What would you do now

Having may be bought into the Pentax system some years ago and seeing how the digital market has progressed over that time would you then still buy into the Pentax system if you were starting again. I ask this question as I see a few selling off there equipment and moving onto other systems.
Ian

They tend to be people who think a different camera will make them better photographers.

It was ever thus.

G

Yes. I researched the market quite carefully before buying into a digital system; Pentax was best for my needs then and it still is - no regrets here

Canon Nikon and Olympus all offer viable alternatives, if it wasn't for the few bits of Pentax gear I already had, and if I had a budget that was a bit more generous, who knows!

But I'm very happy with Pentax, they are a smaller company so have at times lagged behind the others slightly... BUT they seem to have an excellent ethos of providing the very best kit they can to enthusiast photographers with realistic budgets (my K200D is a case in point), and not cynically limiting reverse-compatibility of lenses etc. As opposed to some others who rely on the 'trickle down effect' of credibility from their expensive pro models, and actually offer rather mediocre entry level cameras.

Pentax fits the bill for me.All the other manufacturers whilst making quality cameras they just don't do it for me

If I had no kit, walked into Jessops, talked to the sales rep, then probably not.

I'd have gone for Nikon. Small, easy to use and affordable. the build is OK and lens range reasonable.

As it is I did this 4 years ago in Harrogate, tried Nikon canon and Pentax.

Guess which I bought, with (then) good advice from the manager?

I did have several lenses which helped...

As a side issue I was talking with a Jessops Manager recently who said he couldn't understand why his company had severed all links with Pentax, he wanted to sell Pentax cameras being less than happy pushing low end 'inferior' canikony bodies onto people.

I think he's looking for another job!

If I was just going out to the shops to buy my first DSLR, and had never owned a SLR before I honestly think I would end up buying an entry level Nikon.

I can already hear the cries of traitor !!!!

Well, since the demise of the local camera shop (well in the Stockholm suburbs anyway) and as most of the large electronic chains here don't stock Pentax DSLRs its pretty difficult to get your hands on one and test it. Then of course if you do a little research and buy a few camera magazines to help make a decision - well often I think the newcomer is going to get the impression there are only two companies to choose between. All the others are for oddballs.

Personally I rather like being labeled an oddball.

/Ian.

When I moved from film to digital I first bought a Coolpic, why, well it was easy to obtain, it was well spoken off (I have since learnt) in the press, I knew the name. It took good shots, it was reliable and expensive.

When I came to buy a DSLR I spent months chewing it over, and in the end two things made up my mind for me, the first that I like the feel of the Pentax (nearly all of them) and penny for penny there is (was) nothing on the market to touch them, the quality was there and they produced the best Shots I could manage just like any other camera would.

Second point, I owned Pentax film lens that would fit the bodies I may buy, so I bought a ist and have never regretted it as I have since bought a K20 and I am waiting the delivery of the K7. Still have and use the ist and it has never failed to please.

Seems most Swedes I now fit this statement well.

It must be the easy going attitude, love of life and to much alcohol!

Must visit Sweden again soon, harder now the ferries have stopped from the UK.

I'd buy Pentax again at the drop of a hat.

I suppose I'm a relative newbie to Pentax - just one year into the system - and 6 months into having a K20D. Things have'nt really changed much in the camera landscape. Nikon have released the D5000, and Canon released the 500D. Neither intrest me in the slightest. Especially since reviews put the K-m ahead of the 500D.

Though I must say, one camera from another make has intrested me. Not enough at all to change systems, but it's so adorable! I am of course talking about the Olympus E-P1.

This is less important that actually taking pictures well and liking the Pentax system for it's 'real' tangiable merits - BUT I also like using Pentax because they are not Canikon. To me being a Pentax user means you love photography for what it really is: fun, and you show that by looking beyond Canon or Nikon you appear to have made a thoughtful and informed choice rather than going with the masses. (This is a personal view of course.)

I'd rather have the K20D over the D300; if fact at the time I bought my K20D, there were a few users I rememeber reading about on other forums that thought the grass was greener, went for a D300 system, and then went back to a K20D again.

The D700 and D3's are nice, but I'm not prepared to spend that much.

Pentax (until the last month or two at any rate) have always offered amazing value for money. I look at the quality of my kit, then remember how much it cost...and I can't complain one bit!

I just hope prices in the UK get a reality check soon.

Anyone starting from scratch these days would be hard pressed to find Pentax. If you are wanting to hold a DSLR for the first time you would end up in Jessop/Dixon/Curry with Canon/Nikon/Sony.

To be honest I've never even tried one but have always had a yen for a Nikon.

I'm very happy with my Pentax kit so I'm pleased I had some K mount lenes that lead my to the brand

I had a Pentax analogue SLR (and not one of their best models at that) with only one lens, but I liked it, which is why I bought the Ds, which was effectively it's digital equivalent. Completely blind - no testing of others, no reading up on DSLRs, I never even held the Ds until it was delivered by the postman.

I bought the first Pentax because a guy in a camera shop in Albuquerque said you don't want a Canon, the Nikon is a lot of money for what it is and this is a great little camera, you wont regret buying it. I believed him, and he was right.

Only occasionally do I regret not looking around more before going for the Ds, but I like being different, even if I am looked down upon with pity by those who don't know better (Canon owners usually!).

If I were to start over I would certainly look at Nikons, and possibly Olympus, though I don't much like the 4/3rds concept, before settling on Pentax.

I had a Nikon Coolpix 3100 for ages then a Canon A720, loved the Nikon, but needed a few more pixels. Not so keen on the Canon, but use it mainly for work taking pics at various telephone exchanges

My main hobby was mountain biking, but age and injuries got the better of me, so having enjoyed picture taking for a long while decided to get into it more

Had bit of an experiment with manual settings on the Canon compact, but wanted a DSLR to really give it a good go.

Had a brief look round, didn't like Canon much and Nikon entry models lacked things like IS and AF in body.
Saw a K100D Super advertised s/hand with a few bits, someone bought it for their wife, but she preferred a compact

Snapped it up and went from there, strangely enough felt right straight away, really like it using AA's too and bought a couple more lenses.

Wanted a bit more pixel power mainly for cropping purposes as opposed to image quality
So now got a K200D which is exactly right for me, even if I had the cash not sure I would change.

So got here more by chance than anything, but very happy I did

Cheers
Rich

I would be very tempted also to go for the Nikon D 300 as the price range is on the mark and have read some very good reports on it. I also like the feed back concerning how well the camera copes with noise at high ISO which would be a great benifit for me at inside dog shows where flash is not realy an option if your taking photos from the ring side.Will have to wait and see how well the new k7 does at the high ISO settings now.
Ian

I think I would buy Pentax to the end. I like being different! If Pentax dissappeard, then I would ensure I had a new version of their latest DSLR and hold on to that till it failed. I would still be able to get lenses second hand. My Pentax does all that I need it to and more - I'm the spanner in the works!