[Nicolas06]

What I miss in my current camera:
- high ISO
The biggest gain there honestly is to go for a bigger sensor. Full frame. Coupled with innexpensives lenses f/2.8 lenses of tamron or fast prime, this is a wining proposition. There FF bodies out there starting around $/€1000 either a good deal on a 6D or D610, either used. In Pentax land that's K1 that is fantastic value, but you'd need to check if this is still in your range for price.
- weather sealing/high quality construction:
Pentax among the best there, in particular on entry level model where the competition look like garbage. But if you want it to last, keep buying current or old flagship. K5/K3/K3-II or K1 are very solidly build and last. K30/K50 have good build quality, but overall last much less than the flagship. Pentax Forum review said around 30K actuations while K3 officially rated for 200K (Pentax doesn't give rating for K30 or K50).
- viewfinder who covers the entire picture.
I think all Pentax camera have that and they have Pentaprism, not pentamirrors.

What I would like in my new camera:
- good construction and/or weather sealing
Focus on flagship, old or new then. K3, K3-II or K1.
- more portability (less weight, smaller size)
Pentax bodies are heavier than the competion, because of build quality and SR. They tend to be smaller in size for same set of features.
- no articulated screen (I believe it shortens the life of the camera, as it will eventually break)
That would be K3 then. Either used, either in place where it still sell. Still the K1 articulated screen look like you could trust it with your life.

What Pentax would you reccomend for me?
A K3 (small, great camera, not expensive, no articulated screen, a bit on the heavy side).
Alternative for you would in my opinion a deal on D610/6D, potentially used with some f/2.8 from tamron (28-75 and 70-200) but you miss weather sealing.

My comments in blue.

[reh321]

There are three areas that Pentax is not as good as Canon:
a) AF speed
b) Video
c) Noisy AF mechanism

Sixteen months ago I switched from a Canon Digital Rebel to a K-30. I never do video, so I can't comment on (b). As far as (c) is concerned, there are members here who think the screw-drive used by Pentax ever since they began AF is wonderful, but it is the reason I went to Canon twenty years ago, and when I came back to Pentax I purchased an 18-135mm DC lens to replace the 18-55mm screw-drive lens that was kitted with the K-30. If you go with the Pentax lenses having in-lens motor, they are just as quiet as the Canon lenses {all of which have the in-lens motors that had attracted me to Canon}

[Alex645]

If you go with the Pentax lenses having in-lens motor, they are just as quiet as the Canon lenses {all of which have the in-lens motors that had attracted me to Canon}

Agreed; good point. I was referring to the more common and less expensive Pentax AF lenses. But there are quieter alternatives for Pentax.

AND not all Canons shoot video well as some of their models are not immune to the rolling shutter anomaly and many models do not have stereo or a headphone jack.

[Nicolas06]

Agreed; good point. I was referring to the more common and less expensive Pentax AF lenses. But there are quieter alternatives for Pentax.

AND not all Canons shoot video well as some of their models are not immune to the rolling shutter anomaly and many models do not have stereo or a headphone jack.

The screw drive issue is less and less common. And for the lense where it is still used, it tend to be fast, accurate, and not really noisy. I use FA/DA ltd all the time and really this is a non issue.

[clackers]

The screw drive issue is less and less common. And for the lense where it is still used, it tend to be fast, accurate, and not really noisy. I use FA/DA ltd all the time and really this is a non issue.

Yep, agreed. Unless they have a long throw for nice manual focusing, they're nice and fast.

[reh321]

The screw drive issue is less and less common. And for the lens where it is still used, it tend to be fast, accurate, and not really noisy. I use FA/DA ltd all the time and really this is a non issue.

And, yet, look at this review by someone used to Sony.
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/193-pentax-k-70/328869-pentax-k-70-first-...pressions.html
The noise of Pentax screw-drive routinely bothers those of us used to in-lens motors provided by other brands.

[Kunzite]

Wait... he was focusing in Live View with a screw drive lens?

[clackers]

The noise of Pentax screw-drive routinely bothers those of us used to in-lens motors provided by other brands.

