View from a Pentax Owner (Page 2): If you take a look at DPReview, you will find that you can't find a better value, for a FF camera, than the K1. Enough said.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

If you take a look at DPReview, you will find that you can't find a better value, for a FF camera, than the K1. Enough said.

digit-up Loc: Flushing, Michigan

boberic wrote:

If you take a look at DPReview, you will find that you can't find a better value, for a FF camera, than the K1. Enough said.

Well....I don'y defend PENTAX, nor do I try to SELL them, BUT, I do love the brand, cameras, lenses, spotting scopes, etal. Without any merci-less advertisements , Pentax is doing O.K. On the other hand, MANY camera brands are doing O.K. and they please their owners...More than "enough said!!

brucebc Loc: Tooele, Utah

I have been a Pentax user since 92 (a P30t). My latest is the magnificent K-1. It is my 4th Pentax DSLR and I have liked them all. I have about 65 Pentax film Slr's starting with a 110 and going up to a couple of 6x7's. LX's and MX's being the favorite film bodies in 35mm. I still shoot the 6x7 when I want to really get away from hectic life. I have an adapter to use the 6x7 lenses on 35mm but haven't tried it on the K-1 yet, something to do this winter.

Nosaj Loc: Sarasota, Florida

bedouin wrote:

.... ..... There are quite good reasons why Canon, Nikon, Sony and Olympus outsell them, and I am not one to argue with success.

I agree with you, and only want to add that one of the "good reasons" why Pentax is universally outsold is that the company (now Ricoh) does very little to no marketing, advertising, promotions, and publicity of its cameras. Sometimes, I find it amazing that the brand is still there, but then I realize that the products are quite good and have a small but dedicated following.

dave_roe Loc: Rome Italy

Pentax user starting with film and then moved to digital. Finally retired the film rigs a few years back and have owned the K10d, K100d, K7 which were all gifted away over time. Now only the K20, K5 and K3 are in the wheeled bag hoping Santa gets the hint and a K1 shows up sometime soon.

As for lenses a Sigma, two Tamron and 7 Pentax. My favorite two pieces of Pentax glass the 31mm and the 60-250mm.

I like the bang for the buck, built solid and great for what I shoot. Never did listen to the folks in the club that swore by the competition and would say I needed to get some real gear.

I have made a pretty good living shooting only with Pentax. Now I guess you can call me semi-retired as I still shoot just about every day and take a freelance gig about once a month.

Kind of sitting here chuckling knowing a 2018 calendar is going to print for a local company who hands out over 3000 of them during the holidays with every picture coming from nothing but Pentax!

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

Something funny, when I started with digitals, the menus had me stumped for a long time. In present days, where I often switch to other cameras, I still have to refresh my "memory" somewhat. (Having a senior moment I guess. LoL)

One good thing is the extra dial on top of the Pentax K1. With that I can simple look at whatever mode I want, flip it to that setting and have at it! Other than things like formatting the SD card, there is generally very little need for the confusing menu any more!!! That feature alone is well worth the cost of a much more expensive camera yet the cost does not reflect it.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

Pentax has a long history in making sturdy, reliable cameras, lenses, and accessories. 'Nuff said.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

As someone what has been working with photography since 13, now 50 years, I am proud to state that I used, and still have, some Pentax cameras. I started with a Mamiya/Sekor 1000DTL, then dual Pentax Spotmatics and finally to an SF-1, all prior to my Nikon life. I still have a Spotmatic and a 50/1.4. There is a family member with multiple current Pentax bodies. Absolutely nothing wrong with -- my career began with them! Best of luck.

pipesgt Loc: Central Florida

I bought a K100d DSLR several years ago and it still works fine. I bought it when I found out that all of my 'drawer full' of lenses for my MX and LX SLR's would fit the K100d. I have had excellent service from all of my Pentax products. The Takumar lenses are as good as any other made. Unfortunately, Ricoh has done a lousy job of marketing the Pentax brand.

shelty Loc: Medford, OR

GENorkus wrote:

*The first thing, I'm not going to mention names nor post a bunch of links to stress my opinion.

