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Comment by RalphHardwick posted on A hello and a request for guidance at 31/12/2012 - 12:15
Thanks for the quick responses and excellent info.
I'm away from the PC at the moment and will read through properly later and give a fuller reply.
Elder, thanks for the heads up I have an old Canon Powershot A520 and so I have sent of an email to SRS. Hopefully I am in time.
Just to clarify a few points.
Weather/dust protection is a must. Hence the desire to stick to Pentax lenses.
I wouldn't say that budget doesn't matter but I am prepared to pay a bit extra for better IQ.
I liked the DA* lenses because they stretch to f2.8 which is handy for the night shots.
The Oly 12-60 is my favourite lens and gives excellent results so any comparison is brilliant, thanks John.
Giofi thanks for the heads up on the fish eye the 12-24 is now on the list.
Finally I want/need to have a full kit in place by June and want to get it right first time without any 'spare' lenses like the kit lenses I now have and don't use.
Once again thanks for your help.
Ralph
I'm away from the PC at the moment and will read through properly later and give a fuller reply.
Elder, thanks for the heads up I have an old Canon Powershot A520 and so I have sent of an email to SRS. Hopefully I am in time.
Just to clarify a few points.
Weather/dust protection is a must. Hence the desire to stick to Pentax lenses.
I wouldn't say that budget doesn't matter but I am prepared to pay a bit extra for better IQ.
I liked the DA* lenses because they stretch to f2.8 which is handy for the night shots.
The Oly 12-60 is my favourite lens and gives excellent results so any comparison is brilliant, thanks John.
Giofi thanks for the heads up on the fish eye the 12-24 is now on the list.
Finally I want/need to have a full kit in place by June and want to get it right first time without any 'spare' lenses like the kit lenses I now have and don't use.
Once again thanks for your help.
Ralph
Comment by RalphHardwick posted on A hello and a request for guidance at 29/12/2012 - 20:52
Greetings all. This is my first post and I'm already going to ask for help
I currently own an Olympus E520 with 5 lenses ranging from 18mm up to 600mm (35mm equivalent), Olympus FL36 flash, Olympus remote, Giottos tripod and various Cokin filters. The lenses include standard and ED SWD (pro) spec and I intended to add further 'pro' glass in the future as these are weather sealed. I also have an Oly 2X teleconverter 'just in case' (I don't know what 'case' I'm waiting for but it was shiney and 'on offer' at the time).
Although I love photography, in its own right, my main hobby is overland travel, with my wife, in our Land Rover. I use my camera to try and capture memories as well as special images as we travel. As such my main 'focus' is landscapes and architecture. Although evening and night/star shots as well as streetlight scenes are also involved.
I chose Olympus because of my natural (and strange) aversion to following the mainstream crowd (Canikon) and the fact that I used a OM-2n for many years when I travelled as an Merchant Navy Engineer. However, apart from a Zenith B, my first 'real' camera was a Pentax K1000 (which I loved).
We have driven across the Sahara in Tunisia (where dust was a big issue). Next year (June) we are driving to the Arctic Circle in Norway and in 2015 we are hoping to drive to the Sahara again but, this time, in Morocco.
During our last trip I started to develop an interest in video and I intend to complement my photos with a videolog in the future. I have now acquired a GoPro Hero 2 (and may get another) and a Kodak Playsport specifically for 'onboard' video and only want to carry one camera when on foot.
I am not a 'must have the latest animal' and my E520 would have served me for many years but because of the dust and desire for video I was considering a camera upgrade to the Olympus E5. However, despite being on the market for 2 years, they still remain over £1200 and the rumours surrounding its replacement don't fill me with confidence.
As such I started to look around at a better way to spend my money.
Despite having a reasonably heavy investment in Oly lenses I started to compare the specs of the E5 against the K5ii. It was heavier, had lower resolution video, lower resolution sensor and was nearly twice the price!
I worked out that I could get a K5/K5ii and 2-3 lenses for the price of an E5. Taking into account the secondhand value of my current Oly kit (ebay here I come) I realised that I could jump ship and 'refresh' my entire setup for a figure which was not that far from my original predicted spend.
I would love to stay with Olympus but they do not seem to offer what I need/want.
So here is the cry for help:
I have been reading this forum, and surfing elsewhere, to try and 'gen up' on the Pentax world and whats good and not so good.
I have decided to go for a K5 and my first question is; is it worth paying the extra £250-ish for the K5ii?
I have identified that the DA* lenses seem to be the 'Pro' level and I am a great believer in getting the best equipment. That way if the photo is rubbish then I know it's my fault not the kit's. I do notice the difference between the Pro and Kit lenses.
