interesting read: Pentax vs Nikon...
Posted 15/06/2011 - 22:07
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A very good & unbiased review. Think it got most points right..
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Posted 15/06/2011 - 22:57
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Nice article, unbiased is an unusual bonus...
Still need another price drop on the K5, then I'm right there no probs!
Read all the reviews, fact is, IMHO it just looks cooler doesn't it?
Still need another price drop on the K5, then I'm right there no probs!
Read all the reviews, fact is, IMHO it just looks cooler doesn't it?
Pentax pour des images riches en détails!
Posted 15/06/2011 - 22:58
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An interesting comparison,
Personally I've always been under the impression that Pentax DSLRs were more targeted at landscape photographers and to be completely honest if I were into action/sports or wildlife photography I more than likely wouldn't own a Pentax right now, despite the advances made by the K5 as it still seems to lag behind the competition in those areas.
Simon
Personally I've always been under the impression that Pentax DSLRs were more targeted at landscape photographers and to be completely honest if I were into action/sports or wildlife photography I more than likely wouldn't own a Pentax right now, despite the advances made by the K5 as it still seems to lag behind the competition in those areas.
Simon
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Posted 15/06/2011 - 23:09
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Agree with a lot of points there, and in particular the need for Pentax to make more telephoto lenses available for the system
Posted 16/06/2011 - 08:25
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An interesting read. I've had a K-5 since last November [the original one swapped for new a couple of months ago when it developed a sensor stain plus another minor problem] - my last Pentax was a K-20D in 2008. I returned to Nikon at the end of 2008 when the D90 came out and changed to the D300s which I used up until I bought my K-5. The D300s remains one of the best DSLRs yet produced - looking at the D7000 it seems to have as near to the performance of the D300s as most amateurs are ever likely to need coupled with the tweaks in technology that come with each new generation of camera - and of course the new sensor - in a more affordable D90 style body.
For me, the big incentive to take another look at Pentax was the size and build of the K-5. Ever since using the old Olympus E-1 the camera body I wanted was smallish, chunky, metal and weathersealed. With other manufacturers it tends to be 'small camera - plastic - menu driven controls - no top lcd - slow fps etc' if you want all the controls close to hand you're looking at a much bigger and heavier body. My friend has my old D90 and picking it up again after using the K-5 for several months really made me appreciate how much I love the general feel and ergonomics of the K-5 - the D90 remains an excellent camera though!
Yes, Nikon AF is brilliant, but I've been pretty impressed with the K-5. I generally stick to centre point although I have experimented with multipoint when shooting flying birds and been reasonably successful. Given the right lens I think the K-5 can compete pretty well - unless you're really into superfast sport etc. when you'd probably try to go for a higher grade camera anyway. The main problem I have is the lack of a fast focussing zoom that goes to 300mm and competes with the Nikkor 70-300 AF-S. The Pentax 55-300 is optically very good - in the kit form is fantastic value given the results - but just so noisy and slow when it loses focus. Other than that, for me, either camera offers an excellent choice but the K-5 has the edge simply on build, size and weight - and the general feeling you have a quality product [although there have been a few teething problems I know!]. Just bought a WR lens for a little over £100 - does another maker have one of those? The icing on the cake is that incredible shutter sound - especially in hi speed continuous!!
For me, the big incentive to take another look at Pentax was the size and build of the K-5. Ever since using the old Olympus E-1 the camera body I wanted was smallish, chunky, metal and weathersealed. With other manufacturers it tends to be 'small camera - plastic - menu driven controls - no top lcd - slow fps etc' if you want all the controls close to hand you're looking at a much bigger and heavier body. My friend has my old D90 and picking it up again after using the K-5 for several months really made me appreciate how much I love the general feel and ergonomics of the K-5 - the D90 remains an excellent camera though!
Yes, Nikon AF is brilliant, but I've been pretty impressed with the K-5. I generally stick to centre point although I have experimented with multipoint when shooting flying birds and been reasonably successful. Given the right lens I think the K-5 can compete pretty well - unless you're really into superfast sport etc. when you'd probably try to go for a higher grade camera anyway. The main problem I have is the lack of a fast focussing zoom that goes to 300mm and competes with the Nikkor 70-300 AF-S. The Pentax 55-300 is optically very good - in the kit form is fantastic value given the results - but just so noisy and slow when it loses focus. Other than that, for me, either camera offers an excellent choice but the K-5 has the edge simply on build, size and weight - and the general feeling you have a quality product [although there have been a few teething problems I know!]. Just bought a WR lens for a little over £100 - does another maker have one of those? The icing on the cake is that incredible shutter sound - especially in hi speed continuous!!
Posted 16/06/2011 - 09:41
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Have to agree about the 55-300, AF can be very annoying, especially if pointing skyward, I picked up the DAL version (no quick shift) and I usually have to go to MF, just to avoid scaring off natures creatures- it is still bargain of century though
Pentax pour des images riches en détails!
Posted 16/06/2011 - 09:45
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Talking about lenses.....
Yup, the current longest Pentax lens is 300mm, yes we knew that...
it's equal in price to the Nikkor AF-S 300 f4,
now have they actually bothered looking at the options for Nikon longer than 300mm the only affordable option is the 80-400 D and even Nikon dealers won't recommend that lens...
