K10D - Wish list?

We've had a few topics here singing the praises of Pentax and their new baby but is it what you expected or would have liked?

Now this thread is for the negatives about the K10D or rather, a wish list for Pentax's next killer cam. If you've said elsewhere in these forums (fora?) how great it is and actually, I agree it is a brilliant piece of kit, please don't repeat it here.

Now that we've had our K10D's for a while, what would you have liked Pentax to include in its spec/capabilities? What do you not like about this camera?

I for one think it a grave mistake for Pentax to have omitted TTL flash capabilities, so that's my first wish. Pentax development engineers please note:- "Please give us TTL flash back" I know it wasn't brilliant on the *istD and it probably doesn't work very well with your new anti-dust sensor coating, but I miss it.

My second gripe is that it would have been so simple to have added wireless file transfer capabilities to the D-BG2 grip. I would have found this a lot more useful than having storage space for a spare memory card and a remote. So how about a D-BG3 grip - with IEEE 802.11G (or whatever the current flavour is) wireless?

You see, I think Pentax people read this, or at least have it translated into Japanese, and I think they value our input. So I think we should give them something to think about . . .

Dual memory card slots would be nice or even a choice of using SD or CF. So perhaps 1 SD and 1 CF slot would be ideal?

As for the "D-BG3" grip - I'd sooner have room for another battery so I could have a choice of 3 battery slots. I could have a combo of more power or keep the battery out of the body to make changes that bit quicker and avoid the need to take the grip off. If you like a lighter camera, you can choose to only fit 1 battery...

It would also be nice to have a flash-sync socket.

Not so sure about needing TTL... but I did notice the preflash and main flash are much closer together. Have yet to try on "blinking" people

Actually, I can't think of anything except a small bug fix where the bracket interval isn't kept on sleep or powerdown. And for HDR I'd like the option of 7 or 9 frames. But 5 is pretty good...

In addition, for HDR, is the option to do a mega-RAW dump of all 22-bits. That'll cover maybe 5 stops of dynamic range (when you consider it covers ISO100-1600). Then you'll only need that shot, or perhaps two shots to cover a full HDR. One trouble would be the software... but a 22-bit capture would do wonders for fast HDR - don't think any other camera would be able to touch it

Matt

Adding wirelss to a Mk II grip is a brilliant idea. It adds functionality without having to change the camera.

Rather than resuscitate TTL, which never worked that well anyway, I would prefer to see a more affordable, basic, flash unit which offered P-TTL. Going back to TTL is a bit, well, retro.

But I have to say there's not much I would add, or change. At the risk of sounding boring, this is a near-perfect machine.

And I can't see Pentax being able to come up with a significantly better camera in the foreseeable future.

Digital has come of age.

G

I don't really have any problems with it now the latest software is on.

I am keeping away from the battery grip as it makes it difficult to remove the main battery and turns the camera into a brick

The card is a little fiddly to put in and out (old thick fingers here) but I don't think wireless would help much - happy with a card reader as it saves battery power.

Think you're right about TTL flash - P-TTL gives a few odd under exposures but not too fussed as I don't use flash much.

In simple terms
人物の顔をカメラが検知して、顔の中心にピントと露出を自動設定。カメラまかせで人物の顔をくっきり、肌色を明るくキレイに撮影できます
No I cant read it either but it makes about as much sense to me as some of the manual

Also a shame that there is no option for AA size batteries so quick and reliable backup power becomes an issue.

Sure I'll find more when I really get into it

I'd go for an AA option with the "BG-3" grip, compression for DNG files and.......that's about it! The K10D is dangerously close to perfection!

My AF140C and AF500FTZ (the only flash in the Pentax lineup that does multiple flash) don't work too well with the K10D as they are TTL only and manual. Manual is OK, but TTL or P-TTL is a lot easier for macro work. ANd if you prefer a flash with a grip, the AF400T is TTL and manual only.

To get decent flash results, other than doing manual calculations, with the K10D, one is almost forced to fork out for an AF360FGZ or AF540FGZ (which I have).

Peter,
That's progress for you I can see that you need it, given that equipment list
The AF540 with an FG adaptor and lead straight into the AF540 on a hacked Pentax 4P bracket does me just fine
Matt

[quote="MannestyMy AF140C and AF500FTZ (the only flash in the Pentax lineup that does multiple flash) don't work too well with the K10D as they are TTL only and manual. Manual is OK, but TTL or P-TTL is a lot easier for macro work. ANd if you prefer a flash with a grip, the AF400T is TTL and manual only.[/quote]Hmmm... lots of my other wish list comes down to finding bits that will work with it. I'm in the market for a ringflash but can't find the AF140C or am waiting to see if they bring out a new one that'll do P-TTL. The other toy that I'd love to work with my K10D is the MZ-S's TS-110 timer switch (Matt: ref the thread the other day I haven't forgotten...)

And........ I can't wait for the new * lenses to turn up!

Will

I know, I have too much gear and I don't use it all now anyway so some of it will go now the K10D has arrived.

I suppose my point is really aimed at the people who will buy the K10D at it's current price point. Many will be 'ordinary' Joe Public (and I don't mean that in any derogatory way) who have a Pentax MZ something or other and a flash. Most of those flashes are not going to work too well which will invite criticism.

Now, your Pentax 4P bracket. Is that the same as the Hot Shoe Grip, because I have one (surprise surprise) and if it is, how did you 'hack' it. The P-TTL flash manuals say not to use these flashes on accessories having a different number of contacts. The HSG has only 3 contacts.

The AF140C, and any other Pentax flash, does work with the K10D but you have to use it in manual mode and either experiment or use a flash meter and/or calculations to set the right aperture etc. On the K10D, you only ever get 100% discharge from the AF140C and it has no option to set a fractional power output.

My recommendation for anybody that enjoys macro with a TTL ringflash (Pentax or otherwise), and has a *istD, is . . . don't sell the D. The only real K10D solution is to use a pair of AF360FGZ's or AF540FGZ's and use the K10D's newly acquired wireless weapon and the built-in flash in controller mode.

fix the stop down metering.

My DL2 requires an overexposure of +2 constantly with M42 lenses. That's fine. The K10D seems to do funny things with M42 lenses which is most annoying.

Oh and another call for an AA battery grip, even if it has to have 8 cells to give the oomph needed, I would like to have backup power options.

Joshua Hakin has just given me an idea.

Wouldn't it be nice if the next body had a bluetooth-driven remote control with a small screen showing the view through the viewfinder, and controls for focus and zoom, as well as shutter?

It would be a paparazzo's delight, of course, but would also have legitimate uses.

G

PS: Terrible news about those two News of the World reporters being locked up for mobile phone tapping. They got four months and six months. Should have been years, in my view.

Perhaps a battery grip with AA capacity, but also electrical contacts for an additional two or four SD cards in the grip.

A big problem with my K10D is it doesn't have any * lenses...

3.5 inch screen