The biggest problem I have is using PTLens, (though there are a couple
of other plugins that don't much like the K20D files, too big maybe), I
have one of the ancient Freeware copies as a Photoshop plug in, It's no
longer supported but if you've got even a small clue as to what you're
doing you can create your own profiles. I've created a lens profile for
converting my 17mm fisheye shots to rectilinear which works very well
and is relatively automatic, and a couple of others to correct for
distortion that isn't quite that radical. (I also had to create a
profile for the Ds which worked just fine, it's only looking for two
parameters in the EXIF data). Unfortunately my version of PTLens chokes
on the K20 Files. The profile I created for that camera looks right,
but...)
I've used irfanview to convert *ist raw files but I was never really
happy with the results, and I couldn't figure out how to create as
nearly a seamless workflow as I had with RSE which is quite flexible,
and can produce very consistent results in batch mode.
Photoshop 7.0 itself doesn't have problems reading the converted files
from Pentax Photo Lab, Raw Therapee, or Irfanview but none of them are
conducive to any kind of professional work flow.. None of the
convertersm that I know offer reasonable work flow will even install on
Win2k, at this point in time, (thought they might run).
I suppose that I wouldn't have to replace Photoshop 7.0 if I could find
a new Raw Converter that worked the way I want, but that seems to be
Lightroom. so why not just go all the way and get a updated Photoshop,
it doesn't have to be the full version Elements would be fine. I've
resisted most of these upgrades because they would have required that I
ditch Win2K, which I've been happier with than any other OS I've ever
used. I've been able to get all of the software I needed to do
photography to work relatively painlessly, together. I don't write
software that needs the latest driver models and my software runs quite
well on WinXp and even Vista even if developed on Win2K. It's not
really a complaint, but it is a pain, (and damn it if I don't despise
Vista).
Doug Brewer wrote:
I ran PS 7.0 on my work box and had no trouble with K20 files that I
recall. Generally, I converted using Irfanview; you might want to give
it a try.
P. J. Alling wrote:
Well not really blues, exactly. The K20 is, relatively, big, and
heavy, and takes very nice photos; very, very, nice photos. However
it's just sinking in how much I'm going to have to upgrade.
Pentax Photo Lab does a reasonably good job of converting the raw
output, but it's really clunky to use. RSE which is what I have been
using is, of course, a dead product, since Adobe bought it, (just as
I had decided to buy RSP, also a dead product), but it did everything
I needed and it's work flow was actually good enough for me to use
when shooting a wedding or other event. Well that's gone and now I
need to look at different raw converters. Some of the photoshop
plugins I've been using simply refuse to work with files produced by
the K20D, I'll have to find replacements, even if I didn't have to
update to a newer picture editing program, (I'm using Photoshop
7.0). That too produced very nice output with the *ist-D and Ds).
The built in card reader in my Win2K box chokes on SDHC cards, not
surprising really, but I keep forgetting, annoying, so I need a new
one of those. I was already running out of Hard drive space, looks
like another Terabyte is in order, probably two, (damn I remember
when a Terabyte was *a* *boatload* of storage).
Then there's my flash units, I've been using a pair of AF280Ts as my
primary on camera lighting, and an AF200T as a just in case unit,
since my primary cameras were a pair of LXen. Well of course TTL is
dead, so I need to upgrade those. Yes I know, they still work as
dumb flash units, (and as long as I have an LX or a *ist camera in my
inventory I will probably keep them, after all what are they worth
used), but the 280s have always been a little under powered, and what
made them reasonably viable was the their TTL capability.
<Rhetorical>The question about the flash is do I go with something
simple but powerful and robust such as Vivitar 285HV or a
sophisticated unit like the Pentax AF-540.</rhetorical> Oh well, I
don't /need/ to make that decision today.
Thank Gaud that at least the lenses don't have to be changed, though
I've been lusting over a 77 limited for some time now, and the 17-70
would be very convenient, and then there's that 15mm limited that
everyone hates and either an A 20mm or Da 21mm, (AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGG).
--
PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List
[email protected]
http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and
follow the directions.
--
The free man owns himself. He can damage himself with either eating or
drinking; he can ruin himself with gambling. If he does he is certainly a damn
fool, and he might possibly be a damned soul; but if he may not, he is not a
free man any more than a dog.
--G. K. Chesterton
--
PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List
[email protected]
http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow
the directions.
