david richhart

I have gone to auctions, swap meets, and garage sales for over 45 years. It gets in your blood, you either like the thrill of the hunt or you don't. <p> Before I got involved in ebay there were items I wanted that I thought were rare because I had only ever seen one or two available in my lifetime, if at all. When I started using ebay, nearly 9 years ago, I soon found out that many so-thought "rare" items were available nearly every week. Still in the box, in mint condition. <p> So ebay is a game of patience, and knowing what you are looking at to get a good deal. Do your homework and be patient. There will be another one available next week. I have purchased items there that I don't know where else I could ever find them. <p> Some categories, like autographs and ancient artifacts, are famously full of frauds and reproductions. But true bargains abound in many areas, and I am a satisfied ebay user. As Ebay tells you, "Caveat emptor". http://m-w.com/dictionary/Caveat%20emptor

See if you can get a 50mm 1.4 lens thrown in on the deal. That makes a sweet little combination. Then you can start posting your black and white street photographs in the Leica forum and they will never know ;0P

Tim... I use the item #2 shown on this page <p> http://www.weinproducts.com/safesyncs.htm <p> You can mount a flash on the hotshoe and it has a pc sync socket as well, so you can use 2 flashes at the same time. Paramount also makes voltage regulated flash cords.

"LIFE" magazine did it for me. Every week, while growing up in the 1960s, I waited anxiously for the latest issue of "Life" to come in the mail. I studied every issue for hours. When I graduated high school in 1969, I wanted to be a photojournalist. "Life" was king and Larry Burrows was my idol. Seeing his photographs of a war in Viet Nam influenced my attitude then, and now. Unfortunately he did not survive the war, and "Life" didn't survive the changing times.

Ellis... why would you use the "C" word in the Pentax forum?

Like everyone else, I worry about the unknown voltages a flash unit can deliver

to my digital camera. I always use a safe-sync, and I like the wireless

triggers. BUT... <p> has anyone here actually ruined a camera?

Fortunately, if there is anything fortunate about it, it is on a manual 50mm 1:2 lens. The lens can probably be replaced cheaper than it can be repaired.

Andrew Ng... you can operate a radio trigger on top of the Wein safe sync and it has the voltage protected PC sync as well. You are able to operate several flashes triggered simultaneously. Morgan Lee... I know it sounds too good to be true, but I have been using that method for about a year on my *istD and no problem so far... I also worry about the excessive voltage, and I am curious about other's experience. Excessive voltage can be a cumulative problem. Perhaps we should start a thread on whether anyone has actually "fried" a digital camera with a flash?

JPEG works fine for me for my feebay ads. It's controlled lighting at home, and it can easily be redone if necessary. I use RAW for the important stuff. Extra memory cards seem pretty cheap when you want to get the photograph right...

I like my trusty old 283 on my *ist. Buy a wein voltage regulated hotshoe adapter just to be safe. That also has the connection for a sync cord so you could use two flashes at once. One flash on the camera and another on the sync cord. BTW I really don't need another flash.

I recently had the same thing happen at a major camera store in my area. I was just trying to get 5 rolls of 120 film for my 645 camera. When I rolled those numbers past the kid behind the counter it was as if I had asked him to solve a major mathematical problem. The fact is, the store has stopped handling all but 35mm film, and I think that is soon on it's was out. I dread the future.

Well if we go through the process of elimination, I have owned several Pentax K1000. Whenever the mirror cycled in them it sounded like you dropped the camera. So I'm certain they are not the quietest. They were all good cameras that would almost survive being dropped though.

I really, really, REALLY like my Pentax FA 50mm f1.7 a lot on my *istD. I keep thinking about the 50mm 1.4, but then I look at my pictures and don't feel the need to change. BTW I still really, really, REALLY like my old manual SMC 50mm f1.4 lens when I use it on my trusty old Pentax ME Super. That is a sweet little combination!<div></div>

Well, thank you all for the answers. I now have the bulbs listed on ebay. My biggest concern was the static electricity. I would hate to think about the results of a number 22 flash bulb, that is the size of a regular light bulb, blasting off in a box full of paper. I do like the egg carton idea.

It's sort of an unusual question, I guess. Some might think it doesn't

belong in this forum, but I didn't know where else to put it. I thought there

would be someone here with some experience, since flash bulbs do go with the

vintage cameras. From the Speed Graphics to the Brownies I am sure some of you

are still buying flash bulbs. <p>

Is there any concern when mailing flash bulbs? Are they a fire hazard? Are

any special precautions or labelings required. Am I being overly cautious.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Considering the fact that my local camera stores seem to be anti-Pentax, and you all know what I mean, I do not feel any guilt at all about mail ordering. Then it's interesting to carry my new, and loaded with extras, *istD into the store for them to look at while I buy 10 bucks worth of AA batteries! <p>

If they would just treat me and my chosen brand of equipment with a little respect, I would be inclined to give them more of my business. <p>

Besides, mail ordering from out of state saves me 8 1/2 % sales tax.

