Hello folks-
I also just joined, and have been lurking for the past couple of days. I've been a bit busy, so haven't taken the time to introduce myself until now.
I am not currently a Pentax user, as I sold my Program Plus to pay for my impulse purchase to buy a Nikon Coolpix 990 a few months ago. However, I do still have some of my extra stuff--lens, motor winder, etc.
I suppose it would be kind to share a bit about myself and photography. I fell in love with photography as a high school freshman, and bought my first camera, a Minolta SRT 100 with a 3x converter. That ancient camera served me well until 1985, when its shutter froze, and I then messed up the mirror trying to get it to work. All through high school, I had a B&W darkroom in our cellar. I shot almost exclusively black and white. I was without my own camera through most of college, but had a friend who was also a camera freak, but used Pentax equipment. He had an extra K1000 body, which I frequently used. When I graduated from college, I was able to get my Program Plus, which served me from 1989 until this year! Wonderful camera. For most of that time, of course, I was consumed with photographing my children, and some travel photography. However, a gift of a scanner changed that, and in the past year, I've been quite busy once again just enjoying photography for its own sake. I only miss the smell of the chemicals sometimes. ;-)
Actually, I've joined the list loaded with questions. I've wanted the *ist D ever since they came out, but as you are all probably aware, some reviewers aren't particularly happy with it. Its main problems seem to come down to two:
1. The compact flash memory slot
2. Lack of histogram. I have read nothing on the web that indicates that a firmware upgrade fixed this problem, so I presume it's still an issue?
(and a third, not so important it seems) 3. some odd ergonomic/interface quirks...
For those of you who have used this camera extensively, how much of a problem are the two (three) above-mentioned issues? Also, are there any other weird problems you have had with the *istD that have bugged you more and more over time (more related to the third question)?
I've appreciated all the comments recently regarding the comparison between the D70 and the istD. I see that the viewfinder is a big plus in the istD. That's good. I wear glasses, and think that the D70's problem in this area almost discludes it for me... However, I have one other, big question...
How well does the istD work with manual focus lenses?
I ask, because I have two lenses. The main glass is SMC Pentax A zoom, 35-105mm F: 1:3.5. I have long loved this lens, and can hardly bring myself to part with it! Will this lens work as a good main lens for some time? or should I consider getting a "proper" DA lens? I have to confess myself a rather fuddy-duddy when it comes to focus. I just prefer to focus myself. I don't really know why. I play with AF cameras often, and my Nikon CoolPix autofocuses, but in the end, I feel like it's one step too far removed for me. So, how would this camera work with this lens?
Also, I have an older Chinon 135mm F 1:2.8 telephoto. It's a K mount (not KA), so I presume it will not work perfectly with the istD, but exactly what do I lose. I get a bit confused reading the reviews about these lenses...
So, is there any advice, considered opinions, etc?
Oh, and thanks for letting me speak up. (maybe it's bad form to introduce and ask in the same email. Sorry if it's a bad thing.)
P.S. oh, and if anybody is interested, I have some photography up all over the web. But maybe I should post those links in another email? I noticed the PAW and PESO images, so I get the impression that displaying too many photos is not considered a good idea, so I want to know how much is too much before I start throwing links out. :-)
P.P.S. Sorry for the long intro email... -- -Jon Glass Krakow, Poland <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
