Originally posted by timb64 Now you're venturing into the surreal.........or are you playing us?
No, not really. I know this forum is populated by serious Pentaxians and is filled with technical discussions of photography and equipment and IQ and goes into minute detail about all sorts of topics, and that is great and I learn from these forums, but I started out with a Ricoh K R-5, then graduated to a Pentax ME-Super with a 50mm 1.4 I spent a year or more of part time jobs saving up for.
When dSLRs became more ubiquitous and developing 35mm was harder and harder to find locally, I knew I wanted something I could use my 3 K-mount lenses with. I bought the K-r not because it was in my price range, or because it had done lots of research on the features: I bought it because it was red. That's it. It was red. Who has a red camera? Who had heard of such a thing? I hadn't.
Later I bought the K-30 because it was blue. I had no idea about the aperture block issue. It was of no importance to me. I had a blue camera to hang near my red camera. And the best thing? They both used the same battery.
If the KP had come out in orange or yellow or purple or stripes, this thread would not exist. I would have it now.
And it would also use the same battery. And I would learn to live with the asymmetric lugs.
Last thing: I bought a used K-01 on eBay. It was NOT the yellow one. I tried to get used to the no viewfinder thing. I had a hard time not sticking my eye up to the back of the camera anyway. I finally sold it. If it had been yellow I might still have it.
So, no, not playing anyone here. I am the definition of a "casual" photographer. If my first camera had not had a K mount then who knows what forum I'd be on.
---------- Post added 08-26-20 at 21:18 ----------
Originally posted by luftfluss It's pretty funny, ergonomics has long been a strength of Pentax cameras - and often touted by users - but when someone criticizes the ergonomics of a specific model, that person is essentially told to "get over it".
Given how most cameras deliver terrific image quality and fine performance, one's comfort level when using their gear is a big deal, IMO.
Thank you. I do understand that there is a specific reason the lugs are where they are on the higher end cameras, and the KP is definitely higher end than my K-r and K-30. I also really don't put the strap around my neck often (and could even remove it entirely, since I have the wrist straps) but I like my straps and I like how they look. The one for the K-r is the original one I got for my first camera, a Ricoh K R - 5. It has sentimental value for me, even if it is beaten up and sometimes I have to coil it up to get it out of the way. The one for the K-30 was custom made and was designed to be 11 inches shorter than the K-r one so when hanging from
one hook both cameras would lay flat against the wall, the K-30 a half-inch above the K-r.
And I'm female so I can get away with saying this: if any of you have wives/girlfriends/mothers who spend HOURS picking out purses that look EXACTLY THE SAME to you (and which all serve the same purpose, putting junk into them) and you are wise enough to just keep quiet when they do so, then consider that the look and feel of a camera can also be just as important as the purpose (taking pictures).
Last edited by madison_wi_gal; 08-26-2020 at 07:56 PM.