New to Pentax - K-7 & FA43

Hi All,

I am a new member and just (today) bought a lightly used K-7 and a lightly used FA43 f1.9 Limited lens (from this very forum). Both should be with me at the weekend!

I currently have a Sigma DP1x as my only camera so used to prime shooting and certain 'quirks' when taking photos. Previous to that I have had a Konica Minolta 5D/Sigma 30mm f1.4.

Is there anything with this combo to look out for (settings/quirks) or shall I just jump in and go for it?


In the future, its looking like I will probably get a DA15 f4.0 Limited to cover the wide angle, which should do all my shooting types.

Cheers, Rob

Keep away from available red light with the K-7, iso3200 usable in Raw format. 43 and Samsung sensor sing sweetly together. Enjoy

K7 is capable of great IQ if you get your exposures right and stick to low ISOs.

Cool cheers, I am used to ISO400 being the limit, and shooting RAW all the time so sounds like I should be OK.
Is it generally best to under-expose and bring back in PP? Thats what I tended to do with the Sigma, although highlight recovery was pretty good.

Generally people advise you to underexpose and bring back if needed, but shadow recovery can produce a lot of noise, so it's probably best to nail the exposure as best you can.

You should always try to get the exposure right when taking the picture. Underexposure brings noise (sometimes lots of it). You should underexpose only if you need to save some highlights, and then only use the minimum possible.

The FA43 is an outstanding lense, but it is a little bit long to use as a "standard" lens. I like the FA31 better for street shooting and general use.

FWIW I tend to regard 400 as my 'normal' ISO value for the K7 but will go to 800/1600 without any hesitation if in low light or with long lenses. 800 I can live with, 1600 I do some noise reduction in PP but it cleans up completely. I will use 3200 when needed and it's more than usable - but there is more noise than I like and more that can be cleaned up completely without some loss of detail.

For best results never underexpose unless you are forced to and use RAW as you are doing now. I also recommend turning off the automatic in camera highlight recovery/shadow enhancement/Drange settings. Good luck and enjoy - it's a great camera although not a low light monster like the K5.

Thanks again. Is the Pnetax software sufficient or best to invest in something like Lightroom 4 for the RAW conversion?
Previously I have only used the Sigma Photo Pro at home, or Photoshop CS6 for RAW conversion at work.

Lightroom 5 is just out so I would go for that...I've not used Pentax software for a long time so I cannot comment on that.

The Pentax software is SilkyPix right? If so, incomprehensibly bad. LR works very well if you have the money for it.

Have fun with a great kit! Experience will reveal the wonders of the FA43.

The 43mm is a lovely lens but, as mentioned, a bit long as a standard. The K-7 is very competent and streets ahead of the Sigma.

Some recent shots using both the K7 and the Sigma at a recent hifi meet.
IMO the Sigma is still streets ahead on pixel sharpness and ISO100 output but the Sigma really could only be used on a tripod where all the K-7 shots were handheld.
White Balance (Auto) on the K-7 is MUCH better.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hoopsontoast/sets/72157634269369862/

This shot for example, when nailed the exposure and focus is spot on! (with a tripod mind) And ignore the two dust spots on the top left, gave the lens a good clean after this shot! There was some dust in between the rear element and inside, it just unscrewed so was not too much trouble, only tightened up finger tight.



System by RSdesignUK, on Flickr

I now have a copy of LR which I am using for the RAW conversion. Most of that set for the K-7 files had minimal editing I think.

I would advise Lightroom 4. Lightroom 5 is out but currently has bugs and doesn't offer a great deal extra. The processing quality of LR4 and LR5 are identical and both are better than LR3.

And as pentaxian450 says only underexpose deliberately if you have a very contrasty scene and want to preserve highlights ... or you need to bump up the shutter speed becuase of motion blur.

The K-7 is fantastic at lower ISOs, but it doesn't have the Dynamic range of the K-5 so has a lot less leeway for underexposing.

Enjoy your snapping

Yes I am using LR 4

As mentioned, the Sigma is a great studio style camera where as the K-7/FA43 is a more creative tool

It's not Silkypix. It just uses some of the Silkypix "engine".

Silkypix is excellent, as you would know if you used it rather than just talked about it.

I find it incomprehensibly bad that people should slag off products they know nothing about.

It's almost as incomprehensible as people writing "reviews" of cameras they have never even held in their hands.

Ring any bells?

G