Were you a "switcher"?

enoxatnep · 02-02-2010, 06:14 PM

(I'm not sure exactly where to post this, so I'll try here. Also, my apologies if there's a similar thread like this, but I searched before starting this one. Here goes ...)

Just curious:

1. If you switched to Pentax after being loyal to another system, what system was it?
2. Why did you switch?
3. Do you still stand by your decision, or do you now regret it?
4. If you regret it, why, and will you switch to another system again?

Marc Sabatella · 02-02-2010, 06:41 PM

Interesting question, and I can't think of a better forum for it, although other mods might have better ideas.

I didn't switch from another system. Well, I used another long defunct system (Zeiss Ikon, as I recall) decades ago, but there was no way that could have been a factor when I chose Pentax for digital in 2005. I have no regrets on choosing Pentax. If anything, Pentax has become a better fit for me as they and I both develop - SR wasn't available when I chose Pentax, nor were the DA Limited primes, but these would make me very reluctant to switch away now.

Wheatfield · 02-02-2010, 07:19 PM

I switched from Nikon to Pentax.
I switched for the lenses.
No, I don't regret it, Pentax glass is still better than anything else out there

Blue · 02-02-2010, 09:58 PM

I've been pretty much Pentax but have dabbled with a little Canon here and a little Nikon here. My grandfather was big time into Minolta so I got a fair amount of exposure to Minolta.

taurus9 · 02-02-2010, 10:17 PM

Wouldn't call myself a switcher.....yet.
Still using a Canon system, and probably will for quite some time. Tried Pentax since it had all the features I wanted in a compact body including SR. Canon offers great functioning bodies as long as you don't mind holding larger cameras.

lesmore49 · 02-02-2010, 10:24 PM

I'm not a switcher...although I've thought about it twice..seriously.. in 40 odd years.

Once to Nikon in the early '70's (Nikon F Photomic-came close) and Nikon D200 or Canon 30D in 2006. Then Pentax came out with the K10D and that kept me in the Pentax fold.

Pentax is my main system and has been for those aforementioned, long years.

But I also have in my arsenal...Mamiya Medium Format, Yashica, Leica, Canon, Olympus, Panasonic Lumix, Zeiss-Ikon (Super Ikonta 6 X 9).

snostorm · 02-02-2010, 10:27 PM

Hi enoxatnep,

All my DSLRs have been Pentaxes, but I shot Pentax, Canon, and Nikon film SLRs, and still have a Canon F1 original that hasn't felt a roll of film in it for 20 years.

I started with a DS in early 2005 and have no regrets nor plans to move for the foreseeable future.

Scott

pdo · 02-02-2010, 10:32 PM

I was a Canon 10D user then switch to Pentax system because of Pentax prime. Back when Pentax haven't came out the the DA* lenses. I now only have DA* lenses since it would be too expensive to own prime that cover all my needs.

Haven't regret a bit but my photography mentor that I model shoot with is trying to switch me back to Canon. He gave me a free Canon 1D Mark II and all I have to do is buy lenses for it but I didn't take that deal. Shows how much I love my Pentax system.

nulla · 02-02-2010, 10:58 PM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

I switched from Nikon to Pentax.
I switched for the lenses.
No, I don't regret it, Pentax glass is still better than anything else out there

Same here... but was a Nikon film man... since returning to photography and was new to digital I chose Pentax for the same reason as you Wheatfield..... glass glass glass.

Cheers

Neil

shawnxji · 02-02-2010, 11:39 PM

I was a Nikon user before switching to Pentax, love the combination of in-body SR and their fast prime lenses.

Wheatfield · 02-03-2010, 05:12 AM

Originally posted by nulla

Same here... but was a Nikon film man... since returning to photography and was new to digital I chose Pentax for the same reason as you Wheatfield..... glass glass glass.

Cheers

Neil

My last Nikon was an F3. I switched to Pentax about 25 years ago.
My first pentax was actually a 6x7 system, the 35mm stuff came a couple of years later.

