Reading mode: Light Dark

Plan for my K-5, K-5 II, K-5 IIs, and K-3

Go to last post
B

brandrx

Forum Pro
Messages
28,337
Solutions
31
Reaction score
2,547
Location
UT, US
Hi folks,

FWIW: I cannot tell any difference between the K-5 IIs and the K-3 with the use of the same lens, and an image of the same subject, printed at 12x18 inches on A3+ (13x19 inch) paper. This is the largest size I will ever be printing.

So, my plan is to use the K-3 for BIFs because of it's better tracking and FPS ability, small birds that have landed because of it's cropping ability, and any other image that might require larger cropping.

I will be using the K-5, K-5 II, and K-5 IIs for everything else.

I now think I am set for the rest of my photographic life. However, if Ricoh produces a FF Pentax DSLR camera and / or a mirrorless in the form similar to the Sony NEX-6 or Nex-7 cameras then I will most likely buy them just because. :-)

Just my 2 cents on the subject.

Cheers and happy shooting everyone.

Ron
 
We both know if a new K2/K1 comes out, you'll be all over it :D
 
sounds like you have too many of the same type cameras sell a few!!!!
 
SBS said:
So what's your criteria for choosing the K5, or K5II, or K5IIs?
Click to expand...
IMO, any of the three can make quite good images in the kind of shooting that I do. So, in most instances I would grab any of the three to take the shot.

Ron
 
Hi Ron,

That sounds like a sound plan to me. Though perhaps a tad down to earth? I was going to write that you might have written the same a few years ago and see where we are now, but then I realized the K-3 is probably the first camera to have the cropping capabilities it presents us with.

As such, your plan could be a good one for me too, but featuring only one K-5 and a new K-3. I feel much worse about retiring my K-5 than I did when retiring earlier models for replacement by the new kid on the block. Of course, this may be because I have grown much more used to it having used it for 3 years compared to 1,5 years for each of the previous DSLRs. So keeping the K-3 ready with my FA*300 and the K-5 for the rest could be an alternative for me too and avoid my separation from my beloved K-5.

OTOH, the fight for space in my camera bag is a fierce one, and lenses generally get priority over bodies. Even when I take my largest bag (the LowePro Slingshot 300AW) to have maximum flexibility on one of my multiweek trips, the large lenses fill up the available space so fast. In truth I don't ever see myself carrying more than one body. But of course you have a very large camera bag compared to me (i.e. your car if I'm not mistaken? ;-) ) so you come from a different angle.

Anyway... my K-5 will *have* to go... while my heart breaks...

Wim
 
Ishpuini said:
Hi Ron,
Click to expand...
Hi Wim,
Ishpuini said:
That sounds like a sound plan to me. Though perhaps a tad down to earth? I was going to write that you might have written the same a few years ago and see where we are now, but then I realized the K-3 is probably the first camera to have the cropping capabilities it presents us with.

As such, your plan could be a good one for me too, but featuring only one K-5 and a new K-3. I feel much worse about retiring my K-5 than I did when retiring earlier models for replacement by the new kid on the block. Of course, this may be because I have grown much more used to it having used it for 3 years compared to 1,5 years for each of the previous DSLRs. So keeping the K-3 ready with my FA*300 and the K-5 for the rest could be an alternative for me too and avoid my separation from my beloved K-5.

OTOH, the fight for space in my camera bag is a fierce one, and lenses generally get priority over bodies. Even when I take my largest bag (the LowePro Slingshot 300AW) to have maximum flexibility on one of my multiweek trips, the large lenses fill up the available space so fast. In truth I don't ever see myself carrying more than one body. But of course you have a very large camera bag compared to me (i.e. your car if I'm not mistaken? ;-) ) so you come from a different angle.
Click to expand...
Yes, my gear carrier is my Jeep. Most of my shooting is done from inside my Jeep or within 100 feet or so. Sometimes I will walk, sometimes as much as a quarter mile, to my place of shooting. In those times I will probably only take the K-3 and the K-5 IIs.
Ishpuini said:
Anyway... my K-5 will *have* to go... while my heart breaks...
Click to expand...
Cheers.

