Honest Jealousy

I love my Pentax.
I love it so much, that every time somebody asks me what I shoot with, I am really proud to say that I shoot with Pentax, and would recommend it to who-ever wants to start in photography, or is very serious about what he wants to do photographically, (I wouldn’t unfortunately recommend it to a professional…).

Since the K20 came out some months back, I have been convinced on not buying it, because it didn’t represent a wide enough step from my 2 K10 bodies, which usually make me very very happy.

I am now looking to update, and would be very interested in a new Pentax flagship, but the wait is really hurting my feelings. In the last 2-3 months all these cameras have come out:

- Canon 50D (15mp apc sensor, 6 fps …) / Canon 5D Mark II (full frame, 21mp 5fps etc…)
- Nikon D300 (we all know it..) / D3 (still a bit too expensive) / D90 (12mp, It actually shoots films) / D700 (Full frame, Unbelievable, really.)
- Sony Alpha 900 (Full frame, 24.6 mp, 5fps, live view that works…)

The last I’ve heard from Pentax the news were on the low end of the marked, with the new K1000, a SMALL, entry level camera, to suit that end of the market and compete with the likes of Canon 1000D, Nikon D60. There are absolutely no news about any high end camera. I am honestly feeling jealous of the range of choice that a canon/Nikon/(probably also) Sony user have, and cannot but beg Pentax to come up with a splendid new camera very very soon.

What are your thoughts on this?

Regards to all,

Nathan

Nathan,
I just bit the bullet and upgraded to the K20D - the price has dropped drastically, so it became financially possible. Initial impressions are very good - the AF is a touch quicker, the mirror/shutter action is a bit quicker and slightly quieter, and the image quality does seem much better - especially for pushing around in Photoshop. My current lenses seem to shine on the K20D (SMC-FA 24-90 especially), and there have been a few other little improvements that are welcome in the firmware.

There'll be a K10D for sale in a couple of weeks time

Yes, the others seem to have newer models, and I've got hung up about thinking about switching several times. I wouldn't move to Canon (except the 5D does seem very nice) - they're much, much heavier than equivalent Pentax gear. Also, I've had (IMHO) better images from the same situation compared to 20D and 30D

The Nikon is about the only thing that "floats my boat", but then I've not actually used one. The migration cost is incredibly high though...

So, it may be that Pentax will announce a FF - who knows! There shouldn't be long to wait - next Tuesday is Photokina and the news will probably come out then.

In the meantime I'm trying to concentrate on the final image rather than the gear quite so much

Matt

I think we'd all be delighted if a K30D came out, with 5fps (not that fps is a priority for me), low noise 12800 ISO, and a super-duper new AF system that could focus in an instant in the sort of light you'd need such high ISOs for.

Whether such a camera is an imminent realistic hope, I'd be inclined to suspect not.

I never had a DSLR until a few months after the K10D came out.

How much warning was there of its arrival on the market?

I started my photographic "career" at the tender age of 16 with an ME Super. I loved that camera and I still have the dead remains of its body. Years of shooting colour transparencies with it means that I am very good at getting the exposure right with it, and now have (for reasons I wont bore you with) another three of them. When it died, I acquired a second hand MX. Another great camera which was sadly stolen in Paris. Then more recently I got an LX from ebay and once the nice man in Harrow sorted out my sticky mirror (not the usual cause but an electronic one) I was very happy. The Program and Super A also seemed great cameras. I have never been enamoured with the models that came later, they all seemed a bit "plasticky" although I'll admit I haven't looked at every single one.

When it came to buying a digital SLR once the prices came down to something I could afford I wasn't too impressed with Pentax's offerings but I had been a Pentax user all my life. I was girding my loins to buy a Canon. Then, just in time, out came the K10D. The reviews were impressed, I was impressed, I bought one, I love it. My impression is that Pentax have lost market share compared to the mid 80s and the days of the ME Super. Most shops I visit don't carry any Pentax stock! If they want to reclaim their position they need to keep producing quality cameras that catch people's eyes in a range of model levels, from beginners "one up from a point-and-shoot" to the semi-pro/good amateur K10, K20 etc. I am not in the market for a new body, I'll be spending my money on new glass (another DA* lens) but I do want Pentax to do well and keep producing excellent kit.

