Hints & Tips

After many happy of 35mm photography I've joined the digital age and purchased a K10D! I've only had it a day or two and spent most of the time running off random shots around the house / garden - but my initial impression are excellent !!

However, I thought I'd see if I can pick your collective brains to see if you have any 'hints and tips' regarding the use of the K10D, custom setting etc. A few initial questions...

- Shake Reduction. In a few places the manual states to switch off Shake Reduction if you're using a tripod. I appreciate that Shake Reduction isn't required if a tripod is being used, but is there a problem if it is on and is there any issue with leaving it permanently switched on ?

- Senor cleaning. Is there any disadvantage to setting the camera to shake the senor every time it's switched on ?

- White Balance. Does the auto white balance setting (AWB) work effectively or am I better to set the White Balance for each shot based on conditions - I've tried AWB with the built in flash and it doesn't appear to compensate (and the pre determined 'flash' white balance setting appears to over compensate !) My plan was to shot in JPEG whilst I get used to the 'basics' before starting to play with RAW files but I may just go straight to RAW.

- Firmware. I understand that it's possible to upgrade the Firmware on the camera (shipped with V1.0) - however, I can't find any reference to Firmware on the Pentax site (www.Pentax.com). Is it hidden somewhere or am I looking at the wrong internet site.

Anyway that's just some of my initial questions - so if you have any 'hints and tips' (about these points or anything else) then please let me know.

Thank

Dave

Hi Dave and welcome to the forum..

Firmware updates here..

http://www.pentaximaging.com/customer_care/software_firmware?sfFlag=f

and the latest one for the K10D

http://www.pentaximaging.com/customer_care/show_firmware?firmId=8793673

I don't use the K10D so I'll leave that to others, although I'd suggets having a go with RAW.. it's not that much more difficult than processing a jpeg.

Cheers

Liam

- Shake Reduction - I think you can get blurred images if SR is on and you're mounted on a tripod.

- Senor cleaning - Yes it slows down time to shoot. Secondly the sensor cleaning really does not work, but something like an Arctic Butterfly SL700 does (I check my sensor every so often before I go out and shoot and clean it if required).

- White Balance - Just shoot RAW, then you never have to worry about WB as it can be adjusted later and not damage the image. Camera WB adjustments setting is saved into the RAW file and it right most of the time.

- Firmware - http://www.pentax.co.uk/_uk/photo/products/index.php?cameras&gruppe=digital%...


Hints and tips... Try out Lightroom as a digital darkroom, it is fantastic (though a little pricey, but you can still find some places selling at the discounted price http://www.warehouseexpress.com/?photo/software/adobe.html#PC312660 ).

Does anyone here actually buy software : if your really thinking about buying cs3 or lightroom pm me,ill save you a fortune

Just to add:

SR is most effective over a short time period. Over time the small differences between the shake sensor and the sensor movement aggregate and produce a blurring of the image. That's why you don't use it for tripod shots (as a rule of thumb).

Also, you have to be careful not to be caught out by the SR. It takes a little while to get a "shake reading" - so wait until the little hand icon lights up in the bottom left corner of the viewfinder before actually pressing the shutter

Sensor cleaning - so far I've found that the in-camera dust removal does work, along with a "rocket blower" to remove the stubborn stuff. Personally I don't bother having it on start up - just do it when I change lenses (which is almost as often ). Be aware you shouldn't use normal fluids on the sensor otherwise you could damage its coating (Eclipse E2 fluid is apparently the one).


I have a few favourite custom functions - removing the "focus on half press of shutter" is one (and I use the rear AF button to focus). The rest depends on your shooting.


Definitely shoot RAW, in PEF format (it's smaller). Capture One LE is now K10D aware (and you may still be able to get free keycodes with Sandisk Extreme III cards). I prefer Silkypix - and its technology is included with the supplied Pentax converter (which is better than most supplied converters!!).

So I'd say - start with the Pentax one until you've outgrown it and then try the others to decide which fits your needs best. By then you should have some experience behind you too.

Matt

I have even left SR turned on when attached to a Newtonian telescope at prime focus, which I later figured out was stupid since the direction of motion of the camera had no resemblance to the direction of motion of the image(it was cold, and late, my brain wasn't working properly!). There was no visible degradation (although there was also no benefit, as you might assume).


With my K10D I leave SR on more or less all the time, but on the other hand I shoot hand held most of the time too so perhaps I just don't notice?

With the RAW vs JPEG debate, it is my opinion that there is no reason to shoot JPG unless you are short of space. With the prices at 7dayshop and Picstop there is also little reason to be short of space. If you shoot all RAW and decide that in fact the camera was right in the first place, you can batch process the RAW files using default settings and the Pentax software. You end up with the JPEGs you would have had anyway, nothing is lost.

meanwhile, if you shoot RAW and the AWB gets it's knickers in a twist, or you forget to switch back from Tungsten to Daylight, you can easily correct this mistake in post processing.

There are two disadvantages to RAW.

1) you must process the files before they can be universally viewed, so you can't take pictures at your mates party and download them to his computer before you leave unless you brought the Pentax software with you.

2) The files are larger on card than JPGs and less of them will fit in the buffer at one time. This is the sole reason I ever shoot JPG, if I am short of storage space or fancy some really long bursts (the latter has never yet happened with my K10, 9 shots has always been enough).

Yes you can - you can process the RAW files in-camera.

Dan

good point, I'd forgotten about that.

The K10D rocks

As a FAST Approved Software Manager http://www.fast.org.uk/ my answer is an unequivocal Yes!!!

Ditto Tim's comment
Matt

Yes, all of my software is properly licensed and I have no wish to go to prison, thanks.

If, as your post suggests (my apologies if I'm wrong), you are in the habit of supplying unlicensed software, you should be very careful where you shout about it.

I very rarely buy software, but that's because most of my software is GPL'd, it's all properly licensed.

If you want free software, switch to Linux

If you want Photoshop, take out a mortgage.

in Windows you can allways try out GIMP (GPL) or Corel Paint Shop pro which is quite cheap.

If you invest in a RAW convertor like Silkypix then the need for an expensive piece of software like Photoshop is not that big (allthough PS is worth it's money).

I find picasa usefull now it views and works with .dng files,its a very handy album.

here's a helpful hint:
get a business licence.
register for a college program (even nights) in photography.
buy your software with a student discount (half price).
then consult a tax pro about writing it ALL off.
Sign me laughing all the way to the bank with my $800.00 tax REFUND!