Re: First smc-DA14/2.8 impressions
I just got a little touchy lately... :-) Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Oh, Alan, don't get so worked up ;-) Isn't this all just fun? Personally, I have more lively issues than determining if the Nikon and Tamron lenses are the same or not, or how much do they differ, practically or otherwise. I mean, I am not losing my job over these, is it? Initially, this just reminded me of buyer-justification which is so common on other lists. This list is a relaxation for me. For God's sake, all the Pentax lenses could be made by chinese Seagull for what I care. I would still use them if they were good. I am certainly not questioning your erudicity, it would be dumb to think something about one's knowledge just from a mailinglist. So why are you so worked up when you replied to my post? I posted my opinion of the matter, and you get quite hot. A wrong day or what? :-) Good light, Frantisek Vlcek _ MSN Premium includes powerful parental controls and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE:Selling Pentax 35mm gear (WAS RE: Beautiful SF1n kit, Voigtlander
Very true. However, it has much to do with lens technologies I believe. In fact, Canon is way ahead of everyone else at the moment. Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Perhaps so. But it seems to me Pentax can't really compete in the enthuisast segment either. Canon 10D vs. Pentax *ist D. Same price range, same kind of buyers. Canon winns this segment as well and has faster AF speed and better image quality, doesn't it? _ http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: Re:Selling Pentax 35mm gear (WAS RE: Beautiful SF1n kit, Voigtlander
I think you misinterpreted my message. As technologies have evolved, even cheap consumer products can be sophisticated, just built cheaply (cut corners you can say). No doubt Pentax shows no sign of being able to compete with the very top end sector like 1v/1D etc. However, Pentax still have the chance to make a stand on the next sector down, EOS3/F100 level (digital equivalence of course now). That does not mean they are not technological sophisticated, just not the most high end products which most consumers do not buy. Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan I hear that what Pål and Alan Chan are saying is that Pentax is not likely to be able to compete/survive in making high-end camera bodies/pro-bodies. highThat is bodies above middle of the road performance. This could very well mean Pentax will not survive as a camera maker. Why? Because today good cameras are based on very sophisticated technology - AF-systems, Data Processing, Imaging-/Sensor Technology - as well as high quality lens design/lens making. Pentax may survive as a lens maker - if it can find corporate lens buyers. As a camera maker, Pentax may survive in P&S market - not in the high-end camera market. Mediocre does not do the trick anymore. Perhaps history has already proven this? _ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN Premium. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: First smc-DA14/2.8 impressions
Also, I would like tp point out the AF Nikkor 105/2.8 was released roughly 2 years later than the FA100/2.8, which itself is a copy of F100/2.8 optically. If Nikon did come up with its own design which looks so similar to the Pentax. they must deal with the patent first. Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan By comparing the diagrams of similar optics from different manufacturers, it is not difficult to see that they are very different (even those popular 50mm). I would be very surprised when 2 designers came up with the the exact same lens arrangement (both diagrams are identical in this case) when they were not copying each other. Is it possible, yes, anything is possible, but highly unlikely. The optics might be fine tuned slightly, but they even look the same when the lenses are extended to closest focus. But geez, I must be stupid to think that way, I know. _ http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: The public and Pentax
Maybe Pentax have been trying to avoid the same fate as Minolta did (they kept pumping out new lenses & cameras like crazy and was eventually accuqired by Konica). Btw, am I the only one who think the "Konica Minolta" name look ridiculious on their products? Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan of the two companies that Pentax seems to be closely associated in the camera industry, Casio and Nikon are the biggest. inside most Pentax digital P&S cameras are Casio components, except of course for the lens. Casio is too different from Pentax otherwise to be a serious contender, i think. Nikon may have more market share than Pentax, but it is losing it. Pentax at least looks like it will be able to hold its position. _ Free yourself from those irritating pop-up ads with MSn Premium. Get 2months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: The public and Pentax
Just call me Alan. :-) Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan There are times when I disagree with Mr Chan's opinion. This is NOT one of them!! He is so right. _ http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: The public and Pentax
Oh I know what you mean, I was living in Melbourne for yrs. :-( Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Their current predicament is a function of a lack of direction regarding marketing and advertising which ties back to the lack of communication and unpredictable line development. And all this is topped off with a lack of communication and control over the behaviour of designated distributors world- wide. Take for instance our local distributor, virtually every Pentax SLR body that they sell here ships with a Sigma lens. This has been happening for years and it's ingrained to the point where the local perception is almost that Sigma is a Pentax brand. Actual Pentax lenses (apart from the 28-200 zooms etc) are truly hard to find here. It really is difficult remaining loyal to the brand these days with all these contradictory messages being flung about :-( _ STOP MORE SPAM with the MSN Premium and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: First smc-DA14/2.8 impressions
By comparing the diagrams of similar optics from different manufacturers, it is not difficult to see that they are very different (even those popular 50mm). I would be very surprised when 2 designers came up with the the exact same lens arrangement (both diagrams are identical in this case) when they were not copying each other. Is it possible, yes, anything is possible, but highly unlikely. The optics might be fine tuned slightly, but they even look the same when the lenses are extended to closest focus. But geez, I must be stupid to think that way, I know. Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan I haven't looked at the diagram for these lenses... but a lens diagram that contains a figure for each element and does not have precise measurements, curvatures and more than I care to mention, amounts to nothing but a pretty picture if you're trying to determine if two lenses are indeed of the exact same design. It's like drawing a top down diagram of a 4-door, 4-cylinder, 4-wheeled automobile. They'll all look the same. _ Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN Premium http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: FA 135 f2.8
I could see a use for this lens on the *ist D. So herewith I ask my usual questions of those who own it: I owned it for a short while. How is it at wider apertures? Not sharp, worse than M135/3.5. Can one get decent enlargements (8-1/2 x 11 inch or A4) at f2.8? How does it perform on the *ist D? No idea, never done that. Also, where is the rear element during focusing? At any point, does it come to the end of the rear flange? (This question is to ascertain whether it could be used with the Sigma APO 1.4x extender.) The rear element is fixed, but recessed inside so it should be okay. Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ Free yourself from those irritating pop-up ads with MSn Premium. Get 2months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re:Selling Pentax 35mm gear (WAS RE: Beautiful SF1nkit,Voigtlander
Anyone who can and would buy a 1Ds SHOULD switch to Canon. Pentax will never compete with that level of camera at that price ever again. I really don' think that this is a very big market, relatively speaking. OTOH, a 10D replacement with the 8Mp 1.3 crop sensor is competition. It will be curious to see how quickly Pentax can respond to that. I quite agree. The problem of some Pentax users is that they keep dreaming about the long gone LX and possible high end 135 cameras when in fact Pentax has never commited themselves to this sector. The LX, was a one off deal, not before, or since have any other attempt. Their professional market is 120. Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN Premium. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Re:Selling Pentax 35mm gear (WAS RE: Beautiful SF1n kit, Voigtlander
(something that Nikon and Canon arguably hasn't); We love Pentax, but where did that come from? eg. good quality lenses and medium format. Since Canon & Nikon do not produce 120, it is a pointless arguement. We can only compare what they produced. Besides, Nikon have large format lenses, where is Pentax, if you must. For digital this means high-resolution sensor which equals high-end. If pentax want to maintain products that yields better image quality than Nikon/Canon produce it means that they have to involve with high-end digital. High quality sensors & image quality hopefully, but high end bodies? I think not. Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: First smc-DA14/2.8 impressions
You can't tell from the diagrams. They are very simplified, do not show precise curvature, do not show the type of glasses used, do not show exact spacing... They might fine tune them differently, but when the diagrams look identical, I'd say they are copying each other. Besides, the CAPA 2003 lens catalog have fine printed diagrams. Tessar from one company looks the same as Tessar from another company (yet their performance might differ greatly). Your typical 6/7 1.4/50mm lens has about the same diagram as another 6/7 gr/el 1.4/50mm lens. But in fact, that's just because they evolved from the same design, and are today the peak of that design. Modern lenses like Leitz's turned off from Gaussian design, just because it was "depleted" of novel design ideas. I looked at all the 50mm diagrams, they look different. Sorry. Your typical 2.8/14mm lens is very probably the same design as well, you just can't make such ultrawide in many different ways. You just tweak it here and there. Sigma & Canon look very different. Have you actually checked their diagrams? Rumors like that surface time to time, and mostly, are meaningless. Not that 3rd party lens makers can't make excellent lenses, they can - given enough money, though. Give me a break. Have you actually checked their diagrams, again? Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ STOP MORE SPAM with the MSN Premium and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: Rumors
1) Pentax is likely to implement in body image stabilization in a DSLR. Like hinted by Herbert Keppler. Reminds me the strongly rumored Olympus OM-5. :-) 2) There will be at least five DA lenses. 3) There will be new FA lenses that will include the DA lenses MF/AF clutch mechanism. These lenses does have some "new features" not necessarily makig them compatible with all old bodies. Just a matter of time. Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN Premium http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: Z1-p repair and looking for parts or a parts camera.
