Please help me think through a possible system change. (cross post) Thanks!

Gary Martin wrote:

Ha, I saw this post on Reddit and almost responded there. I think many of us have had a similar journey. But we all have different needs and preferences; for example, I have no interest in shooting sports or fast action. I *might* try my hand at shooting birds at some point, but have no current plans.

Like you, I became somewhat frustrated with the lack of direction from Pentax, and I started researching a move to a modern mirrorless system. I had no interest in Canon because I don't like their lens selection, so I tried Sony (A7III at the time) and a Nikon Z6. The Sony had amazing AF performance, but I just didn't bond with it, or the Nikon for that matter. Then I tried the Fuji X-T4 and that camera really connected with me, so I went in that direction. I currently own about a half dozen Fuji lenses, and the system performs great for my usage. I don't shoot action, but I found the AF excellent for shooting people and pets, and I even did a paid model shoot for a friend and the results were excellent. There are definite advantages to modern mirrorless systems.

After not using my K-1 for a while, I took it on a road trip with me, and shot it alongside my X-T4. When I reviewed the files in Lightroom, I was stunned at how much better the K-1 files looked, even as thumbnails. The files produced by the K-1 have an intangible quality, and stand up against anything else out there, IMO, even as a camera from 2016 with an "old" sensor.

So I started using my K-1 again and fell back in love with that camera. I completed my Limited prime lens lineup for it by getting the new D-FA 21, which is a truly spectacular lens. I recently took another road trip with just the K-1 and the 21, 31, 43 and 77 Limited primes, and I'm convinced there is no better system for me and the kind of work I like to do. I still use my Fuji when I want to travel light or be unobtrusive, but I love the purposeful feel of the K-1 when I use it, and the lenses I have are sublime.

It's highly unlikely that my experience will mirror yours. But I just thought I would give you my perspective on this. The grass does always seem greener on the other side, so just be careful about how you spend your money. Regardless, good luck with your decision.

Thank you, I appreciate you sharing your experience. I do definitely value connecting with a camera. I think it makes you a better photographer when you love the tool you are using. I find Fujifilm very interesting, but I'm done with APS-C. My K20D can handle any APS-C shooting I want do, and the fuji medium format are in general more expensive and not suited to what I want to do from what I can see of them.

You know, I tried out the 77 limited and I actually don't care for it. I find it hunts for focus a lot, is loud, and slow as well as hunting. I was surprised by that because it is a much beloved lens. However, I honestly like my SDM 50MM 1.4 much better. It's smoother, stops down lower, doesn't hunt nearly as much, and I like the photos I get out of it better so far. I thought I got a bad copy of the 77 so I exchanged it and have found it to be the same. Now, I've only worked with it indoors so far, so I have to give it a fair shake outside in better light, but for my purposes I just love that 50mm 1.4

I really want to try the 85mm. That's the lens I lust for the most.