Pentax K-7 Project, Rangefinder-esque

[Filson Back]

Hi All--

After much dragging of the feet I broke down and got a Pentax K-7 with a 21mm pancake lens (comes out to a wide-ish 35mm equivalent with crop factor). I picked the K-7 because it is small for an SLR and is the most rangefinder-esque dSLR I could find. Any critiques for a recent project I did or comments on how an actual film rangefinder might achieve better results would be welcome. I was under a time crunch during the project (for a class)--so I went digital. That said I want to go back to film:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/motel_noir/sets/72157624454787585/

-critique/criticism welcome

 

[Fedia]

O man, you have got a very rational kit... true, among all dslr cameras currently on the market, this Pentax camera with a pancake lens is as close to RF as it's possible... OK, there are really decent shots, but I think later you will need to do a bit tighter edit... and keep working on the project, really interesting, and I am sure you will take even more strong photos to your essay... also, imho try to make a bit narrower subject concentration... I used to walk around Coney Island when I lived in Brooklyn NY seven years ago... I am dreaming to come back one day... it isn't that simple to do that at the moment... Cheers

 

[Filson Back]

Thanks Fedia and very good advice about narrowing the work--agreed.

 

[ChrisN]

Great lens that 21mm and you are using it well. I like that you are getting in close with your subjects.

 

[charjohncarter]

I use a Pentax K10d and a 35mm (FF) lens. It is pretty small, and I just don't care or want a zoom. I have a few people ask me if it is a film camera. You have upped me one, nice idea and photos.

 

[emraphoto]

I have always been a fan of the modern Pentax line up. Specifically those lovely primes.

It looks like good work but as I am on the idrone right now I'll have to look close at home.

 

[vdonovan]

Oh no! I just got a k-7! I might have to buy that lens now!

 

[Filson Back]

The 21mm is pretty fast in terms of AF and is nice for street work IMHO

 

[jky]

Nice photos! That K7 is a fantastic camera - the best shutter on a DSLR I've ever used (so very quiet). Again - very nice images.

 

[TKH]

Oh no! I just got a k-7! I might have to buy that lens now!

Ah, by the way.
Buy the DA35 too... 😀









Rainer

 

[Andy Kibber]

I like the cut of Pentax' jib.

 

[hamustar]

Spectacular shots, TKH

 

[hipsterdufus]

If there was ever proof that the camera/medium didn't matter, I would point to these shots. Nice grit to them, IMHO, and you have a very good eye.

 

[Filson Back]

Thanks all--that DA 35 looks nice, smooth bokeh.

 

[pachuco]

I really like your style and there are some very cool images in that set. I would not advise you to change your gear at all, this seems to work well for you!

 

[amateriat]

The work looks quite good. I don't think the edit was terribly loose; I might have trimmed it by two or three pictures, maybe, but no real duds there.

I regard the K-7 as a sleeper among contemporary dSLRs, and the one I'd think about a lot were I in the market for one.


- Barrett

 

[rolleistef]

When they release a camera that is able to take Minolta MC-MD lenses without a 2x crop factor, I guess they will get a huge market...

 

[Keith]

Regarding the OP's filckr stream for this project/camera and lens:

These pics can't be mistaken for anything else but digital but I don't mean that in a negative way ... really excellent stuff IMO and they don't need comparison to any other media. They totally hold their own!

If the sh!t does eventually eventually hit the fan for film and we can no longer get the stuff ... I can live with photos that look this good!

 

[Filson Back]

Keith that just whets my appetite to try some more film--I've been wanting to pull the trigger on an R4M and a 35mm lens for a while!

 

[kshapero]

Besides those nice pancake lenses, how else is this kit rangefinder-esque?