Time for some accessories!

[pentaxr]

Hi all,

I have been enjoying the K100D with the Sigma17-70mm thoroughly.! No LBA yet, although I have my eyes set on 50mm f1.4 or DA40

But what I need badly are a few accessories, and as always I seek help here!

1. Screen protector: The only good one I have come across is the expertshield protector on ebay. I was wondering if there are any good ones available other than the expertshield. There are some good ones for nikon, but couldnt find any for pentax.

2. Tripod Problem: I bought a slik sdv10 long back. I didnt realize a big problem until recently. It does not have the quick release plate which means I have to screw/unscrew the camera everytime I use the tripod.
I was wondering if there are options to purchase the release plate separately. (one end sticks to the tripod permanently)

3. Lumiquest soft screen: Anyone used this before? Do they fit the pentax well?

4. Camera bag: I have a lowepro compudaypack. I am really happy with it. However, I use the daypack for carrying my laptop too. So the camera ends up without a case most of the time. Moreover, the daypack gets a little too bulky for small events like birthday's etc. I am looking at a dirt cheap bag which I can keep the camera in and also an occasional outing. Dont care about looks, brand etc. Just a rugged one.

5. Lens cleaning tissues: I got a few (may be 10) from Orient photo when I bought the camera. I think they are quite good. But I am not sure they are very different from normal tissues . I wanted to know if packs of say 50 are available. Also anyone used lenspen?

6. Planning to go for eneloop batteries. A few of my friends suggest me to go for crv3's. I am not able to decide. I am in favour of AAs.

Thanks in advance!

[dnaxe]

Originally Posted by pentaxr 6. Planning to go for eneloop batteries. A few of my friends suggest me to go for crv3's. I am not able to decide. I am in favour of AAs.

Pentax literature says not to use crv3s.

I recommend eneloops, having used them myself. It's SO MUCH less painful since I don't have to charge very often any longer.

[NoMoney]

Originally Posted by dnaxe Pentax literature says not to use crv3s. I recommend eneloops, having used them myself. It's SO MUCH less painful since I don't have to charge very often any longer.

Eneloops are the best battery among the rechargeable batteries I had.

Hold charge long enough even I need it without recharge.

[alanpotpot]

What charger do you guys use?

[airconvent]

Hi
Will answer the questions in red.

Originally Posted by pentaxr 1. Screen protector: The only good one I have come across is the expertshield protector on ebay. I was wondering if there are any good ones available other than the expertshield. There are some good ones for nikon, but couldnt find any for pentax. Just buy any screen protector that is large enough will do! Don't waste money paying more for the same stuff because of the brand name. Daiso sells them at $2 a piece (get the correct sized one) while SLS sells them from $12 onwards. 2. Tripod Problem: I bought a slik sdv10 long back. I didnt realize a big problem until recently. It does not have the quick release plate which means I have to screw/unscrew the camera everytime I use the tripod. I was wondering if there are options to purchase the release plate separately. (one end sticks to the tripod permanently) You can try Cathay Photo. I bought my extra Manfrotto plate from them. But your tripod need to already have a quick release plate to begin with. I have a Weifeng brand tripod which I bought sometime back for my astronomy telescope but do not use it now. I can let it go to you for $50 if you are interested. It does have a quick release plate (can't be sure if you can buy extra plates though). 3. Lumiquest soft screen: Anyone used this before? Do they fit the pentax well? No idea what this is...sorry. 4. Camera bag: I have a lowepro compudaypack. I am really happy with it. However, I use the daypack for carrying my laptop too. So the camera ends up without a case most of the time. Moreover, the daypack gets a little too bulky for small events like birthday's etc. I am looking at a dirt cheap bag which I can keep the camera in and also an occasional outing. Dont care about looks, brand etc. Just a rugged one. Most rugged low end ones like lowepro cost up to $100. I prefer the sling bag but from your description, you may be better served by a backpack. These have compartment below for cameras and lenses but the uppe portion is for your other stuff. (no laptop though). Try OP at SLS or Cathay or TK Photo. They have a large selection of bags but prices are not "dirt cheap". If you are really tight, a simple bag lined with foam would probably be the poor man's solution but I do not recommend it. 5. Lens cleaning tissues: I got a few (may be 10) from Orient photo when I bought the camera. I think they are quite good. But I am not sure they are very different from normal tissues . I wanted to know if packs of say 50 are available. Also anyone used lenspen? I use the 3M optics cleaning cloth. They are quite good. Not disposable of course but they are designed not to rub away your coating under normal cleaning. 6. Planning to go for eneloop batteries. A few of my friends suggest me to go for crv3's. I am not able to decide. I am in favour of AAs. Eneloops are ok but they do not last as long (< 2000mAH) I heard the GP recyklo is not as good and have no impression of the new Sony ones (cost the same!). I am using a GP 1 hr charger to charge them. Very convenient. They also sell the 1/2 hr or 2 hr chargers also but the bad news is they do not sell the charger by itself. Thanks in advance!

