All Forum Comments
Comment by RichardDay posted on Microsoft ICE - Free Panoramic software at 11/08/2009 - 18:19
Upon reading a post in DePressingReview, I downloaded Microsoft's ICE stitching software which is FREE!
Download it from here - link
It's very easy to use and seems to produce really excellent results. Here's a panoramic I took in Provence in June from 6 shots with my K20D and DA 16-45 mounted on a tripod, exposure fixed manually, ISO 100 lens at 36mm @ f8.0.
Take a look at this 12MP 50% resized shot from the original 48MP image. link
You just couldn't achieve this kind of resolution from any ultra-wide lens, that's why I gave up on ultra wide lenses for landscape work.
Further details about the shot here link
Download it from here - link
It's very easy to use and seems to produce really excellent results. Here's a panoramic I took in Provence in June from 6 shots with my K20D and DA 16-45 mounted on a tripod, exposure fixed manually, ISO 100 lens at 36mm @ f8.0.
Take a look at this 12MP 50% resized shot from the original 48MP image. link
You just couldn't achieve this kind of resolution from any ultra-wide lens, that's why I gave up on ultra wide lenses for landscape work.
Further details about the shot here link
Comment by RichardDay posted on Microsoft ICE - Free Panoramic software at 11/08/2009 - 17:33
Taken at 6:09 am, an hour I don't normally see, but we were doing a car boot sale as we are moving house and have to clear out so much junk, ugh!
Taken with DA*60-250 at 250mm, K20D ISO 200, 1/500 @ f5.6, hand held, un-cropped shot:
100% crop:
At least I now know my K20D/DA*60-250 combo focusses correctly at infinity and the detail's not bad either , I think the clearer morning air helped!
Taken with DA*60-250 at 250mm, K20D ISO 200, 1/500 @ f5.6, hand held, un-cropped shot:
100% crop:
At least I now know my K20D/DA*60-250 combo focusses correctly at infinity and the detail's not bad either , I think the clearer morning air helped!
Comment by RichardDay posted on Moonshot over Gloucester at 10/08/2009 - 07:56
Mike-P wrote:
I dont use film any longer, a lot of people never have so what we would have done years ago just doesn't come into it.
If I am paying over a grand for a camera body I want it to feel right, if the K-7 is ok for others then all well and good but it's just not for me unfortunately.
I did use film cameras, from Oly OM series through to Pentax MZ-S. I still have one of my OM's left with 3 lenses and it's a really small kit, but they still feel nice in the hands as they have some "meat" on each side to feel comfortable.pentaxian450 wrote:
Strange hearing all the complaints about size. What would any of you guys have done with a film SLR, when a Nikon F3 was considered big, and was still about two third the size of a DSLR? Would you all have given up on photography? For me, all DSLR are big.
Not being funny but that really has nothing to do with it.Strange hearing all the complaints about size. What would any of you guys have done with a film SLR, when a Nikon F3 was considered big, and was still about two third the size of a DSLR? Would you all have given up on photography? For me, all DSLR are big.
I dont use film any longer, a lot of people never have so what we would have done years ago just doesn't come into it.
If I am paying over a grand for a camera body I want it to feel right, if the K-7 is ok for others then all well and good but it's just not for me unfortunately.
My MZ-S was also great to hold with or without it's superb grip, as even with the grip added, it wasn't too heavy, but my *istD was similar to the K-7 in that there was insufficient "meat" to get hold of.
The K10/20D body design is, for me, much nicer to hold without adding the grip. I don't like adding the grip to my K20D (or the K-7) as it makes them too heavy and lumpy, even when used with my DA*60-250 I still prefer it without the grip. Time to sell the grip on I think.
Comment by RichardDay posted on Had a go with the K-7 today at 07/08/2009 - 15:06
Why use a US source? All that hassle and only a 1 yr International Warranty.
£550 + VAT and shipping would probably add up to around £670, I'm sure you could find a UK supplier that would do the same kit for that?
Such as link - Free delivery for forum members, 2yr UK warranty and first class service.
£550 + VAT and shipping would probably add up to around £670, I'm sure you could find a UK supplier that would do the same kit for that?
Such as link - Free delivery for forum members, 2yr UK warranty and first class service.
Comment by RichardDay posted on A WARNING: www.bitesizedeals.co.uk at 04/08/2009 - 18:07
stevejcoe wrote:
Going back to the original post, the unease that the annoucement causes, is once again indicative of a poorly thought out marketing strategy.
Raise the price of a 18 month old design.
Announce it is being it being discountinued.
Fail to annouce what the replacement will be and when it will be available.
