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catsman50 · 11-04-2015, 04:45 PM

Hello everyone,

Its been a long time since I've posted on here. Since about a year ago I've been shooting real estate professionally and my trusty k5 has been a pleasure to work with besides the low light auto focus and now a slight issue with run away shutter when bracketing. My question is when is it time to throw in the towel and sell my k5 for $2-- hopefully and upgrade to a k3? Whats your guys opinions? I also shoot with a drone and it might be time to upgrade for that as well....

**jatrax** · 11-04-2015, 05:05 PM

If photography is a hobby, then upgrade when something new you want comes out.

If photography is a business, then upgrade when the current equipment fails to do the job or when new equipment could do it better or faster. In your business plan allow for amortization of equipment in your pricing and replace when needed. For example, lets say you do one job per week and allocate $50 of each job's invoice to the equipment fund. At the end of the year you have $2,500 to replace or buy new equipment. Just example numbers, plug in your own.

KDD · 11-04-2015, 05:34 PM

645z????

**Quartermaster James** · 11-04-2015, 05:56 PM

Well, if you've got the money to burn, upgrade when ever you dang well feel like it.
Otherwise, if you feel you need to justify your purchase, upgrade when there is something you want to achieve that is not possible with your current gear.

Pioneer · 11-04-2015, 06:13 PM - **1 Like**

Whenever whatever I currently own will not do something I need to do.

Right now I need to downgrade.

calsan · 11-04-2015, 06:25 PM

When do you need low light autofocus for real estate work? ;-)
How about a ricoh theta? That would add an extra trick up the sleeve at moderate cost - seems like they had real estate in mind when they designed it.

mee · 11-04-2015, 07:04 PM

Generally, I find it best to stay at least one whole version behind the current.. as a result, the cost to purchase is lower, the recalls have (largely been) recalled, and the firmware is mature.

12345 · 11-04-2015, 07:29 PM

Now!!!

Adam · 11-04-2015, 07:52 PM

Originally posted by catsman50

Hello everyone,

Its been a long time since I've posted on here. Since about a year ago I've been shooting real estate professionally and my trusty k5 has been a pleasure to work with besides the low light auto focus and now a slight issue with run away shutter when bracketing. My question is when is it time to throw in the towel and sell my k5 for $2-- hopefully and upgrade to a k3? Whats your guys opinions? I also shoot with a drone and it might be time to upgrade for that as well....

Yup, now. The K-3 has dropped significantly in price

rrstuff · 11-04-2015, 08:21 PM

Originally posted by catsman50

Hello everyone,

Its been a long time since I've posted on here. Since about a year ago I've been shooting real estate professionally and my trusty k5 has been a pleasure to work with besides the low light auto focus and now a slight issue with run away shutter when bracketing. My question is when is it time to throw in the towel and sell my k5 for $2-- hopefully and upgrade to a k3? Whats your guys opinions? I also shoot with a drone and it might be time to upgrade for that as well....

I would buy your K-5 for $2. Hell, I will even pay twice that price.

LightBug · 11-05-2015, 01:14 AM

I upgrade when I can find a good deal on a camera body that offers some features my current body does not have.

catsman50 · 11-05-2015, 09:59 AM

Thank you all for your input, since ice had my son that's now 1year old I've only been out shooting a hand full of times for pleasure. On the other hand I've had between 1-6 shoots a month since doing real estate. My k5 lately when I bracket for hdr processing has been randomly firing continually when I'm just trying to do 3 shoot bracketing. It will take 4-10 shots before stopping and it seems like it's getting worse not to mention the autofocus is an issue in low light sometimes.

A 645z is out of the question and really I'd have no use for it.Lol

Has anyone had experience with the k3 for real estate? I'm tempted to go full frame at times but I though typically you can get a wider angle from a cropped sensor?

bertwert · 11-05-2015, 10:05 AM

You get a wider angle from full frame...

A cropped sensor means the image is more 'cropped' than from a 35mm frame.

645 would be an even wider angle.

catsman50 · 11-05-2015, 10:13 AM

But that also means selling off my Pentax to go with nikon probably. Which I'm not to fond of the idea.... And for the price difference it's even harder for me to justify it because my shots have been comparable to fullframe

bertwert · 11-05-2015, 10:15 AM

The pentax FF will be available in spring.
What lenses have you got, as more than likely there not compatible with FF anyway.

