Newbie

Hi everone

Just a quick hello to announce my arrival on this forum before I pop off to browse the topics and maybe add my two penneth to a few.

I have been a Pentax user for about....er, since just after the introduction of the MZ7, whats that about 6 years? or is it longer. I traded in my trusty old Olympus Om30 because I wanted a small light modern autofocus camera, and may I say what a pleasure the MZ7 was (still is occasionally) my only gripe was the lack of a DOF preview, I then purchased a used MZ5n as a second body and also because it offered me the much missed DOF preview, plus the retro styling and layout/operation of the camera made it a breeze to use.
A couple of years ago I made the leap and bought the istD, that was both the biggest mistake and the best thing I ever did, mistake because my film cameras spend most of the time at home, and for those of you who have already made the transition to digital then I dont need to say why it was the best thing.

Ooops! so much for the quick hello. time to get reading the posts.

Welcome to the forums, glad to see you've found threads to join in already!

Welcome Spider and as you have found out this is quite a friendly and knowledgable team.

I am also an istD owner.

Welcome too! Hope you find answers to questions, and raise a few yourself - as JC says, we're all friendly here, and everyone knows something about something.

My first Pentax was an MZ-5N, bought as a backup body for my, er, Chinon CE5 (Nice little camera, did the job etc, good comeback to the perennial comment "you must have a really good camera" - "Well, it's a Chinon, Dixons own brand" - "Oh!"**)

The 5N's still in my camera bag, just one roll through it in 18 months since I got my D.

As you say, best thing I ever did.

All the best,
Dan

** The only time that question really annoyed me was when it was asked by a painter, and I came back with the "and you must use fantastic brushes" line, but he didn't understand what I was getting at. Probably because he did use fantastic brushes.

Hi
thanks for the warm welcome.


>>My first Pentax was an MZ-5N, bought as a backup body for my, er, Chinon CE5 (Nice little camera, did the job etc, good comeback to the perennial comment "you must have a really good camera" - "Well, it's a Chinon, Dixons own brand" - "Oh!"**)

Doesn't that really annoy you? you show people your best work and all they can say is....

"you must have a really good camera"

Er no missus, I got up and 3am and treked 10 miles in the freezing cold, then sat for another hour waiting for the sun to rise, I did this for seven days until the light was perfect....then I took out my Zenith E with a cheap Prinzflex lens and captured the shot! hehehehe

When I write my Novel, no doubt people will say "You must have a really good Word Processor!"

Actually, that may never happen....

My response to that "you must have areally good camera" insult is usually one (or both)of these:
" in the wrong hands, It'll take take crappy pictures too..."
and/or
"I have really nice skates,too... I guess that means I can outskate Gretsky..."

overheard outside an exhibition I had: 'look, darling, prints for sale! Oh, they're only photographs...'

Before I had an SLR I had a fixed focus Fuji 35mm compact. A friend had an Oly SLR and couldn't understand why my pictures were consistently better than his. As he was by Boss as well, I couldn't find an easy way of saying "well I know how to use my camera"

I am travelling abroad next week with the dreaded "no hand luggage" regulations probably still in force. I am not risking the istDS in the checked in luggage. Looking forward to running a few rolls through a well used Super A with a 24-50mm and 50mm f1.7. Should be robust enough for the hold and not worth stealing. I do miss the beautiful Super A viewfinder.....

Will have to buy film when I arrive at my final destination. Who knows what Xray dosage is being used in airport scanners at the moment.

Hi,

according to this morning's news conference, the total ban has been lifted, and even electronic gear such as laptops are now allowed. The restriction on the size of hand luggage is about half of that previous to the latest measures, so check your travel company for info. You should?? be fine for carrying a body and a couple of lenses though, in the cabin.

Cheers

Liam