If I end up with a K1, that lens does seem like a 'must have'. I think, maybe, I should consider the Samyang 14mm f/2.8 too, especially if I decide to stick with APS-C.

Andrew

How are you finding the 28-105mm? Is it living up to your expectations & hopes?

Andrew

Strange & crazy - no, but it does suggest that your priorities are different.

In my book, a camera's sole purpose is to produce output and it is that output that I try to judge when making a purchasing decision. I care little for how many bells and whistles it has.

Having said that, while cost has to play some part in the decision, if I have a shortlist of two with similar output, I would generally tend towards the item that seems to be better constructed. I guess that the K70 and the (not yet even rumoured) K3 Mk III would be likely to have similar output and that could affect my decision.

One question I am pondering about is whether I really need a 450mm FF equiv lens. Although I use a 55-300mm on the K30, I only rarely use it at 300mm. As I have a golden oldie 70-210mm and a 300mm prime (both MF), maybe I could get by without a modern long kens - so, maybe the K1 should still be on my shortlist.

Mmmm ......

Andrew
(Aka confused of Oldham)

My first Pentax DSLR was a K200D that I bought in 2008. Around 4 years ago, I bought a K30, mainly because its high ISO performance is about 2 stops better than the K200D. It's a fine camera and I have enjoyed using it.

Several moons back, I shot a RatPack gig at Oldham's Coliseum theatre and realised that I could have done a lot better with a camera having even better high ISO performance. At the time, there were rumours of a FF camera, but the K3 just didn't seem to offer a significant Improvement.

Although I would love one, a K1, kit lens and 150-450 would set me back about £4k. As an amateur, that doesn't make too much sense, irrespective of whether I could afford to buy one.

The K70's high ISO performance seems to be maybe a stop worse than that of the K1 - but much better than my K30 - so it has to be an option, especially as I would not need to lay out for any new lenses. If a K3 Mk III existed, I would probably buy one of those - but it doesn't - and, so far as I can see, there are no other sensible options.

Andrew

Of course, yes, pixie dust. Sorry, I forgot about that.

Andrew

If the gear itself is more important to you than its output? Yes, I think that makes you a gear head.

Andrew

A self-confessed gear head, eh? Therein lies the difference.

Andrew

I agree with most of that - and that the K70 lacks some of K3 IIs attractive features - but it does have mirror lock, WiFi, pixel shift technology and 4.5 stop IBIS. It is also available - which a K3 III is not.

If a K3 III is launched any time soon, it might well become my favoured option. The price of the body isn't that important to me - but IQ is, which rules out all Pentax bodies apart from the K1 and K70.

Andrew

Different strokes for different folks ....

For me, a camera is only as good as the output I can produce from it. If I can get decent usable shots at ISO 25,600 from camera A but not from camera B then in my book A is better than B - no matter how many extra bells and whistles B happens to have.

Andrew

I have little interest in what marketing folks "intend" cameras to be used for - or what functionality is included in a camera. My main concern is IQ and especially at high ISO.

Andrew