Go Back   IceInSpace > Equipment > Equipment Discussions

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread
  #21  
Old 10-01-2012, 12:32 PM
Nico13's Avatar
Nico13 (Ken)
Galaxy Hunting

Nico13 is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Geelong region.
Posts: 944
Quote:
Originally Posted by zardos123 View Post
What about the story that K5 production has ceased?

I see I can buy the body for $911 from Hong Kong plus shipping.

Locally, the GPS Unit is $233 at one online place I have looked.

Tempting.

eric, pentax only have two dslr production lines one for k-r and one for the k-5.....so at the end of a line they produce product for the next six months ,then begin retooling for the next model they generally have an 18month product cycle expect the reports of a new model in the next month or two, hopefully ricoh having just bought pentax from hoya will maintain pentax's habit of making all new models backwards compatible, in fact there is likely to be a big improvement in the implementation of this software if there past behaviour is repeated. It will have to be a big improvment to make me upgrade from the k-5, after 5 or 6 dslr bodies this one ticks all the boxes and is a keeper, there is talk they will put the 24mp sony sensor in to replace the current 16mp if that is the only major change then i,ll stick with the k-5, 16mp is plenty for the stuff i do. there are rumours that they will release a firmware update after the new body to tweek the gps unit
regards brad
Yes I agree, Richo have allied themselves with Pentax lens mount in the past and I see no reason for things to go down hill for Pentax now it is owned by Richo. Things may actually pick up for the Brand.

Nico.
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 10-01-2012, 09:22 PM
peterl
Registered User

peterl is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: TINONEE . NSW
Posts: 242
Yes, Keep an eye on Pentax in 2012..
They may have some big surprises this year.They have been quietly sneaking up on other brands recently.
The K5 has some great specs, especially low noise up to 1600 to 3200iso as some have already found out..
My first try with the astrotrac function was at IISAC at Lostock.
It was when I got home and had a real look at some images,they just blew me away..This camera is rock solid and weather resistant which is good in dew conditions.
This image of Comet Lovejoy shot on 1600 iso.4.5 minutes.Pentax Lens 16-45mm F4. left open at F4 hence slight coma at edges.I could have closed down to reduce this but wanted a much light as possible to pick up comet detail.As Mike said earlier all sitting on a STATIC Manfrotto 190 tripod.Once you set up the fine calibration you can then take as many shots as you like.If you move and change location you need to recalibrate
again as Latitude and logitude has changed..

Peter.
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (LOVEJOY.jpg)
209.0 KB64 views
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 04-06-2014, 04:57 AM
erick's Avatar
erick (Eric)
Starcatcher

erick is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Gerringong
Posts: 8,532
Well it has taken some time to get around to it but I've finally ordered a K-5 IIs body. Not many new ones left around the world now but the price was a bargain! Next to find the cheapest GPS unit and I'll try a bit of static tripod tracking!
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 04-06-2014, 07:54 AM
gregbradley's Avatar
gregbradley
Registered User

gregbradley is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 17,877
That camera gets good reviews plus I think for a DSLR styled camera its very appealling especially in the silver version.

A tracking sensor unit is very clever and that sensor is the venerable Sony Exmor 16mp APSc sensor which is in many cameras including the Fuji X series. It can be good up to ISO6400 depending on the camera.

Greg.
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 04-06-2014, 08:06 AM
Poita (Peter)
Registered User

Poita is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: NSW Country
Posts: 3,586
I have the GPS unit, but no camera!

If you would like it, I'll sell it for $160 + post
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 06-06-2014, 05:53 AM
erick's Avatar
erick (Eric)
Starcatcher

erick is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Gerringong
Posts: 8,532
I'll be in touch Peter - thanks. I thought it had long gone when I saw you had it for sale earlier.
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 06-06-2014, 06:01 AM
erick's Avatar
erick (Eric)
Starcatcher

erick is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Gerringong
Posts: 8,532
Thanks Greg, I'm looking forward to learning how to use the K5. Glad to hear it is well regarded.
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 06-06-2014, 06:32 AM
cybereye's Avatar
cybereye (Mario)
Mozzies love me!

cybereye is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,277
This option is also available on the K30 which is, more or less, an entry level Pentax. I have a K30 but don't have the GPS unit... one day....

Cheers,
Mario
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 22-08-2014, 02:43 PM
erick's Avatar
erick (Eric)
Starcatcher

erick is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Gerringong
Posts: 8,532
I have the K5 (thanks Canadian Ebay shop) and the GPS unit (thanks Peter).

Tried last night under a beautiful sky in Gembrook and very happy with the "poor man's" astrotracking. Attached - with and without tracking (2 min 30 sec exposure). And a tracked Omega Centauri shot with the telephoto at around 200mm (1 min 30 sec exposure). What a clever setup for quick and easy skyscapes.

I need to use better lenses than the one I brought to Australia with me and some more experimentation with the GPS/astrotracker calibration, but a good start.

It was also great to get back out under southern skies - Omega Centauri, 47 Tuc, Wishing Well cluster, Jewel Box, Carina Nebula - I missed you all.
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (No tracking.jpg)
162.5 KB40 views
Click for full-size image (Tracking.jpg)
167.8 KB40 views
Click for full-size image (Omega Centauri.jpg)
25.2 KB52 views
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 24-08-2014, 06:49 PM
elfinke's Avatar
elfinke (Trev)
Registered User

elfinke is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: New England
Posts: 68
That third image is a ripper, Erick. What glass did you have attached at 200mm for it? It's a far better image than any I've managed at anything like 200mm with my astrotracer and my K30. Though I have purchased a new bit of glass recently, and built a barndoor tracker to aid, I'm hoping the combination of the two will lead to some excellent bulb exposures - once this rotten east coast weather buggers off that is!
Reply With Quote
  #31  
Old 28-08-2014, 09:12 AM
Poita (Peter)
Registered User

Poita is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: NSW Country
Posts: 3,586
So happy to see some images from it, glad it is working for you, they look great!
Reply With Quote
  #32  
Old 29-08-2014, 08:19 AM
erick's Avatar
erick (Eric)
Starcatcher

erick is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Gerringong
Posts: 8,532
Thanks Peter and Trev. Trev, the lens is a Pentax-F zoom f/3.5-4.5, 35-135mm. It is a 35mm film lens so with the sensor being smaller than 35mm full frame, the lens is performing as a 53-203mm. You'll see that the stars are certainly not round. In other shots there was gross coma in places. I have a Samyang f/2.8 14mm on order - I'm looking forward to some lovely widefields which is my main objective. Not sure about telephoto. I'll try my various lenses and see how they perform.


Cheers all. I'll be back on the plane next Monday heading back north of the equator to the heat, humidity, dust and light pollution of Israel.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 07:42 PM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Testar
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement