brucebc Loc: Tooele, Utah

Pentax newbie here, bought a P30t in 92. I have tried to make up for my newness by collecting and have about 70 Pentax bodies from 110 to 6x7. A couple of K-1000's and screw mounts, a bunch of ZX's that I bought to get a lens that I wanted. Some M series including a ME-F and the Autofocus lens that came out in 1981. The lens has 4 AA batteries to run the autofocus. Favorite shooters are LX and K-1. I LIKE PENTAX!

A10 Loc: Southern Indiana

The point of this post is that for many of us who use Pentax product, we feel marginalized by all the hoopla and advertising by Canon, Sony, and Nikon. I am a long time Pentax user going back to the SP500. I am very happy with my K-3 and K-1 and lenses that span 50 years. Still goes back to the photographer and their eye and talent that makes a superior image.

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

From what I understand, that autofocus was the first public type out there. Very good for your collection.

Kingman

51 years and still counting with Pentax cameras: Spotmatic, Spotmatic II, ESII, ME Super (3), istDL2, K20D, K3, K1 (all still fully functional except for the ESII), with library of lens from 17mm to 500mm Super Takumar and Pentax lenses).

louparker Loc: Scottsdale, AZ

Ditto everyone's kudos about Pentax. I have been using Pentax SLRs as my primary cameras since 1966 when after the US Army re-assigned me as a JAG officer to the Stuttgart, Germany, area and I bought 2 Asahi Spotmatics at the Canadian PX in Baden-Baden (the US PX didn't have any good cameras) and 28mm, 105mm, 200mm and 300mm lenses (zoom lenses were still way in the future). At that time, the Canadian PX carried 3 brands of SLRs, Pentax, Minolta and Nikon with the Nikon being considered the Cadillac (or more appropriately the Mercedes) of 35mm cameras, but at a hefty price (as I recall I got my 2 Spotmatics (so I could shoot both wide angle and telephoto without having to screw and unscrew the M42 mount lenses) for what it would have cost to buy 1 Nikon). Over the years I upgraded to the pro-level SF1n, followed by the ZX-5n, *istDL, K-10D, K-20D, K-7 and finally the K-5, which is my current model (no need to upgrade since then -- "if it broke, don't fix it"). The only non-Pentax cameras I have used are smaller, pocket-sized digitals. The only complaints I have about Pentax are (1) taking to long and lagging behind Nikon and Canon in incorporating state-of-the-art user features such as articulating LCD screens, and (2) after-market lens manufacturers, like Tamron and Sigma, not making their new zoom lenses with Pentax mounts.

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

I used Pentax cameras for a long time in the 35mm days. My favorite was the clunky KX with mirror lock up, coupled to their 100mm lens, with and without extension tubes. I wish they would have joined the digital world much earlier so I could have stayed with them, but I've got too much invested in Canon stuff now to switch back. Got rid of cameras and lenses on eBay several years ago.

BebuLamar

I have 2 KX's in great condition. I love them. Have K1000 I never use. Don't like it.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

I've been a Pentaxian since the early 90s when I realized my Petri had shutter curtain problems (few small holes in the primary) and I was looking for a replacement. I knew of the Pentax reputation as a solid and well built camera plus the quality of the lenses, so when I spotted a used K1000 SE, I thought that's the one for me. Have been a fan ever since. The prices are more reasonable than the Canikon groups and the quality is comparable. I still have the K1000 and obtained a Petri replacement several years ago. Both of them are in perfect working order, with extras for each. Current DSLRs are two Kx's with kit lenses plus a 35-80 and a 55-300. Also have a variety of filters, on camera flash attachments, monolights, backgrounds and other miscellaneous equipment.

Kingman

The market niche size of Pentax is ever so small, I fear for its future in an overall declining market for DSLR systems (mirrorless or not). The slow development time due to limited available resources may not bode well for the brand I've love for 50+ years. Look at the debacle of the K1 to K1 MKII upgrades with the lack of parts. Yes, they overwhelmingly underestimated the number of boards required to do the upgrade (and I am still waiting now coming up on 6 months). Their delayed deliveries of road mapped lenses and lack of announcements for the next flagship cropped camera is extremely overdue. While the K1 MKII is nice for some, are we even looking at the next FF camera (mirrorless? or not)? I am concerned that only Pentax bodies in my bag may not be a realistic future. At least Sony A7's (and other mirrorless bodies) can still use some of my library of legacy Takumar/Pentax lenses. Realistically I see one more cropped and FF Pentax bodies in my bag, then....

robertperry Loc: Sacramento, Ca.

My first real camera was a Spotmatic I bought back in 1970. I've owned 3 Pentaxes, including a 645 film camera that I still have. Been thinking about buying a 645Z and using my 2 lenses with it.

Mr. Fuzzy

My Dad bought a K1000 when it first came out in '76 for our Mountaineering and Rock Climbing trips. He had a 50mm and a Soligar 70-200 zoom. In '96 I bought one with the 50mm at a yard sale for 5 dollars. Then I picked up a K100D at another yard sale for 50 Dollars. Now I am Shooting with a K50 shooting what I would call "Steampunk Microphotogaphy" by mounting a 300 prime lens with a 28 reverse coupled. My preferred subject is various kinds of metal slivers from a drill press and #1, thru #6 Nuts & Bolts, along with small springs. I will have to post picture samples when I get home from the hospital.

EdR Loc: Gig Harbor, WA

Long time and current Pentax user. Really liked my WR 90 Zoom film camera for kayaking trips. Still have many lenses, screw mount and K mount, and several different bodies. They are more capable of taking great pictures than I am. 😏

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Lou … I think you meant - "if it AIN'T broke - don't fix it" - didn't you? …

Wonder why the base didn't have any Canons ….

Yes, you're right - Pentax was behind Canon and Nikon, in their approach to incorporating fully-articulating screens. The K-S2 was the very first Pentax body to include one, and Ricoh's dropped it, already!!! … Anyway - you can get the K-70 now, which has one. And, of course - the K-1 / K-1 II both have the articulating screen, but - it cannot be turned all the way around, for Selfies - like the others.

Sigma has a number of lenses available for Pentax K mount. Tamron? … Not so many, but there ARE some … just looked it up … Sigma has 15 currently. Tamron has 6, only. You may want to check them out at B&H, or at Adorama - which also has quite a selection of used Pentax, Sigma and Tamron lenses for PK.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

K1000 and film cameras aside (brilliant camera), I think if Pentax decided to get off their collective butts and fix/update their seemingly lack of will to correct the inconsistent & lagging AF and AF tracking which has plagued them at least since the K-x and beyond, they would have the best DSLR on the planet hands down. Perhaps okay for landscapes and portraits, but it fails when it comes to anything that moves. I would love to go back to Pentax, but I gave up after they gave up on me. Just my opinion.

louparker Loc: Scottsdale, AZ

Yes, of course, I meant "if it ain't broke ..." Sorry about the omitted word. What I meant about Tamron and Sigma zoom lenses is that they don't make their NEW ultra-zooms, like the Tamron 18-400, with a Pentax mount.