Pentax general discussion

[3prettyprincesses]

Not meaning to discourage you at all but you may want to wait for the K-r which is coming out next month there are upgrades from the Kx that may be worth it for you. I am thinking of upgrading myself and keeping my K200d as my backup and possibly converting my K100 to completely IR

I'm not looking to spend that much right now on a dslr and I'm a novice. So the k-x seems to be a better fit. Thanks though!

 

[ukcatfan]

Hello,

After getting great advice from the disboards, I'm considering purchasing a Pentax k-x. It will be my first dslr. I've been reading tons of reviews and one drawback seems to stand out the most...the live view is frustrating for focusing and drains the batteries very quickly. For those of you with this particular camera, do you find this to be true?

Like we were talking about on the other thread, it all depends on how you are using it. LV is not going to be the best for sports or other action shots. I use it sometimes for over the crowd shots and for tripod work and I have not seen any focus problems or excessive battery drain. I do not recommend using LV for action shots even if the focus was super fast. Holding the camera to your eye is a better way to stabilize it and results in less blurring from camera shake. It also is easier to track a subject with the viewfinder than the LCD screen.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Like we were talking about on the other thread, it all depends on how you are using it. LV is not going to be the best for sports or other action shots. I use it sometimes for over the crowd shots and for tripod work and I have not seen any focus problems or excessive battery drain. I do not recommend using LV for action shots even if the focus was super fast. Holding the camera to your eye is a better way to stabilize it and results in less blurring from camera shake. It also is easier to track a subject with the viewfinder than the LCD screen.

Thanks yet again! I suppose I want the live view more so for regular, non action shots. In that sense, I gather from what you said that it isn't a problem focusing the live view. I'm very glad to hear that there isn't an enormous drain on the battery if using the live view too.

I actually dragged my poor DH all around our area today in search of a Pentax k-x so that I could get a feel for it. However, we had zero luck. I tried Best Buy, Penn Camera, Ritz Camera, Target and Costco. I did end up going online at Pentax camera's website to locate a store. I'm heading there tomorrow!

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

If you are going to upgrade to a DSLR please strongly consider using it old school like... IMHO if you want to use it like a Point and shoot than that may be a better fit for you. Personally I've had the camera for 8 months and still havent even tried to use the Live view, it just doesnt seem right using the screen! My DW looks at me funny whenver I use the P&S now because out of my new found habit I use the viewfinder before realizing it doesnt worrk the same way as the DSLR! I feel dumb after she points it out to me...

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

When I bought my first dSLR a few years ago, I thought it would be hard to switch from using live view to the viewfinder, but it's not at all.

I recently bought the K-x and I hate when I accidentally hit the LV button and turn it on. For me, it is more natural to use the viewfinder than trying to use the LV (especially when it is sunny and there is a glare on the screen).

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Ok, I finally was able to test a k-x and I'm so happy I did! It is exactly what I'm looking for, loved all the features and ease of use. The nice lady working at the Pentax store was very helpful and informative. It felt perfect in my hands, not too small, not too big. I had a lot of fun playing around with it, the view finder works very well and I love the 18-55mm lens it comes with. The owner came over too to show me some of the features and claims that more and more people are buying Pentax over Canon and Nikon at his store due to the metal construction, user friendliness and ability to use Pentax lenses that are older without issue.

Can I ask which rechargeable batteries you all prefer? I saw on Amazon that the Sanyo eneloops are recommended.

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

I have eneloops but havent used them yet so cant give an honest answer, I keep them in my bag for backup purposes if my Energizer Lithiums die. With the Lithiums I can get close to if not more than 2000 frames, I've had this current set in for almost 3 weeks and 2200 exposures... but I gotta get into rechargeables cause these things are $16 for 8, but here in Canada they are $18 for only 4!!! So I cross border shop and stock up when needed...

I asked the question about the rechargeables 8 months ago and the resounding response from all camera users were Eneloops...

 

[ukcatfan]

The word on the street is that the Duracell pre-charged with a white top are re-labeled Eneloops. I have a few sets and they work great! I do recommend buying more than a cheapo bundled charger. Try to find one that has a separate circuit for each cell. I use a Maha WizardOne, but that might be more than you want to spend on a charger.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Thanks for the battery info. I went ahead and ordered my Pentax kx with the eneloops! Can't wait for it to arrive!

 

[ukcatfan]

Thanks for the battery info. I went ahead and ordered my Pentax kx with the eneloops! Can't wait for it to arrive!

Congratulations!!! I am sure you are going to love it. I am also sure you are going to have some questions once it is in your hands. Be sure to come back here because we are always glad to help.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Congratulations!!! I am sure you are going to love it. I am also sure you are going to have some questions once it is in your hands. Be sure to come back here because we are always glad to help.

Thanks! I am counting the minutes till it gets here! It was strange, as soon as I held it in my hands and took a bunch of pics, I was sold. Thank goodness I didn't just rush into a purchase with the Nikon D3000 because I didn't like the feel of it at all! My plan is to try and familiarize myself with it before our upcoming Disney trip. I'm sure I'll have lots of ignorant, ridiculous questions! You were so very helpful and I appreciate it. Now I can join the Pentaxian thread!

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Ok, here's my first ignorant Pentax kx question! When I flipped to the live view, the camera made a lot of noise. I waited a little but the noise continued, kind of like a jiggling sound. Is that normal for this camera?

