Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

I have my Canon 5D Mark IV in a PacSafe shoulder bag. It isn’t enormously large and can hold my camera and my walk around. I also have room for two other lenses. The camera body has a wrist strap for right hand holding. When I need to take a photo, I swing the bag around and unzip the top. I used to have a messenger-type bag. It got too heavy and was very obvious with a camera name logo on the front.
While I am very happy with my Canon, I don’t want other people to know what’s in the bag.

The PacSafe Crossbody bags while a little more pricey, is very resistant to excessive weight (because they are well designed and compact) and prevent theft.

www.PacSafe.com

Chappy1101 Loc: Glenview, IL

Don't forget the wonderful Fuji X100 series fixed lens mirrorless 24MP APSC Sensor compact digital camera. Love my 4th gen. And the new 5th gen is in high demand! A great addition, for me, to my Nikon equipment (for travel, street, family, parties & social outings, even serious photography).

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

My search online for Pentax k-mount to Sony e-mount gave:
"There are adapters available to use Pentax K-mount lenses on Sony E-mount cameras. One such adapter is the Monster Adapter LA-KE1 electronic adapter which is designed to adapt Pentax K Mount KAF lenses to Sony E Mount mirrorless bodies with the features including auto-focus, aperture control and EXIF recording12. Another adapter is the Urth Pentax K to Sony E Lens Mount Adapter which is manual so most automatic functions such as aperture, autofocus, AE metering and image stabilization must be adjusted manually"

I have used Pentax K mount lenses on my Sony A7+ full frame bodies.

Hope this helps.

Urnst Loc: Brownsville, Texas

MrPhotog

1) Not all mirrorless cameras have interchangeable lenses, but there are many models which do. These often look and feel like DSLRs, however inside, since there is no need for a mirror, the sensor can be placed closer to the lens mount, and the electronics placed between that and the rear viewscreen on the back of the camera.

There is often a second viewscreen on top of the camera for eyelevel viewing. Often a sensor will automatically turn on the eyelevel screen when you hold the camera by your eye, and switch to the back screen if the camera is away from your face.

2) Because the sensor is closer to the lens mount than on a DSLR, lenses made for a DSLR need an adapter which places the lens at the proper distance for proper focusing. Each brand makes adapters for their older lenses—many, but not all of these adapters retain the full function of the older lenses.

Third party companies also make adapters which permit using lenses from ( many!) other brands. These usually focus well but may not link auto focus, auto exposure, or automatic aperture functions. Or, they might. There are a lot of companies making these adapters, so paying more may get you more features.

Sony has been in the mirrorless market a long time and there are probably more adapters to use other-brand lenses on Sony bodies than any other, but Canon, Nikon, and others are close behind. If you want to try a Sony camera with your Pentax lenses you should have no problem finding adapters. An adapter for my Sony to use my old thread-mount Pentax lenses was about $25.

3) There really isn’t a great savings in weight—particularly if you use the old lenses. They will weigh the same, plus the small weight of any adapter. The cameras themselves may be a few ounces lighter, but this is partly because they have more light plastic parts replacing cast metal ones.
Your other gear: flash, batteries, gadget bag, tripod—they don’t magically get lighter

Bottom line, the biggest weight loss comes in lightening your wallet.

There are plenty of reasons for buying a mirrorless camera, saving weight isn’t a good one.

I added a mirrorless camera to my equipment and found I was carrying the old gear plus the new camera ( and the kit lens). It ended up being a weight gain, not loss. I now carry my gear more often in a backpack rather than a gadget bag. It allows better posture and that helps me manage the weight better.

4) You can shop online from anywhere. Look on the B&H website to start. They have good information, and 6 days a week you can chat over the internet, or talk on the phone to an informative live person. There are many other camera stores that would love your business as well. You can ask here about reputable ones before ordering. Pentax (and other companies) may sell direct from their company websites or refer you to the dealer closest to you. Lens adapters are found in abundance on eBay.

Hope this helps. Have fun shopping. Write a letter to Pentax and bug them about adding a mirrorless body to their line.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

This sounds like the best way to get into mirrorless while continuing to use Pentax K-mount lenses.

I don't know what Pentax camera the original poster is using. I find no info on a "Pentax K-DII" model.

Therefore I don't know if it's a full frame or an APS-C format camera. This effects how much weight might be saved going to mirrorless.

