K5ii versus Sony A77

Suspect that owes more to the excellent Sigma 30mm than the Sony NEX camera behind it! Remember it's also cheap and easy to mount Pentax lenses to the NEX - much easier to focus with proper focus peaking!

That said, my NEX hasn't had much of a look in since starting to do 'photoshoots' (lol) - even with focus peaking manual focus via an LCD is not as good or quick as a reliable AF lens and framing your shots via an OVF. Fine if you're pottering about though.

I've basically been using the K30 and Tamron 17-50 - they make a reliable and useful pair.

I should be more clear, sorry. I have not been claiming that these finer options are only on Pentax - I honestly don't know, but no doubt there is a certain standardised range of custom controls on all similar cameras.

What I've been on about, and through the 'checklist' topic, are not functions that would directly affect the final image ... the pre-shoot set-up items I listed are really to do with optimising the camera for efficient use 'in the field', and to minimise the amount of re-adjustments or repeated re-setting of things during an extended shoot (eg a landscape expedition).

One example would be the menu item 'Memory' - here we choose which functions will be retained and restored following switching off (as we might do to change a lens or move a distance). My checklist gives certain items as active for landscape work in order to reduce extra setting work during the shoot - meaning more time to get on with the creative side of it. There will be different memory items to have on or off for another type of shoot.

I thought it would be helpful to discuss how our Pentax cameras provide this extra control and aid to efficient shooting, and that people would like to share alternatives and learn more about it.