11-04-2015, 04:45 PM	#1
catsman50 Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: jupiter FL Posts: 140	When is it time to upgrade? Hello everyone, Its been a long time since I've posted on here. Since about a year ago I've been shooting real estate professionally and my trusty k5 has been a pleasure to work with besides the low light auto focus and now a slight issue with run away shutter when bracketing. My question is when is it time to throw in the towel and sell my k5 for $2-- hopefully and upgrade to a k3? Whats your guys opinions? I also shoot with a drone and it might be time to upgrade for that as well....

11-04-2015, 07:52 PM	#9
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,608	Originally posted by catsman50 Hello everyone, Its been a long time since I've posted on here. Since about a year ago I've been shooting real estate professionally and my trusty k5 has been a pleasure to work with besides the low light auto focus and now a slight issue with run away shutter when bracketing. My question is when is it time to throw in the towel and sell my k5 for $2-- hopefully and upgrade to a k3? Whats your guys opinions? I also shoot with a drone and it might be time to upgrade for that as well.... Yup, now. The K-3 has dropped significantly in price Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

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11-04-2015, 05:05 PM	#2
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	If photography is a hobby, then upgrade when something new you want comes out. If photography is a business, then upgrade when the current equipment fails to do the job or when new equipment could do it better or faster. In your business plan allow for amortization of equipment in your pricing and replace when needed. For example, lets say you do one job per week and allocate $50 of each job's invoice to the equipment fund. At the end of the year you have $2,500 to replace or buy new equipment. Just example numbers, plug in your own.

11-04-2015, 05:34 PM	#3
KDD Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 403	645z????

11-04-2015, 05:56 PM	#4
Quartermaster James Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 653	Well, if you've got the money to burn, upgrade when ever you dang well feel like it. Otherwise, if you feel you need to justify your purchase, upgrade when there is something you want to achieve that is not possible with your current gear.

11-04-2015, 06:13 PM - 1 Like	#5
Pioneer Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wandering the Streets Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,411	Whenever whatever I currently own will not do something I need to do. Right now I need to downgrade.

11-04-2015, 06:25 PM	#6
calsan Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,549	When do you need low light autofocus for real estate work? ;-) How about a ricoh theta? That would add an extra trick up the sleeve at moderate cost - seems like they had real estate in mind when they designed it.

11-04-2015, 07:04 PM	#7
mee Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 7,403	Generally, I find it best to stay at least one whole version behind the current.. as a result, the cost to purchase is lower, the recalls have (largely been) recalled, and the firmware is mature.

11-04-2015, 07:29 PM	#8
12345 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 520	Now!!!

11-04-2015, 08:21 PM	#10
rrstuff Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Pasadena, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,126	Originally posted by catsman50 Hello everyone, Its been a long time since I've posted on here. Since about a year ago I've been shooting real estate professionally and my trusty k5 has been a pleasure to work with besides the low light auto focus and now a slight issue with run away shutter when bracketing. My question is when is it time to throw in the towel and sell my k5 for $2-- hopefully and upgrade to a k3? Whats your guys opinions? I also shoot with a drone and it might be time to upgrade for that as well.... I would buy your K-5 for $2. Hell, I will even pay twice that price.

11-05-2015, 01:14 AM	#11
LightBug Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: OC, CA, USA Posts: 506	I upgrade when I can find a good deal on a camera body that offers some features my current body does not have.

11-05-2015, 09:59 AM	#12
catsman50 Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: jupiter FL Posts: 140 Original Poster	Thank you all for your input, since ice had my son that's now 1year old I've only been out shooting a hand full of times for pleasure. On the other hand I've had between 1-6 shoots a month since doing real estate. My k5 lately when I bracket for hdr processing has been randomly firing continually when I'm just trying to do 3 shoot bracketing. It will take 4-10 shots before stopping and it seems like it's getting worse not to mention the autofocus is an issue in low light sometimes. A 645z is out of the question and really I'd have no use for it.Lol Has anyone had experience with the k3 for real estate? I'm tempted to go full frame at times but I though typically you can get a wider angle from a cropped sensor?

11-05-2015, 10:05 AM	#13
bertwert Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Golden, BC Posts: 15,172	You get a wider angle from full frame... A cropped sensor means the image is more 'cropped' than from a 35mm frame. 645 would be an even wider angle.

11-05-2015, 10:13 AM	#14
catsman50 Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: jupiter FL Posts: 140 Original Poster	But that also means selling off my Pentax to go with nikon probably. Which I'm not to fond of the idea.... And for the price difference it's even harder for me to justify it because my shots have been comparable to fullframe

11-05-2015, 10:15 AM	#15
bertwert Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Golden, BC Posts: 15,172	The pentax FF will be available in spring. What lenses have you got, as more than likely there not compatible with FF anyway.

When is it time to upgrade?

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