New DSLR - Pentax K5

[Sue Allen]

I think I'll hang on and see what comes up in the way of something longer second hand. 200mm will have to do me for a while. The problem with using tcons that don't match the lens is the incorrect settings they show and I assume af would be slowed down a great deal.

[Sue Allen]

Got the little extra bonus from Pentax today in the form of money off Pentax items bought before June - £35 off any item over £350 might tempt me [I don't need much tempting to spend money!]

[Mr Bump]

A quick reminder that today is the last day to take advantage of Pentax's cashback offers on the K5 and Kr. I just checked the Pentax UK web site and there is nothing to suggest an extension of the offer period. All cashback claims (for cameras bought by 15th Jan) have to be submitted to Pentax to reach them by 31st Jan.

Still no sign of my K5 replacement, now ten days since the original was collected. Will have to phone the retailer on Monday. Been without a useable DSLR since selling the D200 on 5th Dec so it's all getting a little beyond a joke

Bump

[Sue Allen]

I suppose the only consolation is the weather/light is pretty rubbish at the moment. Having said that, I had to get some photos of the new dogs our charity has in for re-homing today - using TAV to make sure I got enough shutter speed the high ISO performance was'nt bad at all.
I'm a bit miffed too - sent my tcon back, special delivery - it was delivered and signed for early friday morning and I'm still waiting for my refund - having had to do one of these refunds myself I know it only takes a couple of clicks. I hope I'm not going to have problems

[Mr Bump]

Yes, we have had endless mizzle down here too over the past few weeks but I have frustratingly missed a lot of opportunities to photograph indoor live music performances due to the K5 saga.

Lets hope you will get your refund on Monday Sue and that I will get my replacement K5.

I believe you said once that your previous DSLR was a D300S (?) and I am wondering whether you have seen a real-world improvement in IQ with the increased pixel count of the K5? I am thinking in terms of detail in the coats of the dogs you often photograph.

Bump

[HinFrance]

Wot i lurnd yesterdi . .

Even if you have much better sensitivity on hand, you still need a decent flashgun to photograph a bunch on ten year olds, because flash is the only way to freeze their movement indoors when it's dull and gray outside so there's no light to speak of inside the house. And Metz rock, as they say. I have a 58AF, and really can't imagine what a flash without a secondary tube must be like to use.

Hope you chaps get your issues sorted early next week.

[Sue Allen]

Originally Posted by Mr Bump

I believe you said once that your previous DSLR was a D300S (?) and I am wondering whether you have seen a real-world improvement in IQ with the increased pixel count of the K5? I am thinking in terms of detail in the coats of the dogs you often photograph.

Bump

I have'nt really compared too closely. There's a bit more to play with in terms of cropping - useful when you've only got 200mm for birding. I was'nt expecting a huge leap forward in terms of image quality from the D300s or the D3100. I think Nikon tweaked the 12mp of the D300s and D90 to give the best it possibly could. The main reason for buying the K-5 was the size and construction and the fact that reviews indicated it had improvements in all areas that made it a good long term buy for what I want. I shall have to do a few portrait shots of dogs I photographed last year and look at the results side by side. The pictures I've printed out so far look pretty good in terms of detail.

If I don't get my refund today I shall email and ask where it is - although he has 99% positive feedback, the 1% negative seems to indicate he's not very helpful if things go wrong!

[Mr Bump]

I hope you have now received your refund Sue.

I just saw that K5 firmware version V1.02 was made available a couple of weeks ago and provides:

* Compatibility with SDXC memory card.
(Transfer rate is not compatible with UHS speed class). Whatever that means ??

* All ISO sensitivity settings can be used on Bulb mode.

* Improved functional sequence for Contrast AF and improved total speed until in focus.

I'd love to have a camera to download it into but I'm told the very earliest I will see the replacement K5 is Thursday. Ho hum.

Bump

[Sue Allen]

Yes - got the money returned yesterday [including postage which was unexpected]. Fingers crossed your camera arrives on Thursday - mine will be worn out before you get yours at this rate! Some nice sunshine today which would have been perfect for trying out a 2x converter - instead I gave the new Sigma 50-200 cheapie another test - seems OK, and has the advantage of being fairly small and light for carrying on a long trudge through the mud.

[HinFrance]

Only one more day to go Mr B