dg1

I still have my first "real" camera, a Ricoh VI TLR that my father bought when he was in Korea in 1953, and it is now so funky that it probably falls into the alternative camera camp. Haven't used it for a couple years, but it is the only film camera I've kept, both for sentimental reasons and the fact that it is smaller and lighter than my now gone Diacord L, and also delivers some nice Atget-like flared results with b&w film and sunny-16 exposure guestimates.

 

A friend has a Lubitel and really likes it.

Ricoh Caplio GX or Rollei dr5100 (same cameras), no RAW however.

The A2 has a very quick startup time. It also shoots raw files at an acceptable and practical rate. I like having it for when I want to be quiet, and the waistlevel viewing ability adds to it's unobtrusiveness. I believe it is, arguably, the best digicam in its class.

 

But for me, generally unless I'm expecting a theater setting or similar pin-drop situation, which is pretty rare in my case, I'm now just grabbing the *ist DS.

 

I'm glad I have both DSLR and digicams. These two cameras as well as my pocketable Ricoh cover my needs completely.

The Ricoh Caplio series are some of the fastest compact digicams. The GX is .12 sec and that includes AF, a single full press of the shutter. The R1 and R2 are somewhat faster yet. Very responsive cameras for their size.

I've upgraded cameras since my first digital, a Ricoh RDC5000, but I've done so by selling them to co-workers who just needed a camera and so far all of them are still using and enjoying them. And when I review old pictures that I've gotten using my former cameras, the good shots still look good, that doesn't change, and occassionally I'll wonder why I didn't keep the darn thing. I've generally upgraded for useability reasons more so than image quality, looking for a camera that seems to "fit" the way I want to shoot pictures. I think I've done so now, and have maybe reached my own level of incompetence. I took a fairly severe monetary hit in selling off my 10D for what some might consider a lesser camera, an *ist DS, but it really is an "upgrade" for me, I don't think price has much to do with it. If you like the camera keep it until it doesn't work or it doesn't suit what your doing. There will always be something "better" on offer.

There might be a point to a digital zoom IF the user does not want to muck around with cropping with an editing program. Or perhaps they don't want to use a computer at all, opting instead to use a pictbridge printer and print direct from the camera. Or the individual may be dedicated to WYSIWYG in-camera framing.

 

Computer-less printing is one of the current marketing trends for consumer digital photography, and it makes sense for some people.

 

I am not one of these people, nor do I advocate this, but while this is not a professional or even amateur option, it makes perfect sense for a consumer digital camera wherein most prints will be no more than 4X6, or pictures will be exchanged via the web at perhaps 480 X 640 up to probably no more than 600 X 800. A 2 megapixel file is more than adequate for decent 4X6 prints and many current cameras can offer 2 meg files after the in-camera digizoom cropping. One might even use their 7 or 8 meg digicam in 2 meg resolution as the normal mode (giving huge storage capacity), wherein digitally zoomed files ending in the same size represent no image further degradation. It's a definite option for simple snapshots.

 

It's just another in-camera parameter that can be done better on the computer, like sharpness, saturation, contrast, white balance.

I've got a pair of those also. I find them useful for "alternative camera processes" abstract/blurred sort of things, but would also welcome a tripod mount for some occasional clarity. I do really enjoy the binoculars themselves and the 3D view they give. It would be interesting if any of these companies tried to actually capture the images in stereo through the binocular lenses instead of the central cheap fixed lens.

Just want to add about the CRV3's and *ist DS. I've had the camera going on over 2 weeks now, I've used it for a couple extended walkabouts (200+ or so exposures on each) and also daily ... with some in camera flash, etc.. anyway I keep waiting for the batteries to be spent and it just hasn't happened. Amazing. Had I known I might not have bought 2 sets of 2700 mAH AAs and charger. First digital camera I've had using CRV3's and I'm truly stunned.

The picture also looks as though there might be too much in-camera noise suppression.

I also find myself using the 50 f/1.4 more than either the 28mm or the kit lens. This is surprising to me because on my 10D as much as I liked the 50mm f/1.8, it was always to narrow a view for me. On the 10D it equates to 80mm, and on the *ist DS 50 is 75mm, so I wouldn't expect it to make much difference, but something is different. I'm using the 50mm as a normal lens instead of the 28mm f/2.8 most of the time.

I very recently sold my Canon 10D and the modest lenses I had and bought an *ist DS and a SMC-F af 50mm f/1.4 and 28mm f/2.8. They work great.

 

If I were you, and had lenses, I wouldn't think twice about purchasing the *ist DS.

You may be forced to settle for something that's good enough, if not ideal. That's what I'm doing anyhow.

 

I'm still new to the Pentax lens world. But I think 36mm and 42mm (35mm equiv fov) are in a sort of wide-normal range where to me the difference isn't terribly critical, or at least not critical enough to go through a lot of angst and expense.

 

That said, I too have been considering the 24mm f/2.0 AL for my *ist DS, but it's relatively heavy, almost 1lb, and that runs somewhat counter to what I want from the DS and a prime. I agree that the 36mm field of view from a 24mm AF lens would be nearly ideal and f/2.0 is nice, but all things considered, for me it's looking like I'll be sticking with the 42mm fov that I get with the SMC-F 28mm f/2.8 . The lens is small and light and optically pretty good. That and the 50mm f/1.4 seem to be an almost perfect pairing, and with the 28mm I'm taken back to my 40mm Canonet days, which isn't a bad thing.

whoops, I meant 24mm f/2.0.. not that anyone is paying attention.

 

What does the AL designation mean btw? Is the AF SMC-F 28mm f/2.8 that I have different in anyway from the current FA AL designated 28mm f/2.8, optically that is?

The DS continues to truly knock me out since it replaced my 10D.

Sorry to blather on so, but I can't help it. I find I'm having the

most direct photographic experience with this camera of any digital

I've used thus far, and because the DS does indeed offer no more than

any other camera in its class I really can't put my finger on just

what it is about it. I'd read the Mike Johnston article "the digital

K1000" and thought the guy must have been in a poetic mood, but I'll

be darned if having the camera hasn't illuminated many of those

observations. I had the 10D for 2 years and felt confident it could

handle most any situation thrown my way, and it did, but it just

doesn't 'get it' like this camera, and neither have my other digitals

although they each have their strengths. It seems Pentax has somehow

figured out how to put the art ahead of the science.

 

I've been looking at the 24mm f/1.8 AL Pentax lens as a potential

addition but see that it is fairly heavy (.86 lbs according to B&H).

That and it's slightly largish size, compared to the 50 f/1.4 and 28

f/2.8 that I have, puts me off a bit.

 

Can anyone recommend some older wide and fast lenses, manual or AF,

Pentax or third party, that have similar optical quality?

SL, relax, If the D viewfinder is brighter for you, that's all that matters. The DS and D are both nice cameras, and the DS works for me. I'm deliriously happy with the DS, love the viewfinder and the noise.

I'm guessing that by "small f stop" you're actually meaning large f stop as in f/1.8 or f/2.5, large aperture, small number. But maybe not?

 

If you truly want a pocket camera, I don't think the Nikon with wide angle lens attached will fit, what size pocket?

 

There are many pocket cameras available, I have a Ricoh Caplio GX which does fit in a loose pants pocket and has 28mm - 85mm f/2.5-f/4.3 lens, as well as a small wide angle lens that fits well in a different pocket and gives a 22mm view. The GX has manual controls and even a hotshoe for external flash. It is 5meg, and they have release the GX8 recently, an 8meg version otherwise identical. Rollei sells the 5meg under their name also.

 

I don't know what camera is 'best', that's not a very useful term. Depends on what you want to do with it.

I have a sunpak TTL flash for my A2 which has the Minolta small hotshoe. There is an adapter available to allow such flashes to work on standard size hotshoes, but there are 2 pins besides the main middle trigger pin that line up with 2 of the *ist DS' pins. I'm assuming that these do not necessarily mean the same thing from camera to camera and I'm reluctant to try it. I might be able to insulate the two pins on the adapter from the small pins on the DS hotshoe, leaving just the manual trigger. Is there anywhere some kind of cross reference for pinouts of different camera makers? Is there any standardization for TTL connections?

