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Photo Forum / Digital Photography / Digital Photo / September 2007Another Pentax K10D question
Having recently gotten some very helpful replies to an earlier question re this camera (new to me), I thought I'd see if anyone has a suggestion to this one. Since I use this camera primarily in very long telephoto shots, like thru a spotting scope, etc., focus of the scope plus the camera is quite critical. And that tiny little viewfinder is far less than adequate for this degree of criticality, especially for someone wearing prescription eyeglasses. The same degree of critical focusing exists when I use one of several Nikon CoolPix cameras, but with them I've learned to take the Video out to a portable battery powered TV for more precise evaluation of the focus. Much to my disappointment, I discovered this DSLR (as with most DSLRs) does not allow Video out except in Playback mode. Thus, it's useless for a focusing aid. Recently, I saw an ad or announcement for a new DSLR (maybe a Canon) that DOES allow such Video out before taking the shot. Is it possible that this Pentax can be modified or have the firmware altered to allow this feature with it? I suspect not, but can still hope, can't I? After all, this one does allow the Mirror to be locked up, so why can't the sensor image be fed out then for focusing purposes? Pentax are you listening, too? Olin McDaniel To reply by email, please remove "abcd" from Return address ----------------------------------------------------- "Ignorance is treatable, Stupidity is incurable. Sometimes the difference is hardly distinguishable, however." > Recently, I saw an ad or announcement for a new DSLR (maybe a Canon) > that DOES allow such Video out before taking the shot. Is it possible > that this Pentax can be modified or have the firmware altered to allow > this feature with it? I suspect not, but can still hope, can't I? > After all, this one does allow the Mirror to be locked up, so why > can't the sensor image be fed out then for focusing purposes? The live view feature is fundamentally integrated into the camera design, requiring special facilities for mirror up, noise reduction, focussing and metering, so it's unlikely to be available as a firmware upgrade. However, you may find that an improved focussing screen may be helpful. See here: http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/cat--Pentax-DSLRs--cat_pentax.html >> Recently, I saw an ad or announcement for a new DSLR (maybe a Canon) >> that DOES allow such Video out before taking the shot. Is it possible [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >See here: >http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/cat--Pentax-DSLRs--cat_pentax.html Thanks, Alex, Just a couple of hours after I posted my original question, I happened upon a post by John Turco on another subject. He has a Pentax K100D which is a less expensive (and less featured version of this K10D I believe) and he dropped a hint that I spotted. I followed up and tried out what he described this morning. Turns out, there is a feature in both these models called "Digital Preview", and I had failed to examine it in the 3 months since owning mine. This feature ALMOST gives me what I want, but it's really what I call a "Trial and Error" method, NOT one that allows continuously seeing the changes made while manually focusing the lens (this being the spotting scope, while the camera is set to Infinity). That's the way I shoot all my stuff thru this scope, BTW. This "Digital Preview" really is their trick for one to shoot a pic, without recording it onto the memory card, but allowing you up to 60 seconds to examine it on the LCD screen. It does have a plus, in that while you are examining it, you can enlarge or zoom up to see the details. That's all well and good, IF the subject doesn't change position, or worse, leave the area while you are messing with the focus and taking the trial shots until satisfied. Maybe Pentax cannot revise their firmware to provide what I need, but they already come close. The mirror is up, etc. and I'm doing all the focusing myself. The camera isn't having to do that. So I wonder if carrying their feature a little further is unattainable? Olin To reply by email, please remove "abcd" from Return address ----------------------------------------------------- "Ignorance is treatable, Stupidity is incurable. Sometimes the difference is hardly distinguishable, however." >>> Recently, I saw an ad or announcement for a new DSLR (maybe a Canon) >>> that DOES allow such Video out before taking the shot. Is it possible [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] >focusing myself. The camera isn't having to do that. So I wonder if >carrying their feature a little further is unattainable? Sure it is. Nearly every P&S camera has that feature. Putting it into a dslr with all the immensely useful P&S viewfinder capabilities intact and functional is a whole other matter though. Can your live-preview display the motion-blur of slow shutter-speed effects? Or show you the crisp outlines of a hummingbird's wings or helicopter blade as you crank up the shutter speed fast enough to stop their motion? Can it automatically gain up the brightness in extremely low-light settings to help with focusing and composition in conditions far dimmer than can be seen in any optical viewfinder, or to show you DOF effects without having to dim the display beyond use while pushing an extra button? If not, then it can't do what nearly all P&S cameras can do all the time. I suppose in a few generations they'll make dslrs just as capable and feature-packed as P&S cameras, one day. You can only hope. But they'll probably charge you over $10,000 for what has already been available on every $500 or less P&S camera for many many years now. <walking away, shaking head, from silly dslr people ....