If you are certain you can fix it yourself, you might just strip it down and order the parts from Pentax Canada. It will be much cheaper this way. Or search for a broken Z-1p for parts. Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan I have a Z1-p and its great except the flash doesn't work and it drains batteries really fast, about 3 rolls a battery if I'm lucky. I've sent it in to Pentax Canada and they don't it would be worth fixing. It has some water damage to the board inside thats in the grip, the rest of the camera looks fine. So does anyone have any parts from one or a whole parts camera that still has some decent parts on it? If I can't find one I guess I'm just going to make a battery pack for it with 5 Nimh batteries. _ MSN Premium includes powerful parental controls and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: First smc-DA14/2.8 impressions
I checked their optical diagrams and they look identical. Interestingly, the AF Nikkor 105/2.8 macro also has the same optical diagram as the Pentax F/FA100/2.8 macro. Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan > That 14/2.8 Nikkor is actually a rebadged Tamron. Hmmm. Based on the specs it COULD be--same number of elements and groups, almost same minimum focus and weight. Nikon has been known to use rebadged and slightly tweaked Tamrons before. OTOH it seems odd that what is a premiere lens for Nikon is not one of their own designs. Plus, for all the specs it doesn't quite LOOK the same, although it could be merely cosmetic. It's also the first I've heard this assertion. For all the rumors that the third party manufacturers make all the lenses for the big names, from what I know only a handful of well-known lenses (like the Pentax 100 macro) are in fact rebadged designs from another company. Specialty lenses would be a good candidate, though... I wonder if it is a case of "sharing designs". Pentax and (Contax?) were suspected of doing that back at the end of the screw-mount era (they introduced 15/3.5s with almost identical designs at almost the same time) and Leica and Minolta (apparently one of the Minolta 24s was suspiciously good and similar to the Leitz lens) at one point as well. Even if the basic design is the same the glass, build quality, and quality control could vary a lot. I've stayed away from the Nikkor 14, no matter who makes it, because my experience with the Sigma 14 and everything I've read about the Nikkor 15 suggest that ultrawides like that are more trouble than they are worth. Give me a 35mm-sized sensor and I won't need a 14mm lens anyway--that is assuming I ever find an M 20/4 or splurge on the FA version. Perhaps the fact that the Pentax is a DA design gives it an edge over the film-format 14s that everyone else uses, other than the fact that it leaves Pentax without a film-format 14. I suspect that Pentax's 15/3.5, which dates optically from the early '70s, is as outdated an optical design as anybody else's older 15/3.5. I've heard predictably unflattering things about its performance wide open. _ http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: Adjusting the infinity focus stop on a K 200mm F2.5
Since I don't have this lens, I cannot give precise procedure. For fixed focal length lens, the focus setting screws (usually 3) can be accessed from the front (might need to remove some barrels first), or underneath the rubber depends on the design. It has nothing to do with the lens mount. Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Hi guys I have a new to me k200mm 2.5 lens thats working great except its infinity focus is a bit off. I've already took the mount off and unscrewed the front element group to try to get at the adjustment but I'm not seeing anything. Maybe I'm just blind. So has anyone adjusted one or at least have any ideas? _ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN Premium. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: DA16-45 underexposure very disappointing
Could it be due to inaccurate calibration of the aperture mechanism of the lens since it shares the traditional 'A' design (something difficult to avoid because it would be too labour intensive to adjust them just right)? I have tested all my lenses with Z-1p and found some of them open up the aperture 1/3-1/2EV larger than they should be when the lenses are set to 'A'. Since exposure is critical with digital, the problem is obvious. Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan I am very disappointed in my DA16-45 which I bought with my istD. I cannot count on it to produce useable photos. My first outing was to see my daughter at an equestrian event on a bright day. Everything is washed out, even close ups of my daughters face. Is there a fix for this? Is Pentax acknowledging this? I do not want to have to make additional settings to cope with this problem. I would like to trade it in for a DA14. Anyone else notice this problem? I have compared it to other lens and it is obvious. _ http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: First smc-DA14/2.8 impressions
Say these are correct. How do Canon & Nikon deal with it? Do they have more effective solution? Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Mast all wide angle lenses exhibit some CA, the problem with digicams is a little more complex, sensors have two characteristics that are very different from film. Firstly for all intents you can consider film to have no depth, light that strikes it at an acute angle will be recorded pretty accurately, with sensors that have micro-lenses which are position above the actual light sensitive substrate. So this means that acute light angles are going to cause all sorts of problems such as vignetting and spill to adjacent sensor sites. Secondly unlike film the majority of sensors measure the primary colours in slightly different positions, these measurements are then used to approximate the colour that would likely have been at the actual pixel site. As you can imagine this approach can be easily derailed and the colour separation caused by CA is something it doesn't handle well, in fact most demosaicing algorithms tend to magnify the effect in the final image. These are just some of the limitations we have to deal with using the current technology, digital image capture is no panacea but it does have a lot of positive aspects too of course :-) _ Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN Premium http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: First smc-DA14/2.8 impressions
DA14 does have ED. Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan They could have gotten rid of it, if they had used ED elements. It's that simple, typically lenses with that type of glass cost a bit more though. _ MSN Premium helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: First smc-DA14/2.8 impressions
Any DA14 users care to test it on film and see how serious the CA actually is? Or was it the CCD? Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ MSN Premium with Virus Guard and Firewall* from McAfee® Security : 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: F* 300/4.5 impressions
I'm intrigued that people seem to like the FA 300/4.5 clutch mechanism and focus feel better, since the F 300/4.5 seems pretty nice to me in those respects. The F*300/4.5 is a very nice lens, just that when I had to switch 2 things between AF & MF everytime, especially in a hurry, the FA* design is clearly better. 3) The F* lens handled backlight MUCH better than the Nikkor. It didn't have a filter on it (haven't gotten around to buying one) whereas the Nikkor had a fairly clean Hoya UV on the front, but I suspect that the difference is primarily in the coatings and perhaps the optics themselves. The Pentax built-in hood also appears to be a little longer, which would have helped combat the low-sun backlight. I don't think the hood is useful for backlight situation. HOYA monocoated or HMC flare easily. Their Super HMC is good however. Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: FA* 80-200/2.8 discontinued?
I guess I should lecture you a little more. Always nice to attend leatures when there is something to learn. First off, the bokeh on the 24mm is probably of little consequence since wide angle lenses are rarely used in situations where superb bokeh is a necessity. Completely disagree. There are time I like to shoot very chose to the subject for some interesting effect. The background will appear very out-of-focus. In situation like this, the bokeh shows, and ugly with the FA*24/2. I have seen many wide angle shots with similar style in Japanese magazines too so don't tell me it is a non-issue. Second, the 3 limited lenses are known for having relatively harsh bokeh even by Pentax standards due to the other areas they excel in, such as 3 dimensionality. It is unknown to me. FA31 & FA77 have good bokeh though still have very slight bright-ring effect. Third, 3 of those lenses are telephotos, with the 100 being a Macro lens. Presumably it has at least decent bokeh. The only lens there that I would expect to have superb bokeh is the FA* 85 1.4. So you tell me, does it suck in this regard, or is it excellent??? To surprise you, I feel the FA*85/1.4 has the worst bokeh in this bunch. It excels on certain portrait, but I like the bokeh of FA77 better. From what I can see, the FA*85 has slightly stronger bright-ring bokeh than the FA77. Sometimes the backgrounds just appeared a little odd with the FA*85, but not with the FA77. But you are correct that the FA100/2.8 macro does have very nice bokeh. It is a nice lens for both macro & portrait imho. Thanks for the extra lecture. It teaches me that you have never used most of these low quality Pentax lenses. Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ MSN Premium: Up to 11 personalized e-mail addresses and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Pentax F-series lenses??
