Media for new Pentax digital SLR's

I have an ist D, best thing I ever did.

I've owned 2x Me-supers: 2x Super A's: a Z1p & now the ist D.

But I see that the newest Digi SLR's have SD Cards instead of Compact Flash cards.

So much for pentax compatibility.

Does the newer SLR's have both SD & Compact flash..??

Also is the Optional Battery for the ist D compatble with the newer Digi SLR's.

I think to be fair Pentax have preserved a huge amount of backwards compatibility with all their SLR cameras. After all, you could still conceivably use an Asahiflex lens on the current DSLRs, albeit with a couple of adapters to achieve it. 42mm screww thread lenses can be used with the K mount adapter, and all bayonet lenses are compatible within the limitations of each lens type.

Set against this is progress of various sorts, and pentax can't be held back by their past engineering either. The trend does seem to be towards SD cards because their smaller size makes more compact camera designs possible, and there is no down-side as regards speed or reliability.

Personally, I have cameras that use CF cards and cameras that use SD cards, but then again I have cameras that use 120 film and cameras that use 35mm film...

Hi John,
I have to admit I was only dissapointed when I found out a friend has an SLR that takes both, SD & CF.

I used to have 2x me-2 winders.

This I would use with my Me-Super & Super A.

When the batteries were suspect I would just change the winder.

Super A for Slides & Me_Super for prints.
Or Super A for Telephoto shots & Me-Super with the 24-70 lens.

If I could afford it I would have 2x ist D2.

To do the same.

But I'll definately stick with Pentax.

Cheers Alistair.

I do agree about poor Pentax compatibility.

Have you noticed that there is no provision for using film on a digital SLR? This is a grave oversight.

And it's ridiculous that I can't use my bayonet mount lenses on my Spotmatic. What's more, the modern digital flash units are almost useless on forty-year-old camera bodies as well. Bad, Pentax, very bad.

It's high time manufacturers stopped foisting improvements on us. Just because SD cards are smaller and more robust doesn't mean we should be forced to use them. In fact, I personally think all digital cameras should be fitted with 5 1/4 inch floppy drives. That way I could download images to my original IBM pc of 1982.

Come to that, why aren't DSLRs made from mahogany and brass, like proper cameras?

Come to that, why do we need cameras at all? Why not just hire an artist?

What's that? Damien Hirst? Ah....., um......, yes, OK. I think I can see an advantage to having a camera.

But I don't want a massive great thing, and have to go around in a horse-drawn wagon, like Roger Fenton in the Crimea. I need something small, light, convenient. Something modern, with small, robust, memory devices. Like Secure Digital. Roll on progress, I say, and innovation!

G

Further to my last post, I would just say that Pentax were right to use CF in the *ist D because, at the time, no other memory format came near to CF in terms of capacity.

Now that SD cards offer multi-gigabyte capacity, I am sure that Pentax made the right decision to switch.

And given that the price of memory cards has come down so much, I don't think it is a good idea to offer facilities for both formats in one camera. Small size and low weight are two important characteristics of Pentax bodies.

G

I'm still hoping that Apple execs (who buy thier memory for thier ipods from samsung), Pentax execs, and Samsung execs all wind up drunk at the same xmas party and wake up in bed together.
I envision an all white with aluminum trim ist d with built in 5 gig ram buffer, pull out ipod where the cameras lcd used to be and an airport extreme card where the cf slot used to be.
the "*Apple Ist" with wi fi, and itunes, Iphoto etc built in.

A beautiful dream, to be sure!

Realistically, there's no reason a DSLR can't use two kinds of card. Dual slot cameras have existed for a long time (( still have one) and an SD card can fit in a sleeve that fits into a CF slot.

That would be the ideal solution for the next pro-level DSLR, the others are aimed at enthusiasts and soccer moms and dads, so the smaller SD card might be an advantage in those cases.

Hey and dont forget the same SD card can be used in your MP3 player and personal organiser. And by the way the other Pentax (WP) also uses the same card. I agree they would look better in mahogany though.
Rom