Swap from Pentax?

[shtoink]

Ive got a bit of a question that I'd like to get peoples oppinions on.

At the moment I use a Pentax MZ-5n with limited amount of gear, ie, a couple
of lenses, filters etc to fit the Pentax... But I'd like to upgrade to a
more proffesional 35mm kit with the likely hood of also buying a digital
body later down the track, to be able to work in both mediums.

So even though I love Pentax and what they have offered in the past has been
amazing. But seeing as the trends are more and more heading to either Nikon
and Canon, do you think my best bet would be to sell my pentax gear and go
to either one of these.

My reasoning for moving away from Pentax is because of the obvious
availability of gear that Canon and Nikon have in Australia, and also
because of the outlook of there digital side. Canon and Nikon are both
obviously way ahead of Pentax in that area. I really hope Pentax can catch
up, because they have always been outstanding in the 35mm area. I'd hate to
see them fade away.

I dont want this to be a Nikon VS Canon thread either... I just want help
deciding whether to move away from Pentax.

Thanks for any thoughts and advice.
Shtoink.

[Chris Robinson]

"shtoink" <shtoink123@NOSPAM-hotmail.com> wrote

>
> At the moment I use a Pentax MZ-5n with limited amount of gear, ie, a
couple
> of lenses, filters etc to fit the Pentax... But I'd like to upgrade to a
> more proffesional 35mm kit with the likely hood of also buying a digital
> body later down the track, to be able to work in both mediums.
>
> So even though I love Pentax and what they have offered in the past has
been
> amazing. But seeing as the trends are more and more heading to either
Nikon
> and Canon, do you think my best bet would be to sell my pentax gear and go
> to either one of these.
>
> My reasoning for moving away from Pentax is because of the obvious
> availability of gear that Canon and Nikon have in Australia, and also
> because of the outlook of there digital side. Canon and Nikon are both
> obviously way ahead of Pentax in that area. I really hope Pentax can catch
> up, because they have always been outstanding in the 35mm area. I'd hate
to
> see them fade away.
>
> I dont want this to be a Nikon VS Canon thread either... I just want help
> deciding whether to move away from Pentax.

Pentax users moving to the Pentax *istD digital seem quite impressed with
the camera. I'm surprised Pentax didn't make more of an effort earlier
myself. The *istD seems to be targeted to the pro market price-wise,
however the small zoom (18-35?) is getting very poor reviews from users
mainly in the area of sharpness.

One nice thing about the *istD is that it follows the convention of any pro
SLR Pentax has made in that it can use any lens ever made for a Pentax
camers, including the M42 screw mount lenses. I would expect the price of
the *istD to come down a lot next year, but that might depend on the
production of another model, and the pricing of Nikon and Canon offerings.

In other words, I don't see Pentax as a complete dead end, though they
obviously have passed the ball to Nikon and especially Canon. I'm looking
for Pentax to pull some rabbits out of the hat in the next few years or so.

Regards,
Chris.

[PlaneGuy]

I wouldn't be too hasty in switching from Pentax at the moment, particularly
if you are still planning on using film for a while. The *istD appears to be
a pretty darn good first attempt at a DSLR. In a year or two, we should
start seeing the follow ups, that I believe will make it a contender.

If you are happy with your current lenses (and other system accessories) I
would stay with the Pentax side of things - the system costs a lot more than
the body. If you feel ou want "more professional" lenses as well as a body,
you may consider changing. Availiability of Pentax gear in bricks and mortar
stores is a little worse than the SLR ranges of Canon and Nikon, however,
the web presence is just as good.

Good Luck.

[Miro]

"shtoink" <shtoink123@NOSPAM-hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3fdbbc4d$0$18390$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.a u...
> Ive got a bit of a question that I'd like to get peoples oppinions on.
>
> At the moment I use a Pentax MZ-5n with limited amount of gear, ie, a
couple
> of lenses, filters etc to fit the Pentax... But I'd like to upgrade to a
> more proffesional 35mm kit with the likely hood of also buying a digital
> body later down the track, to be able to work in both mediums.
>
> So even though I love Pentax and what they have offered in the past has
been
> amazing. But seeing as the trends are more and more heading to either
Nikon
> and Canon, do you think my best bet would be to sell my pentax gear and go
> to either one of these.