It's very cheap. How can you go wrong? Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Okay, that's one opinion... Any others? Bad construction and a lot of flare. Stay away from non-SMC lenses. _ Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN Premium http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: FA* 80-200/2.8 discontinued?
Canon & Sigma have more crappy bokeh do not make Pentax good, but relatively better only. But thanks for lecture. I feel sorry for myself that I can only afford so few and so low end non-finest Pentax lenses like FA*24/2, FA31/1.8, FA43/1.9, FA77/1.8, FA*85/1.4, FA100/2.8, FA*200/2.8, F*300/4.5. I should be ashame of myself. Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan I have a Tamron 90mm SP AF lens that is widely regarded as having some of the best bokeh ever, some have said better than comparable Leica primes. On close comparisons I found that my Pentax SMC-F 50 1.7 has equal bokeh, seems to be slightly finer even. We can talk all day, but I've seen the goods. Sure my old Takumar 200 lens occasionally rendered out of focus highlights with hard edges, but in general that didn't happen. That lens is also 40 years old and a telephoto. I've seen plenty of crappy Bokehs from Canon and Sigma, which is more along the lines of whom Pentax competes with. If you haven't actually used Pentax's finest, then there is no sense in comparing Pentax to a fine quality manufacturer like Zeiss. _ STOP MORE SPAM with the MSN Premium and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: FA* 80-200/2.8 discontinued?
I understand that bokeh is very hard to get right in many zoom designs. Leica and Zeiss don't seem to make many zooms, which might help with their above average bokeh. I don't think it's a zoom or prime issue (bright-ring bokeh at least), but I have primes only now if that's what you implied. Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ STOP MORE SPAM with the MSN Premium and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Pentax F-series lenses??
F lenses are hard to find used, and presumably impossible to find new. They aren't exactly attractive, and they don't have the build quality of even the A lenses. Manual focus with them is not great (in common with early AF lenses from other manufacturers). Most of the good ones appear to be optically identical to the A versions. All of these seem to be valid reasons why the F lenses are unpopular. I believe their regular F primes were built well, certainly better than FA lenses. They may have plastic shells, but metal inside. Really the only NEW F primes I can think of are the 300/4.5 and the 135/2.8, both of which are well regarded, and the 600/4 which we understandably don't hear much about. You missed the macros, and the F*250-600/5.6 too. Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ Add photos to your messages with MSN Premium. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: FA* 80-200/2.8 discontinued?
The problem is Pentax seem to be happy with the "good optics average/poor built" strategy recently. But that's understandable when they must keep the cost down in order to compete, just hope they won't make the FA28-70/4 mistake again. Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan I think we could see more of the f4 zooms. Pentax can make an opticaaly superior lens but keep the price down. Although, to be honest, a lesser 2.8 zoom at Tokina prices might serve them better. OTOH, slow zooms might be a good paln with in-camera IS. _ http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: FA* 80-200/2.8 discontinued?
I keep reading this but there doesn't seem to have any objective evidence to prove the Pentax 2.8 zoom is superior. Not that I don't want to believe, but even what I consider the most believable results from photodo doesn't give that good score (and their results seem to match my experience so far). Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan The FA*70-200/2.8 has been a special order item for quite some time already. Which is sad, because it's one of the best lenses in that zoom range regardless of brand. _ STOP MORE SPAM with the MSN Premium and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: FA* 80-200/2.8 discontinued?
Perhaps they finally noticed it didn't sell after so many years? Personally, I am not that optimiztic. Remember the A70-210/4 was replaced by F70-210/4-5.6? Perhaps Pentax will go the f4 route since Pentax f2.8 zooms don't sell. Or they might just make some DA f2.8 zooms to keep the cost down? Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan I don't kow if anybody noticed it, but it dissappeared from Pentax Germany (Europe) pricelist just like MZ-S and few others before. IT makes me wonder - what are they preparing? DA tele zoom in similar range but in smaller case and lighter? FAAA* lenses with USM and IS for FF Papa-D? New anti-fungus unguent? _ Free yourself from those irritating pop-up ads with MSn Premium. Get 2months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Pentax F-series lenses??
The F* 300mm f/4.5 is pretty highly regarded, by me at least. Its so sharp you could cut yourself just looking at the slides. Unfortunately, it doesn't do well with A2X-S. :-( A lot of people choose this lens over the FA* version as it has a tripod mount. Optically the two lenses are identical. I just wish that the F* lens had the focussing clutch mechanism of the FA. A lot of people choose this lens over the FA* version as it has a tripod mount. Optically the two lenses are identical. I just wish that the F* lens had the focussing clutch mechanism of the FA. I did too, but ironically, after some tests I did for myself, I use the tripod mount no longer. However, the built-in hood is still much preferred. Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ MSN Premium: Up to 11 personalized e-mail addresses and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: LX infinity focus adjustment at home?
I did it once, unfortunately I had no choice. Since you do not want to mess with the pentaprism or screen (you can't anyway w/o the proper skill and insturments), the only thing you can do is to adjust the mirror rest arm underneatn the mirror (near the DOF preview arm). It was held by 2 cross point screws. The diffculty is to reach these screws w/o leaving any marks, and you need a long blade for the job (a short screwdriver will wear the slot due to the odd angle). Adjust the resting position of the mirror until the "middle" (using split image screen) reach just infinity with wide angle lenses like 24mm (telephoto lenses won't do due to the long travelling characteristic). However, there is nothing you can do about the top and bottom parts of the mirror. You can only hope everything will work out by itself (and should do unless the prism or screen were messed with). Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan > Hi gang, > My LX metering problems strangely resolved themselves (Maybe it was > that good whacking I gave her the other day?) > So now I'm wondering if another whack will fix the no-focus at infinity? > > Seriously, I seem to recall some discussion around these parts about > adjusting the mirror with no more than good advice and a #00 phillips > head screwdriver. Any concurrence? I fixed my own sticky mirror one time by removing the goo that the stock bumper had turned into and replacing it with a small bit of neoprene rubber from an old inner tube from my BMW motorcycle. The focus adjust was kind of finicky, but certainly doable. The trick is to make certain that the focus is the same at both the top and bottom of the finder. Once you are there, the bumper pretty much has to be in the right position. _ MSN Premium helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: Pentax F-series lenses??
