Hin's Photo Corner

It is a sad post to compose as I have always loved my stylish Pentax K-x White. Out of my frustrations with Memory Card Error and Pentax Customer Service during the long repair time, I had resolved to put it up for sale after repair. And I have since sold my beloved white K-x with a stylish red bag. My white K-x is well loved by me and I send the new owner the red bag for free.

To be fair with CRIS and Pentax Customer Service, they did quite a good job in addressing not only the memory card controller issue, they also addressed two cosmetic problems that I reported to them when I sent my K-x in for service. CRIS fixed the broken chrome strip and they replaced the missing red label in the SR logo. Though the wait was long for 5 1/2 weeks, I felt quite satisfied with the repair and have since regained confidence with both CRIS and Pentax. The unexpected longer wait was mostly attributed to back-order of parts from Pentax Japan and it took about 4 weeks for parts delivery from Pentax Japan to CRIS. And I truly hope what happened to me doesn't happen to another Pentax user and that Pentax Japan can take note in improving the back-ordering of parts from Japan to other countries.







Some Farewell Notes On K-x

• I absolutely love the white K-x in terms of style. When I see the Pentax K-r with a partial black body, I find the K-x to be more attractive especially on the white color model.
  
  
• It is a great traveling camera with lighter weight and compact form factor. It works wonder in traveling especially when you mount it with small Pentax limited primes as in 15, 21, 35, 40, 43, 70, 77.
  
  
• Ever since I got my K-x as a second body, I actually use K-x as my main body and leave my K20D at home. Its high ISO, good image quality, quicker AF makes it a delight to use.
  
  
• Its clean high ISO images in 1600 to 3200 win it hand down over my K20D.
  
  
• Price! I don't think one can fault its price for a budget camera that can serve well like its other bigger Pentax brothers in K10D, K20D, K7, K5 and K-r.
  

Related

• Pentax K-x Memory Card Error
• Pentax Customer Service
• Pentax K-x White Arrival
• Pentax K-x In Traveling
• Pentax K-x At National Night Out
  
• Hin's Camera Gear
  

It does not give me the slightest pleasure in reporting my dead Pentax K-x White. It has the persistent memory card error no matter what card that I have put into the camera SD slot. I have tried seven different individual SD memory cards of four different brands in Sandisk Extreme III 4 Gig, PNY Optima SDHC 8 Gig, Transand SDHC 8 Gb and Kingston SDHC 4 Gb. All of the memory cards are working fine in my Pentax K20D.

I call up Pentax Customer Support with toll free number 1(800)877-0155 last Thursday and I was mislead by the representative in waiting for her email instruction. It was likely my fault in not confirming the email twice with her. On 2nd call to Pentax Customer Support today on Monday, I was glad to talk to Matt who was courteous and responsive. Instead of email, Matt outlined the critical information that I need to package my dead Pentax K-x to send in.

Here are the rough steps to follow for servicing my K-x under warranty. The address is actually the physical address of CRIS camera service

1. Package it for shipment to this address, I will be using USPS priority with $500 insurance
   
   Pentax Service Department
   250 North 54 Street,
   Chandler, AZ 85226
   
   
2. Provide proof of purchase as in an invoice or email notification on purchase. In my case, I will send in my Paypal invoice with Beach Camera. It is utmost important that the invoice has the name of the owner and the date of purchase for warranty service
   
   
3. Provide a brief note on the problem. I am using this blog page to describe my problems with dead Pentax K-x white in NOT able to read any SDHC memory cards.
   
   
4. Provide contact information as in phone contact and email. I will need to include them in the printout of this blog page

My problem is simply that my Pentax K-x white can't read any memory cards that I have used. The same set of cards work fine on my Pentax K20D in both reading and writing.


It goes as if something get damaged in the card reader in the camera. Matt from Pentax Customer Support offered me the suggestion on camera "reset" and I tried that option but the "Memory Card Error" still persisted. I am in my wit's end on troubleshooting the problem. It appears like a hardware failure.

While I am explaining the problem, there are also two complaints on the physical appearance of my white K-x after nine months of usage. Though it is free from smudges and dirt after months of usage. The white K-x does has its cosmetic problems in having a chrome line worn out easily as you can see in this picture on the chrome line below the shutter release which has lost partially the metallic chrome strip in various spots under the shutter release. And the broken chrome line has become somewhat sharp edges for me to hold the camera.


