[Czechnotpolish]

Hi, my name is Keith and I have been into photography ever since the early 1980's when my Dad bought himself a Zenit EM SLR. Ever since then I have had numerous film SLR's from various manufacturer's including Chinon, Cosina, Olympus and one of my favourites, a Pentax MX. I later embraced the digital age with a Minolta Dimage 7i, a fantastic camera that was so compact for a camera with a fixed 28-200mm lens although the screen on the back was tiny! I have tried several DSLR's since and then moved to a Fuji X30 digital compact with a fixed 28-112mm f2,8 zoom, now what an amazing little camera that is, only 12mp and a 2/3rds sensor but it produced fabulous pictures and it was so light and compact to carry around. It was a shame it did not have a larger sensor and a slightly longer zoom range as it would have been a perfect camera but because it was so easy to use, I found myself falling into snap shot mode more often than not, which although I got some great photo's, I felt I could have done better, if I slowed the whole process down and took my time with each shot. So I decided to sell my little Fuji and look around for a DSLR again but this time I wanted something robust and weatherproof, which on a small budget was not possible, until I read an article about buying older semi-pro cameras on the second hand market. I did loads of research on different older cameras and the one that came to the top of my list was the Pentax K20D. I was extremely lucky to find one for sale on E-Bay, it was in mint condition and came with a battery grip also and all for just £126. I bought a brand new Pentax 18-135mm zoom lens which is weather resistant like the camera body, so I can take my camera out in any conditions and not have to worry about it getting wet. The other advantage to owning a Pentax is the fact that you can use ALL the older PK and M42 lenses on it too, which is fantastic, so I have also bought a couple of second hand lenses, a Chinon f1.9 50mm and a Miranda f2.8 28mm plus a x2 teleconvertor for £7.90 that I have fitted onto an old 500mm Mirror lens that I have, so I can try and get some moon shots hopefully. The main purpose of buying the Pentax was to slow my photography down and try to think about my shots more, be more creative and enjoy experimenting with different settings, the Pentax K20D fits that bill admirable

[Kerrowdown]

Welcome to the forum, that has got to be the longest intro I’ve seen on here.

[microlight]

Hi Keith, welcome from Hampshire.

[aslyfox]

welcome from " across the pond "

lots of great info here along with friendly posters

when you look for " experienced " equipment be sure to check out the Market Place " Buy/Sell "

looking forward to your contributions to the forums

[ffking]

Welcome from over the border in Dorset

[pjv]

Hi from Australia Keith, and welcome to the Pentax forums. Good to have you here.

[BigMackCam]

Hello and welcome from another UK member, Keith (you can see, there's a few of us!! )...

I have a Fujifilm XF-1 with 2/3" sensor, and it's a great little compact camera, so I can definitely see why you liked the X30

The K20D has plenty of followers here on the forums. In fact, you'll find a number of members shooting even the earliest six megapixel models such as the *ist D and DL, right the way through to the latest K-1 and KP. The K20D was, and still is, an excellent camera - and you got a great deal on yours, that's for sure!

Good to have you on board

[victormeldrew]

Hi and welcome...from Wiltshire also until not so long ago, but now living in South Devon.

[kjphilippona]

Hi Keith, welcome to the forum!

[Czechnotpolish]

Welcome to the forum, that has got to be the longest intro I’ve seen on here.

Yes sorry about that, I got a bit carried away

[Czechnotpolish]

Hi Keith, welcome from Hampshire.

Thank you for your welcome....just across the Wiltshire border ha ha

---------- Post added 12-13-17 at 09:07 AM ----------

welcome from " across the pond "

lots of great info here along with friendly posters

when you look for " experienced " equipment be sure to check out the Market Place " Buy/Sell "

looking forward to your contributions to the forums

Thank you for your welcome message, I have not yet ventured to the great USA but I really hope to in the very near future

---------- Post added 12-13-17 at 09:08 AM ----------

Welcome from over the border in Dorset

Thank you, I love Dorset, went to Charmouth only a couple of weeks ago and got some lovely photo's

---------- Post added 12-13-17 at 09:17 AM ----------

Hi from Australia Keith, and welcome to the Pentax forums. Good to have you here.

Thank you for your welcome message, I have an old Post Office mate who lives in Melbourne, never been to Australia but it looks amazing1

---------- Post added 12-13-17 at 09:20 AM ----------

Hello and welcome from another UK member, Keith (you can see, there's a few of us!! )...

I have a Fujifilm XF-1 with 2/3" sensor, and it's a great little compact camera, so I can definitely see why you liked the X30

The K20D has plenty of followers here on the forums. In fact, you'll find a number of members shooting even the earliest six megapixel models such as the *ist D and DL, right the way through to the latest K-1 and KP. The K20D was, and still is, an excellent camera - and you got a great deal on yours, that's for sure!

Good to have you on board

Thanks for the welcome Mike, well I am loving the Pentax K20D so far and just enjoying my photography which is what it is all about

---------- Post added 12-13-17 at 09:23 AM ----------

Hi and welcome...from Wiltshire also until not so long ago, but now living in South Devon.

Thanks for the welcome, I am Wiltshire born and bred having been born in Trowbridge but have also lived in Calne, Bromham, Amesbury, Salisbury.......FRANCE!! an now back to Devizes!

---------- Post added 12-13-17 at 09:24 AM ----------

Hi Keith, welcome to the forum!

Thank you for your welcome

[ffking]

Thank you, I love Dorset, went to Charmouth only a couple of weeks ago and got some lovely photo's

Which we will, of course, see some of...?

[Czechnotpolish]

Which we will, of course, see some of...?

Here are a couple, I am still learning how best to set up the camera for myself, so lots of experimenting ha ha

Broom Cliff - Charmouth by Keith Patrak on YouPic Crisp Horizon - Charmouth by Keith Patrak on YouPic Foaming Sea - Charmouth by Keith Patrak on YouPic Limestone Boulder - Charmouth by Keith Patrak on YouPic

[BigMackCam]

Here are a couple, I am still learning how best to set up the camera for myself, so lots of experimenting ha ha

Looking at those photos, you seem to have figured it out rather well already... they're excellent!! Thanks for sharing them

[ffking]

Here are a couple, I am still learning how best to set up the camera for myself,

nice! thanks