K10D and that "Pentax look."

[Ron Kruger]

Having used a K10D for about a month now, I'm sure it is the last of the breed that produces that venerable Pentax look that drew me away from Nikon in the first place. Guess it is the CCD sensor. I prefer it for almost everything over my K20D.
Here's a shot I took today of Mimosa blooms.

[Mike Pearson]

That's a beautiful capture Ron, you're really wringing the best out of the K10D

Mike

[Ron Kruger]

Thanks Mike. The "look" I talk about is the color, contrast and smoothness that to me is reminiscent of the Kodachrome era. It is something I believe Pentax is losing with their race to match the other's high-ISO and mega-mega-pixel race with CMOS sensors. Because I shoot everything at 100 ISO, noise is never a problem, and the K10D matches my style with the look I like. It's a personal preference for this old photog.
Ten MP is plenty for everything I do. The only thing I can't do is crop a verticle from a horizontal and still have a large file, as I often did with the K20D. (I was getting lazy that way.) The 20 also gives me a little less noise at 400 ISO, but the only time I need that is for low-light wildlife work, so I keep my 200mm glued to it. I'd still love to have a K5 some day for that, and then I'll sell the 20, because from my tests, it only has about one stop advantage over the 10.
Looking at bodies like I do lenses, for specific purposes, I put the K10D in the same kind of category as lens lovers do the 31mm Limited.

[spyglass]

T-man,

Do you shoot in da Raw, or da Jpeg?  or together side by each? 


Spyglass

[calsan]

Hey Ron.
Keep talking up the K10d - I hope it goes up in value like the FA31mm did.

Actually, I have been trying my K10d more since you've revived interest in it, and it seems you're correct about THAT LOOK - it can make a scene with dull lighting look a bit 'glowing'.  It seems to warm everything up slightly.

On a tangent: I notice that astro-photography sensors seem to be CCDs, not CMOS, for example
http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=2241

[Ron Kruger]

I shoot RAW only Spy, but I don't process RAW. I try to get it right at time of capture and only convert to JPEG, then do very minor things to the JPEG. Any image that needs "fixing in Photoshop" gets dumped. "Garbage in, garbage out" is an exaggeration, but there is some truth in it.
Exactly, Cal. Scientists and underwater photogs use CCD as well. NASA uses CCD. People who want to use a DSLR like a P&S want the high ISO capabilities of CMOS. I planning to switch from the W80 to the Pany TS3 for the same reason.
It took me a couple of years to realize that what drew me to Pentax in the first place was pics from the K10D, but I mistakenly had to have the latest model, and that was the K20D with the CMOS.
By the way, I'll bet you boys from Boston are celebrating, eh?

[bramela]

I have actually just re invested ina K10d.  I had one some time back and after travelling through it, to a K20d and now the K5, I decided to purchase a K10d  as a back up "play thing". I won't be parting with the K5 under any circumstances, short of bankruptcy

I was always impressed with the shots out of the "10" so am going to get back into that now and again.

Explaining that to the missus is another thing again.

[Ron Kruger]

Here's a couple more K10D shots from this morning, with the 15mm Limited. What a combo!<a href="http://" target="_blank">http://</a>

[blackcloudbrew]

Ok, not trying to be a wet blanket here but I don't see much of a difference between my K10 and k20 images. I do see more of a difference between both of them and the K5 for sure. Mr. T if you are sold on you K10 so be it. Mine has been my friend but we are apt to be parting the ways soon.

[JIMBO]

Ok, not trying to be a wet blanket here but I don't see much of a difference between my K10 and k20 images

That's a incorrect statement. Your always a wet blanket!!! . I have used both and for my two cents I believe the look of the K10 is richer in a digital format, though the K20 in print form shows a much brighter looking image.  When you have a high contrast look, the K10 will print really dark. My new Nikon D700 is much brighter right out of the camera then either the 10 or 20. [tends to over expose a 1/2 stop but you don't see that much in print form.  Also, Ron's files are really compressed and I am sure the full versions show a bigger difference. The Wet Blanket thing must be from your local weather Tim. JIM

[spyglass]

Your always a wet blanket!!! .

You know Jimbo, if truth be told, we almost named Earl "giggles". It was bout a hundred years ago when a young Tim Morgan was just starting out in the world. An energetic bounce in his step, a can do attitude, and not a care in in the world. I have heard that his first grade teacher, who taught him 3 times, said he would light up a room with his presence and colourful dresses. Oh well you don't want me to bore you with all the details. The short version is Young Tim walking barefoot.... dogs left unattended.... (to this day he can not bring himself to eat peanut butter, and always wear shoes, even to bed) knocked the pie out of the sky for the young Mr Morgan. Rose coloured glasses gone, he saw the world in a colder harsher light. So we weighed the two name options Giggles / Earl...... and Earl won out by a nose, or rather a brim. But a wet blanket, Sir, he is not. He is Earl da Pearl, the King of Dazzle, wearer of fantastical hats.

Spyglass

[JIMBO]

But a wet blanket, Sir, he is not. He is Earl da Pearl, the King of Dazzle, wearer of fantastical hats.

So true. Just having a little fun with Tim the Earl... your words seem to roll off the key board like a good book... Cheers. JIMBO

[blackcloudbrew]

Spy - you almost got that right but it was only 2 times for 1st grade and I adore peanut butter (it's a way of life not a food yo!).

Earl da Pearl

[Ron Kruger]

On DPreview, there is a thread claiming through comparisons that the K10D offers greater detail than the D3 or K5. I went for it because of the general look, which is so obvious to me that I think Earl needs a seeing eye dog (with a fidora), but I do know that scientists, astrophotographers and NASA use CCD sensors because they offer greater detail.
I've already determined it gives better color richness and contrast, but since reading that DP post, I think I notice more detail as well. I plan to take the same shots (same lens and settings) with both the K10D and K20D and compare heavy crops.
It's raining here now, but I'll do this when the sun comes out and post the results.

[blackcloudbrew]

I may need a seeing-eyed dog but I'm capable of learning new tricks. I have considered doing this very thing with the K10, k20, and k5. Don't have time now but I will give it a go. Love to see your efforts on this Ron, woof!