All Forum Comments
Comment by RichardDay posted on Can SRS Microsystems be trusted? at 24/01/2009 - 12:42
Prieni wrote:
Now that has me completely confused. It seems that the new Silkypix 4 is called the PRO version now and only available in Japanese at the moment. Fine.
"The 3.0 version had a different user base than the PRO version..." : There hasn't been a pro version so far, or has it?
All I can read into this is that there will be a higher price for SP4...
BTW: I was told by a member of this forum that I made the 2. place in Shortcut's photo contest. Haven't heard from them, though... The announcement must have been made shortly before the WEB site troubles started.
Prieni
Had is probably a misspell for has! Now that has me completely confused. It seems that the new Silkypix 4 is called the PRO version now and only available in Japanese at the moment. Fine.
"The 3.0 version had a different user base than the PRO version..." : There hasn't been a pro version so far, or has it?
All I can read into this is that there will be a higher price for SP4...
BTW: I was told by a member of this forum that I made the 2. place in Shortcut's photo contest. Haven't heard from them, though... The announcement must have been made shortly before the WEB site troubles started.
Prieni
Yes, price will be higher - 26,000 JPY in Japan, 10,000 JPY upgrade from V3. English version prices are not yet available.
V4 has been out in final form in Japan since the end of December. They are targeting a different user base by having both products available, though I suspect that many will upgrade to V4.
Translated page of Pro (V4) features: link
Translated page of V3 v. V4 comparison: link
Comment by RichardDay posted on Update on Silkypix forums and Silkypix Pro (V4) at 24/01/2009 - 12:31
Just received from Shortcut software, I hope it answers questions raised by Silkypix users:
Hello Richard,
Some update from Shortcut about the forum and the new PRO version.
During the past 2 weeks we updated our servers and made some minor update modifications to the programming contents of the website. We also installed a new online shop, which will allow easier order processing, multiple languages and currencies etc.
During this maintenance project, we had to temporarily disconnect the forum, and we are scheduled later today (latest in the weekend) to activate the forum again, so you can be able to return the pending questions/topics to different forum members.
Your contribution to increase the popularity of Silkypix in the photographic community is very much appreciated.
As for the PRO version: this product is still under development and the PRO version is only distributed so far in the Japanese language.
The BETA version of the English language is scheduled to be introduced as a DEMO at the PMA show in March in Las Vegas, where Shortcut Software will have a booth presence.
The PRO version should be ready for sale around April/may timeframe.
It’s important to know and to communicate to the photographic community that the PRO version and the 3.0 version will be distributed parallel, so we will have 2 versions of SILKYPIX in the market.
The 3.0 version had a different user base than the PRO version, and therefore there will also be a price difference between the 2 of them. As for upgrade pricing; yes, we will make that available however the exact details will be announced sometime later.
Also, there are a few more other marketing plans that we are brainstorming about for 2009. Any good input from your side is gladly appreciated.
I hope that I could give you a bit more information on what is in the pipeline for Silkypix, and Roberto will be the main contact window for the moderators.
Again, thank you for the interest and contribution to Silkypix,
Sincerely,
George Spencer
Shortcut Software International Inc.
Hello Richard,
Some update from Shortcut about the forum and the new PRO version.
During the past 2 weeks we updated our servers and made some minor update modifications to the programming contents of the website. We also installed a new online shop, which will allow easier order processing, multiple languages and currencies etc.
During this maintenance project, we had to temporarily disconnect the forum, and we are scheduled later today (latest in the weekend) to activate the forum again, so you can be able to return the pending questions/topics to different forum members.
Your contribution to increase the popularity of Silkypix in the photographic community is very much appreciated.
As for the PRO version: this product is still under development and the PRO version is only distributed so far in the Japanese language.
The BETA version of the English language is scheduled to be introduced as a DEMO at the PMA show in March in Las Vegas, where Shortcut Software will have a booth presence.
The PRO version should be ready for sale around April/may timeframe.
It’s important to know and to communicate to the photographic community that the PRO version and the 3.0 version will be distributed parallel, so we will have 2 versions of SILKYPIX in the market.
