All Forum Comments
Comment by Jonathan-Mac posted on AA & AAA pre charged NiMH at 31/12/2020 - 10:02
Anything removed will be to either reduce the size and weight or to reduce the cost. From what Ricoh have said, I understand that the non-moving screen is due to the former and the GPS could be too, but if they can fit it into every phone then I can't imagine that modern GPS units are either very big or heavy. I imagine that not including it (if that's the case, which has not be demonstrated in any way) is a cost-cutting measure as it looks like the K-3 III will be the most expensive APS-C DSLR ever released, by any manufacturer. Perhaps that new viewfinder really drives up the cost or simply takes up more space (which I imagine is the case, given what we know about it).
An in-built flash is far more useful than a GPS unit anyway, so loss of GPS is really no loss at all as far as I'm concerned.
The changes to the way manual lenses are used is the biggest enticement for me, even though I use them less than I used to.
An in-built flash is far more useful than a GPS unit anyway, so loss of GPS is really no loss at all as far as I'm concerned.
The changes to the way manual lenses are used is the biggest enticement for me, even though I use them less than I used to.
Comment by Jonathan-Mac posted on K3 iii at 31/12/2020 - 09:57
Mike-P wrote:
If you need an overhead shot on the K-1 you tilt the screen down and hold the camera up, if you need a low shot you lower the K-1 and tilt the screen up ... using both hands. Try doing that with a mobile phone while holding the K-1 in the other hand (unless of course you are going to use some sort of holder attached to the hotshoe in which case the subject will be long gone by the time you get round to setting that up)
Also you can already do that on the K-1 and KP, the connection is flaky at best.
This is an idea I had a while ago but I see I was beaten to it: https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Adapter-Samsung-Attaching-Photography/dp/B071CFDBJ...pschlute wrote:
I am also guessing this is why they went for a fixed screen. I love the articulating screen on my K1, but how much more convenient would it be if your smartphone becomes the rear screen ?
None whatsoever unless you have 2 pairs of hands.I am also guessing this is why they went for a fixed screen. I love the articulating screen on my K1, but how much more convenient would it be if your smartphone becomes the rear screen ?
If you need an overhead shot on the K-1 you tilt the screen down and hold the camera up, if you need a low shot you lower the K-1 and tilt the screen up ... using both hands. Try doing that with a mobile phone while holding the K-1 in the other hand (unless of course you are going to use some sort of holder attached to the hotshoe in which case the subject will be long gone by the time you get round to setting that up)
Also you can already do that on the K-1 and KP, the connection is flaky at best.
A hotshoe mount for mobile phones, which will give you a tilt any way you need. Of course, it's more hassle than an up/down tilting screen, but also more flexible.
womble wrote:
More seriously though, I've always found that the maximum ISO of any camera (of any make) is borderline useless, BUT the usable maximum ISO keeps improving too. With my K20D anything over 400 was pretty ugly, with the K-3 I'll happily use 1600. If the K-3iii has usable 6400 then yay.
Also seriously, endlessly complaining about pure speculation seems utterly pointless. By all means moan about how long the delay has been, but FFS stop moaning about things we have no information about.
I think the sensor in the new camera is the same as that used in some other newer APS-C cameras such as the Fujifilm X-T4 (though that's not Bayer of course) so check them to get an idea of what higher ISOs look like. I would imagine it's around a stop better that the K-3 original or mark II. These days there's more concentration on sensor read-out speed than on lowering the noise, but newer sensors are still better. ISO 1.6 million will be totally useless, as will half of that, and half of that... but it should be better than what we have now in APS-C.davidwozhere wrote:
(And what possible use is a few million ISO??).
That photo project I've been wanting to undertake for years of black cats in coal cellars... (And what possible use is a few million ISO??).
More seriously though, I've always found that the maximum ISO of any camera (of any make) is borderline useless, BUT the usable maximum ISO keeps improving too. With my K20D anything over 400 was pretty ugly, with the K-3 I'll happily use 1600. If the K-3iii has usable 6400 then yay.
Also seriously, endlessly complaining about pure speculation seems utterly pointless. By all means moan about how long the delay has been, but FFS stop moaning about things we have no information about.
Comment by Jonathan-Mac posted on K3 iii at 29/12/2020 - 08:45
womble wrote:
I'd settle for the green button metering to be anywhere near accurate. It's usually several stops out (which as someone who used K-series lenses a great deal is a real PITA).
I agree, that's from a K200D and a K-3.I'd settle for the green button metering to be anywhere near accurate. It's usually several stops out (which as someone who used K-series lenses a great deal is a real PITA).
