All Forum Comments
Comment by George Lazarette posted on Still life at 16/06/2007 - 20:57
Quote:
I believe that SMC coatings are far more durable than you might think.
I once had a pair of spectacles with Pentax lens (totally brand loyal) that had a a reflection/glare reducing coating (not SMC I know). I used those glesses for over 5 years regularly, cleaning at least once a day, by breathing on the glass and wiping from the centre with a Pentax microfibre cloth. The coating was still there right till the end.
I find the same process works fine on my SMC lenses.
Many years ago, in America, Pentax used to run ads showing people stubbing out cigarettes on the front element.I believe that SMC coatings are far more durable than you might think.
I once had a pair of spectacles with Pentax lens (totally brand loyal) that had a a reflection/glare reducing coating (not SMC I know). I used those glesses for over 5 years regularly, cleaning at least once a day, by breathing on the glass and wiping from the centre with a Pentax microfibre cloth. The coating was still there right till the end.
I find the same process works fine on my SMC lenses.
Can't say I've tried it myself.
G
Comment by George Lazarette posted on Cleaning lenses at 17/06/2007 - 07:59
Quote:
Mechanically and electronically, yes (almost certainly).iceblinker wrote:
No, you would be wrong in suspecting it is quite similar.
You would be right in suspecting it is very similar!
Would it be, by any chance.... exactly the same? No, you would be wrong in suspecting it is quite similar.
You would be right in suspecting it is very similar!
The differences are in the firmware (the camera's built-in operating system/user interface) and cosmetic differences on the outside. These differences are not thought to be very significant.
There may also be some support differences. The firmware tends to be updated less frequently, for example.
Finally, the name Samsung has rather less cachet in photographic circles, which might contribute to the camera losing value more quickly on the second-hand market.
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Comment by George Lazarette posted on Samsung GX10 at 16/06/2007 - 18:08
I think the first lot were perhaps better, but these are not bad. It might be worth shooting the middle one another day in slightly more interesting light.
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Comment by George Lazarette posted on Few more images from Spain at 16/06/2007 - 09:44
The crumblies amongst us may be pleased to hear that Sylvia Syms has been awarded an OBE.
She was the heroine of Ice Cold in Alex, which in my view was the best of the '50s British war films, not least because of the presence of the delightful Sylvia.
The British SS was much to be preferred over the German version.
G
She was the heroine of Ice Cold in Alex, which in my view was the best of the '50s British war films, not least because of the presence of the delightful Sylvia.
The British SS was much to be preferred over the German version.
G
Comment by George Lazarette posted on Very OT - Birthday Honours at 16/06/2007 - 08:33
Quote:
I have recently entered the Digital world as a fairly experianced film user.
I still have my Pentax MZ 50 35mm film camera and now i use a Pentax K100D with the smc DA 18-55 zoom lens.
I am well satisfied with the camera and am obtaining great results.
I want to extend my lens focal length to the 300mm mark which requires me to buy another lens to compliment the medum tele that i have just described.
My choices seam to be :-
Pentaxs smc DA 50-200mm Approx £120
Sigma 70mm - 300mm APO MACRO Approx £157
Tamron 70mm - 300mm F4-5.6 DI LD Macro Approx £120
I also looked at the option of Sigma 50mm-200 with a vie to buying a 2x converter.
All four of the lenses i have mentioned have differant filter thread sizes.
I favour the sigma as it can be used with both film and digi cams .
But before i go ahead and part with my money i would appreciate the views of a few other Pentax users .
You may have better ideas than mine.
Thanks
First, 300mm is a long lens on digital (equivalent to 450mm on film). You might find that 200mm is enough, unless you are photographing small forms of wild-life.I have recently entered the Digital world as a fairly experianced film user.
I still have my Pentax MZ 50 35mm film camera and now i use a Pentax K100D with the smc DA 18-55 zoom lens.
I am well satisfied with the camera and am obtaining great results.
I want to extend my lens focal length to the 300mm mark which requires me to buy another lens to compliment the medum tele that i have just described.
My choices seam to be :-
Pentaxs smc DA 50-200mm Approx £120
Sigma 70mm - 300mm APO MACRO Approx £157
Tamron 70mm - 300mm F4-5.6 DI LD Macro Approx £120
I also looked at the option of Sigma 50mm-200 with a vie to buying a 2x converter.
All four of the lenses i have mentioned have differant filter thread sizes.
I favour the sigma as it can be used with both film and digi cams .
But before i go ahead and part with my money i would appreciate the views of a few other Pentax users .
You may have better ideas than mine.
Thanks
Second, although there are some exceptions, the great majority of people who get into digital never or hardly ever buy another film. Very few people use both film and digital side by side.
In other words, you probably don't need to worry about buying a lens that will work with film. And whilst you may disagree now, I bet you'll come back in a year and lament that your MZ50 has rusted away from lack of use.
Third, the 50-200 Pentax is a pretty good lens for the money, and many experienced photographers are very happy with it.
Fourth, the Tamron is not really a macro, just a close-focussing zoom. If you want to try macro, start by buying some extension rings.
Fifth, remember the Riley Rule.
G
Comment by George Lazarette posted on Which lens ? at 15/06/2007 - 22:34
It does quite a nice job of displaying thumbnails (including PEFs), which is something Irfanview doesn't do. It also has a pretty and intuitive interface.
Otherwise, it doesn't seem to do much else that Irfanview doesn't do, and because it is unable to display PEFs in the correct orientation, I am not sure that I would find it worthwhile to switch.
Full marks for trying, though. I have seldom seen such an attractively presented and easy-to-understand program.
For a JPEG-only shooter, it's more than OK.
G
Otherwise, it doesn't seem to do much else that Irfanview doesn't do, and because it is unable to display PEFs in the correct orientation, I am not sure that I would find it worthwhile to switch.
Full marks for trying, though. I have seldom seen such an attractively presented and easy-to-understand program.
For a JPEG-only shooter, it's more than OK.
G
Comment by George Lazarette posted on RAW IMAGE BROWSER at 16/06/2007 - 08:08
P
Because A only covers filter diameters up to around 67mm (I forget the exact size), and as soon as you have invested in a set of A filters, you will buy a lens with a larger filter diameter. It is called Cokin's Law, and it never fails.
With a Pentax DSLR, you are very unlikely to buy a lens that the P series can't handle.
The quality of both is the same (I believe).
G
Because A only covers filter diameters up to around 67mm (I forget the exact size), and as soon as you have invested in a set of A filters, you will buy a lens with a larger filter diameter. It is called Cokin's Law, and it never fails.
With a Pentax DSLR, you are very unlikely to buy a lens that the P series can't handle.
The quality of both is the same (I believe).
G
Comment by George Lazarette posted on Cokin A or P at 15/06/2007 - 20:44
Quote:
Blood pressure... think happy thoughts... think Limited lenses...
Panting is better than ranting.Blood pressure... think happy thoughts... think Limited lenses...
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Comment by George Lazarette posted on The most expensive battery I've ever seen... : A rant & vent at 15/06/2007 - 07:53
Quote:
Come on Guys 56 views to date and only 3 responses Were is the Passion ???
Reason defeats passion.Come on Guys 56 views to date and only 3 responses Were is the Passion ???
Taken overall, the number of pictures published over a year probably reflects the ratio of cameras used of each brand by serious photographers.
If you want to see more Pentax pictures published, there are only three ways to do it:
Submit.
Submit.
Submit.
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Comment by George Lazarette posted on ANGRY User!!!! at 14/06/2007 - 20:09
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