The 3.0 version had a different user base than the PRO version, and therefore there will also be a price difference between the 2 of them. As for upgrade pricing; yes, we will make that available however the exact details will be announced sometime later.
Also, there are a few more other marketing plans that we are brainstorming about for 2009. Any good input from your side is gladly appreciated.
I hope that I could give you a bit more information on what is in the pipeline for Silkypix, and Roberto will be the main contact window for the moderators.
Again, thank you for the interest and contribution to Silkypix,
Sincerely,
George Spencer
Shortcut Software International Inc.
Comment by RichardDay posted on Update on Silkypix forums and Silkypix Pro (V4) at 23/01/2009 - 21:05
Comment by RichardDay posted on Best DSLR 2008 at 23/01/2009 - 19:30
hefty1 wrote:
It wouldn't be impossible but I'm not sure how cost effective developing such technology would be tbh.
There is information on the PTLens site about having lenses calibrated. linkshim wrote:
Some interesting stuff on the PTLens site. In the profiles it says that Panasonic digital cameras do not need any correcting for distortion because its done in camera. No doubt all cameras will one day have this K50D perhaps?
It's (comparatively) easy to correct for distortions in-camera when the lens is fixed - ie. a known quantity. I think you'd have a lot harder time adapting the same technology to a DSLR as you'd have to include seperate corrections for any/all lenses that could possibly be mounted - on Pentax cameras that's a *lot* of potential lenses! Some interesting stuff on the PTLens site. In the profiles it says that Panasonic digital cameras do not need any correcting for distortion because its done in camera. No doubt all cameras will one day have this K50D perhaps?
It wouldn't be impossible but I'm not sure how cost effective developing such technology would be tbh.
Click on the calibration tag on the Contents menu, where there is info on how to get a lens profiled by Tom Niemann (author of PTLens).
At the moment the following Pentax lenses are profiled:
Pentax 12-24mm f/4.0 P-DA ED/AL
Pentax 16-45mm f/4.0 P-DA J ED/AL
Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8 ED/AL (IF) DA*
Pentax 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Pentax 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 P-DA ED AL IF
Pentax 28-70mm f/4 FA
Pentax 50-135mm f/2.8 DA IF SDM
Pentax 50-200mm f/4-5.6 P-DA ED
Pentax 55-300mm f/4-5.8 P-DA ED
Pentax 14mm f/2.8 P-DA ED IF
Pentax 20mm f/2.8 P-FA
Pentax 21mm f/3.2 P-DA AL Limited
Pentax 24mm f/2.8 SMC-A
Pentax 28mm f/2 SMC-A
Pentax 28mm f/2.8 SMC-A
Pentax 31mm f/1.8 P-FA Limited
Pentax 35mm f/2 SMC-A
Pentax 35mm f/2.0 P-FA AL
Pentax 40mm f/2.8 P-DA Limited
Pentax 50mm f/1.2 SMC-A
Pentax 50mm f/1.4 SMC-FA
Pentax 70mm f/2.4 P-DA Limited
Pentax 77mm f/1.8 P-FA Limited (no distortion)
Pentax 135mm f/2.8 SMC-A
Pentax 300mm f/4 SMC-A
There are also a host of third party lenses that are profiled. For a complete listing click on the Profiles tab on the Contents menu in the link above.
Cheers
Comment by RichardDay posted on Converging verticals. at 22/01/2009 - 10:50
MarkD wrote:
I disagree that it is pointless lens. It's already selling well in Nikon and Canon mounts and both companies have their own lenses in tht range.
By keeping the zoom range short the optical quality can be kept high, it is already regarded as being much better than the Tokina 12-24 f4 ( sound familiar ?) and even bests the Nikon equivalent. It seems to me that as Hoya own Tokina and Pentax they are missing a trick by not bringing the lenses out in a pentax mount first. Wouldn't hurt Pentax camera sales having more top quality lenses available, under either brand name ( and first!)
I'm after a very good WIDE lens.(The fixed 14 is limiting - and expensive). The 16-50 range is covered by several very good, fast lenses so stopping at 16 to keep the quality high isn't an issue for me, or ir seems many Canikon owners. Bring it on and fast I say.
