[deadwood83]

Just joined the forum since I'm just about ready to pounce on a K-5 (thinking tomorrow) and for the past some weeks I've been doing a lot of reading here so I thought I'd get it over with and join! Seems like a nice community and definitely a valuable resource for reviews and advice since there is no official Pentax retailer in the Salt Lake valley.

Right now I'm just looking at the body and kit lens + SDHC card until I more fully "mesh" with the camera. Almost all my previous SLR/DSLR experience has been with an old Nikon N2000 plus some dabbling with a Gen. 1 Digital Rebel D300. Back in 3rd grade I used the N2000 to take a photo that won my school's Highlights competition then went on to get 2nd at the state fair in its category. Some fond memories with that camera for sure. But after reading a bajillion reviews and playing with my friends' D7000s I feel that the K5 would be a better choice for me. My two majpr hobbies would be gadgetry and automotive with an emphasis on factory-quality (or better!) DIY. If things don't get complicated in unexpected ways then where's the fun in that?

Anyway, enough backstory.
I look forward to doing ever increasing amounts of browsing and reading. And my computer is eagerly awaiting RAW conversions. I knew there was a reason for going SB i7, even if I didn't realize it at the time.

[littledrawe]

Seems like a nice community and definitely a valuable resource for reviews and advice since there is no official Pentax retailer in the Salt Lake valley.

Welcome, Welcome! There is a Utah users group, its not real formal but good if you need to get in touch with those of us in state. The camera stores down here have been a wash for me in terms of pentax gear with the exception of a body cap I needed once. I've had more luck finding pentax gear at DI!!

My two majpr hobbies would be gadgetry and automotive with an emphasis on factory-quality (or better!) DIY.

We will however be expecting you to produce enough of your DIY photography projects for us locally, since you will no doubt find need of things that people aren't currenly producing or have never made before. I keep telling myself I need to learn how to weld just so I can make new brackets and lens plates and such!

[deadwood83]

Thank you very much! I joined the UT group since it seems so rare to find other forum members (in any of my regular haunts) in the area.

Not sure how possible mass production of DIY projects would be, but I'm always up for helping where I can. I have all the requisite bits and experience for a small CNC setup except the CNC mill itself. I imagine that will be saved for another time. Though the cost of the mill compared to the ability to make custom lens baseplates so expand available glass selection sure does make it tempting.