Thanks PF for the article on why Pentax isn't Doomed, I think its much needed on this forum.
For me, I'm just a hobbyist and I started with a Nikon and was extremely disappointed after 1 year. I did a tiny amount of research, and then switched to a Sony, and it
really reinvigorated me. I was stressed out about it thinking that Sony wasn't a "true photographic brand", but going back and trying out Canons and Nikons reassured me that I didn't make a mistake. For months I was ashamed to go out in public with the Sony, and let people see my camera had Sony written on it. But the Sony sensor shift was a huge leap over VR, and in a nutshell it was a good decision.
Since I started this hobby, I'd do a bit of research and I'd see Pentax images online, and they were really good. When I had the Sony, I got into researching cameras and lenses, and the Pentax K-5 just blew me away on image quality, plus many of the lenses. All I ever heard about Sony and Pentax was that they were no good. After I bought a Pentax, I was reinvigorated again by the glorious Pentax image quality.
So to me my top ten goes like this:
1. Pentax Image quality, its simply the best in an APS-C body. Yeah I know Fuji is really good also and is emulating film, but I crave colors - Pentax colors and accuracy !
2. Shake Reduction. Pentax shake reduction is the best stabilization system, because of all the feature sets (astrotracer, sensor leveling etc etc) - hands down. It may not be the fastest, but the multiple rolls it performs is phenomenal. Sensor shift is simply the best and most consistent. I pick up OIS camera, and get occasional blurry shots then have to do the
review-delete-shoot-again syndrome of OIS cameras.
3. Pentax lenses. Seriously some of the best lenses for APS-C, and most affordable. While everybody rags on Pentax lenses for reliability, lens rental data shows a similar trait across brands
LensRentals.com - Lens Repair Data 4.0 . So no lens system is perfect, in fact none are perfect. As for the big two, they've got a huge range, but there are loads of duds in there - and Pentax has deleted lenses which were vastly superior !
4. Pentax weather sealing. This is the best weather sealing in PHOTOGRAPHY ! I've heard of people using big dollar gear and ruining it in the rain, because it was Nikon or Canon "Weather sealed".
5. User interface. This is the best user interface - period ! I've tried the others, and the logic and flow of shooting on Pentax is a delight, and a photographers camera. The others have buttons and dials all over the place, and Graphical User Interfaces that sap RAM, and slow down the camera causing glitches.
6. Price. You are getting value for money with Pentax, end of story.
7. Operating system. The least operational glitches. I have had two glitches on my K-5 in 2 years. My Nikon had constant shooting glitches. My Sony's heavy GUI was often sluggish, and there were times where the OS din't know what the mode dial was set to, and it was doing its own thing. Plus the Nikon and Sony didn't like the heat, causing OS glitches.
8. Size. Pentax cameras are small and compact compared to the competition, and it looks like Pentax will continue miniaturizing their products. I sometimes go and try out the other brands, and find their big clunky cameras heavy, sprawled with buttons that make no sense or logic.
9. Pentax compact lenses. What can you say about the DA and FA limiteds ! Though I do not own any
yet, they're world class lenses. I took a look at Leica at a store, and THATS what they're doing too, tiny high quality optics. Not these big clunky coffee mug lenses (I can't believe they make coffee mug replica lenses !).
10. Lens compatibility. Primes and older lenses have stabilization. Pentax bodies have screw drive. Certain DA lenses will work on 35mm.
(11. Pentax auto focusing works very well, but needs some improvement on certain lenses)
Pentax has so much going for it, and is not doomed. The biggest obstacle for Pentax are the people who have spread all kinds of negative stories about the brand and the cameras and lenses. When I first got into this hobby, everywhere you go and everywhere you read, there's negative talk. I personally put Pentax under so much scrutiny - more than any other brand - and was so surprised that ALL of the negative speak was TOTALLY wrong. This is because its hip to ridicule Pentax out there.
You can go on other brand sites, and if you say anything negative about a camera, or say anything positive about another brand, they'll shut down threads and kick you out. There's a little too much free speech on this forum for example. Perhaps we need some place on the forum where we can criticize the other brands, like they do to Pentax on the other sites. Plus a spot where Pentaxians can criticize Pentax and/or make suggestions. But this wholesale "Pentax is stupid" across the entire forum is getting out of hand.
I ain't saying we need to go "Full religious cult" like Nikon and Canon followers, and banish heretics for blasphemy against the Nikon and Canon gods. They can keep that wacky side of their camera-cult-worship for themselves - sorry, I worshiped Nikon like I was in a cult.
The problem in photography is camera worship. When you see those guys who worship their car brands, some of them are ready to have a fist fight. Its like a guy walking into a bar and asking which is better, Ford or Chevy, a fight breaks out and he sneaks off in his Chrysler or Toyota Prius.
We are into photography for the pleasure of capturing images - its an art form. Then why do so many behave like a bunch of drunken bar room brawlers.
Originally posted by bossa Cheers I'll get to it after I clean up the kitchen. I just nuked a pasty in the microwave (accidently put it on for 10 minutes instead of 1 - it's a new unit). The pasty was turned to carbon.
Thats what you get for switching to Nikon - you lose the Pentax touch !
2 x d800e's & 1x D810 ........ isn't that roughly equal to the cost of a 645D or Z full frame DSLR ?