Re: On wi-fi, flashes, batteries etc.
On Oct 30, 2012, at 11:08 PM, Larry Colen wrote: > > On Oct 30, 2012, at 9:41 PM, Boris Liberman wrote: > >> Going through the e-mail that accumulated during my trip to USA now... >> Probably will be doing so for few more weeks give or take. >> >> I think, Larry, that you're right with one exception. I think that the flash >> have to be triggered by wired connection. So that it ensures that flash >> fires exactly when you want it to fire and not some time in the future >> depending on the connection state. > > I don't think so. I think you could set it up such that sending a particular > packet would trigger the flash. But, wifi and wired capabilities are not mutually exclusive. -- Larry Colen l...@red4est.com sent from i4est -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: On wi-fi, flashes, batteries etc.
On Oct 30, 2012, at 9:41 PM, Boris Liberman wrote: > Going through the e-mail that accumulated during my trip to USA now... > Probably will be doing so for few more weeks give or take. > > I think, Larry, that you're right with one exception. I think that the flash > have to be triggered by wired connection. So that it ensures that flash fires > exactly when you want it to fire and not some time in the future depending on > the connection state. I don't think so. I think you could set it up such that sending a particular packet would trigger the flash. > -- Larry Colen l...@red4est.com sent from i4est -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: On wi-fi, flashes, batteries etc.
Going through the e-mail that accumulated during my trip to USA now... Probably will be doing so for few more weeks give or take. I think, Larry, that you're right with one exception. I think that the flash have to be triggered by wired connection. So that it ensures that flash fires exactly when you want it to fire and not some time in the future depending on the connection state. Admittedly I find myself thinking more and more in terms of conservative technology and less and less about bells and whistles of modern day. E.g. I find it refreshing that my Ricoh GXR has no image stabilization and that the lens has only one focal length being relatively simple optical design... On 9/18/2012 8:22 PM, Larry Colen wrote: I think that the vast majority of problems that I have with my flash have to do with the physical connection between the camera and the flash. If the camera bodies and flashes were both equipped with wifi it would open a tremendous number of opportunities. Of course, the right way to do this would be a communications standard so that things would work across brands. This would also have an advantage of wifi tethering and control of both bodies and flashes. Being able to control everything from one laptop. I'd also love to be able to use the same battery in my flash as my K-5. I'd do it as "standard" battery format, bigger than any of the ones in the cameras, that would fit in all grips and flashes. It would also be possible to make an adapter so you could use the K-5 battery, or the K20, K-foo, or whatever new battery was developed. Of course an extended life battery that just fit in grips and flashes would also be nice. Unfortunately, Pentax hasn't hired me to design and develop new products and features, so I don't see these things coming in the near future. -- Larry Colen l...@red4est.com sent from i4est -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: On wi-fi, flashes, batteries etc.
John, Let me comment on a few points that you made: 1. focus adjustment, 2. battery difference, and 3. SDM. 1. Sorry, but you apply the logic about the focus-adjustment functionality backwards. It is not the need to adjust the focus on the newer cameras, but rather a possibility. I don't think that K5/K7/.. are produced with more louse clearances than *ist D(S) cameras. Deviations from the "perfect" sizes exist in any [mass-]manufactured cameras and lenses. When those add up in a "negative" way, you have less than perfect focus. I haven't done any focus adjustment with any of my lenses as I moved from *ist DS to K-7. I don't see any difference between the two. It doesn't mean that they all focus perfectly. It's just that I am too lazy (or as I think, - busy) to play with that. I actually suspect that one of the lenses can benefit from the fine adjustment. 2. As for the batteries, - when I was switching from *istDS to K7, I also was not very happy at first that I had to use a proprietary battery. I was considering getting a grip just to be able to use AAs. However, having used it K7 with D-Li70, I see several big advantages beyond those experienced by the designers (Li-ion batteries provide more stable voltage/current values). First, Li-ion batteries tend to hold the charge better when they are not being used. Second, (while this is not a direct comparison), in my experience one charge of the D-Li90 lasts a bit longer in K-7, then fully charged set of 2000 mAh-2300 mAh rechargeable batteries in DS. That's despite the fact that the original Pentax D-Li90 is rated at 1860 mAh. The difference might be due to the higher efficiency of K-7, or due to the fact that AA's voltage falls off at an earlier point (i.e. the camera is not able to use the entire capacity of the