Best Pentax camera body

Markpszk · 09-14-2021, 08:10 AM

What is the best Pentax camera body? The sharpest focus? The most professional equipment?

**pepperberry farm** · 09-14-2021, 08:23 AM

since you posted this in the FF forum, there's only one FF Pentax...

**DWS1** · 09-14-2021, 08:58 AM - **1 Like**

Don't know if there is a best. To me they're all very good. At least the ones I've used. The lens attached makes a much bigger difference.

**robgski** · 09-14-2021, 09:01 AM - **5 Likes**

The next one

**UncleVanya** · 09-14-2021, 09:06 AM

Originally posted by Markpszk

What is the best Pentax camera body? The sharpest focus? The most professional equipment?

Digital or film?

K1-II is the current digital full frame flagship. K3-iii is the current crop apsc flagship. Think of the K1 as similar to a Nikon D810. The k3iii is close to the Nikon D500. Both comparisons are imperfect as some features are different.

Pz-1p or MZ-S or LX would be the top film bodies depending on who is talking. LX is non-autofocus, the other two offer screw drive only autofocus.

**boriscleto** · 09-14-2021, 09:07 AM - **3 Likes**

The one you have.

ChristianRock · 09-14-2021, 09:09 AM

Sorry, but what does "the sharpest focus" even mean?

And "the most professional" depends on the profession. For the landscape and portrait photographers it would have to be the 645Z.

steephill · 09-14-2021, 09:09 AM

You focus lenses, not camera bodies.

biz-engineer · 09-14-2021, 09:28 AM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by Markpszk

What is ..The most professional equipment?

The most professional piece of equipment is a tripod and lighting kit (flashes, reflectors, backdrops), because it is the piece of equipment that enable professional photographic results even with a bad camera and a mediocre lens. Historically, professionals have always been seen with tripods and lighting tools, whether it was in a studio, indoors, historical places and in outdoors landscape photography context, regardless what camera and lenses were used. Autofocus has never been a professional requirement, Pros have shot weddings, portraits and journalism with manual focus camera and lens.

Dartmoor Dave · 09-14-2021, 09:49 AM - **3 Likes**

If the most professional Pentax is the one that's been used by more professionals than any other, then it's the Spotmatic in its various incarnations. If you were a lucky sort of professional back in the 1960s then you were David Bailey, using your Spottie to take iconic shots of Jean Shrimpton and Twiggie. If you were another sort of professional back then, you were using your Spottie to document the Vietnam war and hoping it was well built enough to stop a bullet (it was).

stevebrot · 09-14-2021, 09:50 AM

Originally posted by boriscleto

The one you have.

This ^ ^ ^

...and the above remains true until you have a need or a yearning for something offered by another model or brand.

BTW...If you want sharpest focus, use magnified live view. Professional equipment? I believe all of the current models are used by members here to make money.

Steve

stevebrot · 09-14-2021, 09:56 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Dartmoor Dave

If the most professional Pentax is the one that's been used by more professionals than any other, then it's the Spotmatic in its various incarnations.

Followed closely by the 6x7 and LX.

Steve

Dartmoor Dave · 09-14-2021, 10:01 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Followed closely by the 6x7 and LX.

Steve

Definitely. I was actually wondering if the 6x7 might the most widely professionally used of all, since it's still the go-to camera for fashion and portrait pros when they want that look that only medium format film can provide. I know that Rankin still uses one when the occasion demands it.

ChristianRock · 09-14-2021, 10:28 AM - **4 Likes**

It's ok to buy a camera based on a need that you have.

But it's not ok to think a "pro camera" will make you a "pro photographer". A "pro photographer" will take "pro" pictures with ANY equipment.

I came across this article a while ago, and it's still a great read on the subject (and it involves the Best Deal in Photography™, the lowly Pentax 50 1.7 lens): I Got Tired Of People Giving My Camera The Credit For My Photos, So I Bought The Cheapest Camera And Lens I Could Find To Prove Them Wrong | Bored Panda

pschlute · 09-14-2021, 10:54 AM - **4 Likes**

Originally posted by Markpszk

What is the best Pentax camera body?

FF K1-II

aps-c K3 III

Originally posted by Markpszk

The sharpest focus?

All camera bodies have the same "sharpest focus"

Originally posted by Markpszk

The most professional equipment?

