Pentax appeal

Recently discussed in the following thread: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1036&message=41622767
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Egglestonworks said:

sfa1966 said:

Egglestonworks said:

... nor are they the most durable,

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Sorry, but - where have you got this from?
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Cheers,
sfa

A very limited photographer ...

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Sorry I only meant that they weren't heavily built like the top pro models from Nikon and canon.

Certainly pentax cameras feel as substantial as most of the other cameras, but I haven't seen a tank-like model.

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Haven't taken the time to read your other replies, but this really discloses that you've not ever handled the metal-bodied, fully weather-sealed K-5, at least.

Anyway, from the DPR review conclusion:

"The K-5 is small but perfectly formed. The magnesium alloy body shell is rigid and the whole camera has a feeling of reassuring solidity which belies its dimensions. In general we love the way that the K-5 is designed. All of the major controls fall easily to hand, and the positioning of the various control points is very sensible."
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Cheers,
sfa

A very limited photographer ...

I've tried my friends Canon a couple of times and it's oversized. It lacks some things I like too such as multi exposure that I use quite often to give the effect of a long exposure without a ND filter. And also the viewfinder is too cluttered with AF points it's way over the top I couldn't hardly see what I was shooting with all that red lighting up. But if it was one thing it's got to be the compactness of the body and the ergonomics. The 7D feels like holding a cheese wheel. I could be talked into a Nikon though but I would have to pay a lot more for the weather sealed lenses.

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As a total novice and cheapskate, at first I was attracted to the price and features. Pentax was cheaper and had more to offer. When I finally tried one (a K100d) I loved it. It felt like you could club somebody to death with it and then take a photo of the dead body.

The UI design is elegant and just seems "right." They also have a personality and quirkiness that's oddly appealing.

I happen to have a Nikon now and it takes great pictures. But there's always the irritation of knowing they've channeled me into the marketing segment that suits their profit margin best. In order to compete with the "big boys" Pentax has to offer a little more. The new K-30 sure looks temping from where I am now.

Egglestonworks said:

Sorry I only meant that they weren't heavily built like the top pro models from Nikon and canon.

Certainly pentax cameras feel as substantial as most of the other cameras, but I haven't seen a tank-like model.

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If by tank-like you mean unnecessarily large and heavy, you are correct. Pentax has always prided themselves on amazing build quality in a smaller and lighter package than the competition. So no, it's not just that that they are "as substantial as most of the other cameras", it's that virtually every single model Pentax has produced is significantly more substantial than anything else in its size/weight/price class. Only a small handful of Penax models have been only average in build quality - most are noticeably above average, to the point of being the only cameras in their class, period.

For me, coming to Pentax before the advent of SR, I have to say build quality and ergonomics were the main draw. This was obvious in every way when comparing the *istDS against the closest competing Canon or Nikon models. It felt better in all ways that mattered in terms of actual durability as well as usability. It was just obviously a better designed and made camera than the others (most obviously so when compared to the Canon; the Nikon was a less distant second). Oh yeah, being ale to run on AA's was and remains a huge plus for the consumer models.

Other things have changed since. In addition to the build quality and ergonomics of the cameras (look up "Green button" and weep), SR is one of the reasons I will never leave Pentax unless forced to. But so are the amazing lenses - amazing optically, but also in their build quality and in their intelligent choice of focal lengths, and of course their small size. Plus the legendary backward compatibility.

My regular kit is the ruggedly built and weather sealed K200D, which retailed for $600 or so - unheard to have a camera that well built for that cheap - three all-metal and pocketable Limited primes (DA15, DA40, DA70), and an old manual focus all-metal M120/2.8 that meters, works, and renders just beautifully, and is also probably the smallest/lightest lens of that focal length & aperture ever made.

I would submit that not a single element of this ki*t could be reproduced in a Canon or Nikon kit. They have never once in their history produced a camera remotely like the K200D or lenses like the DA15, DA40, or DA70, and if they ever had anything like the old M120/2.8, it wouldn't work with any of the modern cameras. I'd have to replace this with a kit that weighed about twice as much and required twice as big a bag. And if I wanted to come close to the amazing build quality (including water sealing on the body and all-metal construction of the lenses) of this combo, it would cost me twice as much as my kit cost me. No thanks.

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Lucky you

Seriously, i think you resumed the situation of Pentax lenses very well.