After looking up much information on the Pentax K1, I finally bit the bullet and purchased one. This will be included to my growing set of matching lenses and other assorted goodies. I can hear it now from owners of other brand cameras, "What a mistake buying that junk!" Well I could say the same thing back, but I won't. You purchase whatever you think is good for your needs and the K1 fits my need pretty good and at a very good price.

Because I already have many Pentax items, it would cost me several thousand dollars to switch to another brand. Sure most manufactures make wonderful glass... but I already have some excellent Pentax glass, so why switch?

It's been said many times that Pentax cameras are likely the strongest build common cameras. My Pentax K20D and K5 have gone through "H" and back with no problems short of a scratch here and there. A couple of highly recommended 3rd party items, (battery grip to name one), didn't fair as well. Durability and quality like that just doesn't happen to other brands until the price goes much higher although times are changing. That is one special reason I got the K1!

Several, (correct that), many people make comments, blogs, YouTube videos, and seem to make fun of "that brand" when they really just expecting more views when a verbal war starts.

With slight exception, my near 10 and 7 year old dslr's are still doing what I want. More night abilities is another reason for the K1.

Even though my K5 with a 200mm lens was able to be hand held at around 1/180, the 5 axis stabilizion of the K1 is a nice feature that should let my hand hold the same lens at around 1/100 to 1/120. Wow!

One camera I fell in love with was the Sigma with it's Foven sensor. Because none of my post editing programs will work directly from a Foven picture, I never purchased one of them. Two years back Pentax surprised the world and came out with the Bayer sensor equivalent (?) of a Foven sensor. When needed, I like that thought. Another manufacture came out with similar but that was two years later but only has it on one model and costs twice the price I'm paying. LoL

The megapixel count is not the highers today, but it compairs to the early mid-frame sensors. (Couldn't afford them.) Another reason to get the K1.

As a near final thing, it does just about everything all the older dslr cameras would do and many better. So add that to my list.

There are several other reasons I'm sticking with Pentax. Other owners can elaborate on their reasons.

Now complaint here!

*The first thing, I'm not going to mention names n... (show quote)

Whatever turns you on. To each his own. It's a camera and it takes pictures just like all the other one's out there. If you're happy with it, that's all that matters.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

If build quality was the primary reason to buy Pentax, I would agree. I still have an use my K1000. Moving into the digital world, Pentax is consistently behind in AF speed and tracking as far back as the K-x to my memory. It appears that this continued for many models afterwards. I do not know about the K-1, but sincerely hope they figured it out. If not for that reason, I would be a Pentax fan today. Still have a few lenses.

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

Back in the 35mm days, I too was a dedicated Pentax user, my favorite body being the KX with mirror lockup. When I decided to go digital, Pentax was totally out of that business, so I sold all my Pentax bodies and lenses and went with Canon because it seemed to be the best digital at that time. I still have very fond memories of that old KX.

Leitz Loc: Solms

GENorkus wrote:

*The first thing, I'm not going to mention names nor post a bunch of links to stress my opinion.

After looking up much information on the Pentax K1, I finally bit the bullet and purchased one. This will be included to my growing set of matching lenses and other assorted goodies. I can hear it now from owners of other brand cameras, "What a mistake buying that junk!" Well I could say the same thing back, but I won't. You purchase whatever you think is good for your needs and the K1 fits my need pretty good and at a very good price.

Because I already have many Pentax items, it would cost me several thousand dollars to switch to another brand. Sure most manufactures make wonderful glass... but I already have some excellent Pentax glass, so why switch?

It's been said many times that Pentax cameras are likely the strongest build common cameras. My Pentax K20D and K5 have gone through "H" and back with no problems short of a scratch here and there. A couple of highly recommended 3rd party items, (battery grip to name one), didn't fair as well. Durability and quality like that just doesn't happen to other brands until the price goes much higher although times are changing. That is one special reason I got the K1!

Several, (correct that), many people make comments, blogs, YouTube videos, and seem to make fun of "that brand" when they really just expecting more views when a verbal war starts.

