Re: Following street photography threads
I like it, Boris. Specifically, I like the repeated circular form of the umbrella and it's shadow. I think I like the second person in the photo because it repeats the form (vertical line) of the first person. Does it work? I wonder whether the umbrella is popping out enough? Not quite. But, printed in black and white, this might be an excellent starting point for a hand tint. Or, if your darkroom is digital, use layers to render everything but the umbrella in monochrome, then punch up the saturation. Have fun, man. Chris L.
Re: Newbie Questions
William, Sorry I tweaked you, but I stand by my assertion that making good photographs with a Pentax camera does not depend on the exclusive use of Pentax OEM lenses. Maybe I'm crazy, but I sure I've made good photos with a Spotmatic with a Zeiss lens mounted. Or with an MX with a lowly Vivitar 28/2 CF. Your statement sounded to me just like that Canon ad in Pop Photo. The Canon ad is marketing drivel. ***Are you that moron troll that pops up to piss me off from time to time? Not that I know of, but I would be happy to assume the roll if you need someone to stand up to you with an opposing viewpoint every now and again. Just because you have plenty of time on your hands to sit on top of the list all day doesn't give you or your pronouncements any special status. ***The only reason to shoot Pentax bodies is to get to use their lenses. Ridiculous. There are many reasons to use a Pentax - the quality of the OEM lenses may simply be one of the best reasons. The availability of a wide range of excellent third party lenses - especially in M42 - is another. ***Experience of a working photographer, whether at it's best or worst, I don't know, but my customers never had a complaint. The experience of this working photographer has been that good photographs can be made with any good instrument, OEM or third party, or any combination thereof. It was a Newbie Question William, mind the context. And I think that newbies need third party lenses (or a substantial income) to build up a good kit of quality primes quickly - to save themselves from cheap zoom hell. Here's my full signature, in case you feel I was hiding behind my truncated Chris L. sig. Email me personally if you wish to take it off the list ([EMAIL PROTECTED]), but please refrain from calling as I'm struggling to meet a publication deadline. As of now it's not going well, but that has nothing to do with my cheap, prestige-challenged, third party lenses. Happy shooting, and good light to you. Christopher Lillja Director of Publications The Pennington School www.pennington.org (609) 737-6121
Re: New M42/Thread Mount Body (Bessaflex TM)
Thanks, Lon! I'll check the archives. Ya' know, If they built one of these puppies in K mount, it would be in my bag already! Regards, Chris L. Christopher Lillja Director of Publications The Pennington School www.pennington.org (609) 737-6121 [EMAIL PROTECTED] 07/26/03 10:37AM Chris, there was a thread about this very topic a week or two ago. Welcome back. -Lon
RE: Newbie Questions
I have found the Sigma 24 2.8 (not the 1.8, as good or bad as it might be) to be outstandingly sharp. I have both the MF K mount and Nikon AF versions, both are great, with sturdy metal constroction. I don't think I paid more than $65 for either one. Chris L. [EMAIL PROTECTED] 07/28/03 09:18AM I have to agree with Vic. There's nothing wrong with buying third-party lenses if you're on a budget and you want a certain focal length, or a zoom.
RE: Newbie Questions
Uh, cave man, that would be construction ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] 07/28/03 09:38AM I have found the Sigma 24 2.8 (not the 1.8, as good or bad as it might be) to be outstandingly sharp. I have both the MF K mount and Nikon AF versions, both are great, with sturdy metal constroction. I don't think I paid more than $65 for either one. Chris L. [EMAIL PROTECTED] 07/28/03 09:18AM I have to agree with Vic. There's nothing wrong with buying third-party lenses if you're on a budget and you want a certain focal length, or a zoom.
