All Forum Comments
Comment by MattMatic posted on *istD RAW support at 21/01/2004 - 11:38
Hi all!
I can't believe it !
I was just doing a search on Photoshop CS and *istD RAW support, and came up with this link: http://kumanomi.web.infoseek.co.jp/photo/note2/top.html (It's in Japanese )
What I didn't realise is that VueScan from www.hamrick.com supports PEF files already! This, IMHO, is the best scanning tool ever (have used it on Minolta Scan Dual, Nikon Coolscan IV, Canon Lide30 etc) - and never realised it supported the Pentax
The comment about Photoshop CS, translated with Babelfish:
Now, if you want to get really messy hands - there's a free package called dcRAW. For a nice command-line tool for MAC or Windows: http://www.insflug.org/raw/software/tools/dcraw.php3
For the original package (coded for Linux): http://www.cybercom.net/~dcoffin/dcraw/
Interestingly, the dcRAW conversion tool can support a ".badpixels" file that will map out any dud pixels - you can even specify when they died, so the tool can process older RAW files correctly!
Well, as for me, I'm off to "get my hands dirty" and get into some serious RAW conversion
Matt
I can't believe it !
I was just doing a search on Photoshop CS and *istD RAW support, and came up with this link: http://kumanomi.web.infoseek.co.jp/photo/note2/top.html (It's in Japanese )
What I didn't realise is that VueScan from www.hamrick.com supports PEF files already! This, IMHO, is the best scanning tool ever (have used it on Minolta Scan Dual, Nikon Coolscan IV, Canon Lide30 etc) - and never realised it supported the Pentax
The comment about Photoshop CS, translated with Babelfish:
Quote:
Adobe Photoshop CS with first update 2004, reaches the point where you can develop the RAW data of *ist D. (The word by the developer with of DPREVIEW FORUM)
That will be good too Adobe Photoshop CS with first update 2004, reaches the point where you can develop the RAW data of *ist D. (The word by the developer with of DPREVIEW FORUM)
Now, if you want to get really messy hands - there's a free package called dcRAW. For a nice command-line tool for MAC or Windows: http://www.insflug.org/raw/software/tools/dcraw.php3
For the original package (coded for Linux): http://www.cybercom.net/~dcoffin/dcraw/
Interestingly, the dcRAW conversion tool can support a ".badpixels" file that will map out any dud pixels - you can even specify when they died, so the tool can process older RAW files correctly!
Well, as for me, I'm off to "get my hands dirty" and get into some serious RAW conversion
Matt
Comment by MattMatic posted on *istD RAW support at 21/01/2004 - 10:56
George,
There are some interesting points you've raised...
I would certainly agree that digital has changed the way I approach photography. My first digital was the Canon S30 which I used solidly for a few weeks. When I went back to my Pentax Z1 it was like rediscovering photography I then knew what would work, and what wouldn't - rather than having to wait for the slides to come back and wonder why on earth I took that photo!
However, now I have the *istD, it is different again. There is the SLR feel, plus the digital convenience.
I find zooms fantastically useful, personally. You still need the change in focal length - narrower DOF for telephoto - as well as the 'cropping' ability. Indeed, going from 20mm to 300mm cannot be achieved satisfactorily on any camera (film or digital) with just cropping. I agree that primes are a better choice for quality. However, I have found switching lenses to be a real pain when with the family (it's more of a pain for them - "Oh, do get a move on and try and keep up with the toddlers!!") Having a good quality long range zoom has been very helpful indeed (the Tokina 24-200).
Ah, but the sheer convenience of digital is great. I read that the PhotoMe chain will be releasing public "vending" machines for printing real photos direct from memory cards, and cheaply too. It is just such a shame that Photoshop is so expensive (I know there are other great packages out there, like PSP, and Gimp, but PS works for me - just glad I can use it for work! PSE2 is a great package too though.)
And then, there is the subject of art... Having a good quality image (ie razor sharp) does not in itself make a good image! I recently stumbled on a very nice gallery that was shot with the S30 - most of the images were not particularly high image quality (some were really poor), but the way they had been presented, and the subjects themselves really made the shots. That gallery brought me "down to earth" - you can make great images irrespective of the image quality!
