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photoptimist · 07-21-2016, 10:37 AM - **4 Likes**

I'm a long time PF lurker that decided that the delivery of new K1 meant that I really should join.

I started taking photographs in high school nearly 40 years ago with an Olympus OM-1, shot a variety of cameras over the decades and switched to Pentax about 9 years ago. I picked Pentax (K10D, K5, and now the K1) over all other cameras because of the level of controls, IBIS, rugged body, and compact size. I'm not a believer in brand loyalty but would not shoot Canon, Nikon, Sony, or the others if meant I had to give up my Pentax cameras which have helped me take tens of thousands of images while surviving untold miles of hikes, rain, sleet, snow, rocks, and even ocean waves.

Although photography is my hobby, my professional background includes hardware & software engineer of electro-optical and scientific image processing systems. I've designed high-resolution large format scanners (2.3 gigapixels) so I'm very familiar with optical system design and sensor performance (which is another reason I picked Pentax).

I shoot mostly landscape, macro, architecture, abstracts, astro, and the occassional concert or sports photos for friends.

I look forward to my time on PF including Rupert's squirrels, Adam's masterful management, MikeSF's astounding images, Digitalis' technical insights, and the helpful advice, inspiring images, and "vigorous" discussion from all the Pentaxians here.

To christen the new camera and new membership, here's IMGP0001 -- a mirrored-selfie of a K1 with it's new (old) owner. It's not the most balanced composition of not the most balanced subject. (Taken w/ K1: Pentax SMC 50 mm 1:1.2 w/ split +1 diopter filter, @ 1/80, f/8, ISO100, SOOC w/ mirroring)

Racer X 69 · 07-21-2016, 10:43 AM

Welcome to Pentax Forums!

Congratulations on the new K-1, it is a fantastic camera. I look forward to viewing your work.

Cheers,
Racer

**TER-OR** · 07-21-2016, 10:55 AM

Welcome!
My K10-K5-K3II progression is pretty similar. I like that the Pentax system is very easy to control manually.

I have recently discovered the joy of manually firing a Sunpak ring flash for macro in P mode. Wow.

pathdoc · 07-21-2016, 10:55 AM

Welcome! I know we have at least one professional designer of optics around the place already; it will be excellent to have someone with a sensor-systems background to complement that. Enjoy your new camera!

**BigMackCam** · 07-21-2016, 01:38 PM

Welcome to the forums, and how nice it is to read such an interesting and helpful introduction

Great to have you with us, and congrats on the K-1!

photoptimist · 07-21-2016, 02:44 PM

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!

I'm looking forward to more conversations and to putting the K1 (and my old Pentax lenses) through their paces.

scottab · 07-21-2016, 03:41 PM

Welcome to PF. I am loving my K 1, hope you do as well.

Unregistered User 8 · 07-21-2016, 10:02 PM

Originally posted by photoptimist

I'm a long time PF lurker that decided that the delivery of new K1 meant that I really should join.

Hi photoptimist. Welcome to the Pentax forums. You have joined an ever growing group when you got your K-1.

Good to have you here.

**Kerrowdown** · 07-22-2016, 11:23 AM

Welcome to the forum, a brave man indeed... showing us what you look like from the outset.

photoptimist · 07-23-2016, 05:45 AM

Originally posted by Kerrowdown

Welcome to the forum, a brave man indeed... showing us what you look like from the outset.

I thought I'd start by setting the photographic bar low and work up from there.

I can only hope that my lenses ("a few good men") might produce half the photographic goodness of your street walking ladies.

But I've got a long way to go!

**Kerrowdown** · 07-24-2016, 03:32 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by photoptimist

my lenses ("a few good men") might produce half the photographic goodness of your street walking ladies

We had best not meet... as there could be chaos with the lenses.

photoptimist · 07-24-2016, 04:30 PM

Originally posted by Kerrowdown

We had best not meet... as there could be chaos with the lenses.

Aperture coupling, Oh My!

(And then a clutch of DA 40s)

**Kerrowdown** · 07-26-2016, 11:45 AM

Originally posted by photoptimist

(And then a clutch of DA 40s)

More like a triplet of Amigos...

photoptimist · 07-26-2016, 02:13 PM

Originally posted by Kerrowdown

More like a triplet of Amigos...

Can we have joint custody?

**Kerrowdown** · 07-26-2016, 02:18 PM

Originally posted by photoptimist

Can we have joint custody?

I'll arm wrestle you for them, as they are FF compatible...

As long as they don't grow up to be the silver versions.

