Full K-30 review at the DPR:-
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentax-k-30/
Rough K-5II and IIs review at the PF:-
http://www.pentaxforums.com/reviews/pentax-k-5-ii-iis/introduction.html
Now the "stop gap" models suddenly has become "new flagships"! That's really funny! :-D
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
100 Colours Q10 - Real Dummy Units!
Photos at "Pentax Briefing Paper" (Japanese).
Wow! I really want to buy one this time and couldn't help myself, regardless of the super small sensor of this TOY! :-D
Previous Stories:-
100 Colours of Q10 are Available for Ordering Now
100 Colours of the Q10
Another K-5 Vs K-5IIs Sample Comparison (w/ FA*28-70)
Same site, same author, who has done many shootout tests between the two cameras recently and shared his results:-
http://pentax.briefing-paper.com/2027
(in Japanese)
The lens was put at f/5.6 at 50mm which could one of the possible sharpest settings of the lens.
This time, IMHO, the difference between the K-5 and K-5IIs is almost non-existent. In fact, with the extra-sharpness setting +1, the K-5 sample and crop seems to be a bit sharper, even! See this:-
(Above: Left K-5, Right K-5IIs, Extra-sharpness at +1; Credit: Pentax Briefing Paper.)
http://pentax.briefing-paper.com/2027
(in Japanese)
The lens was put at f/5.6 at 50mm which could one of the possible sharpest settings of the lens.
This time, IMHO, the difference between the K-5 and K-5IIs is almost non-existent. In fact, with the extra-sharpness setting +1, the K-5 sample and crop seems to be a bit sharper, even! See this:-
(Above: Left K-5, Right K-5IIs, Extra-sharpness at +1; Credit: Pentax Briefing Paper.)
Pentax Forums K-5 Vs K-5IIs Sample Shots and Comparisons (Two Pics)
http://www.pentaxforums.com/news/pentax-k-5-iis-vs-k-5-sample-photos.html
Btw, do you see and like the moires? :-o
Btw, do you see and like the moires? :-o
SLRGear (IR) DA18-135 Full Test
See: http://slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/1384/cat/46
The measurbation results seem to be in line with what PhotoZone found long time ago. I now understand why Pentax Germany replied Klaus that the lens under test was "within factory specs"! :-o
If we compare further of the above against those of the original Canon EF-S 18-135 IS, the new Canon 18-135 IS STM and the Nikon 18-135 DX by the SLRGear, the Pentax results are really pathetic.
Still, I like my DA18-135, maybe the lens IQ, especially the image corners, are not good at close distance, where a test chart is usually placed.
Related:-
Updated: Some Recent Random Snapshots of Mine
My Practical Review on the DA18-135
Latest Pentax Reviews: DA18-135 and K-5 Vs 7D
The measurbation results seem to be in line with what PhotoZone found long time ago. I now understand why Pentax Germany replied Klaus that the lens under test was "within factory specs"! :-o
If we compare further of the above against those of the original Canon EF-S 18-135 IS, the new Canon 18-135 IS STM and the Nikon 18-135 DX by the SLRGear, the Pentax results are really pathetic.
Still, I like my DA18-135, maybe the lens IQ, especially the image corners, are not good at close distance, where a test chart is usually placed.
Related:-
Updated: Some Recent Random Snapshots of Mine
My Practical Review on the DA18-135
Latest Pentax Reviews: DA18-135 and K-5 Vs 7D
Saturday, October 27, 2012
EOS M First Hands-on Impressions
First played with a M with the 18-55 STM kit zoom for about 15 minutes and here are what I found:-
- The body is really nicely built and it feels very solid in hands. Unlike all other mirrorless bodies, the M is actually made in Japan.
- The body is thicker than the NEX but is obviously thinner than the K-01. It feels a bit heavier than my NEX-3, which is yet the lightest and most compact APS-C mirrorless body ever.
- The M does not have a built-in flash nor supports an EVF neither, which is even worse than the K-01 which has a built-in flash!
- The LCD monitor display quality is good, the touch screen is fairly (but not very) responsive.
- The AF is rather sluggish, though. The environment I tested it is fairly bright. It sometimes missed the focus when the DoF is large, say, at close distances. To focus on far object, the AF time was shorter.
