Hin's Photo Corner

I am glad to see the Dprview on K-x conclusion. It is very much in line with my personal findings on Pentax K-x. I will need to use it more often with SR and see why DPreview don't see Pentax K-x with efficient SR. I find the mirror slapping a bit loud to my ear but in a month of shooting with various shutter in 1/100 down to 1/15 sec, I see mostly myself at faults for softer pictures, I don't see abnormal working that seem to suggest a poorer SR or too much mirror slap causing too much vibration. More use without SR and Mirror Lock UP (MLU) and planned test will hopefully clear the issues.

I tried out some b&w simple conversion in iPhoto and I only need some minor noise reduction on the two shots taken in iso 12,800 and iso 10,000, all others are just plain default NR on jpg which is set to medium in default settings.

And I really like the detail, tones, and clean shots without much work on noise right from Jpg.

Related:

• Pentax K-x white High ISO indoor
• Pentax K-x in Disneyland
  
• Pentax K-x White and DA limited Lens
  
• Pentax K-x White with DA/FA limited Lenses
• Pentax DA 40mm f/2.8 limited
• Tamron 200mm f/3.5 adaptall-2 (04B)
• Pentax K-x White arrival
• Pentax K20D
• Hin's Camear Gear

The K-x does extremely well in indoor kind of shooting with Pentax DA 40mm f/2.8 limited. All the following are done with K-x and Pentax DA 40mm f/2.8 limited with all default settings with no post processing. No flash is used. Default NR is medium.


The K-x is quite excellent in indoor shooting and it works extremely well in the dark with DA 40mm f/2.8 limited, Focus hunting is very minimal and all AF is quite responsive and I feel very empowered to make the shot in indoor. The high ISO performance in K-x is the best that I have seen in Pentax. With raw and more powerful noise handling software, I think the K-x can do even more than the few jpg pictures that I show here.


Impressions & Notes

• The best high ISO performance that I have seen from Pentax
• Shots at default Medium Noise Reduction in iso 1600 has no need for noise cleaning for me. It is clean shot.
  
• At 3200, I still think it is very reasonable. Detail in the indoor dim light environment is quite good up to 3200. Some loss of detail is noted in 6400, maybe due to the grain.
  
• At 6400, some noise becomes visible even in screen resolution. I suspect shooting in RAW and post process in Neat Image or Noise Ninja will have much better outputs than what the jpg that I have shown here
• Shots at iso higher than 3200 can easily be turned into B&W conversion and you get a film grain like in the outputs.
  
• A good Pentax compact digital body that makes the slower DA lens to shine in the dark. It turns my DA 40mm f/2.8 limited into a powerhouse for indoor performer.
• The K-x is perhaps the best body to lure one to get all DA limited primes. It work as if it can breathe at least an extra stop to all DA primes so that you can easily shoot at Tv for 1/100 sec with f/3.5 with most of my DA lenses in the dark with auto-iso range set for 100 to 12,800.
• I find the K-x fast and responsive with DA primes though I do find moments in shooting running kid on AF.S that the hunting of AF prevent me from making the shot. I have not tried to turn it into AF.C from the default AF.A mode.
• I am studying the default AF.A mode and see how the camera chooses between AF.C and AF.S and I am hoping it has some smart design into it.
  

Related:

• Pentax K-x in Disneyland
  
• Pentax K-x White and DA limited Lens
  
• Pentax DA 21mm f/3.2 limited on Pentax SuperProgram
  
• Pentax DA primes on SuperProgram & MX
  
• Pentax K-x White with DA/FA limited Lenses
• Pentax DA 40mm f/2.8 limited
• Pentax K-x White arrival
• Pentax K20D
• Hin's Camear Gear

I get inspired by my forum buddy to go off to research in fixing the light seals problems with my Pentax MX . I like the film camera especially when I scourge and get the very red Pentax strap to go with it just for the show. The strap is not comfortable but it adds character to the camera. I love it!

Here are Jon Goodman's instructions for sealing multiple kinds of cameras:

Favorite Classics / Jon Goodman's Seal Replacement Instructions

Here is the link to Goodman's eBay store where he sells seal kits:

eBay Seller: interslice: Cameras Photo items on eBay.com
Contact him directly via eBay for kits not listed.

Steve

(In case you are wondering...Mr. Goodman is sort of a legend in regards to seal replacement on old cameras.)

Much thanks to Steve and many others for the link. What concerns me most is the mirror box bumper as I don't want to get any glue and deposit to ruin the MX focusing screen.




I am fortunate that the focusing screen is removable, I will go two routes for the fixing:

1. I will contact a local repair shop and ask for the pricing of a CLA with light seal.
2. Do It myself as an alternative if pricing is over the cost of the camera.
   

And I will hopefully have a workable MX in the new year. I will report back


Related:

• Film Development with Foto Express and Henry
  
• Pentax DA primes on SuperProgram & MX
  
• Design a compact digital body for 2 million Crumpler bag
• 2 Million Dollar Crumpler Bag
• Pentax K-x White with DA/FA limited Lenses
• Pentax SuperProgram
• Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5 adaptall-2 (51B)
• Pentax 645N
• Hin's Camear Gear

I like my Pentax K-x white so much that I break loose with all guidelines in NOT buying overlapping lenses and before I know it, I now I have purchased both the Pentax DA 40mm f/2.8 limited and Pentax DA 70mm f/2.4 limited. I bought them all used to save on cost. What surprises me is actually how small and agile these primes are when mounted on my Pentax K-x white. They look good in style with the white K-x. The black color matches the white color body better than the silver one does.


In terms of quality, they are just as amazing that deliver quality in a small body. I always get amazed especially on the quality from DA 40mm limited as it is the thinnest of the trio in 21/40/77 and yet the IQ is excellent in the prime and its close focus is quite good at 0.4 meters.


I can pretty much mount my DA 40mm limited and use it as a normal lens on both my K-x and K20D. The K-x has the edge over the K20D in smaller size and coupled with faster AF in the DA limited lens, I can hardly find a reason not to like the 40mm limited. And as many have noted, I have tried the DA 40mm limited on film body with Pentax SuperProgram. In program mode, I can pretty much use it with no issues on vignetting in the corners. With the SuperProgram, the 40mm is a really compact pancake waiting for light traveling. I have few pictures using DA 40mm f/2.8 limited with hood mounted on Pentax SuperProgram in P mode with film scanned by a lab

I have a Cosina 24mm f/2.8 with 'A' setting and with a P/K-AR mount that can be used in both Pentax K mount with 'A' aperture or the Ricoh camera such as Ricoh xr-p that has multi-programmed mode. If Ricoh pin is found to be long as seen on this picture, you should be concerned and be alerted with pin jamming problems. Not all Ricoh pin will jam but those that stick out long enough as the above picture will jam on the AF/MF connector on Pentax bodies that have AF and MF switch.

On my Cosina 24mm f/2.8 or some versions of Sigma 24mm f/2.8 ultra-wide lens rear mount, you should see two golden contacts, one on the far end is the Ricoh pin where one along with the electrical contacts is probably for the A metering contact in Pentax K-mount. Your lens can be used in both Pentax KA mount in 'A' setting. And it beats the others with an addition of 'P' with a Ricoh pin that allows you to use the special Ricoh programmed (or multi-programmed) mode in Ricoh xr, xr-p, kr-20sp, kr-30sp and any other Ricoh cameras with P settings. The Vivitar/Cosina 24mm f/2.8 in P/K-AR mount is found safe with Pentax bodies as the pin is small and retractable

The reason why some (not all) Ricoh lens with P pin may get stuck half-way is that the pin can get stuck onto the AF/MF switch on digital and AF film bodies. Once it gets stuck and it will appear that you can't slide it further, try gentle wiggle as the first step to overcome a stuck pin. The one possible and quick resort is to switch AF/MF switch on digital body to push the pin out and slide the lens further to lock in the properly mounted position. If your Ricoh lens has the P/K-AR mount signature, it is likely to work in both Pentax K-A and that in Ricoh P cameras that have special default Program (P), Programmed Action (PA) and Program DOF preferred (PD) modes such as those available in Ricoh xr-p.


A ricoh R-K lens without the Pentax A, the designated P setting is for Ricoh Programmed mode, the equivalent of Pentax A but the P setting can't be used as 'A' on Pentax K body, those Rioch only R/K lens can only be used stopped down in digital K-bodies.

And for those Ricoh or Rikenon lens that are pre-dated the xr-p time without the support of Programmed mode, those Ricoh lenses are more likely to share the same K-mount as Pentax.


Impressions & Notes:

• Not all R/K mount with Ricoh pin will get lens stuck. Even when the Ricoh pin is found retractable and that it is a ball head type of pin as shown in this blog post, it really depends on how long it sticks out.
  
  
• For K-mount bodies without auto focus, likely a Pentax film body such as Pentax SuperProgram, the ricoh pin will not be an issue as the jamming happens on the hole that corresponds to the AF/MF switch connector.
  
  
• For digital bodies, the pin may get stuck in AF/MF pin position on the KAF2 crippled mount on digital body.
  
  
• Usually a gentle wiggle will free the pin and you can slide the Ricoh lens all the way to mount properly
  
  
• A quick and effective resolution if the pin is really stuck is to switch AF/MF switch on digital body and a wiggle on the mount so that the pushing up of AF/MF pin from the digital bodies have a chance to push the retractable Ricoh pin out
  
  
• Ricoh/Riknenon lens that are pre-dated the time of Ricoh xr-p should not have this Ricoh pin and should be safe to be used as a regular K-mount lens.
  
