Pentax general discussion

[MinnieForMe]

As long as you get a good lens, you'll be just fine with an ultrazoom style lens as a main all purpose lens...it's like any other kind of lens - there are better ones, and not so good ones. Don't worry about people saying the lens isn't that good just because of the long range it covers - they can be downright excellent lenses, supersharp, very flexible, and can be used in nearly any type of photography you care to try. There will be better lenses for a specific type of photography, but for overall versatility and still great image quality a good ultrazoom lens will be far better than any P&S camera.

For some samples of my 18-250mm lens (mine is labeled 'Sony', but optically is the same as the Tamron 18-250) on my Sony DSLR-A550 and A300 camera, feel free to take a look in this gallery:

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/sony_sal18250mm_f3563

You can see I shoot everything with it - architecture, indoor, outdoor, landscape, macro, night photography, high ISO, action, wildlife. I do have 6 other lenses, and do use different lenses sometimes for a specific need...but for a one-lens, all-purpose solution, the 18-250 is always my default, go-to lens.

I love your nighttime Disney pictures. Beautiful! I'm going to keep your pictures bookmarked as you had the information like ISO, Fstop labeled and that's what I need to get comfortable setting myself!

I need to take Baby Steps......

My second photography class starts in July. I can't wait because I'll actually have a DSLR to use this time! Woo Hoo!

 

[ukcatfan]

I did it! I finally bought the Pentax K-X! Although, I wanted an all around lens I found the two lens kit for $594.00 through Sams Club with a 90 day return policy and no restocking fees. It seems like a no-brainer.

I'm going to ask for the Tamron lens for Christmas!

Thanks for all your help and I'm sure I'll be pestering you in 3-6 days when my camera arrives!

Keep your mind open to the kit lenses you are going to have. By the time Christmas rolls around, you may be very used to them and want to invest in something else like a fast standard zoom or a prime or two.

 

[MinnieForMe]

The fact that I started out with the intention of buying a Nikon D5000 and ended up with the Pentax shows I have an open mind! LOL!

There should be a class just in lens. I can't believe the selection. You are correct, by Christmas I'll probably have something else on my wish list.

Is there anything else I should pick up to begin with? What card do you suggest? Any specific battery brand you've had the best luck with?

 

[Groucho]

Go for Class 6 or Class 10 memory cards, especially if you plan on shooting any video.

For batteries, go for the "precharged" or "low-discharge" batteries, like Sanyo Eneloops or the equivalents. They don't hold quite as much as a usual NiMH battery (2000 or 2100mAh vs 2500+ mAh) but they will stay charged much longer - I can't count the number of times I would go to pick up one of my DSLRs that used AAs and found the batteries dead! It can be very frustrating. The low-discharge ones work much, much better. They are usually about $10/4. Amazon currently has an 8-pack of Eneloops for $20, or a 4-pack of Duracell precharged for $9.50.

 

[Groucho]

I don't care for HDR shots so I won't comment on that part of it, but I will say that I would definitely play with the white balance a little - going a little cooler will take away much of the heavy brown/yellow/gold cast and brighten the colors considerably.

 

[RBennett]

I don't care for HDR shots so I won't comment on that part of it, but I will say that I would definitely play with the white balance a little - going a little cooler will take away much of the heavy brown/yellow/gold cast and brighten the colors considerably.

Whaddaya think? Too much? Or do you have some other thoughts/ideas? I really appreciate it!

 

[Groucho]

That looks almost the same to me.

Here's a couple examples... here's Main St at WDW. In Lightroom, this is temp 2350, tint +3.

Here's Main St at DL. This is temp 2850, tint 0.

Ideal IMHO would probably be somewhere inbetween the two. In the DL shot, 2850 is pretty cool (tungsten) but there's still a clear brown cast to most of the shot, but the sky is still somewhat blueish and there's still some color. The WDW shot is probably a little too cool and bright white, but closer to what you see during the daytime.

It's all a taste thing, but generally speaking, I would tend to lean towards cooler colors, which can really make the colors pop much more so than the warmer color that cameras will usually guess is correct.

