Why do we stay with Pentax?

Out of interest, in which respects would Pentax need to change/improve its cameras to match or surpass the one you have been so impressed by?

I like my K5 for many of the reasons already rehearsed in this thread (and like the sound of the K3), which is just as well since the thought of selling everything Pentax and restarting from scratch fills me with (inertia-induced?) dismay.

Cameras will continue to improve, but it is hard to see that in recent years the improvements in the final images they produce are other than incremental. Useful but incremental. So until the next revolution that upends the digital age (bio-cameras?), I'll likely stick with Pentax ... provided of course they continue to produce good cameras.

The K3 is, I believe a lot better camera then the one I saw this weekend for 99% of the people! but like you and I have said its that something when you pick a camera up it just feels right and just does what you want it to do, hence why I have stuck by my K5's.

This soon to be released camera is not one for the masses, it will be a toy, something to hold and enjoy using on those special moments, Just like my dads LX or my MX-1, I want it not because I need it but because I don't need it, just like a fine Swiss made watch or a piece of art.

Pentax is the best camera maker in the world for ME, Just like Canon is the best camera maker in the world to my friends for THEM, And so on, it what works for you, but like anything in this world emotion rules the heart not the head, and my heart got the better of me this weekend. And for that I am truly sorry.

So the answer to your question is Pentax needs to make a camera that needs to bring a bit of culture and passion and emotion to its range of slr's like it has done with its limited lenses,compacts and mirrorless range and then we will have the complete package.

Why? Because my K5 is still a great camera capable of excellent results. I like using compact primes and older lenses and Pentax has a fine selection of those to choose from.

Well there are (as yet unsubstantiated!) rumours Ricoh is working on something a bit like that. Sounds like we'll be beaten by the Sony and Nikon 'compact FF' releases though.

For those who desire it, also looks like Nikon will beat Pentax to producing a "digital MX" (or digital FM in this case). That potentially appeals to me rather a lot, but I recognise that I may be in a very small minority - the K-3 may be much more relevant for most people. It'll be interesting to see how things develop over coming months - but I think I'll keep the K-5 for now anyway and let the early adopters do all my research. The K-5 remains rather more capable than me.

Pentax cameras always had the perfect quality cost ratio. Of course if you can afford to spend double the amount you would spend with a pentax, you should go for a nikon (to get something better than a pentax)

Very debatable statement sebas77. You haven't defined "better" for a start.

I think you would have to spend a lot more then double if not quadruple on a Nikon or Canon to get something better, as the Pentax K3 is more then a match if not better then what they have to offer in that price range,

And then it's only better if it does the job twice or four times as good as what the K3 does it,

In this day and age it's about getting the most bang for your buck, so yet again it boils down to need over want.

6 major reasons for staying with Pentax.......


....DA 15mm Ltd, FA* 24mm, DA* 55mm, FA* 85mm, DFA-WR 100mm, F* 300mm...


....I could go on

I've come over from Nikon. I prefer the ergonomics of Pentax, I still have my old PK-M and M42 lenses and you get better value for money from Pentax.
I don't care how good people think Canon cameras are, in my experience they always go wrong. The T90 was groundbreaking but find one that still works perfectly like my 1982 ME Super does.

I have nothing to compare with really. I had K-mount film cameras (Cosina for the longest)although just pre-digital had a Nikon F-55 film camera but didn't use it much before digital took over. I even had one of those funny film zoom compact Pentax's with the zoom which seemed to stick out forever. So some lenses to start me off. I then enjoyed the experimentation of older cheaper lenses. I have now worked my way up to the excellent K-30. I think I know what lenses I need the most. My DA*300, DFA 100mm WR Macro, Tamron 18-250, Sigma 150-500. Amongst the draw full of others that are rarely used but nice to play with there is the 50mm f1.7 SMC-A and the Adaptall SP 35-80mm.
But, for the first time the other day I did add up my Pentax assets including flash and other specifics and they would have a S/H value of about £2.5k. It did make me think if I had that bundle of cash and a free choice what would I buy? But then I don't have a free choice do I - I am a Pentax owner !

Simple answer for me is I don't know...well actually I do. The last DSLR I bought from new was a Samsung GX20 (having previously owned ist DL, K100D and K10D)and I haven't been in a position to consider buying a new DSLR since (4 years ago). I've been mainly playing with old stuff...M42 lenses and screw mount cameras and then I found that I could put the old lenses on the GX20 and still get some reasonable (you notice I didn't say good pictures) and then dame fortune smiled on me and presented me with a little windfall totally out of the blue.
I decided that obviously a new camera or several was required so rather foolishly I started looking at Canon as I had acquired an Eos 300 film camera and was impressed by it...however after reading reviews and doing a bit of handling I decide no I'd stick with Pentax..so first off I have now acquired a K-01 (the trial shots have been impressive as I've installed 1.04 firmware) and today I've taken the plunge and gone for the K3.
Mad I must be but I am so used to Pentax that anything else (other than point and shoot) wouldn't do..so I suppose my answer is that old habits die hard

I tend to agree with the quality cost ratio relative to digital. In the dim and distant analogue past, I tended to use Nikon and the Olympus OM models, with a brief period of use with the MX.

When I finally embraced digital, I started to use Canon as I found that Nikon digital ergonomics did not suit me, I sold my Canon gear to go to Pentax K5. I have not looked back, a dependable and quite tough weather proof body a lot cheaper than an equivalent Canon body.

Whilst nothing can be perfect, I can't find much to fault on the K5.

well for example (and that could be me) I am still not able to get in focus a runner running toward me with my k5 and the 55-300 before he passes by.

The other "Achilles' heel" is the exposure metering with TTL-flash (at least with the metz), something that does not happen with the k30 though, so I hope it has been fixed with the k3

it all sounds a bit vague to me.