K1 or D500???

Shanti · 03-03-2016, 07:31 PM

Ok 1st I have pre odered the K1,as have lots of glass dfa 150-450,da*300,DA70,12-24, old primes etc..
Mostly I am doing birds,BIF & can get a bit frustrated with the AF & noise on the K3II. Hoping of course the K1 has better high ISO 3200/6400 clean would be perfect,as light here is not so strong for 7 months out of the year. And maybe the AF is better on the K1,especially on my DA*300 & DFA 150-450.
BUt with the new Nikon D500 out,I am having second thoughts--should I sell the long glass & go Nikon for birds & keep Pentax for everything else??? Price is the same on both,so only need a 400-450mm lens reach to be happy...

Any suggestions are welcome Thanks

**jatrax** · 03-03-2016, 07:42 PM

Get both. Send back the one you don't like. Or rent them both if you prefer. K-1 will have improved tracking, it is good enough for you? No one can say until it gets in the hands of dedicated bird shooters.

**jpzk** · 03-03-2016, 07:58 PM

Originally posted by Shanti

Ok 1st I have pre odered the K1,as have lots of glass dfa 150-450,da*300,DA70,12-24, old primes etc..
Mostly I am doing birds,BIF & can get a bit frustrated with the AF & noise on the K3II. Hoping of course the K1 has better high ISO 3200/6400 clean would be perfect,as light here is not so strong for 7 months out of the year. And maybe the AF is better on the K1,especially on my DA*300 & DFA 150-450.
BUt with the new Nikon D500 out,I am having second thoughts--should I sell the long glass & go Nikon for birds & keep Pentax for everything else??? Price is the same on both,so only need a 400-450mm lens reach to be happy...

Any suggestions are welcome Thanks

Suggestion only as I will not have a K-1:

"Get" (you have already place the order) the K-1 and, I would guess, add your HD 1.4X TC with one of the lenses you are presently using. (for birding if that is your main drift).
As for the D500 ... maybe better AF? Will you have to buy another set of lenses?
Food for thoughts!

Shanti · 03-03-2016, 08:20 PM

Originally posted by jatrax

Get both. Send back the one you don't like. Or rent them both if you prefer. K-1 will have improved tracking, it is good enough for you? No one can say until it gets in the hands of dedicated bird shooters.

No where here to see or rent either.... of course both would be optimal..just not even green stuff right now

**clackers** · 03-03-2016, 08:23 PM

Originally posted by Shanti

Mostly I am doing birds,BIF

Ignoring glass ownership, that suggests Nikon rather than Canon or Pentax, right?

Shanti · 03-03-2016, 08:26 PM

Originally posted by jpzk

Suggestion only as I will not have a K-1:

"Get" (you have already place the order) the K-1 and, I would guess, add your HD 1.4X TC with one of the lenses you are presently using. (for birding if that is your main drift).
As for the D500 ... maybe better AF? Will you have to buy another set of lenses?
Food for thoughts!

Do have the 1.4 & 1.7 TC .. NO Nikon glass so that's the dilemma ,just afraid with the shallower DOF, may have more 'misses' with K1,but then I can stop down as ISO is better.hmmm

Or get K1 sell K3II & K5II & get Nikon for APS..problem is no market for the K 5,3 series really & I get to attached to cameras

--not sure what that is called??

GAS Dependency..

Sandy Hancock · 03-03-2016, 08:31 PM

Frankly, if BiF photography was a big part of my life (and it isn't), I'd get the D500. Crop for better reach. Amazing AF. Better selection of long lenses.

I'll stick with the K-1/K-3 dynamic duo though

Franky2step · 03-03-2016, 08:33 PM - **1 Like**

I can't believe you asked

rawr · 03-03-2016, 11:01 PM

Nikon D500 plus Nikon 200-500 f5.6, or even Tamron/Sigma 150-600, would be an extremely capable kit for birding. Especially if the high-ISO of the D500 is revealed to to be decent after all the test sites have examined it.

FWIW, a D7200 would probably be 75% as good as a D500, I bet, but be much cheaper. (Even the D750 is cheaper than a D500).

Fenwoodian · 03-03-2016, 11:55 PM

Originally posted by Sandy Hancock

Frankly, if BiF photography was a big part of my life (and it isn't), I'd get the D500. Crop for better reach. Amazing AF. Better selection of long lenses.