And another minor cosmetic but critical issue to me is the lost of the red SR label in front. The combination of red SR label is the best recognition of Pentax SR feature that is built into the Pentax body and I really missed that label on my white K-x. I think I lost it after 6 months of usage. The red SR label is at the bottom and it appears as white in the following picture


I truly hope that Pentax Service Department can help me fix my Pentax K-x White and that I get to use it once again without issues. I was informed about 4 weeks of service time and I will send the camera out on August 31, 2010 and I hope my loyal readers cheer me up while my beloved Pentax K-x White is in service.


Update:

• 8/21/2010 -- broken at 9 months of beautiful service
  
• 8/31/2010 -- shipped out to CRIS with USPS priority
  
• 9/2/2010 -- arrival in CRIS
• 9/8/2010 -- parts back ordered from Japan
• 10/1/2010 -- parts arrived in CRIS, repair started
  
• ETA unknown in each call
• 10/11/2010 -- repaired camera arrived at my home from CRIS
  

Related:

• Goodbye to Pentax K-x White
• Pentax Customer Service
  
• Pentax K-x White Arrival
• Pentax K-x White and smudges
  
• Pentax K20D
• Why I love Pentax
• Licking One's Lens! What? Really!
• Alexa and Mozilla Rank of TechTheMan
  
• Hin's Camera Gear
  

I finally find the time to test my copy of Vivitar 100mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro on K-x. First some product shots on the lens mounted on k-x. The lens goes well in style and offers superb manual focusing for macro shooting.



It feel great in buying this lens back after I sold a similar lens with Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Dental Macro. I was wrong about the Lester A Dine in the past regarding bad 1:1 pictures. All bad pictures with exception on purple fringing/CA are my faults in not using it correctly when focus distance is past the 1:2 margin. I simply can't hand-hold shot beyond 1:2. The DOF is literally razor thin when I am in between 1:2 to 1:1 in focus distance and it is beyond my ability in hand-holding. No matter how hard I try, it ain't working for me in hand-holding.


Some flower close up test shots mostly in 1:2 to 1:3 distance wise when I could still manage to hand hold. Beyond the 1:2 marking, I would have liked the help with several aids:

• A macro flash ring light to open up the DOF while keeping the shutter not too low
• A mono-pod to try out
  
• A tripod that can collapse lower to the floor
• Some railing support that can be used with the tripod
  
• Some means to keep the flowers still from the wind
  

I am happy to rectify my past LBA remorse into selling too soon. At the moment, I don't want to visit my rational (the evil) part of my LBA mind as I do have overlap with Sigma 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Ex DG Macro


Related:

• Berkeley Botanical Garden with Vivitar 100mm f/2.8 Macro
• Vivitar 100mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro by Kiron Purchase
• Missing My Lens With Color
• Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 Macro Ring Light Flash
  
• Difficulty in 1:1 macro with Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Dental Macro
• Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Dental Macro purchase
• Pentax A 50mm f/2.8 1:2 Macro -- a regretted lens to sell
  
• Pentax K 100mm f/4.0 1:2 Macro -- a regretted lens to sell
• Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG 1:1 Macro
• Tamron 90mm f/2.8 1:1 non-Di Macro
• 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 have been trying out different M42 lens on my Pentax K-x. Results in the final images are good but I find that K-x does have some minor glitches with M42 lens when compared to Pentax K20D.

• I can't use Av mode on M42 lens like K20D. I found myself under-expose by a big factor as in 2 to 3 stops. I have not found if the difference is consistent so that a simple +Ev compensation will make K-x work with M42 lens in Av mode.
  
• For consistent metering, I have to use M mode together with either green button or (+/-) button for metering. I prefer the use of (+/-) button as K-x's green button location is awkward to access in the field. The (+/-) button is more natural for me to use.
  
• Ev compensation is omitted in K-x. This is unlike K20D which allow Ev compensation even in manual mode. I get spoiled with Ev compensation so that I can set a preset compensation adjustment for consistency with an M42 lens.
• I do miss the red focal point overlay for focus reference
• It is difficult to see bottom of viewfinder especially in bright daylight setting. The green hexagon is not bright enough to view in K-x. I rely mostly on the beep which is unsettling in the shooting.
  