 

[ukcatfan]

I second the pre-charged AAs. I have two sets of the Duracell version. I also agree with the Class 6 cards. My Kingston Class 6 card takes anything I can throw at it. My Cavalry Class 6 card cannot.

 

[RBennett]

I remembered that first shot that you posted and that's what I was trying to go for, but it seemed like when I started to get the lights where I wanted everything else was too blue. White balance is probably what I have some of the hardest time with (as you can tell!) Here is my next attempt, without the HDR, using only PS Elements and Topaz.

 

[MinnieForMe]

Thanks. I'll order them today!

 

[MinnieForMe]

Will I have to do a battery update right out of the box? I saw it on the Pentax site or did they take care of the problem already?

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

I LOVE MY BIG, BRIGHT RED PENTAX K-X!!!
I think others here are hitting on the SINGLE main reason i bought Pentax over the other brands. Pentax made it simple. ANY Pentax lens EVER will fit on your camera. At least thats what the website and video said.
I have a nice collection of lenses now, and some of them I basically got for free. I search Craigslist DAILY. I look for 35mm lots and I buy the whole schebang at once, then I sell off the old 35mm camera with anything i dont want. I paid $60 for a bag, 200mm lens, 50mm lens, camera, and filters and cleaning kit. The bag was SUPER NICE and like brand new. I sold the 35mm camera lens body only for $45 a week later! So I have $15 invested in 2 lenses (one is a nice Pentax brand), super nice bag, filters and cleaning kits.
Oh, and did I mention my camera is RED???

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

ANOTHER PENTAXIAN!!! The world will slowly be converted to the colourful world Pentax and all will feel Pentaxaphoria! (As opposed to Pentaxophobia which is curable once first contact is made)

 

[Golf4food]

ANOTHER PENTAXIAN!!! The world will slowly be converted to the colourful world Pentax and all will feel Pentaxaphoria! (As opposed to Pentaxophobia which is curable once first contact is made)

It is also a good cure for Canikonitis - the assumption that all Canikon equipment is in all ways superior to all others.

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

It is also a good cure for Canikonitis - the assumption that all Canikon equipment is in all ways superior to all others.

I agree, I beleive another cure may be to give people afflicted with Canikonitis is letting them see a list of all the compatable lenses we can use that dont need any fancy expensive IS systems...

 

[ukcatfan]

Will I have to do a battery update right out of the box? I saw it on the Pentax site or did they take care of the problem already?

I think you are talking about the firmware version. Most new ones should have the new version, but it is very easy to check. The manual tells you how.

 

[MinnieForMe]

UKCATFAN:
Do you think there is any chance I'll find an 18-270 mm lens used? I'm still anxiously awaiting the arrival of my K-X. Sam's Club lost my order but found it and it's on it's way!

 

[gokenin]

UKCATFAN:
Do you think there is any chance I'll find an 18-270 mm lens used? I'm still anxiously awaiting the arrival of my K-X. Sam's Club lost my order but found it and it's on it's way!

As far as I knew the 18-270 has not been released in a Pentax mount. You should be able to pick up a used copy of either the Pentax or the Tamron 18-250 however that is if you dont mind loosing the extra 20mm at the long end if you do then you will have to wait and see if gets released for the Pentax mount.

 

[MinnieForMe]

As far as I knew the 18-270 has not been released in a Pentax mount. You should be able to pick up a used copy of either the Pentax or the Tamron 18-250 however that is if you dont mind loosing the extra 20mm at the long end if you do then you will have to wait and see if gets released for the Pentax mount.

I'd be very happy with the 18/250. Is there a used site you recommend? Do you think I would be better off just buying a new one? I'm jumping the gun again. The man in brown still hasn't delivered my camera yet! LOL.

 

[gokenin]

I'd be very happy with the 18/250. Is there a used site you recommend? Do you think I would be better off just buying a new one? I'm jumping the gun again. The man in brown still hasn't delivered my camera yet! LOL.

You can should also check out Adorama and B&H both of these sites sell used as well as new products so those would be my first sites to check out. I dont know if you have been there but Pentaxforums also has a marketplace that you can buy used lens from other Pentaxians.