Tom C.
From: alex wetmore <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Was: Pentax * ist D doing badly... Now System Choices Date: Tue, 11 May 2004 17:27:38 -0700 (PDT)
On Tue, 11 May 2004, Tom C wrote:
> In fact I frequently 2nd guess my choice of camera system.. e.g. why did I
> choose Pentax? In a sense I didn't. It chose me.
Similar story for me. My dad had a Pentax Spotmatic when I was growing up. When I finished college I was borrowing it from him, and used it for a few years after moving out to Seattle. I wanted to get my own system, so I bought a used ME Super but continued to use his lenses for a while. A little later I wanted a new camera and picked up a ZX-5n.
I could have picked a new system when looking at the ZX-5n (at the time I had two lenses that weren't that expensive), but nothing else was as compact. I wanted something which I could use while cycling and hiking and Pentax fit the bill. I really liked the simple ZX-5n UI and appreciated it even more after using a Olympus IS-1 (their ZLR) for a couple of months.
I like to think that I would make a similar decision if purchasing a new D-SLR now. There is still nothing as small as their cameras, and I still find it easier to figure out their UI than anything else. The performance of all of the top systems are fine for me.
> Whether it has been a good choice or not, I don't know. I do know that I
> envy the larger choice of lenses available to Nikon and Canon users. I envy
> Image Stabilzation. I don't like being last on the block to get the toys...
I don't. IS lenses are heavier and expensive. The only thing that I envy with my *ist D is the smaller size of my ZX-5n.
> and I doubt whether Pentax will ever be a major force in the market again.
I don't really care as long as they continue to make great cameras. The *ist D is doing well enough for 3rd parties to make lenses that target it, and that is fine with me. I paid a lot for my *ist D (early adopter, paid the initial MSRP) but don't think I could get a better camera than the *ist D for the current going price.
alex