- When using the AF with touch focusing, the camera seems to focus slightly faster. But I just wonder why, or my feeling was wrong. Under this mode, the camera will shoot immediately after the focus is achieved, which may not be good for this design if you want some control for when to take the picture but I understand that this is intended for the novice.
- Also, turning off the touch focus function the camera seems to focus slightly faster, too.
- The mechanical shutter action is smooth, light and quiet, better than all NEX here (I just used a NEX-7 of my friend the week before). Unlike the NEX and the K-01, I can't really hear the double shutter actuations of the M. Indeed, a light touch is important as it would cause less camera vibration caused by the first shutter actuation.
- The shutter lag of the M is long but I think it is comparable to the NEX and is a bit faster than the K-01.
- As for the operation, I haven't yet adapted to its menu system and operation interface as there are very few direct buttons and no mode dial at all. On the other hand, there is a record button at the right thumb position at the camera rear which is very handy to use (same as the NEX' design).
- I haven't tried the video function yet, maybe I shall try later.
- Still, I think the NEX-6 maybe a better package and offer all in all for that very close price range, of which the ILDC related technologies should be more mature.
Last Related:-
Two Really Good Things of the K-01!
- The body is really nicely built and it feels very solid in hands. Unlike all other mirrorless bodies, the M is actually made in Japan.
- The body is thicker than the NEX but is obviously thinner than the K-01. It feels a bit heavier than my NEX-3, which is yet the lightest and most compact APS-C mirrorless body ever.
- The M does not have a built-in flash nor supports an EVF neither, which is even worse than the K-01 which has a built-in flash!
- The LCD monitor display quality is good, the touch screen is fairly (but not very) responsive.
- The AF is rather sluggish, though. The environment I tested it is fairly bright. It sometimes missed the focus when the DoF is large, say, at close distances. To focus on far object, the AF time was shorter.
- When using the AF with touch focusing, the camera seems to focus slightly faster. But I just wonder why, or my feeling was wrong. Under this mode, the camera will shoot immediately after the focus is achieved, which may not be good for this design if you want some control for when to take the picture but I understand that this is intended for the novice.
- Also, turning off the touch focus function the camera seems to focus slightly faster, too.
- The mechanical shutter action is smooth, light and quiet, better than all NEX here (I just used a NEX-7 of my friend the week before). Unlike the NEX and the K-01, I can't really hear the double shutter actuations of the M. Indeed, a light touch is important as it would cause less camera vibration caused by the first shutter actuation.
- The shutter lag of the M is long but I think it is comparable to the NEX and is a bit faster than the K-01.
- As for the operation, I haven't yet adapted to its menu system and operation interface as there are very few direct buttons and no mode dial at all. On the other hand, there is a record button at the right thumb position at the camera rear which is very handy to use (same as the NEX' design).
- I haven't tried the video function yet, maybe I shall try later.
- Still, I think the NEX-6 maybe a better package and offer all in all for that very close price range, of which the ILDC related technologies should be more mature.
Last Related:-
Two Really Good Things of the K-01!
News: E-PL5 Has No AA FIlter! (And Amazon Top Sales Charts Pentax Update)
See what 43 Rumors report:-
http://www.43rumors.com/surprise-the-olympus-e-pl5-has-no-low-pass-filter-no-aa-filter/
So, this is a camera with a 16MP Sony sensor without an AA filter in front of the sensor, resulting in a "higher image quality" as people say.
This must be the cheapest AA-filterless body in the market then. Similar to the K-5IIs, it is in 16MP and uses a Sony sensor.