07-21-2016, 10:37 AM - 4 Likes	#1
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,129	New K1 owner (old lurker, Pentax user, & photographer) I'm a long time PF lurker that decided that the delivery of new K1 meant that I really should join. I started taking photographs in high school nearly 40 years ago with an Olympus OM-1, shot a variety of cameras over the decades and switched to Pentax about 9 years ago. I picked Pentax (K10D, K5, and now the K1) over all other cameras because of the level of controls, IBIS, rugged body, and compact size. I'm not a believer in brand loyalty but would not shoot Canon, Nikon, Sony, or the others if meant I had to give up my Pentax cameras which have helped me take tens of thousands of images while surviving untold miles of hikes, rain, sleet, snow, rocks, and even ocean waves. Although photography is my hobby, my professional background includes hardware & software engineer of electro-optical and scientific image processing systems. I've designed high-resolution large format scanners (2.3 gigapixels) so I'm very familiar with optical system design and sensor performance (which is another reason I picked Pentax). I shoot mostly landscape, macro, architecture, abstracts, astro, and the occassional concert or sports photos for friends. I look forward to my time on PF including Rupert's squirrels, Adam's masterful management, MikeSF's astounding images, Digitalis' technical insights, and the helpful advice, inspiring images, and "vigorous" discussion from all the Pentaxians here. To christen the new camera and new membership, here's IMGP0001 -- a mirrored-selfie of a K1 with it's new (old) owner. It's not the most balanced composition of not the most balanced subject. (Taken w/ K1: Pentax SMC 50 mm 1:1.2 w/ split +1 diopter filter, @ 1/80, f/8, ISO100, SOOC w/ mirroring)

07-24-2016, 03:32 AM - 1 Like	#11
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,867	Originally posted by photoptimist my lenses ("a few good men") might produce half the photographic goodness of your street walking ladies We had best not meet... as there could be chaos with the lenses. Last edited by Kerrowdown; 07-24-2016 at 07:41 AM.

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07-21-2016, 10:43 AM	#2
Racer X 69 Moderator Man With A Camera Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: The Great Pacific Northwet, in the Land Between Canada and Mexico Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,078	Welcome to Pentax Forums! Congratulations on the new K-1, it is a fantastic camera. I look forward to viewing your work. Cheers, Racer

07-21-2016, 10:55 AM	#3
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	Welcome! My K10-K5-K3II progression is pretty similar. I like that the Pentax system is very easy to control manually. I have recently discovered the joy of manually firing a Sunpak ring flash for macro in P mode. Wow.

07-21-2016, 10:55 AM	#4
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	Welcome! I know we have at least one professional designer of optics around the place already; it will be excellent to have someone with a sensor-systems background to complement that. Enjoy your new camera!

07-21-2016, 01:38 PM	#5
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,706	Welcome to the forums, and how nice it is to read such an interesting and helpful introduction Great to have you with us, and congrats on the K-1!

07-21-2016, 02:44 PM	#6
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,129 Original Poster	Thanks everyone for the warm welcome! I'm looking forward to more conversations and to putting the K1 (and my old Pentax lenses) through their paces.

07-21-2016, 03:41 PM	#7
scottab Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 76	Welcome to PF. I am loving my K 1, hope you do as well.

07-21-2016, 10:02 PM	#8
Unregistered User 8 Closed Account Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,694	Originally posted by photoptimist I'm a long time PF lurker that decided that the delivery of new K1 meant that I really should join. Hi photoptimist. Welcome to the Pentax forums. You have joined an ever growing group when you got your K-1. Good to have you here.

07-22-2016, 11:23 AM	#9
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,867	Welcome to the forum, a brave man indeed... showing us what you look like from the outset.

07-23-2016, 05:45 AM	#10
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,129 Original Poster	Originally posted by Kerrowdown Welcome to the forum, a brave man indeed... showing us what you look like from the outset. I thought I'd start by setting the photographic bar low and work up from there. I can only hope that my lenses ("a few good men") might produce half the photographic goodness of your street walking ladies. But I've got a long way to go!

07-24-2016, 04:30 PM	#12
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,129 Original Poster	Originally posted by Kerrowdown We had best not meet... as there could be chaos with the lenses. Aperture coupling, Oh My! (And then a clutch of DA 40s)

07-26-2016, 11:45 AM	#13
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,867	Originally posted by photoptimist (And then a clutch of DA 40s) More like a triplet of Amigos...

07-26-2016, 02:13 PM	#14
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,129 Original Poster	Originally posted by Kerrowdown More like a triplet of Amigos... Can we have joint custody?

07-26-2016, 02:18 PM	#15
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,867	Originally posted by photoptimist Can we have joint custody? I'll arm wrestle you for them, as they are FF compatible... As long as they don't grow up to be the silver versions.

New K1 owner (old lurker, Pentax user, & photographer)

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!