I can agree that if your requirement is for UW only and you only need a limited zoom range, i.e treating it pretty much as a more versatile prime (effectively replacing the DA 14mm) and not as a more versatile wide angle zoom street lens, plus it's much better than the DA 12-24, then I can see some use for it.I disagree that it is pointless lens. It's already selling well in Nikon and Canon mounts and both companies have their own lenses in tht range.
By keeping the zoom range short the optical quality can be kept high, it is already regarded as being much better than the Tokina 12-24 f4 ( sound familiar ?) and even bests the Nikon equivalent. It seems to me that as Hoya own Tokina and Pentax they are missing a trick by not bringing the lenses out in a pentax mount first. Wouldn't hurt Pentax camera sales having more top quality lenses available, under either brand name ( and first!)
I'm after a very good WIDE lens.(The fixed 14 is limiting - and expensive). The 16-50 range is covered by several very good, fast lenses so stopping at 16 to keep the quality high isn't an issue for me, or ir seems many Canikon owners. Bring it on and fast I say.
I had a Sigma 10-20 and found that even with 20mm coverage I was very frequently changing back and forth to the 16-45 which I found much more versatile as it covered the range between 20 and 24mm which I use a lot. For that reason alone I would much rather have the DA 12-24.
However, I also found the extreme wide angles (below 14mm, i.e. over 90º FOV) produced far too much perspective distortion for my liking and for this reason I used the 10-20 much less than I expected and resorted back to using the 16-45 pretty much all the time, and for the very wide landscapes I prefer to stitch a few images using the DA 16-45, the result is much better as, IQ wise, sharpness, increased resolution and colour/contrast is vastly superior as well as having better perspective control, the result is much more realistic.
What I would really like to see would be a new DA* lens developed covering the range of 14 to 55/60mm, a 4x range (the DA 17-70 is 4.12x), with a minimum of f4.0 constant (I think f2.8 would stretch the design compromises too far), and of very high optical quality with lower distortion, edge softness and CA than the DA*16-50 at the wide end.
Also, for those who love the Limited construction, look and feel, why not use the same optical layout but with no SDM or WS, I'd be sorely tempted by that option!
A high hope I know, but that would be my perfect wide to short tele solution!
Comment by RichardDay posted on Pentax version of the Tokina 11-16 ...WHEN IS IT HAPPENING? at 21/01/2009 - 09:08
It's a rather pointless lens IMO, it's range doesn't overlap the DA*16-50, which is needed as 16mm to 20mm is that len's weakest area, and the extra 1mm and 1 stop gain on the very excellent DA 12-24 is debatable. The only advantages (?) are SDM and WS, but I cannot see how either of these are really an advantage for a super wide lens.
Comment by RichardDay posted on Pentax version of the Tokina 11-16 ...WHEN IS IT HAPPENING? at 18/01/2009 - 12:29
Another endorsement for the DA 55-300. Superb value and very decent performance.
Nothing else comes close, it's also small and light, something the Sigma 100-300 isn't! .
I sold mine and bought a FA*300 f4.5, much smaller, lighter and way better IQ.
Nothing else comes close, it's also small and light, something the Sigma 100-300 isn't! .
I sold mine and bought a FA*300 f4.5, much smaller, lighter and way better IQ.
Comment by RichardDay posted on DECENT A/F TELEZOOM WANTED at 15/01/2009 - 12:53
Comment by RichardDay posted on Any E50 users? at 13/01/2009 - 12:37
I would recommend The Darkroom in Cheltenham, first class service and affordable. Never had a bad experience over many years using them. - link
Comment by RichardDay posted on Where to have E6 processed at 12/01/2009 - 11:25
I think it was Park Cameras had the K20D at a good deal. But then they ran out of stock.
Park had them on their website but were out of stock within a day or so!
The SRS ones were only offered to members of this forum at a lower price and free P&P and quickly sold out!
I bought one from SRS, it had under 500 shutter actuations since manufacture and was immaculate!
The current "new" price is £519 with £100 cashback "if bought with a (Pentax) lens", so a K20D + 18-55 ends up at £479, which is still a great deal (until the end of January)!