Pentax K10D, Good / Bad?

[aaron111533 0]

Hello, I'm in the market for my first DSLR camera and would hope to someday use my purchase for freefall stills. So far, the Pentax K10D is leading the pack as my choice for my normal photography use, but I was wondering if anyone sees any reason I couldn't use it for freefall photography in the future, or if it would be a bad choice. Thanks for any help / Tips / Advice anyone can offer. I really like this camera for its price, the megapixels, the shake reduction, the weatherproofing, and the fact that is uses SD/SDHC memory unlike the other camera I was thinking about. (The Canon XTI which only uses CF, doesn't have shake reduction and no weather seals)

http://www.pentaxslr.com/bodies/k10

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxk10d/

Thanks!

[velocityphoto 0]

Canon pretty much rules the skydiving world .
Rebel xti is an awesome camera .
I wouldn't use anything but a canon myself.
Please fill out your profile ?????!!!!

A friend will bail you out of jail , a REAL friend will be sitting next to you in the cell slapping your hand saying "DUDE THAT WAS AWSUM " ................

[freethefly 6]

I own a K10D and wouldn't buy anything but a Pentax. Been using Pentax since the 80's. The great thing about Pentax digital is that if you have a good number of Pentax k mount lenses (as I do), you can still use them on your digital. This also is true with any of the 645 lenses, with an adapter ring.
The K10D is an amazing camera and extremely comfortable to hold as well as function as the dials to control shutter speed and aperture are placed for thumb and forefinger control.
The weather seals make it especialy suited for skydiving (I haven't yet jumped mine but, plan to soon) as does the dust removal function for automatic cleaning of the ccd.
For a camera of such high quality you would expect to pay over $1000.00 for the body alone. When it first hit the market, it was above $1000.00 but, Pentax went a step further after recieving so many great reviews they greatly rduced the cost to under $800.00 and did this with a lens added in. My cost, from B&H was $787.95. With the $100.00 rebate from Pentax, the end cost was $687.95. You can't beat that for such a high quality camera in the 10+mp range.
My opinion (and yes it is bias as I own Pentax 35mm's and a 645), Pentax is simply the finest camera made (I did have a Canon AE1 back in the very early 80's. It too, was a great camera).
Why everyone is so hooked on the Canon seems to be that it has gotten more exposure on dz's over other brands. Canon is a great camera but, the Pentax K10D is everything the Canon is and more.
Go ahead and get the K10D! You'll be glad you did!

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[PharmerPhil 0]

I would be very careful. Yes, Pentax makes great cameras (my first freefall film camera was a Pentax). But I would not count on using this camera for skydiving until you investigate the shake reduction. A quick check of the dpreview site showed the camera's CCD uses a

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fully 'free floating' design which allows it to correct for not only movement on the x and y axis but also rotation on the z axis

This sounds like it could cause problems with freefall similar to the optical image stablizers in video cameras that have proven unusable.

And yes, fill out your profile.

[davelepka 4]

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Why everyone is so hooked on the Canon seems to be that it has gotten more exposure on dz's

That's exactly right. Canon and Sony (for video) have had more exposure on DZ all over the world. That's the very reason I jump them, and reccomend them to everyone else. There's no better way to find out how a camera will hold up in freefall than to have a large number of people jump them, and see what (if anything) happens.

Once you have tried alternate brands, only to see freefall wear your 'new' camera down in a months, you'll understand the motto 'tried and true'.

[dragon2 2]

You do not want shake reduction in the body, for various reasons shake reduction in lenses is better (granted this can work out more expensive). For skydiving, shake reduction is useless and worse if in the body it makes the camera useless if it cannot be turned off. Canon and Nikon are both great brands for skydiving. Not all models are equally suited but if you're set on using SD cards the Nikon D80 is a great jumping camera. No weather seals though, generally for both brands the heavier cameras are more weather proof but a lightweight camera is better for your neck.

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[freethefly 6]

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For skydiving, shake reduction is useless and worse if in the body it makes the camera useless if it cannot be turned off.

It can be turned off on the K10D.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[dragon2 2]

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For skydiving, shake reduction is useless and worse if in the body it makes the camera useless if it cannot be turned off.

It can be turned off on the K10D.

Did anyone jump it yet with stabilisation OFF? Because I'm afraid it might still be free-floating and might still cause the same problem.

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[freethefly 6]

I haven't jumped it yet myself but, plan to soon.
Going through the manuals specifications, I don't see anything that indicates that the sensor is free floating. Hmmmm.

Edit to add;
Just found this.
http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:PcFBp9Y91H4J:www.pentaxslr.com/files/scms_docs//PENTAX_SR_Description_091506.pdf+Pentax+K10D+shake+reduction&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[velocityphoto 0]

Does anyone make a mouth switch for this like the canon's ???
And please fill out your profile Thank you?

A friend will bail you out of jail , a REAL friend will be sitting next to you in the cell slapping your hand saying "DUDE THAT WAS AWSUM " ................

[freethefly 6]

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Does anyone make a mouth switch for this like the canon's ???
And please fill out your profile Thank you?

I wired the plug from my cable switch (PECS205) to my bite switch.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[velocityphoto 0]

So you have not made any jumps with this pentax yet?

A friend will bail you out of jail , a REAL friend will be sitting next to you in the cell slapping your hand saying "DUDE THAT WAS AWSUM " ................

