[leeak]

So I have this dilemma. I have been a Pentax/Nikon shooter for the past three years and have enjoyed what both systems have to offer. I have to admit I use my Pentax 90% of the time because it is so much lighter to carry around. I mostly shoot pics of my family. The bodies I have been using are K10D, K-x, and D80 and are getting a little dated now. I find myself missing shots of my kids moving around and I am hoping that the newer bodies would give me better AF and ISO. I am selling a few lenses now and I will have around $3k to work with. These are the lenses I decided to keep:

Pentax: DA12-24, FA31, FA77, DA60-250
Nikon: Tokina12-24, Nikon24-70, 70-200VRI, 105DC

Scenario 1:
I get rid of both the K-x and D80 and pick up a used K5 and used D700 and use the K20D as a backup?

Scenario 2
I keep both the K20D and K-x and just get rid of the D80 for the D800?

The D800 has so much to offer with impressive lowlight AF and 36MP and you can crop like you can never before. But on the other hand, because of the weight of my Nikon gear, I often ended up using my Pentax gear and so getting a K5 would make sense. And also, I always wanted try shoot the 70-200VRI and 105DC on FF and the D700 is the cheapest FF ticket in town With all the great minds here, what would you recommend me do?

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Last edited by leeak; 05-16-2012 at 12:05 AM.

[nickthetasmaniac]

I mostly shoot pics of my family.

In which case I'd ignore the D800. It's a fantastic camera, but you don't need 36mp for family shots and the file-size would be a pain in the ass to manage...

[Emacs]

So I have this dilemma. I have been a Pentax/Nikon shooter for the past three years and have enjoyed what both systems have to offer. I have to admit I use my Pentax 90% of the time because it is so much lighter to carry around. I mostly shoot pics of my family. The bodies I have been using are K10D, K-x, and D80 and are getting a little dated now. I find myself missing shots of my kids moving around and I am hoping that the newer bodies would give me better AF and ISO. I am selling a few lenses now and I will have around $3k to work with. These are the lenses I decided to keep:

Pentax: DA12-24, FA31, FA77, DA60-250
Nikon: Tokina12-24, Nikon24-70, 70-200VRI, 105DC

Scenario 1:
I get rid of both the K-x and D80 and pick up a used K5 and used D700 and use the K20D as a backup?

Scenario 2
I keep both the K20D and K-x and just get rid of the D80 for the D800?

The D800 has so much to offer with impressive lowlight AF and 36MP and you can crop like you can never before. But on the other hand, because of the weight of my Nikon gear, I often ended up using my Pentax gear and so getting a K5 would make sense. And also, I always wanted try shoot the 70-200VRI and 105DC on FF and the D700 is the cheapest FF ticket in town With all the great minds here, what would you recommend me do?

Buy yourself a Oly OM-D: it's lighter than Pentax, it's AF faster than Pentax and MUCH more reliable. Then you'll have no reason to keep Pentax
For the IQ buy FF camera, of course.

[causey]

I'd wait until September. Maybe Pentax is preparing something nice for us...

[JohnBee]

Given that you're comparing difference generations of systems, I'd wait to see what Pentax brings to the table(K-3). Having said that, given the price of the D800, if FF is in your sights, then I really don't see why anyone should wait to buy into a FF body at this point in time.

[gtxtom]

I had a dilemma on whether to buy a D700 & Fuji X100 or the D800. Long story short, my D800 pre-order came in and made my decision for me. I definietly love the camera, but I keep wanting an X100.

[Pioneer]

If you already shoot Nikon the D800 should be a lock. No matter what Pentax comes out with in the coming months that is one fine camera.

