RE: *istD Reliability : WAS: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
As for durability: I have almost exclusively used Pentax cameras since 1981. For amateur and professional purposes. All the repairs (and there has been very few at that) except one, was caused by my own bad handling - I dropped the thing, or got tape stuck in the shutter, due to home rolled canisters in my PZ-1. IMHO, Pentax cameras are very well made and very durable. I believe I could never wear out a Petnax camera. Maybe the *ist D will be an exception, because with this camera I shoot in average 100 frames a day. That's 36500 in just one year. I may have to have it serviced after three years (100.000 frames), though! :-) The most conspicuous difference between the MZ-S and *ist D is the crop factor. I must get new wide angels/wide angle zooms. But my M*4/300mm is now a 450mm - with the 1.7 AF Adapter it is now a AF 765mm. Jens Bladt mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://hjem.get2net.dk/bladt -Oprindelig meddelelse- Fra: J. C. O'Connell [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sendt: 12. november 2004 01:25 Til: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Emne: *istD Reliability : WAS: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD) In my opinion, the *istD is too new (what is it about a 1.5 yr old?) to make judgements regarding its long term reliabiliy. ( sorry for stating the obvious, duh). While some have probably already been worked real hard in terms of number of exposures, there is always the issue of aging of components and it will take a more time to know for sure how good or bad the long term reliability will be because its no different than any other camera in that regard, and only time will tell. JCO
Re: *istD Reliability : WAS: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
Regarding Pentax durability - I've been a Pentax user since 1969. I've used a Spotmatic, MX, ES II, SF1, PZ1, PZ1P, MZ-S *ist D. I consistently shot hundreds of rolls a year, both for my own pleasure and for business. I've always treated these cameras as the precision instruments they are. I've never had any preventative maintained done and have only had two let downs (on the Spotmatic SF1), that was not my fault. The other two let downs were due to my fault in loading film. This is one of the reasons I remain a Pentaxan. Kenneth Waller - Original Message - From: Jens Bladt [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, November 12, 2004 12:45 PM Subject: RE: *istD Reliability : WAS: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD) As for durability: I have almost exclusively used Pentax cameras since 1981. For amateur and professional purposes. All the repairs (and there has been very few at that) except one, was caused by my own bad handling - I dropped the thing, or got tape stuck in the shutter, due to home rolled canisters in my PZ-1. IMHO, Pentax cameras are very well made and very durable. I believe I could never wear out a Petnax camera. Maybe the *ist D will be an exception, because with this camera I shoot in average 100 frames a day. That's 36500 in just one year. I may have to have it serviced after three years (100.000 frames), though! :-) -Oprindelig meddelelse- Fra: J. C. O'Connell [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sendt: 12. november 2004 01:25 Til: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Emne: *istD Reliability : WAS: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD) In my opinion, the *istD is too new (what is it about a 1.5 yr old?) to make judgements regarding its long term reliabiliy. ( sorry for stating the obvious, duh). While some have probably already been worked real hard in terms of number of exposures, there is always the issue of aging of components and it will take a more time to know for sure how good or bad the long term reliability will be because its no different than any other camera in that regard, and only time will tell. JCO
Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
I have some concerns about moving to digital, not as a replacement for film but as a supplemental system. Having been reading many digi-threads here, one thing keeps popping up: the various problems people have been having with the istD. The idea of buying a camera and then working through software and quality control issues, problems of all sorts, downloading glitches, memory cards that fail, just seems to defeat the purpose of a camera and lessen the experience of photography for me. I'm not particularly interested in solving computer problems when out making photographs, and have never really had many problems in all the years I've been shooting film: One battery problem with an ME Super, a sticky shutter release on an MX (solved by whapping the camera against the palm of my hand), and an LX with sticky mirror. Apart from a friend dropping one of my Leicas and needing to replace the rangefinder unit, those are the only problems I've encountered since 1968 oh, my original Spotmatic had to have the meter calibrated. Are these problems typical of the Pentax dslr, or are there just a few people here with such problems who post a lot looking for help in resolving these issues. From what I gather most of the regulars here are using an istD. How many have had NO problems with their cameras, software, memory cards, or what have you? Who has had serious problems, where the cameras has had to go in for repair, or be replaced, within a year or less after purchase? Who has had a problem, regardless of what it was, that caused a loss of images, or prevented a shooting session from being completed? I've had my little Sony for 18 months or so, maybe more, and have not had a single glitch with it. I just put in a card, make sure the battery has juice, and point and shoot merrily all day long. Can that be expected from the Pentax istD? Shel
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
On 11/11/04, Shel Belinkoff, discombobulated, unleashed: Are these problems typical of the Pentax dslr, or are there just a few people here with such problems who post a lot looking for help in resolving these issues. From what I gather most of the regulars here are using an istD. How many have had NO problems with their cameras, software, memory cards, or what have you? Who has had serious problems, where the cameras has had to go in for repair, or be replaced, within a year or less after purchase? Who has had a problem, regardless of what it was, that caused a loss of images, or prevented a shooting session from being completed? I don't use an *ist D but FWIW, I have not had one single problem in 2 cameras. Never lost images. Never had a card go down. HTH Cheers, Cotty ___/\__ || (O) | People, Places, Pastiche ||=|http://www.cottysnaps.com _