[freethefly 6]

Not yet as I recently bought it a few weeks back and haven't had any free time to jump due to other concerns. The free floating sensor has me a bit concerned but, I'll see how that goes when I finally do have a chance to jump it.
I did look into other cameras but, made my choice for the K10D largely due to having a fair number of K mount lenses and that I am somewhat of a loyalist when it comes to cameras. Been shooting Pentax ever since I sold my AE1 and went with a Pentax ME and a P3. Shucks, I still can't bare to part with my old 645. I know, I know... completely bias.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[velocityphoto 0]

So your giving your opinion on this pentax for skydiving to another skydiver ,but you have not made a skydive with it yourself ??? hmmmm ! Better be sure of this before telling someone it is a good camera for skydiving . Canon has already proven itself in the skydiving industry.

:)

A friend will bail you out of jail , a REAL friend will be sitting next to you in the cell slapping your hand saying "DUDE THAT WAS AWSUM " ................

[freethefly 6]

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So your giving your opinion on this pentax for skydiving to another skydiver ,but you have not made a skydive with it yourself ??? hmmmm ! Better be sure of this before telling someone it is a good camera for skydiving . Canon has already proven itself in the skydiving industry.

:)

My only reference to skydiving was this "The weather seals make it especialy suited for skydiving (I haven't yet jumped mine but, plan to soon) as does the dust removal function for automatic cleaning of the ccd.". I do see the seals as a plus for the enviroment in which cameras are used in. Plase note that I did say that I have not yet jumped it and made no such claim. Also note that I gave my overall opinion of the camera and never gave any actual opinion on it for skydiving.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[velocityphoto 0]

Remember there are (pressure changes) ,humidity or (condensation),wind, etc etc etc... Nobody puts a camera thru hell like a skydiver. These are all key factors. It's just that canon's have been around along time in skydiving like sony video camera's.
Remote switches are readily available for canon from www.conceptus.com . Other camera's have to make there own making things harder,if you have a switch malfunction you can usually borrow a switch from a buddy or buy a new one right there at the dz. I carry several but they usually end up getting sold to somebody or or collect dust. But i'm always prepared with extra stuff.

A friend will bail you out of jail , a REAL friend will be sitting next to you in the cell slapping your hand saying "DUDE THAT WAS AWSUM " ................

[freethefly 6]

I am really a bit concerned about the SR question. After reading the specifics on Pentax's system and others, I do see how different they are. I do plan on calling Pentax for a bit more light on it in regards to pressure changes.
As for my bite switch, I've used the same one on an old ZX for several years. I probably should order another one and wire it to a plug for a spare.
If all goes fine in freefall, I think the K10D will give jumpers another option as the price is great.
The SR question does give me a bit of concern, however.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[aaron111533 0]

Wow thanks for all the input guys! I still haven't made up my mind...If I wasn't a skydiver I would pick the Pentax hands down...And I won't be jumping camera anytime soon...But when I do it looks like the Canon is a better choice since it's proven. We'll see what happens. Thanks again.

[DSE 5]

re: switches, if the 10D is the same as one of the ladies on our DZ owns, then the connection is the same as a Canon. I used my tongue switch on her camera when she first brought it in. Didn't pay attention to the camera model # as wasn't interested in Pentax, but it seemed like a decent camera.

[freethefly 6]

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re: switches, if the 10D is the same as one of the ladies on our DZ owns, then the connection is the same as a Canon. I used my tongue switch on her camera when she first brought it in. Didn't pay attention to the camera model # as wasn't interested in Pentax, but it seemed like a decent camera.

The Pentax uses a 3/32 stereo jack. I think the canon uses the same type. Is that right?

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[dragon2 2]

The dust removal function is pretty much useless esp for skydiving, you'll need to clean the sensor every now and again anyway. Any moisture in there and the dust sticks, most of our spots are moisture anyway. Dry dust gets shaken to the side, so most of it will shake right back to the sensor. Personally for skydiving I'd rather have a sensor that is stuck to the camera instead of the shakeable sensor that all sensor-cleaning cameras (canon 400D, nikon D300) have, although so far this doesn't seem to present a problem it isn't much help either.

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[dragon2 2]

Get either canon or nikon. If you don't want to spend a lot of money on a good lens for skydiving (14 mm, 15 mm, 16 mm etc) you may want to see which lens you can get 2nd hand before buying the body (canon vs nikon) to go with it, this can save you a lot of money.

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[freethefly 6]

I did call Pentax technical department this AM concerning the in body SR and what affect pressure changes would have on it. Unfortunately, that department is closed untill after the first of the year.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[pilotdave 0]

Have you used a camera with a dust removal feature? It works...somewhat. Not perfect, doesn't get everything. But there are times I'll look through my pics and see a dust spot on a bunch of pictures. Then it disappears in another series. That's the dust shaker at work. It doesn't shake the sensor either, it shakes a filter in front of the sensor. So the sensor is firmly mounted to the body.

I switch between 2 lenses a lot now, so I end up with more dust than I used to, but when I only owned one lens, i definitely found i got less dust on my pics with the 400d than i did with the 350d.

Dave

[freethefly 6]

I set the dust removal to operate on start up. Also, the dust is shooked onto an adhesive to keep it from being attracted back to the filter. (Not sure how it operates on cameras other than the K10D). I think it is a plus if you're changing lenses quite a bit.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young