Looks for a tough new Digital SLR (Page 2): There is nothing wrong with Pentax, they make some of the best cameras and usually also give you the most "bang for your buck"!

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Camper0414 wrote:

Perhaps I need to understand this forum better as ... (show quote)

There is nothing wrong with Pentax, they make some of the best cameras and usually also give you the most "bang for your buck"!

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Camper0414 wrote:

I hope someone is willing to shed a pit of light on the direction I should take. I am looking to purchase a new camera. We are going on a dream vacation and in addition it is time. Here is a bit of information that might be helpful. I am a person that loves photography and takes 1000(s) of pictures during any trip. I am not often found without my camera in hand. That being said I have never had any formal training and am self-taught. Learning on the fly and making mistakes seem to be my learning style. I love to be able to capture nature from a distance yet zoom in to see their eyelashes when possible, so I have always had a pretty large zoom lens. I am not well versed in the manual setting and at time I feel like I just know enough to get in trouble so the camera must have a selection of pre-set fully automatic modes for those shots that are once in a life time and I do not want to mess up. In addition I often find myself needed a fast lens and the ones I have are not amazingly fast so if it comes to a different brand a new lens with speed would be needed. I am not gentile or kind to my equipment, we are outside all the time. It is across my body on a strap and goes where I go. Exposed to the elements would be an understatement, it never has a lens cap on however, always has a clear filter to protect the glass. We believe as a family you purchase things to be used and if they break using them we hope memories were made and captured. I have often been asked by other travelers about my camera being out and our response is simple. We buy things to use them and camera in a bag does not capture memories when they are being made. All this in consideration a durable camera must be selected.

I have had a Pentax D-SLR for years I have had a K200, and K100 both of which had a sealed body to take on the elements. The lens I shoot with the most is my Tamron 28-300. My Tamron 18-250 was my first love however, it was starting to act funny after many years. I also carry a Pentax 18-55 however, it rarely gets used and when the 19-250 was on the camera it never was used. I am not married to Pentax however, if you all feel they have a good camera that would fit my needs I can then keep my lenses.

I am looking for any recommendation that would help guide my selection. Budget - I would like to stay around $1000 for the body however, I believe sometimes when you creep upwards in price you loos some of the auto features I have requested. So this might be one time under budget is called for. The lens if needed I would like to stay around $800 so total would be under $2000. Thank you in advance for any information you can send my way!

I hope someone is willing to shed a pit of light o... (show quote)

The Olympus E-M5 mrII with the 12-100mm f4 Pro IS lense. It should come in at about $2K, small, lightweight, splashproof (I shot in the rain with mine. Needed no extra rain gear for the camera. Did need dry underwear, socks, shoes, and clothes after shooting.), can be handheld with proper technique as long as 5 seconds (I now handhold to 2 second on a somewhat regular basis now), and, being a system camera, expandable to a 35mm FOV equivalent of 14mm to 840mm and not slower than f5.6 (most Olympus Pro lenses are f2.8 or faster). You can look at Panasonic too. Any of the Olympus or Panasonic lenses can be used on any of the Olympus or Panasonic bodies.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Camper0414 wrote:

Perhaps I need to understand this forum better as ... (show quote)

Pay no attention to some of the negative people on this site. For $2K you can get a lot of camera which will allow you to continue on with your present shooting and allow you to progress further should you want to. You are right that there is new technology and I think you will like it. Also, if you should decide on the Olympus E-M1(used) or E-M5 mrII or the Panasonic GH4, these are not necessarily enter level cameras but can be used like one if you wanted to. Advanced P&Ss may be nice but don't have the same quality and limit your chances to expand.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Camper0414 wrote:

We believe as a family you purchase things to be used and if they break using them we hope memories were made and captured. I have often been asked by other travelers about my camera being out and our response is simple. We buy things to use them and camera in a bag does not capture memories when they are being made.