> Ah .... back to the land of sanity ..... <heavily edited, for brevity> > Just a couple of hours after I posted my original question, I happened > upon a post by John Turco on another subject. He has a Pentax K100D > which is a less expensive (and less featured version of this K10D I > believe) and he dropped a hint that I spotted. <edited> Hello, Olin: Other than its higher megapixel count (10.2 vs 6.1), the K10D enjoys these advantages, over the K100D: dust and weather sealing dust reduction & removal Supersonic motor compatibility dedicated RAW button "PRIME" image processor 22-bit ADC DDR2 buffer RAM faster continuous shooting mode ISO 100 Lithium-Ion D-LI50 rechargeable battery and charger (Okay, whether that last one is truly an "advantage" may be subjective, I guess; I prefer the K100D's use of four AA cells, personally.) Cordially, John Turco <jtur@concentric.net> > <heavily edited, for brevity> > [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > (Okay, whether that last one is truly an "advantage" may be subjective, > I guess; I prefer the K100D's use of four AA cells, personally.) I have a DS and a K10D and much prefer the battery systen in the K10D, I always thought the AAs were an advantage but I now run the DS on non rechargable CR-V3s or Eneloops and bought a couple of NP-400 batteries for the K10D, it is easy with these packs. > <heavily edited, for brevity> > [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > Cordially, > John Turco <jtur@concentric.net> And better image stabilization. This confirmed by a recent article in Popular Photography. Somebody! >> <heavily edited, for brevity> >> [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > > Somebody! Better than what? >>> <heavily edited, for brevity> >>> [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > > Better than what? Well since this was a response about the K100D wouldn't that mean that I was talking about the K10D having better image stabilization than the K100D? Try reading the posts. Somebody! [] > Well since this was a response about the K100D wouldn't that mean > that I was talking about the K10D having better image stabilization > than the K100D? Try reading the posts. > > Somebody! In what respects is the IS better? By how much? David > [] >> Well since this was a response about the K100D wouldn't that mean [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > David Read the article it is in the current issue. Somebody! >> [] >>> Well since this was a response about the K100D wouldn't that mean [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Somebody! Not a rag I take, I'm afraid. David >> Recently, I saw an ad or announcement for a new DSLR (maybe a Canon) >> that DOES allow such Video out before taking the shot. Is it possible [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > See here: > http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/cat--Pentax-DSLRs--cat_pentax.html What exactly do these do that the one that comes in the camera doesn't? Inquiring minds want to know. Somebody! > >> Recently, I saw an ad or announcement for a new DSLR (maybe a Canon) > >> that DOES allow such Video out before taking the shot. Is it possible [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > What exactly do these do that the one that comes in the camera doesn't? > Inquiring minds want to know. You get mircoprism and split-prism focusing, which the cameras in question don't have. It makes it easier to do accurate manual focussing. Which, of course, has nothing to do with anything anyone was talking about. :-)  Signaturehttp://www.xoverboard.com/cartoons/2007/070416_argument.html >> >> Recently, I saw an ad or announcement for a new DSLR (maybe a Canon) >> >> that DOES allow such Video out before taking the shot. Is it possible [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > Which, of course, has nothing to do with anything anyone was talking > about. :-) Thanks for the info. Somebody! >Recently, I saw an ad or announcement for a new DSLR (maybe a Canon) >that DOES allow such Video out before taking the shot. Is it possible >that this Pentax can be modified or have the firmware altered to allow >this feature with it? I don't think it can be done with video out but connecting the camera to a laptop computer and using the Pentax Remote Assistant software may do what you want. SignatureMark Roberts Photography & Multimedia www.robertstech.com 412-687-2835 >>Recently, I saw an ad or announcement for a new DSLR (maybe a Canon) >>that DOES allow such Video out before taking the shot. Is it possible [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >to a laptop computer and using the Pentax Remote Assistant software >may do what you want. Thanks Mark Please see my other post, responding to this subject, just sent out a couple of moments ago. I have an ancient laptop, which needs its battery replaced, but other than that it should work. I say should, haven't messed with it in over 2 years, though. I'm not familiar with the Pentax Remote Assistant software, but will look for it. Any suggestion there will be appreciated. Olin To reply by email, please remove "abcd" from Return address ----------------------------------------------------- "Ignorance is treatable, Stupidity is incurable. Sometimes the difference is hardly distinguishable, however." >I have an ancient laptop, which needs its battery replaced, but other >than that it should work. I say should, haven't messed with it in >over 2 years, though. I'm not familiar with the Pentax Remote >Assistant software, but will look for it. Any suggestion there will >be appreciated. The software can be found at http://www.pentaximaging.com/customer_care/show_software?softId=8793673 (about half way down the page) Your K10D will need to have firmware v1.30 (download that at http://www.pentaximaging.com/customer_care/show_firmware?firmId=8793673 if your camera has earlier firmware) SignatureMark Roberts Photography & Multimedia www.robertstech.com 412-687-2835 |
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