If I had one wish, it would be for a tilt/shift lens...

Cheers, Kris.

Nathanever82 why would you unfortunately NOT recommend a Pentax to a pro, I am looking to move to Pentax within the next 6/8 weeks from Nikon (D200/D2X) as i am a wedding photographer full time now. Next year my wife ( Nikon user ) and i will be trying wildlife photography around the UK would Pentax K20D/K10D and long lenses be up to it?

The K20D is not that old. It was only unveiled in January! I don't expect a new top end model for maybe another year.
I love my K20D nearly as much as the Ds. I haven't had enough of a chance to really use it yet, but so far I am very happy with it. I find I need to do a lot less PP with it than I did with the Ds. The exposure is spot on - the Ds tended to underexpose things.
But hey who knows what Photokina will bring? More lenses would be better for me than another body. I would have to give the next body a miss and wait for the one after that anyway.

Pentax lenses are amongst the best available, anywhere.

The first thing I've noticed when handling other marques, apart from a cruder design ethos, is that the viewfinders are pathetic.

Pentax viewfinders are a lesson to all manufacturers.

TTK... get her a DA* 300mm and she'll love it...

John, I've not used other marques that much but what I do notice (and miss!) is the difference between my film camera viewfinders (especially the LX) and the digital. Every time I use the LX (which is much less than the K10D simply because carrying both is a bit back breaking) I am wowed by how BIG and clear the picture is. I guess this is all down to the smaller size of the sensor meaning that the focusing screen etc is also that much smaller.

Best wishes, Kris.

Terry,
It's all swings-and-roundabouts (as the expressions go).
Here's my list of findings so far:

* Pentax gear can be significantly lighter for similar spec stuff
* Pentax is cheaper for same or better quality optics
* Pentax optics are really tough to beat. For me the bokeh is just sublime.
* As far as I can see the K20D has image quality on a par with the D300 - with more pixels.
* Taking John's point - the Pentax viewfinders may be similar to the D200/D300 (the D100 was terrible in comparison). And with Womble's point the O-ME53 magnifying eyecup is a nice addition - makes it closer to film.
* Pentax frame rate is quite slow compared to the competition. Around 3fps as opposed to 6 or 8fps - that's a problem for some (e.g. sports photogs).
* The Nikon remote flash system is rather nice - you can adjust the outputs of each remote from the comfort of the camera body. But, in all likelihood, this isn't a deal breaker
* The D300 has four custom setups that can be retrieved - the K20D/K10D has only one.
* However, the K20D/K10D has +/- 2Ev bracketing with up to 5 shots. This is great if you want to do HDR photography.
* Some feel the Pentax AF is slower. However, the Pentax does a "double-check" which generally ensures more accurate focus. So other makes may be faster, but probably more out-of-focus shots
* Pentax K20D/K10D allow you to assign ISO to the front command wheel. That's a real bonus when working in changing and challenging conditions (much quicker than a Nikon )
* Pentax bodies have shake reduction built in, whereas everyone else puts it in the lens. I hate in-lens shake reduction - makes me feel sea sick Also, the shake reduction works with any and every lens you can stick on the body
* Pentax have a reputation for listening to users - even if they don't explicitly say so. I've made several feature suggestions and they've popped up in firmware updates and newer cameras
* Pentax have finally got their support put in place - the "Pro" centres are very helpful when you need to rely on the gear. SRS Microsystems is absolutely superb in this respect (as many here will testify).

I only shoot weddings for close friends - my nerves could never hack it commercially! But I've had superb results from even the *ist-D 6Mp with Pentax glass - results that compared very favourably against much higher spec'd other gear that took the same wedding

That said, I only shoot RAW and process using Silkypix Developer Studio - which gives me some lovely results - both web and printed (via ProAM imaging).

Does that help??
Matt

ttk, I've shot several weddings this year with a K10d, and latterly my K20d. My clients have been very pleased with the outcomes, and they paid me so it must be true!!

