New Pentax user

[Anthony Lee]

Thanks. Well I knew I would get into this as I was warned. Now I feel like being sent to Afghanistan after the comfort we experience in Singapore. For people of my age who are not tech savy, how on earth have you guys survived so far. I just downloaded Lightroom 3.3 on a free trial for 30 days, and after 30 mins I want give up. If I can't survive the next 3 days, I may have to sell off my system at a loss. Actually, the images of the K5 with the FA 31f1.8 ltd on my computer monitor also look very average compared to what I was experiencing with my EOS 5D and mf lenses. I will need to get better of my system and learn Lightroom, otherwise, it's back to Canon.

What I do is this.
Simply choose to shoot in RAW.
Then on the camera, select the picture mode that I like. (Eg. Portrait: Hue -1, Sharpness +1, contrast +1)
When processing using Pentax Utility, it will know the picture mode ans setting you shot that photo in.
Just process to JPEG using batch process.

I don't do otherwise, unless the shot is real screwed up (eg. WB very off; Need to recover a lot of highlights/shadows)

Yes, the preview on the Pentax Utility should change if you adjust the settings.


Two important things. The Pentax Utility is pretty screwed up.
1. Try not to batch process more than 120 files. Often it crashes above that number of files selected.

2. Don't click the check box of the thumbnail of the photos. It will crash the program at next startup and never be able to startup.
To recover from that :
Delete the checkinfo.ini file.
It is located in : "<Drive>:\Documents and Settings\<Username>\Local Settings\application data\Pentax\Digital Camera Utility 4>"

 

[Yamakasi]

Thanks. Well I knew I would get into this as I was warned. Now I feel like being sent to Afghanistan after the comfort we experience in Singapore. For people of my age who are not tech savy, how on earth have you guys survived so far. I just downloaded Lightroom 3.3 on a free trial for 30 days, and after 30 mins I want give up. If I can't survive the next 3 days, I may have to sell off my system at a loss. Actually, the images of the K5 with the FA 31f1.8 ltd on my computer monitor also look very average compared to what I was experiencing with my EOS 5D and mf lenses. I will need to get better of my system and learn Lightroom, otherwise, it's back to Canon.

I think you can check with fengwei as I think he dun process his pics much and still get very nice pic..we are never too old to learn anything

 

[jasonlel]

dont give up yet!!!! I'm sure someone here can help you out...

anyone?

Thanks. Well I knew I would get into this as I was warned. Now I feel like being sent to Afghanistan after the comfort we experience in Singapore. For people of my age who are not tech savy, how on earth have you guys survived so far. I just downloaded Lightroom 3.3 on a free trial for 30 days, and after 30 mins I want give up. If I can't survive the next 3 days, I may have to sell off my system at a loss. Actually, the images of the K5 with the FA 31f1.8 ltd on my computer monitor also look very average compared to what I was experiencing with my EOS 5D and mf lenses. I will need to get better of my system and learn Lightroom, otherwise, it's back to Canon.

 

[jasonlel]

dont give up yet!!!! I'm sure someone here can help you out...

anyone?

by the way, lightroom is a great tool! Easy to use and powerful as well...

Thanks. Well I knew I would get into this as I was warned. Now I feel like being sent to Afghanistan after the comfort we experience in Singapore. For people of my age who are not tech savy, how on earth have you guys survived so far. I just downloaded Lightroom 3.3 on a free trial for 30 days, and after 30 mins I want give up. If I can't survive the next 3 days, I may have to sell off my system at a loss. Actually, the images of the K5 with the FA 31f1.8 ltd on my computer monitor also look very average compared to what I was experiencing with my EOS 5D and mf lenses. I will need to get better of my system and learn Lightroom, otherwise, it's back to Canon.

