Ordered a new digital camera.

[Mark42]

I bought a HP 4.1 mega pixel camera about 10 years ago for about $400. It really is a great camera, and I use the heck out of it. 10x zoom, best white balance available at the time, but it was not a SLR. And after 4 years, NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE!!!! That angered me when the battery door broke and I ended up having to fabricate my own.

Now the old HP has some dust and sand particles in the lens, and its not intended to be taken apart. The dirt is starting to show on the pics. The firmware is messing up, even after reloading. The autofocus sometime takes 3 or 4 tries before it actually focuses! It still works, but is reaching the end of its useful life. Actually, it held up pretty well for a camera that they dropped support of so fast.

So I wanted a new nice digital. I checked around, and the choices are amazing. Lots and lots of big megapixel cameras out there for under $1000. Ended up ordering a new Pentax K-x. Its a 12.4 mp autofocus SLR and it shoots up to 10 minutes straight of 720p HD video. I chose the factory kit that includes a Pentax 18-55 zoom and 55-200 telephoto lenses for $580 from a discount house on the web. Its available in colors, but ended up with the classic black. A navy blue is what i wanted, but they were out of stock. Besides, the bright colors make it look like the low end cameras!

The short spec list:

• Compact, Easy-to-Use, Entry-Level DSLR
• 12.4-Mp APC-C Format CMOS Sensor
• Still Images and 720p HD Video Capture
• 2.7" 230,000-Dot LCD
• Shake Reduction for Low-Light Imaging
• True High Dynamic Range (HDR) Imaging
• Up to 4.7 F/P/S Image Capture
• 11-Point SAFOX VIII Auto-Focus System
• 18-55mm Zoom Lens
• 50-200mm Zoom Lens

Read lots of reviews, and it is highly rated. Typically listed as an entry level SLR that has all the features of more advanced cameras.

There are so many cameras that shoot video out there for under $700 it made my head hurt. But most are not true SLR with changeable lenses (all my Pentax film camera lenses will work on this camera too, just not auto focus - because they are not autofocus lenses! LOL! ).

But the main reason I choose Pentax over the other brands is that in 10 years from now, if this camera has a problem, Pentax will support and fix it. I will have to pay, but it will be fixed, unlike the HP camera that was abandoned after just 4 years. I have a Pentax K-1000 film SLR for 20+ years that performs flawless. It can be fixed at any Pentax dealer even after 20 years.

So, camera and accessories will be here Tuesday. Really looking forward to learning and practicing with it. Supposed to have really fast autofocus, which is very important to me. Tired of having to pre-focus the shot, then take the pic, like with the old HP. Rather light, it still has a full stainless steel frame, not plastic. Hopefully, it will perform as flawlessly as my other Pentax camera and lenses.

Anyone else have the Pentax Kx? Do you like it?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Ordered a new digital camera.

My next camera will probably be a Canon. I've had two Fuji's and hated both of them. My aunt is really into photography and is a huge fan of Pentax equipment. I'm sure you made a good purchase.

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Ordered a new digital camera.

I've had two Fuji's and hated both of them

Send them to me then.
I love my Fuji S 3100 all the pics that I posted on here are taken with it.


Mark, Nice !!.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Ordered a new digital camera.

Mark, once you get the camera and you feel like you want to try something different try this http://www.hdrsoft.com/

I know your new camera will have the ability to play with the exposure to accomplish it.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Ordered a new digital camera.

I love my Fuji S 3100 all the pics that I posted on here are taken with it.

Mine are WAY lower end than that.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Ordered a new digital camera.

Mark, once you get the camera and you feel like you want to try something different try this http://www.hdrsoft.com/

I know your new camera will have the ability to play with the exposure to accomplish it.

The camera has that function built in! I didn't know what it was at first, but i down loaded the manual and read about it. Sounds neat, going to have to try it. It will take three photos in different contrast settings, then merge them into one. There is so much stuff packed into these cameras today it is amazing.

In fact, there are cameras for about $300 that do everything this Pentax does plus more! But I suspect they will not have the life expectancy or ruggedness I want, nor the quality lenses. Gee, I hope I'm getting something better for my money!!!

BTW, for anyone who is thinking of buying a new digital camera, the memory chips offered by the camera retailer are generally very high priced. For example, I bought two 16gig HIGH SPEED (needed for the video capture) chips (16GB SDHC Class 10 Flash Card) for $32.99 each from a PC online retailer, where the camera retailer's best price for the same product is $64.89 each. Yep, TWICE the price. They make a lot on accessories. Memory can be bought cheap, and shipping is cheap too because they are small and light. So consider buying the memory from a retailer like DIRECTRON.COM. (I have bought a lot of hardware from them over the years, never a problem with an order or bad product, IE drives, etc)

 

[i386]

Re: Ordered a new digital camera.

I have a Pentax K-1000 film SLR for 20+ years that performs flawless.

Wifey has 2 of those. I think the camera you bought may be the one she's been eyeballing. Your K-1000 lenses should fit the new camera if it's the same one I'm thinking.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Ordered a new digital camera.

Wifey has 2 of those. I think the camera you bought may be the one she's been eyeballing. Your K-1000 lenses should fit the new camera if it's the same one I'm thinking.

I know that old Pentax film lenses will physically fit the digital cameras, but there are some differences. The size of film and the size of the CMOS sensor are different, and therefore cause some limitations. Pentax says the film lenses will work on the digital camera, but digital lenses will not work on film cameras. I think the film lenses project a larger image than the CMOS censor, and work although might crop some of the image.

I have some macro and 300mm telephoto manual focus lenses that I'm interested in trying out on the K-x. Those type lenses are generally used under "controlled" environments, and not at parties, holidays, or general picture taking, so even if some image is lost, as long as the difference is know, it can easily be adjusted for.

I'll post some results after I get a chance to play with the film lenses on the digital K-x camera.

BTW, after canceling orders from digitalelect.com and tristatecamera.com for basic "bait and switch" practices, I ended up going with the best discount photo house I know - bhphotovideo.com . Both digitalelect and tristatecamera sent emails saying there was a problem with the order and to contact them. So i did, and was pressured to buy another package, or add accessories I didn't need. When I pressed them to send the product advertised for the price advertised, one refused, the other said that Pentax "has a required insurance charge of 7.89% on all orders..." pure BS and I canceled that order too. Lucky for me I got email conformation of the orders being canceled. Thats when I went to my old favorite, b&H. After hours of searching, and discarding all the scam retailers, B&H had the best price.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Ordered a new digital camera.

Mark...... one word about Photomatrix..... TRIPOD

It is a fun tool but if you have full blown photo-shop that will accomplish the same thing too.

I shoot with a Canon SLR digital and have smaller nikon pocket camera's...... my son uses a Nikon SLR Digital and so do other member's of the family.

I have to laugh (or cry) I have a huge amount of Canon A-1 film equipment that is all collecting dust ......lenses, power drives, flashes and many many lenses....... ahh those were the days

 

[Mark42]

Re: Ordered a new digital camera.

Mark...... one word about Photomatrix..... TRIPOD

It is a fun tool but if you have full blown photo-shop that will accomplish the same thing too.

I shoot with a Canon SLR digital and have smaller nikon pocket camera's...... my son uses a Nikon SLR Digital and so do other member's of the family.

I have to laugh (or cry) I have a huge amount of Canon A-1 film equipment that is all collecting dust ......lenses, power drives, flashes and many many lenses....... ahh those were the days

I know! All that film hardware will be collectors items soon. But you have to agree, digital is great for just snapping away until you get what you want! No worries about how much film you shot or how much it will cost to develop, etc. Just shoot, and then take a moment to review and delete the junk shots.

One negative aspect about the pixels getting larger every year: They take more space on the hard drive! The camera can shoot at 12.4 megapixel, but do I need that level of detail to print 5x7? Maybe not. 6 or 8 meg might be just fine for vacation photos. Will have to shoot a bit and decide.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Ordered a new digital camera.