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
Shel said: I have some concerns about moving to digital, not as a replacement for film but as a supplemental system. Are these problems typical of the Pentax dslr, or are there just a few people here with such problems who post a lot looking for help in resolving these issues. From what I gather most of the regulars here are using an istD. How many have had NO problems with their cameras, software, memory cards, or what have you? Who has had serious problems, where the cameras has had to go in for repair, or be replaced, within a year or less after purchase? Who has had a problem, regardless of what it was, that caused a loss of images, or prevented a shooting session from being completed? I've had my little Sony for 18 months or so, maybe more, and have not had a single glitch with it. I just put in a card, make sure the battery has juice, and point and shoot merrily all day long. Can that be expected from the Pentax istD? Shel Shel, I am just about done my *istD poll answers and hope to have them posted later this after noon. Maybe this will help a bit. I only received 10 replies,so its not a good x section but what the hey:-) I was hoping to hear from Bill and Ryan and a few others that seemed to have problems. OTOH,I had to have the main board on my D2H replaced earlier in October.Its under warranty,but, when things go wrong,they really go wrongvbgNo worse i suppose than a PZ camera in for electrical repairs i suppose. Dave
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
My first *istD was defective. It wouldn't recognize a card. However, BH replaced it immediately. I now have two *istD and have not had any problems with either. i find that my exposures are very accurate and the quality is very good. The camera has made me much more productive. Where a magazine shoot used to take four hours with the 6x7, I can now do it in two. In the year prior to purchasing the *istD I posted about 30 shots with my stock house. In the year since, I've posted around 200. I print on the Epson 2200, and the results are very nice. I couldn't be more pleased with the camera or the technology. Paul I have some concerns about moving to digital, not as a replacement for film but as a supplemental system. Having been reading many digi-threads here, one thing keeps popping up: the various problems people have been having with the istD. The idea of buying a camera and then working through software and quality control issues, problems of all sorts, downloading glitches, memory cards that fail, just seems to defeat the purpose of a camera and lessen the experience of photography for me. I'm not particularly interested in solving computer problems when out making photographs, and have never really had many problems in all the years I've been shooting film: One battery problem with an ME Super, a sticky shutter release on an MX (solved by whapping the camera against the palm of my hand), and an LX with sticky mirror. Apart from a friend dropping one of my Leicas and needing to replace the rangefinder unit, those are the only problems I've encountered since 1968 oh, my original Spotmatic had to have the meter calibrated. Are these problems typical of the Pentax dslr, or are there just a few people here with such problems who post a lot looking for help in resolving these issues. From what I gather most of the regulars here are using an istD. How many have had NO problems with their cameras, software, memory cards, or what have you? Who has had serious problems, where the cameras has had to go in for repair, or be replaced, within a year or less after purchase? Who has had a problem, regardless of what it was, that caused a loss of images, or prevented a shooting session from being completed? I've had my little Sony for 18 months or so, maybe more, and have not had a single glitch with it. I just put in a card, make sure the battery has juice, and point and shoot merrily all day long. Can that be expected from the Pentax istD? Shel
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
A footnote to my earlier comments: One of the reasons I went digital was that I had experienced a lot of problems with film. The best pro lab in town kept kinking my 6x7 transparency film, frequently rendering the first one or two frames useless. The lab that was processing my color neg film had scratched a number of rolls, and dirt was becoming a constant problem. I don't miss color film. I still shoot some BW film and process it myself. But I've also found that I like the converted BW outpur of the *istD. I have some concerns about moving to digital, not as a replacement for film but as a supplemental system. Having been reading many digi-threads here, one thing keeps popping up: the various problems people have been having with the istD. The idea of buying a camera and then working through software and quality control issues, problems of all sorts, downloading glitches, memory cards that fail, just seems to defeat the purpose of a camera and lessen the experience of photography for me. I'm not particularly interested in solving computer problems when out making photographs, and have never really had many problems in all the years I've been shooting film: One battery problem with an ME Super, a sticky shutter release on an MX (solved by whapping the camera against the palm of my hand), and an LX with sticky mirror. Apart from a friend dropping one of my Leicas and needing to replace the rangefinder unit, those are the only problems I've encountered since 1968 oh, my original Spotmatic had to have the meter calibrated. Are these problems typical of the Pentax dslr, or are there just a few people here with such problems who post a lot looking for help in resolving these issues. From what I gather most of the regulars here are using an istD. How many have had NO problems with their cameras, software, memory cards, or what have you? Who has had serious problems, where the cameras has had to go in for repair, or be replaced, within a year or less after purchase? Who has had a problem, regardless of what it was, that caused a loss of images, or prevented a shooting session from being completed? I've had my little Sony for 18 months or so, maybe more, and have not had a single glitch with it. I just put in a card, make sure the battery has juice, and point and shoot merrily all day long. Can that be expected from the Pentax istD? Shel
