How many times did you almost switch to another brand

lesmore49 · 04-09-2011, 07:17 PM

Happened twice for me since 1968 when I got my first Pentax...an S1a.

1975- almost bought a NOS Nikon F Photomic. Instead bought a new black bodied, technologically advanced Pentax ES 11, which I still have.

One regret....wish I had waited for the Pentax K2....bayonet K mount.

2007- By this year my slr equipment/lenses had been Pentax since '68.

Coming into the DSLR digital age, I almost switched and came close to buying either a new Canon 30D or a Nikon D200.

Stayed with Pentax as i was very impressed with the Pentax K10D...still have, love it. But I think the 30D or the D200 would of been fine.

What are you close calls ?

K-9 · 04-09-2011, 07:37 PM

I almost didn't switch to Pentax from Canon in the 90's, but a certain FA 85mm f1.4 persuaded me.

Steinback · 04-09-2011, 07:58 PM

I priced out a mid level Nikon film kit with an F80 or an F100 body in 2000 or so but decided I was better off using my K1000 for a few more years and waiting until DSLR bodies hit the $1k mark to see which system I wanted to buy into.

VaughnA · 04-09-2011, 08:11 PM

Only once but it was close..

My wife was going to pick up a D90 kit a couple of months ago after the car got out of the shop. But the car needed more repairs that ate up the extra cash that I was going to use to get lenses for the switch to match my Pentax setup. That gave me time to realize that I was making a mistake and I would have had a much smaller kit without the same level of quality glass. I got my fund back and bought a 31 limited. I'm happily locked into the pentax world.

**dadipentak** · 04-09-2011, 08:27 PM

Despite my LBA, I'm really not a gear guy and figure I'm a long way from maxing out on what Pentax can deliver.

nickthetasmaniac · 04-09-2011, 08:49 PM

How many times did I almost change? Hmmm a few...

How many times did I change? Haha, four at last count

I have a very short attention span and enjoy playing with new things, so the longest I've stayed with a system so far is 18 months... That said, I buy everything second hand so generally the only money I loose is shipping. Thus far I've owned a Sony A100, Pentax K20D, Olympus E-3 and currently a Panasonic GH2. Throughout I've shot film on an MX and LX, both of which I still own.

I don't really get the hoo-haa about brand loyalty. All the systems on the market at the moment have their pros and cons... I'd love to try and Nikon or Canon full-frame setup with their f1.4 primes, or a Sony system with the CZ 24-70. Would also love to see a Pentax full-frame to use with the FA Ltd trio

Panasonic ain't my first and will definitely not be my last

Verglace · 04-10-2011, 12:05 AM

I sort of did but not really,
the K-R FF issues were annoying, so I bought another camera from another brand... decided to keep my K-R though, so now I have 2 brands

Big G · 04-10-2011, 02:33 AM

I got bored of waiting for a solid K20D replacement along with a lack of lens progression and woeful SDM performance, so switched to Canon over a year ago. I still have my K20D, manual focus 50mm, DA 10-17mm fish-eye and Sigma 10-20mm in a Pentax mount.

Given the awesome DR of the K-5, I have been tempted to compliment my Canon setup with one.

**ChrisPlatt** · 04-10-2011, 09:24 AM

I have used several different 35mm SLR systems:
1977-1982 Canon
1982-mid 1990's Nikon
Late 1990's-present Pentax

Chris

er1kksen · 04-10-2011, 11:12 AM

A couple months ago I very nearly switched to a GH1 when they were available through Panasonic for $375, as it would have better suited my travel plans and my desire to start working with video. Missed out on the deal pricing, sadly, so the K-x stayed.

Last fall I almost switched over to a Bronica medium-format film setup. I was looking for a change of pace, really. Eventually I just changed the way I shot with my K-x and have no further complaints. I really would love to work with MF film sometime, though.

I had plans a while before that to switch to a Nikon body with one of those great DC lenses and a cheap AF fast 50 to better suit the portraiture and band photography that was supplementing my income at the time. Getting laid off from the main job complicated the situation and it never happened.

The Fall before that I switched from a Canon 40D+85 1.8 (no other lenses, really) to the K-x+kit for travel purposes.

The Spring before that I switched from a K20D to the 40D exclusively due to my desire to work with that lens. It was fun.