New M42/Thread Mount Body (Bessaflex TM)
Hello all, I've been out of touch for a while - I sold all my AF pentax gear and dropped off the list for a bit. (But I still love and use my MX on an almost daily basis.) I'm you all have discussed this - but I was well and truly shocked to discover the Voigtlander Bessaflex - a brand-new Cosina made Pentax thread mount SLR! It looks beautiful and as many of our Spotmatic meters die off, just what the Dr. ordered. Anyone out there get/use one yet? I'm sure it's no match for the quality of a good Spottie, but you can buy a new one today. Christopher Lillja Director of Publications The Pennington School www.pennington.org (609) 737-6121
Re: Of Prime Importance
I think it's really silly that when one has tried ONE or even two samples of ANY particular lens and finds it to be particularly good, they can somehow delude themselves that ALL of the samples are that good. They are the same ones that got a really bad 50/2 M or whatever and so ALL of those must be junk. It's malarkey. I'll take a GREAT sample of a lowly 85/2 over a mediocre sample of a precious 77/1.8 ltd. any day. I think the only way to get a great collection of Pentax primes is to buy 'em, test 'em in the real world, and dump 'em if they don't do it for you. Not all of them are gems, and conventional wisdom isn't. Chris L. School Publications Guy
Re: Was: ...lenses from Sigma! Now: advantages of HSM
IMHO- The real advantage of HSM (at least in the Canon and Nikon implementation) is Full Time Manual Focussing, allowing one to touch up the fine focus after lock has been achieved without touching any switches, levers, grinding of gears, etc this is no small thing, after you've experienced it... Chris L. Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2002 08:56:20 -0600 From: Ryan K. Brooks [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: New 100-300/4 and 28-70/2.8 lenses from Sigma! Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Len Paris wrote: It seems that apart from marketing blah blah, the only advantage of USM is its quietness... -- Best Regards Sylwek I think, maybe, there could be some mechanical efficiency gained by putting the focusing motor in the lens itself rather than in the camera body. It could lead to slightly faster, as well as quieter, focusing. I would need to buy a few more USM/HSM lenses to be able to say for sure, though. Well, it (USM) certainly seems to allow you to have AF in lenses that we don't. R
For Sale (some cool AF stuff)
I hope this is OK. I know I seen folks put stuff up before. So help me get an MZS and buy this stuff before it goes to ebay. Please ask questions. And I'll be happy to send photos of the equipment. (give me a day or two, please?) I trade on ebay as captgonzo, feel free to check me out. Offers on multiple items considered. 5 day money back guarantee. Pentax MZ5 + FG AA Battery Grip, excellent condition $150 Low mileage, everything works perfectly. Only purchased new in early '01, still nice. AA battery grip saves lots of money on expensive and helps the camera balance very nicely with larger lenses. A set of AAs lasts a long time. Pentax 28-70/4 FA AL excellent Condition $85 This lens was purchased new in early '01, still nice. Constant F4 aperture. This one of the Pentax's best zooms in this class, ever. Optically, many user's rate it up there with the constant F 2.8 $1000+ zoom. Pentax 50/1.7 F Extremely sharp. Excellent Condition $70 Good glass, nice shape, maybe a scuff or two on the body, no dents. Pentax 100/2.8 Macro F Extremely sharp. Nice glass, bargain condition. A few scuffs, various use marks, no dents, all on the outside, not on the glass, which is very nice. $150.00 Pentax 80-200/4.7-5.6 F Zoom excellent Condition $75 Nice glass. A bit slow, but extremely sharp, even wide open. Very convenient internal zoom means length does not change when zooming. This is one of the Pentax's best zooms in this class, ever. Pentax Super Program + 35-70/3.5-4.5 A Zoom. Camera is Ex-Ex+. Lens is bargain condition (well worn, but very useable with sharp glass). $125.00 Please respond off list. (It's the polite thing to do and I'm in digest mode anyway.) Buyers pay only cost of item and cost of actual shipping + insurance from NJ. Thanks and regards, Chris L.
Re: More on EOS1Ds review
I don't see how anyone could conclude that 35mm film is still a superior media after seeing these pictures. -R The only thing I've concluded from this comparison is that his scanner is badly out of focus and/or needs service From the lumnious landscape review: (Note that the same lens Canon 70-200mm f/2.8l IS lens was used at the same aperture, and because the 1Ds is full-frame the image size recorded is identical (no magnification factor to confuse things. The difference in resolution is therefore solely due to the camera / imager and no other factor). This is quite misleading. There is a second optical system (the film and scanner) at play here. There is quality of film processing at play here. I know from experience that's a huge factor when scanning film. There is internal image processing (in the camera) vs. external image processing (during and after the scan) at play here. Even though the author has gone to some lengths to equalize things, it winds up in the old apples/orange bin. The image from the Canon is excellent but this comparison is rather weak. Regards, Chris L.
Re: Pentax flashes / changing platforms
Perhaps you should also compare prices of the 50/1.4 s before jumping to conclusions? There's a reason why the Canon 50/1.8II is cheaper plastic bayonet (would they really do that on a prime? - yes) As I said, ugly surprises You're going to wish you bought the 1.4 anyway Chris L. [EMAIL PROTECTED] 09/12/02 08:37AM Not quite - The Canon 50mm 1.8 standard lens is $150 CDN @ a number of retailers. The Pentax 50mm 1.7 standard lens is $270 CDN @ the same retailers. I too have been considering a switch so that's the reason for the price check on the items mentioned but I'm waiting it out till after Photokina :) Cheers, Dave Original Message: - From: Frantisek Vlcek [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Thu, 12 Sep 2002 14:19:06 +0200 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Pentax flashes / changing platforms snip Their (Canon) primes are quite more expensive, the EOS 1.8/50 costs about as much as a 1.4/50 from pentax IIRC. /snip mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ .
Re: Forwards and backwards (was Re: Pentax flashes /changingplatforms)
I absolutely agree. I simply didn't want to be accused of overstating the case for Pentax based on the former point. (About superior compatibility.) Chris L. The Pentax system can not compete with the Nikon or Canon on the basis of comprehensiveness or ultimate technology. But the latter point has nothing to do with compatibility. Pål
Re: Penatx flashes/changing platforms
http://www.photo.net/canon/lens-motors [EMAIL PROTECTED] 09/10/02 06:39PM On Tue, 10 Sep 2002, Christopher Lillja wrote: Read When a 'USM motor is not a 'USM' motor on Photo.net... Do you have a link? I couldn't find it. chris
Re: Vs: Pentax flashes
I got a Pentax AF200T from KEH for $31. Works great in TTL mode on my SP. Has an eye. Two auto settings. Four manual settings. Works great on all my cameras, except my MZ5, which really wants a digital flash to be dedicated. Auto modes work OK on MZ5 after setting shutter and F stop manually. Not a lot of range, but enough for many uses, especially fill flash. Compact, very handy for a small kit. Reading Boz's k-mount website will clear up any confusion. I think the 201 may only suitable for the MZ-M body. Chris L. [EMAIL PROTECTED] 09/10/02 12:37PM You should be able to locate an earlier generation independent flash which would work on all models - I have a Starblitz 3800 DFS which works well, has TTL and external cell and is more powerful and much cheaper than the Pentax 280 T I used to have. A used 280 T should not cost very much either? All the best! Raimo Personal photography homepage at http://www.uusikaupunki.fi/~raikorho -Alkuperäinen viesti- Lähettäjä: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Vastaanottaja: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Päivä: 10. syyskuuta 2002 6:25 Aihe: Re: Pentax flashes ThanX for the replies so far. I do have a Vivitar 283 but it's a Made In Japan model (higher voltage). I had a Sunpak 133 and I'm looking for something around that size and weight. Someone mentioned the 280T but that's out of my size/weight/price range. In my post I made a mistake when I said the AS201SA shows a sensor eye in the online image. I mixed it up with a Sunpak unit. I don't see a sensor on the 201. I did some more digging and found at pentax.com a section of instruction manuals for some of their flashes. No manual for the 201 but I did find one for the 220T. Once again the explanatory text ain't the best. From what I gather the 220T (and maybe the 201) doesn't use a sensor eye on the flash body. Instead the lens has to be set to A (automatic) and the camera with the flash chooses a pre-set aperture. The other option using the 220T with a non-TTL camera body is to manually set the aperture for a full power burst, the setting dependent upon the distance to the subject. I'm kinda disappointed with what I've learned so far. Most of my lenses are plain K -- not KA -- and so I would have to use the flash at full power, adjusting for the distance. So much for auto flash. I hate blinding people with full flash power when it isn't needed. Why doesn't Pentax make a small flash like the Sunpak 144 with a sensor eye? I'm thinking about getting the 144 (or the 144D) but once again it gets into the flash trigger voltage problem, i.e. the non-Pentax flash might fry my PZ-10 and ZX-M. It's mentioned in the description for the 201 that it's a good flash to use with the ZX-M. If what I've found out is correct, it's a good flash IF your lenses are KA. If not, then it's check the flash range and set the aperture. I'm disappointed with Pentax. I've spent too much time trying to find basic info online. Their flash model designations are confusing (e.g., AF means auto-flash, not auto-focus) and their instruction manuals and product descriptions are next to useless. I like my Pentax cameras up to a point. I'm reaching that point and instead of changing all of my lenses over to KA to take advantage of a low-priced flash, I think it's time to sink money into the Canon EOS system. At least info on EOS isn't as obscure as what Pentax semi-translates from Japanese. And there doesn't seem to be any great confusion in regards to EOS flashes and their compatibilities with various EOS cameras. Best, Ray
Flatbed scanners for 35mm
IMHO - I gotta put in my vote for an inexpensive film scanner over any sort of flatbed. I have an HP S20xi for 35mm and an HP 7400c with trans adapter for medium format. The S20 simply works better/faster. It's worth the extra $200 over the Epson flatbed. Get a cheap flatbed to scan larger prints. Scanning most any print at over 600 dpi is pretty much a waste of bandwidth. The S20 does a fine job scanning any print up to 5x7at 300dpi. I need a Polaroid 120 for medium format and I'll be set. Between flatness issues, newton rings, fingerprints, and dust, scanning film on a flatbed is about as fun as dental work (these are still issues with film scanners, just less so.) Just my .02... Regards, Chris L. School Publications Guy
Re: Focus range Limiter on the FA 100 2.8 Macro
I have the F version. Yep, it's a great lens, but it hunts a lot. Leave the limiter engaged, and use spot AF. I just turn the AF off. I think it's more of a problem with the AF system, with non-IF primes, with a wide focusing range. Some lenses are worse than others, in my case, my 50/1.7 F and my 100/2.8 F are both terrible this way. The cheap Tamron IF zoom on my wife's ZX7 doesn't hunt and generally focuses very quickly. Go figure. Chris L. [EMAIL PROTECTED] 09/04/02 10:16AM I just got this lens. I plan to use it for macro work (duh) and as a instead of a 135mm telephoto. (The feel of the lens is wonderful by the way. What a tank! It balances so well on the MZ-S with the Grip) I'm having a little trouble getting used to the range limiter, however. I want to us mostly MF for macro work but AF for normal distances. I can't quite get the hang of the limiter, and the lens seems to always hunt through the whole focus range, which is huge. Any suggestions from the Cognoscenti? Steven Desjardins Department of Chemistry Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA 24450 (540) 458-8873 FAX: (540) 458-8878 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: No Pentax CSLR on Cheesekina?