Ron
 
brandrx said:
Hi folks,

FWIW: I cannot tell any difference between the K-5 IIs and the K-3 with the use of the same lens, and an image of the same subject, printed at 12x18 inches on A3+ (13x19 inch) paper. This is the largest size I will ever be printing.

So, my plan is to use the K-3 for BIFs because of it's better tracking and FPS ability, small birds that have landed because of it's cropping ability, and any other image that might require larger cropping.

I will be using the K-5, K-5 II, and K-5 IIs for everything else.

I now think I am set for the rest of my photographic life. However, if Ricoh produces a FF Pentax DSLR camera and / or a mirrorless in the form similar to the Sony NEX-6 or Nex-7 cameras then I will most likely buy them just because. :-)

Just my 2 cents on the subject.

Cheers and happy shooting everyone.

Ron
Click to expand...
 
brandrx said:
Hi folks,

FWIW: I cannot tell any difference between the K-5 IIs and the K-3 with the use of the same lens, and an image of the same subject, printed at 12x18 inches on A3+ (13x19 inch) paper. This is the largest size I will ever be printing.

So, my plan is to use the K-3 for BIFs because of it's better tracking and FPS ability, small birds that have landed because of it's cropping ability, and any other image that might require larger cropping.

I will be using the K-5, K-5 II, and K-5 IIs for everything else.

I now think I am set for the rest of my photographic life. However, if Ricoh produces a FF Pentax DSLR camera and / or a mirrorless in the form similar to the Sony NEX-6 or Nex-7 cameras then I will most likely buy them just because. :-)

Just my 2 cents on the subject.

Cheers and happy shooting everyone.

Ron
Click to expand...
That is exactly what I do. I designate K-3 as mostly permanent attachment to the Sigma 500/4.5 and use K-5IIs as a second body with FA*300/4.5 or DA*60-250/4, or, on rare occasion, with some UWAs. And I use IIs for other everyday needs.

My biggest challenge now is creating comfortable way of carrying/shooting the 2nd body on the go along with 500/4.5 rig. I have a partial solution now. However, I believe, I know already what to do and how to make both cameras equally accessible..

My trustworthy 3+ years old original K-5 collects dust on a shelf.
 
Last edited:
Last edited:
brandrx said:
Hi folks,

FWIW: I cannot tell any difference between the K-5 IIs and the K-3 with the use of the same lens, and an image of the same subject, printed at 12x18 inches on A3+ (13x19 inch) paper. This is the largest size I will ever be printing.

So, my plan is to use the K-3 for BIFs because of it's better tracking and FPS ability, small birds that have landed because of it's cropping ability, and any other image that might require larger cropping.

I will be using the K-5, K-5 II, and K-5 IIs for everything else.

I now think I am set for the rest of my photographic life. However, if Ricoh produces a FF Pentax DSLR camera and / or a mirrorless in the form similar to the Sony NEX-6 or Nex-7 cameras then I will most likely buy them just because. :-)

Just my 2 cents on the subject.

Cheers and happy shooting everyone.

Ron
Click to expand...
Ron,

Do you think you would be able to crop significantly more with the K3 if you needed to, or isn't it that much difference?

John
 
johnat60 said:
brandrx said:
Hi folks,

FWIW: I cannot tell any difference between the K-5 IIs and the K-3 with the use of the same lens, and an image of the same subject, printed at 12x18 inches on A3+ (13x19 inch) paper. This is the largest size I will ever be printing.

So, my plan is to use the K-3 for BIFs because of it's better tracking and FPS ability, small birds that have landed because of it's cropping ability, and any other image that might require larger cropping.

I will be using the K-5, K-5 II, and K-5 IIs for everything else.

