I guess that's de factos of the situation then...
Tom C.
From: "P. J. Alling" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: *ist-D vs *ist-Ds Mirror box. (or oops enabled again).
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 00:52:27 -0500
It seems I'm combining a couple of threads, one a bit old one not so old.
Some of you may remember that my beloved, (ok more like co-dependent),
*ist-D's green button and DOF preview controls had become non-functional,
and the poor beast has to be sent back to Pentax for repair. Well I've
become very digital dependent in the year that I've owned her and decided
to take this opportunity to get a second digital body as a backup. I was
able to get a new "Demo" *ist-Ds at a close out price. The new camera
arrived today so my *ist-D will be going to Pentax in Golden Colorado for
repair in the next few days. However since I have both cameras in hand I
thought I'd answer a question I got from Godfrey about the mirror box on
the D, (still no picture), but I can say definitively that the *ist-D
mirror box, and mirror seems to be the same as that in the MZ/ZX series
cameras. The *ist-Ds is much narrower, both mirror box and of course the
mirror as well. Well that's out of the way. I might as well give my
impressions of the two cameras, in comparison.
First off the D just feels better finished. The surface is more sensual,
the rubber on the hand grip is less grippy but richer feeling. In some
places on the Ds there are obvious lips to aid in gripping the camera,
notably on the front left edge, but even places where the Ds is supposed to
be smooth the D feels somehow better. The fit in some areas on the Ds is
with out a doubt better, there's just a wee bit of give on the D's RTF when
it's retracted, while the Ds' flash feels solid when retracted. On the
other had, when both flashes are extended the Ds' feels a bit flimsy. The
CF card door on my D has always seemed like it should close more securely,
while there is no question that the SD card door on the Ds is closed. The
rubber covers over the other ports on opposite side of the D seem cheesy
indeed when compared to the *ist-Ds door, but in spite of that they feel
better to the hand. The control buttons on the Ds all seem to operate more
positively than those on the D, though I notice no real improvement in the
joystick, in spite of it's increased size and complication on the Ds. The
difference in control layout on the two cameras is as I expected a bit
annoying, while the D is being repaired I will miss the second control
wheel, the back lighting on the LCD, the ability to change most of my most
used settings using a dedicated button or switch. Admittedly the menu
system, especially since I've downloaded the new 2.0 firm wear for the Ds
doesn't seem to be too onerous, however, I've grown used to how the *ist-D
does things. Well that's it. I haven't really done any image comparisons.
Since I'm shooting RAW I expect there to be no real difference in results
between the two cameras, but time will tell.
--
When you're worried or in doubt, Run in circles, (scream and shout).