 

[detritus]

Thanks. Well I knew I would get into this as I was warned. Now I feel like being sent to Afghanistan after the comfort we experience in Singapore. For people of my age who are not tech savy, how on earth have you guys survived so far. I just downloaded Lightroom 3.3 on a free trial for 30 days, and after 30 mins I want give up. If I can't survive the next 3 days, I may have to sell off my system at a loss. Actually, the images of the K5 with the FA 31f1.8 ltd on my computer monitor also look very average compared to what I was experiencing with my EOS 5D and mf lenses. I will need to get better of my system and learn Lightroom, otherwise, it's back to Canon.

Hi Anthony,

I started off with the trial version of LR when i first started as well and yes, i found it quite complicated too (yes, even for a young guy ;p).

my preferred RAW workflow now is with CS5. feels much more straightforward imo.

 

[Yamakasi]

hi..not sure if this helps or is useful..but i got this video from youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/JaredPolin#p/u/56/eiG6sfT0CDo

PS: Jared Polin is one of the guy i follow on youtube..sometimes he will post a specific pic and edit it and post it in youtube how he does it..

 

[CorneliusK]

Never had the chance to use DPP so can't compare it to LR, but I found LR to be relatively comprehensive and powerful.

To make full use of Lightroom you will need to shoot in RAW.

Another resource to learn lightroom - http://tv.adobe.com/product/lightroom/

Or you can try asking Creampuff to organise another Lightroom class~

 

[Anthony Lee]

You guys are really helpful, thanks. Just spoke to my own brother for an hour. He uses Canon but processes his raw images with CS5 and I was told that lightroom is the same as camera raw of CS5. Guess I need to spend a day with him it's never too late to learn.

 

[Gengh]

Raw processing can seem daunting at first. But after a while, you realise that there're only a few important settings you need to work with if you're not trying to do anything fancy. Don't despair! :cheergal:

 

[CorneliusK]

Lightroom is basically Camera Raw on steroids.

Example of my workflow

Insert SD card into card reader -> Lightroom 3 loads automatically and goes to the import screen -> I press the button to import
Lightroom copies everything over -> Applies my default develop settings to each one (things like default sharpening, tone curve, lens correction etc) -> Generates 1:1 previes image (this greatly speeds up editing later on)
*time to grab a coffee*
Once all images are loaded, I will review all of them and pick which ones I want to process further - a very simple process, i just go through them with the arrow buttons and flag or unflag with the "~" key.
After that I filter out the ones I have selected and start editing.

If I am lazy I can just use the existing preset develop options (and you can download hundreds of free ones off the net).
If I have found a set of settings I like I can sync the settings across any number of photographs.
Then after if I so wish I can do some individual fine tuning.

Next I can select the photos I want and drop them into my preset Publish directories.
With a click of a button I can get Lightroom to upload photos directly to my flickr and my facebook account.

Its not that much different from Camera Raw, but the ability to process a large number of photos via automated actions is incredibly efficient.

 

[Anthony Lee]

Lightroom is basically Camera Raw on steroids.

Example of my workflow

Insert SD card into card reader -> Lightroom 3 loads automatically and goes to the import screen -> I press the button to import
Lightroom copies everything over -> Applies my default develop settings to each one (things like default sharpening, tone curve, lens correction etc) -> Generates 1:1 previes image (this greatly speeds up editing later on)
*time to grab a coffee*
Once all images are loaded, I will review all of them and pick which ones I want to process further - a very simple process, i just go through them with the arrow buttons and flag or unflag with the "~" key.
After that I filter out the ones I have selected and start editing.

If I am lazy I can just use the existing preset develop options (and you can download hundreds of free ones off the net).
If I have found a set of settings I like I can sync the settings across any number of photographs.
Then after if I so wish I can do some individual fine tuning.

Next I can select the photos I want and drop them into my preset Publish directories.
With a click of a button I can get Lightroom to upload photos directly to my flickr and my facebook account.

Its not that much different from Camera Raw, but the ability to process a large number of photos via automated actions is incredibly efficient.

