Resistance is Futile

[Joseph Tainter]

After proclaiming on the list that I would not buy a DSLR until Pentax 
came out with a full-frame model...my *ist D arrived yesterday. I would 
be chagrined if I were not feeling so enabled. Or as Ron Ziegler 
(Nixon's press secretary) once said during Watergate, "All previous 
statements are inoperative."

Whee, I'm an early adopter. I've rarely been one of those.

The manual was clearly written in a hurry. Everyone seems to be ditching 
their copy editors these days.

I am a bit miffed that the strap does not include pockets. There's 
nowhere to put the eyepiece cover.

Several factors brought my change of mind. The chatter on the list and 
the reviews were certainly influential. Some time back Cotty e-mailed me 
some images that made me realize that one could get quality enlargements 
from an APS-sized sensor. I think the most important factor, though, was 
the announcement of the forthcoming DA 16-45. If not for this, my 
"walking around" kit would have had to include two zooms to cover the 
range I am used to (24-28 to 80-105 in 35 mm.). As a constant f4, the DA 
16-45 looks like Pentax intends it to be a serious lens. It can't appear 
soon enough. I will again become an early adopter when it is out.

I wanted a full-frame sensor so I would not have to buy new lenses. I 
now realize that I will have to buy some.

Beyond the DA 16-45, Pentax needs soon to bring out (a) DA 50-200 f4; 
(b) DA 13-20 f4; and (c) fast primes at 13 and 16 mm. If they don't, 
Sigma will get my money, although I am very reluctant to buy a consumer 
zoom from Sigma.

For wide-angle now I will try the F 17-28 fisheye. It is not my sharpest 
lens, but I have gotten sharp prints from it using digital sharpening. 
There are also Sigma's 12-24, 15-30, and 14 prime, all of which are 
serious lenses. They are expensive, though, and none of these can take 
front filters.

I'm off to Phoenix for a meeting, then will spend at least part of the 
weekend with the new camera.

I'm still going to call it the starkistdee or Sexist D, though, because 
I think the name is really, really stupid. Okay, it's not as stupid as 
naming a camera "Rebel."

Joe the enabled