Most people that buy Canon and Nikon digital are ill-informed computer
nerds. The ist*D is a top class digital body and only people with Pentax
optics can use it.

[Danger]

"shtoink" <shtoink123@NOSPAM-hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3fdbbc4d$0$18390$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.a u...
> Ive got a bit of a question that I'd like to get peoples oppinions on.
>
> At the moment I use a Pentax MZ-5n with limited amount of gear, ie, a
couple
> of lenses, filters etc to fit the Pentax... But I'd like to upgrade to a
> more proffesional 35mm kit with the likely hood of also buying a digital
> body later down the track, to be able to work in both mediums.
>
> So even though I love Pentax and what they have offered in the past has
been
> amazing. But seeing as the trends are more and more heading to either
Nikon
> and Canon, do you think my best bet would be to sell my pentax gear and go
> to either one of these.
>
> My reasoning for moving away from Pentax is because of the obvious
> availability of gear that Canon and Nikon have in Australia, and also
> because of the outlook of there digital side. Canon and Nikon are both
> obviously way ahead of Pentax in that area. I really hope Pentax can catch
> up, because they have always been outstanding in the 35mm area. I'd hate
to
> see them fade away.
>
> I dont want this to be a Nikon VS Canon thread either... I just want help
> deciding whether to move away from Pentax.
>
> Thanks for any thoughts and advice.
> Shtoink.
>
>

While Canon has the jump on everyone. Mainly due to the ability to make
their own chips.

Nikon is not far ahead of Pentax and will be less so if reports from Japan
are correct.

http://www.popphoto.com/article.asp?article_id=766&section_id=5&page_number=6

[Robert King]

In article <3fdbbc4d$0$18390$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>, shtoink
<shtoink123@NOSPAM-hotmail.com> wrote:

> Ive got a bit of a question that I'd like to get peoples oppinions on.
>
> At the moment I use a Pentax MZ-5n with limited amount of gear, ie, a couple
> of lenses, filters etc to fit the Pentax... But I'd like to upgrade to a
> more proffesional 35mm kit with the likely hood of also buying a digital
> body later down the track, to be able to work in both mediums.
>
> So even though I love Pentax and what they have offered in the past has been
> amazing. But seeing as the trends are more and more heading to either Nikon
> and Canon, do you think my best bet would be to sell my pentax gear and go
> to either one of these.
>
> My reasoning for moving away from Pentax is because of the obvious
> availability of gear that Canon and Nikon have in Australia, and also
> because of the outlook of there digital side. Canon and Nikon are both
> obviously way ahead of Pentax in that area. I really hope Pentax can catch
> up, because they have always been outstanding in the 35mm area. I'd hate to
> see them fade away.
>
> I dont want this to be a Nikon VS Canon thread either... I just want help
> deciding whether to move away from Pentax.
>
> Thanks for any thoughts and advice.
> Shtoink.
>
>
Here is my experience moving from Pentax 35mm SLR to a digital SLR.

It took alot of reading and people convincing me one way or the other
before I switched from film to digital. A year ago I was saying I would
never go to digital. I think , however, that the day is here now where
digital is a real option, I wouldn't buy a new 35mm camera unless you
really wanted 35mm film.

I started the process of buying a digital SLR without any preconceived
idea about the model I wanted. In fact I probably favoured the Pentax
*ist from a purely legacy viewpoint. However after looking at every
digital SLR under $5k, with much hesitation I left behind my trusty MZ
and opted for a Canon 300D. I played extensively with the *ist d, the
4.3MP Nikons and the Canon 10D / 300D and decided that if I was ever
going to switch it was now. The 300D offered the best value for money
and seemed to me to be much better in design/workflow than the Pentax
or Nikon cameras. I saw no sense in paying more for a digital SLR as I
think 35mm frame size digitals will be in reach within a year. It was a
difficult decision for someone who has been using Pentax gear since his
first secondhand Spotmatic but I'm sure I have made the right choice
now.

