Moving over to Pentax

I don't know why some of us feel the need to snipe at each other, but please show a little restraint.

Any further off topic posts will be removed.

I have both the Canon 5D and the Pentax K5.
In my experience the Canon 5d performs well with L series lenses and good lighting. It's an old classic that still performs.

The Pentax K5 performs better and I much prefer using it. In fact I use it for 90% of my picture taking. The low light capability of the K5 is really impressive. The handling of the K5 is also preffered by me, despite my large hands.

I do have L series lenses with my 5d - 17-40 and 70-200 with a 50mm prime and I like the range but as I said I prefer to use my prime 50mm and the camera is a litle large and cumbersome at times as I have a baby daughter to handle too when out and about.

That said I will probabally get the battery grip to go with the K-5 as I quite liked the one I had on my Canon 40d and it made the handling really comfortable and helped balance out the weight when using a larger lens.

If you like the standard prime approach Pentax have some lovely lenses between 31 and 40m, providing a similar field of view. You'll get more dof wide open.

I don't know about other models but if you wanted my K5 you'd have to prize it from my cold dead fingers.

Again writing from a purely personal point of view I would like to make the following observations.
Today we have attended two weddings, the first a small affair with only six guests which was all wrapped up, done and dusted by 12.30pm.
Not one guest commented on the fact that we were using Pentax cameras.
The second a much larger affair we have just got back from as we stayed until after the reception selling and printing images on demand.
At this wedding we were given some odd looks by people carrying Nikon & Canon cameras, and one male guest
actually said "............oh Pentax, you don't use a proper camera then? " and walked off smiling.

A while later he passed our viewing/ printing station and spent some time viewing the images on our 23" monitors asking one of our operators to zoom in on aspects of the images and enquiring after information from the exif data. To say he was favourably impressed was a huge understatement. He and his partner were also
impressed by the standard of video captured by the K5's.
He was so impressed/curious he even went on line to check out prices of the K5 after I had told him what he could expect to pay for one.
This leads to my observation that a lot of people are unaware of Pentax' existence let alone the amazing quality and value for money they offer across the range.
My second observation is that too many people place too much emphasis on the kit rather than on the finished result which surely is the ultimate requirement.
I am fortunate enough to spend time with quite a famous landscape photographer based here in Scotland.
On several occassions I have heard him say ".........got all the gear and no idea..." or "..... all that kit and still produces sh*t...."
Like many other very talented photographers he does have nice kit, but it's not replaced the very minute a new model hits the market and I have seen him produce some stunning images from an old Rollei 35mm
and Kodak Tri-X, a good photographer relishes the challenge of producing a well exposed, composed image from whatever equipment he has to,or has chosen to use.
In fact I would be presumptious enough to state that amongst talented photographers the subject of what kit
someone else is using is often far down the list of what interests them about that person or their images.

Rant over.

Yes, you do get some occasional odd looks, especially now that we have the big letter neoprene 'PENTAX' straps on all cameras.

Having said that it was a whole different experience shooting on the continent. Covered a German wedding and there were very few cameras to be seen. Although we still had the obligatory N**** pro-body shooter who kept getting in the way.

But most people were more interested in having a good time than snapping away constantly like in the UK.

Also, how many N**** or C**** lenses would survive guest drinks accidents and be washable after too ?

According to this link there appears to be 25 Nikon lenses that are WR. Not looked at Canon as I don't use them.

Since I've started using Sun Sniper straps, people can't easily see that I'm using Pentax and Nikon side by side, although they do ask why two systems after getting close enough to see the names on the bodies.

Best regards

all my logos are taped over, I hate talking gear to people... Much prefer talking photos

Erm, that only shows which have a mount gasket. That is like calling the 17-70 a WR lens! It says nothing about which have other seals/gaskets.



Someone I know has coloured in the lettering on their cameras and lenses with permanent markers. Think it may have something to do with deterring thieves.

I'm in the largest camera club (based on membership figures) in the Northern Counties Photographic Federation where quite a few of our members have had considerable success in international exhibition acceptances in the past year.
We have regular competitions and photographic assignments yet the talk is rarely about the brand of camera used - its always about the images produced.
We respect each other's choice of equipment but we're more interested in the pictures they turn out.
Sometimes the arguments on this forum about the relative merits of brands other than Pentax are frankly childish when they descend into personal abuse.
In answer to the OP: Yes you will find the K5 an excellent camera. I have one and its the best camera I've ever owned - but then I have little experience of other brands.
David

PS This isn't a snipe at Gary (K10D), the point he made about the Pentax K5 being five years further along the development road than the Canon 5D was a statement of fact and quite a reasonable observation. On the other hand the K5 costs less than the 5D.

Tyr, this may be a little better for general info and it covers a few brands. link

David, no issues.

Best regards

We have regular competitions and photographic assignments yet the talk is rarely about the brand of camera used - its always about the images produced.


Well said Sir!

Although living and working as a photographer in the NW of Scotland I have been a member of the same camera club in the home counties since 1974. A fair part of which I served on the commitee and the membership have never once asked the Programme Secretary to invite camera manufacturers/retailers to give talks/lectures.
Like the club David Trout belongs to we are a successful club and genuinely have more interest in the image than equipment used to capture it.
In fact one of our more junior members recently applied for and was awarded her ARPS. The camera used for all of her images was a Panasonic Lumix Bridge Camera.

Another member who is a student at a prestigous seat of learning studying photography is issued Pentax K1000 cameras and lenses to complete modules within her BA (Hons) degree course.
She regularly impresses the club membership and visiting competition judges and no one ever questions what kit she uses.

From the above comparison: Is this just a (very poorly thought out) generalised comment, or are they actually implying that either the 5D or the K-5 could be considered an :

They probably are implying that the 5D is the pro camera... but seriously, if they're that ill-informed, they're not going to be amenable to argument.

They probably recall the 5D as a 'pro' camera, and aren't sophisticated enough to understand how things have changed. Add that to a view that probably is as advanced as 'Who's Pentax?', and there'll be no de-entrenching them.

It's really not worth getting exercised over something like this.