Pentaxian needs advice

CBlais · Mar 13, 2011

Hi, first of all, sorry for my English, I'm only French.

Im a frustrated Pentaxian because I'm not at all happy with my K7 colours ; I love punchy colours out of the camera and I don't want to spend hours shooting raw & post-processing (I know I'm wrong...) Before my K7, I did some wandering between brands and this is the first time I am unhappy with a camera : Oly E-10, E-20 (Great cameras!), Konica A2, Sony DSCR-1 (Oh, why did I sell it?) and my K7 (Wanted to use my old manual lenses)

I did some pixel-peeping on dpreview and compared colours with the studio scene comparison shot ; although the E-620 is not available, the Oly colours just suit me fine & the Pentax colours are dull, dark...

So, I come to my point. The E5 being too much $ for me, what Oly DSLR would you consider? The E-620 is cheap with 2 kit lenses (but 2 years old and might be replaced if Olympus does not drop the 4-3rd DSLRs), the E-30?
I really need some help to make up my mind. Thanks.

Art_P · Mar 13, 2011

JimDoe said:
Hi, first of all, sorry for my English, I'm only French.
Im a frustrated Pentaxian because I'm not at all happy with my K7 colours ;

Have you tried adjusting the in camera settings? I'm not familiar w the K7, but there should be a way to punch up the colors a little.

CBlais said:
So, I come to my point. The E5 being too much $ for me, what Oly DSLR would you consider? The E-620 is cheap with 2 kit lenses (but 2 years old and might be replaced if Olympus does not drop the 4-3rd DSLRs),

Well, look at it this way, it's cheap, so no great loss if something better comes out.

CBlais said:
the E-30?

Well, do you prefer the compact body of the 620, or one w more grip (and likely a longer shutter life)

CBlais said:
I really need some help to make up my mind. Thanks.

Oh, did you know you could mount your old Pentax (manual focus) lenses on E system cameras (w an adapter, of course)
--
Art P
"I am a creature of contrast,
of light and shadow.
I live where the two play together,
I thrive on the conflict"

Marty4650 · Mar 13, 2011

...but the only Olympus DSLR newer is the E5.

To get something from Olympus newer you must either buy an E5 or get an EPL1 or EPL2.

This is the sad state of affairs we are in today. We love the colors and the lenses, and the build quality, but the only new DSLR available today is the $1700 E5. And even that camera uses a (tweaked) two year old sensor.

Incidentally, M4/3 cameras can also mount your Pentax lenses if you get an adapter. But they will not function in full auto, since there are no electronic connections.

I suggest you give your K7 another chance. Perhaps you could adjust the settings to get better OOC colors?

Alternatively, you might just want to add an EPL1 or a XZ-1 to your camera bag?

If you do decide to get an E620, you won't be sorry. It really is a nice camera, despite it's slightly aging technology.
--
Marty
http://www.fluidr.com/photos/marty4650/sets/72157606210120132
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marty4650/sets/72157606210120132/show/
my blog: http://marty4650.blogspot.com/
Olympus E-30
Olympus E-P1

Jolly Oly · Mar 13, 2011

You just cant go wrong with E-620. I have both 620 and E30 and I can assure you the output is exactly the same.

As I have small to medium size lenses only (14-54, 25 pancake, 25 PL, 50 macro, 70-300) I am totally happy with the smaller 620 and will sell the 30.

If you can catch the 620 for around $500 go for it.

--
cheers
JO

http://kresimir.smugmug.com

papillon_65 · Mar 13, 2011

JimDoe said:
Hi, first of all, sorry for my English, I'm only French.

Im a frustrated Pentaxian because I'm not at all happy with my K7 colours ; I love punchy colours out of the camera and I don't want to spend hours shooting raw & post-processing (I know I'm wrong...) Before my K7, I did some wandering between brands and this is the first time I am unhappy with a camera : Oly E-10, E-20 (Great cameras!), Konica A2, Sony DSCR-1 (Oh, why did I sell it?) and my K7 (Wanted to use my old manual lenses)

I did some pixel-peeping on dpreview and compared colours with the studio scene comparison shot ; although the E-620 is not available, the Oly colours just suit me fine & the Pentax colours are dull, dark...

So, I come to my point. The E5 being too much $ for me, what Oly DSLR would you consider? The E-620 is cheap with 2 kit lenses (but 2 years old and might be replaced if Olympus does not drop the 4-3rd DSLRs), the E-30?
I really need some help to make up my mind. Thanks.