Robert

[Don]

I have both, digital Canon 10D and 35mm Z10 Pentax. I find the clear
advantage with the 10D in the numbers of shots I can take and get immediate
feedback so the learning curve has been flattened. I had the opportunity to
play with the *stD and must admit that in a lot of ways its as good as the
10D and better in some. Size is a particular issue and I would be more
impressed with the 10D if the size was smaller. I have also owned the Nikon
CP5700 and loved that as well. It was a great simple small camera. In an
ideal world I would buy the *stD and use the existing lenses I have for the
analogue Pentax. In my view you should spend some time playing with the
*stD and if you have a real commitment to Pentax glass, stay with that.

I have a Sigma 100 to 300 and a Kenko 2x converter that I put on the Pentax
and no, its not as sharp as the 10D with Canon lenses but hell its about 1/2
the price for a Canon set-up and for my needs certainly is as good as (if
not better) my skill level. Unfortunately I will probably have to sell the
Pentax set-up as I cant really afford having both. But like you I have very
fond memories of my Pentax days.

regards

Don
"Robert King" <info@nospamhere.ozphoto.com> wrote in message
news:141220031459529625%info@nospamhere.ozphoto.co m...
> In article <3fdbbc4d$0$18390$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>, shtoink
> <shtoink123@NOSPAM-hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Ive got a bit of a question that I'd like to get peoples oppinions on.
> >
> > At the moment I use a Pentax MZ-5n with limited amount of gear, ie, a
couple
> > of lenses, filters etc to fit the Pentax... But I'd like to upgrade to a
> > more proffesional 35mm kit with the likely hood of also buying a digital
> > body later down the track, to be able to work in both mediums.
> >
> > So even though I love Pentax and what they have offered in the past has
been
> > amazing. But seeing as the trends are more and more heading to either
Nikon
> > and Canon, do you think my best bet would be to sell my pentax gear and
go
> > to either one of these.
> >
> > My reasoning for moving away from Pentax is because of the obvious
> > availability of gear that Canon and Nikon have in Australia, and also
> > because of the outlook of there digital side. Canon and Nikon are both
> > obviously way ahead of Pentax in that area. I really hope Pentax can
catch
> > up, because they have always been outstanding in the 35mm area. I'd hate
to
> > see them fade away.
> >
> > I dont want this to be a Nikon VS Canon thread either... I just want
help
> > deciding whether to move away from Pentax.
> >
> > Thanks for any thoughts and advice.
> > Shtoink.
> >
> >
> Here is my experience moving from Pentax 35mm SLR to a digital SLR.
>
> It took alot of reading and people convincing me one way or the other
> before I switched from film to digital. A year ago I was saying I would
> never go to digital. I think , however, that the day is here now where
> digital is a real option, I wouldn't buy a new 35mm camera unless you
> really wanted 35mm film.
>
> I started the process of buying a digital SLR without any preconceived
> idea about the model I wanted. In fact I probably favoured the Pentax
> *ist from a purely legacy viewpoint. However after looking at every
> digital SLR under $5k, with much hesitation I left behind my trusty MZ
> and opted for a Canon 300D. I played extensively with the *ist d, the
> 4.3MP Nikons and the Canon 10D / 300D and decided that if I was ever
> going to switch it was now. The 300D offered the best value for money
> and seemed to me to be much better in design/workflow than the Pentax
> or Nikon cameras. I saw no sense in paying more for a digital SLR as I
> think 35mm frame size digitals will be in reach within a year. It was a
> difficult decision for someone who has been using Pentax gear since his
> first secondhand Spotmatic but I'm sure I have made the right choice
> now.
>
> Robert

[Flatulant Dingo]

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 14:07:33 +1100, "Danger"
<gordon.no.spam@ar.com.au> wrote:

>Nikon is not far ahead of Pentax and will be less so if reports from Japan
>are correct.

That may or may not happen of course, but shame to see Nikon in some
sort of decline compared to Canon - once they even made lens for
Canon!

