"You basically just said that I wasn't very smart for investing in Pentax because of a capability that I didn't know I'd need years later."
Yas, exactly what I said. You say it like there's something wrong with that.
That coupled with your belief that you'd be happy with the first camera you bought as you and your demands grew photographically. I started playing tennis with wooden rackets, in the end I was using carbon fibre rackets. I never in my wildest dreams considered that I'd never want better rackets as I became a better player. The rackets I ended up with I wouldn't have been able to keep the ball on the court with when I started out. In cameras I went from 120, to 8x10 and 4x5 film in school to 35mm, to 645 to APS-c. The reasons why there are lots of different cameras is because there are lots of different people with lots of different needs.
I currently own 6 cameras in 4 different formats and 3 different companies, and my wife owns 2. Each for a different use. How did you get sold on this idea that you're going to buy one camera and it was going to do every thing you wanted? In my experience it comes down to every time you find something new you want to do, you might need a new camera.
When I was in school, we asked my commercial studio instructor, an accomplished commercial photographer, what his favourite camera was. He said "one of those throw away cardboard ones you can just leave in your glove box. Those parabolic plastic lenses are better than you think and many times having the camera with you is more important than what kind of camera it is." So there ya go. Expert photographer likes really cheap camera anyone can buy. The point being, you can spend thousands of dollars on the best equipment, and end up liking a camera you paid 5 dollars for at the drugstore. So, if I was to comment on your K-30, I'd say, it got you started, it doesn't owe you anything. Now you have a much better idea what you might want next.
The large portion of my shooting has always been on canoe trips. I've had tough waterproof film cameras sine the 80s and still have one in the closet. But the digitals all have very small sensors, so I bought a Lumix ZS100, still small enough for easy access but 4 times the sensor for better dynamic range. When I went for the K-5 to the K-3 for extra resolution and crop room and bigger buffer and faster frame rate for birds, I missed the dynamic range of the K-5 and lack of crop room for sunsets and landscapes. Hence the K-1.
This notion you have that you should buy one camera and it should do everything you need forever is kind of warped. Especially since most people would be silly to buy a really expensive camera as a first camera since they may not get into photography and it may be mainly taking up shelf space.
So, Ill give you a bit of advice. SInce you'r obviously pretty young, if you want the camera that will do everything for you, you need a Nikon D850. Faster FPS than a K-3, bigger buffer, great AF, a file size that should be considered good for years. The only downside being it will be big and heavy... but you're young so that shouldn't be too much of a factor. And honestly, you could buy it as the perfect camera, and decide "this is to much weight and size I'm selling it and getting a good point and shoot."
There is no perfect camera that's right for everyone. Pentax knows that. They make what they make and it's right for 5% of the population. That's all you need to know. Your decision is "am I part of that 5%?"
It would appear that for 95% of the population,"not Pentax" is the answer. That make absolutely no difference at all for those of us for who it is. It's irrelevant. We don't need to hear your angst. Just move on and get what you need. It took me purchasing 3 different brands to get everything I need. There's nothing wrong with that. Just quit whining and save for what you need. Or if that isn't possible, learn to live with what you have. MY first wildlife shots were taken with an SV and a 150mm lens, I have moose images taken with a Mamiya 645 and 75mm lens. You do the best you can with what you've got. My current kit is all purchased in the last 10 years. I lived 80% of my life with a basic camera and 2 lenses.
Often when I go out I'm shooting with $3000 worth of gear, and the guy next to me is shooting with $20,000 worth of gear, and I still get pictures that I enjoy and have a good time. Why do I care if it could be easier with better AF or a monster lens or whatever? I have what's appropriate for me.
I get so tired of people with way more capability than I ever had whining about what Pentax has to do for their photographic needs. You do the best you can with what you have and don't complain.. if you're smart. Complaining detracts from your life and adds nothing.
Last edited by normhead; 05-02-2020 at 07:52 AM.