We're holding out for the fine English craftsmanship of the Wensleydale Rangefinder (with cranberries). We hear you need to leave it out until it reaches room temperature for best optical performance/flavor. Regards, Wallace and Gromit Steve Desjardins [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: You know, I think the 50 ft F5 of cheese has the makings of acrhetype, at least for Pentaxians.
Re: advertizing
Hi Steve, I like the one with a photo of a Land Rover/Cruiser (memory fails to distingush) next to a glacier with the tag line Reliable Gear For Your Adventures I think it is for the ZX/MZ5n and others. I'm sure I've seen it this past year in Pop Photo or Shutterbug or something... Chris L. Steve Desjardins [EMAIL PROTECTED] 08/30/02 09:40AM I don't think I've ever seen a Pentax ad, even in photomags. Could anyone describe one? Steven Desjardins Department of Chemistry Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA 24450 (540) 458-8873 FAX: (540) 458-8878 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Super Program Vibration - an Overblown Issue
I really think this issue is vastly overblown. My own semi-scientific observations have led me to believe that the majority of the noise and vibration of a properly adjusted SP happen on mirror return, not mirror up. It doesn't matter how much noise or vibration (other than aesthetically) occurs on mirror return as the shutter has long been closed. It just seems like the SP has a stronger mirror return spring - possibly to deal with the faster motor drives available for this camera. Also the SP has a bit less heft to dampen the commotion then say a K2 or KM DMD. Also, there is NO shock absorption on mirror return. It's metal on metal without any visible dampening. I thought there would be bumpers that the mirror would rest on, but the resting position of the mirror is SO critical to focusing accuracy, you can imagine the trouble this could cause. In short, I don't think (on average) the SP has any more of a mirror-up slap vibration problem than many other MF Pentaxes without MLU. My samples include an old Spottie, K1000, and an ME... (not a huge sample, I know, but I've handled a few others) On the other hand my MZ5 seems much better in this regard, even though it's lighter. It's a shame it's VF stinks for MF... Just my humble opinion... Chris L. School Publications Guy Christopher Lillja Publications Coordinator The Pennington School www.pennington.org - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: lens strategies for school play?
Once again, this is one of those situations where a little advance scouting will do ya' right. Where will you be sitting and what will the lighting be like? Is there a special person in the cast who you simply must get? When will they be on stage and what will the lighting be at that moment? Spot meter, man. Spot meter. Or get a reading off someone's face way up close and manually lock it in. Just leaving the camera on AE (without spot metering) can really mess you up here. Use print film and let the lab fix the color. I've had good results with 800 speed Agfa Vista or Kodak Supra. This is definitly a situation where a faster prime is very handy. In my experience, pushing film to 3200 is not an adequite strategy to replace a fast lens. With reasonable lighting, a constant 2.8 zoom should do fine too. If you can get reasonably close, a 50/1.7 will do fine. An 85/2 would be wonderful. A 135/2.8 (or better yet 135/2.5) will do well from a little further back in the house. If there's a big number in a musical try to get a wide shot covering the entire stage with the 50/1.7 or a wider prime. Use a lens hood. An F4-5.6 zoom (even a constant F4 zoom like my favorite, the 28-70/4 FA) probably won't cut it. You'll probably see exposures like 1/30 to 1/125 F1.8 to 2.8 (the extra shutter speed 1/125 or faster will be great to give a little stop action). Leave the flash at home. It's very rude to set off a flash while young performers are trying to do their thing during a performance. Good luck. Chris L. School Publications Guy Christopher Lillja Publications Coordinator The Pennington School www.pennington.org - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Graduation Film and Lenses
