All Forum Comments
Comment by awaldram posted on How low is low light? at 01/02/2013 - 06:52
dcweather wrote:
Just been out in the lovely sunshine and again found my K-30 lacking in autofocus speed. I've seen an improvement over K-r but not massive.Two ducks we were watching took off so there wasn't a massive re-focus need by my DA* 300mm. Swung round and panned but just couldn't hit the focus. My friend with his aged Nikon D300 and also a 300mm prime got them both no problem. This happens time and time again and I have spoken to other Pentax birders who say the same. The question is, then, why can't Pentax match this old technology with their otherwise competition beating cameras?
Dave
I can't be bothered to read the replies as the first few seem to be tut tut so true!!Just been out in the lovely sunshine and again found my K-30 lacking in autofocus speed. I've seen an improvement over K-r but not massive.Two ducks we were watching took off so there wasn't a massive re-focus need by my DA* 300mm. Swung round and panned but just couldn't hit the focus. My friend with his aged Nikon D300 and also a 300mm prime got them both no problem. This happens time and time again and I have spoken to other Pentax birders who say the same. The question is, then, why can't Pentax match this old technology with their otherwise competition beating cameras?
Dave
Come on get a grip a k30 Vs a d300 !!!
How about put that d300 against a 1ds you can then berate why Nikon AF is so poor.
The fact is the k30 is a entry level camera and behaves like one, surprise surprise lord help us !!
I've handled a number of entry level cameras form all manufacturer there all sluggish if you used to something better.
Comment by awaldram posted on Why do Pentax lag with autofocus? at 01/02/2013 - 06:34
judderman62 wrote:
But sadly my perception since having owned a Pentax and reading forums and flickr groups is that a fair number of Pentax owners do seem to have a chip on their shoulder in this regard - just look at the number of mentions of "Canikon" ... now I've been interested in photography for around 30 years and have never heard of such a brand.
AFAIN But sadly my perception since having owned a Pentax and reading forums and flickr groups is that a fair number of Pentax owners do seem to have a chip on their shoulder in this regard - just look at the number of mentions of "Canikon" ... now I've been interested in photography for around 30 years and have never heard of such a brand.
The term Canikon is a courtesy to Canon and Nikon owners so that web searches don't throw up hundreds of non related results from Pentaxians talking twaddle.
If you look hard enough you can always find 'reds under the bed' but most often its in your mind
Comment by awaldram posted on K5 What a Genius at 05/01/2012 - 10:51
karma mechanic wrote:
Yesterday I ordered a K-5. It arrived today, so after charging the battery I tried a few things just to get a feel for the camera.
Mostly they've filled me with confidence, or even exhilaration, compared to the GX10. However, one gripe with the GX10 was that the focus screen was never quite in alignment with the AF confirmation.
This afternoon I tried the K-5 with a 55mm f1.7 lens to test out the focussing. The pictures below are 100% crops.
Picture 1 - manual focussing using the AF beep to indicate correct focus, where the single AF point is on the nearest edge of the letter A on the dial of the GX10:
Clearly the real focus point is slightly in front of the A, just off the edge of the dial.
Just a thought have you mapped out the extent of the centre sensors sensitivity as it usually extend to around 1/3 of the screen.Yesterday I ordered a K-5. It arrived today, so after charging the battery I tried a few things just to get a feel for the camera.
Mostly they've filled me with confidence, or even exhilaration, compared to the GX10. However, one gripe with the GX10 was that the focus screen was never quite in alignment with the AF confirmation.
This afternoon I tried the K-5 with a 55mm f1.7 lens to test out the focussing. The pictures below are 100% crops.
Picture 1 - manual focussing using the AF beep to indicate correct focus, where the single AF point is on the nearest edge of the letter A on the dial of the GX10:
Clearly the real focus point is slightly in front of the A, just off the edge of the dial.
The sensor will lock onto the highest phase difference within its range which is clearly the stepped ridge of the knob.
I see no reason why the camera should have locked onto the 'A'.
Comment by awaldram posted on K-5 - How accurate can I expect the focussing to be? at 04/03/2011 - 11:45
Smeggypants wrote:
I think the courts would see it differently if you killed someone whilst adjusting a camera.gartmore wrote:
Would it not be a lot easier, and a great deal safer, to have someone else do the driving?
Well a car has many controls and pressing a remote shutter button or moving a lever isn't going to be any less safe than changing gear, using indicators, switching wipers/heating, etc,etcWould it not be a lot easier, and a great deal safer, to have someone else do the driving?
I would imagine " causing death by dangerous driving (upto 14 years) " at a mimimum and more likley "motor manslaughter (upto life) " charges would be coming your way.
The test for dangerous is "did the driving fall far below the standard of the competent and careful driver" you'd have a hard time convincing anyone that adjusting a camera was carefull driving.
