I can understand people taking two cameras on the same shoot, but that didn't seem to be the intention behind the original post, which was about having a camera to-hand when the K-3 was being left behind. In those circumstances, I wouldn't buy another SLR.

Another recommendation for the 28/3.5. Legacy 35 lenses are good too; I have a 35/2 M but the 35/2.8 is also a nice lens. I think the 50/1.4 lenses are great (mine is the A version) and particularly fun at max aperture. The 1.7 versions may be sharper wide open but they have less character. Alternatively, the 50/4 macro is a lovely little lens, and 100/4 macro a lovely big lens. For a light and not too expensive long lens for fun and frustration, look for the 500mm Tamron mirror....

If I had a K-3 and needed to go out with an SLR I'm struggling to understand why I wouldn't take the K-3! I guess some professionals may need two bodies for the same shoot, or when travelling far away, but my logic is something along the lines of "isn't it better to have different cameras that can do different things and complement rather than replicate each other?" There are more similarities than differences between different SLRs; I'd buy something different.

I'm not so sure the small sensor is such an issue in reasonable lighting conditions other than lack of ability to minimise depth of field (although there's some ability to do this at longer lengths). The fast aperture of the MX-1 lens coupled with SR means ISO can largely be kept low. You don't need to stop down much to get quite a lot of depth of field which also means shutter speeds stay high and ISO stays low when you want lots of sharpness across the image. The image quality in daylight is more than good enough for larger prints than most people make. The image quality in poor light is much better than you might think. Certainly better than early generations of dSLRs or m43 cameras. Unless a viewfinder is required, I think the MX-1 is a great buy, especially at its current bargain prices.

For a 35mm APSC equivalent, there is already a superb camera available in the X100(S). That's what I'd buy unless you're really wedded to only ever buying Ricoh/Pentax gear. Excellent viewfinder too.

Arm severely twisted! PM on its way....

Well I've just found out through the thread that my local shop (Ivor Howell) has closed, but no great loss.

Near work are TCR Spectrum (who work very hard to damage any pretence that Pentax are supported by professional dealers...dreadful barrow boys and Ricoh need to remove their pro status asap if not sooner), West End Cameras (good condition used gear incl various Pentax), Park Cameras shiny new shop (incl the HD lenses), Cameraworld (nice shop but no longer stock Pentax), and Jessops Oxford St (actually quite decent and quite a lot of Pentax on show).

Then there's York Cameras (on borrowed time), LCE Strand (nice but pricey), some expensive Leica dealers, dodgy places along Tottenham Court Rd, and the department stores. Selfridges has the 645D amongst other Pentax gear...at a cost. And I'll have to see if John Lewis is now stocking them again. The shops that offer good knowledgeable service always seem to be quite busy, so I don't think all is lost...it's more that dealers have to work hard, as well as competing with Internet prices - which is I suspect quite hard.

With my example, I found that in terms of sharpness, it slightly outperformed my 55-300 at almost all focal lengths, especially around the borders, but was prone to aberrations and fringing at longer lengths. These were visible across the frame by around 300mm (the Pentax lens controls them much better) and things softened up significantly by around 350mm....so much that it was better to shoot at shorter lengths and then crop rather than head o full telephoto. Even though it held its own against the 55-300, or even slightly bettered it, I didn't think the extra bulk was worth it.

Use that little Billingham pouch all the time with the MX-1; works a treat as it's small enough to use on a belt loop but spacious enough that the camera easily slips in and out without any fiddle. You can fit a spare battery in the bottom too, although I've yet to need more than one on a typical day or weekend's usage.

Happy to oblige - you gave me an excuse to roadtest my new toy: an EyeFi card, which I'm planning on using when away:







By the way, the Gordy's wrist strap works a treat with the MX-1 and improves the handling no end. Vastly preferable to the next strap.

Cheers,

Jon