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
While those with problems are vocal because they need help or to vent, those without don't comment as much (probably so as not to sound like they're gushing) because they don't really have to. I was unfortunate to have 2 ist D related problems, the first a backfocus issue with the Sigma 28-70 2.8 DF. While this is terribly annoying, it's not just a Pentax thing. Some C***n users have noticed backfocusing problems using the 20D with the 17-40L lens even. The N***n D70 was on the list too.. The problem really annoyed me when I discovered it because it was shooting 300 or so frames of the Aussie Olympians in a tickertape parade, and I only discovered the focus problems when I downloaded the images (on the LCD they looked fine!). I guess you could call that a loss of images. The other problem was regarding the battery grip. While the power was from the grip, connecting it to my laptop would produce a 'battery depleted' message. If you're thinking of it as a supplementary system, and if you've got boxes of Pentax glass, and are ready to put in the effort to ensure you don't get a lemon, I'd say go for it. There are listers who constantly produce wonderful work with their ist D's. On the other hand, if you're only 20% convinced, I'd suggest crossing your fingers Pentax have something planned for next Photokina :-) Cheers, Ryan - Original Message - From: Shel Belinkoff [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, November 12, 2004 12:12 AM Subject: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD) Are these problems typical of the Pentax dslr, or are there just a few people here with such problems who post a lot looking for help in resolving these issues. From what I gather most of the regulars here are using an istD. How many have had NO problems with their cameras, software, memory cards, or what have you? Who has had serious problems, where the cameras has had to go in for repair, or be replaced, within a year or less after purchase? Who has had a problem, regardless of what it was, that caused a loss of images, or prevented a shooting session from being completed? I've had my little Sony for 18 months or so, maybe more, and have not had a single glitch with it. I just put in a card, make sure the battery has juice, and point and shoot merrily all day long. Can that be expected from the Pentax istD? Shel
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
Many of these problems are typical of all DSLR or Digital cameras in general or digital equipment in general. Software is pounded out and often not properly tested. The rush to market makes the end user the final tester in many cases. I'm sure the Canon and Nikon forums have just as many complaints. Shel Belinkoff wrote: I have some concerns about moving to digital, not as a replacement for film but as a supplemental system. Having been reading many digi-threads here, one thing keeps popping up: the various problems people have been having with the istD. The idea of buying a camera and then working through software and quality control issues, problems of all sorts, downloading glitches, memory cards that fail, just seems to defeat the purpose of a camera and lessen the experience of photography for me. I'm not particularly interested in solving computer problems when out making photographs, and have never really had many problems in all the years I've been shooting film: One battery problem with an ME Super, a sticky shutter release on an MX (solved by whapping the camera against the palm of my hand), and an LX with sticky mirror. Apart from a friend dropping one of my Leicas and needing to replace the rangefinder unit, those are the only problems I've encountered since 1968 oh, my original Spotmatic had to have the meter calibrated. Are these problems typical of the Pentax dslr, or are there just a few people here with such problems who post a lot looking for help in resolving these issues. From what I gather most of the regulars here are using an istD. How many have had NO problems with their cameras, software, memory cards, or what have you? Who has had serious problems, where the cameras has had to go in for repair, or be replaced, within a year or less after purchase? Who has had a problem, regardless of what it was, that caused a loss of images, or prevented a shooting session from being completed? I've had my little Sony for 18 months or so, maybe more, and have not had a single glitch with it. I just put in a card, make sure the battery has juice, and point and shoot merrily all day long. Can that be expected from the Pentax istD? Shel -- I can understand why mankind hasn't given up war. During a war you get to drive tanks through the sides of buildings and shoot foreigners - two things that are usually frowned on during peacetime. --P.J. O'Rourke
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
I suppose, but I figured I'd stick to Pentax issues since the Pentax would be my first choice (or consideration) were I to buy a DSLR, mostly because of all the K-mount glass that I have. Anyway, this is mostly a Pentax forum ;-)) That Nikon, Canon, Kodak, and others have similar problems is understood. That doesn't make me feel better (or worse) about the Pentax. Seems that there have been quite a bit more quality and operational problems with cameras (and this is a very personal conjecture) since the advent of autofocus and cameras with lots of electronics. Shel [Original Message] From: Peter J. Alling [EMAIL PROTECTED] Many of these problems are typical of all DSLR or Digital cameras in general or digital equipment in general. Software is pounded out and often not properly tested. The rush to market makes the end user the final tester in many cases. I'm sure the Canon and Nikon forums have just as many complaints. Shel Belinkoff wrote: I have some concerns about moving to digital, not as a replacement for film but as a supplemental system.
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
Hello Shel, I have two *istD bodies with about 15000-2 frames shot. I have not had any problems of concern with them. Every camera is going to have standard quirks, especially electronic ones. So for me, the big quirk (and I have tamed it in one or two sessions) is the flash TTL thing. Beyond that, I have been more than happy. I also get the feeling (especially reading the dpreview forum) that many people expect an electronic camera to think for them. So the camera gets blamed for not handling a situation that would require the person to think and take control of the picture. Simple example: when there is a lot of sky in the picture, the foreground is underexposed - well, duh! Along the same lines, some people are heavily relying on AF for some/all situations. Being a mostly manual focus guy, I don't encounter AF issues as much as many. So, in a nutshell, I have not encountered any significant differences between my old PZ-1p's, MZ-S's or the *istD's. HTH, Bruce Thursday, November 11, 2004, 8:12:49 AM, you wrote: SB I have some concerns about moving to digital, not as a replacement for film SB but as a supplemental system. Having been reading many digi-threads here, SB one thing keeps popping up: the various problems people have been having SB with the istD. The idea of buying a camera and then working through SB software and quality control issues, problems of all sorts, downloading SB glitches, memory cards that fail, just seems to defeat the purpose of a SB camera and lessen the experience of photography for me. I'm not SB particularly interested in solving computer problems when out making SB photographs, and have never really had many problems in all the years I've SB been shooting film: One battery problem with an ME Super, a sticky shutter SB release on an MX (solved by whapping the camera against the palm of my SB hand), and an LX with sticky mirror. Apart from a friend dropping one of SB my Leicas and needing to replace the rangefinder unit, those are the only SB problems I've encountered since 1968 oh, my original Spotmatic had to SB have the meter calibrated. SB Are these problems typical of the Pentax dslr, or are there just a few SB people here with such problems who post a lot looking for help in resolving SB these issues. From what I gather most of the regulars here are using an SB istD. How many have had NO problems with their cameras, software, memory SB cards, or what have you? Who has had serious problems, where the cameras SB has had to go in for repair, or be replaced, within a year or less after SB purchase? Who has had a problem, regardless of what it was, that caused a SB loss of images, or prevented a shooting session from being completed? SB I've had my little Sony for 18 months or so, maybe more, and have not had a SB single glitch with it. I just put in a card, make sure the battery has SB juice, and point and shoot merrily all day long. Can that be expected from SB the Pentax istD? SB Shel
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
So, 33% of your cameras were unsatisfactory and needed replacement ;-)) Thanks for jumping in, Paul. Shel [Original Message] From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] My first *istD was defective. It wouldn't recognize a card. However, BH replaced it immediately. I now have two *istD and have not had any problems with either.