I guess it's because most "good" F lenses are rare and hard to find now. I have been looking for a mint F50/1.4 for years but seen none so far. Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan I don't see much mention of these lenses on this list. I see lots of A, M, and FA talk of course. I've recently gotten 2 F series lenses, the 28 2.8 and the 50 1.7. The 28 2.8 gives nice results, with good sharpness even wide open, the 50 1.7 is extraordinary. I feel that it out resolves the A series 50 1.7 in all respects, regarding color contrast, sharpness, control of aberrations and ultimate resolution. And the A 50 1.7 is really, really good! Even using the F 50 1.7 on my istD there is very little vignetting wide open... Better than the A series. A very impressive lens, and available for very good prices on ebay. The AF is also good by Pentax standards. _ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN Premium. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: F* 250-600/5.6 in action
Um... the tripod mount and the rear section don't look right so it cnn't be. I think the double-section lens hood is unique to F*250-600 too (anyone actually seen one?). Alan Chan ICQ: 42516180 http://www.pbase.com/wlachan I'd say it is rather A* 600/5.6 :-) BTW, someone else holds somethig like FA* 300/4.5 in his hands in the beginning of the film :-) _ MSN Premium: Up to 11 personalized e-mail addresses and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: Pentax Cable Switch F question
Held by 3 screws. Alan Chan ICQ: 42516180 http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Has anyone here disassembled the Pentax Cable Switch F? If so is the switch body screwed or glued? _ MSN Premium includes powerful parental controls and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
F* 250-600/5.6 in action
At 02:56... :-) http://bemil.chosun.com/movie%20link/su-35.wmv Alan Chan ICQ: 42516180 http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ MSN Premium with Virus Guard and Firewall* from McAfee® Security : 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: canon vs pentax
That's correct, but some users filed it off to fit other cameras. Alan Chan ICQ: 42516180 http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Earlier John Mustarde <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: "So what did she buy for an upgrade from the ME Super? Canon Rebel. Kit... Now, a couple of years later, she has added the Digital Rebel as her primary camera, which came with an 18-55 kit lens." Since part of this thread talks about lens compatibility I'll toss this in here. (Don't remember if it's been said yet.) My local camera dealer was lamenting that the Canon 18-55mm zoom that comes with the 300D will only fit the 300D. You can't put it on a 10D or any of the other canon bodies. It has something to do with some sort of a wedge shaped protrusion on the rear of the lens that fits into a hollowed out area inside the mount. I don't know if he was kidding, but he seemed pretty serious. _ STOP MORE SPAM with the MSN Premium and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Analog vs digital by Herbert Keppler
I think that's one interesting thing about impulse buying. Some consumers don't actually bother how much they spent (so long as they could afford), but they are buying the most cost efficent products (low end in most cases). A $100 P&S is a low end film camera, so to a $1000 DSLR in the digital world. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan > I don't get it. You didn't see people flocking to stores to buy Nikon > F100s, Canon A3s, or Pentax MZ-Ss, all of which are in about the same > price range as the cheapest DSLRs. People who were buying film P&S > cameras ($100-200) or film SLRs ($250-400) are now suddenly in the market > for $1000 cameras? I never said I understood it. But, that's what I've been seeing. I've had alot of non-photographers express interest in the low end D-SLRs. They've bought a P&S type digital, really liked using it, and now want to check out one of the two lower cost D-SLRs. I've honestly never had anyone shoot with a film P&S and be so inspired by the results that they wanted to go out and drop $1000 on a film SLR. _ STOP MORE SPAM with the MSN Premium and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: Pentax Mid-term Management Plan..
Babelfish sucks. I don't know why so many people use it. http://www.excite.co.jp/world/english/web/ Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Was just using Altavista Babelfish to try to scout any new developments from Pentax Japan: http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/trurl_pagecontent?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pentax.co.jp%2Fjapan%2Fnews%2F2004%2F200428.html&lp=ja_en Nothing major, but thought this translation was worth a post: "In new mid-term management plan"growth and enlargement" in keyword, the technology which covers long time the ? ? ? ? with the centralized ? ? ? the good ? ? ? ? ? kilogram sushi ? scorpion mustache ? ? ¬ and others, it raises technical power, brand power and profitability in the basis, assures the growth and enlargement of continuous business, directs to the completion "of ??? and" starts promoting this plan." The good kilogram sushi scorpion mustache! Very cool. Cheers, Ryan PS. The rest of the page was vaguely comprehensible, but this one's over my head.. Any takers? _ Add photos to your messages with MSN Premium. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Nikon to abandon film...
Had a MZ-M for less than 1 year. The viewfinder was so poor manual focus was mission impossible. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan The MZ/ZX-M has no trouble with K/M lenses. They work perfectly. What I don't like about it is it's cheap mirror prism design. Otherwise it's just perfect with older lenses. _ MSN Premium: Up to 11 personalized e-mail addresses and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Nikon to abandon film...
However, it would be a shame to see the MZ-S leave... I had understood that was the "flagship" 355mm film camera for Pentax. I wonder what happened, didn't it sell in sufficient quatities? Obviousely... the demand has been so low and not even all diehand Pentax fans liked it. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ MSN Premium with Virus Guard and Firewall* from McAfee® Security : 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Nikon to abandon film...
Commerical shooters are using digital, so why invest in F5? Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan I have been told, by a Nikon sponsored pro, that there will be no new Nikon SLR film camera. Now I guess the question is what does new mean? Would a slightly modified F5 count as new or not? _ MSN Premium with Virus Guard and Firewall* from McAfee® Security : 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Nikon to abandon film...
It's clear that SLRs will be next, but imho not in the near future. The market has been changing so fast we really wouldn't know, would we? :-) Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ MSN Premium with Virus Guard and Firewall* from McAfee® Security : 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: Nikon to abandon film...
And increase digital production. Who's next? http://www.dpreview.com/news/0406/04061601nikonexitfilm.asp Konica-Minolta, who else? Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ Free yourself from those irritating pop-up ads with MSn Premium. Get 2months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: A-lenses aperture indication
I thought that A and FA lenses had the same KAF-mount contacts. Apparently they don't!! F/FA lenses have a chip inside them while A lenses don't. They look the same, but work differently. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN Premium http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: A-lenses aperture indication
The very same question was asked in the past, and yes, it is technically possible to make a KA or later camera which can display the chosen aperture with 'A' lens when it is not set to 'A'. I found this out when I was using my Metz 40MZ3i flash with M135/3.5 (masked the mount to simulate 'A' lenses) on Z-1p. The camera does not display the aperture (as expected, because none of the Pentax cameras does), but the Metz DOES (what a surprise!!). It is clearly that the camera knows the chosen aperture even when the aperture is not set to 'A' for 'A' lenses (doesn't work for pre-A lenses btw), but the cameras were not designed to display it. So you asked why? Another brilliant Pentax decision I guess. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan I have been wondering why Pentax AF cameras (crippled KAF mount excepted) will not show the aperture setting in the viewfinder when the aperture ring is set to other than "A". It seems to me that A lenses provide enough information to the camera through the electronic contacts and aperature simulator for the camera to "know" what aperture is set. Anybody know the reason? _ MSN Premium includes powerful parental controls and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: canon vs pentax
Hmm, so... does IS/VR somehow require USM? That depends I think. The reason is that both the mechanical aperture linkage & AF shaft require specific spaces inside the Pentax lenses. They are straight phyically, and cannot be bended out of the way and still expected to work. For this reason, the optical design for IS/VR would be difficult because they have to be in front of both the AF & aperture mechanism. FA*200/2.8 for example, the front and rear lens group are fixed, the moving lenses belong to the middle lens group, and the aperture blades are between the front and middle lens groups. If IS had to be done in this lens, that means it has to be done with the front lens group which is huge in size. Now imagine, if both AF & aperture have their own motors, all 3 devices (USM, aperture & IS) can be placed anywhere the engineers wanted. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ MSN Premium helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: IS in Pentax *istD (was Re: canon vs pentax)
To achieve IS/VR/AS, the camera or the lens must be able to detect their own movement, and obviousely *istD doesn't have any. For this reason, the firmware idea doesn't work. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Is there any reason IS couldn't be implemented in software? You could produce a 5MP image from a 6MP sensor by using the extra pixels to shift the image. You'd need to measure the movement of the camera, which could be done using a sensor of some sort in the body, or could conceivably be done by measuring the movement of the image on the CCD. This could mean that IS could be added to the *istD by a firmware upgrade. This is all speculation, and I could be talking rubbish. Any comments? _ http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: canon vs pentax
they most definitely do in their P&S cameras. they were the first company i know of to release a digital P&S with IS. Which model was it? I know Nikon did have a film P&S with some IS capability many years ago, but never noticed Olympus had one. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ Free yourself from those irritating pop-up ads with MSn Premium. Get 2months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: canon vs pentax
