All Forum Comments
Camera Centre UK are advertising in AP a special offer for 20-24 August of 15% off lenses and great prices for some camera bodies; e.g. the K50 with 18-55mm WR is £299.00! I could weep. I just went on the website and I'm not getting a match to the prices in the full page ad, but worth checking.
Comment by RobL posted on 15% discount on lenses at 18/08/2015 - 20:18
Interesting to hear Daronl's comments above especially in relation to Canon/Nikon, as I am open minded about switching ranges but am trying to get behind all the hype. A quick search shows that out of about 96 Nikon lenses only one has both weather/dust resistance and anti-shake, and that isn't one of the big ones. For nature photography in whatever conditions these to me are essential and I would expect the same for sports events. I am very much taken with the Youtube clips by Arthur Morris who is a Canon ambassador and demonstrates how he gets astounding images with their top-end kit, including the use of stacked teleconverters on massive f2.8 lenses. However this raises two issues: firstly I am realistically never going to spend the many thousands of pounds on that stuff even secondhand, and secondly the dedication and sheer skill of the photographer shine through and that is what gets the results - it is worth a visit to his website as his images are truly extraordinary.
I am holding back on upgrading to the K3II for the same reasons Daronl first gave, and am waiting to see what the FF will be like. However as the lack of built-in flash seems the norm for high end cameras I don't hold out much hope for that feature, but I am in a wait and see mode. I suspect many Pentax users are in the same position, the long teaser about the FF model inhibiting upgrades this year which brings us back to the original subject of this thread!
I am holding back on upgrading to the K3II for the same reasons Daronl first gave, and am waiting to see what the FF will be like. However as the lack of built-in flash seems the norm for high end cameras I don't hold out much hope for that feature, but I am in a wait and see mode. I suspect many Pentax users are in the same position, the long teaser about the FF model inhibiting upgrades this year which brings us back to the original subject of this thread!
Comment by RobL posted on Who dominates the DSLR Market ? Some 2015 published indicative info / stats at 12/08/2015 - 12:40
50mpCMOS wrote:
On the flip side of full-frame... Take a look at what is presently on the market from the Canon 50mp full-frame; not only is there sensor perfection in that model, but look at some of the lenses that are available for it-even as variations of a kit lens. With the prices that Canon is currently offering, and the lenses - Pentax will have to ramp up their game considerably, and also get quite a few more lenses onto the market. It will be difficult for Pentax to match the Canon 50mp's
Rumours on one website are that the FF will have the Sony 42mp sensor: http://photorumors.com/2015/06/26/pentax-rep-the-new-full-frame-pentax-dslr-came... A strong marketing strategy from Pentax has been the functionality of older lenses on new models, and I believe that they claim to have more lenses out there than anyone else. They will point to the large pool of inexpensive 35mm lenses whilst gradually expanding the range of new lenses which work in both formats.Quote:
Ricoh needs to up it's marketing.....significantly.....and get their products in the shops!
Especially needs to up the marketing with the possibility of Pentax full-frame this year. Marketing could and should clearly point out that Pentax full-frame will be better system than anything Nikon has- currently on their line-up. To point out the major items such as WR that exists in Pentax for a variety of camera bodies and lenses, another item that Nikon does not offer (minus the Nikon AW1). Nikon camera bodies have incredible weather resistance, but as for the Nikon lenses on the current market (again minus the AW1), not much is available from NikonRicoh needs to up it's marketing.....significantly.....and get their products in the shops!
On the flip side of full-frame... Take a look at what is presently on the market from the Canon 50mp full-frame; not only is there sensor perfection in that model, but look at some of the lenses that are available for it-even as variations of a kit lens. With the prices that Canon is currently offering, and the lenses - Pentax will have to ramp up their game considerably, and also get quite a few more lenses onto the market. It will be difficult for Pentax to match the Canon 50mp's
Comment by RobL posted on Who dominates the DSLR Market ? Some 2015 published indicative info / stats at 11/08/2015 - 10:28
Is the driver of the first one a bit overweight or is the car supposed to be bent in the middle?!
