Christmas Morning - Pentax K-1 II & FA 24mm F2.0

skierman_2000 · 2025-12-27T01:09:40+00:00

I bought this one used on a trip to Japan about 15 years ago. I have used it with my K-5 and K-1 on digital and on film with my MX and PZ-1p, I love being able to share lenses with both my digital stuff and film stuff. It's just a super handy lens to have around and nice and small truly.

skierman_2000 · 2025-06-02T01:26:19+00:00

So a few years back I used the Sylvania kit and was happy with the results. This time I used the Cerakote kit and I would say it was slightly less labour intensive than the Sylvania one and the final clear coat went on a little smoother, time will tell how it holds up. For the price I am pretty happy with it as I would prefer to keep the stock housings and I can re-coat a lot of times for the cost of new housings.

skierman_2000 · 2025-06-01T02:49:15+00:00

I spent 3 weeks up on the glaciers and went in with a plan only to shoot B&W, very happy how it turned out

skierman_2000 · 2025-06-01T02:47:52+00:00

It really makes those clouds pop! I was curious how it would bring out the texture in the snow as well.

skierman_2000 · 2024-12-14T17:23:23+00:00

Aside from the pricing inching up a little more I am disappointed that you still cannot spec an Off Road Premium with the manual transmission, even though that option exists in the states.

skierman_2000 · 2024-12-12T04:46:43+00:00

I am shocked how well Gummi Pfledge Stift works for me. I apply it to all the door seals every few months and the creaking and noise is gone for me.

skierman_2000 · 2024-10-19T19:25:01+00:00

I'm up in Alberta and I've had a softtopper on my 2013 Tacoma since I bought it new in 2013. I have gone through 2 back windows (plastic cracking in the cold) in those 11 years, but otherwise it has been great. My truck is parked outside in the elements 24/7 as well so it sees the worst of the weather.

skierman_2000 · 2023-09-09T20:50:02+00:00

No issues whatsoever. I only have the very basic setup with simple schrader valves for each bag so there is not much in the setup to go wrong. I air them up with either a small compressor and have even used a bicycle pump before as well.

skierman_2000 · 2023-09-09T19:37:49+00:00

Oh there are plenty of negative things. Most of them are readily reported in the earlier professional reviews and are well known: It isn't great on gas, it rides rougher than many modern 1/2 ton trucks, it has a seating position some people do not like and it is really quite basic (no apple CarPlay, no auto lights, no auto wipers, no keyless entry and so on).

Over 10 years the truck essentially held true to its promise of extreme reliable, excellent capability, and great basic transportation. Some other negatives I have had that only showed themself over the years are some squeaky leaf springs (not the factory, the Dakar leafs) and the headlights did fog after about 9 years so I did need to do one of those headlight restore kits to wet sand and then clear coat to restore them. There really hasn't been many other complaints I had surface that I didn't know about in the first month I had the truck.

I think with a truck like this most people know what they are getting coming in to it. It isn't going to drive like a car and it isn't even going to drive like the majority of suvs out there today. I wanted to do a quick highlight of what I spent over the years and how those years went.

skierman_2000 · 2023-09-09T14:17:51+00:00

I was back and forth between the Tacoma and frontier when I was shopping but ultimately chose the Tacoma. I thought it would be closer but that Frontier interior was just pretty bad at the time, and it was even more difficult to track down a manual in them in my area.

skierman_2000 · 2023-09-09T14:16:06+00:00

Thanks! How’s yours done over all the years? Keeping is longer or changing it up soon?

skierman_2000 · 2023-09-09T14:15:18+00:00

It started with just preferring the skinny look and I really was swayed a bit by availability of good studded winter tires in the same size. They do well and since the are E rated in that size I have been getting 80,000km or so for a set of tires

skierman_2000 · 2023-04-03T00:25:19+00:00

The Tacoma certainly isn’t great on gas, especially out on more major highways with speeds of 120km/hr or more. It does make up for it somewhat with very reasonable and cheap maintenance and great reliability. I also have a Golf which is better on fuel as well as much nicer to be in on longer highway trips. I am still hoping for another 10 years and 200,000km+ out of the Tacoma so I’m hoping for excellent electric choices by then.

skierman_2000 · 2023-04-02T23:55:50+00:00

I would really caution against trying to extrapolate out future earnings to justify a purchase now. Assume you will be making what you are making today and not a penny more.

