Originally posted by Carl7253 Background: I am on a student exchange in India for one year. My Pentax k-50 has started giving me issues (The exposures are coming out all over the place, even in manual). When I get back to the states I want to work into the higher level enthusiast level and try to touch the lower end of pro photography. Travel+ college does not leave me with a ton of wiggle room, but I do have around $1,000 set aside for an upgrade. I have four lenses, two kit lenses, a 70mm f/2.4 limited and a 17-50 f/2.8.
Should I fix the k-50 and wait for a potential k-3 III or buy a K-3 II now? I have been debating on what to do for a few weeks; help would be much appreciated.
It seems to me that your K-50 has the aperture control block issue. The answer to your issue all depends on time and money you want to spend. IF you have time and money, I'd highly recommend waiting for the K-3II successor.
If you need something quick, then get the K-3 II.
If your K-50 is still under warranty, get it repaired.
If your K-50 is not under warranty, now you have to determine if you have the money to spend on repairing it and the time waiting for the K-3 II successor, or if you just have enough for the K-3II.
Originally posted by Adam I'd probably just go for it. Whatever replaces the K-3 will probably be more expensive, and the K-3 is already a pretty big upgrade over the K-50 in just about every area
Probably more expensive, but not but much. The APS-C flagship has been slowly lowering in initial price, every release. I'd expect it to be under 1000 USD at launch. K-3II is currently 850 USD. So a difference of 150 at most.
Originally posted by Davidparis Another argument for acting now or "very soon" is that the K-3 II APS-C successor is niether rumoured nor announced. This means your waiting time would be long, during which time you'll find yourself frustrated. The K-3 II is a body that will sell well when the time comes to upgrade.
Or one could become rather frustrated if you act now, then 6 months later they launch the K-3 II successor with big leaps to useful features. They're already selling for 650 used. I don't think the price is going up on them over the immediate time.
But that is another option perhaps? Just buying a used K-3II, not fixing the K-50, then in 6-12 months when the K-3 II successor is launched selling the K-3II for 450-600 dollars and grabbing it. That is a gamble though because what if it breaks in the meantime? You have no warranty so that's more money out of pocket.
Again, OP, you have options. But these options largely come down to how much time and money you want to spend.