Comment by RobL posted on Saturday at Croft Nostalgia Weekend (image heavy) at 11/08/2015 - 09:04
davidtrout wrote:
This is interesting, I like the quality you have achieved. I've got hundreds, thousands even, colour slides languishing in drawers. What's the set up you use, do you use a slide/negative copier attached to the camera?
David
PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout
I did a thread on this recently:This is interesting, I like the quality you have achieved. I've got hundreds, thousands even, colour slides languishing in drawers. What's the set up you use, do you use a slide/negative copier attached to the camera?
David
PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout
www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/converting-35mm-slides-54306
I tried using the computer monitor for back-light but the pixels were too obvious, the light tablet I bought is much better
Comment by RobL posted on K3 for scanning B&W film at 10/08/2015 - 17:09
johnriley wrote:
Backups are necessary because all man made items can fail. It's not about anticipating that failure, it's about being able to carry on uninterrupted when doing a job.
In a business sense, there are plenty of low cost Pentax bodies and lenses that could be used as an emergency backup and it would be much more cost effective than buying something several times the price and relying on the manufacturer to offer that cover.
I hope you are not saying that because Pentax are relatively inexpensive then that justifies poorer service than the alternatives. Most professionals carry more than one camera body on an assignment but I am not a professional so don't need to; however I would rather see a price rise IF that meant great manufacturer's support.Backups are necessary because all man made items can fail. It's not about anticipating that failure, it's about being able to carry on uninterrupted when doing a job.
In a business sense, there are plenty of low cost Pentax bodies and lenses that could be used as an emergency backup and it would be much more cost effective than buying something several times the price and relying on the manufacturer to offer that cover.
Comment by RobL posted on Turnaround Times for lens repairs at Pentax FR at 08/08/2015 - 17:59
derek897 wrote:
Looks like it might be a wood wasp, hard to get an idea of size.
Thanks Derek. I googled wood wasp and came up with a match with Ichneumon Stramentarius, a parasitic wasp, which has some rather unpleasant habits.Looks like it might be a wood wasp, hard to get an idea of size.
Comment by RobL posted on What's this? at 07/08/2015 - 21:14
Any idea what this long-legged thing is scuttling around my shrub?
Comment by RobL posted on What's this? at 07/08/2015 - 19:18
Further to Daronl's comments it must be essential to provide professionals with proper support if they are actively targeting that market with the 645Z medium format camera & lenses - or do those users get special treatment?
Comment by RobL posted on Turnaround Times for lens repairs at Pentax FR at 07/08/2015 - 12:23
johnriley wrote:
We use Pentax cameras and lenses for paying work, so far have never had a failure in the field but always have backups, and, if possible, backups of backups.
This means 2 K-5 bodies, one for each of us, a backup K20D and a couple of compacts such as the MX-1 for use in extremis. If pushed to, I could shoot a wedding on a compact, although it obviously would not be a first choice!
Lenses are also backed up as AF lenses are much more complex than older designs, so failure is always possible.
That's fine if you are a pro but if I am spending (not investing) large sums of money in a system then I want the reassurance that the manufacturer will provide good back-up service. Also this is the main reason I will only buy from retailers with a good reputation and have a physical retail outlet even if it costs a bit more, and if necessary I can trade in the lot over the counter.We use Pentax cameras and lenses for paying work, so far have never had a failure in the field but always have backups, and, if possible, backups of backups.
This means 2 K-5 bodies, one for each of us, a backup K20D and a couple of compacts such as the MX-1 for use in extremis. If pushed to, I could shoot a wedding on a compact, although it obviously would not be a first choice!
Lenses are also backed up as AF lenses are much more complex than older designs, so failure is always possible.
Comment by RobL posted on Turnaround Times for lens repairs at Pentax FR at 07/08/2015 - 09:33