  
• For those lenses that have P/K-AR mount type, they usually have two golden contacts, one around the electrical contacts for the 'A' aperture passing and the other is the Ricoh P pin that is used to communicate with Ricoh xr-p in P (default programmed mode), PA (Programmed Action mode) for action shots, PD (programmed Depth preference mode) for scenery shot.
  
  
• For Ricoh R/K lens, those can be used like a K-mount lens in a film body. In digital bodies, Av mode can't be used as those R-K lens don't have the contacts for 'A' aperture communication but they can be used with stop-down metering.
  

Update:

• I have found that the Access zooms that I have do have retractable pin but the pin sticks out longer and I found them jamming in my K-x.
  
  
• A careful wiggle frees the lens from the jamming
  
  
• For those bigger P pin, one has to perform modification in either removing the pin or use a file or some other means to shorten down the pin.
  

Related:

• Rikenon P 35mm f/2.8 and Pentax K-x
• Access P-MC 35-70mm f/2.5-3.5 in R/K mount
  
• Access P-MC 70-210mm f/3.5 in R/K mount
• Cosina 24mm f/2.8 with 'A' setting
• Pentax DA 21mm f/3.2 limited on FF bodies (results)
  
• Pentax DA 40mm f/2.8 limited
• Pentax M 40mm f/2.8
• Pentax pancake clones with M lenses
• Design compact dSLR with Crumpler 2 MDB
• Pentax Limited Trio/Quad in Traveling
• Hin's Camera Lens

I went through the Yelp page to find this wonderful film development lab that is in downtown of San Jose. I finally managed to find a local lab to develop my first three rolls of b&w film. For my trial I use Kodak Professional BW400CN that are readily available in Walmart.

When I called the store FotoExpress in downtown of San Jose, the owner greeted me with patience and courtesy and I think it was the Henry mentioned in Yelp page by few of the reviewers for the store. Henry is extremely reliable and patient to give me a quote and rough time line for the photo processing. When I arrived at the store, I was treated especially well by both Henry and his staff. The store has all the films in display and Henry spent his courteous and busy store time with me walking through the black & white films, color films, slides and the intriguing 120 films that I wanted to learn in the near future.

The store provides scanning of my first three rolls of film with a nominal fee as a combo package. The scanning service is outstanding to say the least. There is absolute no comparison with those from Ritz and Walmart that I had tried before with disappointment. The cost is a bit more but when I saw the results and the attention to details and great custom service, all is worth. My nostalgic path back to film has an enviable answer -- I got Henry as both my mentor and lab to go to for future services in years to come. I can't find another store that has better service than that in FotoExpress in downtown of San Jose.


By the way, they are actually located on 7th street and it is easy to pass it by on Santa Clara street in downtown of San Jose. Remember 7th street and cross junction with Santa Clara and there is private parking next to the store as well as parking lot for 1 hour parking with super market store nearby. Parking won't be a problem.

Regarding the lab, I strongly encourage my readers to look through Yelp and search engine with Google and Yahoo Local and see the film processing labs that take on 35mm in c-41 and perhaps slides with e-6 (I don't remember if this is right as I have never shot slides for fear of falling in addiction). What I do is that I call each one of them and talk to the operator (hopefully the guy or gal who actually process the film) and ask them some newbie and seemingly naive questions and test their patience

• basic cost in just development without 4x6 print
• scanning, how much and the resolution
• what scanning they use and how do they avoid dust and scratches on films
• what films and slides they recommend for testing a roll of film on a camera that may have issues. What to look for in testing a roll
• Do they support b&w printing exclusively, do they scan b&w differently than color? What are the reasons
• Do they support 120mm films, this is important to me as that is one of the ultimate goals for me to go to film? If digital full frame FF is all that special, I welcome the nostalgic path in owning Medium Format MF with 645N now and enjoy the ride with Pentax 645D slated to come in 2010. I call my Pentax 645N my Pentax 645DLol

I really want to thank you to my forum friends in their suggestion to find a dependable local film lab as one of critical steps to enjoy film. I searched really hard and ask around, everyone don't like the Walmart, Target and Costco experience and I then I researched in Yelp listening especially to University students and amateur professionals comment on their experiences on selected photo labs. And I found a small lab that charge a bit more but the service won my heart and soul as the owner explained the film differences, slides and what 120 film to try and what to pay attention in the trial. He is like an mentor when I walk into the lab. He offers me even another local contact that is like Eric equivalent in my area. The owner name is Henry and he refers me to one and only super dude that he knows who is dependable in fixing/repairing film cameras.

Some scanning pictures from my 1st three rolls of film with Pentax SuperProgram and Ricoh xr-p. All pictures below were shot with Ricoh xr-p and Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5 adaptall-2 (51B)

Yes, I know, everyone says it is not compatible. The imaging circle has been trimmed in 5 seconds with some traces on the side due to operator error.