awps7k
Leading Member
Next dumb question....are there any forum members who are using the *istD on a regular professional basis??
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Pro Use
- Thread starter awps7k
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Well that answer my question, it is very easy to obtain new user ID's here.
rack offsky troll
rack offsky troll
Dan Pidcock
Senior Member
huh? awps7k has been a user for some time.
Wally, I don't know why you are so quick to call every new poster a troll. It seems very insecure. What is so trollish about the post? Reads like a simple question to me.
And if you look at their posting history you will see they are considering between E1, S2Pro, *istD. From the replies to that the *istD is not well known by many pros.
Sophie Wilson
Senior Member
Not me. Why am I replying - so you get a better opinion of the forum!
I bought the *ist D to do available light shots. I've done a wedding like this, for which I got paid. I've done a professional stage production (The Two Gentlemen of Verona at the Cambridge Arts Theatre) for which I got paid expenses only - I successfully got pictures from that production into the Cambridge Evening News (including a full page one). And I've done semi-pro and amateur productions (Pride and Prejudice at the Cambridge ADC and three Bottisham Players productions) for which I only got the margin on providing prints to the cast and crew.
So I need a proper job to pay for the camera. And although the work is regular (next Bottisham Players production is in October), its not exactly frequent, which I guess was your intent!
Still adds up to 16,500 pictures taken with it.
--Sophie
(was that any help at all?)
Cpt Galant
Senior Member
I'm not sure if this qualifies, but...
I produce marketing materials, such as postcards and the like; mostly for the real estate industry. Most of the postcards we produce have a pre-designed/pre-printed front. Often that means photos. I've used my Ist D to produce a number of these photos and the cards have sold very well. I suppose that since I used the camera to produce images for sale, and they have been purchased by customers, it may qualify as a professional application.
I've made some large prints (up to 24 inches) and have found the results breathtaking. The main difference between the Pentax and other "pro" cameras isn't image quality but mostly the various camera features. Sports or action shooters would not find the auto focus or frame rate fast enough in most cases, for instance. If you're not trying to shoot action, or are not trying to take photos in a blowing rainstorm, then it would be hard to fault the Pentax, even for pro use.
I produce marketing materials, such as postcards and the like; mostly for the real estate industry. Most of the postcards we produce have a pre-designed/pre-printed front. Often that means photos. I've used my Ist D to produce a number of these photos and the cards have sold very well. I suppose that since I used the camera to produce images for sale, and they have been purchased by customers, it may qualify as a professional application.
I've made some large prints (up to 24 inches) and have found the results breathtaking. The main difference between the Pentax and other "pro" cameras isn't image quality but mostly the various camera features. Sports or action shooters would not find the auto focus or frame rate fast enough in most cases, for instance. If you're not trying to shoot action, or are not trying to take photos in a blowing rainstorm, then it would be hard to fault the Pentax, even for pro use.
I use two Ist D bodies and shoot alot of weddings. I love everthing about my cameras. Having said that, though, I also shoot for the Las Vegas Motor speedway and have found the pentax focusing system to be too slow. I have read alot of posts praising the ist d's and have read just as many complaints and comparisons. Truth is, I dont think anybody could tell the difference between and image from a Canon, Nikon Fuji or Pentax when properly shot and post produced, however the two complaints I have about the Pentax are lack of USM motors and fast smooth autofocus, and the inability to find a compatible, proffessioanal flash system that recognizes pentax's P-ttl. Quantum is working on a Pttl cable that should solve those problems but it is not available yet.
As ridiculous as it may sound, with the coming of the new 20D which I view as a slight improvement on the 10D, I will be carrying two systems.
Because the ergonomics, great glass, bright viewfinder (which all the other photographers who have never heard of my ISt D seem to rave about when they look through it) and especially the color rendition. I will use the 10D ( yes not the 20D) to capture sports and wedding receptions, (low light focus, and speed of focus as well as the 580EX flash).
I will then wait, and hope that Pentax's next pro level camera (if they continue producing pro bodies, knock on wood) will address the issue of focus speed and USM motors.
My two cents worth
As ridiculous as it may sound, with the coming of the new 20D which I view as a slight improvement on the 10D, I will be carrying two systems.
Because the ergonomics, great glass, bright viewfinder (which all the other photographers who have never heard of my ISt D seem to rave about when they look through it) and especially the color rendition. I will use the 10D ( yes not the 20D) to capture sports and wedding receptions, (low light focus, and speed of focus as well as the 580EX flash).
I will then wait, and hope that Pentax's next pro level camera (if they continue producing pro bodies, knock on wood) will address the issue of focus speed and USM motors.
My two cents worth
Are you using the istD in a studio setting with lighting? I am trying to set up sytem but everyone says not to use light cord from flash as istD isn't set up that way. I currently use old K100 and lighting system but want to get where I'm doing digital inside as well as outdoor shots. Haven't quite figured it out yet. Do mostly high school seniors and family groups with istD right now.
Sophie Wilson
Senior Member
I don't use flash for most of the work I do, especially the theatre work, which renders that problem moot.
The auto-focus speed is terrifically lens dependent. In general, optically faster lenses have slower AF than optically slower ones and wideangles are faster than teles. However, some seem to break the mould: the Tamron 28-300 XR is horrendously slow (slower than longer and optically slower lenses such as the Sigma 135-400), the Sigma 18-50 DC astonishingly fast with no hunting at all. The lenses I use for stage work turn out to be fairly fast (FA 50 f1.4, FA 35 f2, Tamron 28-75 XR Di, Tamron SP 90 1:1 Macro) at AF (though not as fast as the Sigma 18-50 DC). In general, for stage work, I have no problems with the AF - but I do know what's going to happen next!
