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Forum: Pentax KP
10-17-2017, 05:48 PM
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I have all three styles. The K-5 IIs is similar to the K-3, the K-S2 is similar to the K-70, and the KP is not similar to anything else. It is not really a replacement for the others, because controls and features are different, as well as the more professional feel and design compared to the K-70/K-S2, but these have the swing-around rear screen and controls for pointing the camera at yourself and friends, or around a corner, which is also cool. As longbow has said, the KP is designed to be suitable in quality and design to be the APS-C field-carrying companion to the K-1, and is indeed the compact APS-C body closest to the K-1 in style, quality and performance.
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Forum: Pentax KP
05-08-2017, 03:35 PM
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You're very welcome, Danny- I'm sure you will enjoy your Pentax experience!
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Forum: Pentax KP
05-06-2017, 01:25 PM
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Monochrome, you do have some treasures!
The MZ-S is one unique camera- I also have that model. The smallest, lightest, metal-body professional grade AF SLR ever made. I also have the battery grip. Handling as you know, is very good with or without the grip. The only MF body I have left is the Super Program in silver/black. I keep the little MF 40mm f/2.8 on it. I am likely to sell my nice ZX-5n, but keep the likewise compact ZX-L since it can effortlessly take and use either a lens aperture ring, or a lens with none, to the degree they were designed for, without any penalty. Too bad Pentax DSLRs did not follow that design!
I'll most likely sell the big Pentax PZ-1p, which was my favorite AF film model, and in many ways the most advanced. But it has not seen use in at lest several years. Trouble is, even if in perfect condition, you can't get much for these film bodies anyway.
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Forum: Pentax KP
05-05-2017, 12:01 PM
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I tend to look at my next acquisitions in terms of- improved results and expanded usability. The newly added capabilities with added suitability for particular circumstances. I have some older bodies and even some lenses I no longer use, and will finally sell. But some very fine FF lenses I have not been using much will again find more use if I get a K-1! All my Limiteds, both FA and DA, are here to stay!
For example, I really like portability and high quality together, which the KP and Limiteds are all about- although also quickly adaptable for telephoto use. Some years ago a young friend and his fiancé were graduating from a large university, and invited me to attend. Of course they knew I would bring" a camera". That was the year I upgraded to the lightweight K-r and the K-5, (and later the K-5IIs) both of which are far better for low light/higher ISO than my older K-20D and K-200D. Well, I did indeed bring "a camera", an all-around zoom for group shots afterward, etc., and brought out some of my big guns- DA* 50-135mm f/2.8, DA* 200mm f/2.8, and FA 300mm f/4.5 since I was not sure of distances I might be facing. It turned out the ceremony took place in a huge sports arena, and through their friend we were positioned in an executive suite with kitchen, bar, behind-glass seating, as well as its open balcony seats, at a considerable distance from the stage. I got shots of my friends entering the huge arena, in groups with other graduates, and various parts of the ceremony. I soon established that with APS-C it was my DA* 200mm that provided excellent framing for the most critical closeups from a balcony seat. My friends and their families were knocked out by the photos I provided. They knew without saying, nothing like that could have been obtained by their phones or P&S cameras!
Last year I gave those friends my little K-r (their first interchangeable lens camera), replacing it with a K-S2 at a bargain price- $508 including the little compact kit zoom. It will continue on as my "party" casual compact, lightweight DSLR, also having the articulating screen. It has the "selfie" button, where with a WA lens, maybe the DA 15mm LTD, or even the DA fisheye zoom, I can get some fun shots with my friends!
So I view everything in my current kit will fit a particular use circumstance.
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Forum: Pentax KP
05-04-2017, 11:18 AM
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Very encouraging! I will probably wind up like monochrome, and eventually get a K-1 as well. My main draw is that I do have numerous fine FF lenses, and look forward to their use in the original format they were designed for. But for extensive hiking and biking, it will be the KP for sure!
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Forum: Pentax KP
05-03-2017, 12:36 PM
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This is great feedback, and reinforces my plan to get one! Maybe this month. Like kape, I already have some Limited primes, both FA and DA. The KP is proving to be both optimum for the Limited primes, and versatile for other lenses. I'll opt for the silver. @ Dannyv- yes, that does sound like a good deal! Be sure to try out the exclusive Pentax Hyper System. Owners manuals no longer make this feature clear. In Program mode you can select a different shutter speed, or aperture on the fly without even having to take your eye from the VF just by selecting what you want with the thumb or finger dial, and it will stay thus shifted into Av or Tv mode (you can go back and forth!) as long as light allows metering, until you hit the green button to return to full P mode, or turn off the camera.
In Manual mode, you can use the green button to get instant center-meter exposure according to program line instead of the regular twirling of Av and Tv dials. Then if you wish a different aperture or shutter speed, select form there, but if you first hit the AE-L button to lock exposure, as you select a different aperture or shutter speed, the other will follow along, preserving your exposure value! Very quick. It is also great for quickly spot metering around a scene in M mode using the green button!
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Forum: Pentax KP
03-11-2017, 03:08 PM
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It appears to me as a quality product, and is quite a beautiful design. There were some complaints way back regarding the last Pentax flagship 35mm film SLR, the MZ-S, that it seemed cheap and plasticky, even though being of magnesium alloy construction. Its smaller, lighter body gave such an impression to those used to a heavier camera. I have both a black and a silver version of that model- it is very well made, though light-weight. It is substantially lighter than a KP!
I like the changeable grip idea. I can see where the vertical front control dial takes a bit of real estate from the grip, maybe a horizontal one could have had a smaller housing with more room for grip hight. The reviewer was obviously used to a heavier design and more substantial grip. He would have been happier had he been using the optional battery grip. The concept is, to offer something of very high performing imaging quality in an APS-C DSLR, that is closer in compactness to the mirrorless models, but expandable in size and handling when needed. I anticipate I will be happy with the smallest grip when I am going about with a prime kit of Limiteds, like the 21mm, 40 or 43mm, and the 77mm. Or maybe the medium grip when I decide going with a slightly larger kit, the 20-40mm plus 77mm. I will also buy the battery grip. Going with larger lenses, if I use the KP instead of the K-5 IIs, I may well employ the battery grip, which certainly will provide adequate finger room and secure holding!
When using larger lenses, I tend to hold from underneath the lens anyway while actually shooting, but battery grips are more secure for overall handling with larger lenses, as well as doing lots of vertical shots.
I am curious as to how I will like the extra top-knobs control layout, if I will actually make use of what they offer, to justify the lack of a top LCD. I've had similar thoughts regarding the K-1. The reviewer was right about the bargain the K-70 represents! At the same time, he acknowledges several advanced aspects where the higher KP cost is justified. And it is indeed essentially a metal-body design, unlike the K-70 . I am looking forward to getting a KP!
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Forum: Pentax KP
02-28-2017, 01:42 PM
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Beautiful! Congrats!! And the great thing is, it will perform beautifully too! I agree, very good lens choice- so tiny. I already have the larger (ha-ha) standard 40mm f/2.8 in black, so I am pleased to see it looks so good with the silver body, which I plan to get. I also have for several months now, the 20-40mm Limited zoom lens in silver, and other silver version lenses, including 43mm and 77mm Limiteds. Apparently, either silver or black lenses look great on the silver body!
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