I suppose bird shooters would love the 300/2 which is practically 600/2. Just imagine how big the 600/4 is for 135. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Interesting lenses. But one has to note that the DOF of 150/2 is still that of a 150mm f/2 lens, and the lack of good noise at higher iso means that it is just the same. At least I think so. I don't see the advantage here. Faster lenses are offset by smaller sensor's lack of noise. Nobody might have 300/2 but everybody has 200/2 which is the same size and does the same. And even your bread-and-butter 2.8 70-210 zoom is equal to 300/2.8 on APS format, the difference between 2.8 and 2 of olympus is equal to the difference between usable iso 1600 and usable iso 800 on the oly. So everything is similar. No advantage? _ Add photos to your messages with MSN Premium. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: canon vs pentax
If the baby *istD had aperture simulator lever, we would know for certain there would not be any USM or IS in the near future. Personally, I believe it will not have it because all the DA lenses have none, so why the baby D? Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan If this happened wouldn't that be a "betrayal" to those who bought the top-of-the-line *ist D? If the baby D did have the aperture simulator lever I would buy one because that's the reason why I didn't buy the *ist D. _ Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN Premium http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: Looking for a film scanner recomendation
For slides only, you might consider Minolta Scan Elite 5400. With colour/B&W negatives, get Vuescan too. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan I want more control over my colour printing process, which has got me thinking about 'going digital'. However, digital photography still has some serious shortfalls in that: 1 - I like to do slideshows and digital projection solutions are either poor or expensive or both 2 - I also like shooting at night (moonlit landscapes, star trails, etc) and I understand that noise becomes a serious issue for long exposures. 3 - If I did go digital now, I'd be attracted to either Pentax (small size, I have some lenses) or Olympus (small size, good build, very attractive 2 lens kit), but both of these systems have just one body for the moment and I don't want to commit without knowing where they are headed. I've tried both the E1 and the *ist D, and I have concerns about the *ist D AF and buffer depth, and system continuity for the E1. So I'm thinking of getting a scanner and a wide format inkjet photo printer to try out the digital workflow a bit, but I have no idea where to start. Can anyone recommend a good film scanner, and for that matter a good photo printer. I want to print to about A3 size (12 or 13 inches wide). Right now I shoot a lot of FUJI Velvia and Provia 100F. _ MSN Premium: Up to 11 personalized e-mail addresses and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: canon vs pentax
Or it might be true that all new Pentax lenses would have no aperture ring so that they could produce IS/USM in the near future. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Actually I think leaving out compatibility was a marketing decision, (the engineers probably had the mount designed with a aperture simulator lever), the marketeers said, if they can't use old lenses they'll have to buy new ones. Upper management said great, and we'll save 1,100 yen on manufacturing per. unit. This caused a s*** storm which the firmware fix somewhat abated. _ MSN Premium helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Giving up on the FA 28-70/4
I'm not a huge believer that the country of manufacture has a big difference with quality of the object. I own a VW TDI car and some members of tdiclub.com (the forums for said cars) claim that the German made ones are better than the ones made elsewhere. My wife's Jetta Wagon TDI is German and my Golf was made in Brazil and my older Jetta was made in Mexico. The Jetta Wagon has had the most rattles and other little annoyances. Right, my sister year 2000 German Made Golf has been a nightmare. The airflow sensor has broken down constantly and the integrated alarm has untracable flaw, or at least none of the dealers have been able or willing to trace it deep enough. There were some other problems too. The most sorry purchase. For the price of something like the 28-70/4 AL I expect that they were largely built by machine. Or they simply used cheap cement to keep the cost down. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ Free yourself from those irritating pop-up ads with MSn Premium. Get 2months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Giving up on the FA 28-70/4
I believe glass separation has nothing to do with the manufacturing origin, but the fact that those lenses were designed and manufactured to be cheap, the FA28-70/4 in this case. Some even had aperture blades not working properly. There are reason why some lenses were selling so cheap. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan It was just a thought, I believe some are manufactured elsewhere than Japan. The sample looks pretty bad, makes me wonder about quality in modern lenses, I have lenses >30 years old never a problem working fine. _ Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN Premium http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: 31/77 Harsh?
Perhaps I should clarify. By "soft" I did not mean less sharp, but the "milky" appearance. I don't know the proper way/word to describe it though. :-( Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Wide opened, the 77 beats my 85/1.8D, and overall the 77 has more '3D' look than the Nikon. So the 77 is harsh for portrait, but superb in general. Andy Chang took me to a Pentax store in Taipei (thanks Andy!!!) and I got a 50/1.4 FA. After some testing, I must say this is one sharp lens (just like other normal primes), but never softer than Nikon's 50/1.4 (mine is AIS). They are sharp & contrasty by Pentax standard, but still on the "soft" side when compared to Nikkors, never harsh. _ MSN Premium: Up to 11 personalized e-mail addresses and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: long glass
I generally have far more problems with subject movement than I do with camera shake, I don't need IS I need ISO 128000 with no noise. You will get it if you have hang around long enough... Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ MSN Premium includes powerful parental controls and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: SMC-F 28 f2.8 some impressions.
Except the light-fall-off issue at wide open. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan That's good to hear, as the SMC-F 28 f/2.8 is the same lens formula as the SMC-A version of this lens, which was a supposedly much improved design from the SMC-M version of the lens. From my experience and judging from others' comments, however, you may be even more impressed with the SMC-FA 28mm f/2.8, which incorporates an aspherical element and is one of the sharpest 28mm primes Pentax has ever made. _ MSN Premium with Virus Guard and Firewall* from McAfee® Security : 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: shutter speeds off ?
could it be that the middling speeds of my KX are too slow, leading to overexposure of almost a stop? Anybody else with a KX or similarly-shuttered camera (was there one?) experienced this? Personally, I suspect a combination of the meter itself and faulty tone-analysis on my part. Certainly possible. Often the actual speed between 1/1000-1/60s is slower, while 1/30-1s is faster than they should be. You might do some rough visual checking against other electronic cameras by looking through the film plane. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Giving up on the FA 28-70/4
IMHO, FA*24/2 & F/FA135/2.8 aren't that great optically. In fact, I found the M135/3.5 to be sharper than the F/FA135/2.8 near wide open. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan This I don't understand, the 24's are no more problematic than the 28's. The K 3.5 and 2.8 have excellent reputations, the FA 2.0 also. The only one I've heard really bad things about is the A 2.8 which has mixed reviews, sample variations anyone? The 135's are also given mostly high marks. The K 3.5 2.8 and A 1.8 lenses are legendary, The FA 2.8 and F 2.8 are at least equal in optical quality to the K's the M 3.5 is a solid performer if not quite up to the standards of the previous lenses. Only the A 2.8 has a less than stellar reputation. Which is just what you'd expect from a class of lenses that has had the amount of history and R&D that 135's have had lavished on them over the years. The non SMC models of the 135's are another matter entirely, but they were budget lenses. _ MSN Premium includes powerful parental controls and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: On Sharpness (Confusion)
I think you mean "very film like" which has been mentioned by the Japanese as well. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan All I can say is that when used well the *ist D can produce printed photographic results that don't have that identifiable digital look. All that I can put this down to is that the designers wanted the images it produced to look like photos and as such didn't try to extract information from the sensor that was beyond its capabilities and I'm pretty glad about that. _ MSN Premium with Virus Guard and Firewall* from McAfee® Security : 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: On Sharpness (Confusion)
We don't know what Pentax is thinking. If they really have a different take on what a good lens is, a more holistic approach instead of a 'scientific' one, based on measured sharpness and contrast, then they are certainly not good at 'selling' it. I am certain many Pentax users would be interesed to know what their engineers have been thinking as well. There was a pdf file which was talking about the FA43 & FA77, but unfortunately, it was available in Japanese only. Is the international market so worthless to them they won't even translate something that might sell their products? A person may also just not telling the truth - half of what is written on the internet is wrong. And most people have the tendency to praise whatever they had. o We don't know if and how much sample variation there is. I personally have not been able to show much of this when comparing lenses of the same series but a) I do not have a testing laboratory and b) it is certainly possible the the particular lens that the owner claims to be "less good" is a lens that deviates fom the rest. I don't know much about optical sample variation, but their QC is bad, as far as I can tell. And I am talking about * & Limited lenses too, and that frustrates me a lot. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ Add photos to your messages with MSN Premium. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Pentax plans to focus on digital
After giving some thought, I don't see the point to dump my Pentax gears just because they won't make film SLRs anymore (and I won't buy them anyway). I'll be perfectly happy if my F/FA lenses keep mounting on any future DSLRs with AF/AE. :-) Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Pentax being the first to spell out reality, I would think that the others are right behind. On top of that, the film manufacturers and labs are rapidly moving in the same direction. Film will become a much more expensive proposition barring B&W. With that in mind, what is your purpose in selling? Are you planning to figure out the last bastion of film camera brands and rush there only to encounter the same issue there? Or selling your film equipment while it still has value? or ? I'm curious...care to elucidate? _ Free yourself from those irritating pop-up ads with MSn Premium. Get 2months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: Is it Real or is it PhotoShop?