What you have described seemed so straight forward, but believe you me, it's not that easy for me to grasp. I just hope I don't spend the next couple of months learning to navigate Lightroom instead of enjoying my new Pentax set-up. That's what I used to do, more shooting and less time on post processing, even though I shoot only raw all the time.

 

[wilb87]

I used to use Pentax Utility coupled with GIMP, alternatively i also use UFRaw with GIMP.
Both are not that difficult to use, but i have to do the Correct tweaks in the Utility program before i can use it appropriately for GIMP.
I understand that the Utility program is not the best of editing program, it is really very elementary and best to supplement it with another editing program.
What to do, no money to buy LR so have to use freewares. Also, i am pretty comfortable with GIMP now.
I guess it just take sometime for you to get used to a editing program and get comfortable with a workflow.


You can look at Corel Photo pro too, pretty easy to use, i started with 0 experience on it.

 

[Anthony Lee]

Many thanks to all your input. Hope I don't irritate some of you as I am still struggling with the K5 and the software. On the first day with the k5 I had low light shooting in the day in the room where I always test my camera. Light was from the window. It was at M, auto AF, f1.8 and the K5 not only struggled but went dead and did not react at all. Managed to resolve the problem by switching to the AF center point. The problem now is that I am back at AF auto, but only the center point is activated. How can I reset to let all the points to be active. This is really a difficult camera to use compared to my 4 year old 5D.

 

[CorneliusK]

There is a AF selection lever on the back of the camera. It is the lever surrounding the AF button

There are three settings
- Center Point (white box with a point in the center)
- AF point select (White SEL)
- Auto Point Select (Green Box with multiple points with green AUTO below)

Turn the lever to point to Auto Point Select if you want to use all focussing points.

Can check out Page 127 on the K-5 manual for a more complete description.

I believe much of your difficulty is due to you being very used to Canon layout, which is very different from Pentax layout. Honestly I feel the Pentax layout is far superior, so I hope you can persist in learning the K-5. The best if you have someone to show it to you. Likewise for Lightroom - it is pretty straightfoward once you can have someone show you.

 

[Anthony Lee]

Corneliusk, thanks for your help. That's what I did but I still get only the center point. After 3 days, I still find navigating the K5 tougher. Like the AF button, I dont have finger nails and I find it difficult to rotate that little switch. Canon has one button to select either 1, centre or all the points by rotating the wheel. I need to get accustomed to K5 and I should not have any problem.

 

[CorneliusK]

Oh then I believe its due to you using a manual lens - only Center AF is available. I saw a firmware hack of some sort to allow all points focusing but this may be too adventurous for you.

There are a number of experienced K-5 owners who use manual lenses here - perhaps they can advise you better, as unfortunately I am not so familiar on this aspect.

 

[Anthony Lee]

Oh then I believe its due to you using a manual lens - only Center AF is available. I saw a firmware hack of some sort to allow all points focusing but this may be too adventurous for you.

There are a number of experienced K-5 owners who use manual lenses here - perhaps they can advise you better, as unfortunately I am not so familiar on this aspect.

Nope, I have my 31f1.8 on. Confusing?

I have switched the camera to accept K lenses. Must I reset it to "prohibited"? This is really troublesome.

 

[CorneliusK]

One possibility is that you have changed the Auto AF point behavior in the settings - try going into the menu, Menu page 1, Auto AF point setting. (pg 89 in the manual). Change it back to the 11 point focusing.

 

[Anthony Lee]

One possibility is that you have changed the Auto AF point behavior in the settings - try going into the menu, Menu page 1, Auto AF point setting. (pg 89 in the manual). Change it back to the 11 point focusing.

Doesn't help. It tells you to use the AF switch and turn it to auto. It's now at auto. I also changed it back to 'prohibited' for aperture ring and it also does not work.

 

[Anthony Lee]

Any advise from the seniors here. Otherwise I may have to go down to Emjay. Real interesting week in Pentax.