Damn it Pentax: my K3 thoughts... no, ramblings...

Hi all, think of this as my own self counselling.

So I currently shoot Canon, lured by the lack of availability of Pentax gear in the UK at a time when I decided wedding photography would become something more than just a part time deal, and the 5DII. I now shoot with a 6D + 5DII. But the 5DII is starting to show it's age, plus I'm a few years wiser. You see, when I shot with my K20D (which I utterly loved and still do believe is one of the best cameras to hold) I was seeing all the loveliness and magic that was full frame. And yes, the Canon 6D + 35 1.4 is the finest combination I can get for what I do. Small(ish) full frame camera and beautiful 35mm 1.4 lens, perfick. But full frame isn't magical, APS-C can compete (provided you pop the right lenses on the camera of course).

And then there's the "me" factor. I am one of those people that simply gets bored. I can't help it. I see new things, I want new things. And this is where the K3 comes into play....

I've not really thought much about what Pentax have offered lately. I guess it's not there fault, in time we'll look back on this period in Pentax' history and realise it was a tough one, so the odds on them producing innovative cameras was pretty slim. (And to that note I'm really surprised they didn't jump in early to the mirrorless world).

But then came the K3, and once again those buggars at Pentax have caught my eye. Because good Lordy does it look good on paper. And, having shot with a *ist DS (my first ever "proper camera") and a *ist D AND my beloved K20, I just know that this camera is going to sit soooo comfortably in the hand and will be soooo nice to shoot with. Then there's the dual card slots, the improved video capabilities (I've started shooting video) and oh yes, the ergonomics. Plus all the other stuff I probably don't need to tell you about.

So suddenly I start thinking about trading the 5DII (which I barely use now since the 6D does 90% of the leg work) and getting one of these. Then I research the lenses and feel all sad Why? Because I owned the 21mm, the 43mm and the 70mm. And back then I bought all three for under £1000. To buy those 3 again in the UK would cost me £1600. Yep, it's my own fault, but still, it sucks!

Anyway, not really much point to this, it's just me on the couch getting it off my chest.

Merry Christmas Pentaxians!

Hi Gav

Long time no speak, Good to hear from you  are your ready for Christmas.?

Can't help you with the hang wringing as I'd only make it worse !

Anyway don't be a stranger and have a great Christmas.

I know where you are coming from, my wife call it the butterfly effect, the grass is always greener ect, im one of those, got the T shirt, if money was no object i would have several systems and probably wont be happy with any. The trouble is things move fast in electrical stuff, and one can dream about tomorrows offerings, but newer in my experience dont always equate to better. Regarding the 6D i find its an exceptional camera at high ISO, last christmas i shot some at max ISO 102,000 madness even though blotchy surprised at the results, ISO 25600 is incredible.  

Alan.
It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.
Mark Twain

Canon's good for one thing only: coffee mugs!

JeffAHayes wrote:

Canon's good for one thing only: coffee mugs!

Wow I'm on a role

awaldram wrote:

Hi Gav

Long time no speak, Good to hear from you are your ready for Christmas.?

Can't help you with the hang wringing as I'd only make it worse !

Anyway don't be a stranger and have a great Christmas.

Hey, good to hear from you again. My forum days were very rare for most of the year until I started getting the hankering for something new a couple of months back. Bought the Panasonic GX7 but tbh as much as I think it's a great piece of technology, I'm just not "feeling it" if you get me?? Started consider the Fuji's, especially with the X-Pro1 deals in the UK. Then I saw the K3. I'm just such a sucker for how Pentax design a camera. And dual SD card slots: the biggest sin of Canon's crippling of the 6D (tho don't get me wrong, the 6D is a bloody good camera!)

I'll hang around more, I've always liked the Pentax forums

Zvonimir Tosic wrote:

.. but you have dumped the lovely Pentaxiana for a ugly one, Canonada, that came with a large family dowry to help marry her.

It happens all the time. You will always remember your first love while consorting yourself that you have married for family money, not happiness. Or love.

The emotional attachment to a camera is kinda like a marriage at times eh!

ASR45 wrote:

I know where you are coming from, my wife call it the butterfly effect, the grass is always greener ect, im one of those, got the T shirt, if money was no object i would have several systems and probably wont be happy with any. The trouble is things move fast in electrical stuff, and one can dream about tomorrows offerings, but newer in my experience dont always equate to better. Regarding the 6D i find its an exceptional camera at high ISO, last christmas i shot some at max ISO 102,000 madness even though blotchy surprised at the results, ISO 25600 is incredible.

Alan.
It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.
Mark Twain

Looking at your gear list says we are most definitely on the same page. It's a nightmare eh. Cameras and lenses are definitely my weakness. Would just love to be able go "hey, today I'm buying a K3 and the FA31" Grrr

cheddargav wrote:

"hey, today I'm buying a K3 and the FA31" Grrr

Oh heck, save yourself a bit of change: get a K-3 and DA40 xs, I see them for $150 now and then.