I really don't think anyone really cares what the original scene looked like. Every photo we have seen in magazines have been heavily "enchanced" to capture our attention. Just look at those super saturated National Geographic photos! Btw, Auto Contrast seldom works for me. It has the tendency to overdo. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan OK Gang... I'm grappling with the issue of manipulation. I have a shot I took with the *istD. It comes nowhere close to my recollection. So I've put 3 versions up on www.photo.net. The 1st is the original, including water drops on the lens. The 2nd is one that's been processed in PS using Image--> Adjust---> Autocontrast. The 3rd, using the 2nd as a base, reduces contrast by -30 on the scale as PS sees it. Not very scientific... It's probably not a fair test because of the water on the lens in the original, and because somehow I managed to size them slightly differently, but that's the only manipulation I made. The original was simply resized. Numbers 2 and 3 were converted to a .psd during manipulation and then saved as a .jpg. I think the third matches my recollection far better than the first... and I think the second is pretty questionable. If any of you have insights, comments, etc., I'd like to hear them. http://www.photo.net/photodb/presentation.tcl?presentation_id=249195 In analyzing what I see and feel, it brings questions to my mind regarding manipulation... 1. (showing my stupidity) Assuming many of us have always just taken our film in to be processed most of our lives, we've come to accept the returned result as THE photo. 2. It's quite difficult to remember exactly what we saw, a day, or in this case about a week, after the image is captured. 3. In the past I would have looked at photo 1 as a waste... now I see it differently. 4. Is all this moot? Has photography, the images we've seen from "the masters", and from popular modern acclaimed photographers, always been a rendering of what was seen through the viewfinder, and never been THE reality? Thanks. Tom C. _ Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN Premium http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Interesting article about Pentax in Australia
Or simply because Sigma is more famous than Pentax. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Because there is a higher profit margin on Sigma lenses? _ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN Premium. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Mirror foam on MX
It is bad. The worst part is, if it sticks to the plastic focus screen, it will leave permanent mark. If you intend to replace the foam yourself, remove the screen first. The foam should be 3mm thick and can be found on eBay. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan So, I've been playing around with my "new" MX. Cleaned it and inspected every aspect of it.. And I found that the foam that softens the mirror blow has really gone old. It falls off when I touch it (Why did I have to go and touch it?!). Is this bad? Should I start to figure something out to replace that foam? It sure does give a pretty loud CLACK when the mirror flies up. _ Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN Premium http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Uninspired attempted...
That's a very nice family photo, pity it was shot with a Canon :-) Can't blame me, Pentax should label the *ist D as cheap as A80. Any details WRT illumination? Surprisingly simple. A large white reflector as background, and the natural light coming from the ceiling window took care everything. That's a poor man's studio. :-) Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ MSN Premium includes powerful parental controls and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Uninspired attempted...
This is what happened when an uninspired person got nothing better to photograph... :-( http://www.pbase.com/image/29427294 Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN Premium http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Ball Heads
Have Gitzo improved their ballhead that much? I used G275 & G1276 ballheads and I would not use anything longer than 200mm on them. Those heads just would not lock tight enough for precise composition, especially when tilted vertically. Vibration is another issue, especially when the wind blows. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan the 308 mounted on a good set of legs and set up properly should have no problems with a 400/5.6. i use the Gitzo 1177M, which is a smaller head, on a Gitzo 1128 CF tripod and have no problems with my FA* 400/5.6 and the *istD. _ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN Premium. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Loose front on 50/1.4
A piece of thick soft rubber will do. It is not that tight. Just make sure the rubber is clean so it won't scratch the glass. Once you get the grab with your fingers, it will be a piece of cake. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Ah, okey. Now I get it. How the he** do I remove this without damaging the glass? /Henri _ MSN Premium helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Loose front on 50/1.4
English is not my 1st language either. :-) When you look from the front of the lens, the edge of the front glass is actually covered by a large ring which is as wide as a 49mm filter thread. That is the ring should be removed. For example, for the M50/1.4, "PENTAX-M 1:1.4 50mm ..." is printed on that ring. Got it? :-) http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/lenses/primes/normal/M50f1.4.html Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan I'm sorry Alan, but I'm not getting it. Could you please explain further? What is a retaining ring? :-) English is not my first language. _ MSN Premium with Virus Guard and Firewall* from McAfee® Security : 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Ball Heads
308 is a small head. I would be surprised if it can handle 400/5.6, or even 300/4.5. The AS B1 I have can handle 300/4.5 nicely w/o tripod collar, if care is taken. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan i don't see why you should have problems with that head using that lens. what are your tripod legs? > I'm looking for a new ball head to replace my manfrotto 308RC, which > isn't cut out to handle my 400mm f/5.6. Since I hike with the tripod a > fair bit, weight is a priority. At the moment, I'm considering two > possibilities: The Acratech ultimate ball head and the Markins M-10. > I've seen the specs for both, and the main tradeoffs seem to be better > tension control on the markins, lighter weight and lower cost for the > acratech. _ Free yourself from those irritating pop-up ads with MSn Premium. Get 2months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: Switching AF360FGZ to TTL mode?
If I remember correctly, 360FGZ does digital TTL only. It won't do TTL on LX or Super A, but plain Auo and Manual only. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Just a thought: - if AF360FGZ can work in analogue TTL mode (reported by some users that it worked in this manner with LX and Super A) - if *istD can work with analogue TTL flashes (it works perfectly with AF280) all we had to do to switch AF360FGZ to "plain" TTL mode would be to electrically isolate digital pin on flash shoe. We would loose auto head zoom, HSS and some other automatic functions, but aparently that should work. Am I right??? How do you think? _ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN Premium. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Why Pentax Cannot Supply Lenses
You know what? They took our advice and tightened the QC. And now none of their lenses was able to leave the factory. :-) Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Yikes! Joe, are you pulling the collective leg, or are you serious? I'd be amazed that the lens assembly would bottleneck at one person, but I have heard more outrageous tales. It's obviously not a very robust manufacturing approach. _ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN Premium. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Pentax MX battery problem
Remove the whole bottom plate then. Piece of cake. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Update: The guy selling the camera apparently can't open the battery hatch. He says it's just plain stuck, and hard as hell. Leaking battery that has jammed it up maybe? No wonder it's not working though, a decade old battery in there. :-) _ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN Premium. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Comparison: 77 on 35 vs. 50 on APS sensor
They should print that in magazine ads instead of some silly ads which went nowhere. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Above statement is apparently quite true (of course, as it has come from one of our prime lens gurus :-), and reminded me of some interesting exchanges between Pentax QC Dep't and lens Design Dep't (it showed up in certain lens forum). It went something like this. Pentax QC Dep't (Hereinafter QC): The 50/1.4 has slight flare (CA, not due to backlight) at max aperture, and might not be suitable for use with *istD. Lens designers (hereinafter LD) : The lens was deliberately designed so (I assume the same design principle with LTD lenses). QC: It's an excuse that cannot be accepted in the digital era. A programme line which does not use max aperture must be designed. LD: OK then, we can easily prototype the same 50/1.4 but with less flare (CA). This could be the future FA*50/1.4 Proto was produced. QC: Good, still some CA remaining but it is now less than 50%. Let's test it for chart, general scenery and night scene etc. Test results were satisfactory. Design improvement was well reflected. Might have to change to the new design. And some time later QC: We have closely evaluated the results of the test. Well, the current one shows much better gradation and produces much subtler impression. We much prefer the current one. LD: We told you so. Now we are vindicated. We are not pursuing just the crispness, and that differentiates our lenses from others. Got it? Well, if we would proceed with the new version of 50/1.4, the current 50/1.4 might fetch a premium price, just like A*85/1.4. Above is a true story. It tells the present design philosophy of Pentax lenses well. For example, if they ever wish to produce Nikkor type lenses (often too crisp), they can easily do so, but they chose not to. That's why there are so many Pentax lens enthusiasts. Limited lenses are true Pentax ones, producing excellent 3D effect in a compact package. Well, folks, if you do not have an FA50/1.4 yet, secure it now before it becomes one of the legendary lenses :-). _ MSN Premium with Virus Guard and Firewall* from McAfee® Security : 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: A 15mm (was RE: 77 limited or 85* for portraits/canndids)