I do find that some "going back to basics" is always helpful - composition, lighting, subject material etc. The Pentax User Mag has been very helpful in that regard
Well, that's my penny-worth
Matt
There are some interesting points you've raised...
I would certainly agree that digital has changed the way I approach photography. My first digital was the Canon S30 which I used solidly for a few weeks. When I went back to my Pentax Z1 it was like rediscovering photography I then knew what would work, and what wouldn't - rather than having to wait for the slides to come back and wonder why on earth I took that photo!
However, now I have the *istD, it is different again. There is the SLR feel, plus the digital convenience.
I find zooms fantastically useful, personally. You still need the change in focal length - narrower DOF for telephoto - as well as the 'cropping' ability. Indeed, going from 20mm to 300mm cannot be achieved satisfactorily on any camera (film or digital) with just cropping. I agree that primes are a better choice for quality. However, I have found switching lenses to be a real pain when with the family (it's more of a pain for them - "Oh, do get a move on and try and keep up with the toddlers!!") Having a good quality long range zoom has been very helpful indeed (the Tokina 24-200).
Ah, but the sheer convenience of digital is great. I read that the PhotoMe chain will be releasing public "vending" machines for printing real photos direct from memory cards, and cheaply too. It is just such a shame that Photoshop is so expensive (I know there are other great packages out there, like PSP, and Gimp, but PS works for me - just glad I can use it for work! PSE2 is a great package too though.)
And then, there is the subject of art... Having a good quality image (ie razor sharp) does not in itself make a good image! I recently stumbled on a very nice gallery that was shot with the S30 - most of the images were not particularly high image quality (some were really poor), but the way they had been presented, and the subjects themselves really made the shots. That gallery brought me "down to earth" - you can make great images irrespective of the image quality!
I do find that some "going back to basics" is always helpful - composition, lighting, subject material etc. The Pentax User Mag has been very helpful in that regard
Well, that's my penny-worth
Matt
Comment by MattMatic posted on Has going digital changed your approach tp photography? at 19/01/2004 - 14:35
Hi Shotgun!
Nice to see some of your work at last
I particularly like the moss-on-tree-trunk image. Very detailed!
I'm looking forward to some more
Matt
Nice to see some of your work at last
I particularly like the moss-on-tree-trunk image. Very detailed!
I'm looking forward to some more
Matt
Comment by MattMatic posted on My New Gallery at 19/01/2004 - 14:23
Thought this may be of interest...
Just bought an Espio 115M + remote from Ebay. And guess what! The remote triggers the *istD too
There are two buttons on the Espio remote: shutter and zoom. The zoom does nothing (as far as I can see) with the *istD. The shutter button does not autofocus, but activates the shutter when the mode is set to IR (little remote image appears on top LCD). The custom setting can be chosen between 0sec and 3sec delay after pressing the remote.
My next step is to work out the waveform and code so my Psion Revo can generate the appropriate IR control too (And there are free remote control applications for the Palm devices, and probably for PocketPC devices as well).
...I think I'm going to set up some candid photos...
Matt
Just bought an Espio 115M + remote from Ebay. And guess what! The remote triggers the *istD too
There are two buttons on the Espio remote: shutter and zoom. The zoom does nothing (as far as I can see) with the *istD. The shutter button does not autofocus, but activates the shutter when the mode is set to IR (little remote image appears on top LCD). The custom setting can be chosen between 0sec and 3sec delay after pressing the remote.
My next step is to work out the waveform and code so my Psion Revo can generate the appropriate IR control too (And there are free remote control applications for the Palm devices, and probably for PocketPC devices as well).
...I think I'm going to set up some candid photos...
Matt
Comment by MattMatic posted on Infra-red Remote for *istD at 15/01/2004 - 22:49
Hi!
You forgot to say which camera
Have you got fully charged batteries? If the batteries are low then you can lose your power completely when the USB port gets powered up.
Alternatively, as many digi-cam users would agree, use a stand-alone card reader to access your card. They're not that expensive (between £10 and £20 in the UK - try www.7dayshop.com )
Matt
You forgot to say which camera
Have you got fully charged batteries? If the batteries are low then you can lose your power completely when the USB port gets powered up.