Funny you should mention this, I'm about to go in to hyper-graduation mode. I'll shoot 20+ rolls over the next two weeks. The primes vs zooms debate is stupid. Sorry. This is like arguing whether you should have a flat blade screwdriver or a Phillips (cross head) screwdriver in your tool belt. The answer, of course, is both. The right tool for the right job. If you zoom isn't fast enough to deliver the shot, use something else. If your prime isn't short enough, or long enough to deliver the shot, use something else. Don't try to just GUESS which tool you'll need. Consider: Leave as little to chance as you possibly can. Can you scout the location in advance? Indoor or outdoor? Rain or shine? Other photographers higher up in the food chain? Visualize. What shots do you have to get? What shots do you want to get? Will you be allowed to use a tripod or monopod? Will you be allowed to use a flash? Can you get a program in advance? Can you reserve a seat? They're usually setting up for a graduation days in advance. Go there. Look around. Ask someone who has been there if you can't go. The shot everyone wants to get at graduation is the hand off of the diploma. How close can you get? Will the sun be overhead? Perhaps a bit of fill flash would help those eye-socket shadows? Can you get a good angle? If you scout one, figure an alternate as you may find the school pro in that spot on the big day. Be nice, he may help you. Great photos can be either taken or made, and a little advance scouting will help either approach immensely. Make a plan. Be prepared to disregard it. Have more than one kind of film on hand. I use three to four cameras for the big show here on campus. The school Nikon 6006 with a zoom. My MZ5 and Super Program with primes. And some medium format stuff for the class picture, usually a Koni-Omega 6x7 w/90/3.5 or 60/5.6. Still saving for that Pentax 67 I like to get establishing shots of interiors with a big ceremony going on. A fast 28 or 35 with 800 speed film is a good thing here. I also like a faster prime for the diploma handoff if possible and if I know where I'll be for the big moment. Nothing huge is needed if you can get in the wings or the first few rows. A 100 2.8 or even a cheap ol' 135/3.5 screw mount will give you good results. Once again, if you know where your going to be at the big moment, you dont need a zoom or AF. And BTW, I wouldn't be caught dead without a zoom for walking around shooting candids, groups, and individuals. Use a lens shade whenever possible, especially if the sun is overhead. I use flash a lot, but maybe not the way you think. The sunnier it is outside, the more I use fill flash to kill those ugly shadows under the eyes. I generally avoid flash inside, but I do use it, especially where I use my zoom. Kodak Portra NC 160 (outdoors sunny), 400 (outdoors cloudy) and 800 (indoors) are the films of the day. The Fuji equivalents work just as well, they're just harder to get in my neighborhood. Avoid super saturated films like velvia or E100VS (extra color) or even the standard Kodak Golds unless your subjects want to have their pimples and other skin imperfections rendered in brilliant reds and purples One more bit of advice. Look behind you, sometimes you can get great shots of people who are themselves focused on the things that would be the usual subject in a given situation. Good luck, Chris L. School Publications Guy - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
RE: Will Pentax join Olympus?
Kodak made some world class lenses over the years and I'm sure they have ample resourses to do so again. I have a 100mm luminized (single coated) Ektar on my 3x4 Speed Graphic and it's a truly fabulous lens. Oh, those well known lens manufacturers! As far as I can see, this is currently a consortium of one! No both Fuji, Panasonic and Kodak are involved. Christopher Lillja Publications Coordinator The Pennington School www.pennington.org - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Will Pentax Join Olympus? Re: mirror box tyranny
Hopefully yes, Pentax will make a new mount for it's digital SLR, taking advantage of a smaller frame size, but (unlike Olympus) with adapters to use both Kmt and M42 lenses. I agree with your comment IRT electronic viewfinders, but I think the poster was referring to tyranny of the size of a 24 x 36 mirror box, not the concept of a mirror box itself. A smaller format sensor chip wouldn't preclude the use of a typical real image SLR system, with a mirror, etc. H. Pentax already has a smaller format mirror box SLR system in the parts bin - remember the 110? And there are several imagers out there aboyut the size of a 110 frame! Holy hotcakes, Batman, could the 110 SLR system be the basis for a Pentax digital SLR!?!?!? Let's just stick the guts of an Optio 430 into an A110 and be done with it! Pretty decent lenses from what I understand, if a crappy film system Chris L. School Publications Guy Re: Will Pentax join Olympus? As long as the mirror box tyranny gives me an optical TTL viewfinder, then so be it. The hell will freeze before I buy a digital viewfinder camera. Christopher Lillja Publications Coordinator The Pennington School www.pennington.org - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: What is the most quiet body? Leica?! Ha ha...
