Anyone else miss it....?

Steve.Ledger · 06-01-2014, 12:16 AM

You must have big pockets for a K-01 inc lens, trenchcoat?

Oh I'm sure I'd get used to it 'eventually'. The camera is excellent, the only thing I really don't like is the card slot, it's annoyingly difficult to grip and remove, worse than the K-7.

JimC1101 · 06-01-2014, 12:50 AM

You know what seems strange to me, and I have only had a K-X or a K-30, so I have never had a top LCD, is that it feels foreign to me to have the mode dial on the left side of the camera. I used a friends K-5 and if I change modes from AV to M, I need to change the mode by looking at it to select. I like it much better to have the mode dial whiere it is close to my shutter, I even can count the number of clicks to know what mode I am in. Since the information I would want to see on an LCD is already in the view finder, I don't think it would ever be an issue to me to not have one.

Steve.Ledger · 06-01-2014, 02:52 AM

It's what you grow up with. My first DSLR was the *istDS and then 5 years later the K-7. Both with the top LCD.
The K-50 is the first without it, so naturally my 'training' is to look at the top LCD.

IchabodCrane · 06-01-2014, 04:11 AM

I don't miss the top LCD. To me, it's just redundant with the rear screen.

Steve.Ledger · 06-01-2014, 04:16 AM

Yeh, but see post #1 (reason to buy K-50). Rear LCD is utterly useless in bright Aussie sun, which is why K-01 was no good.

dcBear78 · 06-01-2014, 05:15 AM

Originally posted by IchabodCrane

I don't miss the top LCD. To me, it's just redundant with the rear screen.

This...

I went from K30 to K3 so it was something I never had and now I have one I don't use it. The vast majority of the time I'm changing my settings I am looking through the viewfinder. The rest of the time the screen on the back is more than sufficient.

I can definitely see how it is useful though to many people.

Bertminator · 06-02-2014, 06:05 AM

Correct me if I'm wrong (I'm new to DSLR Photography), but isn't a top LCD screen only found in professional level DSLR's? My understanding is that the K-50 is a upper mid level entry DSLR.

JimC1101 · 06-02-2014, 06:57 AM

You will for the most part see top LCD's in Semi-Pro cams like the K-5 on up. I don't think I have ever seen an entry/mid level DSLR with an LCD but I could be mistaken.

Oldbayrunner · 06-02-2014, 11:52 AM

Man I here you.. Having owned an OLY E3 prior to my switching to Pentax when I bought my K50 I loved it and thought I wouldn't miss the top lcd but I did miss having the convenience of the top LCD plus I marveled at the button set up of the K5 lls so one day I was looking on B&H I found one with less than 900 activations for $540.00 I couldn't resist and bought it. Do I ever love this camera it is the best dslr I personally have ever used. Soon I will decide to keep my K50 or sell it.

Jonathan Mac · 06-02-2014, 02:21 PM

Originally posted by JimC1101

You will for the most part see top LCD's in Semi-Pro cams like the K-5 on up. I don't think I have ever seen an entry/mid level DSLR with an LCD but I could be mistaken.

The K200D was the last lower-tier camera (of any brand) to have one.

**ramseybuckeye** · 06-03-2014, 07:46 PM

Originally posted by Steve.Ledger

Yeh, but see post #1 (reason to buy K-50). Rear LCD is utterly useless in bright Aussie sun, which is why K-01 was no good.

Funny, I had a K20D and thought I would miss the top LCD, but didn't at all. Whenever I did night shooting the top LCD was useless. It had a little light that was a hassle and inadequate. Now I can see everything on the back while composing with live view.

It's all about personal preferences or what you're willing to adapt to. I would have a hard time living without the level in the K-30, something I didn't know existed before getting it. You should probably get the K-5II.

Eyewanders · 06-03-2014, 07:50 PM

I'd miss the heck out of it. Never would give one up. I use the top LCD 90%of the time. I often have the main LCD simply turned off and I rarely review shots until later. Once upon a time this wasn't true, but returning to film has instilled some nice habits in me and now my battery lasts probably twice as long.

