it on the screen longer. She did press the button that brought it back on the screen but I thought it was funny that it didn't automatically stay on the screen for a few seconds. Is this normal for the K-X or is there a setting that needs to be put on?

Thanks for answering such a stupid question!

Just checked on my K-x. the options are 1 sec, 3 sec, 5 sec, or off. Teh default is 1 sec, but it take about five seconds to change that

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

I really need help. What does F--- mean??? (No pun intended)
I can not get my other lenses to work. I keep getting the same flashing F--- error.
I don't know what I'm doing. I really need to devote a couple days to reading the K-x book, but if I can get past this I can read the book when I get a chance. In my life, that's not often. I'm lucky if I have time to inhale 3 meals a day.
I have returned all settings and custom settings to default. It hasn't helped.

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

OMG !! Check this out !!! I WANT THIS CAMERA !!

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/05/rainbow-colored-pentax-k-x-requires-sunglasses-to-use/

I'd buy it. But then I also have a 3-D rainbow glitter, infused bright screaming purple floor in my kitchen. So thats probably not much shock to those of you who know me.

 

[Groucho]

I really need help. What does F--- mean??? (No pun intended)
I can not get my other lenses to work. I keep getting the same flashing F--- error.
I don't know what I'm doing. I really need to devote a couple days to reading the K-x book, but if I can get past this I can read the book when I get a chance. In my life, that's not often. I'm lucky if I have time to inhale 3 meals a day.
I have returned all settings and custom settings to default. It hasn't helped.

F-- means that the camera doesn't know what aperture the lens is set to. Look at the aperture ring on your lens. If there is an "A" setting, put it on there - that way the camera will know and can control the aperture. If there is no "A", then the camera has no way of knowing or setting the aperture, so you set it via the ring. First, make sure that you've set it to use those type of lenses - it's a setting under Custom, "aperture ring permitted" or something like that. Put the camera in "M" mode and press the Green button in order to set your exposure. If the lighting changes or you change the aperture, you will need to press the Green button again, or manually change the settings. The flash will usually not work well with these lenses - because it doesn't know the settings, it fires at full power, which is usually too bright.

 

[Golf4food]

Golf4food, I just double-checked and the first two shots that I posted (the dunking scene and Captain Jack hiding in the clothes) were both noise-reduced with Dfine. The other three only had minimal noise reduction done in Lightroom. I am looking forward to the final release of Lightroom 3 which supposedly have dramatically improved noise reduction features... there's also a new version of Noise Ninja that claims to be a huge improvement too, but I haven't checked it out yet.

I love my K-7 but the K-x obviously has to be the go-to camera right now if I want on-ride shots...

That probably helps. I don't currently have any fancy post processing software and generally just use iPhoto for all the basics and that's it. iPhoto only has minimal noise reduction capability. I would like a good PP but they are costly and I can't decide which I would want anyway, and beyond that most of the Mac versions aren't caught up with the current capabilities of the Windows versions and I prefer not to open Windows on my Mac if I can ever avoid it. I bought a Mac for a reason.

I'll get with the "program" eventually.

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

F-- means that the camera doesn't know what aperture the lens is set to. Look at the aperture ring on your lens. If there is an "A" setting, put it on there - that way the camera will know and can control the aperture. If there is no "A", then the camera has no way of knowing or setting the aperture, so you set it via the ring. First, make sure that you've set it to use those type of lenses - it's a setting under Custom, "aperture ring permitted" or something like that. Put the camera in "M" mode and press the Green button in order to set your exposure. If the lighting changes or you change the aperture, you will need to press the Green button again, or manually change the settings. The flash will usually not work well with these lenses - because it doesn't know the settings, it fires at full power, which is usually too bright.

Thanks groucho!!! I took your advise and everything is fine again. My lens has a button you have to push to set it to "A". I never would have figured that out if i hadn't known it was SUPPOSED to be on the A. Otherwise it just stops at 32.