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Kx preview on DPR and IR

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tkbslc said:
IR says "it is hampered inexplicably by the lack of an AF-point overlay in the optical viewfinder"
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And for Richard Butler to make this specific point so prominently in the preview seals it as far as I'm concerned. The other deal breaker is the lack of AF micro-adjustment.

So, three years on, I'm still looking for a worthy replacement for my 6MP cams. At least my K100D has an (admittedly undocumented) AF adjust facility.

--
Mike
http://flickr.com/rc-soar
 
jackbw said:
The AF confirmation part is where it could potentially pose a problem if you forget where you set it.
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Sure, but composing is normally done in the viewfinder, not the LCD. How do you know where to place the subject in the viewfinder? Is there some kind of (unilluminated) graticule to aid placement when using off-centre focus points? Or do you just have to guess?

Perhaps a K-m user might explain how this all works in practice - or whether it's so broken as to be unusable.

--
Mike
http://flickr.com/rc-soar
 
eclipsevv said:
tkbslc said:
That sounds like it doesn't even show where the AF point are.
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From the brief hands-on: "although you can now at least select the active AF-point, it's still not displayed in the viewfinder."; so it probably seems you have to select the focus point looking at the rear LCD?

I really cannot understand this choice: every entry level DSLR has AF-point indication in viewfinder. This basically means the 11-point AF system is basically useless!!
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Yep, that is a dealkiller for me, especially with 11 AF points and the capability to select them. If I don't get a confirmation in the viewfinder, I'm going to forget which one I selected at times. I used the selectable points on my K200D a lot during my trip to the Outer Banks last week, especially while the camera was on a tripod. It was good to have the feature and even better to have the confirmation IN the viewfinder.

Also, no cable release? No weather sealing? Come on. No thanks, I'll pass and don't think I'm going to pony up the cash for a K7 in this economy, not while the K200D is serving me so well.
*************************
Tom in Delaware
Photoblog: http://homepage.mac.com/galoot_9/blog/momentary.html
 
Inherited lots of functions of the K-7, but smaller and AA-batteries. If the build is of the same quality as my DS it will survive bad weather even without sealing so I'm not very concerned about that. Also I've never used anything else than the centre-focusing point on my DS so this is no problem for me.
--
Menno
 
Model Mike said:
jackbw said:
The AF confirmation part is where it could potentially pose a problem if you forget where you set it.
Click to expand...
Sure, but composing is normally done in the viewfinder, not the LCD. How do you know where to place the subject in the viewfinder? Is there some kind of (unilluminated) graticule to aid placement when using off-centre focus points? Or do you just have to guess?
Click to expand...
I'm assuming they would have some markings on the focus screen to act as a guide. Otherwise it would be very inconvenient for composing, and very un-Pentax. The K-m had 5 of those, so I think we can expect something similar but with 11 points.

 
Ah thanks. Makes it all the more inconceivable that Pentax didn't make the grid active.

Mike
 
lol101 said:
Oh, I thought the K-x was the K200 "replacement" just as the K-7 was the K20 "replacement".

Still, where has the "small, rugged outdoor oriented cameras" strategy gone? I thought that was a very smart positioning from Pentax and I am puzzled that they didn't follow through with the K-x.
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Well, the K-x is based on the same body design as the K-m, which isn't weather-resistant either. To add weather sealing to this body would require a lot of re-engineering and probably didn't fit in with their time/cost plan for the K-x release.

To many this would appear to be an apparent step back from their nature/outdoors strategy given how much they pushed the weather and cold-resistant abilities of the K-7, as well as the weather-sealed kit lenses that were introduced along with it. But considering the financial environment we have seen in this past year, as well as the uncertainties that Hoya management had regarding where to take Pentax, I don't think we could expect them to introduce a new line of weather-sealed bodies in this time. So given this, I think the fact that the K-x is not weather-sealed is understandable, though obviously it's not desireable nor ideal.

That said, the K-x is a very pleasant surprise to me, and I suspect it's taken more than a few others by surprise too. Could this be the "make it or break it" for Pentax? Anyways, its success will bode well for Pentax (and us) for the next few years, and hopefully we'll see a more complete line of weather-sealed bodies and lenses in the near future.
 
nothsafoto said:
That logic is interesting when you look at the new Canon 7D.....18MP in a 1.6x crop body so the next 1DS will have 29MP or so???????
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Your logic is interesting too... ;)

18MP 1.6 crop, would -- if anything -- imply a future 1Ds with ~46MP.