Nothing beats a range finder for the quietness, an advantage of Leica. Ha ha. Nope. My digital with the sound turned off is totally, totally silent. Blows away all my Pentaxes, and my Leica IIIa. It's my tool of choice when I shoot in a really quiet classroom, with a shy teacher. My quietest Pentax is an ancient, incredibly beat up, dead-meter Spotmatic, which I love, and I often use in a classroom with a declasse Russian 85/2 mounted. Beautiful bokeh, and just soft enough to soften the age spots on our more, ummm, senior faculty. Cameras I've used in order of loudness (Loudest first): Koni Omega (Shutter is quiet but advance is like a rifle shot or, more properly, a rifle bolt!) Nikon N6006 Konica TC Konica FT1 MZ5 (Quietest Pentax shutter, motor ruins it) ZX7 Super Program K1000 ME Spotmatic (Big Gap) Zorki 6 Leica IIIa Speed Graphic (Leaf shutter) Sony Digital (Sound turned off) I use every one of these regularly (except for the Konica FT1, which I've sold.) Chris L. School Publications Guy - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Pentax at the Photo Expo? New digital Pentax lens mount... (pure fantasy)
Christopher wrote: Why mess around with the limitations of an old lens mount? Are there any limitations of the lens mount? Of course there are limitaions to the K mount. One of my least favorite is the loss of auto apeture when using M42 lenses... It's design is based on covering a 24x36mm piece of film. There's no reason to design a lens mount for a digital camera for this specific size frame - other than to retain the same relative magnification when using existing 35mm lenses. I would happily accept a 1.6 magnification factor on my existing lenses for the ability to use a F1.8-2.4 24-90 (35mm equiv.) zoom or an F2.8 600mm - this is something that becomes much more of a possibility when you only need to cover a smaller than 24x36 digital sensor... All of your lens designs get smaller and lighter, too... ...This system will feature an entirely electronic, all-new lens mount. I agree that jumping on this band wagon might be a good idea for Pentax but I can't see why it should exclude digital solutions for the K-mount. That would be shooting themselves in the foot. Psl It doesn't exclude K mount at all. My fantasy Pentax digital camera mount retains complete backward compatability (except for magnification factor) with all existing Pentax lenses - including M42 - by using a much shorter back focus and electromechanical adapters. I agree the engineering would be difficult but not nearly impossible - it's also a much easier task with an electronic lens mount (on the camera side)... Finally, auto apeture (without my spotmatic) with my M42 lenses! And a digital solution for the K-mount Yep - I want a new Pentax digital camera mount to make using my favorite Super Takumars easierHey I'll NEVER give up my film based cameras - I'll use my K mount and M42 wides on my old Super Program... Chris L. School Publications Guy - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
FTZ330 vs Af280T Flash for SP and MZ5
I'm looking for a TTL flash to use with my Super Program and my MZ5. Boz's KMP seems to be saying that the FTZ flashes won't work at all with my Super Program? Is this true? Or will I simply loose the digital functions? Would an AF280T be a better choice to work with both cameras? Chris L. School Publications Guy - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Pentax at the Photo Expo? How about a new lens mount....
Hey - I love the idea of even more new limited lenses - but let me go big for a moment In addition to introducing the new 97 1.9 FA* IF AL, our friends at Asahi Optical have something way-cool up their sleeves Why mess around with the limitations of an old lens mount? Following rumors that Olympus is introducing an entirely new digital camera system, Pentax will scrap plans to introduce a digital Kmt body and introduce an entirely new digital SLR system. This system will feature an entirely electronic, all-new lens mount. Only a handful of high quality lenses will be available at first. The first and standard lens being an F1.8-2.4 24-90 (35mm equiv.) DZ IF AL zoom. 15/2, 300/2 and 600 2.8 DZ* IF AL (all 35mm equiv.) lenses will be available within a few years. These lenses will be approx. 2/3 the size and weight factor of similar 35mm lenses, or smaller. The camera will feature a 3.5mpX3 Foveon imager in a body form factor similar to an 90% scale MZS with up to a gigabyte of on-board storage and Firewire connectivity. Because of the drastically lower computational overhead of the Foveon chip and large buffer system, the DZ will capture 24, 36, or 48 bit color and deliver at least 5fps for up to 20 frames in standard form. Tethered to a dedicated workstation (or using Bluetooth wireless technology in an add-on grip), the dz will capture up to 30fps until off-board storage is exhausted. Top shutter speed will be up to 1/6000 (mechanical) to 1/12000 electronic. Flash sync is available at all shutter speeds. The Foveon sensor will be protected from dust by a user removable/cleanable optical flat inside the camera body. Other grips (in addition to the wireless tether) will be available to extend the cameras capabilities, or simply extend its size for those with larger hands. The DZ also features extended IR capabilities and modeless operation. (No switching back and forth between recored and play modes.) Dozens of focus, exposure, and