Thanks Martin
If anyone wants to see just how this looks at 18x12" and are passing by the South coast then drop me a PM
Matt

The 12-24 does rock
http://www.ephotozine.com/u16488/gallery/1026108
That's 12mm
Matt

Ha ha! Nice idea
Matt

Because the CCD is what, 5mm thick (especially with SR), then there's the LCD panel which is probably another 4 or 5mm thick that has to sit on top of that - and that's without the electronics

And for film you have maybe 3mm for the film and transport back.

Yes, the K10D/K20D are huge in comparison. Actually I like it And then it's weather sealed too. The *ist-D and *ist-Ds are tiny in comparison - still not MX size though.

Digicams are presumably smaller because there's no interchangeable lens and the distance between lens elements and sensor are smaller. Plus a MUCH smaller sensor too.

I've been involved in electronics for well over 20 years, and I am blown away looking at the high levels of integration in these consumer items.

As I said, one day they'll get smaller - but probably not by much if using a 35mm K-mount.

Matt

Check out: http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/48973-k20d-exploded-vi...

and http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/48910-pentax-ist-dl-ex...

EDIT: and someone modifying an *ist-DL for IR - http://www.pbase.com/carpents/image/104588664
Most of the bulk presumably is where the image plane is, and the fact that you need a hunk of semiconductors plus LCD to go behind that. Film, in contrast is wafer thin!



Beats me how they manage to design THAT much into it!!!
Matt

But a piddly little sensor
Have a Google for images of the inside of dSLRs and you'll get a better appreciation for what's actually in there

One day they'll get smaller...

Matt

Indeed. I can sometimes get decent shots at 300mm handheld - but I am blessed with extremely steady hands (and good breath control etc). Even on some tripods at 300mm it can be difficult...

...and of course you can easily get subject movement at 300mm that blurs the shot even with a decent tripod.

Matt

LOL @ Gartmore. Dya wanna lend it me to try it out?
Yet it's the tilt that I find the most interesting, rather than shift

Hefty - LOL! It could do too! I was checking them out too after seeing the article

Tel,
To test focus you NEED a focus test chart - or something with a completely unambiguous focus point. Plus you need a way to gauge where the centre of the focus is.

Even a sheet of newspaper would be better - focus on a clear headline, using a tripod in daylight, using f/1.4

(Tungsten light is known to sometimes cause a focus issue, especially at wide apertures.)

Once calibrated you should get this kind of shot with the 50/1.4: https://www.pentaxuser.com/photo/All-Alone-496/large
(That's at f/2.

Matt

To be honest, I'm not sure what you are asking Tel!
Are you wondering about focus, or something else?

If it's focus, then this definitely isn't the way to test focus My FA50/1.4 needed a touch of adjustment in the K20D focus custom setup But I'm super critical and wanted the camera to focus on what I wanted it to at f/1.4. Does what it's told now

A little more info would be good
Matt