I have an update on the Pentax-1 and related Pentax cameras. I have put off reporting this until Lloyd Chambers posted his blog, because some of my information came from his research and diligence. In preparation for the release of the new Pentax K1, both Chambers and I picked up the previous camera, the Pentax K3II, so we could be familiar with the menus and the way the camera worked.
I tested out the Pentax K3II on various lenses, both in native Pentax mount and using the Fotodix Nikon-lenses-to-Pentax-K-camera adaptor. The adapter has piece of glass that allows you to get infinity focus, but the glass is not good enough, so that the lens you are trying to mount is degraded to the point of being unusable for my purposes.
I tried to remove the glass as per instructions, but it never worked, so I had to literally punch it out. I found that the adapter works for lenses like the Noct Nikkor and the El Nikkor 105mm APO lenses, but would not properly focus using the CV-125 or the various Otus lenses.
I did try the Pentax K3ii on various bellows units, which allowed me to use any bellows-type lens, so that works.
However, I soon ran into trouble implementing the pixel-shift feature, which is when I turned to Lloyd Chambers for advice. I read some of Chamber’s columns, which have saved me a ton of money, and this Pentax thing is a good example. I did not know how to properly test the EFC (Electronic Front Curtain) to see if it functioned properly, but Chambers did. To our mutual disappointment, it was not implemented properly and this is true not only for the older Pentax K3II, but also for the forthcoming Pentax K1 (and other Pentax cameras), which is a big disappointment.
Since I often stack many layers, I depend on reducing shutter-shake, mirror shake, and so on as much as possible. I ran into this with my Sony A7r, which I eventually returned for a refund. I understand they have fixed it now.
I like the Pentax K3II. It is and feels like a real camera. However, at the deep-down nitty-gritty that I depend on, there is a bit of chaos holding forth and things are not well thought out. For one, it is very difficult to use LiveView without the camera banging down mirror when the shutter is released. And they demand you use the self-timer, which only offers the choice of 2 seconds or 12 seconds, and nothing in between. Two seconds is not always enough to allow vibrations to die down, etc.
There are many things I did not like, such as you can set the self-time option, but when you turn the camera off, it unsets, so you have to re-set it every time you turn it on, unless you build a custom profile. I will not go into all the annoying idiosyncrasies, but a lot for me had to do with not being able to adjust shutter or aperture and see the effects, but having to wait to look at a finished photo, etc.
However, the reason for buying this camera was solely the benefit of the pixel-shift, which is such a slight movement that anything but EFC would degrade it for stacked work, or could. That did it for me.
I have returned my K3II, cancelled my order for the K1, and still have a few things left. One thing I found was a rare CV-90mm SL close-up lens in Pentax mount, which not many are available. I will sell that when the K1 comes out, because it is a great lens.
So, that’s the story. I thank Lloyd Chambers for his help and for his instructive columns. I needed them.
It may be possible that Pentax could fix this in firmware, but since earlier cameras were never modified, I am not hopeful. I am back to hoping that Nikon will bring out a 50 MPx camera soon.
