A second non-Pentax body for my Pentax lenses...

Since Pentax decide to go the TOY camera direction for it's mirrorless option and I have these really nice FA and DA lenses which could easily be used on any ILMC, I am looking at alternatives to my K-5 as a second body. The main requirement is that the second body give me some additional benefit other than just lighter and smaller.

First up is the soon to be released Panasonic GX1. With a 16 Meg sensor and better IQ and DR than the older mFT models, this gives me a 2x multiplier rather than a 1.5. This makes a 200mm macro with zoom focusing from my DFA 100. Very nice. It also gives me a 800mm tele from my Tamron 400mm rather than a 600 with the K-5. Also since it is a manual lens, the zoom focusing would really help. A little more accurate than Catch Focus, I would tkink. Another option in the Pany lineup is the GH2. Does all the above and has a nice grip, same IQ as the GX1 plus variable aspect ratios which plays well with my Pany 7-14.

Down side on both is the lower DR and higher noise so ISO 6400 would not always be an option like it is with my K-5. At any rate, I already have a number of lenses for the mFT bodies so I am already a little invested.

The second option is the NEX bodies. The NEX 5n give me focus peaking and zoom focusing but not really anything else as it is the same sensor. Very limited body for other uses. Now the NEX 7 is a real possibility. Same multiplier but 24 megs rather than 16 so used with my DA 15, a good bit more data for those big landscapes. Focus peaking and zoom focusing for macro work and same for Tamron 400mm while also giving more data so cropping would be easier later.

The Nikon offering give no real advantage as the sensor is smaller and 10 meg so really just a crop of others. In the same fashion the Pentax Q even uses the word TOY on it's lenses so would never be a serious option.

So any thought or experiences with any of the above or other ideas welcome. My main interest is with the macros and the Tamron. I find the K-5 has a very limited LV option. So many warning of sensor overheating and all that mirror clinking and clanking. ILMC bodies just do macro better. As the same goes for MF and big teles.

Cheers, Dave
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DaveJC