I think the .spj is the configuration file which you get via a "save" or "save as". I think you have to go via "export to disk" to actually save the image.

Hope this helps,

Glyn

I think it is nonsense too. None of the given measurable parameters of the plate agree with examples of this exact plate that I have which are :

43 grams in weight and dimensions of 50mm x 42mm & 10mm thick.

While the plate, and head QR mechanism, is perhaps not as nice to use as the Manfrotto equivalent it seems perfectly functional to me.

If we are talking about the RSH-61 ball head it seems daft to have the head, which only comes as a quick release version and therefore includes the plate, specified at 5kg and then have the plate separately specified at a much lower loading. I have certainly loaded this head (and the plate) with a K-5 & Sigma 135-400, which weights in at just over 2kg, and not experienced any problems.

The same plate is used with the larger RSH-12 head as well and that is specified up to 10kg.

It looks like a "cut & past" error when building the web page although that of course does perhaps seed some doubt to the tripod & head specifications as well. Hopefully you will get some clarification from the manufacturer.

Glyn

Brilliant, that worked for me too , many thanks.

Glyn

I had exactly the same problem. Getting the shutter count using PhotoMe worked fine for my K-7 & K-5 but does not work for my K-3.

I also tried exiftool and that did not show the K-3 shutter count either.

I needed to check the K-3 shutter count so in the end I used a tool on the other Pentax forum here which worked fine although only works for jpegs from the camera.

Glyn

No the Red Snapper does not have a spirit level. I carry , but hardly ever use, a little two-way spirit level that you slide into the camera's hot shoe which has the advantage that it can be used with the camera in either a landscape or a portrait configuration.

My 055PROB main tripod does have a little bubble spirit level as does the 460MG head. However for the head it only works using the camera in a horizontal, landscape, configuration so even then I might revert to the hot-shoe level when using the head in a vertcal, portarait, configuration.

Glyn

I have a Manfrotto 055PROB with a 460MG head which I use as my main tripod. Also, at extra cost, I added a carry strap, spiked feet and a bag. It has given several years of excellent service and I am very happy with it. It is though big and heavy. It is fine for studio work and lugging around in the car to events.

However recently I decided I needed a tripod that I could easily carry around for walking and on my bicycle so I had a hunt around. I found that what are commonly called "Travel Tripods" often have restrictions on their maximum height and the maximum weight of the camera plus lens. Many of them are little more that table-top tripods aimed at compact cameras.

I also particularly wanted something with a small minimum height, like the 055PROB, for shooting flowers.

After a lot of research I bought a Red Snapper RSF-284 (full details here) with a RSH-61 ball head:

RSF-284
Max. height - 1550mm (column extended)
Max. height - 1260mm (column not extended)
Min. height - 340mm
Min. height Short column - 145mm
Min. height(column reversed)- 0mm
Folded length 460mm
Tube dia. - 28mm
Weight - 1600g
Max Load - 8kg
Retractable spiked feet

RSH-61 ball head:
Ball Size 25mm
Height 75mm
Barrel Dia 34mm
Weight 268gms
Max. Load 5kg

Which I think compares very well with the Manfrotto Befree.

The Red Snapper also comes complete with a bag that is easy to sling over a shoulder being just over 50cm long & 13cm x 12cm in cross-section. At £89.95 it was nearly half the manufacturer's listed price of the Befree and £30 cheaper than Amazon's current Befree price.

I have had to get used to using the ball head, which needs a little care, but the only real downside is that I now have to manage two different types of quick-release plate.

I hope this helps,

Glyn

Here is the place for any discussion or comments for Monthly Competition #23 - Around Midday.

The competition brief is:As is traditional I will stop looking in here once the first image is posted so that any of your comments do not influence the results.

Good Luck,

Glyn

I don't have any extension tubes so this is my best attempt with what I could lay my hands on:




Shot straight on because the DOF is exceedingly shallow.

I will loose points because in the middle of my set-up was a 100mm macro lens:




K-5 with 2x teleconveter followed by the Samsung equivalent of the DFA100 macro back-to-back with a Pentax-A 50mm 1:1.7. It had to be fairly close to achieve focus, shadowing the subject, so the light was provided with a little LED torch.

What looked like a fairly new and shiny 1P coin appeared rather nasty at this magnification .

Glyn

But I don't think there is a spare sata port. It looks like there are only two and both are in use.

Glyn

edit: However as there appears to be a spare pci slot perhaps this sort of thing could solve the problem .

Apologies, I realise that this won't work as you still need the optical drive to run the True Image HD mini-DVD (which boots up at start-up) and therefore you can't do it this way. I think the only way to clone the HDD in these circumstances is to temporarily mount the new drive in an external USB enclosure and if you have gone to the trouble of buying the enclosure it might be easier just to leave it as an external disc.

It might be possible to copy True Image HD onto a USB stick and boot from that but it is not something I have tried. I have run True Image HD from an external USB DVD drive that I bought for my netbook but again this assumes you have or can borrow such a device.

The full, expensive, version of Acronis True Image does not suffer from this as it is installed on the HDD and can be run without an optical drive but at £40 costs five times as much as the True Image HD example.

Glyn