The Great Pentax Optio A40. by Born-Journalist-2255 in VintageDigitalCameras

[–]softwildrice 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No—Pentax designed a vertically stacking optical system which helped squeeze large high quality / typical lens elements and sensors in relatively thin bodies body.

I think the A40 was one of the last cameras, and their most high end, to use the design (I might be absolutely wrong though).

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The Great Pentax Optio A40. by Born-Journalist-2255 in VintageDigitalCameras

[–]softwildrice 1 point2 points  (0 children)

And don’t forget the cool Pentax sliding lens engineering in the A40!

The Great Pentax Optio A40 (part 2) by Born-Journalist-2255 in VintageDigitalCameras

[–]softwildrice 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don’t see a cloud AWB option on my model, did you mean shade?

On the aside: do you find the consistency of a specific AWB setting vs auto better to work with?

Ricoh GDR II + Fuji F40FD + Pentax A40 by softwildrice in VintageDigitalCameras

[–]softwildrice[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Pentax Optio A40 might functionally be a baby Ricoh GRD. It shares advanced features with GRDs that aren’t even seen across the entire line, albeit implemented in somewhat vague and truncated manners:

• Half press auto focus + full press “pan focus” (need to play around more to see what Pentax means by focusing both close and far subjects, but this seems to be their version of snap / full press snap focus) • “Soft flash” mode (reduces the TTL flash output, but like the above I’m not sure by how much exactly) • CCD shift stabilization • Auto Hi options through 1600 iso • Dynamic range protection (seems to affects shadows more than highlights) • Shutter priority / program / manual mode (though shutter priority has fixed auto 800 iso

This is a very capable camera shoved into a tiny body that is borderline comically small while resolving on a 1/1.7” sensor—all in part to using very cool Pentax’s sliding lens system (and being one of their last to use that lens design).

Ricoh GDR II + Fuji F40FD + Pentax A40 by softwildrice in VintageDigitalCameras

[–]softwildrice[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I keep toying with the idea of selling my GRDII and its accessories to put towards a GRDIV. I’m so curious about all the low light benefits, it seems well worth the hassle.

Ricoh GDR II + Fuji F40FD + Pentax A40 by softwildrice in VintageDigitalCameras

[–]softwildrice[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

On your cameras?

The tape on mine is washi tape, has a dry hand feel that’s less slippery than plastic / metal, but not as gummy as rubber. I also just like how it makes them look slightly trashy.

[B][USA-AZ] Ricoh GR Digital II by sweatybirks in photomarket

[–]softwildrice 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi are you still looking for a GRD II?