Your budget isn't going to make selection easy. I remember a demo posted here with a Pentax. It was done by a soldier/photographer in Iraq. He put the camera through all sorts of abuse, and it worked fine. I don't remember what model it was. "Unfortunately there isn’t a specific or universal standard for weather sealing..." I think the Pentax K-30 ($850) is what you want. Some links below -

https://gizmodo.com/5920384/pentax-k-30-hands-on-the-fastest-toughest-inexpensive-dslr-weve-every-used
https://www.switchbacktravel.com/weather-sealed-dslr-cameras-list

jkatpc Loc: Virginia Beach

Camper0414 wrote:

I hope someone is willing to shed a pit of light on the direction I should take....

I did a quick look at Adorama's used department, and for your budget they have available now a Nikon D7200, a Sigma 17-50 2.8 and a Tamron 70-200 2.8 G1--all in excellent condition and right around $2K total. I happen to own each of these pieces of equipment so I know they work very well and would cover most of what you would want to do on a trip.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

The Pentax K-20D was probably the Best Sealed of DSLRs, one reason I keep mine. You can still use all your older Pentax lenses on a new Pentax Camera. You can get a new APS-C / Cropped Factor body for less than $1,000.00. See B&H or Adorama for the Pentax K-3ii. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1358285-REG/pentax_k_3_ii_dslr_camera.html.

DavidM Loc: New Orleans, LA

Take a look at Fuji's xt20. It's not weather sealed but you could use something to protect it. It's a mirrorless camera, small enough for traveling and highly rated. The following link shows it with two lenses for $1199 and no tax:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1360212-REG/fujifilm_x_t20_mirrorless_digital_camera.html

sandersonjack15

Pentax K1

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

The UHH is a bit heavy on opinionated Nikon & Canon fans who tend to ignore Pentax, Sony, Leica, etc. What you might want to use with your existing lenses (for now), is the Pentax K-3ii (24MP). I have a used K-3 (24MP) which would also cover your needs as well if you want to buy used.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1358285-REG/pentax_k_3_ii_dslr_camera.html
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1138601-REG/pentax_16160_k_3_ii_dslr_camera.html

used

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/801666681-USE/pentax_16256_k_70_dslr_camera_with.html

Other Pentax newer models to consider: K-70 (24MP), K-30 (16MP), K-P (24MP)

Bison Bud

I too think that your best option might be to stick with Pentax. However, if your willing to jump ship, the Canon 80D body is weather sealed and it should be well within your budget. The 80D is a top notch, ASP-C camera and should serve you well. However, the "Kit" lenses offered are not weather sealed and you would have to move up to an "L series" Canon lens to get that. I've seen many used or reconditioned ones on sale under $1000.00. However, I think the 18 to 135 mm, kit lens might serve you well even though not sealed and you can pick up the whole kit reconditioned from Canon for around $1000.00 and still have half of your budget to lens shop. Good luck and good shooting to all.

Nosaj Loc: Sarasota, Florida

Pentax KP. It's around $900, suburb reviews, accepts every K-mount lens, economical size, better than anything else like it in It's class and price range.

Mundj Loc: Richmond TX

Camper0414 wrote:

I hope someone is willing to shed a pit of light on the direction I should take. I am looking to purchase a new camera. We are going on a dream vacation and in addition it is time. Here is a bit of information that might be helpful. I am a person that loves photography and takes 1000(s) of pictures during any trip. I am not often found without my camera in hand. That being said I have never had any formal training and am self-taught. Learning on the fly and making mistakes seem to be my learning style. I love to be able to capture nature from a distance yet zoom in to see their eyelashes when possible, so I have always had a pretty large zoom lens. I am not well versed in the manual setting and at time I feel like I just know enough to get in trouble so the camera must have a selection of pre-set fully automatic modes for those shots that are once in a life time and I do not want to mess up. In addition I often find myself needed a fast lens and the ones I have are not amazingly fast so if it comes to a different brand a new lens with speed would be needed. I am not gentile or kind to my equipment, we are outside all the time. It is across my body on a strap and goes where I go. Exposed to the elements would be an understatement, it never has a lens cap on however, always has a clear filter to protect the glass. We believe as a family you purchase things to be used and if they break using them we hope memories were made and captured. I have often been asked by other travelers about my camera being out and our response is simple. We buy things to use them and camera in a bag does not capture memories when they are being made. All this in consideration a durable camera must be selected.