I have identified the 16-50 and 50-135 as two key players and I was considering the, non *, 10-17 for indoor wide shots. This should cover the 15mm - 200mm focal range.
So second question, is it worth paying extra for the DA*?
If not can you suggest another set of options? I would rather stick with Pentax lenses and I am looking for the best IQ along with value for money.
My longest Oly lens is the 70-300 (140-600 35mm equiv) and, although I rarely use it, I would like to keep a 'long' lens in my kit bag. How do you rate the 18-270 at the longer end? an you suggest any better options?
Assuming I want to go 'silly-long' at some point what, if any, teleconverters do you recommend?
So, not bad for a first post.
Here's your chance to help a lost soul find the true path to Pentax joy
All advice and guidance gratefully received.
Cheers
Ralph
I currently own an Olympus E520 with 5 lenses ranging from 18mm up to 600mm (35mm equivalent), Olympus FL36 flash, Olympus remote, Giottos tripod and various Cokin filters. The lenses include standard and ED SWD (pro) spec and I intended to add further 'pro' glass in the future as these are weather sealed. I also have an Oly 2X teleconverter 'just in case' (I don't know what 'case' I'm waiting for but it was shiney and 'on offer' at the time).
Although I love photography, in its own right, my main hobby is overland travel, with my wife, in our Land Rover. I use my camera to try and capture memories as well as special images as we travel. As such my main 'focus' is landscapes and architecture. Although evening and night/star shots as well as streetlight scenes are also involved.
I chose Olympus because of my natural (and strange) aversion to following the mainstream crowd (Canikon) and the fact that I used a OM-2n for many years when I travelled as an Merchant Navy Engineer. However, apart from a Zenith B, my first 'real' camera was a Pentax K1000 (which I loved).
We have driven across the Sahara in Tunisia (where dust was a big issue). Next year (June) we are driving to the Arctic Circle in Norway and in 2015 we are hoping to drive to the Sahara again but, this time, in Morocco.
During our last trip I started to develop an interest in video and I intend to complement my photos with a videolog in the future. I have now acquired a GoPro Hero 2 (and may get another) and a Kodak Playsport specifically for 'onboard' video and only want to carry one camera when on foot.
I am not a 'must have the latest animal' and my E520 would have served me for many years but because of the dust and desire for video I was considering a camera upgrade to the Olympus E5. However, despite being on the market for 2 years, they still remain over £1200 and the rumours surrounding its replacement don't fill me with confidence.
As such I started to look around at a better way to spend my money.
Despite having a reasonably heavy investment in Oly lenses I started to compare the specs of the E5 against the K5ii. It was heavier, had lower resolution video, lower resolution sensor and was nearly twice the price!
I worked out that I could get a K5/K5ii and 2-3 lenses for the price of an E5. Taking into account the secondhand value of my current Oly kit (ebay here I come) I realised that I could jump ship and 'refresh' my entire setup for a figure which was not that far from my original predicted spend.
I would love to stay with Olympus but they do not seem to offer what I need/want.
So here is the cry for help:
I have been reading this forum, and surfing elsewhere, to try and 'gen up' on the Pentax world and whats good and not so good.
I have decided to go for a K5 and my first question is; is it worth paying the extra £250-ish for the K5ii?
I have identified that the DA* lenses seem to be the 'Pro' level and I am a great believer in getting the best equipment. That way if the photo is rubbish then I know it's my fault not the kit's. I do notice the difference between the Pro and Kit lenses.
I have identified the 16-50 and 50-135 as two key players and I was considering the, non *, 10-17 for indoor wide shots. This should cover the 15mm - 200mm focal range.
So second question, is it worth paying extra for the DA*?
If not can you suggest another set of options? I would rather stick with Pentax lenses and I am looking for the best IQ along with value for money.
My longest Oly lens is the 70-300 (140-600 35mm equiv) and, although I rarely use it, I would like to keep a 'long' lens in my kit bag. How do you rate the 18-270 at the longer end? an you suggest any better options?
Assuming I want to go 'silly-long' at some point what, if any, teleconverters do you recommend?
So, not bad for a first post.
Here's your chance to help a lost soul find the true path to Pentax joy
All advice and guidance gratefully received.
Cheers
Ralph
Comment by RalphHardwick posted on A hello and a request for guidance at 29/12/2012 - 16:55
How do you compare the IQ OF THE 2 systems?
I am running a similar thread on the E system user group forum and, although several people rate the K5, they claim that the Pentax lenses are no match for zuiko glass.
Cheers
Ralph