How many users for an Aussie Group?

I'm new so I'm not sure how mant Aussie users there are here. What's the chance of getting a few Aussies together (as the pentax scene isn't too big here). It would be very helpful for all of us I think.

G'day Phil.
I am in Grafton, N.S.W.
I am also subscribed to the pentax list (PDML)
Ther are a fair few of us OZ pentaxians on that email list.

Hooroo.
Regards, Trevor
Grafton
OZ

Brisvegas pentax user just joined

bit of an amateur's amateur

I am running a photo comp on my website if your interested

http://www.mosport.net

Any space for a kiwi, a Pentax user for more years than I care to remember.
Stan

I'm in Melbourne a large part of the year. The rest of the year in the UK.

I from SA, be good to have an Aust area. for additional support and ideas and prices etc.

Hey everyone I have just joined - We purchased our Pentax IST D a couple of years ago and as a last ditch effort to use the darned thing I am hoping that someone can tell me how to make it take a decent photo, and some days a photo at all.

In saying that when I can get it to work I do like some of the pics it takes - so anyone up for offering some advice that will need to be dumbed down and then dumbed down again?

Sydney here. So i think we have most of the states covered
If you are after good prices leave Sydney out of the loop. Outrageous prices.

I only got into DSLR in May this year so im in the class as happysnappy.

Well here is the first question. Does anyone know where i can get a battery for my K10 without having to pay $100bucks for it or get it from overseas.

Yep, I've been using a locally sourced battery by Master Instruments (Syd) which should be available retail via http://www.wagner.net.au/

The part number is RBC48 "Konica Minolta NP-400 battery"

Should be around AU$40 or so otherwise you could try:

http://www.digitalcamerawarehouse.com.au/category176_1.htm

Cheers,

So you have used have used these Minolta batteries in your K10 without any problems :
How many shots per charge would you say you were averaging compared to the original pentax branded battery :



Thanks Rob much appreciated. I had a feeling you would know where too look. Thanks again.

Rob
Thanks for the heads up on the battery. I popped around to Wagners on my way to work and picked up the minolta NP-400 (took the camera in with me too make sure it fitted) Perfect fit and at AUD$48 its less than half that of the original. I will just see how it performs and if im happy with it i will get another. Thanks again.

Just joined!

I am in Qld just north of Brisbane. I have a K100DS and love. I did a short photography course at TAFE just to learn how to use it and get some tips. Worth it I reckon I now use it only on manual. Got a bit to learn about composition etc but I am enjoying it nonetheless.

It is good to know there are other Pentax owners out there as I feel surrounded by Canons and Nikons who sometimes look down their noses!!!

When I get game enough I might throw a couple of photos on for a bit of "constructive criticism".

I have been lurking around the forum and I would say there are a few people on here I can learn from.

Do you think that it might help us to help you if you describe what is going wrong? Or do you think we can simply guess?

Well, you may be right. Probably 99% of reported DSLR camera problems are down to user error, and I suspect the same cause here.

Post some pictures that you think are not up to scratch and we'll see if we can tell you what you are doing wrong. Don't do anything to the pictures other than reduce the size so that the bottom edge is 600 pixels, or thereabouts.

If you don't know how to do that, download IrfanView (it's free, at http://www.irfanview.com ) and go into Resize on the Image menu. Then type 600 into the Width box under "Set new size", and press OK. Then save the result under a new name. When you install Irfanview, make it the default for image files, unless you have a good reason not to.

And make sure you are using good, fully charged, batteries in the camera. NiMH batteries are best. I presume you are using the original 18-35mm lens?

The *ist D is a splendid camera, capable of superb results in the right hands, and generally very reliable.

G

PS: Are you printing your pictures straight from the camera, or are you trying to edit them first?