I have had a Pentax D-SLR for years I have had a K200, and K100 both of which had a sealed body to take on the elements. The lens I shoot with the most is my Tamron 28-300. My Tamron 18-250 was my first love however, it was starting to act funny after many years. I also carry a Pentax 18-55 however, it rarely gets used and when the 19-250 was on the camera it never was used. I am not married to Pentax however, if you all feel they have a good camera that would fit my needs I can then keep my lenses.

I am looking for any recommendation that would help guide my selection. Budget - I would like to stay around $1000 for the body however, I believe sometimes when you creep upwards in price you loos some of the auto features I have requested. So this might be one time under budget is called for. The lens if needed I would like to stay around $800 so total would be under $2000. Thank you in advance for any information you can send my way!

I hope someone is willing to shed a pit of light o... (show quote)

Since you already have Pentax experience and equipment you should consider either a Pentax K3ii with a 18-135 mm lens for far less than your $2000 limit or a Pentax K1 with a 24-105 lens at $2298. The K1 is full frame and has great dynamic range but will allow you to use your DA lenses, the K3 is a cropped sensor. Both offer in camera GPS tagging, are weather sealed, built like a tank. The lenses suggested are weather sealed and offer lighting fast focus speeds. Downside is you will need to add an external flash if needed. Due to operator error my K3 and 18-135mm lens survived a header from a full height tripod to a tiled kitchen floor without any visible or operational damage. Can’t guarantee you will be as lucky, nor do I intend to repeat the test. Check them out.

sandersonjack15

My pentX is tougher than I am now.

ronichas Loc: Long Island

I am selling my Nikon D700. It is a full frame Nikon. It has less than 50,000 actuations, is in good condition with normal wear. I am the original owner, with box, manual etc. I have 7 compact flash cards and 4 batteries.
Asking $700 plus shipping costs.
PM if interested.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Camper0414 wrote:

I hope someone is willing to shed a pit of light on the direction I should take. I am looking to purchase a new camera. We are going on a dream vacation and in addition it is time. Here is a bit of information that might be helpful. I am a person that loves photography and takes 1000(s) of pictures during any trip. I am not often found without my camera in hand. That being said I have never had any formal training and am self-taught. Learning on the fly and making mistakes seem to be my learning style. I love to be able to capture nature from a distance yet zoom in to see their eyelashes when possible, so I have always had a pretty large zoom lens. I am not well versed in the manual setting and at time I feel like I just know enough to get in trouble so the camera must have a selection of pre-set fully automatic modes for those shots that are once in a life time and I do not want to mess up. In addition I often find myself needed a fast lens and the ones I have are not amazingly fast so if it comes to a different brand a new lens with speed would be needed. I am not gentile or kind to my equipment, we are outside all the time. It is across my body on a strap and goes where I go. Exposed to the elements would be an understatement, it never has a lens cap on however, always has a clear filter to protect the glass. We believe as a family you purchase things to be used and if they break using them we hope memories were made and captured. I have often been asked by other travelers about my camera being out and our response is simple. We buy things to use them and camera in a bag does not capture memories when they are being made. All this in consideration a durable camera must be selected.

I have had a Pentax D-SLR for years I have had a K200, and K100 both of which had a sealed body to take on the elements. The lens I shoot with the most is my Tamron 28-300. My Tamron 18-250 was my first love however, it was starting to act funny after many years. I also carry a Pentax 18-55 however, it rarely gets used and when the 19-250 was on the camera it never was used. I am not married to Pentax however, if you all feel they have a good camera that would fit my needs I can then keep my lenses.

I am looking for any recommendation that would help guide my selection. Budget - I would like to stay around $1000 for the body however, I believe sometimes when you creep upwards in price you loos some of the auto features I have requested. So this might be one time under budget is called for. The lens if needed I would like to stay around $800 so total would be under $2000. Thank you in advance for any information you can send my way!

I hope someone is willing to shed a pit of light o... (show quote)

The Pentax K-1 is as weather sealed as any other camera. Has a metal housing and is probably as tough as any other. If you choose to stay with Pentax you can't go wrong. This from a Canon shooter.