batteries). Second, from the practical point of view of travel load. With K7, when I am flying, I also take 2 sets of spares: one D-Li90 spare and one set of freshly charged AAs. A spare D-Li90 is smaller in size, and probably slightly lighter than 4 AAs. The charger for D-Li90 is smaller and lighter than that for 4 AAs (I am using LaCrosse one for AAs). But, obviously, you'd carry two chargers instead of one. Let's see how this works for me in different scenarios. I assume the trips when I am flying, and hence the volume and weight is important. a) A trip where I don't need/take the flash. Those are rear, but when they happen, the advantage of D-Li90 is clear. b) A trip where I take both, and shoot a lot with both (such as a dance festival). On such trips, I sometimes take 500-1000 shots within one evening, and need to recharge both, camera and flash batteries overnight, to have them ready by the morning. With D-Li90 (K-5), I have no choice but taking two chargers. But that allows me to charge the batteries in parallel. With all AAs (DS), I had to either swap the batteries in the middle of the night, or take extra battery sets that I can be using next morning, while the last night batteries are still charging. In this case, D-Li90 (K-5) also has obvious advantage. c) A trip where I take both, and shoot moderate number of photographs at a relatively slow pace. Here is where one charger for all batteries has an advantage. However, if such a trip is short, I don't take the full set (spares and chargers), but only a part that I might need. As for the higher cost of spare batteries. I actually didn't by a spare for D-Li90 until almost two years later. As described above, I never had a shoot where I fully exhausted it. When I bought it, - it was $14.50 from a 3rd party, - you can read about that here: http://www.mail-archive.com/pdml@pdml.net/msg635940.html That battery is fine, except that a small piece of plastic (one that looks like a small strip) broke off at the end, - so, now I need to be a bit more careful when inserting that battery. The bottom line is that in my typical usage scenarios, D-Li90 has considerable advantage for most scenarios (despite my original reservations that are similar to yours). YMMV. 3. If it is of interest to you: SDM focusing provides speed advantage. And, except for a failing chip in my 17-70 that was replaced under warranty, I did not have problems with SDM (I have 50-135 and 17-70 on my K-7), knock-on-the-wood. Having said all of that, - I agree with the main point of yours, - if your camera does all you need/want, there is no reason to upgrade it. Igor Wed Sep 19 01:13:14 EDT 2012 John Coyle wrote: > One advantage of not having moved on from the *ist-D is that I can use simple > old widely > available AA batteries in both camera and flash (AF330FTZ)! > Normally carrying two sets of spare recently-recharged batteries means I have > seldom run > out of juice. > There seem to be other advantages too, from what I read here: > no problems with fancy-shmancy SDM focussing. > no need to calibrate my lenses - they all seem to focus pretty well. > I don't attempt to shoot in available
RE: On wi-fi, flashes, batteries etc.
One advantage of not having moved on from the *ist-D is that I can use simple old widely available AA batteries in both camera and flash (AF330FTZ)! Normally carrying two sets of spare recently-recharged batteries means I have seldom run out of juice. There seem to be other advantages too, from what I read here: no problems with fancy-shmancy SDM focussing. no need to calibrate my lenses - they all seem to focus pretty well. I don't attempt to shoot in available light where I need more than 800ASA. I'm sure there are more.. Although I probably will go to a K30 or K5 when the *ist-D finally gives up the ghost. John Coyle Brisbane, Australia -Original Message- From: pdml-boun...@pdml.net [mailto:pdml-boun...@pdml.net] On Behalf Of Larry Colen Sent: Wednesday, 19 September 2012 3:23 AM To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List Subject: On wi-fi, flashes, batteries etc. I think that the vast majority of problems that I have with my flash have to do with the physical connection between the camera and the flash. If the camera bodies and flashes were both equipped with wifi it would open a tremendous number of opportunities. Of course, the right way to do this would be a communications standard so that things would work across brands. This would also have an advantage of wifi tethering and control of both bodies and flashes. Being able to control everything from one laptop. I'd also love to be able to use the same battery in my flash as my K-5. I'd do it as "standard" battery format, bigger than any of the ones in the cameras, that would fit in all grips and flashes. It would also be possible to make an adapter so you could use the K-5 battery, or the K20, K-foo, or whatever new battery was developed. Of course an extended life battery that just fit in grips and flashes would also be nice. Unfortunately, Pentax hasn't hired me to design and develop new products and features, so I don't see these things coming in the near future. -- Larry Colen l...@red4est.com sent from i4est -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: On wi-fi, flashes, batteries etc.