I had the opportunity to by the *ist D instead of the DS for only a slight amount more, as there was an open box, but new D in the store. I checked it out and I found it only marginally quieter than the DS, and I don't recall any difference in the viewfinder. So I just checked the Askey review and here's what they say about that:

 

"The *ist DS has the same large eyepiece as the *ist D and the same magnified view, the focus screen taking up much more of the view through the viewfinder compared to other digital SLR's "

 

I really enjoy the viewfinder on the *ist DS much more than my 10D's albeit it's still a far cry from the Bessa R finder(but that's not a fair comparison) or a film SLR. Still, it's such a pleasant camera to use unlike any other DSLRs I've tried so far, quite a treat. As far as noise goes, it's loud but not that bad. If I need silence I've got my KM-A2. A smoother and quieter shutter was one of the tradeoffs I gave up selling the 10D, but that's about the only thing I'll miss.

You might also consider one of the smaller DSLRs. I just sold my 10D and replaced it with a Pentax *ist DS and I'll never look back. With its smaller size, nice viewfinder, and especially the smaller lenses, the Pentax for me is a huge upgrade in useability. I'm finding I choose to have this camera with me all of the time. The 10D seldom left the house, and actually seldom left the camera bag, which was a shame as it and the 20D are great cameras. But too bulky and obtrusive for my taste.

 

Don't discount the creative options available from prosumer digicams like the Sony F828 however. Flexible angle viewing, silent operation, excellent all-in-one lens, live histograms and live lcd displays. Cameras like this, or the KM-A2 and Olympus 8080 are fantastic modern photographic tools if they suit your style of photography. For selective focus and low noise in low light, the DSLRs are best, but DLSRs are based on old film camera design, and don't exploit as much of the potential of digitalas the prosumer cameras, IMO.

thanks, less is more, small is good, etc etc

 

Yeah, I think I lucked out, they're both Pentax lenses and seem to be real fine lenses.

 

Ironically they're the same focal lengths I sold with the 10D, including the kit lens, I had the Sigma 18-50mm "DC" zoom for my zoom. I'm not too keen on zooms but it's nice to have one sometimes. Mostly I use a KM A2 for that kind of thing.. the A2 is another reaction to the 10D actually.

 

Maybe too soon to tell, but it appears the *ist DS is moving to the top of the pecking order in my little camera family. *ist DS, A2, and Ricoh GX.

 

Maybe I'll pickup a K1000 at some point to keep my scanner company and accomadate my now rare film urges. I'm new to Pentax but I'm liking it so far.

In the course of the last few days I've sold my 10D and modest lens

selection and have replaced it with a Pentax *ist DS. The 10D is

certainly a great camera, but after 2 years of reluctant use I

finally decided to switch to the *ist DS for its small size, larger

viewfinder, and more enjoyable (to me anyway) handling. Boy am I

glad I did, and luckily I was able a 28mm f/2.8, and 50mm f/1.4 that

had just been taken in on trade. This is really a nice camera, one I

actually look forward to taking out with me. I got the kit lens

also, and it seems pretty decent.

 

So.. there!

Thanks for that suggestion Godfrey, I'm quite used to the 28mm f/2.8 on the 10D. I'll look into the 28 f/1.8.

A Pentax *ist DS is small yet well built and relatively inexpensive. I believe they can be found for not much more than the price of the better prosumer all-in-one cameras with a decent kit lens to get you started.

Thanks for the clarification, and I see that earlier Godfrey also had addressed this, and had effectively answered it, so sorry if I was being redundant.

 

The reason I asked is I want an effect on my 10D that is equivalent to the 50mm f/1.8 on a 35mm SLR. I like the shallow depth of field I can achieve with my 50mm f/1.8, so I want to widen the field of view without increasing the DOF.

 

It'll be interesting to see any reviews of the Sigma DC 30mm f/1.4 when it debuts.

I guess what I'm asking, is does one apply the crop factor, in 10D's case 1.6, to the aperture. I know 31mm is roughtly equivalent to 50mm angle of view on a 35mm, so would the f/1.8 similarly translate to roughly f/1.0 and create about the same DOF? Or is this too simplistic?