Speaking of the Amazon sales charts that 43 Rumors have pointed us to, we can see that in the ILDC chart, the best Pentax result is at #40 for the Black Q dual lenses kit. The other Pentax offers that stay in the chart are #71 for the Yellow K-01 with the DA40XS and then the Black K-01 with the DA40XS at #100, as being the last one that stays in the chart, just! :-o
As for the DSLR chart, the best Pentax result is K-5 body-only offer at #41, followed by the K-30 with DAL18-55 (non-WR) kit at #43, and then at #61 for the K-30 with DA18-135 WR kit. The more surprising thing is we can see the K1000 Pentax film body with the 50mm F2 lens is on the chart at #62 (and jump the boat?)! It seems that a lot of the old Pentax users are selling their old Pentax classic gear like this! >:-( Btw, the last Pentax thing that we can see in the chart is the White K-30 with DAL18-55 kit at #86.
http://www.43rumors.com/surprise-the-olympus-e-pl5-has-no-low-pass-filter-no-aa-filter/
So, this is a camera with a 16MP Sony sensor without an AA filter in front of the sensor, resulting in a "higher image quality" as people say.
This must be the cheapest AA-filterless body in the market then. Similar to the K-5IIs, it is in 16MP and uses a Sony sensor.
Speaking of the Amazon sales charts that 43 Rumors have pointed us to, we can see that in the ILDC chart, the best Pentax result is at #40 for the Black Q dual lenses kit. The other Pentax offers that stay in the chart are #71 for the Yellow K-01 with the DA40XS and then the Black K-01 with the DA40XS at #100, as being the last one that stays in the chart, just! :-o
As for the DSLR chart, the best Pentax result is K-5 body-only offer at #41, followed by the K-30 with DAL18-55 (non-WR) kit at #43, and then at #61 for the K-30 with DA18-135 WR kit. The more surprising thing is we can see the K1000 Pentax film body with the 50mm F2 lens is on the chart at #62 (and jump the boat?)! It seems that a lot of the old Pentax users are selling their old Pentax classic gear like this! >:-( Btw, the last Pentax thing that we can see in the chart is the White K-30 with DAL18-55 kit at #86.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Disassemble (and Repair) the FA 80-320 Zoom Lens
Thanks to Blog reader MattMatic for his alert, here is the series of lens disassembling photos of his:-
http://www.photon.me.uk/pu/pentax_fa80_320/index.html
Full shared story here: http://www.pentaxuser.co.uk/forum/topic/fa80-320-37602
Btw, the MIJ label reminds me of those high quality days of those Pentax products, even a consumer zoom like this was made in Japan, where and when the QC is far better! And, the lenses are much cleaner inside out of the factory, too!
Related:-
Blog Search on "Disassemble"
Dirty Pentax Lens Factory, Dirty Glass! :-(
Made ("Assembled") In Vietnam
Where are the Pentax DSLRs and Lenses Made?
Focus Peaking Trick on E-M5 (Which has NOT the Feature! Trick NOT works for Pentax Bodies!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpOqo6gA92Y
Via 43 Rumors.
Wow, this OM-D user is really clever and brilliant!
However, this tricks does NOT with any existing Pentax bodies which do not have the focus peaking feature built-in, i.e., those models without a PRIME M processor, including the K-5, K-5II/IIs and the Q. It is because the in-camera digital filters of the Pentax cameras are applied in post-editing, but not viewable at real-time in Live View.
Remark: To those particular fanboys: Whoever wants to argue again, do read the relevant Pentax user manuals and try before hand. If they don't have those Pentax cameras (which they usually don't have the gear they defend!), I would ask them to get the soft manuals online first! :-o
Thursday, October 25, 2012
New K-30 and Q Firmwares Released
1. Firmware Version 1.01 for K-30:-
http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/digital/k-30_s.html
Changes to V1.01
2. Firmware Version 1.10 for Q:-
http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/digital/q_s.html
Changes to V1.10
Update (10-26): Thanks to Blog reader "joejoe", it is now discovered that the new Q firmware has the lovely feature of focus peaking which is added but not mentioned by Pentax! Here is the proof he provided:-
http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/digital/k-30_s.html
Changes to V1.01
- Improved performance of contrast AF
- Improved stability for general performance.
2. Firmware Version 1.10 for Q:-
http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/digital/q_s.html
Changes to V1.10
- Correspond to [Adapter Q for K-mount Lenses]. How to input focal length Click here
- Correspond to [PENTAX-06 TELEPHOTO ZOOM]
- Improved stability for general performance.
Update (10-26): Thanks to Blog reader "joejoe", it is now discovered that the new Q firmware has the lovely feature of focus peaking which is added but not mentioned by Pentax! Here is the proof he provided:-
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