I spend more time than I probably should debating with other photographers why I use Pentax cameras when Canon and Nikon stuff is available.

Partly it's to do with the cost of changing brands/formats, but primarily it's because until I find there is something I can do with other cameras, but that I can't because of some limitation with Pentax cameras/lenses, what's the point?!

I haven't found a situation yet where I couldn't work something out.

MattMatic,and Tooks,
Thank you for your info I AM going to make the change and come over to Pentax within the next 6/8 weeks, Just have to get a bit of cash together and to sell my Nikon gear ( Wife haveing some lenses) will get around to putting the stuff in the ads on here before the weekends over. If anyone needs to know what there is before hand please e-mail, May I make one point, This forum is the most friendly forum i have ever come across and looking forward to being part of it..

I dont use Photoshop or the like I just try and the best out of my camera that I can!,I have a Ds which I love and produced shots on a par with ,if not better ,than friends on a photo blog with all the latest top notch gear from both Canon and Nikon!.This was because I stuck at it and learned how to get the best out of it,I now have the K20 which I am trying to get to grips with, it's going to be a long process but I'll get there in the end.Why do we yearn for 2 more frames a second or af a fraction of a second faster,or even more pixels?.I think we should all think back to photographic technique rather than demand cameras that do more and more!........People might think I'm strange.....but I'm not really!..lol










1

I don't think you're strange at all. What you are saying is very sensible!

Cameras have been sophisticated enough for years and after all there's only a limited amount that we can change when taking a photograph. The shutter speed and aperture. We can do that with very little sophistication, after which all the added bits and bobs are nice but not essential.

TTk,
Just to quickly answer your question:
I am working as a professional photographer, and my 2 K10's are absolutely up to every challenge I have ever used them for. Pentax lenses are surely of immense quality, and probably better than the other brands. At least if we talk about the DA* and the primes (not going to go into the details here).

By 'I wouldn't suggest them to a professional' I don't mean I wouldn't suggest to a wedding photographer, but rather sports, or racing, or fashion (at high levels)or night photography (events or others).
The IQ given by the K10 and the K20 is the same, if not better, than most other brands', but both cameras fall short in other applications. If you don't need extreme speed (be it fps / ISO / fast AF) for a wedding shoot, you do need it for sports, and night photography, and if one was serious about these, there would be difficulties in matching pentax cameras to, say, nikon (I also really don't like canon...).

Now, I understand that pentax people are particularly nostalgic and attached to the pentax brand because of a long history that lies behind us (I have pentax in the blood, with my dad's K1000 bought in '76 and my photography starting with the same camera about 10 years ago), but the problem is that modern digital photography is all about technological advancement, and as much as some of us are not particularly keen on 'change'. change is necessary. I also think that in order to be a successful professional photographer today one MUST retouch photographs, or anyway have some kind of post-editing. Otherwise there is no difference between the kid with the point and shoot, and the professional, as the IQ is very very similar to start with.

I also understand what John is saying, but honestly I disagree. In film times, once the IQ was achieved through film, and dark-room processing, cameras evolved to give better applications, and make the life of the photographer easier. Since the digital era, there has been an incredible effort to match the IQ of film, on a digital sensor, and once this has been achieved, the 'race' for the tech. advancement has started. FF sensors give the opportunity (for those PROFESSIONALS who need it) of printing in big size with no loss of data. Higher ISO allows for noise free images and very fast shooting in the darkest situation, like live music, night-time sports, and many others. High fps rate allows for sports to be shot, with much better results.

Bottom line is; If we are amateurs looking for a good dslr to take with us on a walk in the park, then these advancements are not necessary, If we are professionals photographers, then they are.


My OP was rather a question of market matching. the 3 major brands make incredible steps forward in very short periods of time, allowing their customers to update to newer, better models very quickly, and enjoy all the new technological advancements. Wouldn't it be possible for Pentax to once again be competing with the market in a more effective way?

I also want to be spoiled with choice, am I wrong in feeling this way?

Nathan