I think you would be well served by the E-620 and kit lenses. The kit lenses are excellent and may surprise you and the Oly colours are definitely there with this camera. Other cameras to consider are the EPL-1 or 2, the colours from these cameras are outstanding, as is the visible resolution and detail, but it depends on what you like to shoot and whether m4/3's would be too much of a compromise for you.

--
Tony
http://the-random-photographer.blogspot.com/

Uziel Gal · Mar 13, 2011

As has been stated, your K-7 has a number of preset colour palettes to choose from, some of which give punchier OOC JPEG results than the standard setting. These are accessed by pressing the right hand button on the 4-way control pad.

Beyond that, each preset can also then be fine tuned for a number of different parameters such as saturation, hue, contrast and sharpness.

I can't promise that you'll find the exact effect you want, but there is certainly a lot of scope to experiment with before giving up on the K-7.

MNDuck · Mar 13, 2011

Before you go to the expense of changing systems, I would suggest you check on the Pentax forum and get advice from some of the shooters there as to their methods for getting the pictures they desire.

My brother is a Pentax shooter and has gotten results that are stellar. His handle is sanmat. Check out his hummingbird photos and you will see some very punchy colors.

Here is his latest post:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=37955021

Personally, I love my E30 and my backup E500. They are perfectly suitable for my limited needs and will probably add an E5 when the price becomes more reasonable to me.

Kind Regards,

Joe

tinternaut · Mar 13, 2011

As much as I like the OOC JPEGs Olympus produces, I think the notion that raw is somehow hard is i) old and ii) outdated. With good presets to deal with your raw files in whatever PP package you use, raw should be as effortless as JPEG.

--
Regards
J

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jasonhindleuk
Blog: http://jasonhindle.wordpress.com

Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jason_hindle

Gear in profile

Digirame · Mar 13, 2011

I've been using the E-500 and E-510 cameras for about 3-1/2 years. The Olympus E-5 is too expensive for me also, so I bought some more E-500 and E-510 cameras used for less than $200 (USD) each (because I like them so much). If you can find a good used one with one or two lenses, you might start there and see how you like it. If the price is affordable, you could use a dual system, without having to sell your Pentax equipment. Then you could use whatever system best fits the situation.

I think most everyone recognizes that Pentax makes quality digital DSLR cameras; perhaps you could adjust your setting some so that the colors come out better. What suggestions do the people give you on the Pentax SLR Talk forum?

The Olympus E-500 that I have, is about 5 years old, and I can use it up to about ISO500 without showing too much noise. It doesn't have a lot of the latest new technology like the sensor-shift image stabilization, but a lot of people do like the colors from this Kodak sensor.

Here's some of my recent pictures with it, under rainy conditions. Even under dark gray skies, it does pretty good.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1008&message=37957269

I have to say that I do like the colors even from the E-510. Here's one example under gray skies again with one of the kit lenses. I live in the Portland, Oregon area, and we've been having a very gray winter this year. If you'd like to see some sunny summer pictures from these two cameras, please let me know. You might like the colors in sunshine even better.

Olympus E-510, Zuiko 40-150mm lens, ISO400, F8, 1/500, 94mm FL

520man · Mar 13, 2011

JimDoe said:
Hi, first of all, sorry for my English, I'm only French.

Your English is very good! The only real correction I would make: "first time I have been unhappy" instead of "first time I am unhappy."

CBlais said:
Im a frustrated Pentaxian because I'm not at all happy with my K7 colours ; I love punchy colours out of the camera and I don't want to spend hours shooting raw & post-processing (I know I'm wrong...)

I spend a minimum amount of time working with images. If you haven't already, you might try Picasa (free download from Google). It's very user-friendly. You don't have to shoot RAW...you can adjust your jpegs.

One great thing is that you can select an album of photos, "select all" and try "auto contrast" or "auto color" on all of them with just a few clicks and it takes maybe 2-3 minutes. BEST of all, though, is that it's non-destructive. If you don't like what it did, you can undo it. Non-destructive=it never destroys the original.

Here's a screen shot (j'ai changé le langage pour te montrer).

"J'ai de la chance" veut dire, "Je ne sais pas...montrez-moi vos idées." Picasa choisit, change, et on accepte ou refuse.

CBlais said:
Before my K7, I did some wandering between brands and this is the first time I am unhappy with a camera : Oly E-10, E-20 (Great cameras!), Konica A2, Sony DSCR-1 (Oh, why did I sell it?) and my K7 (Wanted to use my old manual lenses)

Of course you can use most old manual lenses with Olympus as well.

