Originally posted by Michael Piziak So, how did you become a Pentaxian, and please share with us your experience(s) and thoughts about that first Pentax camera.
It all started for me, back in February, 1969. I worked at a publishing company as an editorial assistant. One day the publisher called me into his office and told me that I would have to make myself more useful at the firm. I replied that I was up to any challenge and he responded, 'good, in addition to working as an editorial assistant, I needed to learn how to take publishable photographs for the four business magazines, and therefore I needed to buy myself a good camera. '
I asked him what kind, as I absolutely knew nothing about photography. I still had my box brownie, which had been a gift to me, when I was about 10 years old...but that was it.
He said ' get a 35mm single lens reflex. Either a Nikon or Pentax would do...and talk to the photography department of the company. '
I spoke to the head of the photography department at the company, he said a Pentax should do, and I went to a number of camera stores checking out different models...of Pentax and Nikon. I bought a new Pentax S1a...which was the basic SLR....1/500th (yeah I know you could get 1/1000th of a sec out of it), no internal light meter, no hot shoe, no cold shoe for flash. I also bought a hand held, Sekonic light meter, for an additional 10 bucks...totaled out at $ 159 CAD, camera, 55mm f2 Takumar lens and light meter.
The pro photographers at the company taught me how to load film, push film ASA, focus, basic composition, use of f stop and shutter speed, how to meter, how to use a gray card for metering, etc.
I wasn't wonderful, but I got better and fairly quickly was able to take usable photographs for the company. It was practice, practice and more practice. They gave me free film...Tri-X black and white...and encouraged me to keep on practicing. They gave me critiques not artsy-fartsy critiques but basic stuff on how to improve. Best way to learn.
I cranked a lot of film through my S1a .
The other company photographers were pros, and although I earned part of my living taking pix for the company, I never saw myself in their league. They were great, I was OK fine.
So, what did I like about my first camera ?
The camera was great, practical, basic, reliable, durable. One time the shutter froze up, after I was out and about...for about an hour in -30 weather, doing a story in Regina, Saskatchewan. After an hour in the hotel room, it unfroze and was ready to work again.
I'm a prairie boy from Western Canada. We have very cold winters. Then and now.
I still have it, along with the Sekonic meter, and the Takumar F2, 55 mm lens. They all work well and on occasion, I still use it. Lessee...I've had it for over 52 years now....over half a century.
I also have continued to buy hand held light meters over the years. About 5 years ago, got a classic meter, a Sekonic L398. They have been around for years, believe they were originally Norwood meters, although I could be wrong. Anyways, I still like to every so often put the K1, K5, K10D on manual settings and meter with the Sekonic(s).
I stuck with Pentax ever since and have a lot of them , both digital and film. I've also got other camera makes...Canon (F-1), Mamiya medium format , Olympus, Minolta, Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta, Leica rangefinder (vintage), Yashicamat TLR, etc.
But Pentax has always been the main brand. Most current cameras...a K1 and a Ricoh GR ll...which I consider a Pentax.
In fact I have a 49mm, GH 3 Adaptor for the GR and it's always on...and it has one of my 50 plus year old Asahi Pentax, metal lens caps covering it. Gives it that vintage look.
Pentax for me, have been reliable, durable, well built, capable.
Why would I switch .