I'm really curious, because usually a lens this wide has its own limitations but often makes a spectacular view. I mean, if Pentax is still selling this lens, it should be good. How much do you pay for it? I believe the reason they are still selling some of the very old manual focus lenses because they have never been selling well in the first place. For this reason, they have many left in the warehouse. So I just want to know if Pentax has something special at the wide end. DA14 maybe? Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: 77 limited or 85* for portraits/canndids
If it's not for the crazy price tag, I might actually buy a new A15. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Apparently, the A 15mm is still available as well, though mine has been delayed again, and isn't scheduled to arrive until late this month. _ Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN Premium http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: 77 limited or 85* for portraits/canndids
My sample had been disassembled completely before it was sold just to find out what caused it. Many Pentax K mount manual focus fixed focal length lenses were designed and built the same way with 2 metal (some plastic) helicoid guide plates guiding the position of the whole focusing mechanisms. These 2 plates were often placed at both sides of the lens so that they are perfectly symmetric. However, in the case of the 77, due to the very limited space (and the filter ring design shows) of this design, one of the plates was forced to be placed so that they are not symmetric. Because of this, the weight of the whole lens group (quite heavy) rests on these 2 metal plates vary depends on the physical position of the lens. To see the real difference, just mount a heavy metal hood on it (say 49mm thread 100mm lens hood) and try to manual focus slowly in landscape orientation. You can actually feel the resistance which might make you uncomfortable. Unfortunately, since this is an AF lens, heavy damping grease which might ease the friction, cannot be used. Another con of this 2 guiding plates design is that the filter thread section might become loose over time (rotate slightly), especially when filters were forced mounted on them, and quite common on many 'A' lenses due to their loose tolerance. I would be very interested to see how Zeiss, Leica or Nikkor lenses were designed and built, but unfortunately, I can't afford any. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan My question to you, the resident disassembler :-). Do you know why this happens? Obviously, it does not harm the lens, but what part of lens internal is giving this resistance due to a different orientation of the lens? Have you disassembled this lens before? Something must shift inside the lens when the lens is rotated. I am just curious. _ http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: *istD Tv wheel problem
It's not dirty contact then. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Dunno, Alan. It seems so odd, since the problem only occurs when the release button on the grip is on. When it's off, the Tv wheel on the camera is just fine... Jostein _ MSN Premium includes powerful parental controls and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: *istD Tv wheel problem
Could it be the contact of the wheel was dirty since it isn't sealed? Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan My *istD is acting up: Sometimes, when I turn on the power on the battery grip, the Tv wheel on the camera doesn't respond. Neither in P, Tv or M modes. The Tv wheel on the grip works perfectly. This morning, it was stuck again, so I called the Pentax rep. He wanted to look into a few things and call me back. When he did, about 20 minutes later, the camera worked again, of course. Has anyone else had a similar experience? fyi, I have batteries in the grip only, and the contacts between camera and grip are spotless. _ Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN Premium http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Saturday Survey
Pretty much how I feel too. The lousy relability record only is a good enough reason for me to avoid it for good. My Z-1p might not have the same charm as the LX does (when it works), but at least it has never failed me. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Two LXen. Didn't use them much, never got to like them, and lost big on the resale. They just didn't suit me at all, from the off-balance strap configuration to the flash problems to the loud shutter to the many, many repair needs. All the hoopla about the OTF metering sounded good, but in real life I wasn't used to setting the camera on auto, and when I did it incorrectly exposed just as often as any other center-weight meter, although it has some theoretical advantage if the light is very low or changed at the instant of exposure. For a good manual Pentax camera, give me a PZ1p any day. -- John Mustarde www.photolin.com _ Add photos to your messages with MSN Premium. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: Saturday Survey
Tamron SP 35-105/2.8 manual focus. It was a nightware. The lens was expensive (I was in Melbourne back then) and it was very soft wide open, and reasonable at f5.6. It was great for portrait, but nothing else. Not to mention the zooming acting was a pain in the axx due to some lousy plastic inner mechanisms which the service centre could do nothing about. Since then I have owned prime lenses only. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan OK, here's a new question: What camera or lens have you bought that you regretted purchasing? I'll go first because my answer will startle you at first: Pentax A20/2.8 (Now the other shoe drops). because now that I have an ist-D I wish I'd bought the autofocus version, the FA20/2.8 instead. They're the same lens optically, but the "A" version is much more solidly built (and is actually more expensive). I never felt missed autofocus on my film cameras but since this lens has the angle of view of a 30mm when used on the DSLR, I'm finding myself wishing for AF sometimes. It's still a fabulous lens, though ;-) -- Mark Roberts Photography and writing www.robertstech.com _ MSN Premium: Up to 11 personalized e-mail addresses and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Character of M135/3.5
Here are some M135/3.5 shots. :-) http://www.pbase.com/wlachan/pentax_m13535 Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Okay, David, which was it? If your B&W (prints?) are very sharp, as are your slides (I assume color?) were both shot thru the same lens? Or different lenses? Which was responsible for the "to [sic] soft" prints? The 150mm or the 135mm? keith whaley _ MSN Premium with Virus Guard and Firewall* from McAfee® Security : 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: OT: Best restaurants in the world - official!
I supposed they weren't fond of Chinese cuisine eihter. But then again, often the so-called "the best" is rather subjective and highly depends on the background of the judges. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Following on from the recent thread about LA eateries, I list below the forty nine restaurants which the numerically-challenged editors of "Restaurant" magazine have adjudged to be the fifty finest restaurants in the world. Somewhat disappointingly, given its recent build-up, LA rates only one entry, at number thirty three. Even more surprisingly, Britain has three in the top ten. No doubt there were more Londoners than Angelinos on the judging panel. However, American, indeed Californian, pride is salvaged by having the "French Laundry" at the very top of the list! I'm sad to say that I've only eaten at two of the restaurants. I found the food in the River Cafe to be very dull, but the grub at the Waterside was good. The meal at the latter was enlivened by the fact that the late King Hussein of Jordan was dining at the next table, accompanied by a ravishingly beautiful blonde of perhaps seventeen summers. "She is His Majesty's god-daughter", the waiter informed us gravely. As there were at least eight armed bodyguards in the car park, none of us felt brave enough to contest the point. Here's the list: French Laundry, Yountville, CA, USA THE FAT DUCK, Bray El Bulli, Spain L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Paris Pierre Gagnaire, Paris Guy Savoy, Paris NOBU, London RESTAURANT GORDON RAMSAY, London Louis XV, Monaco Gramercy Tavern, New York Daniel, New York Tetsuya's, Sydney HAKKASAN, London THE WATERSIDE INN, Bray ST JOHN, London L'Ami Louis, Paris Jean Georges, New York LE GAVROCHE, London Flower Drum, Melbourne THE MERCHANT HOUSE, Ludlow Arzak, San Sebastian, Spain Dal Pescatore, Canneto sull'Oglio, Italy THE IVY, London Arpege, Paris El Raco de Can Fabes, San Celoni, Spain Schwarzwaldstube, Baiersbronn, Germany The Cliff, Barbados Rockpool, Sydney LE MANOIR AUX QUAT' SAISONS, Oxford Al Mahara, Burj Al Arab, Dubai Charlie Trotter, Chicago Le Jardin des Sens, Montpellier THE SQUARE, London Spago, Los Angeles Bukhara, India Chez Panisse, California Le Meurice, Paris Trois Gros, Roanne, France Balthazar, New York RIVER CAFÉ, London La Tupina, Bordeaux Auberge d'Ill, Illhauseern-Alsace Craft, New York Le Tour d'Argent, Paris La Maison de Marc Veyrat, Annecy, France Felix, Peninsula Hotel, Hong Kong De Karmeliet, Bruges THE WOLSELEY, London Gambero Rosso, San Vincenzo John _ Free yourself from those irritating pop-up ads with MSn Premium. Get 2months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Q: Pentax 5,5x lupe
Don't even think about it. It sucks. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Is the Pentax zoom lupe a good choice? _ STOP MORE SPAM with the MSN Premium and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: History ?