CBlais said:
I did some pixel-peeping on dpreview and compared colours with the studio scene comparison shot ; although the E-620 is not available, the Oly colours just suit me fine & the Pentax colours are dull, dark...

So, I come to my point. The E5 being too much $ for me, what Oly DSLR would you consider? The E-620 is cheap with 2 kit lenses (but 2 years old and might be replaced if Olympus does not drop the 4-3rd DSLRs), the E-30?
I really need some help to make up my mind. Thanks.

J'adore mon E30

. The E620 is supposed to be very good as well. Differences between them? The E30 has a pentaprism instead of a pentamirror---taking photos in low light, that's helpful. The E30 has an LCD display on top. The E30 is larger, has more of a grip for your hand. The E30 has a depth of field preview button. The E30 takes a larger battery, accepts a battery holder for CR123As. The E30 has a PC connection for flash...I don't think the E620 does. I'm not sure what the shutter ratings are; I've heard that the E30 has the same mechanism as the pro E3, so 150,000 clicks. I think (but may be wrong) that the E620 would be 50,000. DPR said that the E620 was better, but I think a large part of that came from the greater difference in price at the time they wrote it.

The E620 is much less expensive of course. If you can, hold them in a store and see which feels better and looks better through the viewfinder. Either way, the kit lenses are excellent.

Bonne chance!
--
Gear listed in profile under "plan."

Someone stop me before I buy again, please!
Dave

tex · Mar 13, 2011

--
tex_andrews

dingenus · Mar 13, 2011

http://cgi.ebay.de/OLYMPUS-E-30-SLR-DIGITALKAMERA-ZUIKO-DIGITAL-NEU-/330539891837?pt=DE_Elektronik_Computer_Foto_Camcorder_Digitalkameras_PM&hash=item4cf5b67c7d

NewOly520User · Mar 13, 2011

Hmm - I have been thought about the inverse many times - maybe the K-x

I have a E-520 & a E-P1 with std kit lenses. The Kit lenses are good as others point out but my main problem is in UK during winter, the days are mostly overcast or very dull. On these days - the shadow noise on both cameras can be annoying and DR can be challenge if you have to push/pull the pic and expose correctly.

But I agree with you that the colours OOC or RAw-> developed in Olympus viewer the colours are spot on (to my personal taste). the other factor is the compactness of the kit

How are the pentax kit lenses 18-55 / 55 -200 as a matter of interest. Why don't you try tweaking the colour parameters for a change or try RAW development if it gives a bit more altitude for colour. I suspect if you are in situations like overcast days, I have a feeling you will do RAW development in the case of olympus also - to adjust exposure - think about it a bit more - my 2 c

Vidya

CBlais · Mar 13, 2011

Uziel Gal said:
As has been stated, your K-7 has a number of preset colour palettes to choose from, some of which give punchier OOC JPEG results than the standard setting. These are accessed by pressing the right hand button on the 4-way control pad.

Beyond that, each preset can also then be fine tuned for a number of different parameters such as saturation, hue, contrast and sharpness.

I can't promise that you'll find the exact effect you want, but there is certainly a lot of scope to experiment with before giving up on the K-7.

Yes, I am aware of that and I have been fine tuning the b...thing so much I know the menus inside out. I have not started crying for help without trying hard first, believe me.

Raist3d · Mar 13, 2011

operation speed. Get the e-620 if you just want the Olympus color, save money.

Alternatively- if you re shooting JPEG on the K7- set it to slide film (I can't remember if the K7 has that or that's new in the K-5). Play with the contrast and set the white balance to daylight.

If you shoot RAW, play a bit with the raw converter and try to come up with a profile you like.

--

Raist3d/Ricardo (Photographer, software dev.)- "You are taking life too seriously if it bugs you in some way that a guy quotes himself in the .sig quote" - Ricardo

CBlais · Mar 13, 2011

MNDuck said:
Before you go to the expense of changing systems, I would suggest you check on the Pentax forum and get advice from some of the shooters there as to their methods for getting the pictures they desire.

I guess it is a matter of lenses too ; I have kept the kit lens.

MNDuck said:
My brother is a Pentax shooter and has gotten results that are stellar. His handle is sanmat. Check out his hummingbird photos and you will see some very punchy colors.

Here is his latest post:

Thanks for the link ; great pictures! I love that little fellow running on the water.

