Welcome back, Stephen.
The AF 400T works quite well with my *istD. I use it in TTL, flash
auto, and manual modes. In TTL it works best at ISO 400.
The next Pentax digital is rumored to be a 10 megapixel camera with
anti-shake. The buffer should be considerably larger than the present
cameras and the write speed should be faster. It will most likely be
APS-C sensor size, like the current cameras.
The focal length of your lenses won't change, but the field of view
they deliver will. The factor is approximately 1.5. For example, a 300
mm lens will deliver a field of view that is roughly equivalent to that
of a 450 mm lens on a full-frame 35 mm camera.
Paul
On May 17, 2006, at 11:38 PM, Stephen D'Andrea wrote:
Greetings all,
After a couple years absence I've returned to the list. My passion
for Pentax never waned during my time away, but my leisure to keep up
with the list did. In the intervening years I've been drawn closer to
going digital, so the time has come to ask the right questions of the
people in the know.
1. Can someone give me a brief explanation (or confirmation) of the
differences in the istD, DL, and DS (plus the "2" versions). I've read
what I can about them but just when I think I'm getting the general
idea of them in comparison I still feel like something eludes me. For
example, I know the "plain" D is the oldest of the three, and the most
expensive, but I find myself asking, "Why is this camera still being
made?" I get the general sense that the D is aimed at a higher level
user than the DL or DS, though they all have many of the same
features, and the LCD screens are bigger on the more recent models,
but I still don't feel like I have a clear idea of what the D can do
that the DS or DL can't. What makes the D cost twice as much as a
camera that's several years newer?
2. I'm attracted to the Ds for the Pentax experience I've had for the
last 27 years and the option to use my existing A series lenses. Can
someone clarify what happens to the focal length when an older lens is
put on the newer body?
3. Can I use my AF400T flash with any of the Ds?
4. What are the latest rumors about the next generation of Pentax
digital SLRs?
I know one of the inevitable questions about dispensing advice will be
"What kind of photographer are you?" The easiest answer is "somewhere
in that vague area that defines people who have a bachelor's degree in
photography, do some freelance commercial work when they have to, but
generally do their own personal photo projects." After 18 years with
an MX I bought in college (with money I earned using my dad's
Spotmatic), I've used an LX for the past eight or nine years.
And, boy, you go away from the list for a few months and a whole new
set of acronyms pops up. You certainly can't tell the players if you
don't have a scorecard. Would someone patient be so kind to explain
what the following terms mean to the casual reader:
GESO
PESO
PAW
GFM
PEOW
anything else that comes to mind
Thanks. I did miss reading the messages and am glad to be tuned in
again.
-Stephen
