All Forum Comments
Comment by dcweather posted on DPR Best DSLR of the year vote at 24/12/2013 - 16:26
CharlieF wrote:
Having been following the discussion here about the K3 I thought I would join in and register. I have had one for a month or so having previously had a K511s, K5, K7, K20 and K 10d. Literally upgrading whenever a new "flagship" was released.
Every new purchase has been an improvement on the last and this camera is, as I was hoping and expecting, significantly better in numerous ways. I use my camera almost entirely for birds and wildlife, mainly birds. I have always felt that I was ploughing a lone furrow as a bird photographer….. people constantly telling me that if I wanted to be taken seriously I should flog all my Pentax stuff and get a Canon or Nikon, what a cheek from all those follow the crowd Canon users! My Pentax K3 is a trend setter, love the fact that its waterproof (almost). Anyway the proof of the pudding is in the eating so have a look at the images I took this morning in low light. The camera was teamed up with a Pentax smc DA* 300mm f4.0 ED(IF) SDM. For me an amazingly successful combination.
Please have a look at the photos from this morning by following the link. In all honesty, given the conditions and knowing how hard this little species is to photograph, then I don't see how I could better these shots.
http://parrotletsuk.typepad.com/wldlife_in_a_suburban_gar/
-------------------------------------------------------------------Having been following the discussion here about the K3 I thought I would join in and register. I have had one for a month or so having previously had a K511s, K5, K7, K20 and K 10d. Literally upgrading whenever a new "flagship" was released.
Every new purchase has been an improvement on the last and this camera is, as I was hoping and expecting, significantly better in numerous ways. I use my camera almost entirely for birds and wildlife, mainly birds. I have always felt that I was ploughing a lone furrow as a bird photographer….. people constantly telling me that if I wanted to be taken seriously I should flog all my Pentax stuff and get a Canon or Nikon, what a cheek from all those follow the crowd Canon users! My Pentax K3 is a trend setter, love the fact that its waterproof (almost). Anyway the proof of the pudding is in the eating so have a look at the images I took this morning in low light. The camera was teamed up with a Pentax smc DA* 300mm f4.0 ED(IF) SDM. For me an amazingly successful combination.
Please have a look at the photos from this morning by following the link. In all honesty, given the conditions and knowing how hard this little species is to photograph, then I don't see how I could better these shots.
http://parrotletsuk.typepad.com/wldlife_in_a_suburban_gar/
Welcome Charlie - you may have seen my comments on your Water Rail pics a few weeks ago. Helped me decide on the K3 which I now have and also use for birds with the DA*300.
Dave
Comment by dcweather posted on Help me to decide. K-3 or stick to K-5 ? at 23/12/2013 - 23:52
Well that's what I thought! Might have to buy one back in the future when my K3 purchase finances have recovered
Comment by dcweather posted on Pentax K30 at 23/12/2013 - 19:08
K30 now sold on Ebay. Just for the record if it helps others with one to sell it went within 2 hours Buy it Now for £285.
Dave
Dave
Comment by dcweather posted on Pentax K30 at 22/12/2013 - 23:49
Quick bump before it goes on Ebay tonight.
£258 including RM Next day delivery.
Happy Christmas to all!
Dave
£258 including RM Next day delivery.
Happy Christmas to all!
Dave
Comment by dcweather posted on Pentax K30 at 22/12/2013 - 13:54
A small price to pay I think, it's like new software, you usually adapt.
Comment by dcweather posted on K3 - initial impressions at 21/12/2013 - 21:58
After my excellent SRS deal I am now up and running with a K3. Only a small opportunity to use it so far and never in perfect conditions but I am very impressed with change from my also excellent K30. It looks like the main things I had hoped would work for me will. I won't go through them all because the spec differences between the two are there for all to see.
So highlights (plus a couple of lowlights for balance!)are:-
1. The higher megapixels have allowed me to crop less aggressively giving me a same size image of better quality.
2. Noise seems less in low light than with K30 despite spec being similar. It may be that exposure is more accurate to start or it is of a finer type of noise but big crops at ISO 400 look much better to me.
3. Shutter is much quieter - although perhaps not as much as I thought, after all the demos on line are pointless because you can't tell the PC volume settings.
4. AF Focus is definitely hitting quicker although not tried tracking yet.
5.Raw image IQ look better straight out of camera - sharper, better exposed.
6. Burst speed feels amazing.
7. Battery lasting longer
My main thing I am a bit disappointed with is the position of the back button focus. On the K30 it fell just to the left of your thumb and was natural to find without moving your hand on the grip. On the K3 it is higher to the right and recessed meaning I can't reach it without letting go of the grip to some extent to reach it. Anyone else found this or is it the same on the K5 and I will get used to it?
Only other thing is although I knew it was heavier it feels considerably so.
I know I'm going to love it.
Dave
Shot F4, so DOF low hence softer feet and tail,ISO 400, about 50% crop
So highlights (plus a couple of lowlights for balance!)are:-
1. The higher megapixels have allowed me to crop less aggressively giving me a same size image of better quality.
2. Noise seems less in low light than with K30 despite spec being similar. It may be that exposure is more accurate to start or it is of a finer type of noise but big crops at ISO 400 look much better to me.
3. Shutter is much quieter - although perhaps not as much as I thought, after all the demos on line are pointless because you can't tell the PC volume settings.
4. AF Focus is definitely hitting quicker although not tried tracking yet.
5.Raw image IQ look better straight out of camera - sharper, better exposed.
6. Burst speed feels amazing.
7. Battery lasting longer
My main thing I am a bit disappointed with is the position of the back button focus. On the K30 it fell just to the left of your thumb and was natural to find without moving your hand on the grip. On the K3 it is higher to the right and recessed meaning I can't reach it without letting go of the grip to some extent to reach it. Anyone else found this or is it the same on the K5 and I will get used to it?
Only other thing is although I knew it was heavier it feels considerably so.
I know I'm going to love it.
Dave
Shot F4, so DOF low hence softer feet and tail,ISO 400, about 50% crop
Comment by dcweather posted on K3 - initial impressions at 21/12/2013 - 14:39
Darkmunk wrote:
What do you have to trade-in to get £200 back?
--------------------------------------What do you have to trade-in to get £200 back?
The offer has gone now but it was the same as the original in that you can px anything - I had an older digital compact I don't use anymore.
Comment by dcweather posted on SRS deals at 21/12/2013 - 01:00
Dave