Pentax *ist D

About ready to make the jump to the Pentax *ist D but would like to get a
couple of real world comments from those that own one already or have used
it. I've read plenty of reviews - all favorable and the pro's and con's
about the sharpness and the CF card. Since I already have 3 other Pentax
camera's and a few lenses in my collection (which can be used on the *ist),
it makes economical sense to go with this camera.

But... any real-world gotcha's (reliability, parts falling off, etc.) that
only show up after having used it for awhile - any regrets?

Just a novice photographer with high expectations !

Thanks,

Bob S.

In article ,
"BobS" wrote:

About ready to make the jump to the Pentax *ist D but would like to get a
couple of real world comments from those that own one already or have used
it. I've read plenty of reviews - all favorable and the pro's and con's
about the sharpness and the CF card. Since I already have 3 other Pentax
camera's and a few lenses in my collection (which can be used on the *ist),
it makes economical sense to go with this camera.

But... any real-world gotcha's (reliability, parts falling off, etc.) that
only show up after having used it for awhile - any regrets?

Just a novice photographer with high expectations !

Thanks,

Bob S.



bought mine from B and H a few weeks ago came with firmware 1.00,
upgraded to 1.11 from Pentax. I thought the sensor was slightly titlted,
it seemed that all images were tilted, but careful testing revealed the
sensor is OK, it was just a false alarm. i recommend shooting a surface
such as bathroom floor with small tiles, and make sure you point the
camera perpendicullar and have a symmetric tile pattarn in the
vewifinder. the image was the OK, no tilt.

I did not manage to print anything yet, and I also don't have a good
prime (I use a 28-70 f/4 zoom), but so far i was happy. will get a
better idea of the real performance of this camera once I get a good
prime and print a few images.

I'd say go for it, but again it's your money, do as you want

BobS notes:

About ready to make the jump to the Pentax *ist D but would like to get a
couple of real world comments from those that own one already or have used
it. I've read plenty of reviews - all favorable and the pro's and con's
about the sharpness and the CF card. Since I already have 3 other Pentax
camera's and a few lenses in my collection (which can be used on the *ist),
it makes economical sense to go with this camera.

But... any real-world gotcha's (reliability, parts falling off, etc.) that
only show up after having used it for awhile - any regrets?

Just a novice photographer with high expectations !


It's a delight. Forget the sharpness issues. Those are because very little
sharpening is done in-camera (I keep it on the sharpest setting, do light
sharpening when needed: it's fine, excellent shots). Sturdy feeling, I could
actually wish it were a bit larger for my right hand. I got the kit lens, the
16-45, which seems to be excellent. Bought a 100mm Vivitar macro, which is
pretty good, not nearly great. I'll be aiming for the 28-135mm Sigma macro
next, I think.

I've shot about 700 pix with mine. Takes a bit to get used to the framing after
using a Minolta Dimage 7i with EVF for a couple years.

I use it on manual most of the time, often with studio flash. It is easy to
manipulate, set up, change, and most controls are easily accessible without
going to the menu--the Minolta required either a wild combination of buttons
and wheels or a trip to the menu.

Two things, one a characteristic of autofocus lenses: I do not like small focus
rings on lenses; the jog dial is too small. I've learned to rock my thumb to
operate it, but it shouldn't require learning beyond other jog dials.

Oh, yeah. The CF card goes in upside down, so is not as easy to get out as
some. I rake mine out with my thumbnail after punching the release button.

Charlie Self
"Inanimate objects are classified scientifically into three major categories -
those that don't work, those that break down and those that get lost." Russell
Baker

BobS notes:

About ready to make the jump to the Pentax *ist D but would like to get a
couple of real world comments from those that own one already or have used
it. I've read plenty of reviews - all favorable and the pro's and con's
about the sharpness and the CF card. Since I already have 3 other Pentax
camera's and a few lenses in my collection (which can be used on the *ist),
it makes economical sense to go with this camera.

But... any real-world gotcha's (reliability, parts falling off, etc.) that
only show up after having used it for awhile - any regrets?

Just a novice photographer with high expectations !


It's a delight. Forget the sharpness issues. Those are because very little
sharpening is done in-camera (I keep it on the sharpest setting, do light
sharpening when needed: it's fine, excellent shots). Sturdy feeling, I could
actually wish it were a bit larger for my right hand. I got the kit lens, the
16-45, which seems to be excellent. Bought a 100mm Vivitar macro, which is
pretty good, not nearly great. I'll be aiming for the 28-135mm Sigma macro
next, I think.

I've shot about 700 pix with mine. Takes a bit to get used to the framing after
using a Minolta Dimage 7i with EVF for a couple years.

I use it on manual most of the time, often with studio flash. It is easy to
manipulate, set up, change, and most controls are easily accessible without
going to the menu--the Minolta required either a wild combination of buttons
and wheels or a trip to the menu.

Two things, one a characteristic of autofocus lenses: I do not like small focus
rings on lenses; the jog dial is too small. I've learned to rock my thumb to
operate it, but it shouldn't require learning beyond other jog dials.

Oh, yeah. The CF card goes in upside down, so is not as easy to get out as
some. I rake mine out with my thumbnail after punching the release button.

Charlie Self
"Inanimate objects are classified scientifically into three major categories -
those that don't work, those that break down and those that get lost." Russell
Baker

"BobS" wrote:

About ready to make the jump to the Pentax *ist D but would like to get a
couple of real world comments from those that own one already or have used
it. I've read plenty of reviews - all favorable and the pro's and con's
about the sharpness and the CF card. Since I already have 3 other Pentax
camera's and a few lenses in my collection (which can be used on the *ist),
it makes economical sense to go with this camera.