With slight exception, my near 10 and 7 year old dslr's are still doing what I want. More night abilities is another reason for the K1.

Even though my K5 with a 200mm lens was able to be hand held at around 1/180, the 5 axis stabilizion of the K1 is a nice feature that should let my hand hold the same lens at around 1/100 to 1/120. Wow!

One camera I fell in love with was the Sigma with it's Foven sensor. Because none of my post editing programs will work directly from a Foven picture, I never purchased one of them. Two years back Pentax surprised the world and came out with the Bayer sensor equivalent (?) of a Foven sensor. When needed, I like that thought. Another manufacture came out with similar but that was two years later but only has it on one model and costs twice the price I'm paying. LoL

The megapixel count is not the highers today, but it compairs to the early mid-frame sensors. (Couldn't afford them.) Another reason to get the K1.

As a near final thing, it does just about everything all the older dslr cameras would do and many better. So add that to my list.

There are several other reasons I'm sticking with Pentax. Other owners can elaborate on their reasons.

Now complaint here!

*The first thing, I'm not going to mention names n... (show quote)

Well, that ought to dispel the myth that it's the person behind the camera that makes the photograph.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

GENorkus wrote:

*The first thing, I'm not going to mention names nor post a bunch of links to stress my opinion.

After looking up much information on the Pentax K1, I finally bit the bullet and purchased one. This will be included to my growing set of matching lenses and other assorted goodies. I can hear it now from owners of other brand cameras, "What a mistake buying that junk!" Well I could say the same thing back, but I won't. You purchase whatever you think is good for your needs and the K1 fits my need pretty good and at a very good price.

Because I already have many Pentax items, it would cost me several thousand dollars to switch to another brand. Sure most manufactures make wonderful glass... but I already have some excellent Pentax glass, so why switch?

It's been said many times that Pentax cameras are likely the strongest build common cameras. My Pentax K20D and K5 have gone through "H" and back with no problems short of a scratch here and there. A couple of highly recommended 3rd party items, (battery grip to name one), didn't fair as well. Durability and quality like that just doesn't happen to other brands until the price goes much higher although times are changing. That is one special reason I got the K1!

Several, (correct that), many people make comments, blogs, YouTube videos, and seem to make fun of "that brand" when they really just expecting more views when a verbal war starts.

With slight exception, my near 10 and 7 year old dslr's are still doing what I want. More night abilities is another reason for the K1.

Even though my K5 with a 200mm lens was able to be hand held at around 1/180, the 5 axis stabilizion of the K1 is a nice feature that should let my hand hold the same lens at around 1/100 to 1/120. Wow!

One camera I fell in love with was the Sigma with it's Foven sensor. Because none of my post editing programs will work directly from a Foven picture, I never purchased one of them. Two years back Pentax surprised the world and came out with the Bayer sensor equivalent (?) of a Foven sensor. When needed, I like that thought. Another manufacture came out with similar but that was two years later but only has it on one model and costs twice the price I'm paying. LoL

The megapixel count is not the highers today, but it compairs to the early mid-frame sensors. (Couldn't afford them.) Another reason to get the K1.

As a near final thing, it does just about everything all the older dslr cameras would do and many better. So add that to my list.

There are several other reasons I'm sticking with Pentax. Other owners can elaborate on their reasons.

Now complaint here!

*The first thing, I'm not going to mention names n... (show quote)

You should buy and shoot what you like... Don't want to put your thread on a tangent but I lust for a Merrill dp2 and want to just push the button every time GAS attacks. Nothing quite like the Foveon look which the Quattro kind of marginalizes IMHO.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

repleo wrote:

I seriously considered the K-1 when I decided I wa... (show quote)

This happens, unfortunately. Pentax does a lousy job of marketing, and their "supporters" just make it worse. Many users of Pentax equipment are a lot like many Nikon users - they value the past and are distrustful of "plastics"; in other words, they seem to be afraid of the future - but that is where we are going. Pentax understands the future, but they'll have to find some way of dragging some of their users with them. The KP and K-1 appear to be outstanding products moving into the future.