 

[ukcatfan]

Ok, here's my first ignorant Pentax kx question! When I flipped to the live view, the camera made a lot of noise. I waited a little but the noise continued, kind of like a jiggling sound. Is that normal for this camera?

That is the image stabilization working to shift the sensor.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

That is the image stabilization working to shift the sensor.

Oh, ok. I was a litte concerned that it got banged around during shipping or something! I have to say, I don't even want to use the live view! I am loving the view finder, I feel like I have better control over the image I'm taking a picture of. Thanks!

 

[Me!Thatswho]

Quick question for my fellow Pentaxians. What editing software do you use, preferably those programs that are open-source? I have been using RawTherapy, but, after installing it on my new desktop (had to replace an older XP laptop, it doesn't appear to be stable in Windows 7. In fact, ever time I try to open up an .pef image, it instantly crashes. I also downloaded Gimp, but it doesn't appear to recognize .pefs. Am I out of luck in terms of open-source options?

 

[ukcatfan]

Quick question for my fellow Pentaxians. What editing software do you use, preferably those programs that are open-source? I have been using RawTherapy, but, after installing it on my new desktop (had to replace an older XP laptop, it doesn't appear to be stable in Windows 7. In fact, ever time I try to open up an .pef image, it instantly crashes. I also downloaded Gimp, but it doesn't appear to recognize .pefs. Am I out of luck in terms of open-source options?

There is always Google Picasa. It is not all that powerful. I use Bibble Pro and feel it was worth every penny. Lightroom is the most popular option, but also one of the most expensive. Are you, or do you have any children, that are students that would qualify you for student pricing?

 

[Me!Thatswho]

There is always Google Picasa. It is not all that powerful. I use Bibble Pro and feel it was worth every penny. Lightroom is the most popular option, but also one of the most expensive. Are you, or do you have any children, that are students that would qualify you for student pricing?

I have been looking at Lightroom. Fortunately I am a college professor, so, if I have read things correctly, I am eligible for reduced-rate student version.

How complex is it? To be honest, I am a little afraid of the learning curve. While I have been become comfortable with Raw Therapee, I never really pushed the envelope beyond a little white balance or exposure correction here and there.

 

[ukcatfan]

I have been looking at Lightroom. Fortunately I am a college professor, so, if I have read things correctly, I am eligible for reduced-rate student version.

How complex is it? To be honest, I am a little afraid of the learning curve. While I have been become comfortable with Raw Therapee, I never really pushed the envelope beyond a little white balance or exposure correction here and there.

Give Google a try first then. It does that and more. It might be enough to satisfy you.

 

[Me!Thatswho]

Thanks. I'll give it a go.

 

[Groucho]

Ok, I finally was able to test a k-x and I'm so happy I did! It is exactly what I'm looking for, loved all the features and ease of use. The nice lady working at the Pentax store was very helpful and informative. It felt perfect in my hands, not too small, not too big. I had a lot of fun playing around with it, the view finder works very well and I love the 18-55mm lens it comes with. The owner came over too to show me some of the features and claims that more and more people are buying Pentax over Canon and Nikon at his store due to the metal construction, user friendliness and ability to use Pentax lenses that are older without issue.

Can I ask which rechargeable batteries you all prefer? I saw on Amazon that the Sanyo eneloops are recommended.

Unfortunately, the salesman should have known better - the K-x does not have a metal body. The higher-line K-7 does. Having both the K-x and the K-7 (and having two plastic-bodied Pentaxes before), I wouldn't worry too much about it - the K-7 is more rugged but the K-x is fine, no concerns.

For batteries - the low-discharge ones are the way to go. In my old *ist DL and K100D, I used to have battery issues once in a while with regular NiHMs going flat after sitting for a few days, but with the low-discharge ones, we have no issues. I pick up the camera, even if it hasn't been touched in a few weeks, and it just works.

The word on the street is that the Duracell pre-charged with a white top are re-labeled Eneloops. I have a few sets and they work great!

I would guess that they are. I have two sets of Duracells (thanks to Amazon's "subscribe and save" - then they took those batteries off the program!) and the first set is white ones made in Japan, the second set is black ones made in China. They are otherwise identical-looking except the Chinese label might be a tad sharper! I haven't used them enough to say which is better; both work perfectly fine so far. Outside of a lab, there is probably little difference. I do also have a couple sets of "real" Eneloops.

That is the image stabilization working to shift the sensor.

Yup. You hear the sound more because normally it only works when you half-press the shutter - in Live View, it works all the time. It also moves more at longer focal lengths - when I mount my 300mm, it really moves!
The only other sound you might hear is a "flopping" when rotating the camera, which is the orientation sensor.

I have been looking at Lightroom. Fortunately I am a college professor, so, if I have read things correctly, I am eligible for reduced-rate student version.

How complex is it? To be honest, I am a little afraid of the learning curve. While I have been become comfortable with Raw Therapee, I never really pushed the envelope beyond a little white balance or exposure correction here and there.

IMHO, Lightroom is both easier and more powerful than most other options. You have a ton of settings available, but you don't need to mess with them unless you want to. The current version is also very competent in most all regards - with version 1 and 2 (to a lesser degree), Bibble and Silkypix seemed to often produce better colors in their output, but Lightroom 3 has solid improvements and is probably at least as good and probably better than the others. It also has a much improved noise reduction engine, removing much of the advantage of Bibble's built-in Noise Ninja. Last time I checked, the student version was selling for somewhere around $89 at NewEgg.

There is a free trial that's worth looking at if you want to give it a try.