That's why when Pentax finally introduce an affordable tele longer than 300 they'll be onto a winner.
Yup, the current longest Pentax lens is 300mm, yes we knew that...
it's equal in price to the Nikkor AF-S 300 f4,
now have they actually bothered looking at the options for Nikon longer than 300mm the only affordable option is the 80-400 D and even Nikon dealers won't recommend that lens...
That's why when Pentax finally introduce an affordable tele longer than 300 they'll be onto a winner.
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Some Mamiya and some Nikon, and a Canon T70.
F50 1.7. SMC-FAs 24, 35, 50 1.4, 85, 135. HD-FA15-30, DFA24-70, D-FA*70-200. The SMC-FA Limited Trinity.
Metz 45 CL-4, AF500FTZ. AF540FGZ.
Some Mamiya and some Nikon, and a Canon T70.
Posted 16/06/2011 - 10:02
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An interested read for sure. I'm not sure how unbiased it was though If anything it seems to favour Pentax. I'm sure that's how it will be perceived on Nikon forums!
Tim
AF - Pentax K5, Sigma 10-20/4-5.6, Tamron 17-50/2.8, Sigma 30/1.4, Sigma 70-200/2.8, Tamron 70-300/4-5.6
MF - Vivitar CF 28/2.8, Tamron AD2 90/2.5, MTO 1000/11
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Feel free to edit any of my posted photos! If I post a photo for critique, I want brutal honesty. If you don't like it, please say so and tell me why!
AF - Pentax K5, Sigma 10-20/4-5.6, Tamron 17-50/2.8, Sigma 30/1.4, Sigma 70-200/2.8, Tamron 70-300/4-5.6
MF - Vivitar CF 28/2.8, Tamron AD2 90/2.5, MTO 1000/11
Stuff - Metz 58 AF1, Cactus v4, Nikon SB24, Raynox 150, Sigma 1.4x TC, Sigma 2x TC, Kenko 2x macro TC, Redsnapper 283 tripod, iMac 27”, Macbook Pro 17”, iPad, iPhone 3G
Flickr • Fluidr • PPG • Street • Portfolio site
Feel free to edit any of my posted photos! If I post a photo for critique, I want brutal honesty. If you don't like it, please say so and tell me why!
Posted 16/06/2011 - 12:53
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Curious that no mention was made of older lenses, either Pentax or 3rd party, as there are a plethora of really long lenses that will fit given a suitable (and often cheap) adapter will find an extended life. My own longest is a Tamron 500mm mirror from 35mm days.
regards
Bernard
regards
Bernard
Posted 16/06/2011 - 14:09
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Frogherder wrote:
Curious that no mention was made of older lenses, either Pentax or 3rd party, as there are a plethora of really long lenses that will fit given a suitable (and often cheap) adapter will find an extended life. My own longest is a Tamron 500mm mirror from 35mm days.
regards
Bernard
Indeed, is that not the biggest selling point - 60yrs of back catalogue lenses? 60 quid for SMC A 50mm 1.7 off ebay giving you the results of mulit-hundred pound new lens?
Curious that no mention was made of older lenses, either Pentax or 3rd party, as there are a plethora of really long lenses that will fit given a suitable (and often cheap) adapter will find an extended life. My own longest is a Tamron 500mm mirror from 35mm days.
regards
Bernard
Pentax pour des images riches en détails!
Posted 16/06/2011 - 14:23
Link
Dodge69 wrote:
will that still be a feature in a few more years? let's be honest, the new lenses are complex and failure prone compared to the tanks they used to make... we still won't know the long term viability of the weather gaskets, then there is the electronics and micro motors... I suspect 25 year old DA lenses won't be a huge selling point... later on... so Pentax is gonna have to step thier work with tokina and hoya...
Frogherder wrote:
Curious that no mention was made of older lenses, either Pentax or 3rd party, as there are a plethora of really long lenses that will fit given a suitable (and often cheap) adapter will find an extended life. My own longest is a Tamron 500mm mirror from 35mm days.
regards
Bernard
Indeed, is that not the biggest selling point - 60yrs of back catalogue lenses? 60 quid for SMC A 50mm 1.7 off ebay giving you the results of mulit-hundred pound new lens?Curious that no mention was made of older lenses, either Pentax or 3rd party, as there are a plethora of really long lenses that will fit given a suitable (and often cheap) adapter will find an extended life. My own longest is a Tamron 500mm mirror from 35mm days.
regards
Bernard
Fired many shots. Didn't kill anything.
Posted 16/06/2011 - 14:44
Link
greypoint wrote:
The main problem I have is the lack of a fast focussing zoom that goes to 300mm and competes with the Nikkor 70-300 AF-S. The Pentax 55-300 is optically very good - in the kit form is fantastic value given the results - but just so noisy and slow when it loses focus.
We could do with a Tamron AF 70-300mm VC USD in Pentax mount:The main problem I have is the lack of a fast focussing zoom that goes to 300mm and competes with the Nikkor 70-300 AF-S. The Pentax 55-300 is optically very good - in the kit form is fantastic value given the results - but just so noisy and slow when it loses focus.
http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/592-tamron70300f456vceosapsc
I started a poll but interest seems limited:
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/tamron-af-70-300mm-vc-usd---poll-28046
John
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