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Forum: Pentax KP
11-06-2023, 03:44 AM
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I think that a 24-70 is probably the about best overall for a FF camera whilst travelling in Europe, but I found that one of the "old" 19-35's Cosina / Vivitars got a lot of use on my MZ-5N "back in the day".
OTOH, after that when I got an APS-C body (GX10) I soon found that I really missed having an "ultrawide" lens and so rapidly bought a 10-20 Sigma to give me the same flexibility, especially in "tight spaces" - and that's been true ever since as it's useful in narrow streets, to shoot tall buildings without tilting the camera (much!) and in museums and the like.
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Forum: Pentax KP
11-05-2023, 10:33 PM
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I bought a KP 'nearly new' in 2017 and still love it a lot. I bought the 18-135 as kit lens with my (since sold) K-5 and have recently upgraded from 55-300 WR to PLM. The PLM is by far my most used lens, as my usual subjects are birds and planes.
I never sold mine, but it got little use for many years for the same reason — the quality just wasn't there, and there were plenty of people who agreed with that view. I never thought to sell it, but recently it got a new lease on life because I just thought to see what DxO's optical correction module could do for it that Lightroom couldn't. The answer was quite a lot!
I am unfortunately failing to remember to use it often, because of so many years where I avoided it on those quality grounds, but the reason I bought it was that sweet focal length range. I've never been a proponent of "zoom with your feet" because I tend to shoot things (aside from birds and planes) that don't lend themselves to getting closer or, sometimes, further away.
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Forum: Pentax KP
11-05-2023, 06:33 AM
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I also think the KP is worth to mention as a great camera! :)
I bought this camera in 2018. Should be a compact and lightweight companion for travel and walks. Liked it from the first moment and still do - a great supplement to the K-1. I'd really like to see a KP-II and especially a KP-II monochome - which I guess will never come true. :o
Got the DA18-135 with my K-5 in 2011. Nice lens - compact and lightweight for its range, good silent autofocus and optically with some strenghts but also some weaknesses. Today my copy suffers from zoom creeping and the hood sits rather loose so I always have be careful not to loose it. 135mm often isn't long enough for me - also for near shots! So today I much prefer the DA20-40Ltd plus DA55-300PLM as travel kit with DA15Ltd added on "top".
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Forum: Pentax KP
11-03-2023, 05:48 PM
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MPB UK has a few 18-135s available for between £105 - 149. Seems like a bargain to me. MPB EU has 10+ available. I might buy a couple more just to equip most of my non-ABF prone cameras for WR travel.
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Forum: Pentax KP
11-03-2023, 03:07 PM
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I agree that the KP is the best travel DSLR Pentax has ever produced. I have taken mine to England, France, Italy, Argentina, Alaska and Antarctica.
It pairs beautifully with the DA Limiteds for city walk-arounds, and with the battery grip attached it wears the DFA150-450 (or is it the other way around?) with aplomb.
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Forum: Pentax KP
11-03-2023, 02:25 PM
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It's not if you buy it with a new camera, which is how the great majority of new 18-135 lenses are sold. Using B&H prices as a guide, the KF + 18-135 is $US396 more than body only - so that is the effective cost of the lens. That's the same price as the 55-300 PLM.
The pricing of the 18-135 outright will vary between countries (£469 in the UK is a bit steep), but B&H also have it for $397 outright - again, the same price as the PLM.
I think the real question is about the relative prices of the DA 18-135 and DA 16-85. The gap used to be wide but with the 16-85 now only $US497 at B&H (and effectively only $300 if bought with a new K-3iii), it's an attractive proposition. The relative merits of those two lenses have been debated for years (the pros and cons are discussed at length here: Help me decide 18-135 or 16-85 - PentaxForums.com). Having both, I would say that overall the 16-85 is optically superior (better edge and corner performance, less purple fringing, better bokeh), but the 18-135 is no slouch. As Paul's experience indicates, the strength of the 18-135 is its greater focal range (and slightly less weight and bulk) for travel. And its centre sharpness is stellar - maybe even better than the 16-85 - so that it can produce the occasional 3D quality. If the travel will involve a lot of wide angle (e.g interiors of cathedrals and palaces), the extra 2mm width of the 16-85 is a factor in its favour. But adding the very pocketable DA 15 Limited is another way to deal with that issue.