My little Canon Rebel XTi works great. Not sure why you think only Pentax has good customer support, but whatever. I've had my pictures printed at shutterfly.com by my sister and they looked very professional, frame-able even, and that's a 2 year old 10mp camera with settings on medium.

What you have to remember is the size of the CMOS matters more than the size of the image. If your CMOS is tiny, it doesn't matter how many pixels you jam into that tiny space, you still have a small photo.

Mine just can't shoot video, which is ok I guess.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Ordered a new digital camera.

My little Canon Rebel XTi works great. Not sure why you think only Pentax has good customer support, but whatever. I've had my pictures printed at shutterfly.com by my sister and they looked very professional, frame-able even, and that's a 2 year old 10mp camera with settings on medium.

What you have to remember is the size of the CMOS matters more than the size of the image. If your CMOS is tiny, it doesn't matter how many pixels you jam into that tiny space, you still have a small photo.

Mine just can't shoot video, which is ok I guess.

I'm sure the Cannon is a great DSLR. I am saying that Pentax has great product support, probably the best in the business. I'm sure Cannon has great customer support, and I'm not commenting on it. So I bought what I know works for me. I'm not knocking anyone's camera.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Ordered a new digital camera.

I know! All that film hardware will be collectors items soon. But you have to agree, digital is great for just snapping away until you get what you want! No worries about how much film you shot or how much it will cost to develop, etc. Just shoot, and then take a moment to review and delete the junk shots.

One negative aspect about the pixels getting larger every year: They take more space on the hard drive! The camera can shoot at 12.4 megapixel, but do I need that level of detail to print 5x7? Maybe not. 6 or 8 meg might be just fine for vacation photos. Will have to shoot a bit and decide.

WOW well ever at 3 meg your photos will look great on a 5 x 7 ....unless you want to crop and blow up a tiny area then you will need the 12.4

If you play in the HDR/Photomatrix arena or get real involved then you will start shooting in a Raw format and that eats up drive space. My photoshop program actually recommended a 2nd hard drive for big edits!!

 

[Mark42]

Re: Ordered a new digital camera.

The old HP at 4.1 mp actually takes a better photo than the Cannon 7 mp point-n-shoot my wife uses. Not a real fair comparison because of the price point between the two, the new Cannon costing half of what the HP cost new 10 years ago. But anyway, the Cannon takes a nice picture, but the lens on the Cannon can't compare to what is on that old HP. And the color is better, white balance, etc are all better on the old HP (I think it is a Photosmart 480, but I can't read it as its worn off from use). So mp size alone does not make a good photo. But the new point-n-shoots are faster to focus, more photos per second, and are smaller.

I print the 4.1 at 8x11 and they still look great.

Got to start buying archival inks and paper, because many of the best photos I printed have faded bad after about 2 years.

 

[scca vette]

Re: Ordered a new digital camera.

We have the Pentax K-x and love it. I have yet to master all the crazy things it will do. We have the red one and I was amazed that it actually looks pretty good and not like a cheap toy (As I also thought it would).

We went to Vegas and took over 2000 pictures and some are just amazing how well they came out.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Ordered a new digital camera.

We have the Pentax K-x and love it. I have yet to master all the crazy things it will do. We have the red one and I was amazed that it actually looks pretty good and not like a cheap toy (As I also thought it would).

We went to Vegas and took over 2000 pictures and some are just amazing how well they came out.

Mine is still in the hands of UPS.... grrrrrr..... Boy, I could ask you a zillion questions about it, but what is high on the list is how fast is the auto focus? What lens(s) do you have with it and do you get pin cushion or barrel effects very badly on extreme zoom?

Standing in a store playing with the camera on a tether (especially like at Walmart) is not the same as having it home for a week to fully check out. Wish they had "loaners" at the camera stores! LOL!

Thanks!

Mark.

 

[scca vette]

Re: Ordered a new digital camera.

Mine is still in the hands of UPS.... grrrrrr..... Boy, I could ask you a zillion questions about it, but what is high on the list is how fast is the auto focus? What lens(s) do you have with it and do you get pin cushion or barrel effects very badly on extreme zoom?

