K10D questions - DPChallenge Forums

06/05/2007 07:23:20 PM · #1

I think I'm going to get another DSLR pretty soon, and I'm considering the K10D. I use a Canon film SLR and I love their 1-series bodies. I don't particularly like the offerings from Nikon (the D200 and 18-200 might be a decent choice, but I don't want to buy much into a system other than Canon unless it'll be a good compliment once I can afford a 1-series and 70-200 and etc - a Pentax with a pancake lens would be). Olympus is definitely not an option.

Anyway, I have a few questions about the K10D... first, and most important, how does the sensor do for long exposures? Long being anywhere from 30 seconds to an hour or so. I was reasonably happy with my XT when I used it for those, but the K10D is a CCD sensor so I'm not sure about it.

Does it have a custom function that lets you assign the AF to a button on the back, like Canon's CF4?

And has anyone used the 21mm 3.2 pancake lens, and how do you like it? Corner sharpness and lack of CA are my main concerns, and accurate color - I like big prints, and until I get a large format camera I need to use sharp lenses for 35mm and digital.

Thanks in advance. It would be mostly used for landscape and nature stuff, and from what I've seen, the 16-45 4.0 is atrocious in the corners at the wide end, so I'll probably go with a prime.
If I went with a 20D and a 17-40, it would be very familiar, but I like where Pentax is going and if I really hated it I could return it.

06/05/2007 07:30:44 PM · #2

Originally posted by MadMan2k:

Does it have a custom function that lets you assign the AF to a button on the back, like Canon's CF4?

This is the only one I can answer:

It doesn't have a custom function.. it has a dedicated AF button on the back.

06/05/2007 07:32:00 PM · #3

Mynes on the way soon.

First id talk to

Option and

Artyste (not a K10D owner) and maybe even

benjikan?

Despite what option once sayed about using it for action it does just fine??

<-- Options PIC BTW!

And if you looking for sharp JPEG's

formerlee will tell you they arent.

Message edited by author 2007-06-05 19:32:49.

06/05/2007 07:33:24 PM · #4

Originally posted by RainMotorsports:

Artyste (not a K10D owner)

Perhaps not, but I can use one whenever I want to, so I'm close enough :)

06/05/2007 07:34:57 PM · #5

I didnt mean it in a bad way lol. Just saying. Im not an owner but im about to be. K1000, *ist QD 35mm, K10D all in that order this year.

Message edited by author 2007-06-05 19:35:03.

06/05/2007 07:48:28 PM · #6

Ah, OK. So you can set the shutter button so that it doesn't AF at all? I like to preset focus and then be able to bracket, or shoot as the light changes, etc, without refocusing, and I'd rather set a custom function once than keep switching to manual focus every time.

I'm not too worried about how good it is for action, within reason.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

06/05/2007 07:49:53 PM · #7

Originally posted by MadMan2k:

Ah, yes, you can set it so that the shutter button doesn't AF at all :)

option

Nikon D200

06/05/2007 07:54:44 PM · #8

Originally posted by RainMotorsports:

Mynes on the way soon.

First id talk to Option and Artyste (not a K10D owner) and maybe even benjikan?

Despite what option once sayed about using it for action it does just fine??
<-- Options PIC BTW!

And if you looking for sharp JPEG's formerlee will tell you they arent.

aww man, i gotta yank those guy-in-the-sky shots! if any snowboard mag photo editors see those ill never get anything published...

at least show a good photo of mine if you want to demonstrate action:

As for lenses: photozone has been running imatest on a whole slew of pentax lenses lately, so their review database of Pentax lenses covers almost the entire current lineup (and then some... check out the resolution numbers for the 43 ltd...wow)

According to their tests on the 21, "The center performance is already exceptionally high straight from f/3.2 whereas the border quality isn't quite as high. At f/3.2-f/4 the borders show good results but the real boost towards very good quality occurs at f/5.6-f/8." They also reported well controlled CA across the board.

