Possible D800 to K3?

Hi guys, first post here looking for a little advice.

I currently shoot with a Nikon D800 & a Tamron 24-70 f2.8, its a nice bit of kit but I've been finding lately that I don't "need" the 36MP Size of the pictures and also that I'm finding the size a bit of a pain to carry all the time.

I've previously had a variety of APS-C DSLR's and tried a few of the mirrorless setups as a potential accompaniment to the D800 but in my realization that I don't think I "need" it I'm beginning to look at a full scale replacement.

My lenses I have for the D800 are currently really aimed at Full Frame so if I sold the D800 I'd likely sell them too or I'd consider a straight downsize to the D7100.

The smaller size of the Pentax bodies attracts me along with the excellent range of prime lenses which seem like they would be ideal for travel and for sticking on the K3 so I can stick it in my bag daily.

I'm looking to see if there are users who have either moved from a D800 (or similar) to Pentax or have shot both and could give some feedback on how they found it?

I’ve yet to own a full frame camera of any kind, but have used the D7000 and D7100, with a variety of lenses.
For me the biggest difference between the K series and The Nikon D’s has to be the build quality of the Pentax, no other APS C camera even comes close in my opinion.
The K’s are built like small tanks, and will take quite a beating.
I’d pop into a store and try one out, i doubt you will walk out empty handed –)
Also the Limiteds are little marvels.

The Pentax FF is very small and light....... almost invisible

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I went from a K5 to the Nikon D7100 then came back to a K3.
Naturally the D800 is a step up from the 7100, but in my honest opinion as good as the Nikon was the K3 is superior in terms of handling, interface, build and IQ.
The added bonus of Pentax is the community.

Instead of upgrading my K5 yet I've bought a used DA300* F4 and a tele adapter with my eye on the star 16 - 50 and 50 - 135 in the future at the right price. My K5 hasn't suddenly become a poorer camera.

I looked at the likes of Olympus and Fuji for their mirrorless options. Neither do a long lens yet for wildlife. IF I had full frame I can't see me lugging a 600mm lens round even if I could afford one.

Sony I mistrust as they change models like a market stall changes its offers. I do like the concept that cameras are getting smaller and lighter.

Canon stop support for cameras, scanners printers very early on in the product cycle i've found. I don't like their ergonomics. I have no recent experience with Nikon.

The K3 my son has seems pretty heavy compared to some although it remains tough and small and weather proof. I'll probably wait for the MKII although £705 after cash back is very very tempting.

I have used a D800 but not owned one as well as a canon 5DMkll, both great cameras, but not for me. However the Nikon D750 looks like it offers a lot of punch and at a nice size too?
I love using Pentax and have had the K7, K5, Kills and now a K3, if I were starting from scratch and wanted a camera for travel and great IQ, i think I would opt for a Fuji X-T1. The fuji system is looking very nice indeed with new lenses on the horizon that are superb optically. However, the K3 still shines as an all round camera and are still a joy to use, I just hope the new zooms on the Pentax road map arrive in the early part of 2015, along with a full frame, I will then be a very happy Pentax user.

The Fuji X-T1 is very tempting to me personally due to is size, but the cost of buying the glass i would want make the choice more difficult due to cost. The view finder on the X-T1 is stunning though. So if you are looking for small and light with great IQ, i would have a play with the fuji X-T1 and the Pentax K3 and see which suits your needs and desires.

The k-5 mkii is a far superior camera to the d7000 I have owned both and sold the d7000 after just three shoots with it.

Whilst the d800 files maybe big are you prepared for the drop in quality from full frame to aps partiularly in low light? Whilst the pentax bodies maybe better than the nikons of similar spec the full frame sensor is a massive leap in quality compared to APS.

Once Pentax go full frame I think they will be very hard to beat and given the current value of used d800 I would be tempted to hang on until pentax release the ff.

Hi, what kind of photography do you do and what kind of lenses would you be replacing?

If you did wildlife mainly I'd think carefully. The image quality will be outstanding but focusing speed will be seriously behind the opposition especially with moving targets and difficult backgrounds. Also the SDM lenses seem to be unreliable and are expensive to repair. In all other respects can't see how it can be beaten.

It sounds like FF is more than you need, so a down-size to APS-C could be beneficial. If you want to stick with DSLRs, then going to Pentax is the obvious choice as no-one else concentrates on the APS-C format. The other option would be mirrorless systems, but you may be put off by the sparse lens selection and the quality of the lenses too. The small size may also put you off.

I think the most important thing you need to think about is which lenses (and perhaps other items such as flashes) you will likely need the most, and check that Pentax has something that fits the bill. If you post here to say what you're looking for, I'm sure you'll get suggestions (likely a deluge of them!).