Monday, January 19, 2015

Free AF front/back focusing adjustment charts.

Email: brqyvn@gmail.com

 Hi Photographer friends,

I just learned how to embed a PDF file on Blogger. This makes it easy to share the AF front/back focusing charts. You can now download the charts right here  by clicking the the link below or the image.

The charts are free and are my gift to all Pentax users as well as other brand of DSLRs.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_44neE8iNsXUzRQSEpjRnpoYUU/view?usp=sharing




Best Regards,

Yvon Bourque


Saturday, January 17, 2015

We are now officially residents of Big Bear Lake, California. Here's a few images taken with the Pentax K-3 and the DA* 16-50mm.

Email: brqyvn@gmail.com 

 Hi Photographer friends,

We finally settled in and today was our first outing. We just drove across the lake, stopped by the Big Bear Lake Discovery Center and walked along the beach.  We ended our mini-trek at Starbuck.

I spoke with a ranger at the Discovery Center and learned that Bald Eagles were making Big Bear Lake their home in the winters. The reason is that moist of them live up North in the summer, all the way to Northern Canada, and when the lakes freeze over, they travel south. Big Bear Lake is at around 7,000 ft elevation and the lake doesn't freeze. They are approximately 30 Bald Eagles around the lake. Next week, we will participate in counting Bald Eagles that are around the lake. They will drive us at a location where the eagles have been seen before.  There will be dozens of us all around the lake, spotting them.

************************************
Big Bear Lake As many as 30 eagles winter around this and other nearby mountain lakes in the San Bernardino Mountains. They typically arrive in November from Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Canada and Alaska, heading to Big Bear, Silverwood and Arrowhead lakes and staying until early April. Starting in December, the Big Bear Discovery Center offers guided van tours around Big Bear Lake to at least 10 spots where the birds nest and hunt. 
Info: (909) 382-2790, www.bigbeardiscoverycenter.com.

*************************************

I think I'm going to love this place. Nature is all around us and I can only imagine what photo opportunities awaits.

The Ski resort on the South side of the lake.
There is no pollution at that elevation.
Billboard for lovers
Tall grass, fresh water and blue sky
We named her Ruby!
A neighbor taking a walk.
She has a permanent smile since we moved here.
Our house is about where she points at.
Thank you for reading,

Yvon Bourque

Monday, January 12, 2015

** (Update) ** Why do PENTAX specific forums disallow the posting of e-books availability for Pentax specific cameras?

Email: brqyvn@gmail.com

 Hi Photographer friends,

Update:

Following up to this post, a reader suggested that I should put my e-books for sale on the "Market" section of PentaxForums. I did and also received this PM from  them also:

I just wanted to let you know that our Marketplace policy disallows commercial posts such as your book promo threads without Marketplace Reseller Access.  Since I wasn't able to help you promote the book after our discussion last year, though, and since I know you're on a budget, I will go ahead and make an exception to this rule and permit you to have one thread promoting your books.

That's being a true Pentaxian.

Thank you Adams

I appreciate this and , I'm sure, many Pentax DSLR users appreciate this as well.

I once held the Pentax 645, and wish I could afford one. 
Now, the 645Z is out and it's even better. I will probably 
never write an e-book about it because (A) Most people
that purchase one are Professional Photographers and (B)
I cannot afford to get my hands on one.

For seven years now, I have written and published e-books for all the Pentax DSLRs, with the exception of the Pentax 645/645z and the K-s1. 

I understand that my e-books are not for everyone. Professional Photographers probably don't need any books.  Of all the emails I received, I get thank you notes for writing the e-books and most often, compliments on how friendly and easy-to-understand my e-books are.

I only write about Pentax cameras because I am a Pentax life-long user and I am convinced that the Pentax cameras and lenses are the best value for the money.

I am a subscriber to  all Pentax related forums, including
http://www.pentaxforums.com/
http://photo.net/pentax-camera-forum/
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/1036
and many more forums and blogs.

We all have one thing in common, "PENTAX". Each Forum has a set of rules in which they forbid any marketing posts.  I have to agree with them, because before you know it, Camera Gadgets, Car Manufacturers, Pharmaceutical Products, Computer Manufacturers, etc., would all be posting their products. However, I see that most do have "Google Ads" or other "Pay-per-click" advertisement on their sites. It is a way to earn money and I see nothing really wrong with it, although I do not have any of that sort of advertisement on my blog.