Comment by Jonathan-Mac posted on Progress report on PENTAX's new APS-C-format digital SLR flagship camera: officially named PENTAX K-3 Mark III at 28/12/2020 - 08:53
pschlute wrote:
For those of us who like to use old K amd M series lenses here is something new on the K3 III https://pentaxofficial.com/en/7492/
It appears that you can set any FL for the SR function, not just the pre-set numbers. You can also use the e-dial wheel to set an aperture number that will be recorded in the exif. Note, this only is for exif record only, the actual aperture used will be whatever is set manually on the lens.
These are both useful items that could have been done a long time ago, they also sound like they're firmware changes and could be extended to other models, though I'm sure Pentax won't do that.For those of us who like to use old K amd M series lenses here is something new on the K3 III https://pentaxofficial.com/en/7492/
It appears that you can set any FL for the SR function, not just the pre-set numbers. You can also use the e-dial wheel to set an aperture number that will be recorded in the exif. Note, this only is for exif record only, the actual aperture used will be whatever is set manually on the lens.
pschlute wrote:
But the biggest change is that stop-down metering has been extended to Av and TAv modes. It seems that in those modes, when you press the shutter button, the lens stops down, the meter reads the light and the camera selects a shutter speed or ISO before tripping the shutter. The established green button method will still be available in M mode.
My Chinon CE Memotron clone from 1976 does this exact same thing with M42 lenses. It's only taken Pentax 44 years to catch up But the biggest change is that stop-down metering has been extended to Av and TAv modes. It seems that in those modes, when you press the shutter button, the lens stops down, the meter reads the light and the camera selects a shutter speed or ISO before tripping the shutter. The established green button method will still be available in M mode.
Comment by Jonathan-Mac posted on Progress report on PENTAX's new APS-C-format digital SLR flagship camera: officially named PENTAX K-3 Mark III at 27/12/2020 - 09:19
I saw this yesterday on your website. It's probably the best K-1 deal I've ever seen. I'm not a fan of the silver but for that price...
Comment by Jonathan-Mac posted on Pentax K-1 II Silver Limited 'Fan' edition - £1499 until 29th December - SRS exclusive + sale now on. at 25/12/2020 - 09:19
womble wrote:
I have one somewhere from my Katzeye screen for the K200D but if I remember correctly a pair of tweezers will work too.Jonathan-Mac wrote:
Sounds like the focusing screen has been knocked a little out of where it should be. I'd have a look, gently open the little brace that holds it in place and close it again to see if that helps.
I've have a look. I wonder if the old tool for opening the focus-screen tray will work with a K-3...Sounds like the focusing screen has been knocked a little out of where it should be. I'd have a look, gently open the little brace that holds it in place and close it again to see if that helps.
Comment by Jonathan-Mac posted on K-3 focus points at 25/12/2020 - 09:17
pschlute wrote:
I suppose the power zoom would be OK if it weren't for the fact that the motor is very noisy. Combine that with the noisy focusing motor and you'd be making a right racket every time you take a photo. There are a couple of buttons on the barrel (one push button, one switch) that I don't know the purpose of. I need to look into that to see if they're broken or not. I'm not sure if anyone will want the lens but I certainly don't so I'll put it up for sale super cheap and hope someone goes for it.Jonathan-Mac wrote:
Yesterday I received a Z1 with a 28-80mm power zoom on it. The zoom will be sold off, I wanted the camera as I already have a Z1 and wanted a backup. It has the same missing bit of plastic just in front of the battery door so I'm guessing that's a common thing, though not a problem at all.
That was the Z1 kit I had from new around 1991. I still have the Z1 but the mirror is jammed. I bought a second one which I have used recently. both have the battery door issue. The lens was never highly regarded although the power zoom was novel. The buttons eventually fell off mine.Yesterday I received a Z1 with a 28-80mm power zoom on it. The zoom will be sold off, I wanted the camera as I already have a Z1 and wanted a backup. It has the same missing bit of plastic just in front of the battery door so I'm guessing that's a common thing, though not a problem at all.
Comment by Jonathan-Mac posted on What's your latest acquisition? at 25/12/2020 - 09:13
Sounds like the focusing screen has been knocked a little out of where it should be. I'd have a look, gently open the little brace that holds it in place and close it again to see if that helps.
Comment by Jonathan-Mac posted on K-3 focus points at 24/12/2020 - 08:57
Yesterday I received a Z1 with a 28-80mm power zoom on it. The zoom will be sold off, I wanted the camera as I already have a Z1 and wanted a backup. It has the same missing bit of plastic just in front of the battery door so I'm guessing that's a common thing, though not a problem at all.
Comment by Jonathan-Mac posted on What's your latest acquisition? at 24/12/2020 - 08:49
I bought some rechargeable batteries from Lidl once and from what I remember they worked once and then never held a charge. Utterly useless. I don't remember if they were this brand though.