cheers

[creampuff]

1) Screen protector? Nah, never used any for any of my cameras.
Never saw the need because:
i) the sweat and grease from your nose will mess it up
ii) Nothing beats seeing the screen with full clarity
iii) If the screen is greasy a tissue with a little isopropyl alcohol will do the trick
iv) I feel it is a waste of money
v) Never had any scratches on the screen NOT using any protector

2) Tripod. Buy the best you can afford and don't skimp on a good tripod head.
I have a tripod for sale in b&s

3) Lumiquest Soft Screen
Will diffuse the on-board flash and widen out the light spread a little but it will throttle down your flash range. Don't expect too much for a $20 product.

4) For a small setup, get a sling bag, it is faster than a backpack. A small one that can put in 2 or 3 lenses and some accessories should be sufficient.

5) Soft facial tissues with a little isopropyl alcohol is my preferred method of cleaning. Fast, clean and leaves no marks. Been using this method for years.

6) Eneloops ite best, forget the rest. Can use any Sanyo charger.

[istDeS]

Originally Posted by alanpotpot What charger do you guys use?

Maha charger for me.

[alanpotpot]

Originally Posted by istDeS Maha charger for me.

Where can I buy a Maha charger in Singapore?

[Gengh]

1. Screen protector: Yah, just get some cheap one from Daisoh.

2. I tried using my mother's Slik SDV10 at first too, don't think you can change the head of this tripod, so you'll just have to get a new tripod if you want the quick release plate.

4. If you only need the very bare minimum, you could try one of Lowepro's cheaper Toploaders or even the Rezo TLZ. My K100D with kit lens fit in the Rezo TLZ 10 fine, but now that I'm using the Sigma 18-200mm, it's a very tight fit. I think you'll need something bigger.

5. Pec Pad? There's Kimwipe too.

[night86mare]

i use a cheapo screen protector that orient photo just threw at me
don't really care,actually - i suppose after a while whether good or bad all screen protectors will somehow spoil
so long as you get one which isn't so bad until will mark the screen permanently once you put it on, why pay so much money?

tripod - no quick release plate, jialat
not familiar with that model, can you unscrew the head
if you can, you can change to a ballhead or pan-tilt head that comes with qr plate
can cost anything from cheap cheap to expensive
i personally like the ppcp v2 tripod which i just got recently
and used the slik sprint pro 3-way a while back, both are good tripods
though i must say that the slik sprint pro 3-way head will spoil damn fast if you use it a lot =(

if you have a higher budget you can go for manfrotto, quality i guess, though a bit heavy for me, i find

for soft screen, personally i rather get a cheapo fixed output flash and bounce card, find that when need to use flash the inbuilt one usually does a good job
what it lacks is power only

camera bag - huh? don't get what you mean, the compudaypack is designed to bring both camera AND laptop around what. if you want something slightly smaller, i use the orion trekker II as well, is just like daypack just without laptop compartment, and slightly shorter

otherwise crumpler (though some people might not like the look) makes well-cushioned, rugged-feeling bags, i like the 5 or 6 million dollar home, my 5 mdh can carry 2 lenses and dslr with lens attached or 1 flash 1 lens and dslr with lens attached along with a few filters and spare batteries

get lenspen, much easier
you can also get lens tissues from ppcp
site here
i often use it, find it quite reliable with good service
sometimes has hiccups but that is to be expected i guess

and please please use eneloop batteries
they are the best thing for the k100d invented in this lifetime
pair it with a quick maha charger and you'll be set for life

apologies if this is hard to read
i used to post with proper punctuation
Like this. But I guess it's a lot easier to just type without caps and just enter, teehee.