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Forum: Pentax KP
11-03-2023, 08:50 AM
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It's not a cheap lens bought new, that's for sure... GBP £469 here in the UK :o However, I see some good used examples (with caps and hood) in the GBP £150 - 200 range. If I can find a really nice one at the lower end of that range, I may spring for it... but not right now. I have too many new business startup expenses to even think about buying photography gear at present :o :lol:
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Forum: Pentax KP
11-03-2023, 08:06 AM
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I bought the 18-135 for use with my Samsung GX-10. I really liked that combination. After a number of years I bought the KP and I was amazed what this combo achieved. It was so much better than with my K-7 and K-3 II. Never tried it properly on my K-01, the balance was not right for me. What strikes me most at this moment in time is that the price of a new 18-135 is higher than that of a new 55-300 PLM version. Think that Ricoh discovered the worth of the 18-135. :o
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Forum: Pentax KP
11-03-2023, 06:16 AM
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Love my KP outdoors except that in winter even just below 0C it pretty much requires the battery grip with the large Pentax battery. This makes it more than a bit more bulky on the trail than w/o the grip. But it's a wonderful camera nonetheless.
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Forum: Pentax KP
11-03-2023, 05:00 AM
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I'm having a bit of this same issue. I bought a KP to use as a back-up to my K1, but I find myself reaching for the KP more than I anticipated. It's a great camera that seems to hit a lot of sweet spots on size, feel, image quality, and high ISO performance. In the hand, it reminds me a lot of shooting with my LX, which I loved. Pentax should think about updating the KP and bringing it back.
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Forum: Pentax KP
11-03-2023, 02:31 AM
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On a recent trip, I took my KP and three lenses including the DA 16--85 WR. The 16--85 never left the camera.
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Forum: Pentax KP
11-03-2023, 02:08 AM
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I agree, my KP probably see more use than my K1. And it is a perfect camera to use with DA Limited lenses for compact size.
The noise performance is about the same as on K1, as KP has the accelerator chip.
I would probably rank KP as the best Pentax DSLR of all time. Perfect combination of size, features, performance and image quality for me.
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Forum: Pentax KP
11-03-2023, 01:47 AM
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An enjoyable write-up and travel shots, Paul - thanks for sharing :)
I briefly owned the DA18-135 before returning it due to its performance at longer focal lengths away from the frame centre. I quickly decided I just couldn't live with it... but later regretted my decision, as I've seen so many appealing photos taken with this lens that I have to conclude I'm the problem. I really must get hold of another one at some point and give it a fairer period of assessment in real-world shooting rather than bench tests...
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Forum: Pentax KP
11-03-2023, 12:07 AM
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Nice wrap and samples Paul. If you think the KP is overlooked, I'd say the DA 18-135 is more so.
Not by me. I love my K-3iii (especially for wildlife), but usually take the KP on a walk. There's little difference in the IQ and the tilt screen is a big plus for high or low shots or when using a tripod. I actually prefer the implementation of the third wheel on the KP.
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Forum: Pentax KP
11-12-2023, 07:20 AM
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Nice pics. Completely agree that the 18-135 can produce great results. Mine is paired with the k3iii
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Forum: Pentax KP
11-10-2023, 03:55 AM
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I agree, I did have a good time in travelling Colorado this past week, the KP and DA 21mm were my most used combo,
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Forum: Pentax KP
11-08-2023, 11:51 AM
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Very nice shots and have that Pentax Pop !!
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Forum: Pentax KP
11-07-2023, 03:38 AM
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Nice Photo's Paul, and the KP was the reason I skipped the K3 iii. In my holidays I visit Norway every year to take photo's of moose in diiferent situations and behaviour. I met them often during the day but most of the time in the evening and then the hi ISO a a great +. The KPis may the best in low light ,helped by the extra acceleration module. Also I like the moveable liveview screen and I use sometimes the flash.
