hullo from York

Hi folks

I got my hands on the last unit in the shop today (a couple in the shop make up their minds) and so I walked out with the K5 and twin lens. I’ve not owned a 35 SLR for more than 15 years so will be catching up with the technology changes. Couldn’t believe there was a nearly 400 page manual in the box! Aiming to be out and about with it tomorrow just to press a few buttons and get a feel for it.

Do I need to do a firmware update - and if so - how?!

What’s the thought round here on UV filters – used to use them before, but one of the reasons I opted for K5 as opposed to D7000 was I’d read the quality of the kit lenses were better. I’ve not decided whether to place a UV/skylight on the two lenses, but feel the urge to visit a shop tomorrow

In the mean time – any idea where I can get a decent priced cable release (ie less than £50)

Hello and welcome

I hold a neutral view with uv filers so it's splinters in my rear whilst sitting on the fence

Ha ha!
Cheers Stuey.

Hello and welcome to the forum Spiritwalker.

To answer your question about a cable release - the K5 is compatible with a remote control to fire the shutter which is more convenient than a cable release IMO.

I bought a compatible remote for £1.25 delivered from China via eBay! It has worked flawlessly for me but you can buy a genuine Pentax version for around £20 if you have concerns about it's quality.

Regards,

Keir.

Thanks Blues_Breaker

I like the idea of a remote (I never realised you could fire remotely) as the cable release is only about 0.5m long. If they can work in B setting for long exposures, it will be problem sorted. Time to do some Googling.

Cheers

No problem

I don't have a K5 but I'm pretty sure you can use the remote to operate Bulb mode for long exposures. If I remember correctly you push the remote button once to open the shutter and then again to close it.

Regards,

Keir

Bulb mode has been discussed in the last couple of days on the Troubleshooter section; primarily with regard to the K-m and K-x:

https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/bulb-mode-k-m-35036

You might find it worth looking at. Each model seems to vary a bit in what it will do.

Welcome to the Pentax forum. I have had lots of help here in the year I have been a member.

Good shooting!

Martin

Blues_Breaker - thanks again, this is exactly what I've been reading from Google searches. Seems to make so much more sense having a remote than a short cable.

Old Taffy - thanks for the link, that's been useful to read. There's very little info in the manual but maybe there's more within the in camera menu. I also need to start working my way around the forum.

Cheers

This one works and now reduced

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_1&products_id=111948

Hello and welcome from Sheffield.

Thanks for the welcome and the link - will be giving that remote some consideration.

Cheers

Hello Spiritwalker.
Welcome to the Forum and hope you find it, as I did, to be the place where you can get good tips and thoughts to help you make the most of your new camera.

On UV filters I always got one for every different lens size and kept them on the lens at all times. After later learning that the sensors in our cameras have a UV filter over them I now see that its unlikely that the extra filter will help with UV problems.

Maybe the main reason for a filter is as a means of protecting the surface of the front element of the lens. Here the sums say that you'd be glad you had a filter in place if it gets scratched rather than have the lens ruined.

This isn't a topic that I have researched but I do hear that you need to get a good quality filter or be aware of the risk of losing quality. Perhaps other members will know if there are any published comparisons between the different makers of filters.

Enjoy -you live in a part of the Country that has so much to offer a photographer!... Geoff

Welcome!

I UV my lenses... Some say that there's a drop in IQ but personally I don't 'see' any (using Hoya UV's)...

I use hoods as well(increasing contrast and the appearance of sharpness)

Both protect the lens and for the price of hoods and UVs against the price of replacing scratched lenses I think it's a worthwhile investment...

Again... Welcome!

Hi Spiritwalker and welcome!

Regarding UV filters, from experience it depends on the lens!

- The 55-300 seems to hate filters of any kind - they ruin the sharpness (even UV ones). Take the filter off and the lens is totally transformed
- DA 16-45 works great with or without - it seems especially good with a circular polariser

In general, you will lose a little sharpness with most lenses if a filter is fitted, but it all depends on what you're shooting and whether the risk of damaging the element or surround is worth it for getting slightly better results by shooting without the UV on the front.

This is one of those subjects that really does divide opinion.

Regards
David

Welcome to the family.

Filters?

I've tried them and don't bother now, if you're carefull you don't need them for protection.

Best advice? get a cheap one and play.