Anyone planning to grow old with their K3?

audiobomber · 11-05-2017, 03:18 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by normhead

A K-3 image can be awful at 800.

You need better NR.

I still have and use a K20D. I keep it in my car with a DA 18-250mm mounted, so I always have a camera available. I have an a6000 with some nice primes but the Sony body is a toy compared to the K-3. The a6500 would be competitive, but the price is stupid and the lens selection sucks. I hope to pick up an a6500 after its replacement is released.

I bought a K-3 in October 2013 and intend to keep it permanently (I've recently retired). I have no trouble tracking sports or BIF with a proper lens (DA 55-300mm PLM or DA*300). I've put aside the scratch for the K-3 III so I can retire my K20D, keep K-3 as a second body. My wish list is for faster focus acquisition, no flash delay, GPS, tilt screen, pixel shift and the K-P sensor.

Last edited by audiobomber; 11-05-2017 at 05:04 PM.

bencason · 11-05-2017, 04:46 PM - **1 Like**

I just retired at age 70.5. I expect my K-3 [2 years old] will outlast me and I don't plan to go any time soon, knock on wood. I still have a k30 backup & a K-01 just for fun so I'll still have a camera to shoot with. I am pretty good at saving so if anything unexpected happens to the K-3 in the short term, a KP may be in my future. I could always dust off my MX and go retro shooting film...

**PJ1** · 11-06-2017, 02:56 AM - **1 Like**

I hope Ricoh/Pentax are not reading this thread. At 68 I am starting to get the idea that I am one of the youngest here and the popular view is that the K-3 will see us out. Maybe they will stop development and cut their losses.

keithw · 11-07-2017, 01:31 PM - **1 Like**

Bought both of my K3s from work bonuses. Retired last year so no more bonuses, or even good salary. So without a lottery win, my trusty K3s will do me till I drop, or become even less capable of taking photos!

Obviously I would love a full frame but don't really need one. But as I said, come the jackpot win ...

fwcetus · 11-12-2017, 06:25 PM

I've been using a K-3 for some time now and liking it a lot. [And I appreciate the "APS-C crop factor" for telephoto work, so FF still doesn't appeal much to me.] So I bought another used K-3 from a forum member, intending it to serve as a backup (although oftentimes one is used with an AF zoom for everyday use while the other one is often used for exercising one of my several "cult classic" lenses, so that neither one is ever really in "backup mode" for very long). So, I have two K-3's that are both still in good shape, and, with me at 70 years old and with "health issues", I suspect that these two fine K-3's will likely last for the remainder of my journey... :-)

pakinjapan · 11-12-2017, 06:45 PM

I broke my K-5 so I move to K-3. Hope I won’t break it too. [Fingers crossed]
I almost move to K-1 but they piss me off big time because of the pricing in Japan which is still remain higher than in the USA. So that said, I will stick with K-3 for as long as I can and when I have to change a camera, it will be a FF. Then PENTAX better offer people in japan a fair price deal or a FF mirrorless with fair price or else. I don’t understand a concept of brand royalty anyway.

jeallen01 · 11-13-2017, 02:38 PM

Bought a K-3 a couple of years go and a K-3 II a year later (both used with low shutter counts) - I expect/hope that they will last out my life (now 70!) as the K-1 is too heavy & expensive and the newer APC-C bodies just don't "do it" for me to the extent that I would buy one, loving as I do the way the 3 II deals with most of my airshow shots (OTOH, might have gone C*N****n but for the COST!)..

Also, I take the K-30 on holidays because it's noticeably lighter and that hasn't had the shutter block problem (so far!), and so I hope that lasts as well because it produces some of the best "out of the box" images!

So the answer is YES (= NO to buying something!)

Last edited by jeallen01; 11-13-2017 at 02:46 PM.

**gaweidert** · 11-15-2017, 03:58 PM

Just so you people don't think that only old people use Pentax, I want to state for the record that I am only 66. I retired a year and a half ago and don't really miss work at all.

**aslyfox** · 11-15-2017, 04:40 PM

Originally posted by gaweidert

Just so you people don't think that only old people use Pentax, I want to state for the record that I am only 66. I retired a year and a half ago and don't really miss work at all.

you call that young

1/30/57

**Canada_Rockies** · 11-15-2017, 06:54 PM

Originally posted by Aslyfox

you call that young

1/30/57

Yes. 1940-06-10

heinamj · 11-23-2017, 03:54 AM

Originally posted by gaweidert

Just so you people don't think that only old people use Pentax, I want to state for the record that I am only 66. I retired a year and a half ago and don't really miss work at all.