I bought the K20D about a year and a half before that to replace my aging Olympus E-330, which was getting pretty beaten up. The K20D was all the right features at precisely the right price.

I switched to the E-330 two years before that because its dwindling stock was the cheapest DSLR I could find at the time. I was switching from Olympus's OM film cameras.

I guess I've done my share of switching. I think one of the biggest myths is that switching brands will always cost you more money. Most of my switches have broken even and in one case I even came out $100 ahead. Due to the peculiarities of SLT design being particularly suited to some specific types of work I'd like to do in the near future, an A55 is likely to be my next camera. I might even stick some m42 takumars on it.

Brand loyalty is overrated. You can always go back if you don't like it, with no big loss if you plan well.

nickthetasmaniac · 04-10-2011, 07:05 PM

Originally posted by er1kksen

I think one of the biggest myths is that switching brands will always cost you more money.

Brand loyalty is overrated. You can always go back if you don't like it, with no big loss if you plan well.

Amen

Rory · 04-11-2011, 06:18 PM

Nikon film, always. Pentax digital to Nikon digital this year. I don't almost switch.

Arpe · 04-11-2011, 09:00 PM - **1 Like**

I almost did every day for a few months, then one day I did. I'm now Nikon digital. I still have a Pentax film compact and a Pentax cap, which I definitely will wear while using my Nikon gear!

jogiba · 04-13-2011, 06:34 AM

I used Canon SLRs from 1966 to 1974 and Pentax 35mm , 67 and DSLRs (2005 )from 1974 to the present. In Dec 2010 I purchased the Panasonic GH2 and GH1 in Jan. I purchased a Canon K mount lens adapter last fall thinking I was going to get a 60D but purchased the GH2 instead .

annemari · 04-13-2011, 07:26 AM

Well, I've used Canon, tried Nikon and still I bought myself a Pentax. I love Pentax colours, I love how comfortable it is and I just can't imagine using myself anything else.. The others didnät work so good for me.

04-09-2011, 07:17 PM	#1
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,344	How many times did you almost switch to another brand Happened twice for me since 1968 when I got my first Pentax...an S1a. 1975- almost bought a NOS Nikon F Photomic. Instead bought a new black bodied, technologically advanced Pentax ES 11, which I still have. One regret....wish I had waited for the Pentax K2....bayonet K mount. 2007- By this year my slr equipment/lenses had been Pentax since '68. Coming into the DSLR digital age, I almost switched and came close to buying either a new Canon 30D or a Nikon D200. Stayed with Pentax as i was very impressed with the Pentax K10D...still have, love it. But I think the 30D or the D200 would of been fine. What are you close calls ?

04-09-2011, 08:27 PM	#5
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Never really Despite my LBA, I'm really not a gear guy and figure I'm a long way from maxing out on what Pentax can deliver.

04-10-2011, 09:24 AM	#9
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,694	I have used several different 35mm SLR systems: 1977-1982 Canon 1982-mid 1990's Nikon Late 1990's-present Pentax Chris Last edited by ChrisPlatt; 06-19-2011 at 06:12 PM.

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04-09-2011, 07:37 PM	#2
K-9 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: USA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,971	I almost didn't switch to Pentax from Canon in the 90's, but a certain FA 85mm f1.4 persuaded me.

04-09-2011, 07:58 PM	#3
Steinback Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: GTA, ON, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,673	I priced out a mid level Nikon film kit with an F80 or an F100 body in 2000 or so but decided I was better off using my K1000 for a few more years and waiting until DSLR bodies hit the $1k mark to see which system I wanted to buy into.

04-09-2011, 08:11 PM	#4
VaughnA Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,363	Only once but it was close.. My wife was going to pick up a D90 kit a couple of months ago after the car got out of the shop. But the car needed more repairs that ate up the extra cash that I was going to use to get lenses for the switch to match my Pentax setup. That gave me time to realize that I was making a mistake and I would have had a much smaller kit without the same level of quality glass. I got my fund back and bought a 31 limited. I'm happily locked into the pentax world.