Nubi · 02-03-2010, 06:55 AM

I did have a Nikon before. I had FE, and got it stolen from my dorm room.

hs57 · 02-03-2010, 07:10 AM

I switched from Nikon to Pentax.
I switched for the lenses and the Body SR.
Pentax Limited Glass is still better than anything else out there,
except the "Canon TS-E 17/4.0 L" and the "Voigtlander 125/2.5 Macro APO Lanthar"....

LG
Hartmut

Nesster · 02-03-2010, 07:10 AM

I was a confirmed Olypussian, OMian, till they abandoned us for their walk in the wilderness.

My first AF film SLR was a Pentax, and this due to the legacy lens support.

Since switching allegiances, I see little reason as yet to try other digital systems, though I did go for a Nikon FE, film only.

VaughnA · 02-03-2010, 08:52 AM

Not a switcher, first DSLR. I had SLR's back in the 70s-80s in high school and right out of college but stopped serious photography for a long time. Used the cheapest stuff I could find used on my very limited budget, Yashicamat TLR and a Mamiya SLR doing B&W and Cibachrome at home. When I decided to get serious again about a year ago I looked at the names I knew, Pentax, Nikon, Canon & Olympus. I went and looked at entry level stuff at the local ritz and liked the K100 the best for feel. The other entry level cameras felt cheap by comparison. None of them felt like the tanks I was used to. So I read more and more about the pentax cams. I then found a *ist DL with lens for 260 and jumped on it. From there it's been a progression from the DL to K10D to K20D and lenses as well. Finding deals at the pawnshop or craigslist and trading up. So I'm out about 800 bucks from my pocket and have a system I could sell used right now for about 1400 and couldn't replace with a canon or nikon system for under 2000.00.

Overall very satisfied with my setup. I do wish that AF was a bit faster and that the flashes were TTL.

02-02-2010, 06:14 PM	#1
enoxatnep Closed Account Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The edge of nowhere, Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 467	Were you a "switcher"? (I'm not sure exactly where to post this, so I'll try here. Also, my apologies if there's a similar thread like this, but I searched before starting this one. Here goes ...) Just curious: 1. If you switched to Pentax after being loyal to another system, what system was it? 2. Why did you switch? 3. Do you still stand by your decision, or do you now regret it? 4. If you regret it, why, and will you switch to another system again?

02-03-2010, 07:10 AM	#13
hs57 Inactive Account Join Date: May 2009 Location: Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 69	I switched from Nikon to Pentax..... I switched from Nikon to Pentax. I switched for the lenses and the Body SR. Pentax Limited Glass is still better than anything else out there, except the "Canon TS-E 17/4.0 L" and the "Voigtlander 125/2.5 Macro APO Lanthar".... LG Hartmut

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02-02-2010, 06:41 PM	#2
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Interesting question, and I can't think of a better forum for it, although other mods might have better ideas. I didn't switch from another system. Well, I used another long defunct system (Zeiss Ikon, as I recall) decades ago, but there was no way that could have been a factor when I chose Pentax for digital in 2005. I have no regrets on choosing Pentax. If anything, Pentax has become a better fit for me as they and I both develop - SR wasn't available when I chose Pentax, nor were the DA Limited primes, but these would make me very reluctant to switch away now.

02-02-2010, 07:19 PM	#3
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,986	I switched from Nikon to Pentax. I switched for the lenses. No, I don't regret it, Pentax glass is still better than anything else out there

02-02-2010, 09:58 PM	#4
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	I've been pretty much Pentax but have dabbled with a little Canon here and a little Nikon here. My grandfather was big time into Minolta so I got a fair amount of exposure to Minolta.

02-02-2010, 10:17 PM	#5
taurus9 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: British Columbia Posts: 120	Wouldn't call myself a switcher.....yet. Still using a Canon system, and probably will for quite some time. Tried Pentax since it had all the features I wanted in a compact body including SR. Canon offers great functioning bodies as long as you don't mind holding larger cameras.