metering modes will be available from full auto to full manual with many types of bracketing. With smaller, fast focusing standard DZ lenses, the new Pentax will be one of the fastest and most directly reponsive digital cameras EVER. With a back-focus of 25.4mm, the best part of this system will be its backward comparability will ALL existing Pentax lenses. Using the proper electro-mechanical adapters, all Pentax lenses from the M37 mount Asahi-Flex lenses, to the M42 Takumars, to the most recent FA series autofocus will mount and give whatever full functionality they are capable of. Additionally, since Pentax will licence the mount at a reasonable cost to third party mfgrs., a wide range OEM and third party lenses will be mountable, with various levels of functionality. The M39 Leica thread mount adapter will one of the first available. MSRP will be $2500 falling within a year or two to a street price of $899 just my happy thought for the day. Regards, Chris L. - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Little Help with Super Program
I just got a nice Super Program! Looks great and now I'll be able to leave the screw mount adapter in my ME... Since it's one of the few Pentaxes for which there is no manual available for free on the Pentax website, could one of you folks help me with a couple of quick questions? 1. The little display on the top deck just below the mode switch/shutter release. What does it display, other than P for program mode and the shutter speed? There seems to be a little rectangular bar in the upper right hand corner of the display, what does this indicate? 2. There's what looks like a little button just below the PC socket on the left side of lens mount (left side as you look through the viewfinder). What does it do? Battery check? If not, where is the battery check and how does it indicate battery condition? 3. Anything else that might not be obvious to someone who's only used a K1000, MZ5, and an ME? Please respond directly as I am in digest mode and I'd like to burn some film in this puppy right now! Many thanks! Chris L. School Publications Guy - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Foveon X3: Welcome to the bleeding edge, digital camera enthusiasts!
I just read the article in Shutterbug and man, I can see why this generated so much list traffic earlier in the week - this is not just another new chip That's a big deal The implications are huge It doesn't smell of vaporware, either Few or no color fringing artifacts, drastically reduced processing times Dramatically faster digital cameras 36 bit color and dynamic range! Whew! Basically, all digital cameras (even C* and N* best efforts) that use the old style mosaic chip are shortly to be obsolete I don't believe that's an oversimplification or an exaggeration - it's like moving from a 286 to the 386 - there's simply a big difference (at least in the wintel computing world) between 16 bit and 32 bit computing Anyone heard of plans for a film scanner using this chip yet? That scanner will have similar advantages The wildest part is - this chip simply does a better job at mimicking film in it's multi-layered construction and its ability to capture multiple colors at the exact same X Y coordinates on the film plane! Mosaic chips simply can't do that Hence all that churning after you trip the shutter in a digital camera Imagine if you could design a monitor like that? No more pixels as we currently know them? Sorry, I'm like the guy who came late to the party and can't shut up Who thought a N D1x would be obsolete before my Super Program? (Smile) Yeah, me too Chris Lillja School Publications Guy - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List To unsubscribe, go to http://wwwpdmlnet and follow the directions Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pugkomkonorg
Re: pentax-discuss-digest V1 #2224
Yes, Greywolf, I just bought a Super Program and I love it, it's great! They really do exist! As for the X3 imaging chip, like I wrote, it doesn't SMELL like vaporware ... time will tell! Chris L. ** Date: Fri, 1 Mar 2002 12:12:43 -0500 From: T Rittenhouse [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Foveon X3: Welcome to the bleeding edge, digital camera enthusiasts! Oh? You bought one then? And are using it now? Ciao, Graywolf - - - Original Message - From: Christopher Lillja [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, March 01, 2002 10:44 AM Subject: Foveon X3: Welcome to the bleeding edge, digital camera enthusiasts! It doesn't smell of vaporware, either... - - Christopher Lillja Publications Coordinator The Pennington School www.pennington.org - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Spottie Enablement
Since you won't be using open aperture metering with an M42 camera except the Spotmatic F, and you'd like an MX, why not just use an MX with the adapter for screw mount lenses? Hi Shel, I may do just that. (Get an MX!) But really, I'm more interested in auto-diaphram action with M42 lenses than any sort of metering. You don't get that with the M42/K adapter. Stop-down metering would be fine. Like I said, I can live without any TTL metering at all if the trade-off will get me a high quality finder and reliable mechanics in a moderate size body. Christopher Lillja Publications Coordinator The Pennington School www.pennington.org - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
RE: FA 28-70/f4 AL why not F2.8?
