Leaving Pentax

I agree with what RR is doing
If the K7 doesn't "do it for me" then I may think of switching brands. I have reservations regarding the K7 and have been Thinking of switching to Nikon if the K7 doesn't come up to the expectations that I have. I have always liked Nikon and if I ever changed then it would be this rather than Canon.

I am in the market for a new camera so it will either be the K7 or a Nikon, maybe the D3/D3x which I have had my eye on for the past 6 months. Whatever happens, I will keep my K20 but sell my K10.

Who knows though, the K7 may be the replacement I am looking for. There are a few things that stop and make me wonder, the size being high on the list...it just looks so darn small.

We'll see...

Paul

Point taken George.

Not saying that anyone will make a comment about the name of the brand that I am thinking about, but the statement above has nothing to do with the reason that I am thinking of changing.

I have used 2 makes of cameras in the 20 odd years that I have been in photography and that is Nikon and Pentax (well 3 makes if you count the Pratica MTL50 I had for a year when I first started). I used the Nikon F301, FM2 and F3 (in the order I used them in) then the Pentax P30n and MZ50. Then I went to digital, Pentax *ist D, K10 and K20.

I have great respect for both makes of cameras but chose the Pentax in the end. Now I am looking to upgrade and may go back to Nikon but also stay in with Pentax.

Like I said in my previous post, the K7 may shine through and change my mind....we'll see

Paul

Am I correct? if Pentax were to make a FF camera then only the old 35mm lenses would work on it as all the new DA lenses are only made for the smaller sensor, which would mean there would have to be a new set of lenses to go with it, just curious.

Some are FF already, although not advertised as such and others are reduced APS-C format.

Pentax has a huge back catalogue of quality lens design, so I would guess that if a FF frame camera is planned then the appropriate range of lenses would be in the wings ready.

Thanks John.

They have the designs but updating them for digital and retooling an assembly line to make them are both cost-intensive propositions. I am very much looking forward to the 645D so we can see Pentax leap-frog the whole full-frame thing.

I think there are three problems here. The first is that lens design, specifically zoom lens design, has improved considerably in the past few years, and the old lenses may not be up to snuff.

Second, almost all Pentax's current lens line-up is newly designed for digital, with the nearly parallel light path that sensors require. Older lenses may need to be re-designed.

Third, modern manufacturing techniques mean that lenses can be made more cheaply than before - with less human input. The older lenses may not be capable of being (almost) wholly machine-made.

I don't see a 135 sensor in Pentax's future (unless it's in the 645 body, using 645 lenses).

G

A few years ago I bought a Canon 5D Full Frame 12mp SLR and 28-135 IS Zoom.
I was reasonably happy with the results but not ecstatic.
Later, when Jessops were clearing out the Pentax IstDL2 6mp SLR and 18-55, for a bargain price, I bought one. I took the 5D and the IstDL2 out for a test, taking photos of a cathedral clock tower. To my amazement the Pentax istDL2 produced the clearer pictures. I found out to my great cost, that the Canon 5D Full Frame needed Canon 'L' Lenses in order to perform. I suspect that anyone going down the Full Frame route, must be prepared to buy only the best marque lenses.
I still have my Canon 5D and L Lenses, but I much prefer to use my newer Pentax 10D.

Far from useless, 40 or 43mm is great for head and shoulder shots when you want to include some context. It is also nice for small groups, like family gatherings of 2-4 people. While it might not be my favourite focal length in an absolute sense, the FA43 has made it one of my favourites.