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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions 04-20-2009, 01:48 PM  
Hi from Surrey, England
Posted By Ramjet
Replies: 5
Views: 887
Thank you for the very kind welcome. I really look forward to being a part of your online community.

I ordered my camera and lenses today and I feel a huge sense of peace that I can now finally stop reading reviews and making evaluations (other than on additional pentax-fit lenses of course, but not for quite a while). I will have to wait a few days before I take delivery as the lenses weren't in stock, but no matter, the die has been cast, I have not even the tiniest of doubts that I have made the right decision and my next step is to start re-reading the basics of photography and how to begin using this great camera.

Proud to be a Pentax User!
Forum: Welcomes and Introductions 04-19-2009, 04:05 PM  
Hi from Surrey, England
Posted By Ramjet
Replies: 5
Views: 887
Hi, I'm Roger, I'm 53 and I live in a small town called Godalming. After reading many, many posts in your forums I have finally taken the plunge and joined. And I don't have a Pentax camera or lens to my name......

I have joined because tonight, I finally decided, after weeks of deliberations and research, to join the Pentax community. Back in the days of film I owned several SLR's including a Canon, a Minolta and an Olympus. My first digital camera was an Olympus CZ2100 Ultra Zoom which I liked very much until it died (electronically speaking). I currently have a Panasonic FZ20, an FZ3 and a TZ5. The FZ20 is still a good point and shoot camera, the FZ3 is just ridiculously small and fiddly and the TZ5 is fine to carry around in your pocket. I have always enjoyed photography although I am a distinct amateur and, of late, I have also become lazy by letting the camera do most of the work for me.

So, with a newly refound interest in photography and a desire to now learn properly some of the many intricacies of photography (a bit late I can hear some of you say!) I have decided to buy a "proper" camera that will enable me to experiment with all manner of things with the aim of becoming a far more accomplished photographer than I am.

Soooo difficult. Soooo much choice.

Like many people, I have spent days (in terms of hours) reading so much stuff on the Internet, cross referencing, bookmarking, making spreadheet comparisons even - I know, that's really sad. I have also visited several camera shops and handled different cameras as well as listened to all the advice offered. I thought I might like the Panasonic G1 or even the GH1 when it arrives but when I handled the G1 I knew it was the wrong camera for me, whatever its many accomplishments, because it is simply too small. I am 6ft 4ins and my hands are in proportion to my body. I know the holy grail in electronics is to make everything smaller but there comes a point when stuff becomes too small to use comfortably and, for me at least, the G1 easily passed that point. The Olympus wasn't far behind.

My budget does not extend to a full frame DSLR, so it came down to a D90, an EOS 40D or at a push the 50D, a K20D or a Hasselblad (only kidding, but I was recently in France with a professional photographer who had not one, but two Hasselblad digital camera bodies with an assortment of lenses. He told me the bodies alone cost him £30k each! Different world).

Anyway, I went out into my real world to look at and touch these shortlisted contenders; the D90 felt really cheaply constructed and I realised I was falling for the gimmickry in even considering it; 3" LCD with 920k pixels for instance (there's my digital compact heritage rearing its ugly head. At least I dismissed the attraction of being able to shoot hi-def movies without autofocus as a complete nonsense, so I'm not entirely gullible). I have to say I liked the feel and size of the Canons, but not the price of their image-stabilised lenses.

So why Pentax and the K20D? These forums played a large part in my decision. Naturally, I have read the website reviews ad nauseam on all of these cameras, recognising that some are so obviously biased towards one manufacturer or another (Cameralabs is a glaring example in my opinion). More importantly, I have visited user forums and read what actual users have had to say. This forum struck me as being really friendly as well as hugely knowledgable and I learned many things here that I did not from the website reviews.

There are so many plus points for the K20D in face of the competition mentioned, as well as a few shortcomings. Everyone here will already know way more than I do. But most of all, it was the feeling I got when I first handled a K20D. It was a gut feeling and I instantly knew it felt right for me. But I then started evaluating everything again and reconsidering the respective merits of other cameras etc., going round and round in circles, when I remembered some words of wisdom once imparted to me: when faced with a choice, choose with your heart, not your head because you will have far fewer regrets in the long run. I have chosen, I am happy and I have joined this forum as an affirmation (and also to learn and, in the fullness of time, contribute).

All that remains is to decide which lenses to buy! Again with fairly tight budgetary constraints I'm leaning heavily towards a Tamron AF17-50mm F2.8 and a Pentax 50-300mm F4.0/5.8.

Sorry that this is such a long hello. I am just so happy that I have made my decision. My heart is singing.

Thank you.
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