On Tue, Sep 18, 2012 at 06:46:47PM -0700, Larry Colen wrote: > > I don't, off hand, see any advantage of bluetooth over 80211n. To get my bluetooth headset and my android tablet talking over Bluetooth, I push one button. To connect something over a wireless network I generally have to be able to enter a password. I know some devices offer 'one click' connection over Wi-Fi, but the ones I've seen assume an unsecured network, and don't use ad hoc connections. Bluetooth is intended for use as a point-to-point communication protocol; WiFi has a different design goal. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: On wi-fi, flashes, batteries etc.
On Sep 18, 2012, at 6:41 PM, John Francis wrote: > On Tue, Sep 18, 2012 at 04:39:41PM -0700, Larry Colen wrote: >> >> On Sep 18, 2012, at 11:22 AM, John Francis wrote: >> >>> This strikes me as the sort of application that could use a standard >>> Bluetooth core - all the pairing issues are part of the package. >> >> Yeah, but as long as you are adding a wireless feature, why not do one with >> the bandwidth for at least remote viewing of the previews? > > Bluetooth 3 should be more than fast enough for that. The main drawback I > can think > of would be range - Bluetooth is designed for devices within about 30' of > each other. I don't, off hand, see any advantage of bluetooth over 80211n. Wifi, on the other hand is a lot more flexible for actual data transfers etc. > >>> >>> A somewhat-related question for the video shooters: does a K-5 (or >>> whatever) have any way of reviewing/playing back audio? >> >> Yeah, the display button. > > > > But if you don't have anything plugged into the HDMI or PC/AV connectors, > do you get any audio playback? And if so, where is the speaker? Is your K-5 not working? I just gave it a try, the sound seems to come from under the pop up flash. -- Larry Colen l...@red4est.com sent from i4est -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: On wi-fi, flashes, batteries etc.
On Tue, Sep 18, 2012 at 04:39:41PM -0700, Larry Colen wrote: > > On Sep 18, 2012, at 11:22 AM, John Francis wrote: > > > This strikes me as the sort of application that could use a standard > > Bluetooth core - all the pairing issues are part of the package. > > Yeah, but as long as you are adding a wireless feature, why not do one with > the bandwidth for at least remote viewing of the previews? Bluetooth 3 should be more than fast enough for that. The main drawback I can think of would be range - Bluetooth is designed for devices within about 30' of each other. > > > > A somewhat-related question for the video shooters: does a K-5 (or > > whatever) have any way of reviewing/playing back audio? > > Yeah, the display button. But if you don't have anything plugged into the HDMI or PC/AV connectors, do you get any audio playback? And if so, where is the speaker? -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: On wi-fi, flashes, batteries etc.
On Sep 18, 2012, at 11:22 AM, John Francis wrote: > On Tue, Sep 18, 2012 at 10:22:35AM -0700, Larry Colen wrote: >> >> If the camera bodies and flashes were both equipped with wifi it would open >> a tremendous number of opportunities. Of course, the right way to do this >> would be a communications standard so that things would work across brands. > > This strikes me as the sort of application that could use a standard > Bluetooth core - all the pairing issues are part of the package. Yeah, but as long as you are adding a wireless feature, why not do one with the bandwidth for at least remote viewing of the previews? > > A somewhat-related question for the video shooters: does a K-5 (or whatever) > have any way of reviewing/playing back audio? Yeah, the display button. > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- Larry Colen l...@red4est.com sent from i4est -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: On wi-fi, flashes, batteries etc.
On Tue, Sep 18, 2012 at 10:22:35AM -0700, Larry Colen wrote: > > If the camera bodies and flashes were both equipped with wifi it would open a > tremendous number of opportunities. Of course, the right way to do this > would be a communications standard so that things would work across brands. This strikes me as the sort of application that could use a standard Bluetooth core - all the pairing issues are part of the package. A somewhat-related question for the video shooters: does a K-5 (or whatever) have any way of reviewing/playing back audio? -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
On wi-fi, flashes, batteries etc.
I think that the vast majority of problems that I have with my flash have to do with the physical connection between the camera and the flash. If the camera bodies and flashes were both equipped with wifi it would open a tremendous number of opportunities. Of course, the right way to do this would be a communications standard so that things would work across brands. This would also have an advantage of wifi tethering and control of both bodies and flashes. Being able to control everything from one laptop. I'd also love to be able to use the same battery in my flash as my K-5. I'd do it as "standard" battery format, bigger than any of the ones in the cameras, that would fit in all grips and flashes. It would also be possible to make an adapter so you could use the K-5 battery, or the K20, K-foo, or whatever new battery was developed. Of course an extended life battery that just fit in grips and flashes would also be nice. Unfortunately, Pentax hasn't hired me to design and develop new products and features, so I don't see these things coming in the near future. -- Larry Colen l...@red4est.com sent from i4est -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
