Just joined and need advice.....loads of it!!!

Hi,I've just started out in digital photography with a k-5. I've been using a Z-1 for years so know the basic principles ie. aperture, shutter speed, iso and gubbins like that, however my skills on a computer are somewhat nil.
I've played about with paint.net and the basic microsoft stuff but Pentax Utility 4 has me completely flummoxed. I'm even having problems uploading pictures to the programme in the first place, let alone doing anything with them when they're there!
Also, Windows XP doesn't let me upload RAW images. Any way around this?
There are plenty more questions to follow but this will do for now.
Cheers

Phil

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......or did I dream it?

Welcome to the forum Phil

Let's start with loading RAW images. When you bought your K5 you should have received a disc with it containing a program called silkypics - load this disc and use silkypics to load your RAW files on to your PC

As a basic starter editing program that is simple to use - I would recommend downloading Picasa - which is free from google

Good luck

Carl

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No matter how many lenses I have owned - I have always needed just one more

Hi Carl, the disc that came with the camera is Pentax Utility 4 powered by Silkypix. I did use this to load some pics but then couldn't find them afterwards (I did warn you about my computer skills).
I think my best bet is to go out tomorrow, shoot a few RAW pics and start afresh. Hopefully,you or someone else will be on hand to lead me step by step. In the meantime I'll download Picasso.
Thanks for your help so far.
Phil

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......or did I dream it?

Hi Phil and a very warm welcome endorse what Carl says Picasa is a good choice
It is very user freindly and if I can use it anyone can

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All the best

David

Hi Phil

If I remember correctly - silkypics defaults to a file called Pentax for storing images- which it places in the document folder. You should be able to find it easily enough - Do you have a user name set up on your PC? for instance mine is 'Carl' so I would find mine in Carl - Documents - Pentax if you do not have a user name on your PC - it may just be documents - Pentax

If all else fails - just run a search on your pc for the file name 'Pentax' and it should find it - let me know how you get on

Carl

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No matter how many lenses I have owned - I have always needed just one more

Hi Phil.

Sorry can’t help with your computer problems, as I am also a computer dummy, it is all a black art, devised by the devil himself.


Take care.

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Chris R.

I. El. (Eng). (Rtd).

For windows xp, you need to visit the microsoft website and upload the update, raw picture viewer. So you can properly see thumbnails in the my pictures file.

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K-1Gripped K-1 ungripped K-5ii K7 Various lenses

Stuart..

Iagree with Chris R computers

Hi Phil

I work with computers all day every day so I think I know my way around them. Best advice I can give is to keep it simple at first and progress at your own pace. A few pointers:

- When you have made your adjustments in Silkypix, choose the 'Save As' option from the menu and save the files to a location of your choice - don't just let Silkypix put them in the default 'Pentax' folder
- When you choose 'Save As' you could also choose to save the file as a jpeg, as Windows XP will recognise this without you having to download other things
- In Silkypix you can go into the 'Options' menu and set the default folder for saving files to a folder of your own choice - if you do this you will always know where they have gone when you save them
- For processing your jpegs (after doing your RAW changes and saving from Silkypix) I would stick with Paint.net for the time being. It's simple to use and once you get to know it you can do some quite sophisticated processing with it. Personally, it is the only processing tool I bother with, apart from Silkypix and Photomatix, which is only used for HDR processing.

Hope this is useful.

Regards
David

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Flickr

Nicola's Apartments, Kassiopi, Corfu

Some cameras, some lenses, some bits 'n' bobs

Welcome to the forum Phil

What you need is some 1 on 1 tuition, have you considered joining a camera club? generally speaking members are usually helpful and eager to help newbies, many clubs have started running digital workshops.
Alternatively post your location in your profile (city will do) you might just be in luck and have a PU member living nearby who would be willing to help and show you the basics.

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My Names Alan, and I'm a lensaholic.
My PPG link
My Flckr link

I would try and snag an old version of Photoshop Elements from somewhere (ebay?) Yes there are free programmes, but Photoshop's the default option for most people so you'll probably find you'll easily be able to get advice if you get stuck... It will also open your RAW files, and then you can edit them and save them as jpegs.

One tip - if you are shooting RAW, set your camera's RAW format to DNG (can be opened by any RAW software) rather than PEF (Pentax's own format, which is less well supported). I think this is on tab no. 4 of the in-camera menu, 'RAW file format'.

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[link=https://500px.com/will_brealey/[/link]

Hi Phil I have elements 6 complete if this is any good please PM me you are welcome to it totally free

Let me know and I will get it into the post for you hope this helps and maybe save you a few pennies

I think it may run on your machine will check the box for you but you are more than welcome

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All the best

David

Well, still no joy in uploading RAW images. I managed to find the pics I uploaded yesterday via Silkypix but couldn't find any way of getting them back on to Utility to do anything with them. Tried downloading Picasa, computer says "all files downloaded" but can't find that either. Perhaps it's time to give up and concentrate on taking pictures.

Phil

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......or did I dream it?

Welcome Phil, I won't enter into the debate other than to say take David's offer of PSE6!!

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Andrew

"I'm here because the whiskey is free" - Tyla

PPG link
Flickr link

Hi Phil its on its way later today and hope it helps

Good luck

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All the best

David