I think this name is quite common in Japan. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan > "Asahi" > Is that someone's name? > Is it a contraction of "Morning fire" > Is it something else? It means 'rising sun'. _ STOP MORE SPAM with the MSN Premium and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: fast film not a solution?
How about IS/VR lenses? Seriously, I had the A70-210/4 for years until I bought the FA*200/2.8 two years ago. While the prime is heavier, I actually finds it easier to hold steadily than the zoom at the long end. This is particular true when manual focus was required (kind of difficult to hold steadily with the zoom while focusing). Also, I have been able to obtain more sharp pictures with manual focus bodies like MX or Super Program than the Z-1p because of lesser camera shake. Perhaps I am so used to the old camera shape. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan I often use only a A70-210mm 4.0 zoom on the road and to be on the safe side against shaking I shoot with a minimum of 1/125 or 1/250 or faster without tripod . To get that under most light conditions, I need ISO 400 film, ISO 100 would not work for me. I can use a grey filter for small apertures in bright light, I too prefer a small depth of field mostly. I do not own fast tele/zoomlenses, so I see no other solution than fast film for me. The only fast lens I have is the 50mm 1.2 from Pentax, all others lenses are between 2.8 - 5.6 How do you solve that (analog?) dilemma, with a super fast (expensive) tele or with a digital camera? _ http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: Q: Pentax 5,5x lupe
I tried one many years ago so I don't remember anything about distortion. I do remember, however, the Schneider 4X MC has the extra punch and appears slightly more contrasty, better colour and less flare. However, the Pentax 5.5X is still a very fine loupe. With the loupes that I have (Schneider 4X & Cabin 8X), I have found distortion would be most noticeable when my eye was not positioned dead centre. I guess some people viewed from a distance so they thought there was huge distortion when it should be viewed at close distance. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan I did some research on the Pentax 5,5x lupe. Judging by the specs it seems to be one of the best alternatives for a photographer with glasses - mainly because of it´s big eye relief. The thing is that there are totally contradictory verdicts on a possible distortion problem. Three reviews on the net say there is huge pincushion distortion and two say there is none. Is there a quality control issue with Pentax or whats going on here? Any comments? -Matti _ MSN Premium with Virus Guard and Firewall* from McAfee® Security : 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: what's your favorite Pentax macro?
If Rob is right, then Voigtlander SL 125/2.5 APO-Lanthar is the one. http://www.cosina.co.jp/sllenses/ http://www.cameraquest.com/inventor.htm Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Pentax glass experts, It looks like I might finally be able to buy a macro lens soon. I was wondering, what's your favorite Pentax (or other) macro lens and why? It could be AF or MF. Thanks, Amita _ MSN Premium helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: TTL flash with the *ist D
Haven't Metz been offering this feature for years? Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan and a really nifty feature - it can output right down to 1/256 power! _ MSN Premium helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: anyone need an A* 200 f4 macro
Is that new or used (used I guess)? But then my FA*200/2.8 would not be used as much then. Well, guess I'll stick with extension tubes. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan www.kamera-express.nl has one for 450 EUR. Excellent shop, I picked up an A* 135 f1.8 there a few days ago for 295 EUR :- Frank _ MSN Premium with Virus Guard and Firewall* from McAfee® Security : 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: Spotting Scopes
How about this? A Pentax Spotting scope 300 for C$299? I don't know anything about its spec however. http://www.beauphoto.com/frames/used/35mm.html# Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Anybody know much about these? We've been visiting the Morton Arboretum daily to check on a pair of Great Horned Owl chicks. It's a reach for me even with a 400mm lens and 2X converter and the owl only covers the central focusing area of the PZ-1p. Then we saw a lady we'd seen before this week. Her husband was with her. They both had spotting scopes with 45 degree eyepieces on tripods. My wife says they were made by Swanowski or some such. I looked thru the husband's and was astounded. The Owl chick filled the frame and was very sharp! I want one. He's been taking digital pictures thru it too. Regards, Bob S. _ MSN Premium: Up to 11 personalized e-mail addresses and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
RE: Buying and selling.
I might just give you the number: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Don't blame me if you don't believe. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan 4. Winning numbers for this Saturday's lottery. _ http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Greater Vancouver Zoo
I think I know what you mean. I was there few years ago but it was closed at the time. There were a few animals wandering freely inside. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan I was there last summer. The aquarium was very nice. I think there was a small children's petting zoo, but no more than that. _ Free yourself from those irritating pop-up ads with MSn Premium. Get 2months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Greater Vancouver Zoo
I concur with Shel wrt fence. It's a real distraction. I've taken a few zoopix over the years, and I realize that it's often either fence, or no pic. Looks like it was not such a good idea then. OTOH, that shot of the buzzards or whatever type of ugly bird they are, is pretty cool. And, yes, they're pretty damned sharp. Better than I coulda done, that's for sure. That one's my favourite of the bunch. Actually this pic was shot through the fence too, but the lens was stick so close to the fence they aren't visible in the picture. The ring-tailed lemurs (or whatever they are - any lower-primate-looking mammal with a ringed tail is a ring-tailed lemur to me) are sharp enough, but they really aren't doing much interesting imho. Not a bad shot, just not so interesting. But, as Shel said, if the exercise is one in handholding a long lens steady, you were most successful. I have a good excuse for this - the glass window was dirty. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ Free yourself from those irritating pop-up ads with MSn Premium. Get 2months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Greater Vancouver Zoo
I believe you meant the Stanley Park. The aquarium should still be here, but haven't seen any zoo. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan I visited Vancouver's zoo several years ago. Then I read that the zoo was voted out of existence. There was an aquarium in the same area. I wonder if that still exists. _ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN Premium. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Greater Vancouver Zoo
I would love to avoid the fence whenever possible, but not in this case. They were double fenced and I was forced to stand back and took the pictures. So I switched to manual focus and focus on their eyes only. I was hoping to let the viewers noticed that they were captured and imprisoned, though I have no idea how well those pictures were executed. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan I think the bars force us to reflect on the fact that these creatures of the wild have been imprisoned for our entertainment. Perhaps there are good reasons for it, perhaps not. John On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 07:13:34 -0700, Shel Belinkoff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hi Alan ... I don't like these at all. The fence between the viewer and the animals really detracts from the critters. Better would have been to get closer, stick a smaller lens through the fence, if at all possible, or get much closer to the fence and use whatever lens you had wide open or close to it, obscuring the fence completely. Baring those options, these are probably as good as you could get, and was a good exercise in hand holding longer lenses ... which you seem to have done quite well. Others might like the idea of the fence being there, but, imo, it makes for very poor photographs. shel _ Add photos to your messages with MSN Premium. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Greater Vancouver Zoo
You're probably thinking of the small zoo at Stanley Park in downtown Vancouver. The Zoo that Alan's pictures are from is out in the suburbs of Vancouver. It used to be known as the Vancouver Game Farm, but now its called the "Greater Vancouver Zoo". That explains why the zoo seems a little primitive (no disrespect), but we enjoy petting the animals. :-) Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ Add photos to your messages with MSN Premium. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Re: Greater Vancouver Zoo
So you've switched to Canon IS, Alan ;-) Keep it down, I don't want anyone to know here. :-) But the truth is, I am stuck with Pentax. Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ Add photos to your messages with MSN Premium. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
Greater Vancouver Zoo
Had a few hours walk this Saturaday and took some pictures. To my surprise, I was able to take sharp pictures by handholding my 200mm & 300mm. Camera shake used to be a problem with me so I usually had the tripod with me, but not this time (left in the car because of the weight). Any comments welcome. :-) http://www.pbase.com/wlachan/vancouver_zoo Regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan _ STOP MORE SPAM with the MSN Premium and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