02-02-2010, 10:24 PM	#6
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,349	I'm not a switcher...although I've thought about it twice..seriously.. in 40 odd years. Once to Nikon in the early '70's (Nikon F Photomic-came close) and Nikon D200 or Canon 30D in 2006. Then Pentax came out with the K10D and that kept me in the Pentax fold. Pentax is my main system and has been for those aforementioned, long years. But I also have in my arsenal...Mamiya Medium Format, Yashica, Leica, Canon, Olympus, Panasonic Lumix, Zeiss-Ikon (Super Ikonta 6 X 9).

02-02-2010, 10:27 PM	#7
snostorm Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chicago suburb, IL, USA Posts: 1,535	Hi enoxatnep, All my DSLRs have been Pentaxes, but I shot Pentax, Canon, and Nikon film SLRs, and still have a Canon F1 original that hasn't felt a roll of film in it for 20 years. I started with a DS in early 2005 and have no regrets nor plans to move for the foreseeable future. Scott

02-02-2010, 10:32 PM	#8
pdo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Westminster CA Posts: 264	I was a Canon 10D user then switch to Pentax system because of Pentax prime. Back when Pentax haven't came out the the DA* lenses. I now only have DA* lenses since it would be too expensive to own prime that cover all my needs. Haven't regret a bit but my photography mentor that I model shoot with is trying to switch me back to Canon. He gave me a free Canon 1D Mark II and all I have to do is buy lenses for it but I didn't take that deal. Shows how much I love my Pentax system.

02-02-2010, 10:58 PM	#9
nulla Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 1,560	Originally posted by Wheatfield I switched from Nikon to Pentax. I switched for the lenses. No, I don't regret it, Pentax glass is still better than anything else out there Same here... but was a Nikon film man... since returning to photography and was new to digital I chose Pentax for the same reason as you Wheatfield..... glass glass glass. Cheers Neil

02-02-2010, 11:39 PM	#10
shawnxji Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: DC Metro, USA Posts: 212	I was a Nikon user before switching to Pentax, love the combination of in-body SR and their fast prime lenses.

02-03-2010, 05:12 AM	#11
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,986	Originally posted by nulla Same here... but was a Nikon film man... since returning to photography and was new to digital I chose Pentax for the same reason as you Wheatfield..... glass glass glass. Cheers Neil My last Nikon was an F3. I switched to Pentax about 25 years ago. My first pentax was actually a 6x7 system, the 35mm stuff came a couple of years later.

02-03-2010, 06:55 AM	#12
Nubi Guest	I did have a Nikon before. I had FE, and got it stolen from my dorm room.

02-03-2010, 07:10 AM	#14
Nesster Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 13,072	I was a confirmed Olypussian, OMian, till they abandoned us for their walk in the wilderness. My first AF film SLR was a Pentax, and this due to the legacy lens support. Since switching allegiances, I see little reason as yet to try other digital systems, though I did go for a Nikon FE, film only.

02-03-2010, 08:52 AM	#15
VaughnA Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,363	Not a switcher, first DSLR. I had SLR's back in the 70s-80s in high school and right out of college but stopped serious photography for a long time. Used the cheapest stuff I could find used on my very limited budget, Yashicamat TLR and a Mamiya SLR doing B&W and Cibachrome at home. When I decided to get serious again about a year ago I looked at the names I knew, Pentax, Nikon, Canon & Olympus. I went and looked at entry level stuff at the local ritz and liked the K100 the best for feel. The other entry level cameras felt cheap by comparison. None of them felt like the tanks I was used to. So I read more and more about the pentax cams. I then found a *ist DL with lens for 260 and jumped on it. From there it's been a progression from the DL to K10D to K20D and lenses as well. Finding deals at the pawnshop or craigslist and trading up. So I'm out about 800 bucks from my pocket and have a system I could sell used right now for about 1400 and couldn't replace with a canon or nikon system for under 2000.00. Overall very satisfied with my setup. I do wish that AF was a bit faster and that the flashes were TTL.