Originally posted by Mo The only problem for Pentax is that they don't currently produce a good range of lenses, and you have to dig up the older lenses to find some quality and performance.
I sincerely hope they remedy this issue with additional lenses not shown on the current roadmap...
In terms of DSLRs, however, I'd have to agree that they have a promising future.
My ongoing state of abject poverty had me looking primarily at the latest offerings in the Fuji fixed-lens models, but after almost two decades away from SLR (AE-1) I really wanted to get away from P&S and back into SLR (digital, of course) if at all possible.
My options were the Nikon D40 and the K100d. A little research revealed some info indicating that the nature of the D40s auto-focus mechanism was going to be severely limiting in terms of lens acquisition. Considerable net research into the K100d and the backwards compatibility of lenses easily tilted the scales to Pentax. In other words, I came to Pentax specifically because of the ability to build up a collection of glass composed primarily of pre-loved lenses.
I bought the K100d with the kit lens, of course, and at the same time picked up the FA J 75-300 to go with it. Over 90% of my shooting is done while seated at the wheel of a tractor-trailer, so I rely a lot on serendipity and the long end of the zoom. I usually have only a few seconds at red lights to either "shoot it or lose it". I'm far from being an accomplished shutterbug, so the arcane niceties of the various fine points of higher quality lenses is entirely lost on me at this point, and those two bargain-quality lenses usually do me quite nicely. At any rate, new glass of a better quality is strictly out of my budget.
I was fortunate enough to find several positive comments on the web regarding KEH in Atlanta and after having the camera for only a couple of weeks I picked up a couple of older primes, primarily for the added speed they would give me in low-light situations. As I said, I don't normally have the luxury of adjusting myself for either light or composition. I picked up a 50/f2 (A) and a Takumar Bayonet 135/f2.5 (M) (yeah, the one with a reputation for flare). Each of them ran me about 50 bucks. I have to say I am very well pleased with both of them.
Most especially I am grateful to those on Pentax Forums who have posted instructions on how to put the M and A lenses to use on the K100d. Without that info, I would never have invested in the old lenses, the two of which now spend the bulk of the time on the camera, with the auto-focus zooms sitting in their bag in the sleeper.
Now I am even looking forward to picking up an old Pentax film body for the dual purposes of teaching my children what little I know about photography and doing some long-exposure night shots. I've taken a few nice night time shots with the K100d, but I think the money I'd end up putting toward extra batteries to facilitate noctural outings would better be put toward a mechanical shuttered obsoleted film body.....and I take comfort in knowing that I already have glass to mount on one.
Looking forward to learning more from all the nice and friendly folks here.