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Comment by Greytop posted on Is this a good hood? at 15/11/2009 - 19:00
Dr. Mhuni wrote:
Well it's interesting that Pentax have quite a few lenses as you step up from the 18-55. The 16-45, 17-70 and 16-50. Of these three I've only had extensive experience with the DA* 16-50. johnriley wrote:
The 16-45mm was never introduced as a "consumer zoom" - it has just steadily reduced in price. Don't underestimate it.
Although there is often a relationship between price and performance it's not a 100% reliable yardstick.
Point taken, but I was curious about the rivals' equivalents - their next step up from the kit (which the 16-45 has always been if I'm not mistaken).The 16-45mm was never introduced as a "consumer zoom" - it has just steadily reduced in price. Don't underestimate it.
Although there is often a relationship between price and performance it's not a 100% reliable yardstick.
With my previous Oly system I used the ED 12-60 SWD Link extensively and from a focal range and quality point of view it is an good fit with the DA* 16-50 all be it with a longer telephoto range. Build quality a feel wise I would say that they are pretty similar with possibly the 16-50 just getting the nod for quality of construction. Image quality wise the 12-60 stretches ahead of the 16-50 demonstrating excellent resolution over a much wider aperture range. No need to stop down to the extent necessary with the 16-50. Focussing speed wise the Oly SWD range pretty much trounce the Pentax SDM system I'm sad to say.
Having said all that I like my 16-50 and now would be pretty reluctant to let it go as it has a character to it that I like.... and at optimum apertures it does produce stunning results.
Bottom line is however that the again the Oly Pro zoom is a quite a bit better
If I was honest I would love the combination of a Pentax body and range of Oly Pro zooms
I'll just add that a comparison between my old Oly ED 50-200 SWD Link and the DA* 60-250 is again similar with the Oly winning. However in this case I would say that performance wise Pentax have closed the gap quite a bit with Pentax still at touch softer than the Oly wide open together with the slower focus speed. But I love my 60-250 and wouldn't let it go in a hurry
Comment by Greytop posted on Pentax zooms and the competitions' at 15/11/2009 - 11:48
RR wrote:
K.
Always thinking that man !womble wrote:
My guess is the numbers aren't entirely accurate (either the crop factor numbers or the focal length numbers).
Were you comparing the image in the viewfinder or the downloaded one? Don't forget the K20D only has 95% coverage in the viewfinder.thoughton wrote:
[quote:3496ace15f="RR"]It shouldn't be wider, 18mm with a crop factor of 1.5 is the eq of 27mm, whereas the olympus has a crop factor of 2, so is the eq of 28mm.
Yeah I knew they should be very similar, interesting that the pentax should in theory be slightly wider. Nevertheless, in my quick and dirty tests in my mate's kitchen the Oly seems to capture about 10% wider views. Specifically on my 18-55 while leaning against the sink I could fit a whole row of kitchen cupboards plus the bin into my view. On his camera it was the cupboards, bin, plus a doorway. Not very scientific, I realise but just illustrating that it wasn't a small difference.[quote:3496ace15f="RR"]It shouldn't be wider, 18mm with a crop factor of 1.5 is the eq of 27mm, whereas the olympus has a crop factor of 2, so is the eq of 28mm.
My guess is the numbers aren't entirely accurate (either the crop factor numbers or the focal length numbers).
K.
Maybe greytop could help, coming from Oly, although I'm not sure if he used consumer zooms. Also Amin springs to mind, although I think his kit zoom is an L lens, which I'm not sure is a bona-fide demarcation or maybe a marketing ploy by Canon ?[/quote]My Oly kit consisted of both the kit lenses (14-42 & 40-150) as well as similar focal lengths from their Pro range. In terms of field of view (and this is from memory) I would say that the Oly 14-42 is similar to the 18-55, perhaps a little wider (even though the maths seems to suggest otherwise).
In quality terms I would rate Pentax kits as good but not outstanding having had experience with two examples of the 18-55 (my WR version and my daughters MkII). I would rate Oly 14-42 lens a very good to excellent performer, contrast and colours very good with excellent resolution across the frame at a relative wide range of apertures. This 14-42 review at Photozone should give you a feel for how the Oly zooms perform. I use the plural 'zooms' because in general I think the Oly zooms are excellent performers.
My experience the Pentax zooms (kit and Pro) need a more careful approach to achieve good output although they are still very capable of great results at the right aperture.
I think the common conception that Pentax excel with primes and Oly excel with zooms is probably true
Comment by Greytop posted on Pentax zooms and the competitions' at 15/11/2009 - 10:38
Welcome to forum Karl, congratulations on the K-m
Comment by Greytop posted on Hi from cheshire :) at 14/11/2009 - 10:03
Jack I have a solution.... a black marker pen
Comment by Greytop posted on K-7 LCD screen stuck pixel at 13/11/2009 - 22:33
jackitec wrote:
I think I have changed my mind about the K7, as I said in another thread what I really want is a decent camera without video and that seems to be impossible these days as they all seem to have it, I don't want to change brands but the upgrade to the K20 what ever it will be will probably have it, so I will have to wait and see and as SRS don't seem to have any more that seems to tell me something
Jack.
Jack I agree with Mike here, why are you so against having the video capability? You don't have to use it and it doesn't affect the cameras capabilities in other areas. I think I have changed my mind about the K7, as I said in another thread what I really want is a decent camera without video and that seems to be impossible these days as they all seem to have it, I don't want to change brands but the upgrade to the K20 what ever it will be will probably have it, so I will have to wait and see and as SRS don't seem to have any more that seems to tell me something
Jack.
You can almost guarantee that future releases of pretty much all D-SLRs will now have this as a standard feature. So if you are really against it your options will be pretty scarce for an upgrade.
Comment by Greytop posted on K-7 LCD screen stuck pixel at 13/11/2009 - 22:07
Mike-P wrote:
Ha.. you walked right into that one Greytop wrote:
OK for you Mike....
when are you planning to go ahead with the purchase?
14th January .. thanks for asking OK for you Mike....
when are you planning to go ahead with the purchase?
So you've plumped for the K-7 then Mike
Comment by Greytop posted on K-7 LCD screen stuck pixel at 13/11/2009 - 21:54
Mike-P wrote:
OK for you Mike.... Greytop wrote:
When are you planning to pull the trigger?
Totally off topic but I do so hate that saying.When are you planning to pull the trigger?
when are you planning to go ahead with the purchase?
Comment by Greytop posted on K-7 LCD screen stuck pixel at 13/11/2009 - 21:22
Obviously being metal it will not retract like the hood hefty suggests.
Oh and I forgot to mention that it works well with my FA28