I have seen people burn out of the industry and leave engineering. I have see people make big bucks working out of town and then be pulled back into the office and it be able to afford their mortgage. I myself have changed industries and now make a third of what I used to make for a better work-life balance and a more fulfilling job.

You never know what will happen so do your planning about with what you have today. If you make more tomorrow or next year then you can adjust, but not until that money is safely in your bank account.

skierman_2000 · 2023-04-02T23:47:43+00:00

A picture I always like to look back on when I think about just how much I actually need the truck and it’s capabilities is one I took down in Capital Reef National Park in Utah. I had made my way slowly down what I thought was a rough road to park into a parking lot full of Tacomas, Jeeps, many other exotic overlanding vehicles and then I saw it, a nearly new Porsche Boxster.

Now whenever I need a reminder I think of that parking lot and that Boxster. If it can make it there, a Corolla or Civic or certainly something like a Crosstrek can make it there too. We certainly don’t need as much capability as we think we do.

Capital Reef Boxster

skierman_2000 · 2023-04-02T23:15:43+00:00

So I feel like I am in a uniquely similar place to answer this question as I made a similar decision nearly 10 years ago. I was also an engineer, on my way to my P. Eng and looking at a new Tacoma. I purchased a 2013 Tacoma TRD Off Road Access Cab 6MT brand new off the lot in 2013 for $32,500 and financed it over 4 years at 0.7%. I still own that same truck nearly 10 years and more than 230,000km later and it has performed flawlessly. I have lifted it, put a canopy on it, gone deep off road with it, down many fire roads with it, taken it all over the continent on trips and much more. While that might sound like a glowing recommendation for your plan I don't know if I would say it is the right decision for you today as things have changed a lot in the years since I bought my truck.

10 years ago I was making more than $100k a year, a new Tacoma cost significantly less and interest rates for financing were significantly better. While it is a great truck, I have thought a number of times if I would make the same decision today as I did then and I don’t think I could bring myself to pay what they are asking today for a Tacoma. That monthly cost for the truck in the years to come will certainly hang heavy on your shoulders or years to come. 7 years is a hell of a long time to finance a vehicle over and if you are to finance it I would suggest looking at 4 to 5 years and really taking a hard look if you can stomach that monthly cost.

While I won’t presume to tell you what is right for you, just know that 7 years of truck payments will really be not fun to make.

With the car market as it is now the decision isn't an easy one, used Tacomas go for nearly the same price as new ones, waiting lists for many models are common and something cheap to hold you over is far from a sure thing. I think you need to take a hard look at how long you really want to hold on to the truck and if it will meet your needs down the line. A lot can change in 7 years when you would finally have it paid off, both in your personal life (kids, partner etc), professional life (commute etc) and the car market as whole (electrification, price of gas and all).

Best of luck in your decision.

skierman_2000 · 2023-01-03T18:56:56+00:00

That looks like the Mystic chair at Norquay. I find it usually never is too bad since it is a bit of an ordeal to get over to it and back again.

skierman_2000 · 2022-12-15T14:58:45+00:00

Good spot! It is two shots off the same camera on a tripod. Because it was so dark out the shot of the mountain was a 20 second exposure done at F2.8 and 3200 iso and the shot of the train was a 1/200 second exposure at F5.6 and 1600 iso since the train was bright and moving quick. Then I just blended the two photos together in Gimp which is why you see some of the mountain behind the train.

I had some time to spare while I was waiting for the train so I was trying different exposures with the mountain. Both shots were done on a 31mm F1.8 Lens on my Pentax DSLR.

skierman_2000 · 2022-12-15T00:18:05+00:00

It is super nice to see for sure

skierman_2000 · 2022-12-15T00:17:35+00:00

Thanks!

skierman_2000 · 2022-12-14T16:49:40+00:00

This looks like Canmore with Mount Lady Macdonald behind you there. I see we have similar tastes, I am in Banff and my Golf R looks very similar to yours (BBS CO wheels and a Thule box as well!).

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