Rac> This gets back to my point: if I am "ill-informed" it's because the Pentax system is a morass of tech details. (Nikon is also a morass when it comes to compatibility of older lenses with Rac> certain bodies, another reason why Canon EOS appeals to me, one system without the hassles of semi-backward compatibility.)
You think so. But read a good EOS faq, and you will see that the compatibility isn't that good either. Like the accessories changing (remote releases, for example), flashes changing, etc. Rac> If I'm going to spend more $ on a body, then a new EOS becomes Rac> attractive when you figure in the prices of new EOS lenses as opposed to Pentax AF offerings (see my previous Rac> post). Well, you haven't obviously priced the good EOS optics. e.g. primes. Pentax offers the cheapest 1.4/50, 2/35 and 2/24 lenses from ANY brand in autofocus, and these lenses are among the best of any. EOS "L" zooms are about as expensive as from Pentax, or even more. Their primes are quite more expensive, the EOS 1.8/50 costs about as much as a 1.4/50 from pentax IIRC. Rac> Could someone explain to me all the differences between all Type A Rac> and Type B flash units in 25 words or less? Ok, I will try :) T flashes have analog TTL. They work on ALL pentax bodies. FT flashes have digital TTL, they work only on AUTOFOCUS bodies, but offer advanced features like second curtain synch, program mode,... Enough? Rac> Of course, I bought the ZX-M, the camera that was more or less a replacement from the K1000. But unlike my old K1000, I have to worry if my "Made In Japan" Vivitar 283 flash is going to fry the Rac> electronics in my ZX-M. So much for backwards compatibility. What a nonsense! The same flash will fry your EOS, and you aren't complaining. NO PENTAX FLASH will ever fry your electronics. BUT VIVITAR ISN'T PENTAX, dammit! It's a different maker! It's like saying that Nikon is crap because when you stick a Pentax flash on it it doesn't work! Rac> I find it interesting that a couple of people on this list act touchy when I mention that Pentax ain't perfect. As I said before, no platform is. I think that the EOS one *might* be better for Rac> me than staying with Pentax. Sorry if I called your baby ugly when I stated my "ill-informed" opinion. It's not about opinion, that's of course yours to make. It's about ill-worded statements like the one above about Vivitar flash. Good light, Frantisek Vlcek
