compromising positions

Our debts are now going in the right direction, and my wife agrees that a new Pentax should be included. To my surprise and admiration she feels a K-1 is not too steep a price if it represents the greatest advancement in camera history (my words); I was thinking the K-3 would likely be my highest step.

It should be noted that some bills are not gone though. We need a new fiscal diligence to make things better for good. The K-1 would be a great choice if income from photos were to come with it, and that's something I cannot guarantee. However the K-3ii now feels more reasonable as a choice with nearly the best of everything!

How do they compare?  

Like this: http://camerasize.com/compare/#619,659

The K-3 is just a pinch bulkier than my K-5 that fit so well, but a few buttons and dials have changed. Everything is larger in the K-1: sensor, SR system (better stabilization), screen (with tip and pivot!), number of control dials (3) and of course, price ($1k more±). Each have the new Pixel-Shift mode that provides full color data to every pixel, but the K-1 can correct for moving objects in camera.
However II: the Pentax computer software can correct for motion on both cameras!  This is a recent discovery and really makes the 3ii a more appealing option. The best possible images, APSc size for body and lens savings, 24Mpix (actually more pixel density than the K-1's 36Mpx but gentler on the hard drive) and a similar feature set.

The one thing for sure is that a K-50 bargain body arrives tomorrow.  I had considered sending it back for a time, but we have many financial decisions to make before the camera hits the agenda. The K-50 uses the famous sweet-16Mpx sensor, uses pre-Ricoh controls that I have used for years, has weather seals and does a fine job where it counts.

For a few months at least, the K-50 will do just fine.. and it will feel quite familiar!

yes, again!

This one! 

This is my 4th copy.. or 5th, or more? Read on!

In this case I paid a mere $15 not $35 for the Quantaray 28-90 1:2 macro, but the lens had a broken mount.  I had hoped to find another bargain at some point, but seeing few options I bought the Q-ray 28-90 not-macro on the PentaxForums site (after checking that the screws on the mount lined up).

Shortly after all this effort I checked on one last possibility.  Sigma had marketed this lens with the same specs but as a 28-80mm; I had owned one of these briefly also. Lo and behold: a silver 28-80 for .. $27! Cool, never tried it in silver.  Sold, again!

So light, so talented, and 1:2 macro at the long end - which saves me the search for a prime that would do the same thing for $100 or more.  (Yes the prime would be much faster than f/5.6 but depth of field at 1:2 is not much in either case.) My 'walkaround' lens does not need to go back to 18mm, so this is more interesting to me than an 18-55 (unless it's raining). Not to mention that this plus the 100-300mm covers a full range on the newly-produced K-1 both cheaply and conveniently.  Ooops, I mentioned it..

So I'd had at least two 28-90 1:2 and one 28-80 1:2 - and now I have 28-80 and 28-90 with 1:2 and 28-90 nonmacro. No wonder I've lost count? It will be interesting to see how they differ - are they really the same FL of perhaps 28-85, or did Q-ray get a special longer copy?  How much does one sacrifice for the 1:2 closeups, if anything at all?  The broken mount still works if I hold it to the camera body, so as long as I don't micro-examine the side with the loose fit I might learn something before I swap mounts.  Let's face it though: these are all $30± lenses so it's not worthy of any huge and definitive study - but still fun. Here's hoping the silver one wins out!

With all these features - why not, again?

more K-1 camera comparisons

http://camerasize.com/compare/#659,462 - | - http://camerasize.com/compare/#462,394

The mirrorless camera evolution is about many things, but size is a big one (ha?) Putting a 24×18 or 36×24 sensor into a smaller body with less moving parts saves cubic inches, grams and potential breakdowns. And presumably costs are lower, but of course that's not easy to prove.

However: the size factor breaks down somewhat since lens size still has to match up with the camera sensor lest the corners of all your images go dark.  Smaller sensors like 4:3 helps shrink the lenses - but then owners crave really fast glass to compensate for the smaller sensor size.. The 24×18 crowd want fast zooms with lots of great optics.  The 36×24 say "where is my fast gear?" The lenses are only a bit smaller for mirrorless than for dSLR for the same sensor since the lens must send light to the entire sensor regardless of body type.  And so smaller cameras (with small gripping areas) begin to spout large, unwieldy lenses requested by the users, especially at the telephoto end.  

My NX300 is great for short zooms at the wide end or for fairly wide primes.  My K-50 won't fit in any reasonable pocket even with a pancake prime.  Step up to the K-1 and you must accept the bulk whatever lens you choose - it's half again the weight of the K-50 but the cubic inches will also be significant! 

Looking at my current set of K-mount lenses, I am well covered in both 'FF' and APSc formats. So if the lottery funds flow our way it could be managed optically.  As to physically, it would be a shock - but the NX300 could be the easy-shot camera when it came to distinctions.

• 36×24 "FF" primes = 28, 50, 135, 300, 400mm
• 36×24 "FF" zooms = 15-17mm fisheye*, 35-105/3.2-4, 80-200mm f/3.5, 100-300 (15-400mm)
• 24×18 APSc = 10-17 fisheye, 18-55WR, 55-300WR plus all the above (15-450mme + 600mme prime)

*10-17mm fisheye >15mm as shown on K-1 demo pages!

