Originally posted by ambie The K-1 is definitely stretching my budget but I want a camera that will last for a really long time. Is it worth getting or is the K-70 better for me?
Hey, welcome to the forums!
The K-1 is a superb camera, for sure. But here are the reasons
not to get it as your first camera:
a) Your first 10000 photos will be bad, regardless of camera. So people that buy a very expensive camera often get angry, "why isnt this camera giving me National Geographic quality photos??". This is why buying a cheaper camera for the first year or two is more economical. You can still sell the cheap camera to get some money back, and upgrade to the top tier camera sometime later. And in that time,the top tier camera might get a lower price or maybe the next generation will be released, so you get an even better camera
b) Lenses are very important. If you spend everything on camera and don't get lenses, then you will be very limited. It is better to get a cheaper camera and some great lenses, than to get an expensive camera and a poor lens. Lenses hold their value better than cameras, and if you buy intelligently, you can use all your great lenses on your next camera, as well (where they will be just as good or better)
c) Beginner and entry level cameras have slightly fewer buttons and features, which makes it easier for you to figure out how to use them. The advanced cameras have all of these, and some more. So there is a sensible progression, and you won't get overwhelmed by the many buttons and options on a beginner camera. The learning curve is steep if you start out with the most sophisticated camera and lenses. Some people don't mind, but others might get discouraged
That said, Pentax doesn't really make
cheap, beginner cameras. Pentax' entry level is actually a little higher than many of the competition's cheapest offerings. You get lots of features and good image quality even from K-50, K-S2, and now the K-70. Pentax is affordable, but not cheap. If you compare the cheapest Pentax DSLR to the cheapest DSLR of the competition brands, you will notice the Pentax is most solid, has good texture, good features. Many of us on the forum came to Pentax like that - after handling the competition
I have not had the chance to try the K-70. It is really new, so there are very few reviews. But from the specifications and the limited reviews I have seen it seems like a great camera. The K-S2 is an interesting camera, as well.
Tl;dr: Get the K-70, spend the difference on some great lenses. Check out threads for wide angle and landscape lenses so you know which one and how much they cost. But if you insist, if you really want it, if you held it in your hands and loved it, then you can go ahead and get the K-1. Its a good camera, no doubt about it