[alanswan]

Originally Posted by alanpotpot Where can I buy a Maha charger in Singapore?

Got mine from Eastgear. But last heard, their price are starting to go up...
So you might want to look around a bit first...

[the mac 13]

Originally Posted by alanswan Got mine from Eastgear. But last heard, their price are starting to go up... So you might want to look around a bit first...

Do you have any idea why it went up so much? The increase is about SGD 20, and GST does not look that much.

[fengwei]

Originally Posted by pentaxr Hi all, I have been enjoying the K100D with the Sigma17-70mm thoroughly.! No LBA yet, although I have my eyes set on 50mm f1.4 or DA40 Go and get the FA50/1.4, or the DA40, you won't regret But what I need badly are a few accessories, and as always I seek help here! 1. Screen protector: The only good one I have come across is the expertshield protector on ebay. I was wondering if there are any good ones available other than the expertshield. There are some good ones for nikon, but couldnt find any for pentax. I don't use screen protect on my cameras. Nowadays I don't even use it on my PDAs (I've got three, or four if you count the Treo 680 2. Tripod Problem: I bought a slik sdv10 long back. I didnt realize a big problem until recently. It does not have the quick release plate which means I have to screw/unscrew the camera everytime I use the tripod. I was wondering if there are options to purchase the release plate separately. (one end sticks to the tripod permanently) Get the one that creampuff is selling. It's a very good tripod. Good price too. There are something similar selling at the b&s forum too 3. Lumiquest soft screen: Anyone used this before? Do they fit the pentax well? Not too useful as far as I know ... 4. Camera bag: I have a lowepro compudaypack. I am really happy with it. However, I use the daypack for carrying my laptop too. So the camera ends up without a case most of the time. Moreover, the daypack gets a little too bulky for small events like birthday's etc. I am looking at a dirt cheap bag which I can keep the camera in and also an occasional outing. Dont care about looks, brand etc. Just a rugged one. I got at least 4 camera bags, several soft bags which only hold the camera plus a lens so I'd just throw it in my backpack Eventually you'll need more than one bag imo. If you don't care the look or brand, go to CP and check out what they have there. Normally a slingbag by Lowepro should cost lower than $50. 5. Lens cleaning tissues: I got a few (may be 10) from Orient photo when I bought the camera. I think they are quite good. But I am not sure they are very different from normal tissues . I wanted to know if packs of say 50 are available. Also anyone used lenspen? Get the ECLIPSE lens cleaner and the PEC*PAD paper wipes, they are the best for cleaning lenses, and sensors too. You can find them at CP. 6. Planning to go for eneloop batteries. A few of my friends suggest me to go for crv3's. I am not able to decide. I am in favour of AAs. I'd used CRV3s with my D and Ds w/o any problem. But nowadays I use eneloop AAs with the K100D. The batteries hold their charges quite well even without use for a long time. They are quite cheap nowadays, can be easily get from AP or some other stores. Any NiMh AA battery charge will work for these eneloop batteries. Thanks in advance!

Good luck and happy shooting.

[alanswan]

From what I understood, they were running at loss in the beginning, and now have to start making profits...
Kind of... Something like that...

[alanpotpot]

Originally Posted by alanswan From what I understood, they were running at loss in the beginning, and now have to start making profits... Kind of... Something like that...

Did you buy the maha 401 or the C9000?

[alanswan]

Originally Posted by alanpotpot Did you buy the maha 401 or the C9000?

Mine's a 401....

[pentaxr]

Thank you all for your responses! Here is what I have decided:

1. Screen protector: Will go for some ordinary cheapo ones (daisoh).
2. Tripod: Well, I think I will live without the release plate. Not a big deal. I may be getting a gorillapod sometime later. So let me invest on that one.
3. Lumiquest soft screen: The more I try shooting with the flash, the more complicated it seems. I never seem to get it right! I decided to take time and get some good photos first and then look for diffusers to enhance it
4. Camera Bag: I have decided to go for tamrac express 5. Retails in US for around $25
http://www.tamrac.com/3535.htm Suites my requirement perfectly.

OMG, the mother of all problems is approaching, a friend offered to get me a lens from US. I am confused now, which lens? SMCPFA50f1.4 or DA40f2.8?
I am inclined more inclined to the 40f2.8

Thanks again!

[katman]

I am using Lumiquest SofBounce with my K100d. it fits fine when you attach it properly.