Standing in a store playing with the camera on a tether (especially like at Walmart) is not the same as having it home for a week to fully check out. Wish they had "loaners" at the camera stores! LOL!

Thanks!

Mark.

The auto focus is about as fast as you can press the button UNLESS it has trouble determining what you want to take photos of (like through a car window. In this case it works better if you put it on manual focus.

We have the lens that came with it (18-55) and Tokina 200mm.

Make sure you get a memory card that has a class 5 or higher. It helps a lot with speed of saving the photos. This allows for you to take 1 pic right after another with no delay.

The 200mm at full zoom will get some barrel effect.

I do suggest getting the UV lens covers, they really made a big difference.

this photo was taken of a bird house between my house and the neighbors. It was taken with the 200mm lens from my back driveway (about 60-70 feet)

Couple pictures of Vegas at night

 

[Mark42]

Re: Ordered a new digital camera.

We have the Pentax K-x and love it. I have yet to master all the crazy things it will do. We have the red one and I was amazed that it actually looks pretty good and not like a cheap toy (As I also thought it would).

We went to Vegas and took over 2000 pictures and some are just amazing how well they came out.

Did you shoot any HD video with it? How's it look on a HD screen?

 

[Mark42]

Re: Ordered a new digital camera.

The camera arrived, and I've been using it all day. Boy, it sure takes a great photo, and the lenses are really good. Auto focus is lightning fast, and it will shoot pics as fast as I can press the button. Took lots of photos and they are good, and even got great depth of field where the subject is in focus, but the back ground is blurred. That is a little harder to do with an auto focus/aperture camera.

BUT, the video was a major disappointment. The video quality is good, but the auto focus is disabled when shooting video, and that means having to manually focus. That means my wife would not be able to shoot a sharp video (no offense, honey). Also, the manual says the auto aperture is disabled also, and aperture must be set before starting video. But the entire time the video is being recorded, the motor is continually clicking away in the body and it is recorded very loudly on the audio. Another problem is although it records in 720 HD, it has no HDMI output, so the standard RCA cable produces a 480 pic on the TV. Would have to download the video to PC, then burn a disk, then play it to get HD on the TV. That is just too archaic for me.

So I'm sending it back. By the time I got all the accessories (UV filter, polarize lens, power supply, etc) the price is getting pretty high. And that video bit just ticked me off.

So now I'm going to look at $400 -$500 cameras with non-removable lenses like the Cannon PowerShot SX20. It has a nice lens,20x zoom, and shoots 720p video at 30fps and has a mini HDMI ouput connection. It won't focus nearly as fast as the Pentax, nor is the lens quality, ISO ability, etc. And it only shoots about 1.5 pics per second, but I can live with that. So that is what is available in that price range. Still, these cameras should be better than the old HP I'm using now.

So far, these are the cameras I'm going to research, I know they are not quite up to par with the SLR cameras, and they all have permanent lenses, but they have all around good specs otherwise.

- Cannon PowerShot SX20
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100
- FuziFilm HS10.

Any recommendations for cameras in the same class as those above?

 

[SeaKaye12]

Re: Ordered a new digital camera.

Hi Mark,

I think that if you are looking for quality video as well as stellar stills; you should go with Canon; although when I say that I am referring to their SLR's; not the SX-20.

The primary advantage of an SLR is **SENSOR SIZE**!!! You can count pixels all day long; but unless you have a decent size sensor (the place where the pixels are placed) you will always be at a distinct disadvantage. If you haven't already...research **SENSOR SIZE**. I tried to find a good link for you; but I don't have the time right now.

The Digital Rebels are good cameras that shoot HD Video and stills. They are a lot more money than an SX-20; but it gives you a sound platform upon which to grow with lenses and other accessories. Even filters are difficult to use on an SX-20 type of camera.

BTW....what ever happened to the tutorial that you put up on gelcoat restoration? I want to send it to a guy I met last week. I followed a link to fiberglassics...but couldn't find the page.

Thanks, Chuck