The Monster LA-KE1 alone costs $439

Some full frame options that can be found used for $400 to $800:
- Sony a7
- Sony a7 II
- Sony a7S
- Sony a7S II

These full frame Sony cameras weigh roughly 13.5 ounces less than a full frame Pentax K-1 Mark II. The adapter needed to use the lenses weighs around 3.5 ounces. So your net weight savings would be about 10 ounces or a little less than 2/3 lb.

Some APS-C options that can be found used for roughly $350 to $800:
- Sony a6000
- Sony a6100
- Sony a6300
- Sony a6500

Similar to what we saw with full frame, these Sony APS-C format cameras weigh approx. 13.5 ounces less than an APS-C Pentax K-2 Mark II. Once again, the adapter adds back some 3.5 ounces... so the net weight savings will be around 10 ounces or 2/3 lb.

Since the same lens(es) would be in use via the adapter, there's no weight savings from them.

For more significant weight reduction, a clean break to mirrorless system of camera and lenses would be needed.

For example, Sony offers a kit with an APS-C a6100 camera, 16-50mm and 55-210mm lenses for close to what any of the above might cost: $1098. The total weight of this kit is about 2 lb. (a6100 is 14 oz., 16-50mm is 4 oz. and the 55-210mm 12 oz.)

There are also other options, such as:
- Canon R10 or R50 with RF-S 18-45mm and RF-S 55-210mm lenses
- Nikon Z50 with 16-50mm and 50-250mm lenses.

Finally, there are also full frame mirrorless that are more affordable. An older model Sony like their a7 II can be bought with kit lens for under $1000. Another example, the Canon R8 with RF 24-50mm kit lens is selling for $1700. While that Canon is much newer and the company has done better than most reducing the size and weight of their lenses with the shift over to mirrorless, compared to what you've already got there's a limit to how much reduction there would be with full frame capable lenses. Besides Canon, Nikon and Sony, there also are Fuji, Panasonic, OM System (formerly Olympus) to consider. Fuji are APS-C (and larger medium format). Panasonic offers both full frame and micro 4/3... all OM are micro 4/3. If interested, do some research online for the weights of camera and lenses.

Gallopingphotog

The K-DII model is quite rare. Made for extremely clumsy people who cannot type well despite having been a writer for 30+years

Boris77

I used Pentax as a film camera, but got seduced to Olympus. Olympus dropped my ball in early digital so I tried numerous other brands. Point being I have no brand loyalty; I just use what I have. The final step for me was to downsize the camera body to a smaller design that had stepped up in quality with time.
Now I carry the full size camera/lens for short high quality shoots, but use the smaller body (and usually a smaller lens) with less features for longer carries. Relative to your situation (and mine) I have even smaller other brand digital cameras I can pocket carry and use with less effort.
OF COURSE there is the Digital Phone. My gal friend took a shot for me at the art museum when my camera battery died, and it is excellent on my computer view at screen size!
Boris

Gallopingphotog

I am rapidly coming to the same conclusion! Thanks for the explanations.

Gallopingphotog

Oddly, I struggle with my iPhone because it is too lightweight. Almost always some motion blur. I have a slight
hand tremor (just enough that I don't fill my coffee mug to the brim). Once you reach 76, all the parts that should move don't, and all the ones that shouldn't move do!

MrPhotog

I don’t think you need a lighter camera. I think you need a heavier tripod ! 😎

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Ricoh Pentax (Japan) did make an early mirrorless digital camera, more properly called a MILC that used standard Pentax K-mount lenses. It was / is called the Pentax K-01. It only had a back screen and no EV or OV finder. That is what kept me from buying one. They show up new or used on eBay and other sources. I know what you mean about the arthritis. I pretty much have to opt for using a tripod. So I may still buy a Pentax full frame, the Pentax K-1 Mark ii even though it is extremely heavy.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

It is a K-01.

Boris77

I should be so young.
I do not have a cell phone, but my gal friend complains about holding hers still.
I definitely prefer a weighty camera in poor light. I cheat a lot with sitting down, chair backs, door frames, and shorter focal lengths.
Boris

Doc Mck Loc: Terrell,Texas

Yes, mirrorless cameras weigh less, and the lens made for them weigh less. There is a Canon EOS R6 in the for sale column for $1500 from a reputable member. I bought an R6 from him. The r lenses ( not L Canon lenses) are quite reasonable and light weight. The EF lenses will fit with an adapter but weigh significantly more. The EOS RP is a reasonably priced mirrorless camera by Canon. Also the new R8. Due to your failing strength , avoid the R10 as it does not have inbody stabilization