Post by Ales - iStar Optical on Feb 29, 2012 9:18:31 GMT -5
Friends,
Recently I saw some serious astro imaging works done with a standard factory model (IR filter not removed) Pentax K-5 DSLR www.pentax.jp/english/products/k-5/feature.html and I can tell you one thing. This little, fairly inexpensive camera (compared to similar higher end models offered by other manufacturers) really made my eyes pop out. Not only is the new Pentax K-5 with a very impressive 16,3 MP APS chip size substantially smaller compared to similar Canon and Nikon (those officially preferred for astro imaging), but it has reached a substantial higher image quality while suppressing the noise into new record low levels (switchable from low, medium and high or full AUTO). The entire body of K-5 is made of a special alloys and stainless steel, therefore extremely tough and sturdy for imaging work.. AND all this air tight and WATER proof! So one does not have to worry about dew dripping all over the camera any longer!! In addition to all features found in competing Canon/Nikon models, this the K-5 offers a mind boggling ISO 51200, new SR (Shake Reduction) implemented directly into the body of the camera, CTE mode in White balance system, Buffer RAW-Format memory function, ultra high speed RAW data processing, distortion compensation and lateral chromatic aberration compensation functions, a single button live view, full HD movie recording (great for a meteor recording when a proper SF lens is chosen, for example 50mm F1,4), and tons of other impressive features.
Just for your info, Pentax does not pay me or Istar a penny for openly advertizing their products.. but every once in a while somebody comes out with a product which deserves a special attention and I strongly believe that these two products from Pentax are definitely worth mentioning and worth further discussion and further testing. Personally I am more than excited about these products and even though Pentax never belonged to the group of astro-friendly cameras, all this changed over night with their new K-5 and its smaller brother K-x (12,4 MP model). There is way too little info on this subject on the www and I want to stir up some discussion here guys... help me out!
The picture would not be complete if I mentioned only the new K-5 DSLR. This next product is even more exciting and I know people who experimented with a very similar idea in the past. I’m so happy to see Pentax succeed in developing this new exciting device.
I strongly believe that every astro imager should look into one of these new Pentax models, try it out and share their experiences right here on Istar Scope Club forum. Personally I believe that K-5 deserves a much greater attention from all of us astro freaks (and I’m currently saving my pennies to get my own) Frankly, after seeing what Pentax K-5 is capable of, I would never go back to my old Canon.. and believe me, I enjoyed working with my previous Canon cameras and lenses. But I’m not the type of person who is blindly faithful to one certain brand or model.. I always look for a better, improved product.. and I seem to find them in a new Pentax line-up..
But this is not all the exciting news.. not by FAR! Pentax currently came out with O-GPS1 device which was made to work with the new K-5 or K-r cameras. This little device which is easily mounted onto the cameras external flash bracket will turn your camera into a complete astro-imaging system. You will be allowed to make photos with a pinpoint stars (after the initial calibration process) without need of having an expensive equatorial mount. This system was not meant to replace your professional 4-6” APO with a great mount.. BUT it can still capable of making some incredible wide field deep space photography using your camera lenses. Hard to believe what can be achieved with one 50mm F/1,4, 105mm
F/2,8 and 300mm F/4,0… especially after some careful stacking and processing. Look for more info on the web under: www.pentax.jp/english/products/o-gps1/astrotracer.html
www.pentax.jp/english/products/o-gps1/
I hope to hear back from you soon and I think that you for sharing your thoughts and experience with these new Pentax products.
Best regards,
Ales
Recently I saw some serious astro imaging works done with a standard factory model (IR filter not removed) Pentax K-5 DSLR www.pentax.jp/english/products/k-5/feature.html and I can tell you one thing. This little, fairly inexpensive camera (compared to similar higher end models offered by other manufacturers) really made my eyes pop out. Not only is the new Pentax K-5 with a very impressive 16,3 MP APS chip size substantially smaller compared to similar Canon and Nikon (those officially preferred for astro imaging), but it has reached a substantial higher image quality while suppressing the noise into new record low levels (switchable from low, medium and high or full AUTO). The entire body of K-5 is made of a special alloys and stainless steel, therefore extremely tough and sturdy for imaging work.. AND all this air tight and WATER proof! So one does not have to worry about dew dripping all over the camera any longer!! In addition to all features found in competing Canon/Nikon models, this the K-5 offers a mind boggling ISO 51200, new SR (Shake Reduction) implemented directly into the body of the camera, CTE mode in White balance system, Buffer RAW-Format memory function, ultra high speed RAW data processing, distortion compensation and lateral chromatic aberration compensation functions, a single button live view, full HD movie recording (great for a meteor recording when a proper SF lens is chosen, for example 50mm F1,4), and tons of other impressive features.
Just for your info, Pentax does not pay me or Istar a penny for openly advertizing their products.. but every once in a while somebody comes out with a product which deserves a special attention and I strongly believe that these two products from Pentax are definitely worth mentioning and worth further discussion and further testing. Personally I am more than excited about these products and even though Pentax never belonged to the group of astro-friendly cameras, all this changed over night with their new K-5 and its smaller brother K-x (12,4 MP model). There is way too little info on this subject on the www and I want to stir up some discussion here guys... help me out!
The picture would not be complete if I mentioned only the new K-5 DSLR. This next product is even more exciting and I know people who experimented with a very similar idea in the past. I’m so happy to see Pentax succeed in developing this new exciting device.
I strongly believe that every astro imager should look into one of these new Pentax models, try it out and share their experiences right here on Istar Scope Club forum. Personally I believe that K-5 deserves a much greater attention from all of us astro freaks (and I’m currently saving my pennies to get my own) Frankly, after seeing what Pentax K-5 is capable of, I would never go back to my old Canon.. and believe me, I enjoyed working with my previous Canon cameras and lenses. But I’m not the type of person who is blindly faithful to one certain brand or model.. I always look for a better, improved product.. and I seem to find them in a new Pentax line-up..
But this is not all the exciting news.. not by FAR! Pentax currently came out with O-GPS1 device which was made to work with the new K-5 or K-r cameras. This little device which is easily mounted onto the cameras external flash bracket will turn your camera into a complete astro-imaging system. You will be allowed to make photos with a pinpoint stars (after the initial calibration process) without need of having an expensive equatorial mount. This system was not meant to replace your professional 4-6” APO with a great mount.. BUT it can still capable of making some incredible wide field deep space photography using your camera lenses. Hard to believe what can be achieved with one 50mm F/1,4, 105mm
F/2,8 and 300mm F/4,0… especially after some careful stacking and processing. Look for more info on the web under: www.pentax.jp/english/products/o-gps1/astrotracer.html
www.pentax.jp/english/products/o-gps1/
I hope to hear back from you soon and I think that you for sharing your thoughts and experience with these new Pentax products.
Best regards,
Ales
