Just a quick test - write time for a DS RAW file to my s-l-o-w SD card looks to be about five seconds. That should improve quite a bit with a 60x or 80x card (yes, I know the camera can't use all that speed, but that's the speed of the next card I'll be getting).
Shel > [Original Message] > From: Bruce Dayton < > As to buffer for the D - it is 5 frames of raw (if you turn off NR, > you get 6). The write speed with Lexar WA 40X cards is about 7-8 > seconds per frame. This is an area that the DS has improved a fair > bit. I was thinking it was about 3 seconds. > SB> I'd been thinking a bit about your comments even before you posted this > SB> message. Pentax has worked for me since 1967. Some Pentax models didn't > SB> appeal to me at all, so i didn't choose to buy or use them. There was > SB> almost two decades where what Pentax offered just didn't cut it for me. > SB> However, all the cameras I'd bought previously, or earlier models that I > SB> bought later (for example, I got a KM within the last year) have been quite > SB> satisfactory. > > SB> Just a couple of questions/comments: > > >> Large buffer/fast write times > > SB> How many shots can the istD handle in its buffer? The DS is supposed to > SB> take five RAW images, but if I space my exposures by about a second or a > SB> second and a half instead of machine gunning, I can capture eight frames, > SB> and that's with a slow SD card. Perhaps with a faster card the buffer > SB> might empty faster and even more frames can be captured. > > >> low shutter lag time > > SB> What's the lag time on the D? The DS seems OK, but I've been comparing it > SB> to the Sony. Sometimes I think it's a little slow, but that's just a > SB> subjective "feeling." Not made any comparisons to the Leica or other Pentax > SB> bodies. Do you know if the DS has less lag time? I'd think that if you > SB> were shooting in straight manual mode response time might be a little > SB> quicker than when using auto focus and other features. > > SB> I wonder how many people here who lament the absence of image stabilization > SB> would really need the feature. It seems like a nice thing to have for > SB> certain types of photos, but judging by the pics in the PUG/PAW/PESO/GESO, > SB> not too many would benefit from the feature. > > SB> Anyway, I'd like to see your comments open a good discussion about what > SB> features people actually use, and under what circumstance, rather than > SB> people just lambasting Pentax because they don't offer such features. > SB> Being a newbie to auto focus and cameras that can make several exposures in > SB> succession, I'm quite satisfied with everything Pentax offers. I can't > SB> think of anything more I'd want ... most of the time i can't even find use > SB> the standard features. > > SB> I will say this, though, being able to use faster memory cards or have a > SB> buffer with a larger capacity that can empty faster might be useful for me, > SB> although, in the entire time I've had the DS, I've only found the need for > SB> that once, and that was just as much my fault for trying to machine gun a > SB> scene instead of taking my more usual, deliberate approach. But even so, > SB> with a deliberate approach I can still only get about eight frames. When I > SB> want a lot of fast frames, I can use any one of a number of manual cameras > SB> an leave the DS in the dust. I don't know what Canon or Nikon can do, but > SB> it seems that any digi will, at some point, need time to clear the buffer, > SB> so this is more a digi thing than a Pentax thing. > > > SB> Shel > > > >> [Original Message] > >> From: Bruce Dayton > > >> I love my cameras and lenses! They are not perfect, but I have no > >> interest or desire to switch to another brand. In the past I have > >> used Olympus, Canon, Pentax and Nikon. And Pentax is where I ended > >> up. I like their interfaces and lenses. > >> > >> I was thinking this morning about the difference between skill and > >> technology. I will grant that there are some images that would be > >> very difficult to capture without certain technology. > >> > >> It might be fun to compile a list of technology that can't be had in a > >> a Pentax body, and then figure out what images require that technology > >> rather than skill to capture. > >> > >> The way I figure right now Pentax is missing: > >> Image stabilization > >> Image tracking AF (comparable to high end Canon/Nikon) > >> High frame/sec rate > >> Large buffer/fast write times > >> low shutter lag time > >> > >> Where they are in the forefront compared to other systems in a similar > >> price range is: > >> usable viewfinder (manual focus) > >> SMC coatings > >> HyperProgram/Manual > >> > >> So far, for me, I have been doing: > >> Nature > >> Scenics > >> Kids sports > >> Portraits > >> Weddings > >> > >> In all but kids sports, I manually focus - so the viewfinder on the > >> Pentax is a positive over other brands in price range > >> > >> I find that the buffer size and write speed does cause a few problems > >> here and there when a sequence needs more shots than the buffer - this > >> is not machine gun stuff, but something like wedding processional > >> where 6-8 couples walk down the aisle one after the other. The shots > >> may be 2-3 seconds apart, but the buffer fills and I can miss a shot > >> or two this way. Or when a base stealing occurs - shot over at first > >> for the start of the steal, couple of shots sliding into second and > >> then an overthrow so the runner is up an running to third and slide. > >> > >> There are times when I'll have an order for a 16X20 - 20X30 print > >> where it would be nice to have a little more resolution - it's > >> liveable, but not ideal. > >> > >> So for my usage, Pentax is not doing to badly. If I had Nikon, I > >> would be in no better shape - with nothing between a D70 (not a usable > >> camera for me - horrible viewfinder) and a D2x (can't afford it), I > >> would still be nursing along the old D100, waiting for them to > >> actually put out a mid level replacment. > >> > >> Any others care to comment? > >> > >> -- > >> Bruce > >> > >> > >> Tuesday, October 25, 2005, 7:10:42 PM, you wrote: > >> > >> TR> Why don't you all just change the group to Pentax Dissing Mailing > SB> List? > >> > >> TR> Does anyone on this list like their products besides me? > >> > >> TR> I'm sick of all this whining and complaining. You all sound like a > SB> bunch of > >> TR> four year olds. > >> > >> TR> Pentax makes great lenses. They're trying to catch up with the new > SB> body > >> TR> that's in the pipeline. Give them a break for crissakes. > >> > >> TR> Tom Reese > >> > >> > > >