I agree with Sandy. The D500 is designed for super fast action like birds in flight. If that's your thing, get the D500 and don't look back.

starbase218 · 03-04-2016, 02:33 AM

Hmm... a 4.4 fps fullframe camera with average tracking and not that many long lenses available, versus a fast crop camera with probably top-notch tracking and many more long lenses available...

Not saying you have to go with the D500. If you like Pentax enough, stick with it. But just looking at the data, the D500 looks like a better camera and system.

noelpolar · 03-04-2016, 03:27 AM - **1 Like**

Am I the only one who likes a challenge? How boring would a fast to focus, hi frame rate, hi iso camera become......give me some character anyday......unless it pays the bills.....

**Rondec** · 03-04-2016, 03:44 AM

It is hard to say the answer. Shooting with full frame will give better results -- if you can get close enough where you are framing your subject tightly and don't need to crop after the fact. If you aren't close enough and have to crop to APS-C all the time, then there is no benefit and only the downside of slower frame rates.

Certainly birding isn't a huge part of what Pentax does. Their two long lenses are the 150-450 and the 560, both of which look nice. But I guess I would price both systems and think seriously about what you want. If it is only about birds, than the D500 might be the way to go.

Shanti · 03-04-2016, 06:15 AM

Originally posted by noelpolar

Am I the only one who likes a challenge? How boring would a fast to focus, hi frame rate, hi iso camera become......give me some character anyday......unless it pays the bills.....

Yes I like challenges as well,therefore stayed with Pentax

till now...

Na Horuk · 03-04-2016, 06:17 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Shanti

BUt with the new Nikon D500 out,I am having second thoughts-

But why? You did not specify any reasons why D500 has something you need. Wouldnt a K-3II and K-1 kit make more sense? Isnt WR something that is good for birding, especially if you live in certain climates? And arent 150-450mm, 300mm+1.4xTC really great?

But, you know, by all means, get that Nikon D500. Tell us how it goes

03-03-2016, 07:31 PM	#1
Shanti Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Western Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 927	K1 or D500??? Ok 1st I have pre odered the K1,as have lots of glass dfa 150-450,da300,DA70,12-24, old primes etc.. Mostly I am doing birds,BIF & can get a bit frustrated with the AF & noise on the K3II. Hoping of course the K1 has better high ISO 3200/6400 clean would be perfect,as light here is not so strong for 7 months out of the year. And maybe the AF is better on the K1,especially on my DA300 & DFA 150-450. BUt with the new Nikon D500 out,I am having second thoughts--should I sell the long glass & go Nikon for birds & keep Pentax for everything else??? Price is the same on both,so only need a 400-450mm lens reach to be happy... Any suggestions are welcome Thanks

03-04-2016, 03:27 AM - 1 Like	#12
noelpolar Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Goolwa, SA Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,310	Am I the only one who likes a challenge? How boring would a fast to focus, hi frame rate, hi iso camera become......give me some character anyday......unless it pays the bills..... Last edited by noelpolar; 03-04-2016 at 03:53 AM.

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03-03-2016, 07:42 PM	#2
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Get both. Send back the one you don't like. Or rent them both if you prefer. K-1 will have improved tracking, it is good enough for you? No one can say until it gets in the hands of dedicated bird shooters.

03-03-2016, 07:58 PM	#3
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251	Originally posted by Shanti Ok 1st I have pre odered the K1,as have lots of glass dfa 150-450,da300,DA70,12-24, old primes etc.. Mostly I am doing birds,BIF & can get a bit frustrated with the AF & noise on the K3II. Hoping of course the K1 has better high ISO 3200/6400 clean would be perfect,as light here is not so strong for 7 months out of the year. And maybe the AF is better on the K1,especially on my DA300 & DFA 150-450. BUt with the new Nikon D500 out,I am having second thoughts--should I sell the long glass & go Nikon for birds & keep Pentax for everything else??? Price is the same on both,so only need a 400-450mm lens reach to be happy... Any suggestions are welcome Thanks Suggestion only as I will not have a K-1: "Get" (you have already place the order) the K-1 and, I would guess, add your HD 1.4X TC with one of the lenses you are presently using. (for birding if that is your main drift). As for the D500 ... maybe better AF? Will you have to buy another set of lenses? Food for thoughts!

