Matt's Stuff.....

Matt-
I am currently shooting a 10.3Mp Pentax K10D. The K10D has proven itself to be versatile and easy to use, the basic controls are literally at your fingertips. It fires a good rate of 3.0 frames per second (fps) from 1 nice and slow 30 second shutter speed, up to 1/4000 second shutter speed (four thousandths of a second). I have had my camera for almost two years and I love it. It's easy to use and really easy to get photos from the camera to the computer. It has awesome battery life, if I don't use the built-in flash, and even has an optional cable to charge the camera, rather than having to drag around the charger with me. I don't have that cable....yet! I actually have THREE dedicated batteries for the camera. The K10D uses a Lithium battery called a D-Li50. Not like having AA batteries, the Pentax KM uses 4 AA batteries.
The other REALLY AWESOME aspect of the K10D, or any Pentax DLSR for that matter, is that you have the option of using ANY Pentax lens with it! Whether it's a new digital lens or an old 35mm lens, it will fit on my camera, as long as it has the Pentax K-mount. Pentax manufactures their digital cameras with the Auto-Focus (AF) motor and Shake Reduction (SR) built right into the cameras! Whilst other companies, like Nikon, tend to build these options into the lenses. This means that some lenses are not compatible. Also, if the lens is compatible but has no SR built into it....you have no SR at all! Pentax is SR compatible no matter what! AWESOME!

Lenses! I love lenses! Small ones and big ones! I currently have Pentax 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 Lens and the Pentax 55-300mm 1:4-5.8 Lens.....My problem is, I still want a bigger lens! My "want" is a 2x extension and a 500mm lens. This will basically give me a 1000mm lens and the ability to get "closer" to subjects that are further away! One day I will have my "want"!

Tripod! For a long time I had a Slik U-212! I bought it off a friend of mine for $50, which was a pretty good deal at the time! However, it was old and heavy and a little cumbersome. So, I bought myself a Manfrotto 190XB with a 486RC head unit! It's an amzing little thing! All I have to do is turn one knob and the whole thing moves in any direction I want. In addition, it has totally independant legs on it. I can actually spread the legs out at 180 degrees to the camera. I highly suggest spending the extra money on a good quality tripod. Manfrotto and Gitso offer some really nice options from $150 upto $500. Don't let prices fool, it's really worth the money! All I can say for Manfrotto is "Italian"....like a Ferarri! It's good stuff!

Finally....how to carry all my great stuff?!? I spent about $100 on a Lowepro FastPack 250. My FP250 allows me to carry my camera, in an easy-to-access pouch; as well as my lenses, cables, filters, etc. THe FP250 also has a large pouch to hold a 15.4 inch laptop! AWESOME BAG!! I would HIGHLY reccomend a Lowepro bag! HIGHLY!!

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DSLR w/ 18-55mm Lens - $1200
55-300mm Lens - $400
Manfrotto 190XB w/ 486RC Head - $200
Lowepro FastPack 250 - $100
The experience of making a picture no one else can make - PRICELESS!

Thanks for reading!!
Matt Heard

"click-click"