 Hey where's the cruel mischievous grin icon when you need it?

awaldram wrote:

JeffAHayes wrote:

Canon's good for one thing only: coffee mugs!

Wow I'm on a role

Thank goodness no PK mocha mugs, I'd really test the WR feature before the caffeine hit me!  Oh it has built-in stabilizer, wish my mug had that

Toccata47 wrote:

It's funny, just yesterday I was reading a post on another board with very nearly the exact same title but a totally different conclusion. Rather, it was a comparison between a recently purchased k3 +31mm limited vs. a sigma dp merrill (I believe it was a dp2m). The sigma had quite the better showing.

Are you sure about that? I just read a thread on Pentax Forums called "K-3 w FA 31 vs Sigma DP2M". No one had a K-3, just two guys with K-5's.

The K-3 should be much closer in resolution than a K-5. Too bad the Sigma is a one-trick pony.

Toccata47 wrote:

It's funny, just yesterday I was reading a post on another board with very nearly the exact same title but a totally different conclusion. Rather, it was a comparison between a recently purchased k3 +31mm limited vs. a sigma dp merrill (I believe it was a dp2m). The sigma had quite the better showing.

Sigma have to be in perfect light and on a tripod to get the best results.  LR don't handle the X3F raw files from Merrill camera either.  Don't shoot the Sig above base ISO (200).  But at f/2.8 that matched lens is excellent!.

Cheers.

cheddargav wrote:

Hi all, think of this as my own self counselling.

So I currently shoot Canon, lured by the lack of availability of Pentax gear in the UK at a time when I decided wedding photography would become something more than just a part time deal, and the 5DII. I now shoot with a 6D + 5DII. But the 5DII is starting to show it's age, plus I'm a few years wiser. You see, when I shot with my K20D (which I utterly loved and still do believe is one of the best cameras to hold) I was seeing all the loveliness and magic that was full frame. And yes, the Canon 6D + 35 1.4 is the finest combination I can get for what I do.

+1, for a wedding, 6D with 35mm/1.4 would be hard to beat.

Small(ish) full frame camera and beautiful 35mm 1.4 lens, perfick. But full frame isn't magical, APS-C can compete (provided you pop the right lenses on the camera of course).

And then there's the "me" factor. I am one of those people that simply gets bored. I can't help it. I see new things, I want new things. And this is where the K3 comes into play....

I've not really thought much about what Pentax have offered lately. I guess it's not there fault, in time we'll look back on this period in Pentax' history and realise it was a tough one, so the odds on them producing innovative cameras was pretty slim. (And to that note I'm really surprised they didn't jump in early to the mirrorless world).

But then came the K3, and once again those buggars at Pentax have caught my eye. Because good Lordy does it look good on paper. And, having shot with a *ist DS (my first ever "proper camera") and a *ist D AND my beloved K20, I just know that this camera is going to sit soooo comfortably in the hand and will be soooo nice to shoot with. Then there's the dual card slots, the improved video capabilities (I've started shooting video) and oh yes, the ergonomics. Plus all the other stuff I probably don't need to tell you about.

So suddenly I start thinking about trading the 5DII (which I barely use now since the 6D does 90% of the leg work) and getting one of these. Then I research the lenses and feel all sad Why? Because I owned the 21mm, the 43mm and the 70mm. And back then I bought all three for under £1000. To buy those 3 again in the UK would cost me £1600. Yep, it's my own fault, but still, it sucks!

Just get the 20-40 limited.  About 800 pounds?  I haven't been following its price.

Anyway, not really much point to this, it's just me on the couch getting it off my chest.

Merry Christmas Pentaxians!

-- hide signature --

www.twitter.com/gavphotography

I have a Canon lens mug.
Got it as a gift. Obviously from someone who did not know MY camera of choice....

Urkeldaedalus wrote:

To be the devil on your shoulder, the K-3 will be an immense step up for you from your K20D experience while still retaining a lot of what you liked. The only thing I can really hold against it is its sensor isn't full frame and its autofocus isn't quite at industry leader levels. But it just does so many thing so well it is a joy to use. Plus dual memory card slots were a bigger deal to me than I thought they would be.
The question is, would the Pentax system fit with what you use now?

Knowing that the K3 would be a step up from a camera that I hold in such high regard doesn't help As for not being full frame, that genuinely doesn't bother me anymore, as I know with the right lens on the K3 it would deliver.

Would it fit? I guess that's what I'm asking myself.

I love these decisions, very exciting

I'm generally a prime guy BUT this is an option I've considered (the 20-40), cheers!