jules

Joined: 14th July 2010

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jules
johnriley wrote:
As Pentax grow, they need to hit the spot with their new DSLRs and at the moment seem to have it down to a fine art.

The multiple colours grabbed the attention, as did the quirky alternative designs such as the K-01 and Q, all still very functional, but also very noticed.

The K30 looks very appealing and the choice of metal blue as the colour for advertising seems inspired. It just looks really good, especially covered in water droplets.
It looks good I agree and judging by some of the Pics I am seeing, it can fight a bit too!

Comment by jules posted on Pentax K-30 in depth review at 20/07/2012 - 11:39

jules
Pentaxophile wrote:
It makes you wonder though - if this is the Kr replacement, what on earth have they got in store for the K5 replacement? I doubt simply '24 megapickles' will cut it, as the resolution improvement is negated as you raise the ISO.

What do we want from the K3, that would justify a higher 'APSC flagship' launch price?
We wait! Meanwhile we have two already really great Cameras to play with!
All good...

I briefly owned the Sony A77 as I couldn't resist, and you are absolutely correct on the correlation between ISO and 24 Mpx!
Noise falls off a cliff from 800 upwards and the sensor is very like the Canon 7D in that it's already gritty from the start! In my view (Take with lots of salt!) the Canon is a noisy sensor masked by clever internal processing and software and the Sony? Well they didn't bother with either!
Back to subject, I'd love to see another 16Mpx camera but I think that the "me too" and number spotters will mean that it'll have to be more? It's a shame they can't do a deal with Hasselblad and use the sensor shift to get super high res for studio stills etc, or maybe tie in with Fuji on their 16Mpx tech? Anyway we'll likely know in a couple of months and I'd like to be able to buy one, just hope my sales pic up

Comment by jules posted on Pentax K-30 in depth review at 20/07/2012 - 11:04

jules
johnriley wrote:
I have always tried to make the second body the same as the first. For yourself, that would suggest another K-r.

That way, there are identical controls, so no confusion, identical batteries and other accessories. If you have two different types of body you may well prefer one to the other and consequently that will be used allo the time. The second one could become relatively redundant.

New K-r cameras can still be found. Perhapd SRS still have some purple ones left!
johnriley wrote:
As Bill highlights really, if upgrading is the objective of course we have to move onwards and upwards. If the purpose was to do this, then a K-5 for general use, plus hanging on to the K-r for a while as a spare just in case, is an alternative plan.

I say the K-5 as the price is very keen again just now and this is the best time to buy it new.


Whatever advice we give, it all depends on the game plan of the OP.
Firmly agree with all that, if you can, have two the same, I can't stress that enough! I've got that one wrong more than once, when I used to shoot Motorcycle road racing on a regular basis with a D3 and a D300/700,
Confusion reigned

Comment by jules posted on 2nd Body at 20/07/2012 - 09:31

jules
johnriley wrote:
I'm afraid you may have to wait until I buy one. EPZ have taken on permanent staff and don't seem to call much on freelances at the moment. No point paying someone to do something when you're already paying someone a salary to do the job.

I'm sure I'd be happy if we had two K30s, but we'd need them at the same time and there's no point for us at this juncture.
Same boat at present, until I see something better, My replacement for my K5 would be another! Looking forward to the K3 or whatever it will be called but my K5 will not be going antwhere unless Pentax/Ricoh stuff up the handling completely on the new one! I don't expect it to be the same as the K5 but part of me hopes they don't change too much as I'll probably not be able to afford two...

K30 looks like a winner and it's a shame you won't get to review one quickly, as I'd like to see a good objective/fair appraisal of the Camera, rather than the same old same old...

Comment by jules posted on Pentax K-30 in depth review at 18/07/2012 - 16:58

jules
johnriley wrote:
On that logic, why take no notice of reviews but take notice of everyone else's random preconceptions, often made before something has been tried.

I've said it before, but I've done reviews and there is no pressure whatsoever to reach any particular conclusion. It would be counter-productive to the reputation of a site. In fact, items are just sent, review is submitted and that's that. Oh yes, invoice is submitted and duly paid as well.

Conspiracies can be seen everywhere if we have a mind to.
Which is why I await your review with bated breath John!

