ampguy
Veteran
http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews_pentax_k100d_super.php
Also small review in Shutterbug, but very lightweight. Apparently it's simply an upgrade of the K100 with the dust removal, ISO 3200, and SDM lens focusing support from the K10D.
I think both this model, and the K10D will be replaced in a few weeks or so (also at end of month, rebate ends for this), but it's good to read that the image quality is great from these. Glad to be getting one again to put some K/M42 glass to use with.
Also small review in Shutterbug, but very lightweight. Apparently it's simply an upgrade of the K100 with the dust removal, ISO 3200, and SDM lens focusing support from the K10D.
I think both this model, and the K10D will be replaced in a few weeks or so (also at end of month, rebate ends for this), but it's good to read that the image quality is great from these. Glad to be getting one again to put some K/M42 glass to use with.
jbf
||||||
Question... how easy is it to focus old manual focus lenses on this body? Most of the DSLRs now adays do not have any sort of optical patch for focusing... so i was curious as to this.
ampguy
Veteran
not sure yet
not sure yet
will know soon. My *ist DL had a bright enough penta mirror for me, but as you say, no contrast ring or split image like old SLRs.
However, for these, there are 3rd party things called katzeyes and knock-offs that supposedly help. I had OK experiences with a 35/1.9, but the 1.9 wide open in low light was tough on the *ist DL. Have heard the K10D has a better screen (and brighter non-mirror prism) but can still benefit from these 3rd party focusing screens.
not sure yet
will know soon. My *ist DL had a bright enough penta mirror for me, but as you say, no contrast ring or split image like old SLRs.
However, for these, there are 3rd party things called katzeyes and knock-offs that supposedly help. I had OK experiences with a 35/1.9, but the 1.9 wide open in low light was tough on the *ist DL. Have heard the K10D has a better screen (and brighter non-mirror prism) but can still benefit from these 3rd party focusing screens.
jbf said:
peterm1
Veteran
DSLRs can be a bit of a pain in this respect. However they will usually have electronic focus confirmation (eg a light in the viewfinder usually.) Never the less I still have some trouble with my Panasonic L1. Either because the lens adapter is not built to great tolerances or because the viewfinder diopter adjustment is not fine enough I find that my eyesight will often suggest that it is in focus when the camera says it is not. I therefore have to rely totally on the electronic confirmation. And sometimes (eg in low light) this has trouble doing its job.
The worst problem for any manual lens on a DSLR is that you have to manually stop down the lens. The problem with this is that if you stop down first, it can in some light conditions make the viewfinder dark and hard to see - as well as making the electronic focus confirmation work less effectively. If you stop down after there is the time delay involved etc. Fortunately at f5.6 or even f8 on a bright day stopping down first does not usually pose too much trouble. At smaller apertures, forget about it.
The worst problem for any manual lens on a DSLR is that you have to manually stop down the lens. The problem with this is that if you stop down first, it can in some light conditions make the viewfinder dark and hard to see - as well as making the electronic focus confirmation work less effectively. If you stop down after there is the time delay involved etc. Fortunately at f5.6 or even f8 on a bright day stopping down first does not usually pose too much trouble. At smaller apertures, forget about it.
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niblue
Member
I use manual focus lenses a lot with my K10D and *istDS and have had no trouble focusing as these Pentax DSLR's have decent viewfinders (plus a confirmation light/bleep that still functions with older lenses).
You do not need to use stop down metering with all manual lenses with the Pentax cameras.
All metering capabilities are available on Pentax bodies with manual lenses from the SMC-A series and of course the AF lenses. Additionally, the CV SL, SLII and Zeiss ZK lenses currently made are fully functional on the Pentax bodies. So, no stop down metering for these lenses, but it is true if you use older K mount or M42 lenses.
I recently purchased a K10D. The viewfinder is big and bright as is the screen. I have not had any trouble manually focusing it, and I am getting used to the little green box which is the focus confirmation.
All metering capabilities are available on Pentax bodies with manual lenses from the SMC-A series and of course the AF lenses. Additionally, the CV SL, SLII and Zeiss ZK lenses currently made are fully functional on the Pentax bodies. So, no stop down metering for these lenses, but it is true if you use older K mount or M42 lenses.
I recently purchased a K10D. The viewfinder is big and bright as is the screen. I have not had any trouble manually focusing it, and I am getting used to the little green box which is the focus confirmation.
niblue
Member
peterm1 said:
That's not true with K mount manual focus lenses on the Pentax DSLR's as the camera still controls the aperture. With KA mount lenses there is no need to stop down the aperture at all before shooting, with K mount lenses the camera will stop down very briefly to take a meter reading but for focusing etc. the lens will remain wide open.
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
jbf: I bought a k100D for a friend of mine. He then got an old manual focus lens for it, 50mm f/2.
The camera is quite nice (for a dslr, that is
).