A press pass

09-14-2021, 08:10 AM	#1
Markpszk Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 79	Best Pentax camera body What is the best Pentax camera body? The sharpest focus? The most professional equipment?

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09-14-2021, 08:23 AM	#2
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,636	since you posted this in the FF forum, there's only one FF Pentax...

09-14-2021, 08:58 AM - 1 Like	#3
DWS1 Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Arkansas, USA Posts: 1,169	Don't know if there is a best. To me they're all very good. At least the ones I've used. The lens attached makes a much bigger difference.

09-14-2021, 09:01 AM - 5 Likes	#4
robgski Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,793	The next one

09-14-2021, 09:06 AM	#5
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,384	Originally posted by Markpszk What is the best Pentax camera body? The sharpest focus? The most professional equipment? Digital or film? K1-II is the current digital full frame flagship. K3-iii is the current crop apsc flagship. Think of the K1 as similar to a Nikon D810. The k3iii is close to the Nikon D500. Both comparisons are imperfect as some features are different. Pz-1p or MZ-S or LX would be the top film bodies depending on who is talking. LX is non-autofocus, the other two offer screw drive only autofocus.

09-14-2021, 09:07 AM - 3 Likes	#6
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,473	The one you have.

09-14-2021, 09:09 AM	#7
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,910	Sorry, but what does "the sharpest focus" even mean? And "the most professional" depends on the profession. For the landscape and portrait photographers it would have to be the 645Z.

09-14-2021, 09:09 AM	#8
steephill Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2018 Photos: Gallery Posts: 583	You focus lenses, not camera bodies.

09-14-2021, 09:28 AM - 3 Likes	#9
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,224	Originally posted by Markpszk What is ..The most professional equipment? The most professional piece of equipment is a tripod and lighting kit (flashes, reflectors, backdrops), because it is the piece of equipment that enable professional photographic results even with a bad camera and a mediocre lens. Historically, professionals have always been seen with tripods and lighting tools, whether it was in a studio, indoors, historical places and in outdoors landscape photography context, regardless what camera and lenses were used. Autofocus has never been a professional requirement, Pros have shot weddings, portraits and journalism with manual focus camera and lens.

09-14-2021, 09:49 AM - 3 Likes	#10
Dartmoor Dave Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Dartmoor, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,879	If the most professional Pentax is the one that's been used by more professionals than any other, then it's the Spotmatic in its various incarnations. If you were a lucky sort of professional back in the 1960s then you were David Bailey, using your Spottie to take iconic shots of Jean Shrimpton and Twiggie. If you were another sort of professional back then, you were using your Spottie to document the Vietnam war and hoping it was well built enough to stop a bullet (it was).

09-14-2021, 09:50 AM	#11
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by boriscleto The one you have. This ^ ^ ^ ...and the above remains true until you have a need or a yearning for something offered by another model or brand. BTW...If you want sharpest focus, use magnified live view. Professional equipment? I believe all of the current models are used by members here to make money. Steve

09-14-2021, 09:56 AM - 1 Like	#12
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Dartmoor Dave If the most professional Pentax is the one that's been used by more professionals than any other, then it's the Spotmatic in its various incarnations. Followed closely by the 6x7 and LX. Steve

09-14-2021, 10:01 AM	#13
Dartmoor Dave Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Dartmoor, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,879	Originally posted by stevebrot Followed closely by the 6x7 and LX. Steve Definitely. I was actually wondering if the 6x7 might the most widely professionally used of all, since it's still the go-to camera for fashion and portrait pros when they want that look that only medium format film can provide. I know that Rankin still uses one when the occasion demands it.

09-14-2021, 10:28 AM - 4 Likes	#14
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,910	It's ok to buy a camera based on a need that you have. But it's not ok to think a "pro camera" will make you a "pro photographer". A "pro photographer" will take "pro" pictures with ANY equipment. I came across this article a while ago, and it's still a great read on the subject (and it involves the Best Deal in Photography™, the lowly Pentax 50 1.7 lens): I Got Tired Of People Giving My Camera The Credit For My Photos, So I Bought The Cheapest Camera And Lens I Could Find To Prove Them Wrong \| Bored Panda

09-14-2021, 10:54 AM - 4 Likes	#15
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,185	Originally posted by Markpszk What is the best Pentax camera body? FF K1-II aps-c K3 III Originally posted by Markpszk The sharpest focus? All camera bodies have the same "sharpest focus" Originally posted by Markpszk The most professional equipment? A press pass

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