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
On Thu, 11 Nov 2004, Shel Belinkoff wrote: I have some concerns about moving to digital, not as a replacement for film but as a supplemental system. Big snip What I did not see in your list (and I am only mentioning it just in case) is how problematic dust is/is not with the *ist-D/DSLRs. Perhaps you don't mind the issue, I just thought to throw in one of the reasons I am not keen to go near them with a bargepole. Kostas
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
I don't see that as a problem that will prevent getting the picture, so I didn't mention it. If dust, however, causes mechanical or electronic problems, that's another concern, but I don't think it does. I don't see at as any more of a concern than scratches, spots, or dust on a negative. Maybe it is, but it doesn't seem that way. Shel [Original Message] From: Kostas Kavoussanakis [EMAIL PROTECTED] What I did not see in your list (and I am only mentioning it just in case) is how problematic dust is/is not with the *ist-D/DSLRs. Perhaps you don't mind the issue, I just thought to throw in one of the reasons I am not keen to go near them with a bargepole. Kostas
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
Dust is not a problem if the camera is handled properly. I change lenses frequently and shoot outdoors quite a bit, but I don't have dust problems. I never leave the body exposed without a cap for more than a few seconds at a time, and I clean the sensor by flowing it off with a sterile ear syringe about once a week. When not in use, the syringe is stored in a box to avoid any contamination. Paul I don't see that as a problem that will prevent getting the picture, so I didn't mention it. If dust, however, causes mechanical or electronic problems, that's another concern, but I don't think it does. I don't see at as any more of a concern than scratches, spots, or dust on a negative. Maybe it is, but it doesn't seem that way. Shel [Original Message] From: Kostas Kavoussanakis [EMAIL PROTECTED] What I did not see in your list (and I am only mentioning it just in case) is how problematic dust is/is not with the *ist-D/DSLRs. Perhaps you don't mind the issue, I just thought to throw in one of the reasons I am not keen to go near them with a bargepole. Kostas
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
Hello Kostas, I can say that after scanning thousands of pictures, that dust on the sensor is a minuscule problem compared to all the crap that is on negatives. I don't have to blow the dust off very often and then it is a 20 second operation. If a few images end up with a dust spot, it is no different than cloning out all the dust from scans. Lack of cleanup of images is one of the MAJOR reasons to shoot digital if you are already scanning. -- Best regards, Bruce Thursday, November 11, 2004, 9:17:10 AM, you wrote: KK On Thu, 11 Nov 2004, Shel Belinkoff wrote: I have some concerns about moving to digital, not as a replacement for film but as a supplemental system. KK Big snip KK What I did not see in your list (and I am only mentioning it just in KK case) is how problematic dust is/is not with the *ist-D/DSLRs. KK Perhaps you don't mind the issue, I just thought to throw in one of KK the reasons I am not keen to go near them with a bargepole. KK Kostas
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
- Original Message - From: Shel Belinkoff [EMAIL PROTECTED] Seems that there have been quite a bit more quality and operational problems with cameras (and this is a very personal conjecture) since the advent of autofocus and cameras with lots of electronics. That's the first thing I thought of too, when I read your first post. Digital SLRs require more features to work together flawlessly than any other cameras before them, and thus with higher probability than ever that there will be some technical quirks. That said, my experience with the *istD has been a very pleasant one so far. I think it's a pretty decent camera. I think also that the experience with a DSLR is very dependant on one's expectations. For my part, the image quality of 6 megapixels has exceeded my expectations. The AF performance of *istD, however, has not met them. In my photography I'm not very dependant on a fast AF, so I chose acceptance rather than disappointment...:-) Btw, I didn't answer to the poll... best, Jostein
RE: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
dust isnt much of an issue anymore with film or sensor sourced digital images because it is so easy to clean up with photoshop ( unless its absurdly large or numerous). Its not like the old days where dust in a wet darkroom could easily drive you to insanity because it was so hard to eliminate completely. With digital editing it can be removed 100% without too much effort at all. JCO -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2004 1:03 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD) Dust is not a problem if the camera is handled properly. I change lenses frequently and shoot outdoors quite a bit, but I don't have dust problems. I never leave the body exposed without a cap for more than a few seconds at a time, and I clean the sensor by flowing it off with a sterile ear syringe about once a week. When not in use, the syringe is stored in a box to avoid any contamination. Paul I don't see that as a problem that will prevent getting the picture, so I didn't mention it. If dust, however, causes mechanical or electronic problems, that's another concern, but I don't think it does. I don't see at as any more of a concern than scratches, spots, or dust on a negative. Maybe it is, but it doesn't seem that way. Shel [Original Message] From: Kostas Kavoussanakis [EMAIL PROTECTED] What I did not see in your list (and I am only mentioning it just in case) is how problematic dust is/is not with the *ist-D/DSLRs. Perhaps you don't mind the issue, I just thought to throw in one of the reasons I am not keen to go near them with a bargepole. Kostas
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
Yes. I haven't found the *ist D to have more or less problems than a regular electronic body film SLR. Tom C. I've had my little Sony for 18 months or so, maybe more, and have not had a single glitch with it. I just put in a card, make sure the battery has juice, and point and shoot merrily all day long. Can that be expected from the Pentax istD?
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
On 12/11/04, Ryan Lee, discombobulated, unleashed: I'd suggest crossing your fingers Pentax have something planned for next Photokina :-) I'd cross everything mate. Arms, legs, shoelaces, etc. Cheers, Cotty ___/\__ || (O) | People, Places, Pastiche ||=|http://www.cottysnaps.com _
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
On 11/11/04, Peter J. Alling, discombobulated, unleashed: I'm sure the Canon and Nikon forums have just as many complaints. You're kidding. More! Cheers, Cotty ___/\__ || (O) | People, Places, Pastiche ||=|http://www.cottysnaps.com _
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
On Thu, 11 Nov 2004 08:12:49 -0800 Shel Belinkoff [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: apart from a friend dropping one of my Leicas and needing to replace the rangefinder unit does this 'friend' sleep with the fishes? Typical problems with digital. * All images need retouching as skin tones are poor. * The *istD TTL flash is unusable which is ok for me and my Metz but my 360FGZ sits in a box. * dust on the censor needs cleaning often. I have used the *istD in the field and it needed constant cleaning. * You need a constant supply of batteries to keep it running. I use a bunch of NiMH batteries. More costs involoved here. * Black and white... just forget it, use film. Digital is not a black and white medium at this time. Having said that, I have never had a card fail on me and have never lost an image with the *istD. My maximum for memory cards is 256 Meg. Should one ever fail, all will not be lost. In my local photographic we now see an endless stream of digitally 'enhanced' images, rarely are they of quality and these are from photographers whos works I quite admired before they swithched wholly to digital. I have never had a problem with the *istD that I could not get the job done. For me, the *istD solves a problem of grain in very low light situations such as stage performance. I use it in the studio also, but not as much as my 6x7 these days. I believe if you follow your own suggestion of not replacing film but as a supplimental system you would be happy with it. It has served me well as another photographic tool. I have been asked by the local art gallery to produce a range of images for display, and these will all be done in black and white and the 6x7. I cannot imagine even trying this with digital. Kind regards Kevin -- Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
I'm able to use the AF400T with the *istD on TTL. Good exposures are no problem at ISO 400. I find that the *istD records skin tones quite accurately. I shoot RAW and adjust color temperature as necessary. I have never tried shooting tiff or jpeg, so I can't speak to that. I have shown *istD work in a rather prestigious local gallery and will do so again this winter. Paul On Thu, 11 Nov 2004 08:12:49 -0800 Shel Belinkoff [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: apart from a friend dropping one of my Leicas and needing to replace the rangefinder unit does this 'friend' sleep with the fishes? Typical problems with digital. * All images need retouching as skin tones are poor. * The *istD TTL flash is unusable which is ok for me and my Metz but my 360FGZ sits in a box. * dust on the censor needs cleaning often. I have used the *istD in the field and it needed constant cleaning. * You need a constant supply of batteries to keep it running. I use a bunch of NiMH batteries. More costs involoved here. * Black and white... just forget it, use film. Digital is not a black and white medium at this time. Having said that, I have never had a card fail on me and have never lost an image with the *istD. My maximum for memory cards is 256 Meg. Should one ever fail, all will not be lost. In my local photographic we now see an endless stream of digitally 'enhanced' images, rarely are they of quality and these are from photographers whos works I quite admired before they swithched wholly to digital. I have never had a problem with the *istD that I could not get the job done. For me, the *istD solves a problem of grain in very low light situations such as stage performance. I use it in the studio also, but not as much as my 6x7 these days. I believe if you follow your own suggestion of not replacing film but as a supplimental system you would be happy with it. It has served me well as another photographic tool. I have been asked by the local art gallery to produce a range of images for display, and these will all be done in black and white and the 6x7. I cannot imagine even trying this with digital. Kind regards Kevin -- Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
The only problem I have had is that when I first got the camera it failed to read the aperture setting electronically on several of my FA lenses. This problem went away after about a week. I suspect that despite all my cleaning attempts, some coating on one of the contacts had to wear off. After that, I haven't had a single problem, and I genuinely enjoy using this camera. Steven Desjardins Department of Chemistry Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA 24450 (540) 458-8873 FAX: (540) 458-8878 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
- Original Message - From: Kostas Kavoussanakis Subject: Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD) What I did not see in your list (and I am only mentioning it just in case) is how problematic dust is/is not with the *ist-D/DSLRs. Perhaps you don't mind the issue, I just thought to throw in one of the reasons I am not keen to go near them with a bargepole. Dust is a problem with film careas as well, as is scratched film. Nothing is perfect, I thint the DSLR is actually less of a problem WRT captured artifacts. William Robb
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
- Original Message - From: Peter J. Alling Subject: Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD) Many of these problems are typical of all DSLR or Digital cameras in general or digital equipment in general. Software is pounded out and often not properly tested. The rush to market makes the end user the final tester in many cases. I'm sure the Canon and Nikon forums have just as many complaints. Such as the Canon SLR's which failed completely after a firmware upgrade? William Robb
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
