Nice test
I'm right handed, use my right eye for the camera, but my left eye is apparently dominant
Maybe I should shuffle things around
Matt

The AF220T is TTL only and will not work with the Kx. It will fire full power only Alas, it doesn't look like it has manual controls at all.

The AF400FTZ can do full and quarter power only in fully manual, but has no "A" setting. So you'll only get limited usage (but for £35 that's pretty good!).


You don't need to be scared of flash, or avoid it
If you want to start out cheaply, then look for a 'generic' flash (like Sunpak, etc) that supports "A" mode and "M" mode with power adjustment (e.g. 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 etc).

I have an old Metz 50MZ5 great hulk of a flashgun and use it in "A" or "M" mode for studio and event type photography. Lovely, not expensive, and tons of light.

The newer P-TTL flashes (AF360FGZ, AF540FGZ) are excellent though - they support all the modes you'd need - but will cost you a lot more.

(There's always my little ebook PDF on Pentax flash which may help to de-mystify flash usage!).

Hope that helps,
Matt

That's one way to definitely miss the shot of a lifetime... 5 minutes to boot and be ready
Matt

FWIW, I use the multiple-drive-approach. Big thumbs up for Scooter Software's Beyond Compare
Makes sync-ing drives a piece of cake!

Matt

The specs for the 77/1.8 are here - 48mm long.

For comparison, the 70/2.4 specs are here - 26mm long without hood. You should be able to measure up against your 70mm (not sure if the length is overall length, or from the body)

HTH!
Matt

Cracking isn't all about market share... it's usually about the thrill and challenge of reverse engineering.

I write firmware for a living (not cameras, alas) but the principles are the same. Adding serial-number-locked firmware upgrades is a huge investment of time and resources. I've been there, done it, and it's a big challenge combining cryptographic techniques etc (which in itself can also open up a can of worms with export/import regulations :roll.

Very unlikely. It's quite likely that the O/S used will be licensed specifically for a single product, or just product range. You'd be talking 5 or 6 figure sums for the development software for such an O/S - and that's without including the actual software for the product!


The commercial side of firmware development is very, very different to that of Windows, OS X, or Linux... plus there are usually very important IP (intellectual property) skills tightly wrapped up in firmware that a company is definitely not going to release!

It's nice to dream though
Matt

Just listened the video on PentaxImaging...

The K5 has 14-bit per pixel RAW output, vs the 12-bit per pixel RAW output of the K7 and prior. That, plus the extra pixel count means more RAM usage. I also expect that the K5 firmware is going to use more RAM compared with the K7 - so they've probably got the same SDRAM amounts internally.

14-bit RAW + higher ISO = lovely for me

Matt

It's already on the K7, FW1.1, and will certainly be in the K5
You have to enable it within the custom menu. You can also have it shown on the rear LCD while you shoot.
I use it all the time

You even have automatic horizon adjustment as an option in the K7 where the camera will rotate the sensor to match the horizon before taking the shot
(Of course, you don't see this happen in the viewfinder)

Matt

BTW, don't think that HSS is simple

It involves creating multiple bursts of light as the shutter progresses. 1/180s is the fastest speed where the sensor is completely exposed in one go.

Faster shutter speeds are achieved by creating a moving 'slot' between the leading and trailing curtains of the shutter. It's this moving slot that creates the challenge for HSS flash - it has to fire so the image is exposed evenly all the way down.

Consequently, only the big and expensive flashguns can support HSS - it's much more sophisticated from the flashgun's point of view


Often people say they want HSS.... but don't really know why It is very helpful in bright conditions where you want fill in flash. However, a reflector is often an easier and cheaper method in those circumstances

HTT!
Matt

You'll have that with LR too

FWIW, Silkypix UK have been absolutely brilliant to deal with when it comes to licensing and even switching platforms

Matt