Moving over to Pentax

If I was looking at moving over to the Pentax system which would be the best camera to go for currently? (K-5, K-7 K20-D).

I currently have a Canon 5D classic and I have quite a lot of older M42 lenses and Pentax gear coming my way and it would either make my canon equipment redundant or end up not getting used. Which camera would compare to the quality I get from my 5D.

I believe the M42 lenses would work better with a pentax rather than using an adapter on my 5D as there are mirror clearance issues with the FF Canon. I am also finding I am tending to just use my 50mm f/1.8 prime on the 5D rather than the other zooms I have essentially making them a bit redundant.

I would also gain image stabilisation and pop up flash from moving over.

I did learn photography on an Ashai Pentax SV from the 1960's with a 55mm Super Takumar lens which I still have.

If i did get a Pentax DSLR I would sell my canon stuff on.

All advice would be greatly appreciated.

The K5 is closest in IQ to a full frame digital camera, probably at least as good dynamic range and ISO performance as the 5D, if not better. All Pentax's cameras will 'crop' images from your lenses, making your 50mm have a field of view like a 75mm lens. You will also struggle to get quite such narrow DOF.

There can be only one ... (that will give you the same sort of quality you get with your 5D anyway) and that is the K-5.

The basic operating logic of Pentax cameras remains the same, so you should find the K-5, the obvious choice, to be like an old friend in a new coat.

I've just migrated from a full frame camera with a much lower megapixel count than the K5.

The results from the K5 are noticeably better. Up to and including 6400 ISO.
Strange thing is I very rarely shoot above 1600 ISO so the performance criteria at ISO levels above 6400
are to me totally academic.

One of the most important things to me is that I am getting better results from a camera and lens combo that is
1/5th of the cost of my previous set up.
To me from a business point of view it's a ' no brainer'.

The K-5 is a fantastic camera.
I started with a spotmatic and the 50/1.4 in 1974.
Was delighted to discover Pentax was faithful to the K mount so I could still use my 'personal history' lens

Pete

Hi Dave

I have no experience of using the K5 but do use a K10D with a few M42 lenses and I like the results.

If you live near to the Wrexham area you are welcome to meet up and try out your lenses with my K10D, I have the adapter.

On the K10 with an m42 lens you use av mode - the camera constantly meters so its a case of zoom, focus and shoot

I doubt the K10 will come close to the ff body you have though.

On my flickr page there are two sets from M42 lenses, the Tokina 300mm and the NPS 400mm.

Regards


Stu.

Mikes right, K5 all the way, though you may find after the Canon you need to buy the battery grip too

Having a Canon user move over to a Pentax is very much like a Windoz user move over the Mac... Only once you start using the Pentax do you think "Why did I take long to make the change?".

Enjoy .......now I'm off to download a few images from my K5 to my iMac..heaven

Jeez, the Apple fan boys are back. Can't we stop the pointless PC/Mac discussions on the site?

Who's making a pointless PC/Mac discussion unless your a PC user ! Guess so from your Avatar.....

Smile

touché

I agree the K-5 is the way to go.

Re the Mac/Pc comparison all I can say is yawn.
Sick of these pointless debates.

This is meant to be a photography forum. Can we please keep the Mac worshipping to Mac forums. All it does it start arguments and it has no bearing on photography.

I'm sure the K5 would be ideal for you, though if you get the opportunity to handle it before splashing the cash it would be a useful exercise as it's quite a lot smaller camera to the 5D.


You would find it hard to complete your digital workflow without a computer of some type so it has quite a lot to do with photography, just like a darkroom had a lot to do with film photography, but I do agree that these arguments are so dull. There hasn't been an image ever posted on here that couldn't have been processed with a Windows / Mac / Linux computer.