--
Take care,
Jorgen

Probere necesse est.....
 
Model Mike said:
Ah thanks. Makes it all the more inconceivable that Pentax didn't make the grid active.

Mike
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That's true. The VF overlay is a hardware part but it probably wouldn't have cost much to justify sacrificing some user convenience. The IR reviewer said it threatens to color the tone of his review, so it has already proven to be a bad marketing move. I can imagine myself having no problem with it in actual use, but also feel sad at the potential for lost sales (if it does become a deal-breaker for some).
 
eclipsevv said:
From the brief hands-on: "although you can now at least select the active AF-point, it's still not displayed in the viewfinder."; so it probably seems you have to select the focus point looking at the rear LCD?

I really cannot understand this choice: every entry level DSLR has AF-point indication in viewfinder. This basically means the 11-point AF system is basically useless!!
Click to expand...
Maybe, and I'm just saying MAYBE , the target market is P&S owners who basically use the LCD all the time, anyway?

But I agree, I can't imagine why Pentax would have left this out, especially since all of the competing models have this.

But still, for that price....

Well, I was already being patient, waiting for the K-7 reviews, and for the K-7 price to drop. Maybe I'll just wait a bit longer for the K-x reviews.

I do really, REALLY like the ISO 6400, and even ISO 12800. And that 55-300 seems pretty nice, too.

--Greg
 
tkbslc said:
$850 for a dual lens kit with the awesome 55-300, 720p, 11 AF points, 5fps, in camera HDR and they they go and kill it with a stupid cost saving measure.....

I was all ready to put in my pre-order and trade in my Canon Rebel XS until I read about the lack of AF point indicators. MAJOR deal breaker. How can you ever use fast glass in this camera without knowing where the lens has focused. It would have to be center point only or full auto point selection and pray it picked the right one.

I think Pentax just limited this camera to the P&S crowd.
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Add a pentaprism and AF confirmation, charge me an extra $150 and I'll be happy...

Sad that one can pick any colour one wants but they don't extend the customisation to 'usability' features such as this....
 
Look forward to sample pics, seems like another winner. I will seriously consider the K-x if I do not already have a Nikon.
 
i think pentax left out the AF on VF for a reason.

Well let's wait for sample pics and more info.
 
j4jamal said:
i think pentax left out the AF on VF for a reason.

Well let's wait for sample pics and more info.
Click to expand...
What reason would that be? Thats a backwards step from a DS (which came out 6 years ago!)

I'm interested in knowing who makes the sensor? Is it Samsung or Sony?
 
*isteve said:
eclipsevv said:
tkbslc said:
That sounds like it doesn't even show where the AF point are.
Click to expand...
From the brief hands-on: "although you can now at least select the active AF-point, it's still not displayed in the viewfinder."; so it probably seems you have to select the focus point looking at the rear LCD?

I really cannot understand this choice: every entry level DSLR has AF-point indication in viewfinder. This basically means the 11-point AF system is basically useless!!
Click to expand...
Sure looks that way.
--
Steve

Any fool can take a picture OF something. Its much harder to take a picture ABOUT something.
Click to expand...
Pentax has a way to shoot it self in the foot,what would it take reallly to add the focus point indication feature ?

The camera is fine in other areas,and i bet the high ISO performance will,dust the K7.
Is this the new Xmore Sony sensor ?
 
[edit] I actually missed similar replies above, sorry.

is this "Though the camera includes Pentax's 11-point SAFOX VIII AF system, it is hampered inexplicably by the lack of an AF-point overlay in the optical viewfinder, which means there's no visual confirmation of which points are in focus."

I still use my classic DL, but having visual confirmation would be a very handy. After using the K200D for 8 months that feature was very useful and I kind of regret selling a very nice camera.

Anyhow, the K-x is probably going to assist my DL and I can't wait to check one out.
--
Irek J.
 
Yes, it kind of made me mad too. I think we have to try it out first and then comment on it, maybe it's not that bad in practice. Saying that, I used my DL for 4 years without any complaints, and nothing more but great shots.
--
Irek J.
 
Do you guys think it's too late to add the confirmation dots in? I'm not asking for much, but I sure hope Pentax can add it...please :)
--
Irek J.
 
I think so too, a model between the K-x and K-7, and slightly bigger with AF confirmation and maybe weather sealing. Of course, that's just a big guess on my part and just having fun :)
--
Irek J.
 
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