I am mostly thinking outloud here and invite others who are in a similar place, or who have been here, to join the conversation. I don't have any sacred cows here, so please no goring.
First the preamble. I bought Pentax after leaving 4x5 and medium format (Pentax 6x7) because I had first used a Pentax Spotmatic many years ago. The camera always just
felt right, especially as I knew nothing about photography and it managed to take some good photographs in spite of me. The second reason was that it made sense given the large number of excellent quality lenses that are available at very reasonable prices (compared to the top quality of other makes). I have shot some with my K20d since moving from 4x5 film but have not found it very satisfying, mostly because of the inability to print as large as I could from my scanned 4x5 transparencies. I have tried stitching some with mixed results but find it pretty compromising to have to "think stitched" while in the field. I would rather spend time in the field than in front of the computer. And, as you will see, while not totally inappropriate, I don't have the best lens(es) for doing that. So, the idea of moving to a K-5 has some appeal but not enough to make me commit to it and the better lenses (for my purposes) than I currently have (DA 50-135, DA 300 and the 18-55 - I know, not exactly a landscapers dream kit). I am willing to do some stitching of larger files, which would require fewer individual captures to piece together. Also, I have been unhappy with how much hunting the camera seems to do in low light conditions. Here are some of my thoughts and questions:
1. While still primarily a landscape and
fine art nature photographer, I would like the option of shooting birds that require faster focusing bodies and lenses. Not the most important criteria. In fact, if I could afford the 645D I wouldn't be making this post. I already have lenses that could be used on it. I was able to capture some bird images with my 67, but it was pretty spotty and I would have needed to invest some serious money in longer lenses.
2. I want to be able to print consistently to at least 20x30 inches on my Epson printer (at 240dpi), and preferably higher. That means the capture, be it from a single shot or a stitched shots must result in files of at least at least 34mb (4800x7200 resolution).
3. Like everyone else, I want to be able to do this at the lowest price possible. I thought about going back to my Pentx 67 but don't want to for the reasons I left it - too much hassle working with the film. High end drum scans are expensive, the wait for processing just seemed to drag on interminably and the lengthy feedback loop just became more irritating. Chemical sensitivites rule out processing my own film.
Potential solutions (that might be within my price range). I'm really looking for some fresh ideas here:
1. Purchase a yet to be released Nikon D800, strongly rumored to have a 36mp sensor. Assuming the price point is $4,000 I might be able to swing it and one quality lens, and add other lenses as it becomes possible. A longer lens, one for shooting birds, might be a fair piece down the road. Sell all my current Pentax gear to pay for the aforementioned. I know that not all pixels are created equal, and I would need to see at least some early reviews to discover if the "pixel quality" was sufficient for my purposes.
2. Wait for the maybe rumored/maybe not Pentax full-frame or APS-C upgrade and commit to stitching some but not as much as I have to now. Huge advantage in being able to keep my current lenses for the APS-C at least, and use the wonderful DA300 on the FF (I have heard others say it would work on a FF, right?).
3. Buy the K-5, which can probably be had for $1,000 for another week at least, and commit to stitching for the larger print images. This would be the least expensive option. If final print size wasn't as important to me I would have long ago moved to the K-5 as based on the user reviews here it appears to be a great camera for my purposes otherwise. (I don't see staying with the K20d as an option.) Buying the K-5 would make adding a longer lens (should one become available) more financailly possible.
4. I don't have much brand loyalty except as there appears to be a "creative" or "thinking"
culture associated with Pentax gear to which I have been attracted. The camera and lenses all just "feel right". Whether that culture survives two changes of corporate ownership in a relatively short time is not yet clear. For a short while I had used a 35mm Minolta camera and it always felt awkward in my hands. Hence, I have not seen Sony, heir to the Minolta system, as an option. Canon does not appear to have anything currently nor on the horizon that might fill the bill. But, maybe I'm wrong about that.
5. It does not appear that the 645D (or other suitable mf digitals) will be available on the used market at prices within my reach in the near future.
5. I am ready to move pretty soon to the next step and am reluctant to wait any longer than necessary. Lead time from announcements to availabiliy seems to be quite lengthy. And if Nikon and Pentax announce something in February that met my needs I would want to commit early in order to get in the queue. Even then, we are talking months out before I could get on with the new kit.
What are your thoughts?
Don Boyd - Ancient Artists, Southwest Gallery 1, Southwest Gallery 2, For the Love of Trees, Southwest Gallery 3, Grand Canyon & Zion National Parks