Luckily, K-mount offers both kinds, right? 😀

[reh321]

Luckily, K-mount offers both kinds, right? 😀

I made my original comment because the OP is coming from the Canon world. Long-time Pentax users don't seem to realize how those from that other background react to screw-drive, but it would be very easy for someone with that background to go right back there if no one points out the difference and sends them to the newer quieter lenses.

[clackers]

I made my original comment because the OP is coming from the Canon world. Long-time Pentax users don't seem to realize how those from that other background react to screw-drive, but it would be very easy for someone with that background to go right back there if no one points out the difference and sends them to the newer quieter lenses.

The OP didn't mention it, but fair enough, you say it bothered you enough to go to Canon years ago.

I like the K-mount support for manual focus and autofocus motors in both body and lens.

On Nikon you have to get a 7000 series just to drive the old Nikkors. :-)

[deus ursus]

Has anyone mentioned the Hyper Program mode yet? The way you can shoot fully automated, and then change the aperture or shutter in an instant, and then go back to auto with a push of the green button. This is one of my favourite features of my camera.

[TER-OR]

Has anyone mentioned the Hyper Program mode yet? The way you can shoot fully automated, and then change the aperture or shutter in an instant, and then go back to auto with a push of the green button. This is one of my favourite features of my camera.

I started shooting macros in P mode this year. I have a Sunpak ring flash, which when used in manual mode at 1/8 to 1/4 power at f16 ISO 100 has been brilliant. Previously I've used TAv for field macro and these shots are just plain better. P-mode is quite powerful if you want to control things yourself.

[Nicolas06]

To be noted that in Av or Tv mode you can choose what you do with the other wheel. It is not because it is Av that you have a single control. As an example I tend to use Av most often on my K3 and I select the second wheel to control isos. So either I don't touch it and go for iso auto, or I move and force a given iso setting.

K1 has 3 wheels and I guess the ergonomics are even better ! You can configure it to be dedicated to isos, exposure or many other things.

[Winder]

So, my questions to you are:
What Pentax would you reccomend for me?

What I miss in my current camera:
- high ISO
- weather sealing/high quality construction
- viewfinder who covers the entire picture
What I would like in my new camera:
- good construction and/or weather sealing
- more portability (less weight, smaller size)
- no articulated screen (I believe it shortens the life of the camera, as it will eventually break)

You can pick up a K-5II for not a lot of money and it is a great value. As good as you can get for the money when it comes to high ISO, weather sealing, and viewfinder. If you really want professional grade build quality and weather sealing then you will have to give up the light weight. The K-5II is a professional grade body and that comes with weight and size. The K-3 & K-3II is just as good, but prices are a little higher and AF is a little better and a little more accurate. If you are planning on shooting F/1.4 glass then the added accuracy of the K-3 AF sensor is important.

IF you are shooting JPEG you need to take the time to customize the JPEG output to your liking. Pentax has considerable control over this, but the factory default settings are rather poor. There several threads on this forum about JPEG settings. The Pentax cameras are much more customizable than the Canon so that will require some time to learn. If you are shooting RAW you will find the K-5 files to be much better than any APS-C camera than Canon makes, even the newest ones.

I am somewhat surprised to hear that Pentax image quality is second to none. What makes it better? It is my impression that many top professional photographers choose Canikon, rather than Pentax. So I expect their image quality to be the best. Yes, lower end models are stripped down and there's a lot of marketing involved there, but the sensors are the same. At most they are one generation older and/or smaller in size.

The RAW files from Pentax are better than any APS-C Canon makes. Canon has a better JPEG engine, but Pentax is very customizable. Nikon RAW files are just as good as Pentax. Fuji has the best JPEG output of any APS-C camera. Olympus is also very, very good, but that is M4/3.

I am a little bit skeptical about the shake reduction feature. It's a nice to have, but does it come with a compromise? Fuji does not have in body image stabilization because it is incompatible with the lens mount (there is no space for the sensor to shift without compromising image quality, see here: “Our highest priority is always image quality”. Interview with Takashi Ueno and Shusuke Kozaki from Fujifilm Japan. | FUJI LOVE). How does Pentax do it, especially since they are using an old lens mount design? Fuji made a brand new mount and decided not to have in body stabilization. Pentax may have forced it into the body to have a competitive advantage over Canikon. In addition to that, stabilization will help only partially in poor light conditions.