[macropod]

Hi,

I made the same move myself, about 6 months ago, for much the same
reasoning, but also including the fact that Pentrax was nowhere near as well
supported with 3rd party lenses as Canon & Nikon. At that time, Pentax had
only just brought out the ist-D, whereas Canon & Nikon have both had
slr-format digitals for much longer. In my mind, that represents far more
commitment to that line than Pentax has shown. My replacement was still a
film-based slr, but I plan to add a digital body later and I now have a
clear upgrade path.

Cheers


"shtoink" <shtoink123@NOSPAM-hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3fdbbc4d$0$18390$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.a u...
> Ive got a bit of a question that I'd like to get peoples oppinions on.
>
> At the moment I use a Pentax MZ-5n with limited amount of gear, ie, a
couple
> of lenses, filters etc to fit the Pentax... But I'd like to upgrade to a
> more proffesional 35mm kit with the likely hood of also buying a digital
> body later down the track, to be able to work in both mediums.
>
> So even though I love Pentax and what they have offered in the past has
been
> amazing. But seeing as the trends are more and more heading to either
Nikon
> and Canon, do you think my best bet would be to sell my pentax gear and go
> to either one of these.
>
> My reasoning for moving away from Pentax is because of the obvious
> availability of gear that Canon and Nikon have in Australia, and also
> because of the outlook of there digital side. Canon and Nikon are both
> obviously way ahead of Pentax in that area. I really hope Pentax can catch
> up, because they have always been outstanding in the 35mm area. I'd hate
to
> see them fade away.
>
> I dont want this to be a Nikon VS Canon thread either... I just want help
> deciding whether to move away from Pentax.
>
> Thanks for any thoughts and advice.
> Shtoink.
>
>

[Henrik]

Could it be that Pentax didn't have a player in the market at the time of
purchase - no one can take away from Pentax what they have produced in the
past. However they have dragged their feet in the digital market!

just my $.02

Henrik


> Most people that buy Canon and Nikon digital are ill-informed computer
> nerds. The ist*D is a top class digital body and only people with Pentax
> optics can use it.
>
>

[Miro]

"macropod" <pNeOd.sStPeAiMn@pcug.org.au (del NO.SPAM)> wrote in message
news:brh46c$38ji7$1@ID-216222.news.uni-berlin.de...
> Hi,
>
> I made the same move myself, about 6 months ago, for much the same
> reasoning, but also including the fact that Pentrax was nowhere near as
well
> supported with 3rd party lenses as Canon & Nikon. At that time, Pentax had
> only just brought out the ist-D, whereas Canon & Nikon have both had
> slr-format digitals for much longer. In my mind, that represents far more
> commitment to that line than Pentax has shown. My replacement was still a
> film-based slr, but I plan to add a digital body later and I now have a
> clear upgrade path.
>
> Cheers

A DSLR is not an upgrade from a film camera. It is an entirely new system
with the same lens mount.

[ron chappel]

If you want to keep on using some favorite pentax lenses you should consider staying with with pentax and get the D ist someday.

Change to canon if there are extra features you need-image stabalized lenses being the obvious one,more lens choice and great value.
Change to nikon for build quality and similar lens reasons as canon but pay more for it all

[Miro]

"ron chappel" <ron.chappel.yfd97@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
news:ron.chappel.yfd97@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
>
> If you want to keep on using some favorite pentax lenses you should
> consider staying with with pentax and get the D ist someday.
>
> Change to canon if there are extra features you need-image stabalized
> lenses being the obvious one,more lens choice and great value.
> Change to nikon for build quality and similar lens reasons as canon but
> pay more for it all

Where did you go to get this chip implanted ? I suppose Olympus makes your
libido higher ? No wait, Leica does that.

[Shtoink]

Thanks everyone...

Some very good advice!
I think I might just stick out Pentax for the time being and see what they
produce in the world of Digital in the coming year.

There was another side of my decision too... Whether to upgrade my 35mm
gear, or give Medium Format a go... So me thinks that I'll keep what Ive got
in the 35mm world, and try my hand at MF photography.

Thanks a stack!
Shtoink.

