My SLR route has been:
Zenit/Spotmatic/MX/MEs/Z1/istDS/K10x2/K5/K30/K3
Not all one at a time, I've mostly kept at least two cameras on the go at the same time.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

That sums up Pentax quality perfectly for me Jonathan. Its a well written blog ( blogs aren't usually so well crafted). I've always rated the Pentax ergonomics very highly. For a time in the 1990s I had the use of a clunky Nikon FM2 at work but much preferred working with my rather worn and battered ME Super which was lighter and much, much more comfortable to handle.
When I upgraded from the K10 to the K5, K30 and a year ago to the K3 I was delighted at the improvement in image quality. I use all three of these cameras regularly; it means I don't have to change lenses so often.
David
PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

Sensational colour Gary. Each image has superb quality but the sky in the portrait format picture has to be my favourite.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

This is interesting, I like the quality you have achieved. I've got hundreds, thousands even, colour slides languishing in drawers. What's the set up you use, do you use a slide/negative copier attached to the camera?
David
PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

Expert piece of lighting and photography Stan. Well done on your win.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

I haven't got the precise dates yet Vic but I think its earlier than July. I'll post a date when I get it.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

Something like that Andy. We are going to feature more than 100 people, politicians, people from the worlds of the arts and entertainment, business and sport. Our team on this project will have hundreds of pictures, its going to be a major job editing them to make a meaningful exhibition.
Funny you should mention eye contact - Mike automatically locked eye contact with whichever of the three of us was photographing him at that moment.
I've done lots of portraits at events like the Whitby Goths and Edinburgh Fringe and in many cases I've had to urge the subject to give me eye contact.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

A member of our photographic society, Durham PS, who's not a Pentax User, is co-ordinating a major portrait project featuring leading North East people. This coming year we will be staging exhibitions of the work at several venues, starting with Alnwick Castle early in the summer (The Duchess of Northumberland is one of our subjects).
I've been involved in one or two of the shoots: This week it was the turn of Durham's Chief Constable, Mike Barton. Mike is a tough cop, formerly head of CID with Lancashire Police before promotion to ACPO rank with Durham Constabulary, but he's also a great people person who was happy to be subjected to the attention of three of us photographers on Monday.
Here's three of my images from the shoot, using the K5 and DA*16-50mm lens inside his office. I used the K3 with DA*50-135mm lens for shots of him outside Police HQ.











David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

I'm glad you decided to join in Carl, this is a first class set of images. As always your moody landscape/seascape pictures are top rank and I especially enjoyed January at Sandsend. Also the real Fritz the dog has quality and humour.
The hi-viz reflection in the paintwork of the Q6, which upsets Stephen, is easily cured with a little local desaturation.

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

A very nice set indeed, Thanks for joining the '12' club.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout