----- Original Message ----- From: "Jon Glass"
Subject: YA New User
Its main problems seem to come down to two:
1. The compact flash memory slot
It certainly could have been done better, but it is certainly usable.
The strap placement is a bigger issue than yhe card slot, as it gets in the way of the door.
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?
It's more of an issue for some people than for others. The histogram is available, but requires a second button push after the review button is pressed.
For myself, it's no biggie, but I am rarely in that much of a hurry that an extra button push is a deal breaker.
(and a third, not so important it seems) 3. some odd ergonomic/interface quirks...
Don't know about that. I am pretty happy with the interface.
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)?
The battery indicator is a weird thing sometimes, indicating a nearly dead battery, turning the camera off, then back on will sometime bring the indicator back to behaving itself.
I've had a total lock up on mine a couple of time, the cure is to remove the batteries and reinstall them.
The four way rocker swith can be a pain.
How well does the istD work with manual focus lenses?
Quite well actually. The viewfinder is pretty good.
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?
Yer 35-105 will become a standard to medeum telephoto zoom on the istD because the sensor is smaller than a 35mm film frame.
I have found that lenses that I didn't like have become favourites on the istD, and lenses that I love have become unused on the istD.
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...
You might lose usability completely if the lens isn't well corrected for chromatic aberation.
Usability wise, you lose open aperture metering, but you do get a form of stopped down AE with pre A series lenses.
I've found it to be usable enough that I use my pre A lenses quite a bit.
I would still prefer full K mount integration, but again, it wasn't a deal breaker for me.
So, is there any advice, considered opinions, etc?
If you have a moderate interest in K mount lenses, the istD is a good camera to look at.
If you don't have a heavy investment in Pentax mount glass, there are probably better choices out there at the moment.
I have a heavy investment in Pentax glass, but even so, I ended up buying a few more lenses for the istD because all of a sudden I needed certain focal lengths to do what I want to do with the thing.
William Robb