The best DA* and Limited are not cheap but i see it more as an investment for the long term, a great lens with better built quality will be with you for a very long time!
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Leopold
Pentax forever
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it's the major reason i'm still with Pentax after all those years, i've tried other brands but i can't find the rendering of the what the Pentax lenses gives in a photo.
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Leopold
Pentax forever
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"...the K-5 - arguably the best APS-C DSLR currently on the market." Richard Butler, DPreview http://bit.ly/JAdJbc

..."personally I'd say that the K-5/K-7 design is one of the very best-handling DSLRs I've ever used - and that covers most of them." Andy Westlake, DPreview.com http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...ssage=40986779

Egglestonworks said:

Interesting comments on the durability, that's something I was unaware of.
How are the ergonomics compared to other cameras you've used before?

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"But the company still struggles at getting the recognition it deserves, probably in part because they only have such a small part of the market share"

That's one of the difficulties of jumping in. Lots more Canon and Nikon cameras were sold; harder to find a used Pentax DSLR body. And fewer current models at any given time. Good signs since Ricoh purchase-new product is coming out. But if cell phone, etc. keep encroaching on P&S sales, I think several OEMs will face tougher times. For example, not sure how Casio continues to compete.

I concur with a lot of the previous comments.

I use a Canon 7d and a K5. The Canon is a good camera, but the K5 smashes it for ergonomics, and ease of use. I can also testify to the strength of the K5. I've accidentally dropped it from a height of 1m onto concrete and it didn't miss a beat!

People always rave about the Canon or Nikon lenses. Yes they may have some great lenses, I own a couple L series Canon lenses, but oh my goodness the cost and weight.

If you enjoy hiking/climbing/outdoor activities, you can't beat Pentax and its WR lenses.

I also love the fact of when I show people photos I've taken, especially of my family and friends (which I haven't posted in my gallery as I think they are private and personal), they can't believe they aren't from a big Canon or Nikon camera, but from my little K5.

Just on a side note, I recently purchased a K10 and love the size of this camera, and how easy it is to remove the SD card. Hope to post some landscape pictures from it soon.

Anyway I'm not trying to bag the other brands. I'm only an amateur who enjoys taking photos even if not all of them are good. All brands have some great cameras with there own pro's/cons. I look at the fanboys going at it with the 5D Mk3 and D800/E and I can't help but laugh. I would be happy with either camera if I could afford it. I just can't stand how people try to denigrate other brands as being completely useless (just to justify their own choice) as has been happening lately on some of the Forums.

I'm not referring in anyway to the OP with the last comment.

Peace and enjoy photography.

The cameras are not as durable? Fiddlesticks! My Pentax Sptomatic that I inherited works like to this day, and it saw countless hours in the field of the Western United States in my Grandpa's hands! And Pentax has the best primes in the business! I love my collection of old screwmounts, which work fabulously with my K200D!

Egglestonworks said:

Pentax shooters, I'm curious, what is the appeal of Pentax to you? : ) I noticed they aren't the fastest cameras, nor full frame nor are they the most durable, nor the highest resolution yet Pentax still survives and thrives whereas something like Minolta has already fallen by the wayside.

Is it the history, the ergonomics, the "alternative-ness" of it? I'm curious. For the record I shoot with Canon but I've always had a sentimental soft spot for Pentax, and frankly I have no idea why since I've never used any of their cameras.

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Hi,

All brands of DSLR are fantastic tools that will take great photos. Yes they differ in their specs and ergonomics. And yes, Pentax has its own characteristics. But what's not said so much is that you have to be happy with the aesthetics of a brand and a camera as well as its technical performance. I really think that a good part of the attraction that owners have to a camera they've chosen is about psychology....... personal preference about its brand positioning and the camera's looks and "feel". (If you don't believe this, just look how aesthetics, not performance, dominated the Pentax forum reaction to the K01. Never did a new model generate such polarised views).

For me, even though I've used and owned other brands in the past, I can't think of any APSC camera I'd rather own than the K5. It's the current end result of a mature line of development, and although some people would like additions (swivel screen, tethering, etc) it really is a very capable and well featured camera in a compact package. Add high build quality, WR sealing and some excellent small lenses, and you've arguably the best outdoor/travel DSLR on the market. For me, Pentax just got that one 'right'. I'm happy that other people get as much pleasure from choices that are different from mine.

