Sorry Pentax - Switching to Nikon

Same here Mike....

D3 or K-5/K20D - simple choice really.....when it's fast action stuff the D3 is the default camera...otherwise I pick up the Pentax - my kit excelled itself during the Pentax camera...whether it was the K-5 or K20D the images have a sort of va va voom quality which is quite compelling, the Nikon just feels cold....

I'm just looking forward to hearing what faults the 6D and D600 come shipped with.....oh hang on only Pentax have faults don't they?

Grass ain't always greener....

Great conversation !
I think that a few more arguments and my decision will be clear, I don`t want to waste all that money selling my gear but I also like to see some more stuff for my K5.

So the other way is to get the other brand camera for certain purpose like sport photography, fast moving objects or wildlife ?

I could very easily have ended up with a Nikon D7k but after handling it I just didn't like it as much as the K5- I knew it was probably the stronger brand going forward.

your list is certainly accurate but the Pentax appeal endures primarily because of the size build and handling of the K5.

One reason why I am quite happy with the mark II, on paper at least.

I am now more worried about your back than ever!

I don't think there's much argument that the Pentax line-up isn't ideal for everyone, sports/action certainly doesn't seem to be high on the Pentax list...I don't blame anyone for moving if the system doesn't meet their needs, forget sentimentality etc it's simply a tool for the job and if it isn't up to it then move on.

Now having said that I do think Pentax cameras are really excellent tools for landscape photography, I have the impression that the K series was developed with this in mind: I'll definitely be sticking with my K5.

Simon

This is the exact reason why i choose Pentax K7, as I start DSLR photography just two years ago, for me the most important was the build quality as I didn`t know anything about the photography.

My back is fine and the K5 and P67 are worth the effort.

Fantastic gallery !

How strange, only 4 months ago , you were telling us all that you were new to DSLR photography and that you loved Pentax.

Yet in 4 short months you have learned everything and outgrown Pentax. Wow - that was an impressive learning curve.

So - when can we expect to be able to pick up all of that Pentax gear you own at knockdown prices? After all - you couldn't possibly expect anybody to pay much for that old fashioned Pentax rubbish

Not sure about the thread in this post Tom, but I really like the design of your website. Very modern and fresh looking.

Regards
David

Avoiding bashing Pentax for poor AF, etc.
Biggest problem I see with Pentax is lack of clear info to customers (well, you would have to say "loyal" ones not many others Pentax have now) about plans and future. People don't know what products they are going to make, years long FF discussion is best example, lenses are missing from portfolio an instead of filling obvious gaps they produce some telescope, TC is still non existing, etc.
They are not going to bring new people on board if they can't show them why it is worth to invest in Pentax, sorry, but saying for so many years that panaceum for problems is using old, manual (good) lenses will work only sometimes, as Chris said above, community should have been less accepting, not sure if that would make a difference though.
And I don't care how many times owner of this brand changed, I was hoping for new one to quickly and firmly say to all customers what to expect for next years and why hold to P, but they failed (IMHO).
Another great example, just see this interview with Pentax engineer about SDM failures:
http://www.pentaxforums.com/news/jens-petersen-on-pentax-sdm-failure.html

So they say lenses produced from 2012 should be fine, did it really require so many years?, or maybe no problem because people can still use manual lenses? This is quite symptomatic of Pentax in last years, unfortunately, effect is, people either wait for years for new product that will tick some boxes for them - and get frustrated and keep bashing Pentax on different forums , or move away.

I agree Mike but Joe Soap out there does not see that difference. Your making a statement as a photographer who knows the difference.

Why does it have to get personal?

Best regards

Do you really think 1/250sec will make a difference with the flash?
When working in studio, 1/180 is more than fast enough, and outside a studio, most people will use slower shutter speed to preserve some of the original light/atmosphere.

Also, going from 1/180 to 1/250 is only half a stop. Nothing there to write home about.

It seems from your comments that you are veering in the direction of portrait photography with all your talk about flash and accessories. There is no reason at all to ditch yoru K5 if that is the case - there are some fantastic lenses in the Pentax line-up that are brilliant for portraiture and there is a superb studio tog in Paris, Ben Kanjoran (sp.) who used the K20D until recently upgrading to the K5 - if he can shoot covers for Vogue and Harper's Baazar (which he does all the time) then there is not much wrong with the kit.

It really is horses for courses, I bought a D800 for birding and it's a fantastic camera, but the K5 is in my bag on a daily basis. And the build quality of the K5 exceeds that of the Nikon, a camera which at today's prices costs nearly 4 times more.

As far as the AF for the K5 is concerned - it has only bothered me when shooting birds where the D800 is absolutely miles ahead - as it should be for the money and a newly designed camera.

Not sure at all I agree with Pentax having better IQ though. They both seem to me to be superb .... and it's more about the lenses and the user than the camera.

Yet another boring negative post full of regret. If pentax doesn't do what you want then change systems.

It really is that easy. Me im looking forward to the new k-5.

As for focus points nearly all the top studio photographers use centre point and decompose!

Good luck if you do swap systems, but the grass is not always greener.

The grass may be greener on the other side but it still needs cutting.