What I find regrettable, is that I cannot talk about my e-books on any of these sites, although I am strictly Pentax. You, the readers, are allowed to talk about my e-books, but not I.  I find that unfortunate, because what I do helps PENTAX users and nobody else. I am not the enemy, I am a friend.  I even offered Pentaxforums a commission if they would advertise my e-books for the Pentax DSLRs. At first, everything was very promising, but then Adams wanted to collect the money on PentaxForums and have the actual e-book files on his database. My sales book was open for verification, but I couldn't bring myself into giving all my hard work to someone else. It's too bad, because  more Pentax users would have been able to benefit from an e-book for their specific camera.

You can find all kind of helpful books, videos and e-books for Nikon and Canon, but there are nothing for the Pentax brand. I am pretty much the only source. It is obvious that there is a lot of money to be made in writing material about the Nikon and Canon brands, but I am a Pentax user to the core. I am not living off my e-book sales. I would be really poor if my e-books were my sole source of revenue. I do it basically because I love photography and I love Pentax. The money generated allows me to purchase the cameras as they are introduced so that I can write my e-books soon after a new camera is released.

There, you have it, the way I feel about the whole thing.  It looks to me like all of us, Pentax Users, would stick and help each other, but the reality is different.

Thank you for reading my rants.

Yvon Bourque

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

CES 2015 Ricoh Imaging



Email: brqyvn@gmail.com

Hi   Photographer friends,

I'm not sure who took this video, but it sure does show the Ricoh / PENTAX presence at the CES 2015.





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Here is some new details on the new Pentax DSLR camera Ricoh announced at the CES 2015. You can anticipate all the new attributes to also be incorporated in the 2015 release of a full frame Pentax.

Email: brqyvn@gmail.com

 Hi Photographer friends,

Here is some new details on the  new Pentax DSLR camera Ricoh announced at the CES 2015. You can anticipate all the new attributes to also be incorporated in the 2015 release of a full frame Pentax.

  1. Built-in Wi-Fi (That's great)
  2. Dual control wheels
  3. Fully articulating LCD (Long anticipated)
  4. Weather sealing
  5. Video mode on the on/off switch

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

images of the Ricoh / PENTAX booth at the 2015 CES.

Email: brqyvn@gmail.com 













The images were all taken by Ricoh / PENTAX at the CES 2015.





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Monday, January 5, 2015

New Ricoh / PENTAX DSLR replacement of the K-50 announced.Availability in the spring. Three new lenses also announced.

Email: brqyvn@gmail.com 

 Hi Photographer friends,

RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION is showcasing their full line up of cameras, lenses, and accessories at the Internationally renowned Consumer Electronics Show (CES), January 6-9, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Visit Ricoh Imaging, located at booth #13244 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center for an interactive exhibit and demonstration of all that Ricoh Imaging has to offer. 

As part of this year’s display, RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. is pleased to announce that it will exhibit four digital SLR camera products, as reference models during the show. 

Overview of Upcoming Products

1. Product type: Lens-interchangeable K mount digital SLR camera 

   Model name: to be announced later

 ・APS-C-size CMOS image sensor (23.5mm×15.6mm)
 ・Market launch: Spring 2015 (tentative)



2. Interchangeable lens for K mount digital cameras

 Model name: to be announced later

 ・This standard zoom lens covers focal lengths from 18mm to 50mm
 ・Retracted structure adopted
 ・Market launch: Spring 2015 (tentative) 



3. Interchangeable lens for K mount digital cameras 

   Model name: to be announced later

  ・High magnification super-telephoto zoom lens
  ・Market launch: Not decided 



4. Interchangeable lens for K mount digital cameras 

   Model name: to be announced later

  ・Large diameter telephoto zoom lens
  ・Market launch: Not decided


P.S. I know that 2015 will be the year Pentax introduces a Full Frame DSLR. It always feels like Pentax is late in the game, but in reality, it always take them a little while to go full speed with designs already marketed by other companies. They essentially let other companies develop their system and then takes these systems to new levels, with lower prices. The Full Frame Pentax will be something special, take my word. Look at what they did with the 645Z. It is similar to Hasselblads, Mamiyas, Leaf, and other makes, but much cheaper.

Thank you for Reading,

Yvon Bourque





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