Looking for Pentax dslr recommendation

Hi, I have been considering switching back to a dslr from mirrorless and compacts. I formerly had an *ist D and really enjoyed the size and lenses. But got into 4/3 and m43 eventually.

What would you recommend for a weather proofed pentax dslr with the smallest body? I am not interested in full frame, nor would it have to be new. Just looking for a place to start researching this.

Thanks in advance.

DG13 wrote:

Hi, I have been considering switching back to a dslr from mirrorless and compacts. I formerly had an *ist D and really enjoyed the size and lenses. But got into 4/3 and m43 eventually.

What would you recommend for a weather proofed pentax dslr with the smallest body? I am not interested in full frame, nor would it have to be new. Just looking for a place to start researching this.

If you are looking new then either the K-70 or the KP.  Both are APS and weather sealed.  I have the KP and am very happy with it.  The K-70 is a bit smaller and less expensive.

Doug

Thanks, new is an option and I like what I see about the k70, buut I also am considering used for budget reasons.

I my opinion, the best value is in a used (low mileage) K-5IIs. This is the pinnacle of the K-5 series and has several improvements over the original K-5. Many people still use this camera and are happy with it. I got mine used a few years ago for less than $400 USD.

GPGeneralPhoto wrote:

I my opinion, the best value is in a used (low mileage) K-5IIs. This is the pinnacle of the K-5 series and has several improvements over the original K-5. Many people still use this camera and are happy with it. I got mine used a few years ago for less than $400 USD.

Yup, for used this a good / best option.

Doug

DougOB wrote:

GPGeneralPhoto wrote:

I my opinion, the best value is in a used (low mileage) K-5IIs. This is the pinnacle of the K-5 series and has several improvements over the original K-5. Many people still use this camera and are happy with it. I got mine used a few years ago for less than $400 USD.

Yup, for used this a good / best option.

Yes it is. Except it can't use KAF4 lenses.

Alex

Check over on pentaxforums.com.

And you might even find a good used deal there as well.

I use a Pentax and also have a Oly M43. Good match since many of the Pentax lenses will work on the Oly as well. Different strengths for both.

K-3iis might also be good deals used, as some of those folks moved to FF K-1/K-1iis and it's now deprecated.

All current Pentax bodies are weather sealed, so are all recent zoom lenses. But not all primes. The much praised DA limited are not weather resistant.

I use M43 besides Pentax APS-C. APS-C IQ is better thanks to the bigger sensor. The Pentax bodies are not much bigger than top grade M43, but heavier and the lenses are really bigger and heavier, excepted the DA limited.

Though Pentax AF-C is not the best in class, DSLR PDAF is faster and better than M43 AF.

But with 24MP sensors you need to fine tune the PDAF in-camera for each lens to get pixel level sharpness. And the AF points are only clustered in the center of the image.

Best AF is in K3, K3-II and KP.

I have K3 and K30; K30 has the same AF as K5, and K3 AF is really better.

K3, K3-II and KP have the same AF engine, with a little improved algorythms in K3-II and KP.

K3/K3-II are pro grade, very rugged and reliable.

I have K3, it is my main camera. Not that big when compared to M43 but heavy.

The main difference between K3 and K3-II is in the accessories built-in features: flash vs GPS, astrotracer and pixel shift (see DPR reviews for details)

KP is kind of K3 lite, with newer processor which allows a better high ISO IQ and more responsive AF.

K70 and K-S2 are lighter bodies, less rugged, less advanced AF, the same AF engine as K5/K30/K50, OK for static scenes but not as good as K3/KP for moving targets. Also less advanced shutter. The sensor and image pipeline in K70 is more advanced than in K3 or K-S2.

DG13 wrote:

Hi, I have been considering switching back to a dslr from mirrorless and compacts. I formerly had an *ist D and really enjoyed the size and lenses. But got into 4/3 and m43 eventually.

What would you recommend for a weather proofed pentax dslr with the smallest body? I am not interested in full frame, nor would it have to be new. Just looking for a place to start researching this.

Thanks in advance.

DG13,

I looked at your gear list to get a feel for what you've liked in the past, and you might like the KP.  I currently have all of the cameras that have been recommended with the exception of the K-S2.  Of the cameras that have been recommended, the K5iis and the K3 are great extremely strong cameras but they don't have the styling and flare of the cameras you are used to.  The KP has a bit of that and it is a step up from what you are used to in terms of build and image quality.

