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Two new, old DSLRs
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 9:37 pm    Post subject: Two new, old DSLRs Reply with quote
I have two bargain DSLRs on the way, and I intend to test and compare their shake reduction features!

I won:

K100D for £110.00 posted.
Sony a230 for £97.00 posted.

The Pentax interests me the most as you can change the focal length in the camera, rather than having to buy dedicated adapters. I expect the SuperSteadyShot on the a230 to be similar to that of the a450, which gave around two stops advantage at shorter focal lengths and a stop advantage for long lenses (>300mm) over a non-stabilised lens.

Will post some results soon hopefully Smile


PostPosted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 10:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Conglats Graham. I too waas tempted by this offer:
http://forum.mflenses.com/is-this-a-good-price-for-a-pentax-k100ds-t43548.html


PostPosted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
stingOM wrote:
Conglats Graham. I too waas tempted by this offer:
http://forum.mflenses.com/is-this-a-good-price-for-a-pentax-k100ds-t43548.html


That's an even better deal than I managed!


PostPosted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yeah, no interest from the folks here yet. Already have too many cameras. Currently I have Nikon D2H, Panny G1 and Fuji S3...Hard to justify yet another camera Laughing Laughing


PostPosted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Well, I already have a K100D

One day I'll figure out how to clean the viewfinder haze.

The K100D IS is a wonderful thing. It really does work, most of all with long lenses. I never thought I would be handholding 400mm, but with this its something that works even in an overcast and in the shade.


PostPosted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 7:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
stingOM wrote:
Yeah, no interest from the folks here yet. Already have too many cameras. Currently I have Nikon D2H, Panny G1 and Fuji S3...Hard to justify yet another camera Laughing Laughing


I know how you feel! I've just had a clear out but still seem to have a Canon D60, 1000D, 60D and 5D Laughing

luisalegria wrote:
Well, I already have a K100D

One day I'll figure out how to clean the viewfinder haze.

The K100D IS is a wonderful thing. It really does work, most of all with long lenses. I never thought I would be handholding 400mm, but with this its something that works even in an overcast and in the shade.


This is really encouraging! I have some real old beasties that I want to test e.g. Tamron 200-400/6.3 Smile


PostPosted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 7:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi Graham,

I think you can comfortably shoot at ISO 800 1/6s with any difficulties:
http://www.techtheman.com/2007/05/pentax-k100d-test-shots.html

Smile


PostPosted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 7:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Cool, Graham!
It's always fun to play with those "old" gems. And it's not just playing, they perform well!


PostPosted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 8:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Shrek wrote:
I intend to test and compare their shake reduction features

yes, getting old bring shaking hand, I try to drink no more than 2 coffees a day, so far so good Very Happy


PostPosted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 11:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
poilu wrote:
Shrek wrote:
I intend to test and compare their shake reduction features

yes, getting old bring shaking hand, I try to drink no more than 2 coffees a day, so far so good Very Happy


Laughing

The Sony arrived, and guess what? Steadyshot is broken! Typical Rolling Eyes Laughing


PostPosted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 1:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The steadyshot can be due to missaligned sensor is there any black bands on pics? If so take a look at
http://blog.dynaxdigital.com/equipment-tech-talk/digital-slr-and-slt-discussion/how-to-adjust-the-focus-sensor-on-your-konicaminolta-and-sony-dslr


PostPosted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 8:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The K100D is one sweet camera. That 6MP was a well developed sensor.
The best DR is at 400iso. I used to just leave it in 800iso most of the time for shutter speed.
Have fun.
Pete


PostPosted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 8:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I have found the K100D works well with MF lenses and shake reduction. Bear in mind the lens flange will need to be plain metal and large enough to short the electrical contacts, otherwise shake reduce (and hence focal length selection) is switched off by the camera. I have found it easy to remove a small area of black anodising or paint on the rear of the lenses. But my favourite lens - Helios 44-2 - isn't big enough at the rear to cover the electrical contacts.

What's really nice is, with the electrical contacts shorted, you can use Aperture Priority mode with accurate metering, which makes pre-set lenses a joy to use. Without shorted contacts, aperture priority still works, but you'll need to dial-in +1.5 EV.

Have fun Very Happy


PostPosted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 9:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Interesting about needing to short the pins. Can you not just tape foil over the contacts on the camera?


PostPosted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 12:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
My shake reduction works on all cameras; it's called a tripod. Rolling Eyes

Laughing Laughing Laughing


PostPosted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 4:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
martinsmith99 wrote:
My shake reduction works on all cameras; it's called a tripod. Rolling Eyes

Laughing Laughing Laughing


Ha! Yeah, I get your point, but the wife wasn't happy about having to carry it for 8 hours around Yosemite National Park Wink Laughing


PostPosted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 8:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
ManualFocus-G wrote:
Interesting about needing to short the pins. Can you not just tape foil over the contacts on the camera?
I suppose you could, provided the adhesive was conductive.


