A used low cost tough Pentax, second camera for trip

I need a second ‘cheap’ weather sealed setup for a big trip. I had several of the K’s up to the 7. I’d grab a K-70 but it’s more than I want to spend. I just bought the Fuji X100F. I’ll let that be my (prime, advanced) camera. I want a tough beater for the jungle.

I can can get a nice K5ii body for $325 I think, and the 18-55 WR is fine for $100. $425 is about the top end for me. I want to worry about it and it fits the budget. I’ll be in a small beach town in Brazil surrounded by jungle.

I’ll have the X100F on me at all times and use it for general stuff, indoor or portraits. The Pentax as a run and gun, in bad weather or rugged outings. I loved the k-7. K5ii can only be better.

If you have a better idea or model let me know. I found the K5ii on eBay from a private US seller, but any spot you have to buy it let me know. K-50, k5? Any help would be appreciated.

I was on an expedition in Central America many years ago. We didn't visit the rain forest we lived in it. Guys with not so weather-sealed cameras ( as in the Canon EOS-3) had a lot of failures. Guys with EOS-1 and F4 Nikons and my Minolta Maxxum 9 did not. But to keep out the moisture we did desiccant packs that we dried out every day as most lenses were not sealed in those days. So if you are only going in for a few hours every day think about getting a good selection of packs and be ready to nuke them dry every evening.

All that being said, make sure you use only weather-sealed lenses and cameras and if you can DO NOT replace the lens during the day while in the jungle, keep it sealed. Or make up a change bag.

Anyway the K-5ii should be OK. If you don't have a vertical grip for it try to pick one up because having 2 batteries and the ability to not have to open it up for a battery change is another good point to make. Rain forest is not friendly to electronics. In our case we had to change film of course so we always did that inside a bag with desiccant packs in it.

Hope your primary camera is well sealed.

Kent Gittings

Thanks Kent! Good points. I’ll probably leave one lens in it and charge batteries in the apartment. I’m not living in the rain forest at this point. A beach town. X100F has zero sealing. It will certainly be humid. Anyway I have the big drops and spills coverage on it from New Leaf. That doesn’t help if it breaks in the middle of a trip.

Im starting to wish I stuck with the more expensive sealed Fuji or Olympus. Next time I guess. I’m going to look into my  X100F in humid conditions.

My K-5iis is who knows how many years old-- I've had it for 4+, and it was refurbished when I bought it. It is tough as nails and rock-solid reliable-- never so much as burped in all the time I've owned it.

I would never buy a K-50 or a K-70, being deeply distrustful of the whole tribe after losing a K-30 to the dreaded Black Frame, but the K-5s are a different family and I don't think I've ever heard anything bad about any of them in terms of reliability. I've got a KP now (and it's a wonderful little toad of a camera), but I still have my K-5iis and use it regularly.

K5II or K5IIs is the way to go. Check out Pentax forums market place. Either one can be had for what your willing to spend. In fact, the K5IIs is at really good price.

I've always thought Fuji should produce a sealed version of the X100 series. It would be an ideal travel camera.

yardcoyote wrote:

I would never buy a K-50 or a K-70, being deeply distrustful of the whole tribe after losing a K-30 to the dreaded Black Frame,

Had the "black frame" on my K50 repaired within warranty about 4 years ago, working good so far. Same thing happened on my 2.5 years old K-S2, fixed it myself as per instructions/video on this forum, working good so far.

But why buy something that is likely to fail?

Definitely good to know about the gorilla glass. If I’m getting something rugged, I’m not going to opt for the ‘less’ rugged model (although it might be fine).

K5ii isn’t as cheap as you’d think. Especially considering the new offerings from Fuji, etc. Fuji’s outright refusal to use IBIS is absurd. The only one that has it is the XH-1, which is incredible. Once you pick that up, with a good lens on it, you’re pretty much ruined as for choosing a lesser camera.

I’m really reconsidering the X100F that arrives today. Why bring a light weight box with zero sealing to a rugged environment? People keep telling my the X100 series is tough, but 99% of people take pictures indoors or on nice days in mild climates.

I don't baby my X100T (now an X100F). I took it to Niagra Falls Thanksgiving 2017 and left the Pentax gear at home. It was cold and rainy the three days we were there.

Thanks for that about not babying your x100t. Good to know.

In the final analysis, I spent $1200 on an X100F plus a 3 year drop and spill warranty. Then I thought, gee I should have something ultra tough too. That means say $500 for a K5iis and an 18-55. So, carrying 2 cameras to Brazil and spending $1700.

I did not like my Xpro2, but the X100F has a new processor etc. Come to find out the new Fuji XT3 has a new processor, a new sensor, and is mich more intuitive and intelligent than my Xpro2 was. Drove almost 2 hours to Hunts outside Boston yesterday and that X-T3 is a DREAM. With the 23 F2 WR, it’s small, next to weather proof, and built like a tank.

As always Hunts let’s you really play with the stuff and they go outdoors with you. Brilliant. Brilliant.

3.6 + Million dot EXF is a dream, the new processor and algorithm, and 26mp APS-C are stellar. It’s not about speed, it’s the way the image is processed. Lack of IBIS seems to be a non issue with this setup.

It really is 10 times the camera as the X100F, especially EVF and build quality.

I’m buying it. It really gets me psyched to use it. I haven’t felt that way in a while. X100F going back to Adorama.

It’s $250 more than the 2 camera solution. No zoom, but it’s fine. Plus they have open box bodies and lenses that bring me back to the $1700 total.

Congrats on the XT-3. Will be interested to see some pics and also how you like the camera.

Tom52 wrote:

Congrats on the XT-3. Will be interested to see some pics and also how you like the camera.

Thanks Tom!!

It pains me that I’m an Adorama VIP member and they already have my money because Hunts is wonderful.

I’m placing the call tomorrow to send back the unopened X100F and swap out for the XT3. Honesty, I really love that XT3. Everything I did not like about my old Xpro2 and the other models has been rectified in this model. The external controls are really intuitive. I was right on top of it in 2 minutes. Or getting there at least. Build quality is very nice. Tough camera. Processor is amazing.

It happens to like Sandisk and Sony 300mbs UHSII cards, which are tad expensive $$$$. Then I’ve got 2 filters, thumbgrip, Haoge Hood..... Ouch.

I’ve got 11 days until I go to Brazil for 3 months so I’ll get it 5 days before I go. Wow.

I hope to get the stuff up and share.