But... any real-world gotcha's (reliability, parts falling off, etc.) that
only show up after having used it for awhile - any regrets?

Just a novice photographer with high expectations !

Thanks,

Bob S.


Bob

Got my *istD in April after much agonising, and I'm completely
satisfied with my choice. It does everything I want it to, and more.
I've had terrrific fun going through my collection of sixteen old
lenses, and it works with 'em all (with the 1.11 update). I think it's
the only digital SLR that has full backward compatibility with ALL
it's old family of lenses (including M42). Top marks to Pentax for
that!

I've just notched up 1400 shots, and if we'd had a better summer here
in the UK it would have been double that.

Like someone else has already said, forget about the sharpness issue -
it's fully up to the best lenses you can buy. The CF card thing is
just a quibble and just shows how desparate some reviewers are to find
something to criticise. I 've not found it to be a problem.

Having said all that, the new Cheapo version is due out soon
(September?) so if cost is an issue then you might find it worth
waiting for that. However, I'm wondering if that will still have full
backwards lens compatibility, or if it will retain the *istD's bright
pentaprism viewfinder.

Cheers
TonyH

"BobS" wrote:

About ready to make the jump to the Pentax *ist D but would like to get a
couple of real world comments from those that own one already or have used
it. I've read plenty of reviews - all favorable and the pro's and con's
about the sharpness and the CF card. Since I already have 3 other Pentax
camera's and a few lenses in my collection (which can be used on the *ist),
it makes economical sense to go with this camera.

But... any real-world gotcha's (reliability, parts falling off, etc.) that
only show up after having used it for awhile - any regrets?

Just a novice photographer with high expectations !

Thanks,

Bob S.


Bob

Got my *istD in April after much agonising, and I'm completely
satisfied with my choice. It does everything I want it to, and more.
I've had terrrific fun going through my collection of sixteen old
lenses, and it works with 'em all (with the 1.11 update). I think it's
the only digital SLR that has full backward compatibility with ALL
it's old family of lenses (including M42). Top marks to Pentax for
that!

I've just notched up 1400 shots, and if we'd had a better summer here
in the UK it would have been double that.

Like someone else has already said, forget about the sharpness issue -
it's fully up to the best lenses you can buy. The CF card thing is
just a quibble and just shows how desparate some reviewers are to find
something to criticise. I 've not found it to be a problem.

Having said all that, the new Cheapo version is due out soon
(September?) so if cost is an issue then you might find it worth
waiting for that. However, I'm wondering if that will still have full
backwards lens compatibility, or if it will retain the *istD's bright
pentaprism viewfinder.

Cheers
TonyH

BobS wrote:

About ready to make the jump to the Pentax *ist D but would like to get a
couple of real world comments from those that own one already or have used
it. I've read plenty of reviews - all favorable and the pro's and con's
about the sharpness and the CF card.

The card slot is a little annoying, but not more than that. The
sharpness is only an issue if you shoot JPEG or TIFF, because the camera
does the processing in that case. A little extra sharpening in Photoshop
is the remedy.

If you shoot RAW, which gives you much more control, the computer does
the processing and the sharpening. In other words; if you use Adobe
CameraRAW to open the RAW files, the sharpness should be no different
than it is for other digital cameras. I've blown up Pentax *istD images
to 60 x 80 cm on my Epson 7600, and the results are impressive.


--
Johan W. Elzenga johanatjohanfoto.nl
Editor / Photographer http://www.johanfoto.nl/

"BobS" wrote:

About ready to make the jump to the Pentax *ist D but would like to get a
couple of real world comments from those that own one already or have used
it.

I've been using one for about 6 months now. Very, very pleased with it.
Solid construction and excellent image quality. I just did a job for
SuperbikePlanet.com with it - images online at
http://www.robertstech.com/mid02004.htm
If you have any specific questions email me or ask the Pentax mailing
list (www.pdml.net), where there are lots of ist-D users.

--
Mark Roberts
Photography and writing
www.robertstech.com

"BobS" wrote:

About ready to make the jump to the Pentax *ist D but would like to get a
couple of real world comments from those that own one already or have used
it.

I've been using one for about 6 months now. Very, very pleased with it.
Solid construction and excellent image quality. I just did a job for
SuperbikePlanet.com with it - images online at
http://www.robertstech.com/mid02004.htm
If you have any specific questions email me or ask the Pentax mailing
list (www.pdml.net), where there are lots of ist-D users.

--
Mark Roberts
Photography and writing
www.robertstech.com

: Having said all that, the new Cheapo version is due out soon
: (September?) so if cost is an issue then you might find it worth
: waiting for that. However, I'm wondering if that will still have full
: backwards lens compatibility, or if it will retain the *istD's bright
: pentaprism viewfinder.

: Cheers
: TonyH

Anybody heard anything more about the Cheapo version? I heard the
announcement of an announcement a few months ago, but haven't heard any speculation
since then. I would hope that they use the same or better sensor, retain the
AA-compatible batteries, and just dummy-down the software a bit. I've used P&S
digicams enough to realize that for the most part I'm planning on using it as a
"digital light-proof box" to hold lenses. Most of the "features" on the digital
cameras are gear towards JPEG shooters. Shoot in RAW, focus/compose correctly, use
spot-metering, and exposure hold, and make sure the histogram doesn't blow out.
Anything else you can fix in post-processing.

-Cory


--

************************************************** ***********************
* Cory Papenfuss *
* Electrical Engineering Ph.D. Graduate Student *
* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University *
************************************************** ***********************