To be honest, I only use DSLR cameras...
However, you can download the manuals:
http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/download_manual.html

http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/man-pdf/optio-m50.pdf
http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/man-pdf/optio-v20.pdf

I'm speed reading through them now to see if there's an answer...

Matt

Chris,
I've seen a few threads on the 'net that claim this lens is weather sealed.
I presume it's not, but does have the SP front element coating.
Am I right?
Thanks! Matt

Can I have that with fries and a large Coke please??


Totally insane
Matt

This has been raised a number of times...
Because it's quite a niche market (although the Canon 5D has brought it to a wider market), and very expensive to produce. Pentax did produce a FF 35mm and ditched it. They also produced a large frame size MF but put that on ice. We'll have to see...

No, they'll probably be worse. When you use a FF lens on an APS camera you are using the centre of the lens - which is usually the sharpest.
Additionally, because CCD/CMOS sensors sites are actually little "wells" that capture photons you have nasty vignetting problems when the lenses are not well collimated. Light at the edges generally does not have a 90 degree angle of incidence - film was forgiving on this, but digital is not so. There are plenty of articles on the 'net about the Canon 5D requiring some seriously expensive (and heavy) glass to get the best out of it.

All FF. They were designed for 35mm film.

Because you can go super wide more easily, and because the sensor sites are larger (resulting in less noise). (NOTE: Samsung say they have increased the photo-site size on the K20D sensor with some nifty silicon design)
The down side is that you need a longer telephoto. So for many the APS is actually an advantage
Lenses designed for APS are also smaller and lighter
And is it worth the price increase... I'm not sure. If the factor is twice - then maybe. If the factor is more than that, then maybe not. For example, the SMC-DA 12-24 is a fine lens indeed. But some may still need wider (I don't).

Also note that some of the APS lenses (like the 12-24) do give perfectly good results on film - with a little vignetting at the wide end.

I wouldn't hold your breath for the FF option though
(You're better off getting good glass and going out to take photos )
Matt

That's cool then

My comments were also general in nature - the law is the law, not just my opinion or yours. I wanted to help other forum members realise the legal issues since there are illegal versions floating around on various sites.

I'm not "having a go" at you, but sharing this information for the benefit of other readers. Not everyone is fully aware of the copyright and legal issues involved

Sorry you were rattled

Matt

THAT is the statement that's the problem. You are offering illegal software.

Whether the Photoshop you have on your PC is legit is irrelevant. You cannot go offering a copy of licensed software... If you read the agreement from Adobe you are only allowed installation on one main computer and one laptop. That's it. No more. No "freebies" to others, no give-aways. It's exactly that kind of activity that FACT/FAST likes to know about (And when they find out, they bill any offender the full RRP of each package multiplied by the number of PCs that could possibly run the software, plus any court costs. It's painful.)

FYI, if you are unsure about any Adobe product you can just phone them up, quote the serial number and they'll tell you whether you are the registered owner, whether it's not been registered, whether it's a "cracked" version, etc.

However, if you do have a genuine version of CS3 on your PC then you should have the box, manuals, and the license slip with the product activation code. If you don't have that... then it's quite likely not legal either. I have seen too many computer shops piling stuff onto PCs they sell (things like copied versions of Windows XP, Microsoft Office, etc, etc) to try and keep their customers happy. The bottom line is - if you haven't got the hologram/license-card then you don't have the right to use that commercial package.

I've had long chats with Adobe in the past about ebay sales and the like. And they're helpful in finding you the best and cheapest route to a legal version of Photoshop.

Rather than slamming me - maybe you should phone Adobe up and check with them If you're not bothered - fine. But don't offer "copies" on here. Ok?

...now I'm going back to my rattle.
Gaa, gaaa, gooo.



Matt


EDIT: This goes back to my original suggestion - if you can't afford full Photoshop for amateur photography, then use Photoshop Elements. Don't go the "warez" route. If you can't afford Photoshop for professional photography - then definitely don't go the "warez" route. If you can use Photoshop competently, then it'll pay for itself (especially if you buy it as part of the Creative Suite as we did - giving InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat etc).

...and if you are using a ripped copy of Photoshop I don't want to know about it

Absolutely - if you're just doing "straight" photography. However, I've had situations where I needed to do a lot of post processing (I mean a LOT), and posterisation was creeping in when working from 8-bit. 16-bit solved that.

But, yes, generally, 8 bit and PSE is perfectly adequate.... and definitely so when you have a Wacom pen

Matt

Oh there's more... much more

I have no problems doing such a thing - it's partly the logistics (need a room with power for lappy + LCD), and partly needing something to tempt me into finding the time and doing it! LOL!

Matt

How about Adobe for a start?? Or FAST (Federation Against Software Theft)?
They'd like one from you

Sounds to me like you have an illegal copy, not a "free" one

Do not use this forum for sharing illegal software

Going back on thread
As I mentioned, PSE is a fine, fine program and suitable for most photographic needs... and some. I'm generally happy to work with PSE, but not all my work is 100% photographic... and that's where PS-CS2 comes in

Unlocker: that might be possible...

Matt

It depends what you use it for.... (as ever).

For pure photography, Photoshop Elements is hard to beat. I find the Adobe way of handling filters and layers much faster than any other package. However, I have nothing against Gimp, Paint Shop Pro, or anything else that gets the job done.

However, Photoshop CS2 is invaluable to me for the following reasons:
* Pen tool with clipping paths (can't live without this one)
* Decent colour management engine for soft-proofing and conversion
* 16-bit image support
* Layers (I know there are plugins with PSE). CS2 has layer groups too. Essential for the way I work (with at least a dozen layers at a time)
* Actions (ie macros). I use several third party actions in my workflow, and that saves a lot of time.
* Integration with Illustrator

I could add this list of items that I know are in many other packages, but are still essential:
* Curves
* Blend modes (especially for luminosity & hue)
* Keyboard links to tools (I work with a Wacom + keyboard simultaneously)
* Industry standard plugins (though most other tools can support them too).

As I mentioned, it's the speed of filter & layer previews that I haven't found elsewhere. Most packages seem to apply the filter to the whole image as you adjust. It looks like Photoshop only does this to the current view, in the current zoom setting - so it's almost instant.

Although I have nothing against other packages, it'd be a tough thing for me to switch! Photoshop CS2 is second nature to me - I hardly have to think about it.

If more were closer to here it might be interesting to do a Photoshop tutorial session... but I'd need some funding and time!
Matt