To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, November 20, 2004 8:59 PM
Subject: YA New User
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.
Welcome to the list, Jon, you'll find it busy, interesting, and the best source of information on Pentax, photography and just about anything else on the web!
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.
Shame on you, you'll just have to get enabled again some time soon!
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?
The CF card slot is not a problem - open the cover , push the release button, point the camera down and gravity takes over. Some on the list appear to have found that big fingers have a problem pulling the card out from above.
There is a histogram - it is found with a second push on the INFO button. What some have complained about is the lack of a blown highlights indicator.
(and a third, not so important it seems) 3. some odd ergonomic/interface quirks...
Ergonomics is, IMHO, generally good,but some of the buttons are a little on the small side, and the four-way rocker can be hard to control really accurately. None of the difficulties are enough to make me want to bin the camera, however, which some of the more vehement critics have seemed to want to do!
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?
Excellent well! Focus confirmation is fast, audible and positive, and you can select any one of 11 focus points, including at least one, possibly more, cross-points.
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?
I have a range of lenses from 18-35 to 400mm, only two of which are autofocus, and they all work well, including a 1960's vintage Vivitar 135/1.5. Apart from recognising the 1.5 times framing adjustment, there is no reason to dump your older lenses or consider replacing them. With pre-A lenses, you can now (with firmware release 1.1) use your old lenses in AE mode just by pressing the green button before releasing the shutter.
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.)
Nah,everybody does it!
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. :-)
My own view is that, if you post a link to your site, and that link allows me to browse other photos than the one you've selected as a PAW or PESO entry, then that's a bonus, and it's up to me whether I look or not. I'm about to create my own photo web-site, having tired of photo.net's idiosyncrasies and the latest restrictions, and that site will allow multiple browsing.
P.P.S. Sorry for the long intro email...
Not a problem, and hope that some of the above will help!
John Coyle
Brisbane, Australia