Alternatively, as many digi-cam users would agree, use a stand-alone card reader to access your card. They're not that expensive (between £10 and £20 in the UK - try www.7dayshop.com )
Matt
Comment by MattMatic posted on when go to download pictures, camera shuts off automatically at 15/01/2004 - 16:34
Just an addendum to George's comment about scanning...
I scanned my whole slide collection quite easily. I started using a Minolta Scan Dual, then progressed to a Nikon Coolscan IV. However, the trick to quickly scanning large batches of slides and negatives is to use Vuescan ( http://www.hamrick.com ) which is really fantastic for all scanning, including maintaining accurate colour
You just set it up to scan when you insert the slide - it scans away, JPGs, and saves using incremental file numbering. I then used some other tools to thumbnail the collection and provide an html index so I can browse through it all.
Then, when I go back to images I really want to work with, I pull out the raw file, throw it at Photoshop and start working with it - then file it.
Worked for me
Matt
I scanned my whole slide collection quite easily. I started using a Minolta Scan Dual, then progressed to a Nikon Coolscan IV. However, the trick to quickly scanning large batches of slides and negatives is to use Vuescan ( http://www.hamrick.com ) which is really fantastic for all scanning, including maintaining accurate colour
You just set it up to scan when you insert the slide - it scans away, JPGs, and saves using incremental file numbering. I then used some other tools to thumbnail the collection and provide an html index so I can browse through it all.
Then, when I go back to images I really want to work with, I pull out the raw file, throw it at Photoshop and start working with it - then file it.
Worked for me
Matt
Comment by MattMatic posted on Organising your photo collection. at 15/01/2004 - 22:05
Hi Bagpuss!
I can answer one of your questions... the manual can be downloaded in PDF form directly from Pentax USA:
http://www.pentaxusa.com/docstore/index.cfm?show=6
If you want a "real" copy, they can be a little harder to get. Sometimes www.MXV.co.uk have copies of manuals.
Hope that helps!
Matt
I can answer one of your questions... the manual can be downloaded in PDF form directly from Pentax USA:
http://www.pentaxusa.com/docstore/index.cfm?show=6
If you want a "real" copy, they can be a little harder to get. Sometimes www.MXV.co.uk have copies of manuals.
Hope that helps!
Matt
Comment by MattMatic posted on Manual for ME Super at 14/01/2004 - 15:43
George,
Looking at the manual on page 33, the shutter release looks like the old mechanical type. It's not electronic
You may find there's a little screw thread where the release goes.
Doing a search on Altavista, yields this:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005ABBC/avsearch-camasin-20/104-631621...
Described as a "standard mechanical release".
Looks like you need to go rummaging around the second hand shops. If you get really stuck, I have a shorter, metal braided one, that we might be able to arrange
Hope that helps!
Matt
Looking at the manual on page 33, the shutter release looks like the old mechanical type. It's not electronic
You may find there's a little screw thread where the release goes.
Doing a search on Altavista, yields this:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005ABBC/avsearch-camasin-20/104-631621...
Described as a "standard mechanical release".
Looks like you need to go rummaging around the second hand shops. If you get really stuck, I have a shorter, metal braided one, that we might be able to arrange
Hope that helps!
Matt
Comment by MattMatic posted on Pentax cable release at 14/01/2004 - 21:33
George,
Your summary, IMHO, is correct. For timings:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxistd/page9.asp
Hope that helps,
Matt
Your summary, IMHO, is correct. For timings:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxistd/page9.asp
Hope that helps,
Matt
Comment by MattMatic posted on Advice requested re memory for *ist D at 14/01/2004 - 13:15
http://luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/expose-right.shtml
Because of this difference, setting up the exposure using an 18% gray card (as is typically done with film) does not work so well with a digital camera. You will get better results if you set your exposure such that the whitest white in the scene comes close to, but not quite reaching, the full digital scale (255 for 8-bit capture, 65535 for 16-bit capture). Base the exposure on the highlight for a digital camera, and a mid-tone (e.g. 18% gray card) for a film camera.
Matt