I did say that I was going to hold off from posting for a while but John's last post has just helped to re-enforce the point that so many users have alluded to many many times.

Quote from the Terms of use:

"All content is ©2001-2008 Magezine Publishing. This disclaimer was last updated on 17/11/2011"

The copyright statement is 6 years out of date and the Terms have not been updated since 2011! That seems to reenforce the opinion of many that this site receives little support from its 'owners' and has not moved with the times.

The whole site needs to be revamped and brought up to date. Clean out the old stuff such as the 'team' page, the out of date shop, the 'special offers' that aren't special, etc. etc.

These aren't radical changes, they are just basic housekeeping.

It is interesting to note that the terms of use do not seem to identify a strict criteria for what you can and cannot post. In fact they are extremely light when it comes to stating actual 'terms'.

I still have a very bad taste in my mouth about bannings and post deletions but shall continue to wait, in hope that this site will modernise, take on board the many suggestions that have been made (civilly), in this and other threads and get back to being a nice place to visit.

I have not posted on here for over a month although I have visited regularly. I have joined the 'other' forum and posted a couple of times and had a very good response from the moderators there to suggestions I have made.

I have made suggestions here in, what I feel, has been a reasonable tone but, sadly, have been utterly amazed and disappointed by the responses from the forum staff/moderators.

I first started posting on here to get advice on changing systems from olympus to pentax in 2012 and I was very impressed with the helpful responses and advice that I got. I have tried to be an active member, post photos and join in and stimulate debate. I really liked this site (and deep down still do!).

However since davidstorm's post (link) things have gone dramatically downhill.
I was happy(ish) to work within the 'pentax' only rules and I liked the degree of civility achieved by the moderators but, for some reason, in the period leading up to and following davids post the style of moderation changed.

Mass bannings, deleted posts and entire threads, members who have contributed for years with 1000's of posts having their comments 'closed down' by PU Team members with less than 10 or 20 all add up to making me fell quite uncomfortable.

I have posted my suggestions before and they, clearly, have been deemed unworthy of action. So I shall not repeat them or go over the same old ground other than to say that this forum needs to move with the times and implement some changes if it wants to attract new members and keep the ones it already has.

I do to and I hope it can get back to being a comfortable place to discuss photography. Right now I am so concerned with what I can and cannot type that I shall sit out for a while and wait for the dust to settle. I shall be watching in the hope that the "old pu" returns.

With this new level of honest critique I feel nervous posting these

Anyway I had a 5 hour session at the weekend with an 'very' extended family of 10 + dog) trying to cover almost every portrait option possible.

Over 200 photos, several hours of PP'ing, a lot of coffee and a few doses of ibruprofen later I have delivered their images and they all seemed to be very happy.

I thought I would share a few of my favourites here for your enjoyment and (yes I do mean it) critique. Please remember I am still planning to go professional in the near future so all comments are welcome. regardless of your experience you are all potential customers.

All taken with the K3 and DA 18-135. All on ISO 100, mainly f8 and 1/125 using elinchrom studio lights.

All PP done in LR5 mainly slight exposure tweaks, lightening shadows here and there, softening a bit, B&W where I felt it was apt and cropping.

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Nitromores

Nigel I wooden know where to start in offering an opinion on these however if I were to nit pick I would say that there seems to be a significant amount of grain showing which could be removed with a touch of PP (i've heard that adobe woodworkshop CC is good for this).
I will admit that they are knot really to my liking but I can appreciate the effort you have taken to stay true to your roots and not look like a dummy by trying something new.

With regard to John's comment on sharpness, I do feel that this is a bit unfair as these would always come up softer than other less sustainable subjects.

All in all I feel you have managed to branch into a new area of photography and I applaud the fact that you sawn an opportunity to dove tail your previous skills and chisel out a brand new niche.

And after all that I'm going to go and lay down forest.

I must admit I used my K5iis yesterday and did miss the K3. I can't quite put my finger on it but it does 'feel' nicer.

I don't suggest that we should stop comments in the gallery, IMHO that would be a backward step.

At the moment we have one board for posting images 'your photos' there is a complete mix of images in there for various reasons and there are, obviously, a few people who feel that the current arrangement is not 'optimal' to assist photographer development.

I feel that creating a specific 'critique' board will not only help the person posting the image but will also help and encourage other to offer opinions. By giving some guidance on what to look for in an image you can help the viewer and the poster.

Some people are syaing that they don't have the confidence or ability to offer critique. From my point of view, as someone posting an image, I would want to hear everyones opinion. Some people would prefer to give a technical opinion on the way an image has been processed but I would be happy to hear from people who say things like "I'm not sure what it is but the image looks too dark to me" or "I would prefer it if there was less space around the subject".
It's an image that was made for people to enjoy, if people don't I'd like to know why.
I can look at a picasso or rembradt and say why I do or don't like it without knowing anything about canvas, paint or the painter.

Anyway I think its all a moot point because the decision has been made and it will never happen

Aw come on,allow me a little poetic licence

Although to be fair a making pro-cameras is not the only requirement to being a 'pro' brand. A decent support network is essential as well.

For all of you that are telling me about your wonderful customer experiences with JPS........


...you're not helping you know

Here we go, back in the "too difficult category" again

What happened to:

John we're trying to post suggestions for improvement after all, as the saying goes: If you always do what you've always done, you will always get what you always got.

Is there no chance that anything we suggest will ever get even considered let alone implemented?

They may make good cameras, they may make good lenses, they may (ultimately) make the best FF camera ever invented but.....


...unless they can sort out the warranty and repair mess that they currently have they could never be taken seriously

I have already recounted my tale of woe about the poor service I received from Johnsons Photopia (Pentax authorised Service Centre in the UK) when my camera fell and broke. Ages waiting for a part and then two weeks for their "Highly skilled factory-trained technicians" to notice that they had recieved the wrong bit

Now comes the SDM failure debacle. Just under a month ago I returned my 16-50 lens to SRS, under warranty, for a 'simple' SDM repair.

3 weeks (and several emails) later I get this:

"Unfortunately they are saying that the lens will have to go to Pentax in France to be fixed."

When I asked what they have been doing with it for the last 24 days I get:

"To be honest I have asked them the very same questions, and predictably the answer is that they had the lens on extensive tests for the three weeks that they have had it.
They have then come to the conclusion that the best way to ensure that the lens is fixed and calibrated properly is to forward it to the Pentax European Service centre in France."

It took me all of 30 seconds mounted on my camera to diagnose that it doesn't autofocus. There's not that many parts in there that could cause the problem!!

They will now send it off. I am really bl**dy angry that I could be weeks more without this lens. SRS have now offered me a 'loan lens' while I'm waiting but that's nothing to do with Pentax and everything to do with SRS.

I'm not a pro (yet) but I could be reliant upon this kit for my living. For Ricoh to post this:

"Our authorised Service Centre is unrivalled in terms of experience, expertise and technical facilities. Highly skilled factory-trained technicians use state-of-the-art equipment and genuine PENTAX parts to restore your camera to its original specification."

and then offer this level of service is another indicator of why they could never be taken seriously by the main body of professional shooters.



Rant, rant, rant,ran............