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Forum: General Photography
09-26-2023, 01:14 AM
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They're not my arguments, Roland - just a selection of those raised in the forums repeatedly (and even though I'm a satisfied Pentax user, I can understand why some of these points bother some users). You mention size, AF performance, availability in bricks 'n' mortar stores, warranty and out-of-warranty repair... all valid concerns, but these are just some of the same reasons we've heard (and continue to hear) time and again. With respect, by mentioning them in your response, you illustrate my point perfectly :o As I've already stated elsewhere in the thread, everyone here with any reasonable length of time invested in the Pentax system already knows these criticisms full well. We learn nothing new and get nowhere fast by being reminded of them repeatedly by frustrated and dissatisfied users who are either venting or think they're offering a unique insight; those who've already switched; those who should have switched but procrastinate and complain instead of taking positive action; and armchair CEOs who apparently know how to run Ricoh Imaging better than its management (but have no useful influence - only opinions).
The fact that you're looking at a Sony or Nikon solution is a positive step in the right direction - not regarding those brands, specifically, but merely the fact you're starting to do something about your frustrations and dissatisfaction so you can get on with enjoying your hobby, whatever brand you shoot with. Even though I hate to think of Pentax losing you as a customer, I applaud your actions in dealing with - rather than complaining about - your dissatisfaction. That's a whole lot more productive - for you and everyone here - than hanging around the forums like a dark cloud and raining on everyone's parade with time-worn criticisms of the brand. Of course, I'm just another member, and I don't get to say what folks should and shouldn't discuss here... but I'll bet I'm in the majority rather than the minority in finding the same old complaints really tiresome and far from helpful in a community that's supposed to be dedicated to Pentax :o
Both Sony and Nikon are producing some excellent gear right now. I'm sure they'll have something compelling for you if you decide to switch. Best of luck whichever way you go! :)
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Forum: General Photography
09-25-2023, 11:07 AM
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I totally got it and was just playing along back with you for fun and to play advocate for the other side a little for laughs. I appreciate the kind words as well. I really do try and treat others like I would want to be treated.
... and I totally DO miss some things about my K-1 (The prism, menu's and rear wheel placement, muscle memory is a real thing) and some of the glass I sold.
FWIW, NOTHING is cheap in Sony land, except stuff you wouldn't want in the first place. (Why spend $$$$$ on a body then go and try to buy cheap $ soft, slow lenses?) A couple of the Tamron Di III prime A/F offerings are budget friendly, sharp bang for the buck options, and there are some Samyang gems, but even Samyang gets pretty good coin for their better stuff like their 135mm... and Tamron gets good coin for their increasingly popular 35-150mm. The BIG gap in Sony's lens line up is the lack of anything remotely equivalent my old DA*300mm f4. I think they just assume I will use my 1.4x on my 70-200mm f2.8 GM II, which does work awesome, but is NOT an economical nor a compact solution.
As you said, all brands have their own difficulties, you just have to pick your poison and live with it.
Eric
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Forum: General Photography
09-25-2023, 10:21 AM
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I hope my post was taken in the same good humour with which it was (mostly) written, Eric :o You may or may not know, I shoot Sony as well as Pentax - though I consider Pentax my main or "go to" brand. I'm a realist, not a so-called "fanboy", so I'm all too aware of Pentax's weaker points - as, I think, are most of our fellow members; and that's kind of the point, here...
My post wasn't about me being dissatisfied with Pentax (I'm not... not at all), and I never was thinking about switching. Rather, It was a jokey way of saying "C'mon folks, all of us here know what Pentax's weak points are. There's nothing to be gained from repeatedly re-hashing them... and no pleasure - for Pentax users, at least - in hearing those who've either switched (or, worse still, can't be bothered to switch and remain dissatisfied) telling us over and over again how badly Pentax is doing and how much better the other brands are... especially since this is a community dedicated to the Pentax brand!!". It was a way for me to let off a little steam, due to the spate of well-trodden criticisms I've read here in recent weeks and months (none of which had anything new to say, or constructive to achieve).
Fairly recently, I've said in a number of threads... If the brand you shoot - whatever brand that may be - doesn't offer what you want and need, switch. You did - at least for your more recent gear - and you're happier as a result; and that's exactly how it should be. You didn't mope around the forums for months or years complaining about Pentax, and when you switched to Sony, you didn't take every opportunity to tell us Pentax users how deleriously happy you are now, how life is so much sweeter after Pentax, and how - wait for it... wait for it.... - Pentax is DOOMED :p You set a very good example, if I may say...
