Originally posted by micromacro I would love to hear more about this "dark side".
My pleasure to elaborate on my percept from holding and trying the K-1.
First of all it’s a camera packed with so many features that requires a familiarization period even for the Pentaxians. The great ergonomics sure help, some of the features are automatically engaged or disengaged, but surely it requires some thinking and effort to properly set up the camera for a given task. I believe that very few K-1 users will just drop in the “P”rofessional or the Auto mode, mount any lens they find and just go out shooting.
Then we come to the various challenges that the shooting itself brings about (the “dark side” I was referring to). We are talking about a large camera with 36+Mpxl that any small mistake or inadequacy will be visible and moreover magnified in the final result! I believe (and I saw) that the smaller formats hide mistakes quite more easily. There will always be tricks to work around those inadequacies like the downscaling we are using even with APS-C cameras or smaller formats of course. But the true challenge is managing to get a wonderful picture when viewed in 100% and be able to print really large when you are using such a fine tool like the K-1 is. If you count in the swallower DOF that really is a new world with the FF and the need for cropping sometimes, then even small details like body position, proper grip and hand holding the camera-lens techniques and breathing right can make a huge different… The use of tripods, accessories or as I said earlier a general better and more pro level planning of your shooting I think will make the difference. I find this a wonderful challenge to be honest and a great opportunity for many enthusiasts to evolve and take their skills to another level. The results will be more than rewarding; I can ensure you about this, even I that I am an amateur photographer and spent less than an hour with this beautiful camera! I took a simple portrait photo with the Tamron 70-200/2.8 (@122mm – 1/40 – f2.8 – ISO 1000) which came up so astonishingly wonderful that I instinctively said WOW when I opened it in PS… The FA limiteds are reborn with the K-1. The DOF and bokeh with a 55/f1.2 lens? What DOF?
I can already imagine other astonished K-1 shooters reactions when they open up some really good pictures!
This camera has come and will create a big wave among the Pentaxians first of all and - to my opinion - every open minded enthusiast or professional photographer out there. It remains to see the final version and that there are no important bugs in this beauty to come to a verdict, but I really believe this is Ricoh-Pentax major step forward and put Pentax back in the game for good! All in all I see the reasons why Pentax people are so excited and proud about the K-1!
PS: There was a "proffesor" as they call him in the store I tested the camera that was playing with it before me... A mature man with the expert look of an old-school technician or professor! As I was waiting for my turn he had taken the camera with his DFA 24-70 and the 31ltd and was taking many photos outside, inside, under various conditions (sun, shadow, light, dark room) etc. The guys from the store told me he is the "professor" he is an entusiast photographer that owns almost every current photgraphic system on the market (except from those he tested and didn't like) and has a great collection of older exotic lenses and cameras. The salesman told me and we laughed, let him finish his test and if he tells you "it doesn't worth it" you can walk away without even bother trying it!
After quite some time he came back in the store. Well said the salesman, what's the verdict? After a long pause the proffesor spoke! "Impressive" - end of story