All Forum Comments
Comment by StrongGravity posted on Shopping for Pentax Gear at 20/08/2015 - 19:52
I've just been buying some Pentax gear and I though I would share my experiences:
K-3 Body: I decided to take a risk and go for the cheapest grey import that I could find which was from www.slrhit.co.uk at £459. I ordered Sunday and it arrived today Thursday. After ordering their system asked me to call a 020 number on Monday after 1pm. Basically I spoke to a chap in the U.S who tried (not very hard) to sell be an extended warranty for £60 and and extra battery. Both of which I declined.
Anyway, the camera is here with a UK power lead but was shipped from the U.S. It arrived in a box for a K-3 plus 18-55 so they have clearly split the kit.
BG-5 grip: I could not bring myself to to pay £149 so I found an outfit called www.alza.co.uk. Ordered Sunday, arrived Thursday for £116. It was shipped from the Czech Republic.
Pentax 100mm D-FA £315 and Pentax 55-300 WR £200. Both from www.microglobe.co.uk but ordered separately. Both shipped from London and arrived with 48 hours of ordering. Microglobe have plenty of Pentax kit for sale but curiously no cameras. I suspect that they have decided to stop selling Pentax and are shifting what they have cheap.
K-3 Body: I decided to take a risk and go for the cheapest grey import that I could find which was from www.slrhit.co.uk at £459. I ordered Sunday and it arrived today Thursday. After ordering their system asked me to call a 020 number on Monday after 1pm. Basically I spoke to a chap in the U.S who tried (not very hard) to sell be an extended warranty for £60 and and extra battery. Both of which I declined.
Anyway, the camera is here with a UK power lead but was shipped from the U.S. It arrived in a box for a K-3 plus 18-55 so they have clearly split the kit.
BG-5 grip: I could not bring myself to to pay £149 so I found an outfit called www.alza.co.uk. Ordered Sunday, arrived Thursday for £116. It was shipped from the Czech Republic.
Pentax 100mm D-FA £315 and Pentax 55-300 WR £200. Both from www.microglobe.co.uk but ordered separately. Both shipped from London and arrived with 48 hours of ordering. Microglobe have plenty of Pentax kit for sale but curiously no cameras. I suspect that they have decided to stop selling Pentax and are shifting what they have cheap.
Comment by StrongGravity posted on Shopping for Pentax Gear at 20/08/2015 - 18:39
All I can say is that when I compare the pictures from the Sony A77M2 / Sigma 120-400 and the K-3 / Pentax 55-300 the first thought that crosses my mind is how much could I sell the Sigma for. The output from the K-3 / 55-300 is VERY obviously sharper. The A77M2 also produces much better quality with the Tamron 70-300.
I've just come back to Pentax after bagging K-3 in a recent Amazon sale (had a K10 & K20 previously) and I'm deeply impressed. The k-3 is such a great handling camera and feels like a MUCH more expensive camera in the hand.
I've just come back to Pentax after bagging K-3 in a recent Amazon sale (had a K10 & K20 previously) and I'm deeply impressed. The k-3 is such a great handling camera and feels like a MUCH more expensive camera in the hand.
50mpCMOS wrote:
It's been this way for decades (many decades) with lenses. You get what you pay for in lenses. Minus advances in certain materials, one simply cannot make a lens lighter or smaller. If one wants aperture or optics, then size and weight will become a secondary issue.
Simply take a look at the bet glass for Nikon, Canon, Leica, and even Hasselblad for very clear examples of proven physics.
Quote:
the Pentax 55-300 WR is miles sharper and lighter
Lighter, but not sharper.the Pentax 55-300 WR is miles sharper and lighter
It's been this way for decades (many decades) with lenses. You get what you pay for in lenses. Minus advances in certain materials, one simply cannot make a lens lighter or smaller. If one wants aperture or optics, then size and weight will become a secondary issue.
Simply take a look at the bet glass for Nikon, Canon, Leica, and even Hasselblad for very clear examples of proven physics.
Comment by StrongGravity posted on Full frame or not ??? at 16/08/2015 - 22:54
I have the Sigma 120-400 in Sony fit and I have to say the Pentax 55-300 WR is miles sharper and lighter. I also have a Tamron SP 70-300 (Sony fit) that easily beats the Sigma. So unless you REALLY need that extra 100mm I would get the Pentax 55-300.
Comment by StrongGravity posted on Full frame or not ??? at 16/08/2015 - 18:02
Fair enough but the ones I have are fine and I would still buy them again though I will check out the DSTE batteries.
[quote:3496ace15f="Algernon"]Ex-Pro didn't do too good on this test
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pNovgWWUYQ
DSTE batteries are available again on ebay from the UK ....... £10.99 for 2
]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-DSTE-Brand-Li-ion-Battery-Pack-For-Pentax-645D-K-7-...
[quote:3496ace15f="Algernon"]Ex-Pro didn't do too good on this test
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pNovgWWUYQ
DSTE batteries are available again on ebay from the UK ....... £10.99 for 2
]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-DSTE-Brand-Li-ion-Battery-Pack-For-Pentax-645D-K-7-...
Comment by StrongGravity posted on Battery replacements: D-Li90 recommendations at 16/08/2015 - 17:54
Is the DSTE grip weather sealed?
Comment by StrongGravity posted on K3 Grip at 16/08/2015 - 16:24
I use Ex-Pro batteries on my K3 and on a Sony A77M2. They work perfectly and appear to have the same capacity as the originals. They are available on eBay and Amazon. Try one and you will soon be ordering a second one!
Comment by StrongGravity posted on Battery replacements: D-Li90 recommendations at 16/08/2015 - 16:10
BG-5 grip: I could not bring myself to to pay £149 so I found an outfit called www.alza.co.uk. Ordered Sunday, arrived Thursday for £116. It was shipped from the Czech Republic.
I've seen aftermarket grips for various Pentax camera bodies (and Canikos), but the consistency in quality is a bit far from par on most aftermarkets. I've seen contacts that go after a few months, and the so called aftermarket AW just does not match Pentax.