yves_d.

Sorry Christopher, but I don't fully agree with you.

 

The sensor will take a picture slightly larger than what you see in the viewfinder. My understanding is that it'd be too complicated to align the sensor and the viewfinder if they were exactly the same size.

 

This is something that is a bit anoying when you come from the P&S cameras, where the preview on the LCD comes FROM the sensor.

 

As far as preview on the LCD, as far as I know only the Olympus let you do that because they put another mirror and another small sensor up in the view finder - pretty clever ! But again, what you see is not exactly what you get. So no that's not possible on the K100D.

 

The only way to have "what yoiu see is what you get" on the LCD is to do it like on P&S digital, that is to say to open the shutter to capture the image and display it on the LCD. The drawback is that when you press the shutter, the camera needs to take a fraction of a second to close the shutter, "reset" the sensor, and finally take the picture - you can't get the instant picture the way you can on current SLR.

Have fun with it, it is a great camera. If this is your first try of a fully manual camera, be patient, it took me 300 pictures before I got a decent one.

<p>Check this thread:<BR>

<a href=http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00IrPM>http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00IrPM</a>

 

<p>With my K110d I use AWB (Auto White Balance) if I use the flash, otherwise, both outside and inside, I use the manual white balance.

 

<p>As far as I am concerned, the different white balance mode are useless.

Thanks to everybody who answered. I had not thought of the fact that the camera could just not be able to focus that well, but that it was masked by slow lenses... I do have a 100mm f/2.8 that is auto-focus, I'll do some tests with it.

What I don't understand is that the mechanism to determine when the image is in focus is the same, isn't it ?

 

My understanding is that some electronic up by the viewfinder work out if the image is in focus or not based on contrast and other factors.

 

If so, how can it work perfectly with DA and FA lenses, but not with M and A lenses ? It's not a timing thing, I don't rely on a beep, I turn the ring until I get the solid green light.

Anybody using the autofocus with M and A lenses on a K100d or K110d ?

 

I'm starting to think there is a problem. The autofocus works really well with

DA lenses, so the camera is not the problem, but with my A and M lenses, when

working with the aperture wide open, if I turn the ring until the little green

light comes on, the picture is out of focus, it's like the camera focussed

behind the point I was aiming at.

 

I have confirmed this for shots with bright light and easy to judge the focus

from just looking, and noticed that the good pictures are the ones where I set

the ring based on my judgement as opposed to what the auto-focus tells me.

 

However, for most of my pictures, I find there isn't enough light or contrast to

be able to focus just by looking, I'd appreciate the help from the auto-focus.

 

Anybody else having the same problem ?

 

 

Thanks.

What's the largest format you guys print ?

 

I just had a few pictures from the K110d (6MP) printed in 12x18 inches, and was quite impressed. I have never printed anything larger. I might one day, but it's unlikely.

 

I like the idea of the square sensor, it seems easy to do since there are already "full size" sensor, and I do find the rectangle a waste of light.

 

But if they're going to change the density or quality, I'd rather see a better sensor that could do long exposure without having to take a second shot in the dark, and do software noise reduction afterwards, like it is the case today.

<p>I'm not too surprised, I've done a quick test between the DA 18-55 and the SMC M 50mm, both at 50mm, and both set at the same aperture. I used the autofocus in both case (turning the ring until I got the green light for the M lens), and the camera sitting on a tripod - didn't move the camera at all between the two shots. The one surprise was that the autofocus focused forward a bit compared to the M lens, but still the difference in quality was huge, which make sense I guess otherwise there would not be any primes around any more !

 

<p>I had uploaded the picture on dcreveiw, here's a link, whatchout it includes both jped in their original format so it can take a while to load:<br>

<a href=http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=21199023>http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=21199023</a>

 

<p>But then, when you know you will be stuck in one place, say in a sit, the advantages of the zooms are worth the loss in quality.

But it isn't discontinued, right ? It's just out of stock ?

<p>I like the idea. What do we have to loose ?<br>

What, do you think would be the arguments of the people against it ?

 

<p>I'd push it even to the critique forum, not for when you click on the picture, but for the forum itself where the list of pictures is displayed.

<p>This looks very much like a 28 - 90 mm lens that was given to me. The one I have is very light, and not very good optically.

 

<p>"<i>I'm looking for something with a great range to sometimes bring only one do it all lens.</i>"<BR>

For which camera (film or digital) ? If it's for digital, I find the combination of the kit lens, the 18-55mm plus the 50-200mm zoom covers most stuff. They are not extra ordinary, for example they can't open very wide but obviously not a concern here, but they still are very nice.

<p><i>"Has anyone ever been bored with their macro lens after the shine wears off?"</i><BR><BR>

 

Not bored, but I actually have not had the tiem to get into macro, I have used my FA 100mm only for portrait and sport/kids show so far. I've played with it in macro mode, but not to the extent of getting soemthing worth keeping.

 

</p>

<p><i>"i suppose if that's the case i could always sell it off? "</i><BR><BR>

Yes, I doubt you'd have a problem, you don't see those for sale used very often.

</p>

> "I mean "how comes this isn't fixed","

 

Ooops, I meant, "I did not mean" !

A couple of comments to add to Michael's:

 

-unfortunately, the rebate program is specific to the US.