There is no compromise unless you shoot video. In-body Image Stabilization (IBIS) is not a good choice for people shooting video. For still photography IBIS is excellent. The Pentax K-mount is designed for a FF so adding IBIS on an APS-C was simple. If you like shooting small primes you will love IBIS.

what exactly do you mean by "autofocus is Pentax' weak spot"?

Pentax Continuous AF is not as fast as Canon's. This varies a lot with lens, but If you plan on shooting a lot of action or fast sports, Canon will be a better option.

Fuji makes a great system and a very impressive APS-C lens line-up. Colors are excellent for an APS-C sensor and skin tones are really good. I pretty much have to use the grip with the X-T1 if I use one for any length of time. The grip is just too small for my hands and I get cramps after a couple of hours of constant shooting. The K-5/K-3 fits my hands just about perfect. I can use it all day and my hand doesn't get too tired. I looked hard a Fuji, but in the end Fuji just wasn't what I was looking for. I know several people who love their Fuji cameras.

I shot with Canon for 20 years starting with a film AE-1, EOS-3, EOS RT, EOS 630, & 5D. Other than AF I have never been tempted to go back to Canon. Their sensors are a generation behind everybody and the build quality of the bodies is average at best for everything but the 1D line. Nikon has had a really bad run with quality control. They need to get that fixed because they make some really good glass for the money. Their 35mm, 50mm, & 85mm F/1.8G prime lenses are really good and pretty cheap.

[Poit]

What I miss in my current camera:
- high ISO
- weather sealing/high quality construction
- viewfinder who covers the entire picture

What I would like in my new camera:
- good construction and/or weather sealing
- more portability (less weight, smaller size)
- no articulated screen (I believe it shortens the life of the camera, as it will eventually break)

So, my questions to you are:
What Pentax would you reccomend for me?
What are your general views and oppinions on Pentax as a brand? What's keeping you with Pentax, and what annoys you?

Thanks for taking the time to read my post. Cheers,
Razvan

Hi Roti,

Welcome to the land of Pentaxians!!! As you are no doubt aware, asking such a question on a Pentax forum is going to attract Pentax-centric responses, and mine is no different. I've only ever shot Pentax (for over 20 years now), so I can't comment on other brands.

In terms of your 'shopping list', I'm sure it's by now apparent that Pentax cameras offer all the features (and more) that you would want for your type of photography. Pentax has, over the past decade, made a name for itself as a landscape / travel photography specialist. If that's your focus, as you suggest, then it sounds like it's well suited to all your needs.

I currently shoot with K-3, and use it for weddings and landscape work. Whilst the K-3 may be a little heavier than the competition, it's as tough as nails, beautiful to use, and produces fantastic RAW images with plenty of scope for post-production. The weather sealing is a godsend both for weddings and travel. High ISO performance is great for an APS-C sensor, but still not the best for dark wedding venues.

My biggest annoyance with the Pentax system has been the lack of a Full Frame DSLR, which would handle very low-light wedding situations (receptions and dark churches) better than the K-3's APS-C sensor. I was considering a change to Nikon for that reason, but we now have the K-1 in Pentax-land so all is once again well. The K-1 will be the next addition to my kit-bag. I'll probably stick with the K-3 as a travel / landscape camera (and as a back-up wedding body), and use the K-1 as my primary wedding shooter.

In terms of what I would recommend, I would seriously consider the K-3 or K-3ii for your needs. The K-3ii has Pixel-Shift, which would be great for landscape-work, so it may be a better option for you.

Do let us know what you decide

Here's great video review of the K-3:

You Tube

You Tube

P.S. Many are suggesting that the new K-70 entry-level camera is better value than the K-3 / K-3ii (in some cases it has more features), but the K-70 has an articulating screen (which you said you don't want) so I took that into account when suggesting the older (but higher-range) K-3 series. You can probably get some great deals on the K-3's too.