MNDuck said:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=37955021

Personally, I love my E30 and my backup E500. They are perfectly suitable for my limited needs and will probably add an E5 when the price becomes more reasonable to me.

Kind Regards,

Joe

CBlais · Mar 13, 2011

Raist3d said:
operation speed. Get the e-620 if you just want the Olympus color, save money.

Alternatively- if you re shooting JPEG on the K7- set it to slide film (I can't remember if the K7 has that or that's new in the K-5). Play with the contrast and set the white balance to daylight.

Yes, the K7 has the slide film setting since the last firmware upgrade. This is actually the setting I prefer.

This may not be the place to confess one's errors, but I sort of like ... Ken Rockwell's colours ... I feel better now that I confessed to the group.

Member said:
If you shoot RAW, play a bit with the raw converter and try to come up with a profile you like.

--

Raist3d/Ricardo (Photographer, software dev.)- "You are taking life too seriously if it bugs you in some way that a guy quotes himself in the .sig quote" - Ricardo

CBlais · Mar 13, 2011

NewOly520User said:
Hmm - I have been thought about the inverse many times - maybe the K-x

The K-x is a very nice camera, not weather-sealed of course, but better in low light than the K7. Its price should drop now that the K-r is out. Its major problem in my opinion is the lack of visible AF points in the viewfinder.

NewOly520User said:
I have a E-520 & a E-P1 with std kit lenses. The Kit lenses are good as others point out but my main problem is in UK during winter, the days are mostly overcast or very dull. On these days - the shadow noise on both cameras can be annoying and DR can be challenge if you have to push/pull the pic and expose correctly.

But I agree with you that the colours OOC or RAw-> developed in Olympus viewer the colours are spot on (to my personal taste). the other factor is the compactness of the kit

How are the pentax kit lenses 18-55 / 55 -200 as a matter of interest.

Avoid the kit 55-200 ; the 55-300 is much better (and still cheap) ; I don't rate the 18-55 very high. I would go for the Tamron 17-50 (non VC ; cheaper and better IQ). So the Pentax 55-300 and the Tamron 17-50 could be the perfect match for you. Break you piggy bank and get the rather inexpensive DA 35 2.4 and you're all set.

NewOly520User said:
Why don't you try tweaking the colour parameters for a change?

I have been doing this for months...

NewOly520User said:
Vidya

CBlais · Mar 13, 2011

CBlais said:
CBlais said:

How are the pentax kit lenses 18-55 / 55 -200 as a matter of interest.

Click to expand...

Avoid the kit 55-200 ; the 55-300 is much better (and still cheap) ; I don't rate the 18-55 very high. I would go for the Tamron 17-50 (non VC ; cheaper and better IQ). So the Pentax 55-300 and the Tamron 17-50 could be the perfect match for you. Break you piggy bank and get the rather inexpensive DA 35 2.4 and you're all set.

I forgot : get an old manual 50 mm for portraits, low light situations and fun (A 50mm f2 is incredibly cheap and an excellent lens ; go for K or M lenses if you wish to experiment the "green button magic" on a Pentax camera)

NewOly520User · Mar 13, 2011

CBlais said:
Avoid the kit 55-200 ; the 55-300 is much better (and still cheap) ; I don't rate the 18-55 very high. I would go for the Tamron 17-50 (non VC ; cheaper and better IQ). So the Pentax 55-300 and the Tamron 17-50 could be the perfect match for you. Break you piggy bank and get the rather inexpensive DA 35 2.4 and you're all set.

Very informative - Thanks Jim . The Tamron lenses are one more reason to consider Pentax, in 4/3 its a tricky time to invest £550 or £999 for a 14-54 or 12 - 60 given the flaky future of 4/3 . Although both oly lenses are rated very highly and are weather sealed as they are HG ( High Grade )

CBlais said:
I have been doing this for months...

OK - didn't realise this until I read some of your later posts. I guess this is one thing ( colour ) that you get used to with Olympus and my Brother in law who shoots pentax raves about the colour from my camera all the time too . I suspect if I can't get this in pentax easily ( don't mind RAW ) then its a bit of tough spot.

I am not sure about the Canon colours - but leaving that aside, guess the options are sony & nikon my personal feeling is nikon is very good but its a slitghtly different palette than olympus

Pentaxian needs advice

Well-known member

Forum Pro

Forum Pro

Leading Member

Forum Pro

Well-known member

Well-known member

Veteran Member

Forum Pro

Senior Member

Veteran Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Well-known member

Raist3d

Guest

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Senior Member

Keyboard shortcuts