When I started this thread I never anticipated discovering so many Pentaxians going strong into their 70's... At 54, it is both an honor to meet you and an inspiration that I'll be enjoying photography and Pentax for decades ... even if DSLRs and the Pentax brand fade from the mainstream.

totsmuyco · 11-23-2017, 04:19 AM - **1 Like**

When I returned to photography in 2008, I bought into Olympus. If Olympus didn't kill the 4/3 mount I would probably be still with it using those spectacular lenses. The truth is, I don't like to keep on changing systems. It's just too costly. I just hope Pentax keeps the K-mount. If they keep it, I'm staying and probably be expanding my system.

Arjay Bee · 11-23-2017, 04:41 AM - **1 Like**

49,500 shutter activations on Oct 2014 purchased prestige version of the K3. So say 50000 images in 3 years so now should last another 9 years before reaching the 200K mark. That will take me to 70 years old, insha'Allah. No plans to change camera at this point. I like the adaptability in the system from a daily carry with a wrist strap and three primes in an average sized messenger bag to a battery pack, external flash and large zoom on a neck strap for sports photography - it can flexibly do the lot. And then with an adapter use all the 50 year old takumars as well.

audiobomber · 11-23-2017, 06:26 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by gaweidert

Just so you people don't think that only old people use Pentax, I want to state for the record that I am only 66.

Sixty is the new forty! i''m 65. When I think back to how my grandparents looked and acted, this new cliche makes sense. They were already old at 50.

**Canada_Rockies** · 11-23-2017, 08:59 AM

Originally posted by audiobomber

Sixty is the new forty! i''m 65. When I think back to how my grandparents looked and acted, this new cliche makes sense. They were already old at 50.

Average life expectancy is approaching 80 for males (80.3 in BC, 79 +/- in Canada). I don't know how long I will last, born in 1940, but my Dad was born Friday, Jan 13, 1905 and passed on October 9, 2007. The last of the previous generation passed last February at 98, my Mom's baby sister. My sweetheart is 75 and counting. Had a bit of medical stress, but it turned out to be an athletic injury (!) - inflamed IT band. When I went to meet the family, her 90 hear old grandmother walked us up to her apartment for tea (and interrogation -- what is her little granddaughter doing engaged to an ENGLISH!). Went well. I speak French fluently.

11-12-2017, 06:45 PM	#66
pakinjapan Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,041	I broke my K-5 so I move to K-3. Hope I won’t break it too. [Fingers crossed] I almost move to K-1 but they piss me off big time because of the pricing in Japan which is still remain higher than in the USA. So that said, I will stick with K-3 for as long as I can and when I have to change a camera, it will be a FF. Then PENTAX better offer people in japan a fair price deal or a FF mirrorless with fair price or else. I don’t understand a concept of brand royalty anyway. Last edited by pakinjapan; 11-12-2017 at 07:02 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Anyone actually use their OVF on their GR	pentaxian_tmb	Ricoh GR	7	10-02-2018 07:00 PM
Nature Let's Grow Old Together, Shall We?	Dewman	Post Your Photos!	6	12-02-2014 02:40 AM
Anyone planning on testing the metering modes for the K-5?	brecklundin	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	8	11-06-2010 10:40 AM
Anyone planning to purchase the D-FA 100mm f2.8 WR macro	pcarfan	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	35	12-14-2009 06:57 PM
Sports Their bite is worse than their bark	Workingdog	Post Your Photos!	4	12-07-2009 05:30 AM

11-05-2017, 03:18 PM - 1 Like	#61
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by normhead A K-3 image can be awful at 800. You need better NR. I still have and use a K20D. I keep it in my car with a DA 18-250mm mounted, so I always have a camera available. I have an a6000 with some nice primes but the Sony body is a toy compared to the K-3. The a6500 would be competitive, but the price is stupid and the lens selection sucks. I hope to pick up an a6500 after its replacement is released. I bought a K-3 in October 2013 and intend to keep it permanently (I've recently retired). I have no trouble tracking sports or BIF with a proper lens (DA 55-300mm PLM or DA300). I've put aside the scratch for the K-3 III so I can retire my K20D, keep K-3 as a second body. My wish list is for faster focus acquisition, no flash delay, GPS, tilt screen, pixel shift and the K-P sensor. Last edited by audiobomber; 11-05-2017 at 05:04 PM.*

11-05-2017, 04:46 PM - 1 Like	#62
bencason Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 32	I just retired at age 70.5. I expect my K-3 [2 years old] will outlast me and I don't plan to go any time soon, knock on wood. I still have a k30 backup & a K-01 just for fun so I'll still have a camera to shoot with. I am pretty good at saving so if anything unexpected happens to the K-3 in the short term, a KP may be in my future. I could always dust off my MX and go retro shooting film...

11-06-2017, 02:56 AM - 1 Like	#63
PJ1 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Toowoomba, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,486	I hope Ricoh/Pentax are not reading this thread. At 68 I am starting to get the idea that I am one of the youngest here and the popular view is that the K-3 will see us out. Maybe they will stop development and cut their losses.

