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northwooods · 04-26-2015, 12:15 PM

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I currently have a K-r and am looking to upgrade but don't know which camera to get.

**Kerrowdown** · 04-26-2015, 12:21 PM

Originally posted by northwooods

Looking to upgrade camera

Welcome aboard, lots of good camera information right here on the forum at Pentax Digital Cameras and Film Cameras - Pentax Camera Reviews and Specifications and also here Pentax Cameras | Pentax K-3 II vs. Pentax K-S2 vs. Pentax K-3 - Pentax DSLR Comparison - PentaxForums.com

And no doubt lots of members will be along shortly, to help you spend your money.

Conqueror · 04-26-2015, 12:24 PM

What lenses have you got? This might influence what people recommend.

**savoche** · 04-26-2015, 12:25 PM

Welcome to the forum! Which camera is the right one depends a lot on your budget, what lenses you have, and what kind of shooting you do.

That said, and as Kerrowdown hinted at, there will be enough people coming to tell you you need a K-3 - or even wait a few months for the coming full-frame. Which might be good advice, or may miss the target entirely

**jatrax** · 04-26-2015, 12:31 PM

What are looking for that the k-r does not do?

**interested_observer** · 04-26-2015, 12:38 PM

Originally posted by savoche

Welcome to the forum! Which camera is the right one depends a lot on your budget, what lenses you have, and what kind of shooting you do.

That said, and as Kerrowdown hinted at, there will be enough people coming to tell you you need a K-3 - or even wait a few months for the coming full-frame. Which might be good advice, or may miss the target entirely

To add to this, is there anything about the Kr that you would like to improve on?

**jlstrawman** · 04-26-2015, 02:56 PM

Originally posted by northwooods

I currently have a K-r and am looking to upgrade but don't know which camera to get.

Welcome to the forums. Show us some examples of your photos from your K-r!

robthebloke · 04-26-2015, 03:00 PM

I went from a k-x to k-5, then to a k-3, and have tried a k-30 and most recently, a k-s1. If you want to retain the fun factor, a k-s1. If you want a slightly more pro feel, a k-s2. Otherwise the k-3.

Many people would recommend the k-30/k-50 as a cheapish upgrade, but I honestly would suggest the k-s1 instead - it is a better camera. It's not perfect, but the viewfinder, and the quality of images, is a huge step up from the k-x/k-r.

I recently bought a low usage (<1000 clicks) k-3 for about the same price as a new k-s2. If wifi is important, get the k-s2. If not, a second hand k-3 might be an option.

The k-30/k-50 is a nicer body to hold and shoot with (vs the k-r), but I personally prefer the k-s1 and k-3 (simply due to the jump in image quality). They are better cameras. If I wasn't able to afford the k-3, the k-s1 would be the one I would buy.

northwooods · 04-27-2015, 07:25 AM

I'm looking for more information inside the camera when looking through the lens. I'm still learning and I was thinking more information inside the lens would help.

Aaron28 · 04-27-2015, 10:55 AM - **1 Like**

nice pics.....I have the k-r and k-50.....both are great.....the k-50 of course has more features and capabilities but I tend to use the k-r more because it's carry bag is minimal....what's funny I could not tell you the difference of information displayed in OVF...to me no difference that stands out....I am learning and trying to improve using either....you know the features you want, what your budget is and you will decide what to buy
good luck and happy shooting!

robthebloke · 04-27-2015, 12:18 PM

Aside from the k-3 (with it's greater number of autofocus points), all pentaxes (aside from the k-500) should display more or less the same information through the viewfinder (since the focussing system is effectively the same, aside from speed improvements with the newer bodies). The k-r however uses a penta-mirror, rather than a penta-prism found in all newer bodies.

In simple terms, the viewfinders in the k-s1/k-s2/k-3 are the biggest and brightest, the k-5/k-30/k-50/k-500 viewfinders are slightly smaller (but not by a huge amount), and the k-r/k-x are noticeably smaller and a little bit dimmer.

Aside from ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and the focus point, there really isn't any other information you need (all other settings that can be fixed later with Lightroom and raw files).

The larger viewfinders of the k-s1/k-3 will help you to visualise the focus point, and to frame the image better though.

I can't help but feel that the k-s2 is probably the camera you want to go for (that or a k-3).

The difference in image quality between the k-r and k-s2 is huge (I found the k-5 to be only a small upgrade over the k-x). The k-s2 also has numerous dedicated controls that should give you much more control over the camera than you have with the k-r.

So I'd recommend narrowing the choices down to the k-3, k-s2, or the k-5iis.

Either of those bodies (new or second hand), will put a big smile on your face

normhead · 04-27-2015, 01:00 PM

This is almost entirely a "how much do you want to spend / how much are you willing to spend" type decision. If money is no object you want a K-3IIS. But, given you're shooting with a Tamron 18-250, I'd go with what ver body newer than a K-5 you can get for the best price.

Something like this would be excellent.