On Thu, 11 Nov 2004 20:56:21 + Cotty [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On 12/11/04, Kevin Waterson, discombobulated, unleashed: I have been asked by the local art gallery to produce a range of images for display, and these will all be done in black and white and the 6x7. I cannot imagine even trying this with digital. Odd. I enjoy printing monochrome pics from col digital masters. I enjoy making 30x40 prints in the darkroom :) Kevin -- Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
other boards: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
On 11/11/04, Peter J. Alling, discombobulated, unleashed: I'm sure the Canon and Nikon forums have just as many complaints. I am on the D1 BB and the Nikonians web site a fair amount,simply because i have the Nikon DSLR's and read the comments and sometimes ask questions about equipment. YOU SHOULD HEAR WHAT THEY WHINE ABOUT.vbgYou folks are civil compared.LOL At least on this list, someone eventually answers my questions. On the other boards i'm treated as if i'm dealing with a Visteck salesman. (means i'm a dumb ass for asking questions about a prolens or body. ) Even the moderator of the Nikon Discussion BB has switched to the Mark IIhowl) I have said it before and i'll say it again,the people on this list are the best. All advice given has worked. OT is allowed and tollorated for the most part.:-) were not so on some of the others. Dave
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
Odd. I enjoy printing monochrome pics from col digital masters. I enjoy making 30x40 prints in the darkroom :) Touche! Cheers, Cotty ___/\__ || (O) | People, Places, Pastiche ||=|http://www.cottysnaps.com _
RE: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
I didn't assume it, I stipulated it! I said DIGITAL IMAGES. Unscanned negatives are not digital images There is a difference between stipulation and assumption. JCO -Original Message- From: Shel Belinkoff [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2004 6:53 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD) That assumes one is scanning and digitizing negatives. And even so, it still can be a time consuming process if you want to do a good, careful, and thorough cleanup. At least for me it is. Shel [Original Message] From: J. C. O'Connell [EMAIL PROTECTED] dust isnt much of an issue anymore with film or sensor sourced digital images because it is so easy to clean up with photoshop ( unless its absurdly large or numerous). Its not like the old days where dust in a wet darkroom could easily drive you to insanity because it was so hard to eliminate completely. With digital editing it can be removed 100% without too much effort at all. JCO
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
Shel, my experience with the *istD has been very problem-free. On one occasion I was getting weird results, but found that one of my grand-daughters, who had been insisting on holding Papa's camera, had nudged the dial off 'P' and on to 'M' without my realising. Other than that and the flash compensation problem I mentioned the other day (and I think I've nailed that to having Sensitivity Correction on), the camera has performed perfectly and reliably with all my lenses. It has to be recognised that digital is different, for many it will always be a supplementary method of creating pictures, but I believe it is mature enough, and the *istD reliable enough and good enough, to justify taking it up. It certainly is a well-made camera: Ryan made the switch to Canon because he had focussing problems with a Sigma lens, not because the *istD was otherwise unsatisfactory. Many of the other issues that people have had sound to me like typical software and electronics problems which are easily (and very quickly) fixed by resetting the camera. HTH John Coyle Brisbane, Australia - Original Message - From: Shel Belinkoff [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, November 12, 2004 2:12 AM Subject: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD) I have some concerns about moving to digital, not as a replacement for film but as a supplemental system. Having been reading many digi-threads here, one thing keeps popping up: the various problems people have been having with the istD. The idea of buying a camera and then working through software and quality control issues, problems of all sorts, downloading glitches, memory cards that fail, just seems to defeat the purpose of a camera and lessen the experience of photography for me. I'm not particularly interested in solving computer problems when out making photographs, and have never really had many problems in all the years I've been shooting film: One battery problem with an ME Super, a sticky shutter release on an MX (solved by whapping the camera against the palm of my hand), and an LX with sticky mirror. Apart from a friend dropping one of my Leicas and needing to replace the rangefinder unit, those are the only problems I've encountered since 1968 oh, my original Spotmatic had to have the meter calibrated. Are these problems typical of the Pentax dslr, or are there just a few people here with such problems who post a lot looking for help in resolving these issues. From what I gather most of the regulars here are using an istD. How many have had NO problems with their cameras, software, memory cards, or what have you? Who has had serious problems, where the cameras has had to go in for repair, or be replaced, within a year or less after purchase? Who has had a problem, regardless of what it was, that caused a loss of images, or prevented a shooting session from being completed? I've had my little Sony for 18 months or so, maybe more, and have not had a single glitch with it. I just put in a card, make sure the battery has juice, and point and shoot merrily all day long. Can that be expected from the Pentax istD? Shel
*istD Reliability : WAS: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
In my opinion, the *istD is too new (what is it about a 1.5 yr old?) to make judgements regarding its long term reliabiliy. ( sorry for stating the obvious, duh). While some have probably already been worked real hard in terms of number of exposures, there is always the issue of aging of components and it will take a more time to know for sure how good or bad the long term reliability will be because its no different than any other camera in that regard, and only time will tell. JCO
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
That's something of a left handed compliment Shel [Original Message] From: Tom C [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yes. I haven't found the *ist D to have more or less problems than a regular electronic body film SLR.
