On 7/2/2010 3:10 PM, Eric Weir 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?
[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?
[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.
Welcome to the world of Pentax, where features are hidden or worse
deprecated in the documentation. You'll be using your manual lenses in
stop down mode. Set the use of the aperture ring to allowed. Then use
the green button to make a semi-automatic Av reading, or set the DOF for
optical, (is there really any other way), and hold the DOF lever in
while adjusting aperture. .
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.
My sugguestion is replace that Albanar with something else as soon as
you can. It's acceptable on film stopped down a bit, (unless you've got
one of the rare "good" ones, but IIRC the center sharpness can be
disappointing. The sensor will easily out preform that lens. In other
words most times the center sweet spot improves the pref romance of a
lens, the Albanar not so much.
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 shoot manual lenses all the time, my fast lenses aren't new, most of
my new lenses aren't fast. Autofocus really want's fast lenses.
I know these are hugely naive and elementary questions, but I am naive and
very, very much a beginner at this point.
Thanks,
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eric Weir
Decatur, GA USA
[email protected]
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