04-26-2015, 12:15 PM	#1
northwooods New Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 3	Looking to upgrade camera Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. I currently have a K-r and am looking to upgrade but don't know which camera to get.

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04-26-2015, 12:21 PM	#2
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,866	Originally posted by northwooods Looking to upgrade camera Welcome aboard, lots of good camera information right here on the forum at Pentax Digital Cameras and Film Cameras - Pentax Camera Reviews and Specifications and also here Pentax Cameras \| Pentax K-3 II vs. Pentax K-S2 vs. Pentax K-3 - Pentax DSLR Comparison - PentaxForums.com And no doubt lots of members will be along shortly, to help you spend your money.

04-26-2015, 12:24 PM	#3
Conqueror Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: UK Posts: 440	What lenses have you got? This might influence what people recommend.

04-26-2015, 12:25 PM	#4
savoche Master of the obvious Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Lowlands of Norway Posts: 18,312	Welcome to the forum! Which camera is the right one depends a lot on your budget, what lenses you have, and what kind of shooting you do. That said, and as Kerrowdown hinted at, there will be enough people coming to tell you you need a K-3 - or even wait a few months for the coming full-frame. Which might be good advice, or may miss the target entirely

04-26-2015, 12:31 PM	#5
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	What are looking for that the k-r does not do?

04-26-2015, 12:38 PM	#6
interested_observer Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tumbleweed, Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,707	Originally posted by savoche Welcome to the forum! Which camera is the right one depends a lot on your budget, what lenses you have, and what kind of shooting you do. That said, and as Kerrowdown hinted at, there will be enough people coming to tell you you need a K-3 - or even wait a few months for the coming full-frame. Which might be good advice, or may miss the target entirely To add to this, is there anything about the Kr that you would like to improve on?

04-26-2015, 02:56 PM	#7
jlstrawman Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Midwest US Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,058	Originally posted by northwooods I currently have a K-r and am looking to upgrade but don't know which camera to get. Welcome to the forums. Show us some examples of your photos from your K-r!

04-26-2015, 03:00 PM	#8
robthebloke Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Sydney Photos: Albums Posts: 844	I went from a k-x to k-5, then to a k-3, and have tried a k-30 and most recently, a k-s1. If you want to retain the fun factor, a k-s1. If you want a slightly more pro feel, a k-s2. Otherwise the k-3. Many people would recommend the k-30/k-50 as a cheapish upgrade, but I honestly would suggest the k-s1 instead - it is a better camera. It's not perfect, but the viewfinder, and the quality of images, is a huge step up from the k-x/k-r. I recently bought a low usage (<1000 clicks) k-3 for about the same price as a new k-s2. If wifi is important, get the k-s2. If not, a second hand k-3 might be an option. The k-30/k-50 is a nicer body to hold and shoot with (vs the k-r), but I personally prefer the k-s1 and k-3 (simply due to the jump in image quality). They are better cameras. If I wasn't able to afford the k-3, the k-s1 would be the one I would buy.

04-27-2015, 10:55 AM - 1 Like	#10
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,131	nice pics.....I have the k-r and k-50.....both are great.....the k-50 of course has more features and capabilities but I tend to use the k-r more because it's carry bag is minimal....what's funny I could not tell you the difference of information displayed in OVF...to me no difference that stands out....I am learning and trying to improve using either....you know the features you want, what your budget is and you will decide what to buy good luck and happy shooting!

04-27-2015, 12:18 PM	#11
robthebloke Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Sydney Photos: Albums Posts: 844	Aside from the k-3 (with it's greater number of autofocus points), all pentaxes (aside from the k-500) should display more or less the same information through the viewfinder (since the focussing system is effectively the same, aside from speed improvements with the newer bodies). The k-r however uses a penta-mirror, rather than a penta-prism found in all newer bodies. In simple terms, the viewfinders in the k-s1/k-s2/k-3 are the biggest and brightest, the k-5/k-30/k-50/k-500 viewfinders are slightly smaller (but not by a huge amount), and the k-r/k-x are noticeably smaller and a little bit dimmer. Aside from ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and the focus point, there really isn't any other information you need (all other settings that can be fixed later with Lightroom and raw files). The larger viewfinders of the k-s1/k-3 will help you to visualise the focus point, and to frame the image better though. I can't help but feel that the k-s2 is probably the camera you want to go for (that or a k-3). The difference in image quality between the k-r and k-s2 is huge (I found the k-5 to be only a small upgrade over the k-x). The k-s2 also has numerous dedicated controls that should give you much more control over the camera than you have with the k-r. So I'd recommend narrowing the choices down to the k-3, k-s2, or the k-5iis. Either of those bodies (new or second hand), will put a big smile on your face

04-27-2015, 01:00 PM	#12
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	This is almost entirely a "how much do you want to spend / how much are you willing to spend" type decision. If money is no object you want a K-3IIS. But, given you're shooting with a Tamron 18-250, I'd go with what ver body newer than a K-5 you can get for the best price. Something like this would be excellent.