If youre looking to provide a compact complimentary system to a 1-series sometime in the future (a direction I may eventually go if the snowboard photography thing ever takes off for me), Pentax and its limiteds are a solid choice. As for your question about long exposures: I have no idea. Never tried it, sorry :-P

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

06/05/2007 08:03:16 PM · #9

Lol and thats a great shot i posted, Id rather see that with a slightly fuller background if i was buying a magazine of any kind. Youw challenge winner is a hell of an shot but i mean it shows almost nothing of the snowboarder.

It would only be 2 to 2.5 times larger in print anyways. If i were to buy a shot just as a photo it wouldnt be the one you won the challenge with but another out of your portfolio.

Just My Opinion!

Back to the K10D!

option

Nikon D200

06/05/2007 08:07:39 PM · #10

Originally posted by RainMotorsports:

In the world of snowboard photography, no one really cares what the rider looks like, as long as you can tell what hes doing. What really matters is how crazy he is...

People may think its a cool shot, but if i submitted it to a mag I would get blacklisted for sure.

Anyway...enough thread derailing...

06/05/2007 08:11:21 PM · #11

Im gonna PM the rest of this all i can say is...

06/05/2007 08:11:30 PM · #12

I don't know much about snowboard photography, but for skate and BMX you really need to show the context of the trick they're doing. Like he said, a 'guy in the sky' picture doesn't really show you much... he could be airing out 3 feet from a little kicker at the bottom of a snowy hill, or 20 feet up at some big competition.

It can be a challenge to do that and at the same time introduce some artistic elements into the mix... I have a lot of respect for action sports photographers, I don't think I'd want to do it for a living. Regular photojournalism seems like it'd be better for me, that's what I'd like to do, with some art print sales on the side.

Oh, this was a camera topic, wasn't it?
I'll have to do a little more research... the long exposure performance is a pretty big deal since I like night photography very much. I should just save up and get a 5D I guess...

This sample from the 21 isn't too encouraging, to be honest... I'd think a decent prime at 8.0 would be sharper in the corners.
//www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/pentax_21_32/samples/_IGP4287.jpg

06/05/2007 08:14:03 PM · #13

What are you shooting for exactly? Is this being used for portrait?

06/05/2007 11:01:05 PM · #14

Come to think of it, I probably don't need to make huge enlargments from this camera, so that lens would probably be fine. I would use it for landscapes, events, etc. Not many portraits at all, if I shoot any of those it'll be with my Leica, 90mm Elmar and B&W film or Kodachrome.

06/05/2007 11:04:22 PM · #15

Originally posted by MadMan2k:

That sample at 8 x 12 wouldnt look that bad anyways, 16x24 it would. But looking at it on a 21 inch monitor which is what 72 dpi? looks alright u can see the "corner softness" but not to an extent that a tiny but o work and an 8 x 10 print would scream horrid or anything.

Just MO

06/05/2007 11:22:57 PM · #16

Yeah, I'm sure it'd make a good 11x14, or 16x20 if it didn't depend on detail in the corners.

Can't really beat LF for big prints though, a 16x20 from 4x5 is like a 4x6 from 35mm...

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

06/05/2007 11:28:32 PM · #17

ANyone know how the Sigma 18-200 is on the K10D? Looking at lenses right now myself trying to find my way back to that one site that reviews lenses image zone or something.

Other question for myself and madmna might be interested is

Pentax AF540FGZ Flash
vs
Sigma Electronic Flash EF-500 DG ST

Message edited by author 2007-06-05 23:29:39.

option

Nikon D200

06/05/2007 11:35:14 PM · #18

Re: enlargements, take a look at some of

benjikans stuff; hes making absolutely massive enlargements on many of his photos...

I haven't printed bigger than 18x12 yet, but even as low as 150dpi (shot with kit lenses) they looked pretty damn good.

06/05/2007 11:39:20 PM · #19

I looked up the Sigma 18-200 review on the Nikon mount id expect about the same lense performance across all brands.

The distortion looks decent to me for the range and i rather like the distortion at wide angle seeing as how ill probly never own a fisheye. It smooths out across the range. They say though the AF performance is lacking, wish i could hear from an owner lol.