Rainbow Crow Photo Loc: Davenport, NY

Hi all,
I've been reading the fourms for a few days now and notice that no one seems to use Pentax. I'm new to Pentax and SLR potography. I have used a Canon PowerShot A590 in the past, and still do use from time to time, but wanted to get more serious with my photography without jumping right into the big money professional cameras. I have a Pentax K-r I bought last years and have a tri/unipod, lenses smc 18-55 & smc 55-300 & a lens hood so far. I want to invest in a better flash than the built in one and I think a macro lens would be nice. I mainly shoot indoor basketball games and dance. Outdoor action shots of birds & dogs and I like playing around with macro shots.
Any thoughts or advice for a new SLR user?

KimParks Loc: Kenosha, WI

Those are great shots. I have never owned a Pentax but I see it's a great camera. I have Canon and Nikon, mainly because the lenses are interchangable with my film SLR's as I believe most people feel that way.
There are a few others out there too, and I am sure they take great pictures however I like the idea I can use what I already have.
Great pics though keep up the great work...

Swamp Gator Loc: Coastal South Carolina

That's an interseting question. I activily shoot birds and other wildlife on a consistant basis. I know quite a few wildlife photographers, and often see clubs and birding groups out in the field. I do not believe I have ever seen a single Pentax out there. I'd say the majority of what I see is Canon and Nikon with maybe an occasional Sony.
I know Pentax makes a fine camera and have no idea why it's not more popular. I guess some of it is likely due to Canon and Nikon's marketing. Plus you are more likely to see Canon and Nikon and any news or sports event.
I'm sure your Pentax will do the job as required.

As far as your posted photos...both the dog and soccer shots look like they needed a faster shutter speed to stop the action.
Your soccer shot shows way too much DOF (with the fence and trees almost in focus) which means you probably could have opened up the lens more and used a faster shutter speed to get the same exposure.

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

i happen to like pentax very much. If I wasn't so invested in nikon lenses i would switch. Unlike cannon, pentax has never changed their lens mount. all the old pentax lenses will work on their dslr's. there are some nice bargins on manual focus glass, go to Keh.com. Unlike Nikon, pentax has kept the auto focus motor where it belongs, in the camera, so you aren't forced to buy the more expensive auto focus lenses. I suspect the accountants are running and ruining Nikon, like how the accountants almost ruined GM. another reason you don't see as many pentax users is that many on here bought their cameras from sam's, costco, best buy etc and i don't believe Pentax markets there. But don't worry you have a great camera and pentax will be around. I feel bad for anyon that bought olympus though, the board of directors managed to mislead investors to the tumne of 4.9billon yen. they will hopefully be bought out by a bigger japanese corporation or will be going in to bankruptcy.

cgchief Loc: Jarrettsville

I have been a happy Pentax user for about 50 years. And I
use all screw mount lens on my Pentax *istDL (with adapter) and my K mount lens on my Pentax K10D. You
can't get better.
I have an adapter mount for reversing the lens for macro for sale in the 'for sale' section.

Rainbow Crow Photo Loc: Davenport, NY

Swamp Gator: Thank you for the feed back. I'm still learning as you can see. Its a big change between cameras and I'm trying to really learn and get comfortable with a type of photography like outdoor sports, for example, before I move on. I beleive that those pictures were taken with the auto setting and I'm trying to move away from that and learn more.

One of the best things I like about this site is the feed back people give to each other. One of the reasons I joined.

So faster shutter speed it is. :D

Rainbow Crow Photo Loc: Davenport, NY

Thank you everyone for the great info. I have been learning much more about photography this week than I have since I bought my cameras. I'm going over to check out the "for sale" section. Thanks again for making me feel welcome.

KathyinNH Loc: Kingston, NH

I have a Pentax K100D and love it. The only thing I would love to upgrade from its 6.1 pixels especially for cropping photos. Unfortunately the Pentax that I am looking at is running around $1,200 to $1,300. At the present time it is out of my budget range but I can dream anyway.

photocat Loc: Atlanta, Ga

They make good cameras, have rotten marketing.

dtcracer

I have a Pentax K-r, and I would not trade for it. They are excellent cameras, and are just as good as Canon or Nikon in my opinion.

GDRoth Loc: Southeast Michigan USA

As you can see by my equipment list below, I use a Pentax K5 and mostly Pentax lenses. I love my K5 and think it's just a good as any Canikon.............

My Main internet forum is the Pentax Forum where you can drill down in the use of Pentax gear. I also enjoy Ugly Hedgehog to get a wider view of things....

The Pentax forum is at
http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/

BOB Loc: Texas

Nice shot of the bee . and lover you dogs , what is there blood line ?..Bob

OnTheFly Loc: Tennessee

I think that this is the biggest reason you don't see more Pentax. They just don't market as heavily as Canon or Nikon so more people are familar with these brands. I truly don't believe that it is a matter of quality or performance.

KathyinNH Loc: Kingston, NH

Thanks for the forum address, I'll have to check it out.

birdie

I have a Pentax K20, use it every day. When I remarried, my husband had several Pentax cameras, as did my daughter, so I naturally fell into a Pentax. I have never used any of the other cameras. When digital came along, they advertised the old lenses fit so I stayed with Pentax. I did buy my Pentax ist,(at Costco) then the K20 . I had the Ist in a bag with a small cool pix, hoping to entice my grandson to take some pictures. I had also put a spray can of insect repellent in the bottom of the bag. Something set off the spray can emptying it in the bag. The insect repellent ruined both cameras, simply dissolved them. Luckily I was carrying my newer camera. I use a Quantray 70-300 lens most of the time. My husband had bought a 600 mm Vivitar which fit his manual Pentax,but did not fit the digital. It would go on the camera, but not turn to click into place.I called all the big companies, like B&H. finally getting a definitive answer," no, there was no adapter" I looked at it carefully, realized there was a flange which was longer on the Vivitar, no other differences evident. I took it to the basement, used a diamond rotary bit and cut that flange back. Now it engages, meters, works, but the thing is so heavy I cannot carry it. I can mount it on a tripod, and it works, but not the way I use a camera these days. I know using a tripod is a really good idea, but just could no longer carry it. I am so happy with the stabilizer in my camera. It usually does the job, and I can wander around in the boonies all day without the weight of a tripod. I can follow a hummingbird, like I never could on a tripod. Back to the subject. Pentax has been good to me. I won't switch.