K3 concerns resolved completely ! (well, maybe!)

I came across this thread on the US forum, and (I think) it makes interesting reading:

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/172-pentax-k-3/282441-k3-concerns-resolved-co...

Maybe I need to try some of the suggestions as I was not entirely happy with the K-3 results last year .

Think that's been posted before but the first thing I do on any camera I buy (including the K-3 when I had it) is turn off all the auto settings as they tend to affect write speed (and therefore FPS) as well as ISO etc.

did I admit it was me when I sold mine...sort of but yes I tried and I tried and thought it best to let it go.

I had much the same experience moving up to my K5 from a KX and then a KR. I'm finally confident in knowing what does what on my K5 and very reluctant to change it until it either breaks or something stunningly better comes along. Just now only the resolution to crop wildlife would tempt me to change to a K3.

When I talk to pro friends they always want gear they are comfortable with and can trust to produce consistent results that avoid a return visit over any new whistles and bells.

Interesting responses, but I don't think I ran into quite the same issues when going from the GX-10 (K-10D) to the K-5, nor when I upgraded the "travelling body" from K-R to K-30.

However, I will try to persevere with the K-3 because of the frame-rate advantage with the screw-drive lenses.

One thing that keeps cropping up in any detailed discussion about operation of modern DSLRs is how potentially complex they are and secondly how many permutations of settings and customisation there is/are.

I thought my K-x was incredibly complex moving up from a series of 35mm SLRs...and a manual like a mini-telephone directory. Fours years on, if I being honest, I bet i've only ever used or played with about a quarter to a third of all that it can do or the things i can customise or alter. It sounds like the more expensive bodies introduce another level of creative twiddling on top of this!

It is for products like this that it is essential the manufacturers keep supplying a full paper operating manual rather than a CD..at least you can take it with you easily on outings and peruse a few pages when necessary.

As a lot of the bonus features only apply to JPG files, I do wonder if there is a market for a bare bones camera for purists. The N. DF was an attempt at this, retro in nature and with no video mode. I'm not sure, but I don't believe it sold particularly well, as given the price it just didn't stack up against a fully equipped model.

I only say this as reading the linked post, it seems they ended up with using Manual mode and turning off a lot of stuff. Hardware developments such as frame rate and image buffer size/speed aside, there's often not a lot to be gained if you shoot in full Manual mode. You're not using any improved metering ability for example.

Also interesting about how the higher resolution sensors are more telling of poor shot taking form, and then how relevant that is when you shrink it to 10% of the size for web viewing anyway.

A worthy discussion, but I'm of mixed opinions on what it tells us really.

As long as we stay in the APS-C sensor world, I think the useable ISO level cap is going to be 3200, and frankly that's not a lot compared to the useable levels on FF, which is of note if you're into low light shooting.

I literally have the serial number of the second Pentax K3 camera produced for the "consumer market". Ironically I have never had one single issue with the original first run K3. Sure I've heard and even witnessed a few very minor issues with others; such as mirror flap, or getting stuck on and having to remove the battery, etc..

But also noting; I also have two more newer generation Pentax K3's; the chrome/silver one and also the gunmetal one. Unless I just haven't heard about it yet, any and all issues with the original first run have since been completely resolved.

Also of note; I have generally "heard" that there may be several issues with Mitakon (spelling??) lenses being used on Pentax camera bodies in general. That sometimes the lenses "slip" out of the settings they should be used in, or that the camera is not set properly to use the two fixed focal length lenses that are also manual focus and manual aperture.

These are two of the four lenses which I do not yet presently own for PK.

hmm...