Originally posted by bgm1956 I have a winder for the LX, not a motor so it's only 2 FPS but I seldom use it on continuous. I have played with my wife's Canon T2i. That's the only DSLR I've played with and not even a lot with it. She had Canon cameras since before we were married and keeps trying to get me to change, but I don't see that happening. I still haven't fully decided which I will get, but I'm leaning towards a K-3 or K-3ii unless I find a great deal on a K-5ii with lenses.
---------- Post added 04-29-20 at 11:55 AM ----------
I will definitely pick up a back up camera sometime. Besides the LX I have an ME and a Program Plus for back up. I never did get a back up for the Kowa 6, I just couldn't convince my wife that a Mamiya 645 was a back up for it
What do you think the odds are of convincing her that a Mamiya or Pentax 645D is a good back up for a K-5ii or a K-3?
You are like me in seldom doing what we now call burst shooting. A more bulky flagship-type body, like the K-5 IIs or K-3, has more buffer capacity which is primarily an advantage for burst shooting, as you can get off more shots before the buffer fills and then having to pause some seconds before resuming. The KP has the build quality, but a buffer not as large, in order to offer its compact design. I have both styles with the KP and K-5 IIs. As I am very conservative in my (rare) burst-shooting situations, even though I sometimes shoot collegiate indoor roller hockey, or wrestling competitions, the buffer of either has never been challenged. So in that regard the K-5 IIs or the K-3 would have the advantage for those doing substantial burst shooting.
I passed on getting the K-3 after seeing a number of tests revealing the then new K-3 as having not quite the low noise/higher ISO performance, or the dynamic range of the K-5 series. I've had the original K-5 since 2011, and got the K-5 IIs new in 2014 for half price after the K-3 came out. It omits the AA filter for superior fine detail, along with improved AF, rear LCD screen and a few other perks. Nikon then offered their same model without the AA filter and with. For less than one of theirs I got both Pentax versions. I would consider selling my perfect K-5, but after now some 6 years and still liking my K-5 IIs enough, I will continue to enjoy using it as an alternate backup for the foreseeable future. But due to its unique design and outstanding performance, I am confident I will be enjoying the KP for a very long time.
I bought the KP during a temporary price drop over 2 years ago, and I am very happy I took advantage of that to get this very unique and extremely high-performing DSLR. The design goals obviously were to present a top-level model but of a lighter, compact form that could compete in compactness with APS-C mirrorless designs while offering more features, better controls, and an outstanding optical VF, as well as providing owners of the FF Pentax K-1 with a compact top-quality APS-C alternate field-camera, even having a similar controls set, and having outstanding imaging within range of the K-1. Along with that, K-1 owners could make optimum use of the numerous exceptional Pentax DA series lenses made for APS-C, including the ultra-compact DA Limited series. An ambitious undertaking, and they succeeded.
The K-5 IIs still is a fine camera. But a DSLR being a very complicated device that yields imaging via mechanics and very advanced electronics, makes for a more precarious venture in buying a used one, compared to the mostly mechanical and chemical imaging of a film-based SLR.
I found the KP to be meaningfully better in virtually every way. Better metering for better exposures, faster and more accurate AF, the pull-out rear screen for using the camera from low or high positions, better live view, additional useful features, even better SR, and even a better viewfinder. The K-5 series VF provides an excellent 92x magnification and 100% frame coverage, while the KP provides 95% magnification with 100% coverage. I am under the impression you are in the US, but maybe not. If so, that sale I mentioned by B&H represents a unique opportunity to acquire a very unique and exceptional new camera at a price even better than the deal I got, and well below the $1,000+ range of this level product.
Even if there is a closeout sale when the new APS-C flagship model appears, the price might not go much lower. But the KP was meant to be of the same quality as a flagship, but as a compact alternative- not a flagship itself. So I hope Pentax has the wisdom not to discontinue the KP- it is just too good, and there is nothing else on the market like it.
I hope you decide for it because it brings outstanding satisfaction, unless you are one of those who are only happy with a bulkier camera body. The KP's JPEG engine produces easily the best imaging right out of the camera I have ever experienced. Many like myself use that regularly instead of bothering with RAW processing.
Its modular design with the 3 supplied interchangeable grips allows the user to adjust handling and feel to suit the situation and the lens being used. The smallest grip with one of the very compact DA Limited lenses on the KP is a delight of compactness with quality-level the best of the mirrorless crowd can only envy. Then the KP can be expanded to accommodate other lenses and situations. Going further with the optional battery grip, which can balance better with very large lenses, also supplies much more gripping surface and a set of duplicate controls for vertical shooting, the weight of the KP is then about the same as a K-3 II without an added battery grip, yet can supply even more battery life.