Date yet undetermined.

Preferably a locale serving drinks of any sort and/or food. Although if the location has WiFi that would be a definite plus. Depending upon the size of the group; I might very well be able to pick up half of the tab for a reasonably sized group

Open to options as to which day of the week, but weekday evenings would probably work better for me.

Also if anyone might be able to suggest local hotels or any other overnight establishment; preferably the higher priced the better

I agree about that noted price range difference.

Pentax does have the capability to do full frame digital dslr in a certain range outside of medium format. Perhaps an entry level "minimalist" full frame would go for about 2k. Something considerably more advanced; 3k.

But there is also an additional reason.

People typically do not use medium format for much in the way of action photography. The glass for doing so just is not practically there; in terms of keeping the optical ability that the sensor needs in medium format, and also the aperture for action. So Pentax full frame dlsr's outside format are very much needed.

Let me also stress again, Pentax is losing considerable money in not doing it. The company is losing more money in not doing it, than the risk of actually trying it. Or perhaps if Pentax/Ricoh is unwilling to try it simply do the following: 1. admit that it is not doable in Pentax eyes anytime in the near future. 2. Better yet, allow a secondary company to do it, such as selling the patents or allowing their use.

Sometimes I'll somehow limit myself to just two lens and two camera bodies in a very small gadget bag. Just depends on what kind of subject. Usually though I'll carry a medium to larger gadget bag such as the LowePro DryZone with at least four lenses and two camera bodies. Could easily fit more in there if the lenses were more compact, but I prefer better optics - which are typically larger and heavier than some of the more compact models.

For local items where I can drive to... I'll often carry have an additional gadget bag in vehicle.

The real problem is that most clients involve travel by air. In addition to physical take-on luggage size restrictions; I'll also get as close as possible to the typical 23kg weight restriction.

Some of the items I can almost always be spotted with... One of the bodies will typically be the Pentax K3. Since it has one of the best weather resistance rating on the market; I'll also try to tam it up with at least one version of the weather resistant lenses (my favorite being the Pentax 18-135 - ) and even one of the Pentax weather resistant flash units.


More of a note on the Pentax DA35... Far above average optics, but... But when some use it for macro, some also find that it gets them too close to the subject

Could be worse though.

Out of every single current autofocus lenses I own (well over one hundred, over one half from Pentax) nothing to my knowledge takes longer to focus than the Pentax FA50mm f2.8 macro. It could never be used for almost any type of action photography, because it would simply miss a majority of the photographs, unless switched over to manual.

There's nothing quite like waiting over five second if it happens to miss a focus target. Optically though, for a macro fixed focal length lens it still remains a nine out of ten

With a t mount adapter one can connect almost anything to a Pentax PK body, but will give up the automation of the lens features, such as; focusing, aperture, etc... One will be forced to use shitter speeds and or iso settings only, and not much else.

One could even use most any telescope connected through the PK to T mount adapter, or even a microscope. I'm sure there's many a case of having the camera body not even fully rigged onto any of optic.

But there's also a considerable drawback. If there is not a permanent mount between camera body and lens, then expect all kinds of goodies to make their way onto the sensor.

Would it be worth it? There is a risk, but it might very well be worth a try. Also, if one is not able to find a type of adapter on the market; one could easily have one fabricated through a local school or shop

Is there a market?

Look at what Sony has done over the last few years.

Just s a reminder; there are presently on the market (today) 45+ PK full frame lenses. There is the ability to add in 10+ more from companies such as Sigma - if they would add more PK to their line that is already there for other companies such as Nikon. There are also some 10+ more FF PK lenses from Pentax and other companies that will be added in about the next two years.

That's not factoring in the 100++FF PK lenses that have been phased out over time.

So even given the existing market numbers and availability; the range that is covered by those 45+ full frame PK lenses has almost everyone out there completely covered.

Most are beginning to realize the reality; that Pentax is just lacking initiative and also just looking for excuses to not bring out full frame. In the end, this will bring down Pentax/Ricoh throughout the photography related aspects of the company.

Wondering if the sales numbers.... If Pentax is even in the top five anymore. Because at this rate they will not have long before dropping out of the top ten

I'd be willing to compare most any full frame camera to any non full frame model. Any professional photographer would notice the difference both on screen (sadly even a laptop, but preferably a quality monitor), and also in printed material. Naturally such results would be unedited. But ironically what is a bit more difficult to reproduce is the focal length of the images; because cropped sensors typically have the 1.5x magnification of a full frame.

Still the results would be noticeable to state the least. Noticeable whether the photographs were taken in studio, on location, or just about anywhere, with most any subject.

But also noting... Pentax still does have a edge in certain areas when it comes to that cropped sensor medium. Consider this one...

That weather resistant label that is on so many Pentax camera bodies and lenses. Sure companies such as Canon and Nikon have it on their camera bodies; Nikon even has it on one of their interchangeable waterproof camera bodies, but... Outside of that, Pentax should be marketing that fact in as much advertising as possible - if Pentax actually does have an advertising budget. That one can go out and purchase a Pentax K3 and a lens such as a 18-135, even a hotshoe flash to top it all off; whereas the flagship Nikon full frame Nikon does NOT presently offer or market ANY WR lenses for full frame digital. That Nikon WR is great, but what happened to the lenses?

There is also the cost factor. Where Nikon has produced an entry level full frame for not all that much more than the release price of the K3 when it was released - ouch. This is probably one of Pentax's largest stumbling block when it comes to the possibility of Pentax FF; what would be the cost in doing the body and could it be at a price similar to the Nikon? Could Pentax FF also be done and then keep PK?

Depends upon a number of factors.

If one is producing a pocket digital camera such as a Sony pocket sized digital camera; sorry cannot recall camera model numbers, but the pocket digital which has a 20x optical and a 20mp sensor... Less than one quarter of that cost is in the sensor. The same can be said for comparable models such as Olympus pockets cameras.

Let's get to the Pentax label... The MX has a sensor that cost about the same as the model type listed above, as does the Pentax bridge camera. For Pentax dslr's - for the initial run it just depends upon how new the sensor is. For the K3, for the initial price for the camera - it could easily be looking at 40%++ on the sensor alone for the cost of the camera body. Over time though that cost goes down considerably.

Cameras such as the K5 were of similar numbers, much like the K-01, and even the K50.

Medium format is an entirely different spectrum. Not sure what the Pentax numbers are, but... Some of the Mamiya medium format cameras have sensors that are about 50-60%++ of the cost of the camera body. Hasselblad is actually less, one is paying for the name.

Give me the name and model number of a camera and I'll try to run the exact percentages and numbers for you

Yes have used one - previously. But have since unfortunately gotten rid of it. If the offer came around again, I'd have zero hesitation about purchasing one.

Most of them have very few "technical" issues with the push pull zoom; even when aimed straight upwards or downwards. It's simply a user preference.

Interestingly enough; Sigma is working on at least three zoom lenses in (about) this focal length. One will be a Pentax version of a full framer with a constant aperture of at least f2.8 or better - in the general 80-200 range . Unfortunately just like the present Sigma 24-70 f2.8, the lens will also have a quite large size and weight. Not sure about the specifics of the others. Also possibly related; look for Sigma to be expanding their WR line considerably