 

-I was lucky to stumble upon a really good deal on an FA 100m, macro, and it is indeed a great lens for portrait on an apsc size sensor ; nice to play with macro stuff too, although I haven't been able to come with anything nice yet in that domain.

But you have to admit that when you get a lot of good ratings, a couple of 4's, and a lot of 5, 6, and 7's, and one person give you an anonymous 3/3 with no comments, it's hard to take, even if you try not to care for ratings.

 

For example a 3/3 with comments like Marshall's would be fine, but one without any comment leaves a sour taste in one's mouth, especially when it's inconsistant with most of the rating.

 

I've already mentioned this in an earlier thread, but I think that ratings should be either or, either completely anonymous, or no possibility for anonymous rating.

Sorry if this came accross wrong, I mean "how comes this isn't fixed", it was more in the sense that if it is easy to see that somebody else has already reported a bug (via a publicly accessible bug tracking) then we don't need to report it again, and that avoids a new message every time a new member discover a "new" bug.

 

Thanks for the answers, and happy new year !

Patrick, you are right, the problem does not show up when going to www.photo.net, rather than photo.net... But once I'm logged in, I end up to the same page. Thanks.

Is photo.net using a bug tracking system ?

 

I've posted this:

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00J7SO

on December 11th, and noticed today that the problem is still there, but got no

answer/comment.

 

Is there a point posting bugs etc... here ?

If there is a tracking system, do we have access to it to see that a problem has

already been registered, the priority level applied to it, etc... ?

You don't tell what camera ? I am assuming one of the new digital (K100d, K110d, or K10d) ?

 

If you're on a budget then the kit lens (18-55mm) might be a good option to start with. It is a pretty good lens and allows you to use all the functions of the camera (auto-focus, different metering mode, intelligent flash etc...). I have some manual primes, but do end up using the kit lens as soon as I need the flash, which is more often than I had anticipated.

 

As far as prime goes, I think a 50mm and a 28mm fits most of what I need, but it depends on what kind of picture you do. Are you ok with manual focus and limited metering ? There are quite a few M lenses going on ebay - a lot of those are very sharp. Also Pentax plans to come out with quite a few new lenses, included a 35mm (well, that was before they got bought I don't know if they'll stick to the plan).

 

Another thing to consider is portability, I personally plan to get the two DA pancake lenses. I have a small M 28mm and it makes the camera small enough to fit in a big pocket. The pancakes are even slimmer than that one. I think that it is better to have a good lens that you use often rather than an excellent lens that you seldom use !

Well, to a certain point. With an A lens in 'P' mode, the camera will open the lens to its maximum, regardless of where the ring is set, and, at least with the A28 f/2.8, it knows that it is at 2.8.

 

Another "issue" with M lenses (not sure about A lenses) is that the internal flash will always fully discharge.

I agree with Adam, the limitations are there, but it does work if you've got enough light. I haven't kept any of my test pictures, but they were ok, so for the price of a converter, it's fine if you're going to use it only once in a while and don't expect super-sharp results.

There's what seem to be a bug on photo.net, which I'm sure could get a lot of

people worried about phishing:

 

If I bring up a new broser (firefox), go to photo.net, and click on "SignIn",

then fill in my email and password, I get back to the same page but with a

different link asking me again for my email and password. I've tried it both on

Linux and Windows, and from two different machines, and it is very consistant.

 

I don't think it is phishing, because from what I can tell all the links etc..

still point to photo.net, but it sure made me a bit nervous.

 

On the other hand, if I bring up a new browser again, go to photo.net, and go

directly to sharing/my portfolio, I get asked about my password only once, it

works right away this time.

 

Is this a bug ? Well-known ?

Also, my understanding (from using the site) is that a picture can only be rated if it was posted to the critique forum at some point.

<p>I am a beginner and most of my shooting so far has been done with an old 2 M pixel Fuji, so my experience and needs are a little bit different, but I am in the same boat as far as 90% of my pictures are of my kids.

 

<p><i>"And for the best low light Pentax bargain get a 50 mm 1.4. Cheapish and fast and enough beautiful bokeh to fill a flower basket."</i></p>

 

<p>I have the M version of that lens, and my understanding is that the F/FA version is as good if not better, and I can confirm that this is an incredible lens. I thought the 18-55mm kit lens was good until I did a couple of tests against the SMC M50 ! Unfortunately, I find 50mm and odd focal length to shoot at.</p>

 

<p>Now as far as which lens to pick, I've started to use an M28 a lot, and am fairly happy with it, although there are a lot of situations where I'd want autofocus, so I have started to hunt the FA 28mm. Eventually I will get the two pancakes, the 21mm and the 40mm (and probably not the 28mm), because the pancakes make the camera convenient to transport. I've read a lot of good things about the 40, some good and some bad about the 21, but I think that there is a point where you have to choose between ultimate quality and convenience, and adding zooms and big primes when you go out walking with the kids makes me having second thought about taking the camera. For what it's worth, I can fit the K110d in my coat pocket when I have the smallish M28mm f/2.8 on it !</p>

 

<p>I am waiting january of february to get the pancakes, the shops right now are in christmas mood, and with the K10d just out, they don't need to make any effort to sell, so they won't budge on prices.</p>

Very good indeed. I expect a tripod to do a little better (sharper), but I wouldn't expect to do any where as good at 1/2 sec hand held.