---------- Post added 06-03-14 at 07:51 PM ----------

The only time I use live view is when doing critical test shots with focus peaking, which is pretty much never, cuz I hate test shots, and my finder screen is more accurate.

stevebrot · 06-03-2014, 08:09 PM

My friend recently bought a K-50. About a week ago we did a day trip photo safari and she took a turn with my K-3. The first thing she said was that it was heavy. Then she pointed to the top LCD and said, "I LIKE THAT!". Mind you, the K-50 is the only dSLR camera she has ever owned.

To lend a little balance, I almost bought a K-50 over the K-3 despite the missing top LCD.

Steve

---------- Post added 06-03-14 at 08:10 PM ----------

Originally posted by chickentender

I often have the main LCD simply turned off

Same here...

**monochrome** · 06-03-2014, 08:38 PM

I use the K-3, K-01 and Q7 about equally, each as the mood, need or situation strikes me. While it takes a minute or two for my muscle memory to adjust to whichever camera I'm using once that's through I use what they have and don't miss what they don't have. The top LCD is great to have, especially in the sun, because the viewfinder is busy enough with composition and focusing. But I get by just fine with the rear LCD only.

And then there's the infrequent outing with the LX or SV or KX . . . . . . or XA . . . . . . . but for me they're all really just adult toys.

Like going from a 6', 3-piece 6 wt., cigar grip 1965 bamboo fly rod to an 8', 2-piece, 4 wt. reverse-half-wells grip 1998 graphite.

What's different for me from many of you is I don't have to make money with any of them; I don't really care if I miss a shot or a cast - it's all about getting out and making good casts, not catching fish.

Steve.Ledger · 06-03-2014, 08:38 PM

Originally posted by ramseybuckeye

Whenever I did night shooting the top LCD was useless. It had a little light that was a hassle and inadequate.

Interesting, the K-7's top LCD green illumination is perfect by day, better at night.

Originally posted by ramseybuckeye

I would have a hard time living without the level in the K-30, something I didn't know existed before getting it. You should probably get the K-5II.

The K-50 has electronic level, don't use it.
Yeah, I'd like the K-5II - but here in Australia it's almost the same price as the K-3.

06-02-2014, 11:52 AM	#24
Oldbayrunner Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 1,665	Man I here you.. Having owned an OLY E3 prior to my switching to Pentax when I bought my K50 I loved it and thought I wouldn't miss the top lcd but I did miss having the convenience of the top LCD plus I marveled at the button set up of the K5 lls so one day I was looking on B&H I found one with less than 900 activations for $540.00 I couldn't resist and bought it. Do I ever love this camera it is the best dslr I personally have ever used. Soon I will decide to keep my K50 or sell it. Last edited by Oldbayrunner; 06-02-2014 at 12:02 PM.

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06-01-2014, 12:16 AM	#16
Steve.Ledger Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Far North Qld Posts: 3,301 Original Poster	You must have big pockets for a K-01 inc lens, trenchcoat? Oh I'm sure I'd get used to it 'eventually'. The camera is excellent, the only thing I really don't like is the card slot, it's annoyingly difficult to grip and remove, worse than the K-7.

06-01-2014, 12:50 AM	#17
JimC1101 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Fremont, Ca Photos: Albums Posts: 395	You know what seems strange to me, and I have only had a K-X or a K-30, so I have never had a top LCD, is that it feels foreign to me to have the mode dial on the left side of the camera. I used a friends K-5 and if I change modes from AV to M, I need to change the mode by looking at it to select. I like it much better to have the mode dial whiere it is close to my shutter, I even can count the number of clicks to know what mode I am in. Since the information I would want to see on an LCD is already in the view finder, I don't think it would ever be an issue to me to not have one.

06-01-2014, 02:52 AM	#18
Steve.Ledger Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Far North Qld Posts: 3,301 Original Poster	It's what you grow up with. My first DSLR was the *istDS and then 5 years later the K-7. Both with the top LCD. The K-50 is the first without it, so naturally my 'training' is to look at the top LCD.

06-01-2014, 04:11 AM	#19
IchabodCrane Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,728	I don't miss the top LCD. To me, it's just redundant with the rear screen.

06-01-2014, 04:16 AM	#20
Steve.Ledger Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Far North Qld Posts: 3,301 Original Poster	Yeh, but see post #1 (reason to buy K-50). Rear LCD is utterly useless in bright Aussie sun, which is why K-01 was no good.

