SRS top banana! Well I think they are the whole fruit salad I walked in last Saturday and said I had a dilema. K511s or K3? After explaing that I spend a lot of time chasing wildlife three voices in unison declared "K3" So K3 it was and an 18-270 just for fun.

I carry a Pentax X5 in my works kit bag. Very light and not bad on the batteries. Good image quality and the colour rendition like all Pentax cameras is excellent. Not the quality of a DSLR but on a budget well worth it. As DCWeather i agree using a tripod or monopod. As the camera is light you could get awy with a lighter support but then that opens a can of worms. Don`t go for the cheapo ones and make sure you are comfortable with the locking system for the legs. Below are a couple I took with the X5.

Pointliss....

So, my first impressions of the K3. First of ll the buttons are very positive. It`s possible to feel and hear the "Click." I was not always certain of the press with the other K`s. The levers are now large enough for those cold fingers to get to grips with. The viewfinder is fantastically clear and the diopter adjuster I find much easier to use. The grip is different to the K5 and an improvement, just a touch better in the hand. (I bought a Cotton Carrier" grip which adds to the security, I don`t like straps but felt vulnerable just dangling the body in my right hand.) Now performance, well the shutter and mirror movements feel very well damped and quiet. Today was windy and all I wanted to do was "Play" light was nothing special.




Straight from the camera, not cropped or `shopped.

Ummm! only bought it today so the initial charge is a long one.... BTW the K5 (same battery) would last switched on for at least a days operating.

Just wish the battery would finish charging! Put it on when I returned from Watford about four ish. Feeling like a child in a sweetshop waiting for a parent to turn up with the money..... Worth talking with Chris, he is up for a deal, my advice is just ask.

Thanks Gary, just waiting for the first charge to finish then it`s in with the battery, set the date etc and pop in the card with the update.

Hi Daniel, thanks for the link. I spoke with Chris today and came home poorer in the pocket but richer in the kit bag

So there I was collecting a K3 and an 18-270 from SRS today when the very subject of the 1.4 came up for discussion. Sounds like it`s not going to disapoint with IQ especially with the DA*300 plus also the Sigma 150-500 and lots of glass in between. Thanks Chris and team.

I use both a DA*300 and for the extra distance a 150-500 on a K30 and a K5.

The 300 has produces a superb Image quality. The 150-500 is very good indeed. I would advise use of a tripod to stabilise and the benefits at the long end pay off.