Comment by awaldram posted on Pentax K-5 Autofocus System at 16/02/2011 - 14:26
thoughton wrote:
Now that the Christmas/New Year rush is over, and SRS have stock again (as of Friday!) I have finally decided to get my K5 swapped (for sensor stains). Partly it was also that I wanted to wait a good while, to make sure I didn't get a replacement which still had stains. My shutter count is up to about 2k now, which almost feels like I was given 2000 free shutter clicks
SRS being the awesome shop that they are sent Parcelforce to collect it this morning and will hopefully get a replacement out to me in the next few days.
Strange SRS have been telling me I'm top of the list and due next replacement since the 7th but there is no stock.?Now that the Christmas/New Year rush is over, and SRS have stock again (as of Friday!) I have finally decided to get my K5 swapped (for sensor stains). Partly it was also that I wanted to wait a good while, to make sure I didn't get a replacement which still had stains. My shutter count is up to about 2k now, which almost feels like I was given 2000 free shutter clicks
SRS being the awesome shop that they are sent Parcelforce to collect it this morning and will hopefully get a replacement out to me in the next few days.
Given my original purchase was Oct 2010 and this was replaced with another stained unit Dec 2010 I'm getting quite impatient now.
I was so surprise to find the stain that I got Pentax to ratify my findings, But as they said the early replacement (circle marked box) were visual inspected only so some could be passed like mine that were stained.
My shutter count on the replacement unit is 3500 I'll be putting another 1000 on this weekend so its practically worn out.
Comment by awaldram posted on K5 Sensor Issues... at 11/02/2011 - 19:05
I consider mine nominal these are visible f22-f10 on white bachround
but only after f16 in real world images.
but only after f16 in real world images.
Comment by awaldram posted on Kr Sensor Marks? at 08/12/2010 - 14:58
I have never seen a white one or the olive in PKA and believe me I've hunted quite a few of these down
If its the 72mm APO then do check the front internal (actual the apo chromatic element) for haze as lens separation was an issue for this model (in any colour)
I have very little information on the 1980 version so this may have been available in white but suspect not
The 88 version
http://www.sigmauser.co.uk/images/stories/museum/APReview40056AF.pdf
If its the 95 or 97 77mm version then no white version.
also bear in mind the target market the 88 version was designed to sell at £220 the 97 version £3500! so they are a little different in their optical capabilities even if the headline 400f5.6 is the same.
If its the 72mm APO then do check the front internal (actual the apo chromatic element) for haze as lens separation was an issue for this model (in any colour)
I have very little information on the 1980 version so this may have been available in white but suspect not
The 88 version
http://www.sigmauser.co.uk/images/stories/museum/APReview40056AF.pdf
If its the 95 or 97 77mm version then no white version.
also bear in mind the target market the 88 version was designed to sell at £220 the 97 version £3500! so they are a little different in their optical capabilities even if the headline 400f5.6 is the same.
Comment by awaldram posted on sigma 400 in whie at 24/06/2010 - 12:52
Must admit was really interesting to see peoples views of my auctions.
To answer your questions (a bit late but seemded unfair to comment whilst auction was running).
For a long time I have been looking for a decent 400mm solution I have purchased and sold
1 Canon Apo Eos fit 400mm Sigma F5.6
2 Sigma Apo MF PKA 72mm F5.6
3 Sigma AF PKA 72mm F5.6 (the one discussed here)
I have never been totaly happy with the IQ of any of them, the non APO being slightly less sharp and higher CA than the APO version but non in the IQ league I was after.
Against the 55-300 I'd rate the 400 non-apo about the same with slightly lower contrast.
the 72mm APO slightly above.
If you really want 400mm with high IQ the search out the Sigma APO Macro 77mm version. This is in a totally different class and is superb.
You may find this mini review with examples interesting
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1036&message=35465083
To answer your questions (a bit late but seemded unfair to comment whilst auction was running).
For a long time I have been looking for a decent 400mm solution I have purchased and sold
1 Canon Apo Eos fit 400mm Sigma F5.6
2 Sigma Apo MF PKA 72mm F5.6
3 Sigma AF PKA 72mm F5.6 (the one discussed here)
I have never been totaly happy with the IQ of any of them, the non APO being slightly less sharp and higher CA than the APO version but non in the IQ league I was after.
Against the 55-300 I'd rate the 400 non-apo about the same with slightly lower contrast.
the 72mm APO slightly above.
If you really want 400mm with high IQ the search out the Sigma APO Macro 77mm version. This is in a totally different class and is superb.
You may find this mini review with examples interesting
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1036&message=35465083
Comment by awaldram posted on 400mm prime options at 23/06/2010 - 10:44
Low light is when it's too dark to really manually focus properly, and particularly the K-5 II and IIs will carry on auto focusing quite happily. So your platform, streets lit at night, etc.
No problem:
K-5 IIs, 43mm f/1.9, ISO 12800, 1/60s, f/1.9
Captured: Nov 5, 2010 Pentax K5 V1.00 FW
Focal length: 29 mm
Shutter speed: 1/15 sec
Aperture: F2.8
ISO: 12800