It's impressive that you ground your own focusing screen. There are some truly excellent photographs, much higher standard than the typical TH-cam reviewer. You show that technical limitations are no impediment to the aesthetic appeal of an image. On that topic, your images confirm something that has bugged me since I first shot black and white on a digital camera. Which is something is lost in mono as resolution increases and processing progresses. This is not true of colour images, which are generally better as digital technology advances. Hard to describe, but there's a smoothness and sharpness to tonality which is counter productive to the overall aesthetic in modern cameras. I find myself editing modern black and white with much less contrast, sometimes using older lenses to counteract this slightly synthetic appearance of high resolution cameras.
Thank you! Interesting comment on the look of digital B&W. I actually feel some times there is too much dynamic range in digital photos, and have been experimenting with processing for a bit of an extreme look. About that screen, note that all I did was file down an MX screen to size. I didn't ground the focusing surface itself, that would be indeed impressive! 🙂
My first digital camera was the *istDs, a cheaper, lower range camera than the *istD but with some better features just because it was launched later (bigger LCD, USB 2.0, bigger buffer,...). I agree that they were fine enough photographic tools although the sensor was a bit limiting. For me the big leap was the K30's 16mpix sensor with lower noise and greater dynamic range. But I think that you'll talk about it in future videos... ;-)
My first Pentax DSLR *istDL I still have it and use it I leave it in my car and photograph anything of interest as I drive around. With photo editing software I can edit my pictures to make them look as good as a modern camera in most cases during daylight. In a pinch I have used it for nighttime pictures. With the firmware update I can use SDHC memory cards.
I bought new and still use my Pentax *istDL from 2005 great cameras that just keep ticking and working I leave mine in my car and photograph anything of interest as I drive around
Not a very strict answer, but I'd say APS-C for 16MP. But at the same time, I really like the look of raw photos taken at 12MP on much smaller sensors, like 1/1.7" . So take this with a grain of salt, it's pretty subjective. Also--I shoot a lot with 24 and 26MP cameras on APS-C, because those cameras have many other features I like. So it's not like I'm religious about it 🙂
I got my *istD early 2004 just weeks before the birth of our first son. Now he is just about to finish high school and go to University yet the *istD is still working fine. I travelled the world with it and photographed our growing family for several years with it. I’ve had several Pentax DSLRs since and now shoot K-1 and Fuji but the *istD was very feature packed for the time. Sensor isn’t good by today’s standards but my photography skills need more help. It was/is so small and light that I wish Pentax would make something similar again but pared back to the basic features with good sensor and good ergonomics. That’s all that is necessary really. Get the technology out of the way.
A digital version of the MX was what I always wanted (as a DSLR, the MX-1 is awesome but it's a different kind of camera). Then I tried the Fuji X-T1 and realized that's the closest it will get to that.
in one of your videos, perhaps this one, you state that the film-like quality of image produced by ccd sensor is in fact due merely to its relative low dynamic range capability. you then conclude that this quality being due only to the above it can therefore be replicated by e.g. the cmos sensor. i don't really understand how this is so, i must confess.
It was in this one, at 2:40, I hadn't heard the point about color contrast before so I took notice. To enter the rabbit hole search for CCD CMOS Color filter array (CFA) I took the bait and have tried a D40x and am about to try a K100 or K200. To be compared against various Lumix and Olympus in-camera picture styles.
Love your videos and the images you showcase in them! I also love the power of B&W and wanted to ask about your post processing of monochrome images. I continue to use an old version of Silver Efex Pro. May I ask what process you use? if you prefer to email: my name @ g mail. Thx! (PS... I currently shoot with a K-3 ii and find your comment about "sweet spot" of 12-16mp interesting. I did pick up an *ist D a while back, but have not taken a single image with it. Your video may inspire me to change that situation! Thanks again.)
Hi Darren! I am also using an old version of Silver Efex, from the time it was owned by Google and the whole thing was free. Haven't felt the need to upgrade it as it works just fine. Some images are processed that way, with recipes with their Kodak Tri-X one as a starting point. But a lot of the photos are processed in Lightroom, with presets modified from their B&W high contrast ones. Nothing too special other than some dodging and burning when appropriate.
The focusing screen hack is really cool! Beautiful pictures. A lot of emotion in them.
Thanks! Yeah the KatzEye screens (now out of business sadly) were a godsend when they came out, but at the beginning I had to make my own :)
Your videos are always a pleasure. Thanks for making them.
Thank you so much!
It's impressive that you ground your own focusing screen. There are some truly excellent photographs, much higher standard than the typical TH-cam reviewer. You show that technical limitations are no impediment to the aesthetic appeal of an image. On that topic, your images confirm something that has bugged me since I first shot black and white on a digital camera. Which is something is lost in mono as resolution increases and processing progresses. This is not true of colour images, which are generally better as digital technology advances. Hard to describe, but there's a smoothness and sharpness to tonality which is counter productive to the overall aesthetic in modern cameras. I find myself editing modern black and white with much less contrast, sometimes using older lenses to counteract this slightly synthetic appearance of high resolution cameras.
