From a Nikonite to a Pentaxian...

Hello all, I thought I would introduce myself as others have done.

I have always enjoyed photography, but really in the last 10 years it has become my main hobby (sports, travel, portraits and street). After flirtations with various systems I settled in with Micro Four Thirds for a number of years, mainly driven by the need to take photos of my children's sports and the variety of excellent telephoto options on the system. My father was a professional photographer and he has stayed loyal to Nikon since the 1960s. I bought him a Christmas gift a few years ago of a Nikon DF. He barely used it as he preferred his D800E, so he ended up gifting it to me. It was my first experience using an OVF and I was hooked. I ended up selling my Micro Four Thirds gear and going all in with Nikon (including a ZF). I used both mirrorless and DSLR, but I enjoyed DSLR much more.

I have always wanted a Pentax because I admire the brand, their innovations and history, and also because they are the underdog in the camera world. I had owned the GRII and later the GRIIIX, and came very close to purchasing a K1 in Japan last year.

A few weeks ago I spotted a 43mm 1.9 on facebook marketplace for an absolute bargain, and since when I was in Japan it was that lens that fascinated me the most, I went and bought it. I then needed to add a camera so picked up a K1 Mark II. I have since sold off some of my Nikon gear to help fund my newfound love for Pentax and picked up some other lenses along the way. The handling and the lenses on my K1 are the best I have used (my second favourite camera being my Nikon D4S).

I must say that part of the appeal of the brand is also the active users who seem to really have an affection for Pentax and are kind enough to share and assist other users.

Thanks for having me, looking forward to many more years as a Pentaxian (and if it ever gets launched buying a brand new K1 Mark III!).

Welcome to the forum
i to spoted the 43 ltd buy did not have the funds and as you say it was a great price

Welcome to the site Steven...always nice to add newcomers to our number.

Regards

Karlo

Welcome indeed, glad that you have discovered the fine qualities of Pentax!

Welcome to the forum and to Pentax. I hope you enjoy your new gear.

Welome.
My first camera I bought from a photography shop in Lye,Stourbridge. He showed me a Nikon and a Canon and I didn't like the feel of them. He then showed me a Pentax K1000 and I was hooked. All my cameras since then being Pentax. My favourite film one was the ME Super which I bought in Hong Kong. My favourite digital is my K1 mk 2 because it is full frame.

The K1000 was the camera to have back in the late 70's, Pentax were much stronger then, again my first camera

Welcome to the Pentax fold. I hope you have some great experiences here.

Welcome to our little blissful world.

A lot of people, like myself, have gone in the other direction appealed by the blistering performance of the D500 and Z8. When I did buy my first Nikon (D3) I did look at the Canon but chose the Nikon system because the layout was more familiar to a Pentax user. I have not given up on Pentax as I do love using the K-1 plus the various lenses on city visits, and have 2 film era cameras....

Is he seeking absolution or simply making excuses?