Pentax??? Really?

Wheatfield · 06-14-2018, 03:08 PM - **5 Likes**

I was chatting with a coworker today, and casually mentioned that I was a hobby photographer but that I had spent much of my life as a working pro. He was instantly intrigued, as he is a hobby photographer as well.
He said that he was using a Canon, and asked if I shot Canon or Nikon.
I told him neither, that I used Pentax.
And I got "the look"
You know the one, its the one where you are betting on the next line.
Will it be "Pentax? Never heard of them"
or
"Pentax? They are still making cameras"?
Imagine my surprise when he said he had never met anyone who used Pentax before, but he really wanted to talk about my gear, as he was really interested, though not, from the sounds of it, interested enough to change systems.

That's all.

bertwert · 06-14-2018, 03:14 PM

Interesting, but at the end of a day it's just a tool (though a better one, I may add). It's good to see that not everyone fits into one of the two categories 'never heard of/still around'.

reh321 · 06-14-2018, 03:49 PM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

I was chatting with a coworker today, and casually mentioned that I was a hobby photographer but that I had spent much of my life as a working pro. He was instantly intrigued, as he is a hobby photographer as well.
He said that he was using a Canon, and asked if I shot Canon or Nikon.
I told him neither, that I used Pentax.
And I got "the look"
You know the one, its the one where you are betting on the next line.
Will it be "Pentax? Never heard of them"
or
"Pentax? They are still making cameras"?
Imagine my surprise when he said he had never met anyone who used Pentax before, but he really wanted to talk about my gear, as he was really interested, though not, from the sounds of it, interested enough to change systems.

That's all.

I am a regular at another photography discussion forum, where many of the threads are Nikon vs Canon or MILC vs DSLR. On occasion I will post a news item relating to Pentax or will make a comment of the "I use Pentax so I'll just pop some corn while you argue" genre - and often I get a response of the sort "I'm fond of Pentax. I used to have a Spotmatic. I didn't know they're still made" or "I hear at the Pentax Forums that they're having all kinds of problems".

lesmore49 · 06-14-2018, 05:12 PM

When someone gives me the 'look' regarding me using Pentax, I add that I also use Zeiss Super Ikonta B, Mamiya medium format, Leica...and yes... occasionally Petri, among other makes. Well..I did once.

**monochrome** · 06-14-2018, 05:31 PM - **6 Likes**

Originally posted by lesmore49

When someone gives me the 'look' regarding me using Pentax, I add that I also use Zeiss Super Ikonta B, Mamiya medium format, Leica...and yes... occasionally Petri, among other makes. Well..I did once.

I just give them the ‘I guess you aren’t cool enough to know’ look right back.

**jpzk** · 06-14-2018, 06:18 PM

Wouldn't it be so cool to have actual pictures of those people while they're "commenting" on Pentax ?
(or while receiving the return comment from the Pentax user?)

I suppose I can add a bit to this thread ... I have quite often been told that "they" couldn't believe I was using Pentax gear for birding !!

---------- Post added 06-14-18 at 09:19 PM ----------

Originally posted by Wheatfield

I was chatting with a coworker today, and casually mentioned that I was a hobby photographer but that I had spent much of my life as a working pro. He was instantly intrigued, as he is a hobby photographer as well.
He said that he was using a Canon, and asked if I shot Canon or Nikon.
I told him neither, that I used Pentax.
And I got "the look"
You know the one, its the one where you are betting on the next line.
Will it be "Pentax? Never heard of them"
or
"Pentax? They are still making cameras"?
Imagine my surprise when he said he had never met anyone who used Pentax before, but he really wanted to talk about my gear, as he was really interested, though not, from the sounds of it, interested enough to change systems.

That's all.

Yeah ... that look !!

pete-tarmigan · 06-14-2018, 07:11 PM - **1 Like**

What is worse is when you get "the look" from the sales clerks at camera stores like Henry's Photo & Video. Then they tell you that lenses are too hard to find, or that the brand will disappear soon.

**jpzk** · 06-14-2018, 07:13 PM

Originally posted by pete-tarmigan

What is worse is when you get "the look" from the sales clerks at camera stores like Henry's Photo & Video.

That is where (in Ottawa) I received the comment regarding "Pentax birding" (see post no. 6 above)

**Digitalis** · 06-14-2018, 07:42 PM - **8 Likes**

Originally posted by Wheatfield

And I got "the look"

You mean this look:

**jpzk** · 06-14-2018, 07:47 PM

Originally posted by Digitalis

You mean this look:

It's gotta be that !

Wheatfield · 06-14-2018, 08:42 PM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by pete-tarmigan

What is worse is when you get "the look" from the sales clerks at camera stores like Henry's Photo & Video. Then they tell you that lenses are too hard to find, or that the brand will disappear soon.