PostPosted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 9:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Right, the K100D is here and I love it! It's small, well built and the SR is brilliant! Just need to sort the exposure issue out Smile


PostPosted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 9:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
So?
some samples from the Pentax handheld lowlight ??
I was either thinking of such a move , but with 2 stops advantage ,I belived that 3200 (2 stops over 800) Sony nex 3 could be a better deal allowing to use my AR , MD/MC, Fuji X and FD mount lenses. But I still am curious about that in body shake reduction. Maybe you'll post some samples at 800 and 1600 iso(the last one to compare with the 6400 on nex , could be better)


PostPosted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hey, that's an unfair comparison. The K100D is four years old now, comparing its high ISO to that of a Nex with a much newer sensor is not on. The stabilisation of the Pentax will give it an advantage, however, for slow moving subjects.

I haven't done any serious low light shooting yet, but the anti shake system is brilliant! I've just shot a 400mm Tamron out the window and got a pin sharp image at 1/125th second Shocked allowing me to use ISO 200 rather than the usual 1/640th which would be required at ISO 1000 or so, which equates to about 2.5 stops or so. Perfect for slow moving wildlife.

I previously owned a Sony a450 which would only reliably give me 1 stop of stabilisation with long lenses. The Pentax reliably gives me 2 stops with long lenses, and 50% reliable results at 2.5 stops.

Time to pull out those old Soligors Laughing


PostPosted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 2:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
K100D image shake reduction test

I took 4 photos at each ISO level of the same subject, handheld with a Tamron 400/6.9 prime lens wide open. I had to increase the exposure in pp because I haven't modded the camera to expose properly with M42 lenses yet.

All shots below are 100% crops of the test image.

ISO 3200 @ 1/1000 - +0.35 stop exposure increase in pp (for a camera without stabilisation, this is the most likely setting for a sharp shot, where 1/600 second is required due to the 1.5x crop factor) - 100% images were sharp at this setting



ISO 1600 @ 1/500 - +0.35 stop exposure increase in pp - 100% images were sharp at this setting



ISO 800 @ 1/250 - +0.35 stop exposure increase in pp - 75% images were sharp at this setting



ISO 400 @ 1/160 - +0.35 stop exposure increase in pp - 50% of the images were sharp at this setting



ISO 200 @ 1/60 - +0.35 stop exposure increase in pp - 25% of images were sharp at this setting



Full image at ISO 400




PostPosted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 4:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
ManualFocus-G wrote:
Hey, that's an unfair comparison. The K100D is four years old now, comparing its high ISO to that of a Nex with a much newer sensor is not on. The stabilisation of the Pentax will give it an advantage, however, for slow moving subjects.

I haven't done any serious low light shooting yet, but the anti shake system is brilliant! I've just shot a 400mm Tamron out the window and got a pin sharp image at 1/125th second Shocked allowing me to use ISO 200 rather than the usual 1/640th which would be required at ISO 1000 or so, which equates to about 2.5 stops or so. Perfect for slow moving wildlife.

I previously owned a Sony a450 which would only reliably give me 1 stop of stabilisation with long lenses. The Pentax reliably gives me 2 stops with long lenses, and 50% reliable results at 2.5 stops.

Time to pull out those old Soligors Laughing

Hey , Graham , what I intended was to compare the K100 ' s 1600 with the Nex's 6400 (wich ist't great at all but usable with big limitations) to see if the 2 stops that one gains in K100 stabilised is comparable in IQ with the 2 stops gained by ISO increase on NEX . From your next post , I am convinced that I was right , you were right Laughing Better image on K100
It's a shame that the range of MF lenses on K mount is limited (I have mainly short register lenses)

So , from what you tell the Pentax antishake is better than Sony/KM ' s ? Curious about the Olympus system .It's a shame that Sony dumped the in-body stabilisation for the Nex series


PostPosted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 5:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Graham's results with the K100d tally with my own experience regarding image stabilisation - it simply does work beautifully. In fact by holding the camera firmly and breathing out prior to releasing the shutter I can usually - not always but nearly always - get properly sharp results at 1/30th with a 200mm lens.

What puzzles me a little is that the IS on my K10d doesn't seem to be as effective. However, the shutter release is heavier than the K100d and seems to have a fractionally longer delay before the shutter fires. Splitting hairs here, of course, so it could be me and not the camera.

If only Leica had a similar system in the M8/M9 it would be wonderful - !


PostPosted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 5:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi Teo

I understand now Smile But yes, I think the Pentax system is better, although I haven't had the chance to use an ultra modern Pentax or Sony camera yet Wink

I was always disappointed by the Nex-5 above ISO 6400...there was just too much noise and the colours desaturate. I wonder how the Nex-5N performs? I have to say, I'm very impressed with the Pentax Smile

Regards

Graham


PostPosted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 7:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
ManualFocus-G wrote:
Hi Teo

I understand now Smile But yes, I think the Pentax system is better, although I haven't had the chance to use an ultra modern Pentax or Sony camera yet Wink

I was always disappointed by the Nex-5 above ISO 6400...there was just too much noise and the colours desaturate. I wonder how the Nex-5N performs? I have to say, I'm very impressed with the Pentax Smile

Regards

Graham

Maybe you (we Smile )were too picky about that 6400 ISO on the first generation of nexes . But I am glad that the 3200 is Ok .I had no 3200 on the EOS XTi All in all , you did a good deal .Congrats !
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