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Pheonix
31-12-2006, 16:04
Hi All,

Well last week I misguidedly walked into LCE in Exeter with Wishy, and surprise surprise I managed to walk out with a shiny Pentax K10D. Have taken a few pictures now (bearing in mind the generally appauling weather, I'd say it was a reasonable achievement).

Heres a few test shots, as posted on Flickr, and clickable:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pheo/337386879/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/138/337386879_f9049121e4.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="Gate & Sunset" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pheo/336376064/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/163/336376064_e93e5db666.jpg" width="335" height="500" alt="Lake" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pheo/339551905/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/164/339551905_6cafce775d.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="Door" /></a>

Personally, I do feel the images are coming out film like (shooting JPEG). I'm occasionally adding a bit of USM, but to be honest I'm not sure it needs it.

Obviously I'm enjoying the benefits of having an SLR over a bridge camera, as well as having to get used to watching the highlights retrospectively! So its slightly harder for me to comment on the blow by blow usability vs say a 30D/D70/80 (which I've not used). Nevertheless, it feels very solid, which the gasketting helps with (in particular I like the locking mechanisms for the SD card and battery slots, which require the use of a small handle/lock type assembly as apposed to them being pressure shut via a spring).

Speed wise all seems fine, and the camera feels very responsive, and hands on. I like the use of the two dials instead of the one.

Noise seems well under control on the sensor (although compared to an FZ30, its always gonna be significantly better). The quality of the noise seems reasonable. There are a few ISO 1600 shots on Flickr, and I've been pleased with them. In particular in B&W, the noise does feel somewhat filmy.

Lens wise I'm using the kit at the mo, which gets the job done. Also got a couple of shots on Flickr shot with a 50mm prime from a Pentax ME Super (thanks Wishy), which worked very well on A mode.

Would be interested to know what people think of the shots, and lemme know if you've got any questions.
Sprout Crumble
31-12-2006, 16:27
Whats the anti-shake like?
Pheonix
31-12-2006, 17:25
Whats the anti-shake like?

Very good I think. Been shooting indoors at ISO1600 with it turned on. Sure the shots are soft, but considering they're handheld at 1/20th 1/15th of a second or less I'd say it was pretty good!
Boink!
31-12-2006, 17:59
Well those three photos have lots of colour and shadow detail (composition ain't bad either ;) ). Certainly looks to be a useful & powerful camera.
Radiohead
31-12-2006, 18:04
Reading up on it it does appear that the JPEG engine leaves something to be desired, in which case what I'm seeing here is very good (if that is indeed the case). Shooting RAW does seem to make a big difference though.

Those pancake primes are lovely...
pkr
31-12-2006, 19:53
If anyone is interested, Jessops in Milton Keynes ( shopping centre branch ) has at least one K10D in stock.
Wishy
01-01-2007, 12:45
Lens wise I'm using the kit at the mo, which gets the job done. Also got a couple of shots on Flickr shot with a 50mm prime from a Pentax ME Super (thanks Wishy), which worked very well on A mode.

Should point out that the lens was a Pentax-A. That means its got a control leaver on the lens that allows the body to set the aperture. Worked really well, you could use it much like you would any other lens, set the aperture on the body, it sorts all the metering and the jobs done. (And hats off to pentax for including the bits to control an old leaver based lens rather than just the newer style ones with electronics for all that)
Aparrently the Pentax-M lenses are compatible if you prod the right menu option, but its stop down metering only. Eg you open the lens as wide as it'll go, focus, close to desired f/stop then shoot. The Pentax-A intergrate much more easily.
John C
01-01-2007, 17:05
Should point out that the lens was a Pentax-A. That means its got a control leaver on the lens that allows the body to set the aperture. Worked really well, you could use it much like you would any other lens, set the aperture on the body, it sorts all the metering and the jobs done. (And hats off to pentax for including the bits to control an old leaver based lens rather than just the newer style ones with electronics for all that)
Kudos indeed. Nikon's much vaunted F mount compatibility has a set of fine print and caveats that's nearly enough to give a lawyer wet dreams :/

Looks like you're getting some good stuff from it anyway Pheo - that doorway in particular is a nice shot. If you'll accept a bit of well intentioned advice, I'd suggest investigating RAW sooner rather than later - it gives you far more control over your image, for not much more work.
Pheonix
02-01-2007, 20:44
Reading up on it it does appear that the JPEG engine leaves something to be desired, in which case what I'm seeing here is very good (if that is indeed the case). Shooting RAW does seem to make a big difference though.

Those pancake primes are lovely...

If you change the JPEG engine over to "bright" mode it starts shooting more like most cams. Natural is left with little sharpening and little noise reduction...

John - I will look into using RAW. Need to get up to speed on all that. Of course it helps now that the cam has good RAW Shooting performance.

Currently I like the freedom of shooting JPEG. But I'll try some stuff out in RAW and see how I go...
Pheonix
03-01-2007, 20:51
Just realised that the last one is shot at 1600 ISO. Would love to know how it compared to a 5D in the same kind of situation... RH can I borrow yours?

Also to clear up any confusion, these were shot as JPEG.
Radiohead
03-01-2007, 21:21
RH can I borrow yours?



No worries - pop up this weekend and it's yours for just ONE HUNDRED MILLION POUNDS.
Sprout Crumble
03-01-2007, 23:13
Knowing what Canon's like these days that may well be the price of the 6D
Pheonix
04-01-2007, 14:02
Knowing what Canon's like these days that may well be the price of the 6D

Either that or RH's latest L lens :P
Sprout Crumble
04-01-2007, 14:39
Interesting interview with the K10D's designers HERE (http://www.infodigitalcamera.com/blog/278/an-interview-with-the-developers-of-the-pentax-k10d/)