http://www.pentaximaging.com/footer/news_media_article?ArticleId=6458799

Now that's interesting
Matt

Wonder what the price is going to be with a CCD like that!!!

To me the startup time of the Microdrive (at least my one, which was an IBM, badged as Fuji, and could well have been two or three years old) was the one big failing. With a CF card proper the *ist-D boots up very quickly. I missed many opportunities (especially with the kids) when using the Microdrive.

You are right that 80x is not the "real" speed. The card speed denotes how fast you can read data from the card. 1x = 150k per second. The write speed is related, but not always obviously, and is always slower than the read speed. You have to check on the manufacturer's website to find out, or profile the performance of the card.

The WA technology of the Lexar cards shaves a little off the time (they say 10-15% I think), because the communication between the WA-enabled camera and the card doesn't require as many messages to write data. And yes, the 80x card is much faster than the camera can write to anyway.

The other thing about Microdrives is they can't cope with shocks. I had a "blip" where I put the camera down on a table (not roughly, but it made a noise), and the Microdrive wouldn't write anymore until I'd formatted it. Likewise, a friend of mine has his 1Gb go AWOL for almost no apparent reason and lost all his pics in his Canon G2. Managed to rescue most of them with some recovery software and reformat in the PC. Never had a problem, so far, with real CF cards

Note that the *ist-DS seems to have an updated CPU, since it handles USB2.0, as opposed to the *ist-D's USB1. So, maybe the *ist-DS is faster at writing anyway?

Matt

(Back on thread...)
Kim, I originally bought an Fuji/IBM 1Gb Microdrive with my *ist-D.
Slow was the word. About 5 seconds to boot up, and a slow transfer rate.

Next was a Lexar 1Gb 40x WA card (which cost me nearly £200 from Dabs.com). Amazing speed improvement. Very fast start up time, and good RAW performance. Now I have a Lexar 2Gb 80x WA and it flies (Bought it for around £130 from www.dabs.com) - not twice as fast as the 40x, but still faster.

Hope that helps
Matt

Just a minor correction to Kim's post:
The Pentax 50mm/f2.8 and 100mm/f2.8 are 1:1 (lifesize) macro lenses. That's one reason they're so expensive!
The Pentax 100mm/f3.5 (made by Cosina, I think) is 1:2.

Just to add another option - it is possible to mount a second lens back to front onto a main lens. (ie coupling two lenses together at the filter end and mounting them as one on the camera.) You can get amazing results, but often with lots of vignetting. SRB-Film (www.srbfilm.co.uk) sell the appropriate adaptors.

I've tried most macro methods: close up filters, extension tubes, zoom macro, real macro, extension tubes+macro lens, even 1.7xAF+extensions+macro lens. They all give different results and quality. However, my favourite is the genuine macro lens - doubles up as a super sharp portraiture lens

Hope that helps.
Matt

For filters, try also www.srbfilm.co.uk
Matt

Well, I'd go with Mattie's comment too.
Having tried a few different lenses (including a Tokina 28-70/f2.8 which was rather nice, but a little cool, IMHO), I have stuck with the SMC-FA 24-90/f3.5-4.5.

I have learned my lesson - that f-stop is not everything Compatibility and distortion are important, of course, but also: flare control, bokeh, contrast, and colour. To my eye, the Pentax has it in bucket loads. It's not the absolutely sharpest lens, but you'd have to work hard to get me to trade it for anything else Since the *ist-D has auto compensation for ISO, I've not had any real problems with lens speed, even doing theatre style work and getting results that I couldn't believe I took

Range-wise, the 24-90 is great for the *ist-D. It stays on the body nearly all the time.

That said, there are other lenses out there... just depends what your tastes are! (Oh, and www.mxv.co.uk currently have the 24-90, as well as a Tamron 28-70 f2.8 )

Hope that helps,
Matt

Kim,

The removable tab on the hood (which is also on the SMC-DA 16-45, and SMC-FA 24-90 hoods) is so you can twiddle a polariser without taking off the hood

Having said that... I've nearly lost it several times and am considering taping it in place for a gig I'm hoping to do

Matt

They've also got an *ist-D with the 18-35mm and battery grip for £764 inc VAT
Matt

Glad to help
Matt