RE: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
Thanks for all the replies to my questions and concerns. I've saved them all to review again. Looks like prices are tumbling, so the value may be better than before ... someone posted they saw the camera for $1,000 including a lens. Gettin' into PS territory ;-)) Shel
RE: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
That assumes one is scanning and digitizing negatives. And even so, it still can be a time consuming process if you want to do a good, careful, and thorough cleanup. At least for me it is. Shel [Original Message] From: J. C. O'Connell [EMAIL PROTECTED] dust isnt much of an issue anymore with film or sensor sourced digital images because it is so easy to clean up with photoshop ( unless its absurdly large or numerous). Its not like the old days where dust in a wet darkroom could easily drive you to insanity because it was so hard to eliminate completely. With digital editing it can be removed 100% without too much effort at all. JCO
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
How many have had NO problems with their cameras, software, memory cards, or what have you? Who has had serious problems, where the cameras has had to go in for repair, or be replaced, within a year or less after purchase? Who has had a problem, regardless of what it was, that caused a loss of images, or prevented a shooting session from being completed? I've had my little Sony for 18 months or so, maybe more, and have not had a single glitch with it. I just put in a card, make sure the battery has juice, and point and shoot merrily all day long. Can that be expected from the Pentax istD? I have my *istD since february and the only 'problems' I had was when the batteries gone empty it would not make pictures anymore but do something funny instead, like switching itself off in mid-picture. But hey, after a while I remembered that batteries might get empty after a few pictures (in that case it had been 2208 pictures and so many weeks that I had forgotten the *istD needs batteries at all). That had been after I noticed the batterie icon blinking low, that is. Otherwise I had no problems or other issues with the *istD. I had no need for repair or replacement at all. Sam
Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
pfff, dust, when I compare my old film scans to my *istD pictures I always asked myself 'how could I live with all those specks on film?' - well, I didn't knew better, now I do and I like the digital pictures way better then my old analog ones. Sam - Original Message - From: Shel Belinkoff [EMAIL PROTECTED] I don't see that as a problem that will prevent getting the picture, so I didn't mention it. If dust, however, causes mechanical or electronic problems, that's another concern, but I don't think it does. I don't see at as any more of a concern than scratches, spots, or dust on a negative. Maybe it is, but it doesn't seem that way. Shel [Original Message] From: Kostas Kavoussanakis [EMAIL PROTECTED] What I did not see in your list (and I am only mentioning it just in case) is how problematic dust is/is not with the *ist-D/DSLRs. Perhaps you don't mind the issue, I just thought to throw in one of the reasons I am not keen to go near them with a bargepole. Kostas
SE: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD)
I have had no problems switching to digital (*ist D). The only issue was to install the Firm Ware Upgrade 1.11 (allowing the use of K and M lenses) which is quite easy, storing the downloaded file on the CF card and follow some simple instructions. Remember to set camera to other than A. Of cource digital resolution is theoretical not quite as good as film. But in practice it seems to be even better, since you have no scanning issues. Get a good RAW-converter to obtain greater exposure latidtude and to avoid burned out high lights (overwxposure). Get a huge hard drive for your shots as well as an organizer software - like ACDSee. Then you are up and running and will have a lot of fun and some great photographs! Jens Jens Bladt mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://hjem.get2net.dk/bladt -Oprindelig meddelelse- Fra: Sam Jost [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sendt: 12. november 2004 07:44 Til: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Emne: Re: Concerns About Moving to Digital (Quality of istD) How many have had NO problems with their cameras, software, memory cards, or what have you? Who has had serious problems, where the cameras has had to go in for repair, or be replaced, within a year or less after purchase? Who has had a problem, regardless of what it was, that caused a loss of images, or prevented a shooting session from being completed? I've had my little Sony for 18 months or so, maybe more, and have not had a single glitch with it. I just put in a card, make sure the battery has juice, and point and shoot merrily all day long. Can that be expected from the Pentax istD? I have my *istD since february and the only 'problems' I had was when the batteries gone empty it would not make pictures anymore but do something funny instead, like switching itself off in mid-picture. But hey, after a while I remembered that batteries might get empty after a few pictures (in that case it had been 2208 pictures and so many weeks that I had forgotten the *istD needs batteries at all). That had been after I noticed the batterie icon blinking low, that is. Otherwise I had no problems or other issues with the *istD. I had no need for repair or replacement at all. Sam