11-07-2017, 01:31 PM - 1 Like	#64
keithw Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oxfordshire, UK Posts: 72	Bought both of my K3s from work bonuses. Retired last year so no more bonuses, or even good salary. So without a lottery win, my trusty K3s will do me till I drop, or become even less capable of taking photos! Obviously I would love a full frame but don't really need one. But as I said, come the jackpot win ...

11-12-2017, 06:25 PM	#65
fwcetus Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New England Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,286	I've been using a K-3 for some time now and liking it a lot. [And I appreciate the "APS-C crop factor" for telephoto work, so FF still doesn't appeal much to me.] So I bought another used K-3 from a forum member, intending it to serve as a backup (although oftentimes one is used with an AF zoom for everyday use while the other one is often used for exercising one of my several "cult classic" lenses, so that neither one is ever really in "backup mode" for very long). So, I have two K-3's that are both still in good shape, and, with me at 70 years old and with "health issues", I suspect that these two fine K-3's will likely last for the remainder of my journey... :-)

11-13-2017, 02:38 PM	#67
jeallen01 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2008 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,697	Bought a K-3 a couple of years go and a K-3 II a year later (both used with low shutter counts) - I expect/hope that they will last out my life (now 70!) as the K-1 is too heavy & expensive and the newer APC-C bodies just don't "do it" for me to the extent that I would buy one, loving as I do the way the 3 II deals with most of my airshow shots (OTOH, might have gone CN**n but for the COST!).. Also, I take the K-30 on holidays because it's noticeably lighter and that hasn't had the shutter block problem (so far!), and so I hope that lasts as well because it produces some of the best "out of the box" images! So the answer is YES (= NO to buying something!) Last edited by jeallen01; 11-13-2017 at 02:46 PM.*

11-15-2017, 03:58 PM	#68
gaweidert Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Rochester, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,325	Just so you people don't think that only old people use Pentax, I want to state for the record that I am only 66. I retired a year and a half ago and don't really miss work at all.

11-15-2017, 04:40 PM	#69
aslyfox Seeker of Knowledge Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,582	Originally posted by gaweidert Just so you people don't think that only old people use Pentax, I want to state for the record that I am only 66. I retired a year and a half ago and don't really miss work at all. you call that young 1/30/57

11-15-2017, 06:54 PM	#70
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Originally posted by Aslyfox you call that young 1/30/57 Yes. 1940-06-10

11-23-2017, 03:54 AM	#71
heinamj Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Photos: Gallery Posts: 366 Original Poster	Originally posted by gaweidert Just so you people don't think that only old people use Pentax, I want to state for the record that I am only 66. I retired a year and a half ago and don't really miss work at all. When I started this thread I never anticipated discovering so many Pentaxians going strong into their 70's... At 54, it is both an honor to meet you and an inspiration that I'll be enjoying photography and Pentax for decades ... even if DSLRs and the Pentax brand fade from the mainstream.

11-23-2017, 04:19 AM - 1 Like	#72
totsmuyco Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Iloilo City Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,276	When I returned to photography in 2008, I bought into Olympus. If Olympus didn't kill the 4/3 mount I would probably be still with it using those spectacular lenses. The truth is, I don't like to keep on changing systems. It's just too costly. I just hope Pentax keeps the K-mount. If they keep it, I'm staying and probably be expanding my system.

11-23-2017, 04:41 AM - 1 Like	#73
Arjay Bee Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Horn Island, Torres Straits, Q Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,715	49,500 shutter activations on Oct 2014 purchased prestige version of the K3. So say 50000 images in 3 years so now should last another 9 years before reaching the 200K mark. That will take me to 70 years old, insha'Allah. No plans to change camera at this point. I like the adaptability in the system from a daily carry with a wrist strap and three primes in an average sized messenger bag to a battery pack, external flash and large zoom on a neck strap for sports photography - it can flexibly do the lot. And then with an adapter use all the 50 year old takumars as well.

11-23-2017, 06:26 AM - 1 Like	#74
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by gaweidert Just so you people don't think that only old people use Pentax, I want to state for the record that I am only 66. Sixty is the new forty! i''m 65. When I think back to how my grandparents looked and acted, this new cliche makes sense. They were already old at 50.

11-23-2017, 08:59 AM	#75
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Originally posted by audiobomber Sixty is the new forty! i''m 65. When I think back to how my grandparents looked and acted, this new cliche makes sense. They were already old at 50. Average life expectancy is approaching 80 for males (80.3 in BC, 79 +/- in Canada). I don't know how long I will last, born in 1940, but my Dad was born Friday, Jan 13, 1905 and passed on October 9, 2007. The last of the previous generation passed last February at 98, my Mom's baby sister. My sweetheart is 75 and counting. Had a bit of medical stress, but it turned out to be an athletic injury (!) - inflamed IT band. When I went to meet the family, her 90 hear old grandmother walked us up to her apartment for tea (and interrogation -- what is her little granddaughter doing engaged to an ENGLISH!). Went well. I speak French fluently.