Cheers, Rod

Perhaps this will seal the deal on any reluctance towards Pentax cameras, specifically her flagship, the K-5.

-Heie

Shhh - don't say anything. Why is everyone giving the game away - we know how good the system is and the critical nature of the forum shows us that the average pentax user is a very keen photographer, rather than uninitiated. Sure we love the practical nature of these cameras and their design is geared towards users not posers, but we don't need to let the great unwashed know.

Photographers will find Pentax, Olympus, Hassleblad's, etc. - let the rest worry about their brand bling and gimmicks. Sometimes I worry that people buy Pentax becasue someone else says its cool - it's not and never will be. They just work well, are a bargain and that is fine by me. I shudder to think of the day someone says I bought one because Robbie Williams used one in an ad...

Jim King said:

The DA, DA*, and DA Limited lenses for digital have risen in price to the level of the competition - they were formerly somewhat less expensive - so you will read some unhappy posts about prices from those who still remember the "good old days." OTOH, many of the older used film era lenses (perfectly usable on digital as well) still represent a reasonably priced alternative. Many of these are manual focus (M42 screw mount; K, M, and A bayonet mount) which makes them less popular and thus their prices have generally remained reasonable. Also, the current DA kit zooms and economy DA primes are still reasonably priced and deliver above-average optical performance IMO. And there are both used and new lenses for Pentax
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Thank you soooo much for the explanation , i was totally lost

L lenses? Leica and Zeiss is a better comparison.
--
Variance is Evil!

Its a thinking persons camera - shows they've put some thought in their photography.
Not just gone with the majority(s).

awaldram said:

Wheatfield said:

Egglestonworks said:

Pentax shooters, I'm curious, what is the appeal of Pentax to you? : ) I noticed they aren't the fastest cameras, nor full frame nor are they the most durable, nor the highest resolution yet Pentax still survives and thrives whereas something like Minolta has already fallen by the wayside.

Is it the history, the ergonomics, the "alternative-ness" of it? I'm curious. For the record I shoot with Canon but I've always had a sentimental soft spot for Pentax, and frankly I have no idea why since I've never used any of their cameras.

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The lenses. What I don't understand is people who buy a Pentax body and then use third party glass.
The only reason to use Pentax is the glass.

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Wot those weedy little pancakes, You get a small body so your 'mans' lens looks bigger
Till you've tried quality 3rd party glass maybe you'd believe what you said
But try the

Sigma 85 1.4, 50 1.4, 300 F2.8, 500 f4.5, 400 telemacro and I sure you'd change your mind

Not using 3rd party glass is like chopping off your left arm because your right handed.

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You don't get it. Those lenses are all available in mounts for cameras that have much higher performance standards than Pentax. A Nikon D7K runs circles around a K5 for similar money (I've used both and know of what I speak).

If there is one camera company who make fantastic Medium format, 35mm, APSc and even smaller cameras and still ensure that the lens from the last era Medium format works on all of those, it is Pentax. I use my 645NII, LX in equal measure to K20D and K5. Apart from the stellar lens selection on 35mm my P645-75mm & P645-300mm work flawlessly on LX, K20D & K5

I think anybody who has a good experience with a product becomes a fan of that brand.

I bought an ME-Super in Singpaore in 1980 during a round-the-world back-packing trip. I really liked how small and light it was for travelling with, and after working in Australia to replenish my funds, I had enough money to buy a Pentax LX in Hong Kong on my way home to the UK.

A couple of years later I was trekking in Nepal. One morning I went with quite a few others, up to the top of a place called Poon Hill, from where we could watch the sun rise over the Annapurna range. It was bitterly cold - around -10C, but I was able to get some great shots. As I was doing so, an American gentleman came over and asked if my camera was working. Neither of his two Nikons (F2's if I recall correctly) would work at that low temperature.

I pointed out that not only was my LX working 100% but if the battery would not take the low temperature, it would still work with half a dozen mechanical shutter speeds. He was so impressed that he told me that he would be buying two LX's on his way home via Hong Kong (and dumping the Nikons)!

Both ME-Super and LX have been around the world with me in the less than ideal conditions that back-packing entails, and have never let me down. I am so looking forward to owning a Pentax DSLR but I'm waiting for an articulating viewing screen.