Thanks for the feedback. By the little blob, do you mean the circular dot on the fretboard? If so that's a mother of pearl insert in the fretboard to indicate which fret is which

They all have a good reputation and image in the minds of their target customers which is the important thing. What I'm getting at, is with the customers who would buy a DSLR, Canon and Nikon have a much more widespread recognition than Pentax. I say this as I eat my cornflakes over my Sunday newspaper which has both adverts for Nikon and Canon DSLRs.

Not sure why what I am saying is coming across as controversial... It's totally not meant as a swipe at our "beloved Pentax" and more as an observation.

Not sure what you're getting at here. Perhaps it's too early on a Sunday morning for me

Ah. Was just explaining why I think they have a better awareness out there, and that I think it's clear why they have a better "image"

I'd disagree about Nikon. They advertise on TV every single day. They sponsor Hollyoaks (C4 TV show) and have an ident before and after every part of every episode every day. Their coolpix range as a result is very well known at the moment. They also seem to have a much better distribution network in the UK and USA. Every TV show I see with a DSLR in has a Nikon - CSI and NCIS - both programmes I have watched tonight had multiple Nikons in them

Most camera stores in both countries aren't stocking Pentax but are stocking Nikon - IMO this is in large due to the poor awareness of the brand. As we know (and as third-party reviews would suggest) Pentax cameras and lenses are not inferior and in many cases are equal to or better than their counterparts. The prices are more than reasonable, yet they don't sell in anywhere near the quantity that its competitors do.

Like I said it points to awareness

Pentax suffers from poor brand awareness. What I mean by this is that not a lot of people know about Pentax or its history.

If you ask just about anybody if they have heard of Nikon, Canon, Casio, Fuji, Panasonic, Sony etc. they will all say yes. Pentax? Nope.

By advertising the heck out of the K-01 and grabbing everyone's attention, it only serves to remind the world of the forgotten brand. "Oh yeah, Pentax. Don't they make SLRs too?" It's a similar story with these special addition cameras. They are mainly a way of reminding the media, consumers and retailers that the brand exists, and to provide a short term boost in sales.

End-of-the-line for the K-5? No. Not until they release a new DSLR.

Neck on the line

[IMG]http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/1530/guitarvignettes.jpg[/IMG]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Taken 01/03/2012
Pentax K5
Pentax A 50mm 1.7
f2.5
1/50s
ISO 1600
Vignette and grain added in Lightroom.

My first picture in a competition here

I am comparing them like this. I'm just saying that viewing a photo from the K7 at 1:4 - not even filling my 13" macbook screen, you can tell that the photos are just not sharp, nevermind in comparison to any other photos.

It could be the AF, but I am not convinced. I'll get a focus chart and give a go at calibrating.

Raw. I'm using DNG.

I am perfectly willing to accept that I might be the problem! I don't really care, I just want better photos!

I'll try to post two photos taken under the same conditions with same settings etc... But I'll have to take them at the weekend I expect, unless I can find two similar pictures.

But surely the different sensor shouldn't produce worse results? Different yes, but worse?

I do hope it's not the shutter induced blur. That doesn't seem overcome-able.

And I'm comparing images on screen - both on camera screen and on laptop. Not looking at a pixel level. Even at 1:4 you can see the photos just are not sharp.

I've had my K7 for a few months now. I had a K100D Super before that, and recently bought a bargain of an *ist DS to share with my girlfriend.

I shoot with a few lenses particularly:

Sigma 24-70mm f2.8
Pentax A 50mm f1.7
Sigma 100-300mm (maybe f4-6.7) recently replaced by Pentax DA 55-300mm

I am really struggling to get sharp images with the K7. At first I thought it was just me not being used to the new camera, but now I am not so sure... I am convinced that I took sharper photos with the K100D and currently with the *ist DS.

Could there be something wrong with my camera? Or is there something I am doing wrong?

I am really not happy with my camera right now, and to be honest, having used a Nikon over the weekend which produced much better results I am considering switching...

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