For me the KP is TOP. After all I was glad that the the KP had much critcs of the users so I can buy a new one for €. 600,- .
Before that I had the first K3 and I experienced that the K5 I had before , was much better than the first K3
Best Regards
Dick
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Forum: Pentax KP
11-06-2023, 03:52 PM
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I’ve only had the KP for a month now and love it. I have large hands but it fits me fine with the large grip. I used it on a long bike ride and agree that it would be a great option for travel. I’m leaning towards the 18-135 as well. I am hesitant to consider the 16-85 because of reliability issues that I’ve been warned about. As for the KP, I think my next camera may be a second KP. That’s how much I love it. Battery life? I just carry 1-2 spares.
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Forum: Pentax KP
11-06-2023, 02:31 PM
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I love my KP. It's a really great camera. A pity it was discontinued. I use it mostly with the DA 20-40mm, all compact and light weight.
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Forum: Pentax KP
11-06-2023, 10:13 AM
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A decade ago, I took my Pentax Q + 01 prime across Europe! :D The only other lens I took along was a Wollensak 13mm f1.9 D mount. Got some of my best shots with that combo!
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Forum: Pentax KP
11-06-2023, 06:39 AM
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I have / had a K-x, K-30, K-3, and a KP, and the KP is my favorite. It just has the right combination of weight, size, weather resistance, sensor quality, tilt screen, image results... I used to use the 18-135 (and still have it), but I found I like the 16-85 better. I tend to shoot wider, and I didn't lose too much cropping at 85mm to match the 135mm length. I used to carry the Sigma 10-20 when I used the 18-135, but with the 16-85 I carry the 10-17 Fisheye. (The 10-17 is such a fun lens and is not very fishy at 15-17mm, so it makes it a good match w/ the 16-85.) For my travel photos, probably 85% are with the 16-85, 12% w/ the 10-17, and only rarely will I use the 55-300 (or maybe I'll go instead with DA21 or DA40XS).
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Forum: Pentax KP
11-06-2023, 08:55 AM
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This is what I have (had). A KP and a K3iii. I recently sold my KP as I decided I didn't need two bodies and the K3iii had so many other features. I am now having sellers regret as my KP was the camera I used most because of it's compact size. As for lenses, I have five. the afore mentioned DA 18-135, a Sigma 30mm 1.4, a Sigma 17-50mm 2.8, a Pentax 55mm 1.4 and a Pentax 55-300 zoom. I use the 18-135 most often, followed by the Sigma 17-50. The other lenses are hardly ever used. In retrospect, I should have kept the KP, sold the K3iii and maybe a few of the other lenses. I like to travel light. Years ago, I had a new K20D and was going to Hong Kong and didn't want to schlep the camera and lenses so I bought a Leica D-Lux 4. Believe it or not, it remained my primary camera until I bought a D-Lux 6. I loved the fact I could slip it into my pocket and didn't have to have it hanging from my neck. I do love small cameras although I have a soft spot for my Contax N1 (big, heavy camera) and the big, incredible Zeiss lenses that I have for it - a 24-85, 50 and 70-300 (huge - bigger than the camera!). I've started playing again with the Contax which sat unused after I bought my K20D. I'm also considering finding another used KP. LOL.
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Forum: Pentax KP
11-06-2023, 09:36 AM
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Fabulous Camera for an experienced armature. Fitted with a Sigma 17-50 f2.8 most of the time the 18-135 is generally my 2nd choice or a or an old manual 35-105 f3.5 SMC a very clear lens if you can find one get it. Would love t see Pentax re introduce an up dated version. I travel with it and have a battery grip attached. Some time I use the GPS adapter works great. I have a K5ii S as my back up but hardly used. Use the tilt screen a lot for low shots and on a tripod. The fill flash is very handy when needed. Let's hope Pentax hears our complements given to this camera and some day up dates it. All you really need is a KP.
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Forum: Pentax KP
11-03-2023, 04:45 AM
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Hehe, maybe it's the viking blood that runs in our veins.:D
The Vikings were also fond of small precious things. ;)
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