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I think a better camera for taking photographs from a moving vehicle would be one that took a strip of photos either side of the shutter press. That would allow the sharpest/best image to be selected. A DSLR nearly does that with its burst mode but there are bridge cameras (alas not Pentax) that take the picture you've just missed such as the Casio EX-FH20. Wish I could suggest a Pentax equivalent, if there is one I'd happily be put right and go out and get one!
Have you looked at any reviews such as:
http://www.ephotozine.com/article/pentax-x-5-review-20615
http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/reviews/compacts/129357/1/pentax-x-5-review
http://www.ephotozine.com/article/pentax-x-5-review-20615
http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/reviews/compacts/129357/1/pentax-x-5-review
For some, the preference for an MX-1 over the X-5 is that the X-5 lacks the facility to take raw files and is a bit more bulky to carry. Bridge cameras seem great in theory but don't quite come up to a fully fledged DSLR, they only look a bit like one, so they're neither one thing nor the other!
A Q might also be worth considering - there have been some great bargains for those recently - but they do not have an optical viewfinder either.
A Q might also be worth considering - there have been some great bargains for those recently - but they do not have an optical viewfinder either.
Excellent plus looks to be as good as new. With a 12 month warranty all should be fine.
Just to add to your 'shall I shan't I,' did you know that Sigma do an 18-250mm too which is different to the Tamron/Pentax ones.
http://www.ephotozine.com/article/sigma-18-250mm-f-3-5-6-3-dc-macro-os-hsm-lens-...
Just to add to your 'shall I shan't I,' did you know that Sigma do an 18-250mm too which is different to the Tamron/Pentax ones.
http://www.ephotozine.com/article/sigma-18-250mm-f-3-5-6-3-dc-macro-os-hsm-lens-...
Comment by JAK posted on Kit Lens Upgrade at 01/01/2014 - 18:49
No, I didn't really think you were worried about the noise though it can be an issue for wildlife of course. The old screw drive has so far proved to be pretty resilient, especially compared to SDM. I can't recall hearing of failures for the screw drive even with quite old lenses but one cannot say that for SDM. Not sure about the resilience of the new DC type yet. What I'm trying to say is that the AF method shouldn't be a major factor in your decision!
Comment by JAK posted on Kit Lens Upgrade at 01/01/2014 - 17:27
Alan, there's one from that seller on auction: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-Man-Shooting-Double-Hide-Tent-Blind-Chair-Camo-Pop-U...
Comment by JAK posted on Wildlife, BIF's and Hides at 01/01/2014 - 16:04
PJMcKenna wrote:
I've done quite a bit of reading on the 18-250 and the general consensus is that it's a good lens,just one question: Do the lens correction options available in the K-5 work with both versions or is this only useable on the Pentax branded lens?
In camera lens corrections only with Pentax version, but the geometry is pretty good (see the Photozone chart) just showing some barrel distortion at the wider end (no worse than the 18-135mm.) If critical, the Pentax correction could be applied to the Tamron version in PP.I've done quite a bit of reading on the 18-250 and the general consensus is that it's a good lens,just one question: Do the lens correction options available in the K-5 work with both versions or is this only useable on the Pentax branded lens?
PJMcKenna wrote:
IQ is quite important to me, as I like nice colours and contrast as well as decent sharpness, I'd ideally like to move forward with a lens that focuses more quietly that the 4.5 year old Sigma 18-200 DC that I've used with my GX-10, that really does have a noisy focusing mechanism and makes me conscious of shooting in some situations. How noisy is the 18-250 when it comes to focusing?
Noise I would presume is similar (though not heard an 18-200.) The 18-135mm should be much quieter; are you frightened you'll scare the buses away?!IQ is quite important to me, as I like nice colours and contrast as well as decent sharpness, I'd ideally like to move forward with a lens that focuses more quietly that the 4.5 year old Sigma 18-200 DC that I've used with my GX-10, that really does have a noisy focusing mechanism and makes me conscious of shooting in some situations. How noisy is the 18-250 when it comes to focusing?
Comment by JAK posted on Kit Lens Upgrade at 01/01/2014 - 15:58
Blythman wrote:
Hi Brian
I tend to use hides an nature reseves, such as those associated to Wildlife Trusts.
I have been meaning to get a two seat hide similar to http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-MAN-SHOOTING-DOUBLE-HIDE-TENT-BLIND-CHAIR-FOREST-LEA...
I do wonder about the quality though. I've also read that the single seat versions are too small
That looks quite nifty.Hi Brian
I tend to use hides an nature reseves, such as those associated to Wildlife Trusts.
I have been meaning to get a two seat hide similar to http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-MAN-SHOOTING-DOUBLE-HIDE-TENT-BLIND-CHAIR-FOREST-LEA...
I do wonder about the quality though. I've also read that the single seat versions are too small
Comment by JAK posted on Wildlife, BIF's and Hides at 01/01/2014 - 15:10
Can I just add, if you are buying new (whatever lens it is if available) SRS presently have some good buys with their extra 10% off their normal already competitive prices for just a few more days. Some prices are better than buying direct from the far east!
Comment by JAK posted on Kit Lens Upgrade at 01/01/2014 - 14:48
The Photozone review summarizes:
I cannot comment on the 18-135 as I haven't tried one but both my 18-250's are pretty good, even at the long end where sometimes zoom performance drops off.
Photozone actually conclude their review saying
Quote:
The Pentax lens (ie 18-135mm)is actually very good to even excellent in the image center but the borders/corners suffer from massive field curvature at the wide end and plain sofness at tele settings. This is certainly no issue for portraits and such but you don't really want use this lens for architecture or landscape photography here. This is also in so far surprising because the (cheaper) Pentax SMC-DA 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 (a Tamron design) was actually very usable here. The secondary characteristics (distortions, vignetting, CAs) are about class-average.
They seem to prefer the 18-250mm in preference to the 18-135mm.The Pentax lens (ie 18-135mm)is actually very good to even excellent in the image center but the borders/corners suffer from massive field curvature at the wide end and plain sofness at tele settings. This is certainly no issue for portraits and such but you don't really want use this lens for architecture or landscape photography here. This is also in so far surprising because the (cheaper) Pentax SMC-DA 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 (a Tamron design) was actually very usable here. The secondary characteristics (distortions, vignetting, CAs) are about class-average.
I cannot comment on the 18-135 as I haven't tried one but both my 18-250's are pretty good, even at the long end where sometimes zoom performance drops off.
Photozone actually conclude their review saying
Quote:
Better consider the Pentax DA-SMC 17-70mm f/4 SDM instead which is a far better lens.
Better consider the Pentax DA-SMC 17-70mm f/4 SDM instead which is a far better lens.
Comment by JAK posted on Kit Lens Upgrade at 01/01/2014 - 14:16
