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ps - I just ordered a Turkish Shower for £39 because I want a multi-purpose rucksack that I can also carry my camera around in every day so I don't keep missing pictures. Camera gear goes in the bottom and a separate compartment up top takes your other stuff. It doesn't look like a camera bag and even opening it up all you see is books / packets of crisps or whatever, if you don't know about the lower compartment. So it's quite stealthy! Comes with an extra rain cover too!
Comment by Spaceman_Spiff posted on Camera bag, which one please? at 17/12/2012 - 02:51
Amazon have a sale on right now of the wackily named Crumpler bags. You can pick up a Mob Boss in Oatmeal colour for example, for £48 instead of £214
Comment by Spaceman_Spiff posted on Camera bag, which one please? at 17/12/2012 - 02:37
Nothing that I've seen has come up with definitive advice, especially as different copies of the same lens seem to work differently, and various differing opinions are expressed ...
Like I say, Pentax probably need to comment officially. I'll ask
Like I say, Pentax probably need to comment officially. I'll ask
Comment by Spaceman_Spiff posted on Question about the Pentax DFA 100mm macro at 14/12/2012 - 17:19
Well, thanks for input guys - all very helpful and interesting. I'm not one who likes to over worry about stuff, or imagine up problems that don't exist. But I do have a background that includes a bit of engineering and design, so I'm the sort of person who likes to understand how and why things work (or not) and the different answers that appeared earlier were worth exploring rather than ignoring, or they were for me at least.
Discrepancies always interest me, because they usually contain answers. It's no bad thing to fully understand the things you work with IMHO. Plus, having googled the issue some more I see that lots of others have posted similar questions in various corners of the interweb. It points to a need for Pentax to publish a more detailed explanation of "normal" operation and usage of these lenses, then these questions would not arise. Just my opinion.
Discrepancies always interest me, because they usually contain answers. It's no bad thing to fully understand the things you work with IMHO. Plus, having googled the issue some more I see that lots of others have posted similar questions in various corners of the interweb. It points to a need for Pentax to publish a more detailed explanation of "normal" operation and usage of these lenses, then these questions would not arise. Just my opinion.
Comment by Spaceman_Spiff posted on Question about the Pentax DFA 100mm macro at 14/12/2012 - 16:23
Thanks John
It sounds like the clamp is commonly damaged by people trying to manually turn the focus ring having forgotten they've engaged the lock. Wonder how much a repair costs, and whether this sort of damage breaks off anything inside the lens that might mess up the optics or focus travel. I might speak to a repair place and ask for future reference. I'll post what they say here.
It sounds like the clamp is commonly damaged by people trying to manually turn the focus ring having forgotten they've engaged the lock. Wonder how much a repair costs, and whether this sort of damage breaks off anything inside the lens that might mess up the optics or focus travel. I might speak to a repair place and ask for future reference. I'll post what they say here.
Comment by Spaceman_Spiff posted on Question about the Pentax DFA 100mm macro at 14/12/2012 - 14:58
I noticed that SRS currently have a very good offer going on the PK mount version of the Sigma 70-300mm DG OS. RRP is £399.99 and SRS are currently selling it for £179 which is at least a hundred quid cheaper than the offer price for the same thing in other manufacturers mounts! See, it pays to shoot Pentax
There are three Sigma 70-300 variants and the other two are in fact cheaper but the lens grouping is different - from doing a bit of research opinion seems to be that this is the one to have, with decent optics and very good results for the price. The internal Optical stabiliser is said to outperform the in-camera version by a couple of stops, so potentially useful at an effective 450mm! Seems a bit of a steal. Or am I missing something???
There are three Sigma 70-300 variants and the other two are in fact cheaper but the lens grouping is different - from doing a bit of research opinion seems to be that this is the one to have, with decent optics and very good results for the price. The internal Optical stabiliser is said to outperform the in-camera version by a couple of stops, so potentially useful at an effective 450mm! Seems a bit of a steal. Or am I missing something???
Comment by Spaceman_Spiff posted on Good deal on Sigma 70-300mm at 14/12/2012 - 13:46
Mannesty wrote:
The clamp adds a little more friction to the focusing barrel to prevent lens creep when used vertically.
It's probable that different copies of the same lens behave slightly differently. On mine, when the clamp is on, the focus ring can be turned, but the focusing barrel (the one with the scale on it that you view through the window) does not move.
It would be unwise to use auto focus with the clamp on as it will introduce more strain on your camera's AF motor.
Interesting.... it seems that there's commonly a variation in the way these lenses behave - this would encourage me to feel concerned about build quality and manufacturing tolerances Consistency and identical operation of product is the quality control aim in manufacturing after all The clamp adds a little more friction to the focusing barrel to prevent lens creep when used vertically.
It's probable that different copies of the same lens behave slightly differently. On mine, when the clamp is on, the focus ring can be turned, but the focusing barrel (the one with the scale on it that you view through the window) does not move.
It would be unwise to use auto focus with the clamp on as it will introduce more strain on your camera's AF motor.
Comment by Spaceman_Spiff posted on Question about the Pentax DFA 100mm macro at 14/12/2012 - 13:18
Hi Aura,
I live down the road from you near Bath - never had any problems yet, but then I am 6'5" and ugly looking
Worst hassle I ever had was in the middle of a crowded street market in broad daylight. I tried taking a photo of a guys fish stall in the south of France and he got very angry... Lots of temperamental types down there
As John suggested, a photo buddy is a good idea. And if you ever do get threatened and demands are made, throw the camera away so they have to jump after it, and you run in the opposite direction making as much noise shouting for help as you can! Carrying a good rape alarm can give you confidence about being heard. Confidence counts for a lot when thugs size you up as a target.
I don't reckon you'll ever actually need the advice above though.
I live down the road from you near Bath - never had any problems yet, but then I am 6'5" and ugly looking
Worst hassle I ever had was in the middle of a crowded street market in broad daylight. I tried taking a photo of a guys fish stall in the south of France and he got very angry... Lots of temperamental types down there
As John suggested, a photo buddy is a good idea. And if you ever do get threatened and demands are made, throw the camera away so they have to jump after it, and you run in the opposite direction making as much noise shouting for help as you can! Carrying a good rape alarm can give you confidence about being heard. Confidence counts for a lot when thugs size you up as a target.
I don't reckon you'll ever actually need the advice above though.
Comment by Spaceman_Spiff posted on too nervous to take new camera out at 14/12/2012 - 00:35
^^^ I lived in Edinburgh for 12 years! Met my wife there and had a flat in Leith. Lots of happy memories.
Welcome!
Welcome!
Comment by Spaceman_Spiff posted on Hi from Edinburgh at 14/12/2012 - 00:22
The World is full of contradictions - our houses become ever smaller courtesy of Barret, and our waistlines become ever larger courtesy of McDonalds. Soon we'll be wedged in like veal calves - then well HAVE to buy midget cameras
I hear what you say about camera phones, but I also read that increasing numbers of folk are also going out and spending big on DSLR's, sales of which have surged whilst compacts are dying like flies. Perhaps phones open up the world of photography and get more folks hooked. Then they start wanting all the features and options that only a DSLR can give. More/bigger/faster/better. It's back to the lure of more again
I hear what you say about camera phones, but I also read that increasing numbers of folk are also going out and spending big on DSLR's, sales of which have surged whilst compacts are dying like flies. Perhaps phones open up the world of photography and get more folks hooked. Then they start wanting all the features and options that only a DSLR can give. More/bigger/faster/better. It's back to the lure of more again
Comment by Spaceman_Spiff posted on Pentax Full Frame at 13/12/2012 - 23:32
