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Comment by MrCynical posted on New Sigma 120-400 OS dated at 15/05/2010 - 17:27
The new OS HSM variant will be available in Pentax fit from the 21st of May (Sigma aren't known for long lead times ) - we're actually getting something a week BEFORE Sony users (what's the collective term for them? ala Canonites and Nikonians). Main difference (apart from the OS, obviously!) is that the old version didn't have HSM in Pentax mount IIRC (because it dated from the days when Pentax still had SDM-incapable bodies).
Suggested retail price is a rather specific £766.30
Source: Dpreview
Suggested retail price is a rather specific £766.30
Source: Dpreview
Comment by MrCynical posted on New Sigma 120-400 OS dated at 14/05/2010 - 21:25
thoughton wrote:
Crazy huh? You'd almost think they were desperate...
Mac users will tell you that Flash for OS X is terribly inefficient and buggy compared to the Windows version. It has been for years. Apparently some of the officially documented bugs (that still exist today) were first reported years ago. Even now something simple like a YouTube movie will eat 60% of one core on my 2.2Ghz Core Duo. That's why Apple won't support it on the iPhone, for battery life and stability, not because they want to control the WWW.
Apple DO want to control everything, and that is the reason they refused Flash - even if there are other (valid) reasons for doing so. This is the company that will only let you install software they approve on a device you own.Crazy huh? You'd almost think they were desperate...
Mac users will tell you that Flash for OS X is terribly inefficient and buggy compared to the Windows version. It has been for years. Apparently some of the officially documented bugs (that still exist today) were first reported years ago. Even now something simple like a YouTube movie will eat 60% of one core on my 2.2Ghz Core Duo. That's why Apple won't support it on the iPhone, for battery life and stability, not because they want to control the WWW.
I'm no Flash lover by the way - I'm on Linux and the problems with Flash would make those on Mac seem like a holiday camp
Oh and on the competition point (just noticed it after I post), I personally am surprised that Apple haven't yet been investigated. In particular the explicit refusal to 'allow' any software which competes with their own is very iffy in competition terms.
Comment by MrCynical posted on Freedom of choice at 14/05/2010 - 14:28
Anvh wrote:
The EVF has still a long way to go and it would mean that Pentax also need to bring out new lenses to take advantage of the mirror less camera and I don't see Pentax currently able to support 3 lens line up.
Aren't the 'pancake' limiteds competitive in size with 4/3 EVIL lenses? Obviously wideness would be an issue (the widest pancake, the 21mm, becomes 42mm-equivalent on the typical 2x EVIL crop factor) but they are just the sort of thing that would suit.The EVF has still a long way to go and it would mean that Pentax also need to bring out new lenses to take advantage of the mirror less camera and I don't see Pentax currently able to support 3 lens line up.
Comment by MrCynical posted on Is the latest kid on the block EVIL? at 14/05/2010 - 14:26
thoughton wrote:
That better have been taken with a Pentax
Nah, look at the softness, must have been taken on a Canikon without built-in SR That better have been taken with a Pentax
Comment by MrCynical posted on Lensbaby Composer at 14/05/2010 - 14:24
Well the Composer has (*gasp*) a focus ring, so hopefully I should be OK on the focus-locking front
pnjmcc wrote:
As for portraits, yes it would work and give some interesting effects but you need something in the background to blur, so it wouldn't be much use on white / plain backgrounds.
Well I don't have a dedicated studio, so there is a reasonable chance of there being something in the background to blur!As for portraits, yes it would work and give some interesting effects but you need something in the background to blur, so it wouldn't be much use on white / plain backgrounds.
hefty1 wrote:
I sold mine on as I wasn't using it enough. It can be quite fun but it never found a permanent place in my camera bag...
That's what's holding me back to be honest: while it seems like a fun lens, I'm not sure that it's really "fun" enough to get into my bag as a portrait lens ahead of my DFA 50.I sold mine on as I wasn't using it enough. It can be quite fun but it never found a permanent place in my camera bag...
Comment by MrCynical posted on Lensbaby Composer at 14/05/2010 - 13:40
piotro wrote:
Anvh, using this ocassion, I guess you were testing "old" sigma 10-20, did you have chance to compare how it performes side by side with "new" sigma 10-20 f/3.5 ?
The f3.5 Sigma is not as good (in sharpness and distortion) as the old one. The only reason to get it over the old version is if you absolutely need the speed (bear in mind that you can go to 1/15 shutter with this). Otherwise the old version is better.Anvh, using this ocassion, I guess you were testing "old" sigma 10-20, did you have chance to compare how it performes side by side with "new" sigma 10-20 f/3.5 ?
Comment by MrCynical posted on Room Interiors at 12/05/2010 - 23:31
Does anyone have one of these? I was thinking of getting it as a 'quirky' portrait lens (with the DA50 and DFA 100 I'm sorted for 'merely' sharp portrait lenses!), but north of £150 is a lot for quirky!
Comment by MrCynical posted on Lensbaby Composer at 12/05/2010 - 22:29
[quote:3496ace15f="snappychappy"]Understanding Exposure
]http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0817463003/?tag=googhydr-21&hvadid=5111069825&ref=pd_...
+1 for this - I have very little patience with instructional books (especially illustrated ones), but it is very useful.
]http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0817463003/?tag=googhydr-21&hvadid=5111069825&ref=pd_...
+1 for this - I have very little patience with instructional books (especially illustrated ones), but it is very useful.
Comment by MrCynical posted on Good photography book? at 12/05/2010 - 22:16
Anvh wrote:
There is also a Sigma 8-16 coming I believe.
Yep - £650-ish but no release date yet. FWIW I absolutely adore my recently-purchased 10-20.There is also a Sigma 8-16 coming I believe.
Comment by MrCynical posted on Extreme Wide Angle wanted at 11/05/2010 - 20:21
because it dated from the days when Pentax still had SDM-incapable bodies
Will there also be a new version of the 150-500?
As far as bodies, although the then-current models supported SDM most Pentaxians were still on K100Ds and earlier (plus K10Ds which initially didn't support SDM either). So they would have shut off a lot of their (already small compared to Cansonikon) market by making it HSM back then.