Thank you! Interesting comment on the look of digital B&W. I actually feel some times there is too much dynamic range in digital photos, and have been experimenting with processing for a bit of an extreme look.
About that screen, note that all I did was file down an MX screen to size. I didn't ground the focusing surface itself, that would be indeed impressive! 🙂
Very very beautiful shots!!! 🙏🏼
Thank you so much 😀
Thank you so much for sharing! Great video! Super camera test video creation! Super informative video! Nice photo! Good day!
👍🍀🇭🇺🌞☝️
Good model time Pentax camera. Photography day or night perfect
My first digital camera was the *istDs, a cheaper, lower range camera than the *istD but with some better features just because it was launched later (bigger LCD, USB 2.0, bigger buffer,...). I agree that they were fine enough photographic tools although the sensor was a bit limiting. For me the big leap was the K30's 16mpix sensor with lower noise and greater dynamic range. But I think that you'll talk about it in future videos... ;-)
Your photos are excellent
Many thanks!
@@JuanBuhler 😊😊❤️
Amazing work.
My first Pentax DSLR *istDL I still have it and use it I leave it in my car and photograph anything of interest as I drive around. With photo editing software I can edit my pictures to make them look as good as a modern camera in most cases during daylight. In a pinch I have used it for nighttime pictures. With the firmware update I can use SDHC memory cards.
I bought new and still use my Pentax *istDL from 2005 great cameras that just keep ticking and working I leave mine in my car and photograph anything of interest as I drive around
They are a great option for a "car camera", especially since they take AA batteries!
Nice shots! Thnx
Your digital black and white post-production is very good indeed. What is the recipe?
Thanks. Thus was my first digital slr also.
What photographs :-o ) they do tell stories.... apart from tons of todays shot,, taken by iphones. You really have an eye. :) Tanks and Congrats!
Thank you!
regarding your opining a sweet spot of between 12-16mp: on what sensor size do you view 12-16mp as the ideal, if i may ask?
Not a very strict answer, but I'd say APS-C for 16MP. But at the same time, I really like the look of raw photos taken at 12MP on much smaller sensors, like 1/1.7" . So take this with a grain of salt, it's pretty subjective.
Also--I shoot a lot with 24 and 26MP cameras on APS-C, because those cameras have many other features I like. So it's not like I'm religious about it 🙂
I got my *istD early 2004 just weeks before the birth of our first son. Now he is just about to finish high school and go to University yet the *istD is still working fine. I travelled the world with it and photographed our growing family for several years with it. I’ve had several Pentax DSLRs since and now shoot K-1 and Fuji but the *istD was very feature packed for the time. Sensor isn’t good by today’s standards but my photography skills need more help. It was/is so small and light that I wish Pentax would make something similar again but pared back to the basic features with good sensor and good ergonomics. That’s all that is necessary really. Get the technology out of the way.
A digital version of the MX was what I always wanted (as a DSLR, the MX-1 is awesome but it's a different kind of camera). Then I tried the Fuji X-T1 and realized that's the closest it will get to that.
What sd card type and storage you use for this camera my alway show error when put some high storage
Well, it's a CF card camera. I used a 2GB CF card from the same era. If you are going to use an adapter, look for some old, smaller SD card.
@@JuanBuhler my slot was sd card it *istD l2
well, thats a different camera 🙂
again, look for a card from the same era. A camera from 2005 probably won't like a high capacity SD card from 2022.
@@JuanBuhler thanks you
in one of your videos, perhaps this one, you state that the film-like quality of image produced by ccd sensor is in fact due merely to its relative low dynamic range capability. you then conclude that this quality being due only to the above it can therefore be replicated by e.g. the cmos sensor.
i don't really understand how this is so, i must confess.
It was in this one, at 2:40, I hadn't heard the point about color contrast before so I took notice.
To enter the rabbit hole search for CCD CMOS Color filter array (CFA)
I took the bait and have tried a D40x and am about to try a K100 or K200. To be compared against various Lumix and Olympus in-camera picture styles.
Love your videos and the images you showcase in them! I also love the power of B&W and wanted to ask about your post processing of monochrome images. I continue to use an old version of Silver Efex Pro. May I ask what process you use? if you prefer to email: my name @ g mail. Thx! (PS... I currently shoot with a K-3 ii and find your comment about "sweet spot" of 12-16mp interesting. I did pick up an *ist D a while back, but have not taken a single image with it. Your video may inspire me to change that situation! Thanks again.)
Hi Darren! I am also using an old version of Silver Efex, from the time it was owned by Google and the whole thing was free. Haven't felt the need to upgrade it as it works just fine. Some images are processed that way, with recipes with their Kodak Tri-X one as a starting point. But a lot of the photos are processed in Lightroom, with presets modified from their B&W high contrast ones. Nothing too special other than some dodging and burning when appropriate.