One of my favorite PK lenses unfortunately does not have the Pentax label attached to it.

I would strongly suggest the Sigma 24mm-70mm f2.8; which also maintains that same constant aperture. Although it also maintains those incredible optics and aperture at a price; it's quite large and quite heavy.

Depends upon the country.

I have never run into an issue throughout the United Kingdom.

But have run into issues when air traveling throughout other regions of Europe. Outside of Europe Israel tends to give rather extensive security checks, and has been known to tactfully ask people not to carry tripods onboard without checking them, even monopods, and even some tripod heads - by themselves.

Then there is the united states. Just depends upon where one goes, with what carrier, and even with what TSA person happens to get.


The whole issue is rather sad. Sometimes I'm able to travel with one attached, sometimes not. It also depends upon HOW the tripod is attached and/or carried with the bag. Almost all LowePro bags carry on the outside. Other bags such as Manfrotto "offer" to carry smaller tripods within the bag.

Either way, be prepared to check the tripod, monopod, and/or the tripod head. Also be prepared to pay to check it, just depends. Which now adds in the gamble if the items will ever make it to the same place that you happen to.

In which case, it helps to engrave the items (such as the tripod) whenever possible, and also log serial numbers, also photo inventory. Make sure to insure, and to even have extra insurance.

More about insurance... If one purchases airline travel using some credit cards, in MOST cases that also might extend insurance to some items - with limitations.

Also, depending upon the size and WEIGHT of ones camera system, consider the use of alternative camera support devices

I've found it incredibly interesting to see how digital cameras really try to capture B&W; whether it's the camera itself, or in any variation afterwards. I've tried it with more cameras than I would ever want to count.

Pentax is better than average at it, yet it still works better when added to in photoshop.

Nikon D3 quite good at it, but D4 is better. The Canon eos1dc is one of the best Canons, but not quite as good as the Nikons.

Ironically the Sigma camera bodies do incredibly well at B&W, better than any of the cameras mentioned above. Guessing that the "individual spectrum" (or whatever the real term is) sensor has something to do with this.

Or for someone looking for the truly epic B&W image, the "dedicated" black and white ONLY Leica Monochrom (not misspelled??) is beyond compare; especially with ANY Leica glass, but especially the f0.95

Film remains one of the true B&W mediums that very digitals can touch

I'm able to use a camera such as the Pentax K3 a good portion of the time, but with limitations - I frequently use it as a type of secondary camera system.

I've upgraded for items such as:
1. Full frame sensor.
2. Higher MP count and/or better resolution
3. Better optics; wider views on full frame, better selection of glass and aperture, etc...
4. Better accessory options

Yet, even though the K3 is not full frame, Pentax still has one of the best Weather Resistant cameras on the market. This should be more strongly emphasized over ANY Nikon system

If I recall correctly both the Pentax ME and MX have buttons on the top of the camera; same side as the shutter release. Unfortunately these buttons were typically the first items on the camera to go.

As for batteries, could be worse. At least it's not a Pentax K1000. Not that there is much of anything wrong with those cameras, with one exception,,, With the single battery installed, the match needle meter could not be turned off

Given the release price and also even the present price of items such as the K3...

For comparison; I'd be willing to pay literally twice as much as the release price of the K3 to go with Pentax PK full frame. Or up to half the cost of the now "outdated" but still for sale secondary Pentax medium format, the one which was replaced by the Z.

Question for "team" Pentax... What are the odds of seeing Pentax **PK** full frame within the next two years? Can that place any statement in writing?

Followed by; not so much a question but a few statements... Can Pentax "bring back" a few of their classic lenses to that they can get the Pentax PK lens number up above fifty available lenses? I've been a Pentax owner since the early 80's, a Ricoh owner since the mid eighties. I would sincerely like to remain with the company, but...

I'm stuck investing considerably more money into full frame either way

Place yourself into the perspective of a client looking to hire a photographer.

True professional wedding photographers typically have a genuine need for full frame. The size of the sensor matters more than the mp count. Which is why items such as the Nikon D4 do so incredibly well with a sensor of that mp count. Compare any two cameras; most any full frame out there will easily win against any non full frame model; the exceptions are incredibly rare.

Larger area sensor also means being able to get away with better optics. What does that mean exactly? Try 24mm-28mm on a full frame, then try it on a non full frame. So imagine if one would need a wider focal length for that non full frame; that literally equals a lessor optical shot (due to 1.5 focal factor). The same rule applies at any focal length, but narrows in telephoto.

Then there is flash photography. Nothing wrong with the Pentax line up of flash, but preferably when used OFF hot shoe. But true professional flash units such as Quantum are not available to the dedicated Pentax hot shoe, and Quantum is not alone.

Is wedding photography possible with non full frame? Sure, but now the tools are limiting the artist.


Also interestingly enough... I have a rather interesting collection of Pentax gear; gear that spans well in excess of thirty years and almost two hundred lenses; every current Pentax camera body on the current market, every current PK lens with two exceptions. Yet I have also outgrown Pentax.

It will continue to happen again, and again - with more people. Once they are also invested in a name such as Canon or Nikon, what are the odds of them coming back - for most people?

Aahh yes the numbers.

Those numbers were presented at a Las Vegas trade show by a Sony rep. In front of myself and well over one hundred other people. They are also on the internet if one knows where to look.

The numbers not pulled from a hat and are nothing less than fact.

One also has to realize the market segments. Ever been to North America? Where can one purchase Pentax in a retail store? Yet it's also that exact way throughout most of the world. Yet Sony seems to have plenty of retail displays, market share, and most importantly sales. Very strange that Sony is doing so well in camera sales, whilest taking a look at the remaining Sony company structure.

In my perspective; Pentax cannot afford to take the gamble of not attempting full frame, They stand to lose more by not trying it

Yes it is the photographer and not the camera, but...

When camera equipment options LIMIT the photographer. This is exactly one of the most major issues facing Pentax.

While doing work such as a wedding is rare in something less than full frame; portraits are much more common with cropped sensors. But imagine getting some serious work (but not quite medium format) doing a wedding...

Then add the word Pentax into that mix. That now leaves high end flash out of the mix; names such as Quantum. How about lens selection? While companies such as Zeiss have made PK in the past; where is it now if one wants a brand new lens? Even Sigma is beginning to more selectively limit PK.

So while the photographer still makes the final product; limiting to Pentax only is like rowing a boat with just one paddle