Hi Igor: Great thread, and the responses have been fun to read.
My own history starts with the MX, which regrettably I sold because of
money.
Then acquired a Canon T90 much later (which I still have), though didn't use
it much.
I stopped photography for a good long while, but years back I bought a
little Pentax film point & shoot (which I still have somewhere)--for
honeymoon shots.
With the digital boom, I purchased a Kodak P & S and used that thing
constantly until it died. I got another with more advanced features, and
used that for a good long while, then one night I was on the net learning
about DSLRs & googled Pentax and decided on K10D--and I've never looked
back.
It would be fair to say that my positive experience with the MX greatly
influenced a return to Pentax for a DSLR, and I've been very, very happy
with my decision. I love the Pentax glass I have. And frankly, I can't
complain about the two Pentax bodies I have. As I grow, I might have
different demands, but for right now, I'm a very happy camper, & I know I
haven't used the K20D to its full potential.
I look forward to the future with Pentax--& PDML, which has been a great
adventure for me.
Cheers, Christine
----- Original Message -----
From: "Igor Roshchin" <s...@komkon.org>
To: <PDML@pdml.net>
Sent: Friday, January 15, 2010 11:36 AM
Subject: Why Pentax?
In view of various comments from people about K-7 and K-x, I've been
thinking, - why am I shooting with Pentax?
This is a summary of my thoughts - I'd like to hear what others think
about this.
In the past few weeks I realized that compared to other brand DSLR's
Pentax DSLRs (even the "flagman" K-7) has serious problems.
In crude terms:
1. The AF sucks.
2. The low-light performance sucks.
3. The P-TTL performance is inconsistent (I don't know how
I-TTL/E-TTL etc. are in that regard - any comments?)
So, I was re-thinking my use of Pentax.
I started with ZX-5n back in 1997. The reason I chose it over Nikon
was that I didn't like ergonomics of N70/F70, and couldn't afford N90.
ZX-5n had incredible ergonomics, especially after coming from an
all-manual SLR (Kiev-19) where I could set everything blind-folded;
ZX-5n had all-analog knobs and buttons.
Despite lack of continuous AF that is found in Nikon models,
I enjoyed my ZX-5n greatly.
When the time came to buy a DSLR, I thought if I should switch to
a Nikon, but decided to get *ist DS. And I've been rather happy with it
for over 4.5 years by now.
Yes, the low-light performance has been bothering me a lot, and
while until recently I didn't suffer much from the shortcomings of the
AF, - I just learned to work around it.
In the last 2-3 years, I started taking photos at dance events,
and that's where quick and accurate AF matters, and low light
performance and an accurate flash are important.
So, why am I still using Pentax, and buying new bodies and lenses?
While thinking about it, I recalled a very old joke about two worms.
A son and his father are seating in a pile of bull sh.. manure, and
talking:
-- Daddy, is it nice to live in that grove across the field?
-- Yes, son.
-- Daddy, is there plenty of food over there?
-- Yes, son.
-- Then why, daddy, we live in this pile of bull sh..?
-- Because that's our Motherland.
...
I still like Pentax.
I don't like at all the consumer line of Canons (Rebels etc.).
I seem to like mid-line of Nikon's circa 2005-2008 but have almost
no idea about their more recent (and higher) models.
I've been looking at Panasonics that are highly regarded by some
PDMLers, but I am not sure if they have that good AF and low-light
performance.
As for Pentax, I am currently evaluating if I should exchange the K-7
for a K-x for a better low-light performance.
I just got a K-x that I will try "in action" during the weekend.
My first impression of a K-x is that functionality- and layout-wise,
it is very reminiscent of the DS. But I was rather disappointed by the
lack of the small top status display.
I don't mind the versitality of the AA's (I use them for the flash
anyway).
K-x is lighter, but compared to K-7 the feel a bit plasticy;
more so than that for DS.
I like that the choice of the AF mode, ISO and exponometry mode
in the K-7 is done by physical switches, not via the menu.
I would be glad to hear what others have to say about these thoughts.
Igor
PS. The obvious short response "BS" is not accepted. ;-)
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