Are you looking for APS-C or FF lenses? I thought I'd read you had ordered a K-1 recently so I'm puzzled why you're considering the 16-85, 17-70 or 18-135 which are not full frame lenses.

So that's why those pyramids I was taking disappeared!

Another method to achieve the same thing is to use a very wide angle lens keeping the camera as level as possible, then crop out the part of the picture which was really required.

As to the Pentax lens being costly and rare. Yes it is rare but was a good ebay purchase just three months ago at under £300 which seemed a bargain... and was one off my wants list!

Don't forget our native one:



You're right that the sensor can be shifted to simulate this, but only up to a certain point.
I used the above mentioned lens for this:


From literally just across the road it would have been falling backwards taken with a normal lens.

And even more extreme!

If If you wish to experiment some suggestions here:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/58-troubleshooting-beginner-help/83348-p-ttl...

I believe others are with you on that. the grass isn't always greener but as this isn't the place to discuss their problems I'll leave it for others!
http://www.dslrbodies.com/cameras/the-d5d500-blog/nikons-outstanding-d500-fix.ht...
Get the D500iis

In actual fact, many have done.
Also, the backward compatibility with older items is a huge plus, albeit that can make high performance modes harder if not impossible to achieve. Perhaps one can't have it both ways. If Pentax ditched the K mount for a performance version I reckon they'd loose more users than they'd gain. with KAF4 and other tweaks though perhaps they'll get there regardless.

That depends what one's priorities are. For some a good quality 'budget' camera (if £800 is budget!!) that can use one's existing lens collection makes more sense than paying double for features that don't really matter (to them.) It's a shame that Pentax can't provide what you require but what they do provide is fine for many. The capabilities of current cameras of any flavour far exceed what was around donkey's years ago, but for those that 'slummed it' back in the day don't feel the need to empty bank accounts for cameras with features they've never missed. The K-1 was different as those who used to use FF wanted it back in digital without switching brands. If someone has bought into Pentax for its super fast tracking focus capabilities they've bought into the wrong brand. It's a bit like buying a small hatchback car when they really wanted a supercar then blame the hatchback for not not being able to accelerate to 60mph in two seconds.
There are those who've gone the other way and bought into the 645 system instead. One really has to slow down to use that system!

I think a further question is required, why did those who bought into the Pentax system and jump ship get a Pentax system in the first place when it clearly didn't provide what they needed? There must have been some attraction.

Really good pics there Mike and well done for hunting the critters down!

I can see all you mean, but for the privilege of having the extras you need you're paying double the cost. If that's what it takes and you need them, so be it. For the manufacturers it must be a bit of a gamble where they wonder if people really would pay that extra cost to have those features. Would a K3iii at D500 / K1 prices sell in sufficient quantities to cover its development?

Which is all a bit pointless if you want a focussing system with tracking / predictive performance similar to a D500. [/quote]I'm not disputing that, but while that means much to you it may not matter to everyone. We're in danger of denigrating a camera when it might for some be the best option, especially those on a budget.

I'm sure one member here will suggest video capabilities but Pentax have confirmed that could be improved with a firmware update. To be honest I'd prefer a firmware update than having to buy a new camera that could have been simply improved with a firmware update (think K-30 to K-50.)
Who knows, perhaps the K3ii's AF could be improved via firmware if the right person knew how to code it.