K-1 Upgrade thoughts.
Start using it ... once you see the IQ you won't give the size/weight another thought
The K-3 and K-3II are themselves lovely cameras, but after using the K-1 for a while they seem very tiny.
It really depends what you want, but if you don't use the K-1 you'll never really know.
Before you decide consider why you bought the K1 and what it can offer you over the K3. Full Frame gives you the option of using a lot of older lenses in the way they were meant to be used. The K1 is the latest technology so will offer the benefits of better AF, higher IQ, better DR, etc. Do these benefits offer you enough of a reason to give the K1 a good try, or are you happy enough to stay with your K3?
Personally I love the K1 - it's higher ISO capabilities and better low light performance coupled with the larger sensor are enough for me to choose it over my K5iis more than 90% of the time. But there are times when the smaller, lighter APS-C is a better choice - I did a 10 mile walk in the Lake District a few weeks ago with the K5iis and a small set of lenses, the equivalent set up with the K1 would have weighed more, taken more space and given me very little advantage.
I would recommend giving the K1 a good workout and then make your decision
Stuart..
If the size and weight is too much for you and your K3 does everything you want and you have the option to get a full refund on your unused K1 then it may well be the right decision to return it.
Before you decide consider why you bought the K1 and what it can offer you over the K3. Full Frame gives you the option of using a lot of older lenses in the way they were meant to be used. The K1 is the latest technology so will offer the benefits of better AF, higher IQ, better DR, etc. Do these benefits offer you enough of a reason to give the K1 a good try, or are you happy enough to stay with your K3?
Personally I love the K1 - it's higher ISO capabilities and better low light performance coupled with the larger sensor are enough for me to choose it over my K5iis more than 90% of the time. But there are times when the smaller, lighter APS-C is a better choice - I did a 10 mile walk in the Lake District a few weeks ago with the K5iis and a small set of lenses, the equivalent set up with the K1 would have weighed more, taken more space and given me very little advantage.
I would recommend giving the K1 a good workout and then make your decision
This! They both have their place, but it depends on what you take and where you take it and if the extra weight is a barrier.
Here are a few thoughts:
- The K-1 is a magnificent beast, an amazing bit of work. The controls are amazing and many features are mindblowing.
- Compared to the K-3, it's a decent step up in quality in terms of higher ISO performance and DR.
- Also compared to the K-3, I find that it's a tiny bit harder to handle. I don't have massive hands so it takes a bit of getting used to.
- After selling the K-3, I missed the option of a lighter kit. Going FF is a bit commitment in terms of weight and cost of lenses.
- Got myself a KP and I'm finding that I prefer taking it out more often. It's almost as good as the K-1 for me, being lightweight and very good with DR/Noise. The handling is perfect.
- The K-1 is still there when I want all out image quality and I have to deal with taking heavier lenses (A20 vs DA15 as a kind of example).
If you've already got many full frame lenses then it might not be a massive commitment to stick with the K-1 as long as the handling is good. If you haven't, then perhaps you can stay with the K-3 for now, and wait for the new APS-C body to be released.
An example, the 15-30mm weighs in at over 1kg yet much of the functionality can be provided by the old FAJ 18-35mm at 203 grams, less than a fifth of the weight. Similar comparisons can be made across the range. A full kit of the new Pentax lenses might for some require a trolley to carry them all round in so the older alternatives are worth investigating such as the FA 24-90 in lieu of the 24-70, then there's lighter 70/80-200's albeit with a smaller max aperture but they'll work just fine.
I'm not sure why Pentax didn't complement the 28-105 with similar lenses rather than produce those faster heavyweights, or at least a range of focal length options. Perhaps the realisation was that the lighter lenses are out there to be found.
For reference, I carried the Pentax KP with the DA15, DA18-135, DA40XS and the FA77 in a lightweight bag on a recent trip. I didn't use the zoom lens apart from a couple of test shots. At a stretch I could carry the A20, FA31, DA40XS and FA77 with the K-1 in the same bag, but I'd miss the real telephoto option there. You could also say that the FA31 isn't necessary so it could be replaced by the DFA zoom.
It's some comfort though to learn I'm not entirely alone in this bizarre dilemma but unlike you Harris, I have shovels for hands and still run 10k at least three times a week so strength and fitness aren't the issue. In the final analysis it may boil down to an irrational emotional attachment to a faithful, albeit inanimate companion of the last several years. Am I the only one that suffers thus? I dare say Freud would have an opinion!
Anyway, all being well and time permitting, this weekend might see my first foray out with a FF DSLR.
On a different note, whilst on my internet travels recently, I came across a lovely blog by the photographer Jonathon Gorse who extols so eloquently why we are and should be so proud to be Pentaxians. For those who are not familiar with it, here's a link:- http://www.jonathangorsephotography.com/blog/2016/5/PentaxK1
Thanks again and best regards to all of you.
(Compulsive Obsessive Lens Buying Addiction Syndrome)
What you need are lenses, more lenses, bigger lenses, better lenses, faster lenses, vintage lenses and when you have these, your pictures will be perfect!
In the final analysis it may boil down to an irrational emotional attachment to a faithful, albeit inanimate companion of the last several years. Am I the only one that suffers thus?
No, if I didn't I would have (and really should have) left Pentax years ago
In the final analysis it may boil down to an irrational emotional attachment to a faithful, albeit inanimate companion of the last several years. Am I the only one that suffers thus?
No, if I didn't I would have (and really should have) left Pentax years ago
Well it's heartening to know that I'm not alone after-all. But that's the nature of being human I suppose. In general we are always reluctant to and subconsciously afraid of change, even when it might prove to be best the for us in the longer term, my dilemma being a perfect example. We put great hope in the future whilst at the same time living in the past and thus as Eckhart Tolle would say, squandering the only time that we ever really have which is NOW, everything else being either memories or anticipation. I suppose though that it's a bit rich for me to quote from Eckhart Tolle!
As for you not leaving Pentax, I can't help but think about the grass being greener.... etc. I hope if you read Jonathan Gorse's blog that you feel more comfortable with your decision to not leave Pentax. Life alway's works out if we don't resist it. One thing is for certain though, Pentax without doubt has the finest pedigree. Long live Pentax....
(Compulsive Obsessive Lens Buying Addiction Syndrome)
What you need are lenses, more lenses, bigger lenses, better lenses, faster lenses, vintage lenses and when you have these, your pictures will be perfect!
I will say this though, as a hardened 35mm shooter, I never really got on with APSC and found myself reverting back to film*. The huge DoF on APSC was a problem (smaller format & slower lenses) and I was never really happy with the experience (cramped viewfinder etc.). I found myself taking a film SLR + lenses, MX-1 & GR as my usual kit (my K-5 only has about 3K clicks on it - I can't remember the last year I used it in). The only advantage to APSC was that, at airshows your lenses are effectively longer (but you can set the K-1 to crop mode anyway IIRC).
The extra bulk/weight of the body wouldn't bother me (small by comparison to the increased capability) as I'm used to carting round a P6x7 kit (body, AE prism and lenses). If I wanted to save bulk/weight, I'd drop the grip (as an old school film shooter I never got used to the vertical 'handle' - always preferring to stick my elbow up).
* I have a variety of old Pentax film cameras, each one provides a different tactile experience, for me this is a big part of the photography process. I'm sure the K-1 would go a long way toward fulfilling this tactile experience. Getting my 'proper' focal lengths back, shallower DoF and bigger finder would be a massive improvement. I couldn't think of a single reason to prefer APSC over it (but, then again, I think nothing of lugging the P6x7 around).
John.
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909 posts
12 years
Somewhere safe in deepest Lancashire.
This is not meant as a criticism in any way as after all the K-1 is a stunning piece of engineering. Maybe I have been spoiled with the compact size of the K-3 which is carried with ease and feels/looks unobtrusive. So unsettled have I been that I've not yet used the K-1 or charged the battery even and I know some of you if not all will think I'm being unreasonable but I'm wondering whether to stick with the K-3 - I don't wish to keep both cameras.
So, back to my opening question, did any of you have similar initial reservations and if so, picture quality aside, has the experience of owning and using the K-1 made a difference in the longer term?
Thanks in advance.
(Compulsive Obsessive Lens Buying Addiction Syndrome)
What you need are lenses, more lenses, bigger lenses, better lenses, faster lenses, vintage lenses and when you have these, your pictures will be perfect!