Just another old fogey...

Hi guys/girls, I'm 61yrs old, not exactly new to photography but new to all the digital technology hidden in the depths of modern cameras. I'm in the market for a new camera and have been looking at the K50 as a possible starting off point for my renewed interest in photography. Other cameras I've looked at are the Canon 600D and the Nikon D3300, but I keep coming back to the Pentax as my favourite. Can anyone spare the time to convince me I'm making the right decision or just tell me how they are getting along with their K50 (or K30 as I believe they are very similar). I'm not swayed by all the hype that the Canon/Nikon fanboys come out with; I strongly believe that if something does what it's supposed to do , and does it well, that it doesn't matter what it's called or who made it. Anyway, I'll stop waffling on (for now,LOL). I hope to get some sound advice for now and lots of help later as no doubt I'll need it. Happy to meet you all....

Thanks John, I'm just a keen amateur so the extra features these other models have aren't really important to me. As long as the images are good quality, I'll be happy. Regards, Alan..

Great advice, thanks. I'll have a wee look at the others you mentioned. The quieter shutters are pause for thought though. More investigating to be done I fear..lol. Best regards, Alan...

Better still buy a new one Pentax offer great value and there's nothing like unpacking that box with that brand new smell and feel, plus the reassurance of a warranty...oops, better stop, don't want to sound like a STAFF MEMBER!

Welcome snoops, hope you enjoy choosing your camera and sharing it and your shots with us.

As very few modern DSLRs produce 'poor'images , for me the key advantages of Pentax are the ergonomics, the weather resistance and the sheer quality feel compared to the canikons, which IMHO feel cheep and plasticy in comparison.

Phil

Plus, we have in body image stabilisation and a standard mount which means we have a huge range of classic glass available, all which inherit image stabilisation. Plus, with a body driven focus drive it means on the lower end glass the money is spent on optics rather than drive electronics - plus it makes the pancake lenses possible (or at least affordable).

Much of the above is common with Sony, Olympus etc - but most definitely not true of Cannon or Nikon.

However, all DSLRs are exceptionally good nowadays and whatever brand you buy will usually hold its value; you can't go far wrong regardless of brand. However, I would steer you towards Sony/Olympus/Pentax for the above reasons.

I guess a Cannon / Nikon user would disagree

You haven't put your location on your avatar. If we new where you are the I'm sure if you asked then a Pentax owner nearby would let you have a hands on "fealy" session. After all we're a friendly bunch.
CHEERS Vic.

Hello and Welcome Alan, I'm sure you'll enjoy your time in this forum.

Why on earth do you consider yourself an old fogey at 61 Alan?
That's nothing on this site :

(And I was demobilised from the Services the year you were born :lol


You wont go far wrong with a Pentax though - I have used them since the early sixties and went straight back to them when I took up digital photography and purchased a K10D some years back. And I agree that the K5 is very much a real bargain.

Roger.

S Roger says at 61 you're just a kid. I can give you 15 years and I'm one of the young ones CHEERS Vic.

Huh? ... I thought this was THE Pentax site for the younger, hipper and cooler photographer ... thats why I felt I really needed to stick around!

I thought it was like owning sports cars, when you're young enough to enjoy them most you can't afford them (I still can't afford sports cars)

You wouldn't want to see what I was riding and sold to buy my K5 and 1 or 4 lenses and and and..


Roger