I swear I'm not actually planning to buy a K-1 any time in the future - but its features are enough to make me consider the benefits of strapping a massive camera to my chest.  I honestly did not expect that, as even the K-3ii seems like a lot of camera.  But everything that APSc flagship camera can do, the K-1 does better - and more features besides, many of which I find.. intriguing.

Below is a link to the specs, and a subset that highlights all the gee-whiz new-to-me features and improvements that my K-50 lacks.

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/products/k-1/spec/index.html

CMOS. Size: 35.9 x 24.0 (mm)  Effective Pixels Approx. 36.40 megapixels
Dust Removal Image sensor cleaning using ultrasonic vibrations "DR II"
Sensitivity  ISO AUTO/100 to 204800 (EV steps can be set to 1EV, 1/2EV or 1/3EV)
Image Stabilizer Sensor-shift shake reduction (SR II : Shake Reduction)(5-axis)
File Formats File format RAW (14-bit PEF/DNG), JPEG
Dual SD slot Sequential Use, Save to Both, Separate RAW / JPEG, Image copy between slots possible
Viewfinder Overlay AF Points, Grid Display, Electronic Level, AF Frame, Spot Metering Frame, Crop
LCD Outdoor View Setting Adjustable ±2 step
Focus Sensor SAFOX 12, 33 point (25 cross type focus points in the center)
Metering Type TTL open aperture metering using 86K pixel RGB sensor, Multi-segment, Center-weighted and Spot metering
Metering Range EV-3 to 20 (ISO100 at 50mm F1.4)
EV Compensation ±5EV (1/2EV steps or 1/3EV steps can be selected)
Multi-Exposure Composite Mode (Additive/Average/Bright)Number of Shots(2 to 2000 images)
Capture Settings Custom Image includes Flat
Clarity 'Adjustable ±4
Skin Tone Type1/Type2
Pixel Shift Resolution Available, Motion Correction ON/OFF
GPS GPS Logging (Logging Interval, Logging Duration, Memory Card Options), GPS Time Sync
Customization USER Modes Up to 5 settings can be saved
Button Customization Fx1 Button, Fx2 Button (One Push File Format, Outdoor View Setting, Flash Mode, Pixel Shift Resolution, Shake Reduction, Horizon Correction, Electronic Level) AF Button (AF1/ AF2/ Cancel AF) separate AF and AE buttons
Hold AF Status: OFF, Low, Medium, High
Power Supply Battery Type Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery D-LI90P
Wireless LAN Standards IEEE 802.11b/g/n
Weight Approx. 1010g (Including dedicated battery and SD Memory Card),Approx. 925g (body only)

For and against Proposition K-1

From imaging-resource.com

Arguments in opposition are short and easy.

• $1800 that I don't have
• 925 grams of beautifully-crafted bulk

But those in favor are numerous and occasionally surprising!

The SR rating of five stops is massive.  I hadn't considered that a larger mechanism for the 36×24 sensor would be more sensitive but it's clearly so.  The pixel-shift full color mode improved as well and can discard areas of blur in favor of clarity.
  Hmm is the ks2 clarity option in here too?  Yes it is! Clarity: adjustable ±4 steps

The third control subset is cool but better still to me is that the Info screen can be customized!  Focus points are more spread out, the APSc auto crop can be overridden.. so many things to please a photographer of any brand.  Good video too it seems, but R.Pentax continues to underplay the significance of video.  I am fine with that, having tried more video-centric cameras and been frustrated by their nearly-continuous AF.

As to items that I could like betterbetter?  The internal LEDs should be set very dim, and can they be red?

hey coincidences happen OK?

I recently decided to upgrade my old and power-hungry Big Desktop by adding some memory.  After failing to achieve any good result (no doubt the ECC or other subtle feature is off - why does every damn motherboard require a very slightly different memory chip??) I ordered a new Core system with 1TB  drive at a great price..

..on the very same day that the 36Mpxl Pentax K-1 is announced!  No doubt this bargain beast would need more processing power and a spare 1TB drive.. but it's just a coincidence.  Those really do happen!

The K-1 shows some incredible talent & potential and at a price much lower than anticipated by nearly everyone for a 36×24 sensor (same size as 35mm film, for bizarre reasons aka "Full Frame").  It's not for me - but less not so than I expected.  Hey I was trying hard not to get a new computer so that will have to be enough spending for now!!

So back to that computer.. this smaller frame will reduce power consumption, increase performance and has WiFi built in for home-net simplicity.  Just yesterday I signed up for an online promo that could win me a $500 Amazon gift card, and the first e-mail they send out is $150 off this little thing.  While it would be marvelous to get $500 back as well, the deal was a good one.  I could add 2G more but no $150 off; amazing what 2G can do to a sale.  And heck, maybe the new DDR3 10600 &c &c I bought will work in this one! :^)

http://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/model/DT.SXLAA.013