04-09-2011, 08:49 PM	#6
nickthetasmaniac Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2,361	How many times did I almost change? Hmmm a few... How many times did I change? Haha, four at last count I have a very short attention span and enjoy playing with new things, so the longest I've stayed with a system so far is 18 months... That said, I buy everything second hand so generally the only money I loose is shipping. Thus far I've owned a Sony A100, Pentax K20D, Olympus E-3 and currently a Panasonic GH2. Throughout I've shot film on an MX and LX, both of which I still own. I don't really get the hoo-haa about brand loyalty. All the systems on the market at the moment have their pros and cons... I'd love to try and Nikon or Canon full-frame setup with their f1.4 primes, or a Sony system with the CZ 24-70. Would also love to see a Pentax full-frame to use with the FA Ltd trio Panasonic ain't my first and will definitely not be my last

04-10-2011, 12:05 AM	#7
Verglace Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 468	I sort of did but not really, the K-R FF issues were annoying, so I bought another camera from another brand... decided to keep my K-R though, so now I have 2 brands

04-10-2011, 02:33 AM	#8
Big G Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 581	I got bored of waiting for a solid K20D replacement along with a lack of lens progression and woeful SDM performance, so switched to Canon over a year ago. I still have my K20D, manual focus 50mm, DA 10-17mm fish-eye and Sigma 10-20mm in a Pentax mount. Given the awesome DR of the K-5, I have been tempted to compliment my Canon setup with one.

04-10-2011, 11:12 AM	#10
er1kksen Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Forestville, NY Photos: Albums Posts: 1,801	A couple months ago I very nearly switched to a GH1 when they were available through Panasonic for $375, as it would have better suited my travel plans and my desire to start working with video. Missed out on the deal pricing, sadly, so the K-x stayed. Last fall I almost switched over to a Bronica medium-format film setup. I was looking for a change of pace, really. Eventually I just changed the way I shot with my K-x and have no further complaints. I really would love to work with MF film sometime, though. I had plans a while before that to switch to a Nikon body with one of those great DC lenses and a cheap AF fast 50 to better suit the portraiture and band photography that was supplementing my income at the time. Getting laid off from the main job complicated the situation and it never happened. The Fall before that I switched from a Canon 40D+85 1.8 (no other lenses, really) to the K-x+kit for travel purposes. The Spring before that I switched from a K20D to the 40D exclusively due to my desire to work with that lens. It was fun. I bought the K20D about a year and a half before that to replace my aging Olympus E-330, which was getting pretty beaten up. The K20D was all the right features at precisely the right price. I switched to the E-330 two years before that because its dwindling stock was the cheapest DSLR I could find at the time. I was switching from Olympus's OM film cameras. I guess I've done my share of switching. I think one of the biggest myths is that switching brands will always cost you more money. Most of my switches have broken even and in one case I even came out $100 ahead. Due to the peculiarities of SLT design being particularly suited to some specific types of work I'd like to do in the near future, an A55 is likely to be my next camera. I might even stick some m42 takumars on it. Brand loyalty is overrated. You can always go back if you don't like it, with no big loss if you plan well.

04-10-2011, 07:05 PM	#11
nickthetasmaniac Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2,361	Originally posted by er1kksen I think one of the biggest myths is that switching brands will always cost you more money. Brand loyalty is overrated. You can always go back if you don't like it, with no big loss if you plan well. Amen

04-11-2011, 06:18 PM	#12
Rory Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Chicago Photos: Gallery Posts: 672	Nikon film, always. Pentax digital to Nikon digital this year. I don't almost switch.

04-11-2011, 09:00 PM - 1 Like	#13
Arpe Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,452	I almost did every day for a few months, then one day I did. I'm now Nikon digital. I still have a Pentax film compact and a Pentax cap, which I definitely will wear while using my Nikon gear!

04-13-2011, 06:34 AM	#14
jogiba Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Millstone,NJ Posts: 6,491	I used Canon SLRs from 1966 to 1974 and Pentax 35mm , 67 and DSLRs (2005 )from 1974 to the present. In Dec 2010 I purchased the Panasonic GH2 and GH1 in Jan. I purchased a Canon K mount lens adapter last fall thinking I was going to get a 60D but purchased the GH2 instead .

04-13-2011, 07:26 AM	#15
annemari Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Tallinn Photos: Albums Posts: 107	Well, I've used Canon, tried Nikon and still I bought myself a Pentax. I love Pentax colours, I love how comfortable it is and I just can't imagine using myself anything else.. The others didnät work so good for me.