Re: which way would you go...

[Paul Stenquist]

I was in much the same situation as you a few months ago. Although most 
of my lenses are K series, I went with the *ist D. I have found that it 
functions quite well with these lenses. It gives you very adequate 
center weighted metering and open aperture focusing. It will function 
much the same as your MX. And you can add a couple of autofocus zooms 
for those times when you don't want to fool around with metering and 
focusing. A lot of what I shoot is just for my own enjoyment, but I 
also do quite a bit for stock and magazines. I've found I'm much more 
productive with the *ist D than I was with film cameras. And because 
the turnaround is immediate, I experiment more, which has led to some 
better work.
On Apr 11, 2004, at 11:24 PM, Clint Austin wrote:

     In the next several months I will be purchasing a new SLR body. I 
have
two questions that I need help answering. Currently I own two Pentax 
bodies,
a MX, and a ME Super. I also own several K-mount SMC lenses. The only
problem I have is that soon I would like to venture into some 
professional
work, and I am worried that my 20++ year old cameras might have some
mechanical mishaps with increased usage. My first question is this: 
Should I
stay with Pentax? While I love my current cameras I am worried about 
the
future of the company. Pentax does make great lenses, ( I own some 
very nice
examples) but with the *istd moving the apprature to the body (making
K-mount lenses harder to use) my investment in lenses seems to be 
canceled
out. If I purchase a new professional body other then the MZs I will 
have to
buy all new lenses anyway. SO should I stay loyal to a company who to 
me
seems to be more concerned about point and shoot digital cameras?
    Next, is the old Digital or Film question. I do not have deep 
pockets so
I cannot buy bot a professional film SLR and a DSLR. I am sure that if 
i
went digital that my current film SLR's could function as very 
competent
back ups. However I also own a slide scanner and really do enjoy 
shooting on
film. Plus as I mentioned before buying an *istd would be just as 
expencive
to me as going with another system since all my Pentax gear is 
K-mount. Will
Pentax make a more professional level DSLR ? Is the *istd capable of
professional work? I would love to stay loyal however I do not have the
luxary of spending more to hang on to a company that is not going to 
be able
to provide me support/ new products in the future.
     At any rate I will always enjoy my k-mount gear, I love the m 
series
cameras, they are the first SLR's I ever used and have always done 
right by
me. Thanks for your help.