Just in case any doubt remains, I have never, in 13 - 14 years, considered switching from Pentax because I have no need. Some of the complaints I listed aren't lost on me, but they're not mine. As I said earlier, I'm plenty aware of Pentax's weak points - yet I'm also aware that every brand (and I do mean every brand) has its weaknesses, its skeletons in the closet and so forth (Sony too). So, despite Pentax being thoroughly imperfect and sometimes a little challenging to own, I remain absolutely happy with my gear. I'm sticking with Pentax, and always was. This was just tongue-in-cheek humour... with an underlying message ;)
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Forum: General Photography
09-25-2023, 06:01 AM
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You've apparently (and ironically) missed the sarcasm of the op's post. :lol:
It's about people who don't like something feeling compelled to tell people who do like it why they shouldn't.
I've even heard of people going so far as joining in on a brand specific forum for the sole purpose of doing that.
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Forum: General Photography
09-24-2023, 09:33 PM
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In an interesting way, there is really no time better to be a Pentaxian now than ever. I stopped upgrading my camera since K5. But the 2nd hand prices of some of the cameras are very good now; I ended up buying a KP and a K-70. Also the lens are very affordable too. For a bit of nostalgia and top notch image quality, Pentax is really a very good choice :)
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Forum: General Photography
09-20-2023, 08:51 PM
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At the risk of starting something our Trans Atlantic cousins are not always as well-equipped to pick up the subtleties of English humour as some of the rest of us. As a Kentish 10 pound pom, subtley in English humour is often its most sublime characteristic.
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Forum: General Photography
09-20-2023, 01:05 PM
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.
I left buying "NEW" Pentax cameras back when the original K-1 came out (2017ish?), because that camera was all the camera that I'll ever need, and improvements in both features and IQ have been incremental, slow, and of little value to me since then.
However, I still believe that "USED" Pentax gear is a raging bargain. I'm having great fun discovering used older Pentax cameras these days. I've never paid more than $300 USD for them (Q $99, K-01 $130, K3 $250, etc.).
I no longer make large prints, don't sell my images, and shoot mostly vintage manual-focus fast prime lenses so no need for this guy to upgrade to $2,000 plus flagship bodies just for faster/better auto-focus and crazy high resolution.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
08-29-2023, 03:41 AM
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I’m satisfied with the DA 20-40mm Ltd as the primary lens on my KP, with a 55-300mm PLM and a {Sigma} 10-20mm ‘supporting’ it. I don’t actually use the Sigma very often these days, so I’m not sure if I would purchase anything else if I didn’t have it. I use Pentax-M 28mm and 50mm lenses and a Takumar 35mm on my “Super Program” and a DA 55-300mm on it.
I’m in my mid-70’s now, so I don’t know if I will purchase a film SLR when they finally get around to producing it. If I do get one, I could purchase a few FA lenses for it, but I am one who truly does see a wealth of K-mount lenses.
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Forum: General Photography
08-17-2023, 01:04 PM
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Great article.Folk often decry the "kit" lens, often with little understanding of photography.
Photo taken with the most rubbish kit lens in Pentax history :lol:
 IMGP1229_edited-1 by Peter Schluter, on Flickr
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-28-2021, 01:00 AM
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After 5 years and a lot of trying to get it, I have given the trusty K5 and lenses to my daughter who is just getting into photography, showing more talent than I. Out from darkness comes the tried and true, world traveled MX circa 1979 model. Just unable to appreciate the complexity of the digital realm and all the wonder it brings.
Will be expensive going back to film. Won't have instant results available, either, but it is all good with me as I started in film and will end with film. Life repeats itself.
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
03-15-2021, 03:50 PM
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
03-15-2021, 05:55 PM
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I'm sorry. I'm old school. I don't believe in post processing of images beyond basic cropping. There's to much editing now. I can't vote for any. Not sorry.
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
03-15-2021, 09:20 PM
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Me too ! most of the others are eyes catching surreal to me, feel like I am inside a cartoon ha ! those are simply too bright too much of HDR or POST done to it, I admitted I am old school, I like #8 coz it is more natural to me, just wished little more depth to it, like adding little HDR to it so that can give more detail.