I got told by a toad at my local pusher’s store one time that they didn’t keep a lot of third party glass when I asked about if they had a particular Pentax lens.
I mentioned to him that seemed ironic considering the display cases of Sigma and Tamron lenses they had. He said that wasn’t third party glass. By this time the store manager, a guy I’ve known for decades was involved in the conversation. I told him his toad was too stupid to breath and chew gum at the same time.
That was the last I saw if old warty.

redpit · 06-14-2018, 09:48 PM

I have "made" three Pentaxians in my cycle. After explaining them about the different possibilities and the pros and cons of each one, they decided to go with Pentax. The fact that I was shooting Pentax too of course played a major role. Depending on the needs of a friend that asks for my opinion I have also proposed to others to buy Sony and Olympus MILC and Nikon.

MrMojo · 06-15-2018, 12:00 AM

I'll post this little tale here, from my FaceTube page, sometimes there are nice people behind the mask

This happened to me while selling an SLR on Fleabay. It didn't sell. I'm quite pleased.

Quote:

Was at the sculpture park yesterday, along with the DSLRs took my Pentax SLR - I wanted to run a film through it before eBay so I'm sure everything is working.
Ah the joys of film cameras, it was so light to carry! Everything worked fine and my memory kicked in to make it do the (few) tricks it's capable of. It was a real joy to shoot the whole film - now I need to get it developed and see what's what.

While composing a "prizewinning" shot with the little Pentax a chap wandered past with about two grands-worth of Nikon and lens round his neck, with the usual sneer on his face when he saw my camera had the "P" word on it. Nonplussed, I squeezed the shutter button and took the shot. The camera fired, and made the little "wheee" noise it makes when winding the film on. At which point he froze in his tracks and turned to me.
"Is that a film camera?", he asked
"Aye", says I
"Can I hold it?", he enquired
"Aye", says I
So he did. And looked all bleary eyed & wistful as memories of good old film stock filled his head. After a few minutes of The Good Old Days off he toddled, the sneer gone

**ffking** · 06-15-2018, 01:03 AM

^ I love everything about digital - but I still miss film... how come?

leekil · 06-15-2018, 01:24 AM

I had the "Nikon or Canon? .... Pentax???" discussion with someone the other day, a friend of a friend. But I had the same discussion with him the first time I met him, probably 4 years ago!

06-14-2018, 03:08 PM - 5 Likes	#1
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,986	Pentax??? Really? I was chatting with a coworker today, and casually mentioned that I was a hobby photographer but that I had spent much of my life as a working pro. He was instantly intrigued, as he is a hobby photographer as well. He said that he was using a Canon, and asked if I shot Canon or Nikon. I told him neither, that I used Pentax. And I got "the look" You know the one, its the one where you are betting on the next line. Will it be "Pentax? Never heard of them" or "Pentax? They are still making cameras"? Imagine my surprise when he said he had never met anyone who used Pentax before, but he really wanted to talk about my gear, as he was really interested, though not, from the sounds of it, interested enough to change systems. That's all.

06-14-2018, 05:31 PM - 6 Likes	#5
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by lesmore49 When someone gives me the 'look' regarding me using Pentax, I add that I also use Zeiss Super Ikonta B, Mamiya medium format, Leica...and yes... occasionally Petri, among other makes. Well..I did once. I just give them the ‘I guess you aren’t cool enough to know’ look right back. Last edited by monochrome; 06-15-2018 at 04:51 AM.

06-14-2018, 06:18 PM	#6
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251	Wouldn't it be so cool to have actual pictures of those people while they're "commenting" on Pentax ? (or while receiving the return comment from the Pentax user?) I suppose I can add a bit to this thread ... I have quite often been told that "they" couldn't believe I was using Pentax gear for birding !! ---------- Post added 06-14-18 at 09:19 PM ---------- Originally posted by Wheatfield I was chatting with a coworker today, and casually mentioned that I was a hobby photographer but that I had spent much of my life as a working pro. He was instantly intrigued, as he is a hobby photographer as well. He said that he was using a Canon, and asked if I shot Canon or Nikon. I told him neither, that I used Pentax. And I got "the look" You know the one, its the one where you are betting on the next line. Will it be "Pentax? Never heard of them" or "Pentax? They are still making cameras"? Imagine my surprise when he said he had never met anyone who used Pentax before, but he really wanted to talk about my gear, as he was really interested, though not, from the sounds of it, interested enough to change systems. That's all. Yeah ... that look !! Last edited by jpzk; 06-14-2018 at 07:48 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
IS the Pentax HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm really an upgrade over my DA* 300mm f4?	MetteHHH	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	31	02-23-2018 02:57 PM
Really, really expired stuff	Smolk	Pentax Medium Format	9	04-06-2014 09:27 PM
Really-really cheap sub-2.8 AF lens	minahasa	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	55	09-14-2011 10:52 PM
What I'd really like vs. what I can really get	edumad	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	10	11-10-2008 09:40 AM
Two things that really, REALLY bug me about the K10	Dubious Drewski	Pentax DSLR Discussion	11	05-07-2008 07:04 PM

06-14-2018, 03:14 PM	#2
bertwert Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Golden, BC Posts: 15,172	Interesting, but at the end of a day it's just a tool (though a better one, I may add). It's good to see that not everyone fits into one of the two categories 'never heard of/still around'.