Why did Pentax choose to make a f/4 constant zoom using the diaphragm to maintain that, rather than making a f/2.8 - f/4 zoom on this lens. Am I making sense? :-) Yep sure. One answer is that the constant relative aperture makes it much easier to use with non-ttl flash. Another answer is that Pentax may have chosen to make a better quality f4 (with the above mentioned advantage) lens rather succumb to the marketing allure of that F/2.8 aperture on the wide end. (As explained by our fellow Pentaxians.) See, that way, instead of us complaining about how bad this lens is wide open (like some other Pentax 2.8-4 zooms), it's pretty much universally loved with the slight criticism that it takes a bit of a quality hit at 28mm. (just a bit of barrel distortion.) I love this lens. I don't think opening up the wide end to 2.8 would do anything good for it. F2.8 just never cut it for me in any low light situation, anyway. Carry a couple of fast primes. Or an extra body with a fast prime. Too expensive? Naa. Try an old Vivitar 28/2 (close focus) or 28/1.9. I got a 28/2 CF for $60. A $90 F 28/2.8 would probably be much better than the 28-70 opened up to 2.8 on the wide end. I hear the FA 28/2.8 is great. I couldn't live without a fast, wide lens. I carry that old viv 28/2 everywhere. Fits in a jacket pocket. Now I'm looking for that M 85/2 to put in the other pocket. But the 28-70/4 pretty much lives on my MZ5 Christopher Lillja Publications Coordinator The Pennington School www.pennington.org - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
RE: Variable zoom question - FA28-70/4
This whole thing seems to hinge on using the term aperture and F interchangeably. I don't believe they are. F is commonly used to denote relative aperture. And some folks seem to be using aperture to refer to absolute aperture. What a huge urination contest over some sloppy language Not to pick on Kent but, incidentally, in regards to his comment: First off what you say could be done however making the diaphragm change with focal length is the hard way to do it. In fact I don't know of a single lens designer who could make that work very well because most zooms don't have much in the way of zoom/aperture direct interaction. My FA 28-70/4 does exactly that and it does it very, very well. Great little lens. Since the lens mechanically varies the absolute aperture in proportion to focal length setting, relative aperture F is maintained - even when it is used on my K1000, ME, or MZ5. On my other zooms, the mechanical F scale/setting only indicates the correct relative aperture at the widest setting. Chris Lillja School Publications Guy - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
No Fat--Really light kit
This is what I'm bringing to Bermuda in Oct. MZ5 Sigma 24/2.8 MF FA 28-80/4 F 50/1.7 F 100/2.8 macro and/or, if space is really limited Jupiter 9 85/2 M42 mount (brand-new 01 production, looks great, waiting on M42/Kmt adapt. Bogen mini pod w/ballhead F Cable release Haze and Cir Polarizer Options K1000 back-up body w/flash Konica TC w/40/1.8 My wife is packing a ZX7 w/remote and 28-105(tamron) Land-based trips I break out the medium format stuff... Chris L. School Publications Guy Christopher Lillja Publications Coordinator The Pennington School www.pennington.org - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Trouble with adapter K
I recently purchased a nifty Jupiter 9 85/2 in M42 screwmount. It came with a decent looking adapter K. (The whole thing was cheaper than two cases of Heineken. Yes I realize this lens is probably NOT to be mentioned in the same breath with a real Pentax 85/2 but hey for $50 and besides I really like my Kiev MF lenses, especially on a Mamiya 645. Anyway...) I realize this is probably a substandard adapter unit but I'd love to try this cool little lens on my K1000 or MZ5. Is there a trick to fitting this? The adapter doesn't want to mount up to any of my bodies. If I fit the adapter to the lens, still no go. I sure as heck ain't gonna force it! Alternately, what is the best source for a quality adapter? BH doesn't seem to list the real Pentax item. Is the real Pentax adapter worth the extra $? Does anyone have experience with good non-Pentax adapters? Hey, I'll be fitting up my MZ5 with a CZJ 180/2.8 from my Kiev outfit If I can get this goingPentacon 6 to M42 is pretty easy! I'm on digest, please answer directly. Thanks in advance! Chris Lillja School Publications Guy - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: trouble with adapter K
Thanks for the help, guys. I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be an M42 to K adapter. Several M42 lenses thread into it effortlessly, it just doesn't mate up to a k mount body. It looks perfect but it's probably just junk. Anyway, I found K adapters on BH, but none of them seem to be genuine Pentax. Any idea where I could find the real thing? Does Pentax make them anymore? Or should I just buy an old Spotmatic? :) Thanks, Chris L. - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Hello Pentaxians
Hi there, I've been lurking for a while since going to an MZ5 for my main 35mm. I'm a school publications guy and I need some help finding a good shot of a red-tailed hawk. I need an original 8x10 print or larger to blow up to poster size. The photographer can retain all rights, but I'd like to get rights in a deal to do a short run poster and use the photo in our school publications. Any suggestions? I have moderate budget to play with on this. Also, I need some lens enabling. How do the longer Penatx AF zooms compare? Say 80-320 vs. 100-300? Currently my lens lineup includes a 24/2.8 MF sigma, 28-70/4 FA, 50/1.7 F, 100/2.8 F macro, and an old quantaray 70-210/4 MF one touch. I'm on the digest, so please respond directly. Thanks, Christopher Lillja Publications Coordinator The Pennington School www.pennington.org - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