The K-70 doesn't have the build of such cameras as the K5 and K3 line or even the KP, but it may have a bit more than what you have been currently used to; so a K-70 could work for you if you like its look.

You had an E1 at one time.  The K5 and K3 series are closest to that of any cameras I see on your gear list -- solid, well-built weather-resistant cameras.  The KP is Ricoh-Pentax's nostalgia entrant, comparable to the Pen-F in the Olympus line.   It provides the best image quality of any Pentax camera at the present time except for the K1 Mark ii and the 645Z.

On the other hand, the person who recommended a used KS-2 was right.   I had one briefly and it is a very nice camera.  It didn't have the popularity or the build of the mainstream Pentax cameras, but it does have a bit of the look of some of the cameras on your gear list; so you might like it if you can get a good used copy.  You chose the OMD-EM10 series camera at one time -- which is Olympus' "beginner grade" rather than the "enthusiast grade" EM5 or the "pro-grade" EM1.  Think of the KS-2 and K-70 as the closest Pentax has recently come to a "beginner-grade" camera.  The K5 and K3 series would be Pentax's "pro-grade" cameras.  The KP as I said would be equivalent to the micro-4/3 retro-look Pen-F.

Lawrence

Thanks for all this info everyone. Any thoughts on the K-s1?

Guess I will pass on that one 🤔

DG13 wrote:

Guess I will pass on that one 🤔

It's nowhere near as bad (and yes, you can disable them).

But I'd go with the K-S2 instead. Weather sealing, articulated LCD, etc.

Alex

DG13 wrote:

Thanks for all this info everyone. Any thoughts on the K-s1?

From what I've read, the K-S1 is competent camera, but I've grown used to weather sealing so I would look elsewhere. The low price of used ones is compelling though.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pentax-K-S1-with-DA-L-18-55mm-Lens-Black-2613/142814756194?epid=208130743&hash=item21406c3d62:g:JhEAAOSwrCZbDp~1

Alex Sarbu wrote:

DG13 wrote:

Guess I will pass on that one 🤔

It's nowhere near as bad (and yes, you can disable them).

But I'd go with the K-S2 instead. Weather sealing, articulated LCD, etc.

Alex

Thé KS1 is really aimed at beginners.

It has the same guts  as the KS2,  and good IQ, but less advanced ergonomy . Only one command wheel and I think it doesnt show the active AF point in the viewfinder.

OK for people who shoot in green mode and AF auto.

Notre so convenient if you like to master the capture settings.

GPGeneralPhoto wrote:

I my opinion, the best value is in a used (low mileage) K-5IIs. This is the pinnacle of the K-5 series and has several improvements over the original K-5. Many people still use this camera and are happy with it. I got mine used a few years ago for less than $400 USD.

Used Pentax cameras are in general cheap. I got my K3II 6 month ago for USD 550 (including 25% sales tax). It was demo camera from a local store with 10 shots on the shutter with full waranty.

Fogel70 wrote:

GPGeneralPhoto wrote:

I my opinion, the best value is in a used (low mileage) K-5IIs. This is the pinnacle of the K-5 series and has several improvements over the original K-5. Many people still use this camera and are happy with it. I got mine used a few years ago for less than $400 USD.

Used Pentax cameras are in general cheap. I got my K3II 6 month ago for USD 550 (including 25% sales tax). It was demo camera from a local store with 10 shots on the shutter with full waranty.

You are so lucky to have a local camera store that sells Pentax.

I am leaning toward the K-s2. Live on a hobby farm, so weather/dust  resistance is a big plus.

Otherwise knowing now that the k-s1 leds can be disabled I would otherwise go for that considering price. I am mainly an aperture priority shooter, outdoor, natural light,  so I don't require much more control.

GPGeneralPhoto wrote:

I my opinion, the best value is in a used (low mileage) K-5IIs. This is the pinnacle of the K-5 series and has several improvements over the original K-5. Many people still use this camera and are happy with it. I got mine used a few years ago for less than $400 USD.

The K-3 has improved grip, improved write speeds (faster to clear buffer to card), improved AF, improved auto WB under artificial light.

Depends what the K-5ii go for these days, but the K-3 at least are about $425 on the used market so I wouldn't pay more than $300 for a K-5ii today.