06-14-2018, 03:49 PM	#3
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,181	Originally posted by Wheatfield I was chatting with a coworker today, and casually mentioned that I was a hobby photographer but that I had spent much of my life as a working pro. He was instantly intrigued, as he is a hobby photographer as well. He said that he was using a Canon, and asked if I shot Canon or Nikon. I told him neither, that I used Pentax. And I got "the look" You know the one, its the one where you are betting on the next line. Will it be "Pentax? Never heard of them" or "Pentax? They are still making cameras"? Imagine my surprise when he said he had never met anyone who used Pentax before, but he really wanted to talk about my gear, as he was really interested, though not, from the sounds of it, interested enough to change systems. That's all. I am a regular at another photography discussion forum, where many of the threads are Nikon vs Canon or MILC vs DSLR. On occasion I will post a news item relating to Pentax or will make a comment of the "I use Pentax so I'll just pop some corn while you argue" genre - and often I get a response of the sort "I'm fond of Pentax. I used to have a Spotmatic. I didn't know they're still made" or "I hear at the Pentax Forums that they're having all kinds of problems".

06-14-2018, 05:12 PM	#4
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,349	When someone gives me the 'look' regarding me using Pentax, I add that I also use Zeiss Super Ikonta B, Mamiya medium format, Leica...and yes... occasionally Petri, among other makes. Well..I did once.

06-14-2018, 07:11 PM - 1 Like	#7
pete-tarmigan Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Conception Bay South, New-fun-land Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,272	What is worse is when you get "the look" from the sales clerks at camera stores like Henry's Photo & Video. Then they tell you that lenses are too hard to find, or that the brand will disappear soon.

06-14-2018, 07:13 PM	#8
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251	Originally posted by pete-tarmigan What is worse is when you get "the look" from the sales clerks at camera stores like Henry's Photo & Video. That is where (in Ottawa) I received the comment regarding "Pentax birding" (see post no. 6 above)

06-14-2018, 07:42 PM - 8 Likes	#9
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by Wheatfield And I got "the look" You mean this look:

06-14-2018, 07:47 PM	#10
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251	Originally posted by Digitalis You mean this look: It's gotta be that !

06-14-2018, 08:42 PM - 3 Likes	#11
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,986 Original Poster	Originally posted by pete-tarmigan What is worse is when you get "the look" from the sales clerks at camera stores like Henry's Photo & Video. Then they tell you that lenses are too hard to find, or that the brand will disappear soon. I got told by a toad at my local pusher’s store one time that they didn’t keep a lot of third party glass when I asked about if they had a particular Pentax lens. I mentioned to him that seemed ironic considering the display cases of Sigma and Tamron lenses they had. He said that wasn’t third party glass. By this time the store manager, a guy I’ve known for decades was involved in the conversation. I told him his toad was too stupid to breath and chew gum at the same time. That was the last I saw if old warty.

06-14-2018, 09:48 PM	#12
redpit Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Greece Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,857	I have "made" three Pentaxians in my cycle. After explaining them about the different possibilities and the pros and cons of each one, they decided to go with Pentax. The fact that I was shooting Pentax too of course played a major role. Depending on the needs of a friend that asks for my opinion I have also proposed to others to buy Sony and Olympus MILC and Nikon.

06-15-2018, 12:00 AM	#13
MrMojo Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2018 Photos: Albums Posts: 96	I'll post this little tale here, from my FaceTube page, sometimes there are nice people behind the mask This happened to me while selling an SLR on Fleabay. It didn't sell. I'm quite pleased. Quote: Was at the sculpture park yesterday, along with the DSLRs took my Pentax SLR - I wanted to run a film through it before eBay so I'm sure everything is working. Ah the joys of film cameras, it was so light to carry! Everything worked fine and my memory kicked in to make it do the (few) tricks it's capable of. It was a real joy to shoot the whole film - now I need to get it developed and see what's what. While composing a "prizewinning" shot with the little Pentax a chap wandered past with about two grands-worth of Nikon and lens round his neck, with the usual sneer on his face when he saw my camera had the "P" word on it. Nonplussed, I squeezed the shutter button and took the shot. The camera fired, and made the little "wheee" noise it makes when winding the film on. At which point he froze in his tracks and turned to me. "Is that a film camera?", he asked "Aye", says I "Can I hold it?", he enquired "Aye", says I So he did. And looked all bleary eyed & wistful as memories of good old film stock filled his head. After a few minutes of The Good Old Days off he toddled, the sneer gone

06-15-2018, 01:03 AM	#14
ffking Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Old South Wales Posts: 6,039	^ I love everything about digital - but I still miss film... how come?

06-15-2018, 01:24 AM	#15
leekil Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 2,003	I had the "Nikon or Canon? .... Pentax???" discussion with someone the other day, a friend of a friend. But I had the same discussion with him the first time I met him, probably 4 years ago!