Hin's Photo Corner

I had my Linhof ballhead for a while. Special thanks to my good friend Hoa/SOldBear for letting me buy it cheaply from him. It is always good to have friends to share on interesting gear. Since the Linhof ball-head only comes with a fixed knob of screw that is not quick release type, I find it difficult to mount between lens. Hence I have been looking for a while for a quick release assembly that works with the Linhof ballhead. I am so glad to have found Giottos MH-652 in Adorama. It comes with a quick plate Giottos MH-642 though my copy doesn't seem to be in corkscrew type. The combo works great together. It is built strong and a bit on the heavy side. The quick release is secure and stable.


And I recently learned that Ned Bunnell also used this ballhead for a long time. When I saw the article from Ned, I quickly got my act together to find the quick release that would work with the Linhof ballhead.

The Linhof is a bit bigger than my cheapo Benro lookalike KS-0 Professional ball-head and it has a better plate where I can screw on tight with a ring like screw nut. Unlike the KS-0 ballhead, I have to use a coin to tighten up the release plate. And to my surprise, the nut is actually compatible between the two quick release plates. The plates are not compatible though. I am hoping to order a copy of Giottos MH-642 so that I can replace the screw nut in the quick release plate on the KS-0 to use it for a lighter setup.


I am happy to put the combination to work with my Pentax 645N and my Amvona AT-CF992 tripod.




I am yet to put the combo into more strenuous test with heavy and longer lens such as my Photosniper Tair-3 Phs 300mm f/4.5 in M42 or my Pentax F* 300mm f/4.5 with a TC.


Related:

• Benro lookalike KS-0 Professional ball-head
• Amvona AT-CF992 tripod
• Pentax 645N
• Photosniper Tair-3 Phs 300mm f/4.5 in M42
• Pentax F* 300mm f/4.5
• Hin's Camera Gear
  

My Access 35-70mm f/2.5-3.5 is in R/K mount which works with Ricoh xr-p film camera. I find the Ricoh pin retractable but the pin sticks out too much that it is found to jam in my Pentax K-x body. I have altered the lens to remove the Ricoh pin in order to use it in my Pentax body. The zoom is actually quite good when I tried it on b&w film with Ricoh xr-p.

When I test it on Pentax K-x, it is just a beautiful and functional short zoom. Its close focus is 1:2.7. It is unfortunate that it overlaps with my Tamron SP 35-80mm f/2.8-3.8 that I have decided to sell it to others.








Impressions & Notes

• Very surprising zoom lens with good performance throughout
  
• Color is vivid and good contrast
• Close up quite useful in 1:2.7
• Two touch zoom
• Ricoh P pin needs to be removed for Pentax digital bodies. P pin will jam AF/MF switch connector on Pentax digital bodies
  
• Focus Throw a bit short for precision in manual focusing
• Size is smaller than Tamron SP 35-80mm f/2.8-3.8
  
• Filter size is 58mm, solid construction.
  

Related

• Ricoh P pin and R/K mount
• Tamron SP 35-80mm f/2.8-3.8 adaptall-2 (01A)
  
• BW400CN film experience with Foto Express San Jose
• Access P-MC 70-210mm f/3.5 in R/K mount
• Hin's Camera Gear
  

I got this lens in a package of used Ricoh xr-p body. It is in Ricoh R/K mount that works in (P) programmed mode in Ricoh xr series of camera. It has the notorious Ricoh pin that can jam a digital Pentax bodies. Though the Ricoh pin is retractable, it does stick out too much and will jam onto the AF/MF connector on the Pentax bodies. It will work like a K mount lens on a non-AF Pentax film bodies.

It is quite easy to remove the pin and the zoom lens will just work like a regular manual K mount lens. I use it in M mode and do stop-down metering with the green button on K20D. In Pentax K-x body in M mode, (+/-) Av button acts like the green button with a easier access location.

The lens looks almost identical to the Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/3.5 by Tokina, the version 2 in the first three versions recommended by Mark Roberts. The filter size 62mm, the lens barrel, and the weight looks like the same lens to me



I test it out with Pentax K-x and performance closely resembles what I like about the Tokina Series 1 zoom.