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
03-16-2021, 03:04 AM
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Without any doubt #8
But the other are also possible willer.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-22-2020, 04:33 PM
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After reading the many I’m leaving Pentax posts I’ve decided to add mine to the list.
For those who don’t care then you needn’t comment but for those who are interested and maybe even Pentax themselves I think it may be of use to briefly share why.
It’s obvious that Pentax is in trouble therefore my wants and dreams are going to be very unlikely realised, I’ve finally come to terms with that.
For the second year Pentax will not be at the UKs biggest photo show which probably says a lot.
Anyway my quest to find professional quality Full frame lenses especially UWA Has come to an end. Paying a premium for rebranded Tamron lenses simply don’t cut it anymore. I’m sure there will be lots of excuses and good reasons as to why it costs more but hey if you’re happy with that I’m happy for you.
Hoped for Full Frame 24mm 35mm 14mm 85mm maybe 14-35mm the list goes on. Pentax have released a APSC 11-18mm which was really baffling as there are many more APSC options out there so why not show some full frame love? The K1 is a camera full of potential and I have taken some of my favourite non commercial photos with it, I’ve even used the noisy da35 during a wedding ceremony but the novelty has worn off.
My canon kit is used for my business and I secretly hoped one day my Pentax kit would be able to fill the shoes of my Canon kit but it’s not gonna happen.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-17-2020, 01:56 PM
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Forum: General Photography
01-27-2020, 10:23 AM
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That's a great shot, Norm. It proves the K-x is a decent camera even by today's standards; it is perhaps unfair that I don't use mine as much anymore. My first DSLR was the K-x and I enjoyed it immensely for many years but at some point, I started to acquire some of the older CCD-based models and ended up getting hooked on the "je ne sais quoi" of the images from those sensors. These days, I only tend to pull out the K-x for those times when a higher ISO sensitivity is needed (and I guess even the K-x is a bit of a laggard in that respect in comparison with modern cameras). I'd love to get a K-1 some day and try some of my vintage lenses on full-frame but for the time being, I continue to have fun and I don't think a newer camera or newer lenses will necessarily lead to more enjoyment of the hobby. Happy shooting!
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Forum: General Photography
01-27-2020, 09:10 AM
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I saw my old K-x at my step-sons place the other day. We gave it to his girlfriend. I almost took it out for a spin, just for old times sake. You're making me regret I didn't. It always had that "je ne sais quoi."
It was never my camera, it was my wifes and I used it only sporadically. MY flicker account started in 2017. There are still images taken with it that have never been bested. The wild birds folder is a folder updated with more recent images. When I get a better image, the old one is replaced. This one seems to be my permanent tribute to the K-x.
 Bird-1-Ruffed-Grouse by Norm Head, on Flickr
Taken October 31, 2011, and never bettered.
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Forum: General Photography
01-27-2020, 06:49 AM
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Forum: General Photography
01-27-2020, 06:45 AM
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Thank you all for your kind words and comments! When I saw some of the photos mine was up against, I was quite surprised to receive the news. Funny thing, I rarely use my K-x anymore (even though it's my most "up-to-date" camera :)). I took it out for a few days this past summer just to give it some much-needed exercise. Considering the circumstances, this shot was more of a fluke than anything else. But, in any case, it was nice to score a win for Team Pentax!
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Forum: General Photography
01-26-2020, 06:58 PM
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Shot with a K-x.... how many with thousands more dollars invested in modern or really expensive equipment didn't win this contest? All of them.
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Forum: General Photography
01-26-2020, 06:43 PM
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How appropriate that he used a legacy lens and camera. Ricoh has noted that Pentaxians tend keep using old hardware, so its funny that a brand can be so successful only in the way that is probably impossible to monetize. Makes me wonder why people always complain about the lack of new releases when clearly people still enjoy the existing offerings.
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Forum: General Photography
01-26-2020, 04:04 PM
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Hehe; no, I got the point, clackers! Like many legacy lenses, it just feels good in the hand.
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Forum: General Photography
01-26-2020, 03:27 PM
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It is a good lens. I enjoyed my copy until it broke.
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Forum: General Photography
01-26-2020, 02:15 PM
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(Laughs). I think you've misunderstood Uncle Vanya's point, it's not about the gear! A great photographer takes great pictures.
And that's you, Robert, congratulations!
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