06-01-2014, 05:15 AM	#21
dcBear78 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Gladstone, QLD Photos: Gallery Posts: 823	Originally posted by IchabodCrane I don't miss the top LCD. To me, it's just redundant with the rear screen. This... I went from K30 to K3 so it was something I never had and now I have one I don't use it. The vast majority of the time I'm changing my settings I am looking through the viewfinder. The rest of the time the screen on the back is more than sufficient. I can definitely see how it is useful though to many people.

06-02-2014, 06:05 AM	#22
Bertminator Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 80	Correct me if I'm wrong (I'm new to DSLR Photography), but isn't a top LCD screen only found in professional level DSLR's? My understanding is that the K-50 is a upper mid level entry DSLR.

06-02-2014, 06:57 AM	#23
JimC1101 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Fremont, Ca Photos: Albums Posts: 395	You will for the most part see top LCD's in Semi-Pro cams like the K-5 on up. I don't think I have ever seen an entry/mid level DSLR with an LCD but I could be mistaken.

06-02-2014, 02:21 PM	#25
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,911	Originally posted by JimC1101 You will for the most part see top LCD's in Semi-Pro cams like the K-5 on up. I don't think I have ever seen an entry/mid level DSLR with an LCD but I could be mistaken. The K200D was the last lower-tier camera (of any brand) to have one.

06-03-2014, 07:46 PM	#26
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,295	Originally posted by Steve.Ledger Yeh, but see post #1 (reason to buy K-50). Rear LCD is utterly useless in bright Aussie sun, which is why K-01 was no good. Funny, I had a K20D and thought I would miss the top LCD, but didn't at all. Whenever I did night shooting the top LCD was useless. It had a little light that was a hassle and inadequate. Now I can see everything on the back while composing with live view. It's all about personal preferences or what you're willing to adapt to. I would have a hard time living without the level in the K-30, something I didn't know existed before getting it. You should probably get the K-5II.

06-03-2014, 07:50 PM	#27
Eyewanders Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Land of the Salish Sea Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,343	I'd miss the heck out of it. Never would give one up. I use the top LCD 90%of the time. I often have the main LCD simply turned off and I rarely review shots until later. Once upon a time this wasn't true, but returning to film has instilled some nice habits in me and now my battery lasts probably twice as long. ---------- Post added 06-03-14 at 07:51 PM ---------- The only time I use live view is when doing critical test shots with focus peaking, which is pretty much never, cuz I hate test shots, and my finder screen is more accurate.

06-03-2014, 08:09 PM	#28
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	My friend recently bought a K-50. About a week ago we did a day trip photo safari and she took a turn with my K-3. The first thing she said was that it was heavy. Then she pointed to the top LCD and said, "I LIKE THAT!". Mind you, the K-50 is the only dSLR camera she has ever owned. To lend a little balance, I almost bought a K-50 over the K-3 despite the missing top LCD. Steve ---------- Post added 06-03-14 at 08:10 PM ---------- Originally posted by chickentender I often have the main LCD simply turned off Same here...

06-03-2014, 08:38 PM	#29
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	I use the K-3, K-01 and Q7 about equally, each as the mood, need or situation strikes me. While it takes a minute or two for my muscle memory to adjust to whichever camera I'm using once that's through I use what they have and don't miss what they don't have. The top LCD is great to have, especially in the sun, because the viewfinder is busy enough with composition and focusing. But I get by just fine with the rear LCD only. And then there's the infrequent outing with the LX or SV or KX . . . . . . or XA . . . . . . . but for me they're all really just adult toys. Like going from a 6', 3-piece 6 wt., cigar grip 1965 bamboo fly rod to an 8', 2-piece, 4 wt. reverse-half-wells grip 1998 graphite. What's different for me from many of you is I don't have to make money with any of them; I don't really care if I miss a shot or a cast - it's all about getting out and making good casts, not catching fish.

06-03-2014, 08:38 PM	#30
Steve.Ledger Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Far North Qld Posts: 3,301 Original Poster	Originally posted by ramseybuckeye Whenever I did night shooting the top LCD was useless. It had a little light that was a hassle and inadequate. Interesting, the K-7's top LCD green illumination is perfect by day, better at night. Originally posted by ramseybuckeye I would have a hard time living without the level in the K-30, something I didn't know existed before getting it. You should probably get the K-5II. The K-50 has electronic level, don't use it. Yeah, I'd like the K-5II - but here in Australia it's almost the same price as the K-3.