The images of the new camera from the PMA show only an SD sized cover
(see this thread: https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2308 )
This image in particular: http://www.dpreview.com/articles/pma2006/Pentax/IMG_1592.jpg

...and having visited a plastics moulding company just yesterday I can better appreciate how difficult it is to change the tool. So it looks like it'll be SD.

Incidentally, there's an overview of the current *ist-D series on this site:
https://www.pentaxuser.com/faq/pentaxspecs.html

Matt

As far as the sensor goes, they're all the same - they all use the same Sony CCD, and so RAW performance should be identical.

The difference comes down to features and add-ons. As John says, I prefer the pentaprism, rather than the pentamirror (which is still pretty good). The original *ist-D has extras that aren't available on the others: battery/vertical grip; built in wireless signal from the pop-up; built in PC flash socket; two wheels for Av and Tv.

But then the *ist-DS has a few features that I would have liked on the *ist-D...

Having used the *ist-D for so long, I'd find it hard to move to another model... except the new one due later this year

However, I wouldn't get too hung up about the body. Since the sensors are the same, it boils down to the lens. If I had a choice, I'd rather have some expensive Pentax glass and a slightly cheaper body (than the other way around)

Matt

John,

The P-TTL will always issue a preflash. That's usually enough to scare away any wildlife before the main flash fires (and takes some milliseconds away too)

You'll have more control if you set the flash to "M" or "A". The body will know what's going on, but it's sensible to use Av mode and setup the aperture accordingly.

Hope that helps
Matt

Just an enquiry:

Has anyone got one of these lying around, looking for a good home?!
http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/flashes/mounting/OffCameraF.jpg

Send me a PM if you have (or any other 5P bits)
Thanks!
Matt

I have the SMC-FA 80-320 and can say this is an excellent lens. It's always performed very well indeed on the *ist-D (and will perform equally well on the *ist-DL). It's very light weight, sharp, and has excellent colour rendition.

However, I do usually use it with a monopod, especially for indoor events.

They are available second-hand, and I paid around £100 for my near-mint one.

Matt

LOL @ George!

I too have had the Omnibounce since they produced it for the AF360 (had to order it from the US at the time). Great results, given the right location. The results are better if there's a ceiling - since you're meant to tilt the gun up and bounce off the ceiling and all around. Direct with the Omnibounce is better than direct flash though.

Do bear in mind that you cut your maximum distance in half. It's caught me out before

Having had a very quick play with the AF360 in wireless firing through an umbrella (see my ephotozine portfolio for today), I've ordered a Lastolite Micro Apollo XL (16"x10". Very big in the wally department LOL! (The Lumiquest ones were not wally enough!) I want it for portraiture.

I'll let you know what it's like when I've had a go
Matt

And it cooperates much better with the *ist-D with the firmware 1.12

LOL @ George's comments

Matt

For wireless between the AF360 and the *ist-D you need to read these pages of the AF360 manual:

1) Page 49. The AF360 can be triggered in dumb slave mode (that's Slave2) or in intelligent P-TTL mode (that's Slave1 - which is the mode you must use for the *ist-D).

2) Pages 44, 45. This tells you how to set the AF360 channel - it's when you put the flash on the camera, the camera picks up the channel number.

It's not difficult, you just have to follow the instructions (which sometimes read a little strangely!)

The only thing that's slightly different is that for the *ist-D you just keep pressing the flash mode button (by the top LCD panel) until the "W" appears in the LCD... oh yes, and make sure you pop up the flash!

As a final note, there's a custom setting in the *ist-D which disables the pop-up flash in wireless mode. When disabled, the pop-up contributes almost no light to the image (except for a tiny burst which appears as a very helpful catchlight in the eyes). The default is for both the pop-up and the AF360 to add to the exposure

PLEASE NOTE: only the *ist-D supports wireless flash with the built in pop-up flash. With the *ist-DL and *ist-DS you need two AF360 flashguns to perform wireless flash (as outlined on page 42 & 43 of the manual)!!

Matt

For a Pentax addict, that's one very touching story. Welcome to the board
If you're out of luck in Yuck for scenery, there's always macro land for images
Matt

I've used Photobox quite a lot for snaps and the like.

However, for pro-quality I use www.proamimaging.com - HOWEVER you have to have Photoshop and understand colour profiles and the like But if you do, the quality is superb.

I've also heard good things about www.photoartistry.com, but haven't yet tried them.

Matt