What’s Going On with Pentax?

Shaka a Laka O Magic 8 Ball, what does Pentax cameras' future look like? My money is on one of these two responses: Cannot predict now Outlook not so good The Recap I have mused/speculated and even ranted about Pentax a few times (see: Is Dark Horse Pentax Fizzing Out? and The new Pentax K1 Mark II). Pentax's business decisions like retiring the flagship aps-c K3ii without introducing a new replacement are concerning. Their 2017 Annual Report came out a…

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5 Red Flags to Watch For when Buying Camera Gear Online

There are loads of fly-by-night camera gear sellers and stores online, and not all are made equal. It's easy to get tempted by bargain-barrel prices, especially if you're shopping on a tight budget. Here's a quick rule of thumb: if the price is too good to be true, it's a scam. Here's a list of warning signs to watch for: Rock-Bottom Prices Funky Seller's Name/Store Name Warranty Return policy Complaints Skip ahead for reputable sellers that I like. Too-Good-to-Be-True Prices…

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Are Mirrorless Cameras for you?

Are you interested in photography, but turned off by the idea of toting around a big, bulky camera? A mirrorless camera might be a good option for you. Read on! The difference between a dSLR and a Mirrorless Camera To understand the difference between a dSLR and a mirrorless, you need to understand how a dSLR works. If you're already familiar with them, feel free to skip ahead. dSLRs Boiled down, a dSLR consists of five main parts. (Of course,…

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7 Reasons You Need a Tripod

Got your spankin' new dslr camera and lens? Guess what your next purchase should be. Tripods are a basic necessity for most, if not all photographers. It should be your third major photography purchase, a camera body and a non-kit lens being the first two. You need a tripod if you want to photograph: Indoors The ambient light level in a home often is deceptive. The human's eyes are much much better than a camera's lens at adjusting to low…

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Driving with a Camera

Summer will be officially here in about two weeks. AAA estimates that some 46 million Americans will travel somewhere for the Fourth of July. That's a lot of people on the road! (related post) Whether you're taking a break on a week-long road trip or a quick jaunt into your nearby convenience store, it's tempting to leave your camera in the car. Gathering up 5-10 lbs of camera gear and accessories and finding a comfortable way to carry it can…

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How to photograph hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are predictable. Hummingbirds will hover in place, leisurely sipping nectar from flowers. Their hunger for sugary ambrosia drives them. In contrast, the other wee birds like sparrows, chickadees, and nuthatches never seem to sit still. They flit and flap and zig and zag. They're always moving, and it's hard to anticipate where they'll jump to next. What you need to photograph hummingbirds Knowledge Is Power Cheesy after-school-special title aside, start by learning about the local hummingbirds. What kinds do…

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A Lofty Introduction to Drone Photography

Up until about 5 years ago, the only way to get aerial photographs was to charter a plane or helicopter, a major expense for an average hobby photographer. New technologies, new, more powerful batteries, and new drone companies have made aerial photography far more affordable, within the reach of a hobby photographer. Drone photography is a sector I've yet to explore, but am intensely interested in. It offers a different perspective of our world. Seeing our world from this perspective…

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Photography Is a Great Summer Hobby for Kids

Here in Colorado, it's tantalizingly warm. People here are dreaming about hot summer days, adventures in the mountains, and wading in cool, glistening streams. (That last one might not happen if we don't get any spring rain this year). June -- summer break -- will roll around before you know it. Bored kids are annoying kids, amirite? Whether you yourself are a photographer or not, photography is a great hobby to introduce kids to. It engages their creativity. It encourages…

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Is Dark Horse Pentax Fizzing Out?

I have a soft spot for underdogs. When I learned that Pentax was rebooting their camera line in the USA market back in 2006, I was one of the early buyers. I snagged the k10d, and turned into an evangelist for Pentax. I praised the camera to anyone who'd listen. And it deserved the praise. It had a spankin' new sensor that no other camera maker was using. It had waterproofing and was extra rugged, which was perfect for hiking…

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New Canon Rebel 7t and 7ti released

In the post about the Pentax k1 mark ii, I wrote about how Pentax/Ricoh wasn't in the position to release a new camera with only minor upgrades. Canon, however, is. They're well enmeshed in the US market, have a huge fan following, and are a household name. When most people think of cameras they might buy, the first two names that comes to mind are invariably Canon and Nikon. And in contrast with Pentax/Ricoh, Canon did one thing right with…

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