Perhaps a slight digression from topic, but this and a few other threads have caused me to think about equipment. Also remembering how Ansel Adams did a spread with a Kodak Bownie, and seeing work done by Peter Gowland with a Vest Pocket Kodak, I have re-examined my approach.

Part of this is because I also like to cook. What does that have to do with this? Well, if you follow cooking, you probably have bumped into Alton Brown, and his original show, 'Good Eats.' Quite often he would absolutely destroy some expensive cooking device, and manufacture something vastly superior out of $10 worth of parts from the hardware store. He did this because he knew the food science of how the process worked.

My point is that with knowledge of what I am doing and why – leads me more down the road in an Alton Brown fashion. For example, I knew the feel of what I wanted to achieve, before I shot this more 'vintage' portion of the Daytona Beach Boardwalk – trying to get that nostalgic feeling of a boardwalk before they tear it all down. My answer was to use EXPIRED color slide film. It worked. I definitely got that early '60s slightly washed out old, Kodacolor print stored in a shoebox look. And for this subject, it was exactly what made the photos work.

In short I beginning to look at the whole process, backwards from the end more than I have. And I have begun to manufacture more things from what I have to save my budget with petty good success. Example: rather than buy a lightbox for $$$ – I used two $10 used 1970's Vivitar flashes that I bought for another reason, an old white sheet and a large cardboard box I was going to throw out. In this case, perhaps not better than the $$$ light box – but certainly (judging from the the outcome) just as good. And I don't use a light box very often – so my budget thanks me.

You get the idea.

I have been looking closely at one also. Some of the testing indicates it surpasses it's main rival, the Nikon D7100 in a few places, falls short in a few others (like most models do) and is comparably priced. Overall, I would give the edge to the 7100, but certainly the K-3 is no slouch. Having moved away from Pentax digital because of inconsistent AF and AF tracking, I am wondering if the K-3 solves the problem. I am looking for fast AF for low-light sports, I seem to be unable to make my choice right now. After researching lenses, would probably go for body only. I have a leftover 18-55 kit lens (not for sports) and would add the Sigma 50-150/2.8 to make a nice starter package if I go in this direction. Let us know how you do with your new purchase. Good luck with your new K-3.