03-03-2016, 08:20 PM	#4
Shanti Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Western Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 927 Original Poster	Originally posted by jatrax Get both. Send back the one you don't like. Or rent them both if you prefer. K-1 will have improved tracking, it is good enough for you? No one can say until it gets in the hands of dedicated bird shooters. No where here to see or rent either.... of course both would be optimal..just not even green stuff right now

03-03-2016, 08:23 PM	#5
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by Shanti Mostly I am doing birds,BIF Ignoring glass ownership, that suggests Nikon rather than Canon or Pentax, right?

03-03-2016, 08:26 PM	#6
Shanti Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Western Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 927 Original Poster	Originally posted by jpzk Suggestion only as I will not have a K-1: "Get" (you have already place the order) the K-1 and, I would guess, add your HD 1.4X TC with one of the lenses you are presently using. (for birding if that is your main drift). As for the D500 ... maybe better AF? Will you have to buy another set of lenses? Food for thoughts! Do have the 1.4 & 1.7 TC .. NO Nikon glass so that's the dilemma ,just afraid with the shallower DOF, may have more 'misses' with K1,but then I can stop down as ISO is better.hmmm Or get K1 sell K3II & K5II & get Nikon for APS..problem is no market for the K 5,3 series really & I get to attached to cameras --not sure what that is called?? GAS Dependency..

03-03-2016, 08:31 PM	#7
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	Frankly, if BiF photography was a big part of my life (and it isn't), I'd get the D500. Crop for better reach. Amazing AF. Better selection of long lenses. I'll stick with the K-1/K-3 dynamic duo though

03-03-2016, 08:33 PM - 1 Like	#8
Franky2step Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Niagara Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 793	I can't believe you asked

03-03-2016, 11:01 PM	#9
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Nikon D500 plus Nikon 200-500 f5.6, or even Tamron/Sigma 150-600, would be an extremely capable kit for birding. Especially if the high-ISO of the D500 is revealed to to be decent after all the test sites have examined it. FWIW, a D7200 would probably be 75% as good as a D500, I bet, but be much cheaper. (Even the D750 is cheaper than a D500).

03-03-2016, 11:55 PM	#10
Fenwoodian Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,874	Originally posted by Sandy Hancock Frankly, if BiF photography was a big part of my life (and it isn't), I'd get the D500. Crop for better reach. Amazing AF. Better selection of long lenses. I agree with Sandy. The D500 is designed for super fast action like birds in flight. If that's your thing, get the D500 and don't look back.

03-04-2016, 02:33 AM	#11
starbase218 Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Planet Earth, Sol system, Milky Way galaxy, Universe Posts: 1,119	Hmm... a 4.4 fps fullframe camera with average tracking and not that many long lenses available, versus a fast crop camera with probably top-notch tracking and many more long lenses available... Not saying you have to go with the D500. If you like Pentax enough, stick with it. But just looking at the data, the D500 looks like a better camera and system.

03-04-2016, 03:44 AM	#13
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,653	It is hard to say the answer. Shooting with full frame will give better results -- if you can get close enough where you are framing your subject tightly and don't need to crop after the fact. If you aren't close enough and have to crop to APS-C all the time, then there is no benefit and only the downside of slower frame rates. Certainly birding isn't a huge part of what Pentax does. Their two long lenses are the 150-450 and the 560, both of which look nice. But I guess I would price both systems and think seriously about what you want. If it is only about birds, than the D500 might be the way to go.

03-04-2016, 06:15 AM	#14
Shanti Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Western Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 927 Original Poster	Originally posted by noelpolar Am I the only one who likes a challenge? How boring would a fast to focus, hi frame rate, hi iso camera become......give me some character anyday......unless it pays the bills..... Yes I like challenges as well,therefore stayed with Pentax till now...

03-04-2016, 06:17 AM - 1 Like	#15
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Originally posted by Shanti BUt with the new Nikon D500 out,I am having second thoughts- But why? You did not specify any reasons why D500 has something you need. Wouldnt a K-3II and K-1 kit make more sense? Isnt WR something that is good for birding, especially if you live in certain climates? And arent 150-450mm, 300mm+1.4xTC really great? But, you know, by all means, get that Nikon D500. Tell us how it goes