Good bye Pentax! Forever?

Whilst there has always been snobbery and opposition bashing in the Photographic Community, it is clear that with the introduction of digital imaging and the relentless snowballing effect of technological advances, we have now reached new heights.
I, for one, like the fact that Pentax tend to avoid 'keeping up with the Jones's' and quietly concentrate on product quality and ensuring compatibility for their exisiting users, most of whom have been in the business for many years, built up systems based upon film and learnt their photographic skills the proper way without computerised assistance.
The most important thing for me is simply to be able to continue using the equipment I have and obtain any new lenses/accessories I may want, whilst at the same time exploring new areas should I choose to and funds permit.
The APS size sensors on the *istd range was a great attraction to me as it enabled me to get effectively a longer telephoto range from my lenses, whilst retaining the same widest aperture and thus bring new capabilities for my wildlife photography at very little extra cost - just a *istds in my case. Luvverly.
Naturally I am also eagerly awaiting the new 10.2 mp DSLR for obvious reasons, but what I would most like to see is the availability of a far wider and better range of lenses in Pentax fitting, both from Pentax and from the independents - particularly Sigma as I think they are excellent value and priced very realistically.
I did speak To Sigma UK the other week and asked if they had any plans to produce Pentax fit in the more expensive pro range they produce (e.g. 800mm, 300-800mm DG's etc..) and they told me that if the new proposed 10.2 mp Pentax DSLR does sell well and create a demand then they will indeed support it, but it's all about production costs.
So we do indeed need to continue our robust support of Pentax and try and ensure that it is worthwhile for the independents to do likewise, as new Pentax customers will not be found if the independent lens makers don't offer their wares in pentax fit, other than in the cheaper range aimed at the casual user.
I, for one, feel that photographers, like me and many others, were a much happier and more contented bunch 30 years ago when there was only film as a choice. You selected an SLR that suited, in the knowledge that you could slowly hone your skills adding the occassional new lens and your camera remained fully supported. You certainly didn't wake up 6 months later one morning to find that what you had bought was now effectively out of date and a new model had been released at half the price with far better features, along with new lenses offering even better results at the same focal length, yet much smaller, lighter and with wider apertures etc.....
It seems that the technology and scramble to ensure that you are up to date with the latest available equipment, is fast replacing what we all began as photographers ( I assume) to achieve and that is to learn to take pictures, which appears to have been relegated to the back seat.
Technology is creating more and more necessities that never previously existed, but for which we appear unable now to live and function without - mobiles, sat nav, PC's, MP3 players etc...
I was inspired to take up photography back in the mid 70s by a well known local amateur who I met at work (FRPS, FRS etc.) who used a couple of old Pentax K1000's and just a handful of lenses, extension tubes (for macro) with a home made flash bracket, but a wealth of experience and skills and a wonderful eye. To this day I have still not seen any images that for me better, or in many cases even match, the quality of the Kodachrome slides of wildlife and landscapes that I was shown.
The question we need to ask is whether all this new technology really improves our quality of life and photographic skills or is simply in danger of pushing us into overload and breakdown and preventing us from getting on with photography the way we should and be satisfied.


By 'eck I have become a grumpy old man...

Philip

It's probably a D200, however it's the lenses you get to go with it that are more important.

You are correct and "ali studio one" previous reply proves that fact, even though he doesn't know the make and model of my new toy.

Knowing our limitations is just as important as knowing our abilities. Do you not think? If our limitation is our equipment, then we change it. (Or upgrade) If our limitation is ourselves, we learn. If we don't learn, we're screwed.

granted this is true but my pentax cameras some of which i have had a long time my me supers have never been serviced and thay work as perfect today as thay did when purchased 26 years ago (yes i have had them 26 years my mum and dad bought me the first one for christmas when i was 13 years old)

my super As which i use for weddings and studio work mainley complete with A drives are about 15 years old (well ive had them that long anyway)

along with my MZSs and *istd/ds thay make up my kit

needless to say my kit is not limited in anyway its just personnel preference which i use for what the MZS is cracking for weddings but i the super A and drive are easier to hold being more chunky

i use the MZS for motorsport because it has the vertical release in the battery pack as does the super A but the switch is to fiddely on the super A drive

both perform as well as each other but its just a comfort thing as i dont use autofocus

however where we appear to differ is that i belive photography is a learning curve i learn a different way of doing things every time i take my camera out be it the way i hold it or programe it or just the different angle i take a shot from

but im not limited by my kit and i never upgrade for the sake of keeping up with the joneses or so people take me more seriously

i liked the MZS it was quite sexy i wanted to lick the page the first time i saw it it was porn by pentax

ive only bought digital because people ask me for it and expect it i bought a canon D300 at first but didnt like the peice of plastic i was holding the *istd/ds are all metal alloy chassis and will still be going strong when the canon has gone to the plastic recycle bin