Does your camera make you smile ?

Now I know this sounds strange but, In the next couple of days I am thinking about pre ordering a camera that I had a little play with a couple of weeks ago, and it made me smile, not just a little tiny smile but a huge full on all teeth showing grin.

Now this camera isn't cheap not by a long way and to be honest I don't need it at all, but it made me happy, I have Pentax cameras that do sort of the same, I smile when I pick up and use my MX-1, I smile an even bigger smile when I take my Q out with me. But my K5' nothing, nothing at all, it's just a camera and a superb camera as well,but it's there to get the job done.

Mulling it over today and for the price of this happy camera( I shall refer to it as the happy camera to keep you know who happy), I could go out and buy a gripped K3 with the 60-250mm which I have been after for a while now and a weekend away, but would it make me smile a bigger smile then when I use the happy camera, I don't know.

Am I mad or are you the same, does anyone else on a camera that just makes you smile?

Absolutely, buy the camera that makes you smile and the smile will show in the images you produce. That's how I accidentally ordered an MX-1.

The only caveat is that if it takes all your budget, make sure it will do the job as well and then the smile won't turn into a grimace of frustration.

The only caveat is that if it takes all your budget, make sure it will do the job as well and then the smile won't turn into a grimace of frustration.[/quote]That's the only thing I am worried about John, A couple of months of joy followed by a eBay listing

My K-5 made me smile. I knew it was the camera for me when I first held one at Photokina.
My K-5ii makes me smile.

No camera will make me smile enough to pay the sort of money you are talking of though. The holiday I could have for that money would make me smile a whole lot more than any camera.

Gwyn has a fair point there. Apart from anything else, having a camera that means no cash left to go anywhere with it becomes a bit futile.

As slow as it is the 60-250mm f4 always makes me smile. I also have the Sigma 100-300mm f4 which is faster focusing, longer, internal focusing and sharp as a knife but the IQ of the 60-250mm gets me every time.

I would go so far as to say it would make a dog **** look good.

Ricoh GR does it for me, in my pocket or on my belt, happy in the knowledge it will do everything that I want.

Prior to buying my K-r around 2 years ago, I had a wee look at one in the Harrods photographic department (my missus has a loyalty card for Harrods, and would have got a discount in exchange for her loyalty points). The price of £550 wiped any chance of a smile right off my face. Take a bow, ARGOS (I know, I know!!....) for putting a £398 smile on my face when I got my K-r from there!!

Is this happy camera FF perchance?

My K5iis makes me smile, not for any image quality difference, (but simply, and I've never heard it mentioned) its the shutter sound, a slightly different pitch to the K5mki, very satisfying.

I was excited by the prospect of this 'happy camera' but it has unfortunately really disappointed me. I find it quite ugly, the price is ridiculous, it's still quite large and heavy, and the killer punch is the quality primes you'd want to use with it cost as much if not more, than a K3, each.

But if you've got the money and it makes you happy go for it...

Now the orginal MX, that is a design, please Pentax if you're going to join this retro FF trend use the MX as a base, pretty please!

I bought a K7 because it made me smile - superb construction, a sort of classic 'look' especially with a lovely K lens attached, small size but powerful features etc. But after a while I got annoyed with it's quirks. I ended up buying a boring old K10D, which didn't make me smile initially, but as I found it was actually a lot nicer to use, and actually offered slightly better image quality IMHO, a more long lasting smile found its way to my face. It was a camera that just worked for me.

Be a little bit cautious about cameras that bring a smile to your face initially, but which might not ultimately offer what you need for what you want to shoot.

For things like the MX1 and the Q, fine, go for it if they make you grin - they aren't exorbitantly expensive and are geared up for photographic fun. I'm talking more about you main camera though, your workhorse.

Ah they released it, the DF? Looks quite nice. It's a similar idea to the K7/K5 series bodies though isn't it? A 'compact' high end camera? But of course the DF is full frame.

Pentax struck a better balance with the K7/5 cameras though, retaining a front and rear edial rather than shutter speeds via a dial on the top plate (awkward ergonomically). The physical ISO and EV dials don't look great to use either.

It seems a nice camera if you want to catapult yourself back into the 1970s, and slow your shooting right down, which might make for a rewarding photographic experience. But is it a convenient photographic experience, for those times when pottering around thoughtfully isn't an option? I want these controls at my fingertips in a normal shooting position, without having to move my eye from the viewfinder.

I must admit I rather like the look of the A7R (shhhh)

2nd your K7 thoughts there Will - part of the smile for me was the knowledge of the incredible value I was getting compared to the competition. It offered an amazing introduction into DSLR shooting with some very 'Pro-Spec' features. Only difference is I'm still loving it for now.