But the manual focusing was a bitch. The screen seems to be misaligned. The manual focusing esp. with the 50/2 lens was always off just a bit. Just that much that will annoy you wide open.
The guy is now despreately trying to get it fixed within a reasonable time. They were talking about weeks to him.
The camera is quite nice (for a dslr, that is
).But the manual focusing was a bitch. The screen seems to be misaligned. The manual focusing esp. with the 50/2 lens was always off just a bit. Just that much that will annoy you wide open.
The guy is now despreately trying to get it fixed within a reasonable time. They were talking about weeks to him.
Rhoyle
Well-known
>But the manual focusing was a bitch. The screen seems to be misaligned. The manual focusing esp. with the 50/2 lens was always off just a bit. Just that much that will annoy you wide open.
The guy is now despreately trying to get it fixed within a reasonable time. They were talking about weeks to him.
Is there a diopter adjustment on this camera? I thought the same thing on my ZX5N, then found that the diopter slider was in the wrong place.
The guy is now despreately trying to get it fixed within a reasonable time. They were talking about weeks to him.
Is there a diopter adjustment on this camera? I thought the same thing on my ZX5N, then found that the diopter slider was in the wrong place.
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
not diopter. It is easy to see that the image is in focus, but in fact some other thing is in focus for the image sensor, than for the screen.
I don't remember if it has a diopter adjustment at all. Probably it does.
I don't remember if it has a diopter adjustment at all. Probably it does.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
Ah, I have a question for you K10D folks, at new year's eve, my friend just got a K10D,
I happen to bring a K-mount lens with me that night, so enthusiasticly, we try the lens out. Well, it mounts perfectly, but no matter which mode the K10D is, it won't try to take pictures, there's a "F---" blinking on the LCD on top of the camera.
Any ideas what we did wrong?
I happen to bring a K-mount lens with me that night, so enthusiasticly, we try the lens out. Well, it mounts perfectly, but no matter which mode the K10D is, it won't try to take pictures, there's a "F---" blinking on the LCD on top of the camera.
Any ideas what we did wrong?
greyhoundman
Well-known
I believe you have to set a menu option to permit use of the aperture ring.
cmedin
Well-known
niblue said:
The K100D is different. It has a pentamirror with .85x (I believe) magnification while if your DS has the same finder my GX-1S does it's a pentaprism with .95x. I tried a K100D and thought it was pretty miserable to use manual focus lenses on.
As for focusing screens, you can get replacements from katzeye if you want one more suitable to manual focus lenses.
greyhoundman said:
The feature has to be set from the custom menu. Once set you can use the lens' aperture ring and the camera will fire with the lens off "A" mode, if not set, the camera will not fire if the lens is not set on "A". When set in "A" if you have an "A" lens you can use the camera's controls to set the aperture.
cmedin
Well-known
Also remember to switch it to MF mode, or it won't let you fire the shutter unless it agrees you're in focus.
KEH
Well-known
With the current rebates, I went for the body plus the 40/2.8 Limited for a grand total of $600. The viewfinder is a bit of a disappointment, but it is a very capable little camera and the lens is sweet, with reasonably quick autofocus. I partly bought it because of all the great Pentax glass around, including Pentax, Zeiss and new Voigtlander lenses.
A recent example from WDC (Columbia Rd):
Cheers,
Kirk
A recent example from WDC (Columbia Rd):
Cheers,
Kirk
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
David, Rover, cmedin, thanks for the pointer, I'll try it next time.
titrisol
Bottom Feeder
I bought one for my father in law this december, when you depress the button half way there is a small hexagon that shows in focus is correct.
Other than that it was just a microprism
Other than that it was just a microprism
ruby.monkey
Veteran
This is a nice little article on how to use MF lenses on a K100D: http://a1291762.blogspot.com/2006/12/manual-aperture-support-on-k100d.html
There's also a separate option setting to get it to work with screw-mount lenses (you'll need an M42->K adapter, natch).
The standard focussing screen is a miserably dim thing, with an apparent depth of field about the same as a 50mm lens at f/2.8, which makes focussing faster lenses a pain; the Katz Eye replacement is a big improvement in terms of brightness, and adds a split image circle and microprism collar.
Other than that, I've found it to be a fun little camera, especially with a 40/2.8 SMC-M.
There's also a separate option setting to get it to work with screw-mount lenses (you'll need an M42->K adapter, natch).
The standard focussing screen is a miserably dim thing, with an apparent depth of field about the same as a 50mm lens at f/2.8, which makes focussing faster lenses a pain; the Katz Eye replacement is a big improvement in terms of brightness, and adds a split image circle and microprism collar.
Other than that, I've found it to be a fun little camera, especially with a 40/2.8 SMC-M.
titrisol
Bottom Feeder
Pherdinand said:
It does, it is a slider on top of the viewfinder