Results are quite good when I tried my Pentax K-x with Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 from Kiron in M42 mount. In some of the close up, I used the Cosina 1:1 matched macro adapter which works like diopter with +3 to +4 magnification.












Impressions & Notes

• The Kiron zoom lens is great in terms of sharpness. It is not too big and works well in K-x.
  
• The close up works in the 70mm end and I think it is about 1:4 in magnification. With the diopter, it is roughly around 1:3
• The catch-in focus is absent like many M42 lens.
  
• Metering is center weighted and I have not tried the trick with aluminum foil to see if matrix metering and catch-in focus can be resumed in this m42 zoom on K-x
• As mentioned, I used M mode and green or (+/-) button for metering.
  

Related

• Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 from Kiron
• Pentax Genuine M42 to K Adapter
  
• Kiron 2x matched multiplier
• Cosina 1:1 matched macro adapter
• Pentax K-x White Arrival
• Hin's Camera Gear

I am so glad to get a copy of this flash from my good friend SOldBear. He sold me his flash with both wide and tele-adapters, which usually sold separately. And my friend gave me a wonderful discount. I normally see this in $40 to $70 range. To me, it is well worth the money. It can't replace the more powerful PTTL as in the Pentax AF540. But one thing is for sure, its recycle time is much faster in this flash and it is easier to handle.

I am still learning to take flash pictures. With the AF280T, I mainly use it in close distance as in 5 to 10 feet and I use the auto flash setting and exposure seem decent and it works quite reliable on K-x.




The flash has both adjustment for swivel and bounce features. In terms of metering mode, so far I have only tried the Auto mode and rely on the flash internal sensor. Unfortunately, the flash does have one drawback in its simple design as it only has two settings as in the Auto Green and Auto Red settings where the green setting goes for less power and the red setting goes for higher power. It would have been better if it has power strength setting to adjust from to 1/16 to full power or the like.


I am yet to explore more with the flash. It seems a good low budget auto flash to go with the AF540 flash as a secondary flash.


Notes:

• Pentax Flashes online PDF menu from butkus.org
• In indoor setting, I mostly set ISO to be fixed in 200, 400 and 800
• In Av mode, I estimate the focal distance
• I check against the back panel, adjust ASA to be the same, and examine the distance range in the Green Auto and Red Auto mode.
  
• I dial in the aperture suggested in the scale for starter
  
• In bounce position, I usually have to adjust with trial and error on aperture counting about 2-3 stops in loss of lighting in bouncing instead of straight on flash.
  

Related:

• Pentax AF540
• Sunpak auto 422D
• Spectra Light Diffuser
• Lazy Eyes with Pentax AF540 PTTL flash
  
• Hin's Camera Gear

I was having a bad day in photos as I have mounted a Tamron 75-250mm f/3.8-4.5 adaptall-2 (104a), a cheapo zoom, and I naively mounted the Tamron 2x TC adaptall-2 (01f) on it while hiking in the weekend. The combo is an absolute DOG in shooting birds due to slow speed, lost of light with little contrast, and CA is apparent everywhere.

I was supposed to try out the 2x cheapo 150-500mm zoom on birds and all birds were not close enough but rather way out in the sea. And the sunset with low clouds lured me to try sky shots instead. But the rig at hand was not matching for landscape shots. I should have dismounted the TC to shoot at 75mm to 135mm with the zoom. A big mistakes on my part as the scene is much more dramatic than I shot at. In some of the shooting, I changed to BW with Infrared filter in Pentax K-x to hide the CA/PF.

I noted the sunset with spectacular sun rays streaming through the low clouds in the stormy weekend weather. In keeping pace with my family, I only managed to take few shots and not having time for the proper setup. I shot all in the shortest focal length in 150mm.










Sometime, life presents me those precious moments that I am not prepared for. In hindsight, I should have brought in another lens and TC back home.


Notes

• The zoom lens does fine to outstanding without TC. With the Tamron 01F 2x TC mounted, it is quite poor in CA/purple fringing especially in the long end.
  
• The combo is pretty much hand-holdable but very difficult to get focus on moving objects. I changed from AF-A to AF-C to by-pass the catch-in focus and it is still difficult to handle as I can't have quickness and precision at the same time.
  