Comment by jules posted on Pentax K-30 in depth review at 18/07/2012 - 09:28

jules
Yes thats the one Smeggy! I have no predjudices either I want it to be a success, I really do but everywhere I read it is being compared to the K5, probably because the K5 is old tech now, it is two after all!
It's not a K5 and thats sort of my point, yes it's just one person and only one review but that review will be taken as the view of that community by pretty much everyone, their K-01 Review raised my suspicsions about them, I have no hard evidence but I smell rats, lots of em!
I just read it as a gushing peice of journalism by someone payed to like something, it's ok for Magazine type sites to do it but I would expect more objectivity from a community site, thats all. Hey maybe it's me and it really is that good! In which case I'll take two please!

Comment by jules posted on Pentax K-30 in depth review at 18/07/2012 - 07:01

jules
dcweather wrote:
Stunning review on the "other" forum, if I'm allowed to mention it here.
Reads like an advertising peice to me...
I know these things are built to a price but...
If the camera was marketed towards video, they pretty much got the button placements correct but then why cripple it with no support for external Microphones??? No HDMI-out? It's mid level not entry, people like to play! If this camera was aimed at stills, why the clunky shutter, weired feeling narrow grip (For Asian size hands?), and lower quality 12 bit image pipeline? The build, top LCD, IQ, ergonomics, shutter, and FPS make the K-5 a superior camera, until the K-30 drops to a significantly more realistic price, which it will.
It also looks like the only AF changes were to CDAF - which is a bit disappointing considering the hype.

Sorry to come over all negative but since I read their peice on the K-01, I've begun to think that they may be on the Pentax Ricoh Payroll...

It's no doubt a lovely camera and yes I have held one but lets not get carried away. In short "DON'T, DON'T, DON'T, DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!"

Flame suit on, mud flinging barrier in place...

Comment by jules posted on Pentax K-30 in depth review at 18/07/2012 - 06:20

jules
Hi, Simon.
Travelled that road in my last Pentax incarnation having Every DA Ltd and the 100 macro/200DA* and 300DA* (Helios's DA 300 which I wish I still had!) You came to the same conclusion as myself with the 15mm, it's lovely but it's not a whole lot better than the 12-24 which is a great lens! Maybe a bit more micro contrast and a tad richer colour but at the apertures you and I use on a regular basis, it's just not enough better (English???). You will probably find the same with the 21mm as opposed to your 17-70, the 21mm was my most used lens, I loved it! That was part of the problem for me I'd go out all day and just use it and nothing else! Opitcally I'd say it's not any better at 21mm than your 17-70 at 21mm in any meaningful way, the 17-70 is just a very good zoom lens, kicks the 16-50's bottom for sharpness across the frame at all but F4 and at Landscape apertures it's as even as most primes. (And before everyone tells me I must of had a bad 21, I didn't I had two 21's just to make sure!) The beauty of the Ltd's is their size, and yes I'd like to own them all again even if I didn't use them...
The difference between F3.2 and F4 is nothing to get carried away about either, and I'd say thats the difference between them, the 21mm may look slightly better at F4 but thats because it's stopped down just ever soo slightly against the 17-70 which would be wide open...
Flame Suit On

Comment by jules posted on Anyone provide feedback on DA21mm vs DA 17-70? at 12/07/2012 - 07:47

jules
Digressing again, I contacted Gigabyte this AM and they offered me an RMA with a turnaround of a working week which could change things a bit methinks.
Could save me mucho wonga!

Comment by jules posted on lens prices stabilising again...? at 27/06/2012 - 12:50

jules
steven9761 wrote:
Jules - have you looked on the Gigabyte website for advise/updates? It may be a cheaper route than a new rig.
Yep!
They'll replace the board if I give em the Serial which means taking it out! Then there is up to six weeks wait to get the new one leaving me without for that time, not an option. I 'll get another Computer, then do it and build myself up a second PC...

Thats probably enough digression from the thread subject, so to keep John Happy, anyone else seen any more levelling/lowering of Pentax Prices from other retailers than SRS, in the UK recently?

Comment by jules posted on lens prices stabilising again...? at 26/06/2012 - 15:21

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