Impressions & Notes

• It is quite good in sharpness
• Constant f/3.5 throughout the zoom
• Contrast can be better if a hood is added
• Close up is about 1:4 but I have not confirmed
• No zoom creep, 1-touch zoom, 62mm filter size, zoom quite easy to handle, good for MF
• Lens is small and lightweight as compared to v1 and v3 of Vivitar Series 1 zooms made by Kiron and Komine
• Good control of CA/PF in short experience with the zoom
  

Related:

• Access P-MC 35-70mm f/2.5-3.5 in R/K mount
  
• Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/3.5 by Tokina
• Ricoh P pin and R/K mount
• Comparing Vivitar Series 1 zooms
• Tamron SP 70-210mm f/3.5 adaptall-2 19AH
• Pentax K-x and M42 lenses
• Pentax K-x White
  
• Hin's Camera Gear
  

I have been asked a number of times if my Pentax K-x White is easy to get smudges with frequent use. I think it is about time for a timely user report.

I have been using my white K-x for over three months. And I changed lens frequently from primes to zooms. I have used my Pentax K-x with AF lenses, adaptall-2 MF lenses, and lately on M42 lens. When I took product shots of my K-x with Tokina 400mm prime, my K-x body is as good as new in the product shots. It is quite good in resistance to dirt and smudges. The build material is of a glossy type that has a smooth surface.


I recall one time that I did clean it up on a vacation trip in Disneyland and Seaworld of San Diego. I did use baby wipes which was readily available in my car. I won't recommend baby wipes as it seems too wet. A moist paper towel would have done a similar job.





FAQ on Pentax K-x White

• Would I choose white if I had to make the purchase again?
  
  • Absolutely Yes! I love the white color in K-x.
    
    
• Are you concerned on smudges?
  
  • After three months of frequent usage, I have less worry and I don't consider smudges a problem for my K-x white
    
    
• Do I get more attention than a normal black dSLR?
  
  • I don't think I have encountered any significant differences.
    
  • When I ask strangers to help my family take group shots, people feel comfortable with my white K-x.
    
    

Accessories:

• I have purchased one of the OpTech neck strap and I like it over the stock neck strap from Pentax
• I am looking for a screen protector, I see some mentioning about Acmaxx 2.7" screen protector for K-x
  

Related:

• Pentax K-x White Arrival
• Pentax K-x and Tokina SD 400mm f/5.6 on Bird
• Hin's Camera Gear
  

I purchased Dynatran AT CF992 from ebay almost a year ago and it is quite good in quality and it has three level indicators, made of Carbon Fiber with 4.75lb weight and the maximum support of 8.8 lb. The tripod exceeded my expectation and I would pay more had it not offered in eBay through the store vendor of Amvona.

Other tripods considered include DynaTran AT 858B on eBay as well as many Manfrotto Bogen tripods.



I seldom use tripod and I paid the price in not knowing to setup my tripod quickly. I began using the tripod on fireworks as well as sunset shooting.


Related:

• REI mini-tripod Ultrapod II
  
• Fireworks with Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 Di LD
• Linhof Ballhead and Giottos MH-652
• Benro lookalike KS-0 Professional ball-head
• Hin's Camera Gear

It is definitely too small for my Pentax K100D but I find it on sale for closing out item in Circuit City. I paid $6.50 out the door -- I couldn't believe it. I bought it as the last one available in Circuit City in Fremont Automall. Some pictures and use of it for my 5 year old camcorder with Canon -- the bag is a perfect match for my dated and a bit bulky camcorder -- Canon ZR 50.

All pictures were taken with my 2nd copy of FA 50 f/1.4 -- the shots come out quite satisfactory for me as I did it in a rush this morning with fluorescent lighting for added lighting in early morning and pp with Picasa with 'i am feeling lucky' and 'highlight/lighting/shadow'.


Related Posts:

• Hin's Camera Bag -- with diapers, similac baby bottle insulator.
• About me
• Joby Gorillapod
• Picasa 'I am feeling lucky'