How many new K20 will be sold as a result of this brilliance?
I really do wonder why these people are still in employment.
Rant over - Steve
The K-7 IS the replacement for the K20D.Mannesty wrote:
Personally, I think its a sad indictment of modern times that such a superb camera as the K20D has had a production life of only 18 months. Compare that to the older film cameras (K1000, ME, MX etc.) and it is disgraceful, I think.
I agree , but like or not the K20 is seen as old technology. I doubt that its replacement will be significantly better, but low and middle range cameras are classed as consumer electronics and like everything else in that class they have short life cycles. The KM (2000)and K20 were practically given away in the US. An inability to sustain price increases in NA as seen eleswhere has probably hastened their demise.Personally, I think its a sad indictment of modern times that such a superb camera as the K20D has had a production life of only 18 months. Compare that to the older film cameras (K1000, ME, MX etc.) and it is disgraceful, I think.
Going back to the original post, the unease that the annoucement causes, is once again indicative of a poorly thought out marketing strategy.
Raise the price of a 18 month old design.
Announce it is being it being discountinued.
Fail to annouce what the replacement will be and when it will be available.
How many new K20 will be sold as a result of this brilliance?
I really do wonder why these people are still in employment.
Rant over - Steve
In todays money (and exchange rate, whether we like it or not :roll the K-7 is actually a little cheaper than the K20D was at it's introduction, which was around £900 at the time, which, if you convert it to today's rate would make it £1240 (i.e JPY 220=£1 v. JPY 160=£1)!
The fact that the K20D now sells at around £650, it's still excellent value. Hopefully with the strengthening £ we will see reductions in the price of the K-7 over the next few months, which will be good news for those that like the new camera but can't justify the cost and the fact that it's already cheaper in many countries, such as Australia.
The next model will effectively be the K200D replacement. I suspect that the K-m replacement (probably next year) will feature a CMOS sensor with LV and maybe even movie, these features are almost "De rigueur" these days.
Comment by RichardDay posted on K20D status now end of life at 04/08/2009 - 17:56
Greytop wrote:
I believe Konica Minolta was first with in-body sensor anti-shake in their Maxxum 7D in late 2004. Review here link.paullucas wrote:
I have been looking at other camera manufacturers lately and am gobsmacked by the fact that Pentax is the only one with SR built into the camera. Others may follow suit but Pentax was the first.
Hi Paul, I think you will find the both Pentax and Olympus introduced in body image stabilisation at pretty much the same time with their D-SLRs the K10D and E-510 I have been looking at other camera manufacturers lately and am gobsmacked by the fact that Pentax is the only one with SR built into the camera. Others may follow suit but Pentax was the first.
K10D was in September 2006 and the Oly E-510 in March 2007.
Comment by RichardDay posted on K20D status now end of life at 04/08/2009 - 17:25
Pwynnej wrote:
You've lost me there : RichardDay wrote:
It's the weekend before we move house, but I'll convince Pat (SWMBO) that we will need the break from packing!
As we are NT members it will be easier to convince her.
You'd qualify as an honorary Dutchman for that Richard (I'm sure Stefan, Malo and Gwyn would agree:winkIt's the weekend before we move house, but I'll convince Pat (SWMBO) that we will need the break from packing!
As we are NT members it will be easier to convince her.
Comment by RichardDay posted on PENTAX MEET IN SOUTH - Bucks, Sunday 16th August 2009 at 03/08/2009 - 09:03
I went from the istD to K10D as soon as the K10D came out and very belatedly to the K20D.
I should have switched sooner, it's a very much bigger step up than is generally perceived.
Tried the K-7, it's impressive, but brings no improvement to IQ and I don't "need" any of the extra bells and whistles, nor the smaller size plus I don't like the menu and control changes, so desisted.
I should have switched sooner, it's a very much bigger step up than is generally perceived.
Tried the K-7, it's impressive, but brings no improvement to IQ and I don't "need" any of the extra bells and whistles, nor the smaller size plus I don't like the menu and control changes, so desisted.
Comment by RichardDay posted on Are You Satisfied at 03/08/2009 - 09:01
It's the weekend before we move house, but I'll convince Pat (SWMBO) that we will need the break from packing!
As we are NT members it will be easier to convince her.
As we are NT members it will be easier to convince her.
Comment by RichardDay posted on PENTAX MEET IN SOUTH - Bucks, Sunday 16th August 2009 at 03/08/2009 - 08:53
I like the shot a lot, the stitching isn't bad for Microsoft although you can detect the joins in the sky it certainly isn't obvious.
I'll stick with Hugin, which is also free, but it's always worth knowing what's out there.