On Fri, Jul 2, 2010 at 3:10 PM, Eric Weir <[email protected]> wrote: > > My camera arrived today. It looks good. Very good. I haven't been able try it > out, yet, other than checking out the manual and the menu options and > settings. I could use some advice/feedback: > > [1] I don't have a data card. Have never had a need for one. All I know is I > need an SD card. I gather they come in flavors. Cost is a consideration. Any > recommendations?
You need either an SD card or an SDHC card, the latter are more common now (all 4GB and up cards are SDHC). The latest firmware is required for SDHC compatibility so I'd recommend getting a 1-2GB SD card to start since you'll need that to do the firmware upgrade. > > [2] When I look through the viewfinder without a lens installed, I see what > look like flecks of dust here and there. Does that tell me anything about > where they are? Is this something I can remedy or do I need competent > technical help? They're either on the mirror, the focusing screen or the viewfinder pupil. > > [3] My only lenses at this point are manuals -- an smc pentax-m 1:1.7 50mm, > an smc pentax-m macro 1:4 100mm, and an albinar 1:2.8 135mm [the latter says > "auto" in the ring at the front of the lens, but there's no "A" on the > aperture ring.] > > The manual says "Only DA and FA J lenses and D FA/FA/F/A lenses having an A > position on the aperture ring can be used with this camera." But two pages > later it also says, "When [Using aperture ring] is set to [2 Permitted] in [C > Custom] menu, the shutter can be released even if the aperture ring of the D > FA, FA, F, or A lens is not set to the A position or a lens without a A > position is attached." That is followed by a table show the features that are > available when the aperture is not set to A or lenses without A settings are > installed. > > I am inclined for the time being, and possible for a long time, to use my > camera as a manual camera. [I want to learn how to do photography.] I take > from the above that I can use the manual lenses described above in this > camera. Yes you can use manual lenses in stop-down mode once that custom function is set. You must be in M mode. The AE-Lock button will cause the camera to stop the lens down, take a meter reading and set the appropriate shutter speed based on the meter reading. The DoF preview will stop the lens down and give a meter reading but won't set the shutter speed. > > Any reactions to my wanting to go manual? Any suggestions for other useful, > not too terribly expensive, manual lenses that I might consider, e.g., one > that would be closer to being equivalent to a 50mm on a film camera? > > I know these are hugely naive and elementary questions, but I am naive and > very, very much a beginner at this point. > > Thanks, Decent normal options are an issue. A 35mm lens will give a field of view very similar to 50mm lenses on 35mm film cameras. The downside is that 35mm lenses aren't all that cheap unless you're willing to deal with a slow one. -Adam -- 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.
