Oh come on John, this is all about making me feel happy, content, not at all envious and able to stick my tongue out at all K1 users ….."nah nah nah, I've only got a K7 still, nah nah nah" Of course I don't need a K1 ….. no I don't, honestly ….

Yes definitely! Obviously RAW takes care of that automatically, but these days with SD cards so cheap there's not much to be gained by reducing the sizes, assuming computer processing will be part of things anyway (which it should be, right ? :wink.

In my case I decided to save card space just for the series of test shots I was doing (flash testing). Ideally there needs to be a thorough scan of the Info screen on the camera every time before starting a shoot. I thought I had covered everything …..


Yes …. but how much have K1 users got spare ?

I discovered a purpose yesterday for the screw thread hole in the base of the Cactus V6 radio trigger ….. to attach the trigger firmly to a stand without needing a coldshoe accessory. I needed the Pentax flash on the trigger as it was acting as a rim light from behind the subject, and the added Gary Fong snoot made it quite forward-heavy.

So taking advantage of the stability provided by the very secure screw threaded option was really good. I thought it an oppotunity to highlight our Pentax flash model earning its keep in an off-camera role with a modifier. Certainly an example of the great versatility that this excellent flash model offers us when partnered with such thrid party equipment!













This configuration offers remote manual power control from the on-camera V6 / V6II trigger. The V6 which I was using as receiver is not able to communicate TTL automated flash exposures from the V6II trigger (another V6II as receiver would be needed for that), but the "XTTL" firmwares are now compatible allowing the V6II to communicate Manual power levels to the older V6, even when the V6II is controlling other flashes in TTL mode.

But I didn't in the end! Youngest daughter was all dressed up, I'd spent ages getting my flashes all set up, managed to get youngest daughter to sit still and look up (well, for a few of the shots!) …. generally came away thinking "OK, got a few good ones there ….."

Until I got the files onto the computer ….oh what ?!?! JPEGS! 1107 x 1547mp! File size 1.4 Mb!

I'd been so careful to check all the exposure settings and white balance, but completely forgotton that last week I'd been just taking some test shots, and had set the camera to JPEG mode, 2mp

That was it I thought. Wasted. Unusable. I decided to go through the motions and see what I could salvage. I skipped the usual RAW software and just went into Photoshop …. did some basic levels, colour correction, NR and sharpening …… and this came out ….





Well, I was pleasantly surprised. It was going to be all fine after all. The photos will probably only be used on screens, and iPads and mobile phones mostly. This issues I saw in Photoshop with poor skin texture and pixelated detail close up just wasn't an issue once processed and displayed as they will actually be seen.

I still prefer the satisfaction of working on the full RAW image, and the quality obtainable from that for large prints if needed. But it made me realise that for the majority of real world purposes that the resolutions we often worry about and debate over ….. well, it probably doesn't really matter that much!

Looks great! I agree, the focus on the face is impressive considering its position within the planes of focus. Very nice colours and subdued, supportive background.

Some very good angles and compositions there! I especially like No 5 with the low viewpoint across the lillies. Some great colours and you've made the most of the fairly dull light.

My suggestion regarding processing is that they would all benefit from about 0.7 to 1 stops more exposure / brightness.

That's an impressive bunch of photos! They're expertly captured and the processing has brought out the details and balanced the contrast well. No doubt the DR and noise performance of the K1 comes into its own in helping to achieve this. Nice colour splashes to emphasise the markings too. An inspiration to all airshow photographers.

It looks like the heart of the argument comes down to whether a person perceives the DSLR to be the ultimate versatile, utilitarian imaging and recording device. It certainly is for photographs .....I just have to think of the extraordinary range of lens types, flash equipment and extension tubes that regularly get attached to my K7 from a relatively modest kit pack. And all of that at a fairly extraordinary budget ...( ie low).

So yes, the utility and value of such multi-purpose use is amazing. I think those wanting to add the high end video capabilities as well are just wishing that the same utility could be extended their way, and they are frustrated that they see enabling that as a fairly easy route, building on the existing core technology in the top camera models we already have

So the frustration is not about the cameras being unsuited to video in fundamentals, but rather it is the unrealised potential that is latent there, but not being tapped into.

Imagine how I might feel if they released a camera with such great high ISO performance (that was it's main purpose), that they decided to have no flash or even a hotshoe, so crippling it for flash. That may be the same way those looking for video features see the situation.

Yes, for a 20mm they shouldn't try to go bigger than F.2.8, I think. And certainly not as large and heavy as the 50mm (which I guess an F2.8 naturally would not be). As you say, it needs to be an alternative choice to the 15-30, and so should be designed with carrying up into the hills in mind.

Ahhhh, got it! Hadn't even clocked that I doubt I would ever be any good at word scramble puzzles .... It sounded more like a new space telescope satellite, or some sort of new Hadrin Collider device! At least I know now what the brand name on my camera will look like should I ever get a Ricoh and use it for a selfie in front of mirrored glass ..... (that seems an unlikely occurrence in any case).