[causey]

Another option: Pentax K30: New Intro-Level DSLR - Pentax Camera News & Rumors - PentaxForums.com

[leeak]

Thank you for the responses. Part of me agree with nickthetasmaniac, JohnBee, Pioneer, and gtxtom. The D800 is the FF to get. This camera is such a strong draw even a few of us here got it recently. But on the other hand, like causey, I am kinda interested to see what Pentax and Nikon have to offer at Photokina. K3? D600? How would the introduction of the K3 and D600 affect the prices of the K5 and D700?!?! The good news is that I still have camera to shoot with, but on the other hand, how long do I wait? I wouldn't mind getting the K5 and D800 but that's just putting too much money into camera bodies. So no one hear thinks getting both a K5 and D700 is a good idea huh?

[twitch]

I like the idea of a FF DSLR and a OMD style kit combo. One for the "challenging" situations (sport, indoor concerts) the other for the less challenging and for went small size/light weight matters. I don't think I'd ever want a situation where I only have a FF DSLR and my iphone as my camera options, something in between is required and a mirrorless makes sense here.

That's the kit I think I'm going to get eventually. In the meantime the K-5 is a good compromise between both. I personally don't think it makes a lot of sense to have a FF and a APS-C DSLR when we have cameras like the OM-D, NEX7, X100 etc because if you figure you don't want to drag around a FF DSLR, then you must be wanting small which the OMD does better than a APSC DSLR.

[Verglace]

D700 full frame +

A mirrorless...

I would wan't a Q because its so cheap now, however IQ is not as good as other mirrorless like OMD/X-pro/Nex, its cheapest though.

[gtxtom]

I do have a Panny GF2 that I use sometimes, but even then, since I got the D800, I haven't put it down. I would still love an X100 as a second cam, though ...

[pinholecam]

Just wait for 2-3 months for the picture to be clearer on what Pentax will release.
Info on the K30 has already been leaked, and it looks to be idea (K5, but cheaper and lighter)
Who knows,Pentax might pull out a FF at Photokina?


2 recent photography trips have made me very grateful that I am using Pentax K5 for the small DSLR bodies and lenses, while not sacrificing performance (AF speed; DR; ISO; lenses).

For family and real world shooting, I don't think D800 is the way to go.
Heavy, large, less forgiving to lens, focus/movement errors.
If you downsize those for great looking picts, why punish yourself with the weight and size in the 1st place.
Of course, it will always sit as a very tempting 'WANT' for most photographers.

Personally, I've been using my K5 or m4/3 G3 for family shots with the G3 taking up most of the work when photography is an after thought. (ie. Day out shopping; Morning walk in local park > breakfast, etc)

[leeak]

Thank you all for your replies. As hard as it is, I think I will wait a little longer and see what September has to offer. Maybe I am so used to traveling with my Pentax, carrying the 70-200VR around is, as pinhhole cam said, quite punishing. But that's the cost of IQ right? Also with the leak of the K30 and possibly other two Pentax dSLR on the way, the landscape is changing rapidly this year. Just when I think I am ready to upgrade, new bodies come along. Hopefully the dust will settle later this year. The only downside is, summer is the best time for family pics in the Northwest and so I'll have to make due with what I have for now and be ready for the next summer.

Just wait for 2-3 months for the picture to be clearer on what Pentax will release.
Info on the K30 has already been leaked, and it looks to be idea (K5, but cheaper and lighter)
Who knows,Pentax might pull out a FF at Photokina?


2 recent photography trips have made me very grateful that I am using Pentax K5 for the small DSLR bodies and lenses, while not sacrificing performance (AF speed; DR; ISO; lenses).

For family and real world shooting, I don't think D800 is the way to go.
Heavy, large, less forgiving to lens, focus/movement errors.
If you downsize those for great looking picts, why punish yourself with the weight and size in the 1st place.
Of course, it will always sit as a very tempting 'WANT' for most photographers.

Personally, I've been using my K5 or m4/3 G3 for family shots with the G3 taking up most of the work when photography is an after thought. (ie. Day out shopping; Morning walk in local park > breakfast, etc)

[TOUGEFC]

Coming from someone who has just recently got a D700, I can safely say that I'd pick the D700/D800 anyday of the week over the K-5.