KentG wrote:
A little history first. I have switched to different systems at least 5 times in my film days having used Canon, Pentax, and Minolta and switched back to a previous ones once or twice. I ended up going with Pentax in the digital era because I still had a few lenses left. I have never switched systems once without it being because I acquired a lens I just had to shoot. When Ron was alive we were all looking for a Holy Grail of lenses, the Sigma 100-300/4 EX in Pentax mount. I never found one. However I found one in Canon being sold by a published wildlife photographer. I had a Canon 20D I used for astrophotography. So I bought it. I liked it so much I ended up going thru a progression of 20D, 30D, 40D, 60D, and finally 80D currently. Meanwhile I was going thru a progression of Pentax *ist D, K10D, K20D, K5II, K5IIs, K3II, and K-1 plus K-01 and KS-1 when they were bargains. I generally use Pentax for everything but motorsports and sometimes Canon or Pentax for nature. Like others have said it sometimes not easy to find something you want in Pentax. But for the first time ever next month I will be going out to NM to visit by brother the pro and I will be only taking the K-1. First time since the film era I have only shot FF. While my brother mainly shoots LF he does have a Sony A7 (II or III I don't remember) system he uses in place of Polaroid for sample images and video production. He is one of the worlds top architectural shooters plus he does a lot of celebrity houses in Taos. And teaching at the Art Institute of Chicago. And books on the Southwest.
My personal opinion is you need a precise purpose for a second system. It must do something your regular system does not do as well. And I mean largely better not marginally better. Or you need a lens your current system does not have available. I have found over the years that most amateur shooters change cameras long before they ever finish getting the most out of their current system. And that can require testing.
Kent Gittings
Thanks for sharing. Hearing about the journey other's have taken is always very helpful. I think I'm really suffering from the amount of choices I have, and the amount of information and number of opinions can be overwhelming. It helps to talk it out with other photographers.
When you say "I have found over the years that most amateur shooters change cameras long before they ever finish getting the most out of their current system. And that can require testing."
I agree completely. This is why I have shot with a k20D for 15 years. There were many times I wanted to upgrade, but I said to myself, I have not yet reached the point where the camera is holding me back. I am still holding back the camera. After 15 years I finally could say the camera was beginning to hold me back, and I could justify the move to a newer full frame system. I wanted better low light performance, better ISO performance, higher MP for larger prints, the ability to use some of the excellent full frame lenses out there. I was missing many good shots because the AF on the k20D was so poor. I made many excellent images with that camera, and I still can, however my skill level has finally reached the point at which more camera is justified. I need a tool that can deliver well enough for me to be confident in doing minor professional work.
I say all of that to accentuate that I am not looking for a better camera in the sense that it will make up for a lack of skill.
The auto focus is not an issue for landscapes, or potential real estate work. (I live near near Chicago, there is endless real estate work here.) It's not great for sports, but that's only a tiny part of what I do and only for recreation. It's not a priority.
What is a priority is portraiture. I want to make sure I can have focus reliable and fast enough to not miss moments with children and pets. So, in the realm of Pentax gear I really want to procure the modern HD 85mm lens. Perhaps the auto focus on that lens will be adequate.
I've shot portraits for years with the 50mm 1.4 and it was sublime with the k20d. It's wonderful on the k1, but I would prefer the 85mm on full frame. Adding the 85mm 1.4 and the 15-30mm 2.8 would give me everything I need for landscapes and portraiture which are by far my main interests. I have a pretty solid grasp on portrait lighting. I've had training and experience with a school photography company so I'm solid on the different lightning configurations for portraits, custom white balance, metering etc. I'm not a master, but I'm also not a beginner with no experience in portraiture. I say all that just to paint a picture of where I am on this journey. I have plenty to learn, but I'm certainly competent at this point.
So part of this conundrum for me is admittedly emotional. I don't want to switch from a system and brand I've been with for more than 15 years. I'm attached. But perhaps that is foolish of me.
A K1 plus the 85mm alone will run about 3,698$ I have no idea if or when Pentax will update the full frame body. Maybe a year, maybe 5, maybe never.
A Nikon Z5 with the very good Nikon Z 85mm S would run me about 1700$. Less Megapixels at 24. Weather sealing and ruggedness not quite up to Pentax standards, and it is a more entry level body, but it will handle portraiture and head shots easily, and be fine for recreational landscapes. The other thing I can be sure of is that Nikon will produce updated bodies, so I can use something like the z5 while collecting great lenses while being confident there will be an upgrade path.
Similar could be said of a Sony A7 III, or Iv if I wanted to spend more on a body. I can collect lenses knowing that there is a future for the system.
Pentax has an identity and 'soul' if you will. I like them. They give me good feels. However, how much do I let that guide me? I do think it's important to shoot with a camera that you love to shoot with. I'm not a hustler, I'm not trying to make a big illustrious career. I'm not a young person with my eyes set on magazine covers. I'm 45 and looking to make my second career something I am passionate about. I'm just a solid photographer that wants to do mainly portrait work for a supplemental income because I love doing it, and I believe I'm good enough to do so.
Also, for perspective, my previous career was first technical support and then sales and retention management in the cable industry. I have well over 15 years of experience with sales and marketing, with customer contact and support, and with general business management. The business part is not intimidating to me. I forgot to talk about that in my original post, and I see that comes up a lot when people start talking about going pro.
So to circle back to your precise purpose statement, which I think is a great way to put it, my precise purpose is to make sure I have the tool that will provide a smooth experience when working with people. If it's just me and the K1, there are no real concerns. What I don't want to be doing is taking a bunch of time, and frustrating people I'm working with because the K1 won't focus reliably and quickly. That's really my biggest concern.
Am I going to irritate clients off when I keep having to retake shots of their kids because the k1 won't focus well enough? That's probably my biggest concern.
