Practical Photography.

Just out of interest does anybody know of a photography magazine that gives Pentax a fair shout. Not the usual "oh, and by the way Pentax have released a new full frame camera" etc, etc, almost as an after thought. Published pictures in these magazines are nearly always taken with a Nikon or Canon, rarely any other makes. I am looking for a publication that treats Pentax for the quality gear that it is.
Andrew

I have always thought Outdoor Photography a decent buy. As the name suggests, it's main content are articles on landscape and wildlife photography and photographers but they do review cameras, lenses and outdoor kit. Reviews of Pentax have been generally favourable over the years and they do not seem to have a preference for any particular brand.

I’ll second that, a refreshing change from gear obsessional stuff. A large part of the mag is photos submitted by readers of high standard, often including Pentax users.

Thanks for this. I will keep a look out and give it a try.
Andrew

The last of those arrived today, and with the closure announced in the Editorial.

Just got a letter this AM offering 2yr. free for any other magazine in the group or a refund. I oppted for the refund. You do it on line with an address they give you in the letter.
CHEERS Vic.

I have noticed a trend that when they talk about the 'standard' focal length and the it's the diagonal of the 36x 24mm frame which happens to be 43mm, bypass the Limited and talk of the 45mm M43 lens from panasonic or the 50s from Canon and Nikon.

Outdoor Photography is very good indeed, no bias for or against. I guess this is where our beloved brand belongs as it is seen to be an 'outdoor' brand due to the excellent weather sealing.

Perhaps its just as well or all the 43s would end up going to the destructive graveyard for Pentax lenses that is mirrorless.
Mind, the Pentax 43mm isn't a well known lens outside the Pentax user base. More will know of the older M 40mm pancake or the more usual 50mm which used to be sold as a package with a body before zooms became the norm.
Probably its for the best if our better lenses remain as secret jewels.

Got my PP and letter this morning advising me I could have 6 months free of any other mag in the group or money back. I guess the offer they give you depends on the time you have been subscribing perhaps. Interesting to note though that the only reason for closing any title is due to lack of circulation yet the final edition shows, and I quote, "our sales total an average of over 32000 per month. This means that we have the honour of bowing out while remaining the UKs best selling photography magazine"
Given this statement why on earth have they closed? Strange world isn't it.
Andrew

TBH, I'm not surprised as I recently read somewhere that Bauer Media had (or maybe still has??) both Car Mechanics and Practical Photography on their list of possible closures.

I've been a CM subscriber for decades and I read it pretty much cover to cover every time it arrives because it's always had lot's of useful info for both DIY guys like myself and for when looking for a "new" vehicle - so I really hope that Bauer don't close that as well because I would really miss it, and, frankly, a lot more than PP.

Andrew. That's what I can't understand. No explanation at all just we closing down and that's that. Also (I'm not doing it) the camera school in in its 2nd month. Will the people who are doing it still get feed back?? As you say "Strange world isn't it"
CHEERS Vic.

Here's the situation as of a week ago link . They're taking the impact of Covid-19 into account, no further explanation needed, any sensible business should be considering the same thing. Perhaps they are thinking that with less money in the economy people will be cutting back on discretionary expenditure - things like magazines and camera equipment. Car Mechanics may survive under new ownership.

Steve

The circulation figures don't tell how much profit/loss they're making though. I've given up buying any magazines apart from BJP (which I choose to support), none provide anything you can't get more dynamically from the web and I'm fed up with the constant Pentax bashing. Most magazines are getting lighter and lighter in content and many of the articles feel like they've been dredged up from the '80s (again): "Take control back with Manual", "Filters for your seascapes" etc.

The AP website recently had an article gushing on about how if you buy a particular camera you get a free copy of a really useful & versatile image processing program which could avoid you having to pay for PS - and that program is... Silkypix (which has been a negative comment in most Pentax DSLR reviews).

One magazine recently reviewed a Leica M10 Monochrom, concluding with something along the line of "It's a great camera capable of stunning results, it's just a shame it's so expensive that very few people will be able to enjoy it" - I'm sure many people feel like that about many luxury items.

I used to read Outdoor Photographer, but their gear reviews seemed to become more and more outdoors gear lifted from other publications. It's not that I have no interest, I just don't need a review of £200 sleeping bags or £300 tents* when that will buy me useful photo gear.

* I do have an old Vango Force 10 which admittedly seem 'astonishingly' expensive these days...

Each to their own I guess.