--Sophie
Yes, I use the IST D in studio many times and have no problem with using lights and synch cords. I use Visatecs as well as some old norman packs and I feel you should have no problems. I love the look of the IST D images and colors with people. Reminds me of Fuji Reala, which I love even though it is not a "pro film".
The problems you mention about not using light cords, I think are related to voltage issues and compatibility with the camera pc connections and as far as I know, only canon has an issue. I have never had a problem but if you want to be safe, Wein makes a safe sync adapter that will help control any possible voltage back lash. (tech term
).Bettina
Well-known member
Well, that's what we had in London yesterday... I know, it's not perfect but I had to try out my new 43mm... Just started to rain again!!!
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Bettina
http://www.vibrantpictures.co.uk
I agree on all accounts Sophie and the need for fast autofocus, smooth tracking, and low light acquisitions is not always necessary. I am pretty good at shooting the cars with my IST D and a Sigma 70-200 2.8 EX using the tried and true methods of prefocusing and panning. I also use this lens when shooting weddings and receptions. I have found the 50 1.4 to be very useful in low light reception situations but it doesnt have the reach I like for candids.
But the Canon 10D, with either the Sigma 70-200 EX "HSM" or the Canon 70-200 2.8 USM focuses focuses so fast and tracks so smoothly, its hard to beat.
Two weeks ago I was going to switch completely over to Canon. But I just cant do it. There is still some good left in me. So I will only consider the canon as a neccessary tool (evil) and I will use my beloved IST D's for everything else.
Come on Pentax, I only hope that next year we'll see a pro body with a full frame sensor, 12megapixels, and the ability to at least use Sigmas HSM system.
Phil_Rose
Senior Member
I am though not as regular as I'd like. There's really not a whole lot of work available in this area and particularly in this economy (thanks, George, ya moron!) and I've only had the thing for a month or so but I certainly would hope to and once I have all the oddities ironed out I think it will be an excellent tool for the job.
Phil
Phil
Phil_Rose
Senior Member
Not to be rude but I read posts like this all the time and I have only one comment. Where are you getting your money!!! You the Sultan of Brunei or something?!!!
Just kidding though I must say some people have all the luck (de doom de doom)
Phil
Just kidding though I must say some people have all the luck (de doom de doom)
Phil
Canon AF is sure hard to beat. I tried a friend's EOS1something and was blown away by how fast and quietly the AF moved. I've only ever shot Pentax AF, and in comparison it's loud and slow.
I took the istD to my first wedding last week (worked pretty well, though I was nervous about exposure), and will likely be using it increasingly at wedding work. Couple of things I found myself wishing for with the istD:
I took the istD to my first wedding last week (worked pretty well, though I was nervous about exposure), and will likely be using it increasingly at wedding work. Couple of things I found myself wishing for with the istD:
- immediate histogram and highlight clipping warning;
- ISO displayed, and ISO/WB as separate controls (not on the dial)
- friendlier arrowpad
awps7k
Leading Member
Hey there Sophie,
SOunds like you are doing quite a lot of work and the *istD is coping OK.Thanks for taking the time to reply, it does help.
Andrew
SOunds like you are doing quite a lot of work and the *istD is coping OK.Thanks for taking the time to reply, it does help.
Andrew
awps7k
Leading Member
It's mainly weddings I'm concerned with and some heritage/archtectural work so that sound good. Have you tried the Nissin 6000AF hammerhead flash. It goes fine on all my Pentax's and my S7000.
Eric J Wordal186626
New member
I am a working professional for over 25 years now and this is my 1st season using the 1stD exclusively. I mostly do portraits but occasionally I still do some commercial work. I have used mostly Pentax stuff for most of my career. The other day I had a group of 25 people in my studio for a family portrait. I was nervous about quality so I shot both the 1stD and also the 645N. The quality was vitually the same, you couldn't tell one from the other. It was the 1st roll of film I have done in 4 years. I started with an Oly E-20 for 2 seasons then switched to 1stD. Iam hoping Pentax steps up with some bigger sensors soon too. Eric
Bruce Dayton
Well-known member
I shoot weddings and portraits with my *istD's. Previously I was shooting Pentax 67II's. See my site:
http://www.daytonphoto.com
For daylight flash fill I am using the AF360FGZ's on bracket with cord due to the high speed synch capabillity. It works well enough. For lower light work I am using the Pentax AF400T potato mashers that I was using on my 67's. Set to TTL, *istD set to ISO 400 and about -2 exposure comp. Works pretty well. Just fire a couple of test shots and check histogram to get the exposure where I want it. TTL seems to do pretty well after that.
HTH,
Bruce
http://www.daytonphoto.com
For daylight flash fill I am using the AF360FGZ's on bracket with cord due to the high speed synch capabillity. It works well enough. For lower light work I am using the Pentax AF400T potato mashers that I was using on my 67's. Set to TTL, *istD set to ISO 400 and about -2 exposure comp. Works pretty well. Just fire a couple of test shots and check histogram to get the exposure where I want it. TTL seems to do pretty well after that.
HTH,
Bruce
Torphoto
Leading Member
I'm only a semi pro and most of the use for my *istD is for event coverage and model portfolios. The real serious work at the studio I work with is medium and large format, a digital back soon. They use alot of D100's for weddings, events and lower end fashion work so for me it's a bonus to show up with the *istd which is smaller, lighter, lower noise.
http://www.torphoto.net
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http://www.torphoto.net
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