I have been a long time Pentax believer. Went to college with a trusty old

K1000 back in the early 1970's. I wouldn't think of parting with my precious ME

Super equipped with the still pristine 50MM, 1.4 lens. I still own a pair of

SF1N bodies that I have used to photograph a couple dozen weddings. I will give

those 2 cameras to my nephews when they get just a little older. <p>

Last fall I bought a *istD, for all the reasons that we Pentax users do

not need to explain to each other. I love the camera, and the gratification of

great digital images without a trip to the photo lab is is tremendous.

Absolutely no complaints from me, all of the equipment is much better than I

could ever hope to be. <p>

So, to complement my digital system, I bought the AF540FGZ dedicated

flash. I found a good price at just over $300 USD (gray market item). Postage

included, and the $25 rebate from pentax put the cost at about $275 USD. <p>

The flash works fine, no problem. It's a good solid piece of equipment

with plenty of power, and combined with the *istD there are plenty of flash

options to work with. For a novice it will take a while to figure out all the

settings, but all equipment is like that, and the digital setup with the chance

of instant viewing is a wonderful learning tool. If you don't already own any

flash equipment I think the AF540FGZ is a great buy for Pentax owners. <p>

Personally, if I were doing it over, I would not buy the flash. I have no

complaints, but I have found out that I did not need it. I was using my trusty

old Vivitar 283 and Sunpak 544 flashes synced with the Wein voltage protector

on the hot shoe. Set the *istD to manual and start photographing just as I have

done for years. I use a set of radio trigger & slaves for the studio lights

with no problem. So why did I invest in the new flash? <p>

I thought I needed the convenience of a dedicated Pentax flash and I did

not. I already had the equipment I needed, and I think my money would have been

better invested on some of that quality Pentax glass. - Dave

One very warm day, in an un air-conditioned church, I did the pre-ceremony photograpy in a plain sports shirt and dress pants, and noone said anything. As the guests started to arrive I discreetly slipped away and put on my still fresh dress shirt, tie, and suit coat for the ceremony. The parents of the bride and groom were all visibly happier with my appearance. It would have been better if I had mentiond to them earlier that I would be freshening up. It was a valuable lesson, and I never made that mistake again.

Luca... I also have a set of the lamps, and mine came without power cords. I think what you need is called a "Sony" cord. You should be able to find one at a computer surplus or electronics surplus store. <p> I have heard that Visatec accessories will fit, though I have not tried them myself. <p> Does anyone know where to order replacement flash tubes?

Well I finally bought a Pentax istD about a month ago. It works great, I

shouldn't have waited so long. I fretted about buying an older model Pentax

digital but that was wasted nerves. The camera does everything I need... and

more. INSTANT GRATIFICATION AT THIS LEVEL OF QUALITY IS FANTASTIC! And I am

still learning to use it. <p>

Now I am wondering about linking my istD to a set of Broncolor Impact

studio lights, or a set of Speedotrons. I know that too much voltage fed to the

camera would be a total disaster. I also know that Pentax makes some great

dedicated flashes for the digitals. But I want the ability to use my studio

lights. I imagine that I would need to shoot in manual and use a slower synch

speed. <p>

Any experience out there, or ideas on what I should consider. Are voltage

regulating synch cords the way to go? Would the Broncolor infra-red work on the

hotshoe? Is light-synch the answer? What system are you using? Thanks for any

and all suggestions<div></div>

I shoot eight or ten weddings a year with a partner. Two people shooting is a great advantage, and does eliminate a lot of pressure! My partner uses color and takes care of the formals, while I use mostly black and white in available light (no flash) <p>

While my partner shoots the wedding party walking down the aisle, I am in the back of the church photographing the bride with her father. During the ceremony, one photographer in the balcony and one below can give very different views. <p>

There are many situations before the ceremony where two shooters work well. The bridal party and the groomsmen are not together, and having a photographer with both groups at once is an advantage. <p>

Not to mention the fact that all photographers see things in a different way, and two views certainly can enhance each other.

I just purchased the equipment from the estate of a former wedding

photographer. It includes a clean set of Broncolor mono-lights in the

case. 2 "Broncolor Impact 21" lights, and 1 "Broncolor Impact 41"

light. <p>

Can anyone help me find a manual for the lights? Many thanks in

advance - Dave

I would like to mention the importance of a good accountant. It is important that your books are in order from the very beginning to avoid major problems at tax time and to save you money. Photography involves a major investment, and a good bookeeper can possibly save you more than eough money to pay for himself.

Kari... You seem to have a good back-up plan, but I think a spare flash cord would be a very small and inexpensive piece of equipment to have available. Flash cords can easily fail at the worst possible time for many reasons. It's always less stressful if you don't have to resort to an alternate plan.

I see many lovely photograps. Thank you all for the posts!