"shtoink" <shtoink123@NOSPAM-hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3fdbbc4d$0$18390$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.a u...
> Ive got a bit of a question that I'd like to get peoples oppinions on.
>
> At the moment I use a Pentax MZ-5n with limited amount of gear, ie, a
couple
> of lenses, filters etc to fit the Pentax... But I'd like to upgrade to a
> more proffesional 35mm kit with the likely hood of also buying a digital
> body later down the track, to be able to work in both mediums.
>
> So even though I love Pentax and what they have offered in the past has
been
> amazing. But seeing as the trends are more and more heading to either
Nikon
> and Canon, do you think my best bet would be to sell my pentax gear and go
> to either one of these.
>
> My reasoning for moving away from Pentax is because of the obvious
> availability of gear that Canon and Nikon have in Australia, and also
> because of the outlook of there digital side. Canon and Nikon are both
> obviously way ahead of Pentax in that area. I really hope Pentax can catch
> up, because they have always been outstanding in the 35mm area. I'd hate
to
> see them fade away.
>
> I dont want this to be a Nikon VS Canon thread either... I just want help
> deciding whether to move away from Pentax.
>
> Thanks for any thoughts and advice.
> Shtoink.
>
>

[ron chappel]

Where did you go to get this chip implanted ? I suppose Olympus makes your
libido higher ? No wait, Leica does that.



Er,they're just generalizations intended to give a brief opinion of the strengths and weeknesses of each system.
so why the rudeness?

[PlaneGuy]

I think that Miro was, in his own way, questioning the validity of the gross
generalisations

[macropod]

" Miro" <miro01@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3fdc2d61$0$18385$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.a u...
>
> "macropod" <pNeOd.sStPeAiMn@pcug.org.au (del NO.SPAM)> wrote in message
> news:brh46c$38ji7$1@ID-216222.news.uni-berlin.de...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I made the same move myself, about 6 months ago, for much the same
> > reasoning, but also including the fact that Pentrax was nowhere near as
> well
> > supported with 3rd party lenses as Canon & Nikon. At that time, Pentax
had
> > only just brought out the ist-D, whereas Canon & Nikon have both had
> > slr-format digitals for much longer. In my mind, that represents far
more
> > commitment to that line than Pentax has shown. My replacement was still
a
> > film-based slr, but I plan to add a digital body later and I now have a
> > clear upgrade path.
> >
> > Cheers
>
> A DSLR is not an upgrade from a film camera. It is an entirely new system
> with the same lens mount.
>
I should be impressed that you don't regard any DSLR as being an upgrade
from any film SLR? You need to get out more.

[Miro]

"macropod" <pNeOd.sStPeAiMn@pcug.org.au (del NO.SPAM)> wrote in message
news:brmnqv$546h0$1@ID-216222.news.uni-berlin.de...
> " Miro" <miro01@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3fdc2d61$0$18385$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.a u...
> >
> > "macropod" <pNeOd.sStPeAiMn@pcug.org.au (del NO.SPAM)> wrote in message
> > news:brh46c$38ji7$1@ID-216222.news.uni-berlin.de...
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > I made the same move myself, about 6 months ago, for much the same
> > > reasoning, but also including the fact that Pentrax was nowhere near
as
> > well
> > > supported with 3rd party lenses as Canon & Nikon. At that time, Pentax
> had
> > > only just brought out the ist-D, whereas Canon & Nikon have both had
> > > slr-format digitals for much longer. In my mind, that represents far
> more
> > > commitment to that line than Pentax has shown. My replacement was
still
> a
> > > film-based slr, but I plan to add a digital body later and I now have
a
> > > clear upgrade path.
> > >
> > > Cheers
> >
> > A DSLR is not an upgrade from a film camera. It is an entirely new
system
> > with the same lens mount.
> >
> I should be impressed that you don't regard any DSLR as being an upgrade
> from any film SLR? You need to get out more.

Its like saying that a Hasselblad is an upgrade on a Leica. Its a rippin
foolish thing to imply on the basis that the two systems have so little in
common .... and yes you can put a Hasselblab lens on a Leica ..... costs
$260