• Contrast is poor in the combo, maybe something wrong with the 2x TC.
  
• I should have tried Pentax-F 1.7x TC at another time

Related:

• Tamron 75-250mm f/3.8-4.5 adaptall-2 (104A) and K-x
• Pentax K-x White
• Tamron 2x TC adaptall-2 (01F)
• Purple Fringing Keeps Coming (mostly Tamron)
• Hin's Camera Gear
  

Though all the reported problems with SDM failures, my most favorite zoom from Pentax to this date is Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8. It is a dependable zoom with prime qualities. Though slower in speed, it rivals well in event photography with my Pentax FA 77mm f/1.8. I truly hope that my copy stays strong and not run into any SDM failures.

I took it out last weekend after the rain and the zoom works well with Pentax K-x and AF in SDM is quiet and locks on target responsively. I desire on longer reach for the zoom in nature walk as 135mm is just too short in reaching objects in a distance.









Related:

• Pentax K-x White arrival
• Pentax K-x Monochrome and Infrared Filter
  
• Pentax K-x White In Disneyland
• Pentax K-x High ISO Habit
• Pentax K-x White with DA limited
• Compare Pentax FA 77mm f/1.8 limited and Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8
  
• Hin's Camear Gear

I want to share the user settings that I have been using and update this post when I find something new with my Pentax K-x. Many of my setting are actually the default settings in JPG with exception on sharpness adjustment and WB.




Summary of my settings:

• use extended iso range from 100 to 12800, adjust iso range subject to scene
• Auto ISO range in 100 to 400 in daytime outdoor setting. Use fix lower ISO in 200 when image quality and grain is important.
• For indoor setting, I use auto-iso from 100-1600 for not-so-poor lighting and 100-3200 for darker environment. I used fixed iso for situations that I know I can have a comfortable speed not slower than 1/60 or 1/30 seconds.
• For extremely dark environment, I use fixed iso in 3200, 5000, 6400, 8000 and 12800. I pay extreme attention to shutter speed in dark environment. When bracing is possible with lamp post, a rail, or knelt down position, I attempt the lowest iso for at least 1/15 second. And I will up iso for non-bracing shot so that shutter speed is at least 1/30 sec. It is all subject to shooting conditions.
• default NR in medium, default NR starts at iso 800 and above
  
• bright image mode
• Mostly AWB. Adjust as needed especially in indoor shooting
• Default Matrix Metering
  
• customized Ev to 1/3 instead of 1/2, default is already taking 1/3 Ev increments
  
• customized ISO to go with Ev increments
  
• center focal point in AF-A
• sharpness adjusted from +1 to +2 and toggle between Fine sharpness and the default -- still experimenting. Use Fine sharpness for daytime shooting and change to regular sharpness setting for indoor and dim setting to avoid noise if desired.
  
• Program mode for most cases and adjust Av as needed
• Use Tv mode for action or when movement is involved
  
• Enabled catch-in focus for AF lenses and disable for MF lenses when the feature gets in the way
• First choice of lens for video is DA with quick shift focus. The next choice is fast MF lenses to avoid noise and better flexibility.
  

Few observations to share:

• K-x has more tendency in over-exposure than my K20D
• Occasional hiccup in locking up once a video clip is displayed. This may have to do with my SD card. When that happens, I need to take out battery in order to turn off the camera
• Unreliable AWB in indoor tungsten and fluorescent lighting, preset tungsten WB> helps a bit but AWB seems way warmer than the actual scene. I should have shot in RAW and adjust in post processing.
  
• I can't see the Viewfinder clearly in cloudy outdoor and dark indoor scenes. This may be due to my use of bi-focal glass
• Image a bit soft in default setting, hence I turn up the default +1 sharpness to +2 sharpness and I am trying between Fine Sharpness vs the default sharpness
• In general, I prefer my K20D body over K-x when I am shooting manual focus lenses
• The LCD resolution can't tell a blur picture from a sharp picture.

Related:

• Pentax K-x White arrival
• Pentax K-x White HD Test Videos
  
• Pentax K-x White In Disneyland
• Pentax K-x High ISO Habit
• Pentax K-x White with DA limited
  
• Hin's Camear Gear