I now think I am set for the rest of my photographic life. However, if Ricoh produces a FF Pentax DSLR camera and / or a mirrorless in the form similar to the Sony NEX-6 or Nex-7 cameras then I will most likely buy them just because. :-)

Just my 2 cents on the subject.

Cheers and happy shooting everyone.

Ron
Click to expand...
Ron,

Do you think you would be able to crop significantly more with the K3 if you needed to, or isn't it that much difference?
Click to expand...
Hi John,

I havn't done it yet but yes, you can crop more from a K-3 than from a K-5 IIs.

FWIW: Most of my printing is at the 8x10 inch size. For that size I can crop quite a bit from the K5, K-5 II, or K-5 IIs iamges and still get a presentable image. In many cases I can even crop an image from the K-5, K-5 II, or K-5 IIs and still get an image that will print OK at 12x18 inches.

Ron
 
Last edited:
I can loan you my full frame Pentax if it would help with your future decisions.

ME Super. High mileage, but in perfect working order.
 
I use all three of my K-5 bodies when birding. K-5 on the F* 300 while K-5 IIs are on 60-250 and Tamron Adaptall 400 f4. Will eventually replace classic 5 with 3 when price drops a lot. I can afford wait. reason for 3 bodies and 3 lenses is that I have picked up dust when field swapping. I mostly shoot from or near my car so carrying them all is not a problem.

--
DaveJC
 
Last edited:
brandrx said:
Hi folks,

FWIW: I cannot tell any difference between the K-5 IIs and the K-3 with the use of the same lens, and an image of the same subject, printed at 12x18 inches on A3+ (13x19 inch) paper. This is the largest size I will ever be printing.

So, my plan is to use the K-3 for BIFs because of it's better tracking and FPS ability, small birds that have landed because of it's cropping ability, and any other image that might require larger cropping.
Click to expand...
I think it was ever thus. If you shoot pictures to do an objective comparison between a sensor and its predecessor the differences (excluding stupid levels of magnification) are very small - bordering on invisible. With more pixels to digitize the image you'll get more benefit from a good lens, but even then very small. The differences in sensors tend to be noise and dynamic range. (K5 is much better than the K7 in this regard, but the extra pixels are really neither here nor there). For me this means I take pictures with the K5 I would not have considered with the K7 or K10D, or *ist-D

Although they can crop more from higher resolution, if you crop to 4 MP from 16 and 4Mp from 24 you're getting 1/4 of the image detail digitized with 4 Million pixels and 1/6 of the image detail digitized with 4MP , obviously the former is better. If you crop 1/4 of the image from the 24 you digitize it with 6MP so that's obviously better. Somewhere you get the same quality, but it might be 20% of the image size and 4.8MP or some other point in between.

As technology improves the stuff around the sensor gets better. A K3 with a 6MP sensor, would still be a far better cameras than the *ist-D.

The only way that you will get a step change is to change what is in the image you're digitizing, either by a big improvement in lens quality or by changing the sensor size. Once I was convinced everyone would move to 36x24 size sensors. Sony, Pentax, Nikon and Canon have all mirror boxes which would support that and a history of making lenses for that format. The more time passes the convinced I am that it will be so clear cut.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

MG Monochrome conversion
Pentax K-7, K-5, K-3 or K-1 Service manuals
Replies
0
Views
612
MG Monochrome conversion
MG Monochrome conversion
J
Just got a new old FZ-1000 II... see ya, Leica!
Replies
2
Views
3K
sherman_levine
sherman_levine
J
Not quite goodbye but...
2 3
Replies
52
Views
19K
James O'Neill
J
marcin eden
Sony a6700 or Pentax K-3 III
Replies
10
Views
604
Mark Sloe
M
Z
Which Sony NEX is best suited for timelapses? (NEX or old used Alpha)
Replies
17
Views
1K
Ziutek-Auto-Photos
Z

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top