Why I love Pentax?
Why I love Pentax?
That is a good question. Last year I started a process of selling all my Pentax gear to fully adopt the Fujifilm system. I know, it doesn't make sense. As a previous owner of the Pentax K5, the K3, the KP, all fantastic cameras and a collection of lenses including the gorgeous always missed Pentax HD 20-40mm Limited, why would I pretend to prove I love Pentax. Because no matter how awesome a system Fujifilm is, I just couldn't let got that feeling of holding a proper camera, where every button and dial and its place on the camera makes sense, where the shutter sound releases drops of adrenaline, and where imperfect makes beautiful.
Pentax K5 and Rokinon 14mm ISO 200 - f/4.5. - 1/250s
So this year I went bargain hunting in the used market and acquired a simple system to make me company, an old Pentax K5 and a trusted Pentax DA* 16-50mm 2.8. To me, that's a rugged piece of camera combo, that commands respect to every onlooker, and it has become my camera of choice when looking to go old school and work on my techniques, or when the elements of nature are too much a risk for my fancy collection of Fuji cameras, and of course, when a bit of weight is not a concern. And, oh man, holding this camera feels home.
Truth is, I love Pentax so much, that I couldn't let it go. I needed to keep a piece of it near me to feel normal again, and the K5 provided for now that level of sanity. True, the K5 sensor is not as polished as the one from the KP, but it works, the autofocus is not fast or accurate most of the time; nevertheless, most of the time you get the picture you want. Not exactly a camera for pixel peeping, but believe when care and technique is properly used pictures are sharp and colors look great. Did I say it was a bargain?
Years ago I started learning photography using a Nikon D3200 and a couple of kit lenses, you could say it is a nice setup, but if you are like me, a man (or woman) with a budget, you are looking into getting some good photos and interested in making an investment that could last for years, then look no further, look for Pentax. I probably pay between my K5 and the 16-50mm 2.8 lens close to $500 on the usual websites. The whole Nikon combo I got would not compete at the level of this Pentax setup.. Believe me, with the Pentax combo, you will have fun, you can take it to the beach, to the mountains, to the rainforest, to the mall, to the streets, to a volcano, and it will deliver beyond your expectations.
Understandably, Pentax is no current champion brand in terms of market share, the industry as a whole is going through some big disruptions due to iphoneography and mirrorless technologies, but I am fan of the brand, I am ruling for it, I just wish it would move a bit faster, release a new camera body for the crop sensor market a bit sooner, but unfortunately we are bound to wait until the mother company Ricoh decides to announce good news. Meanwhile, I have the K5 to make me company..
I love Pentax. Its raw files are simple to work with. Its sensor let themselves to produce amazing colors. And some of its lenses are jaw dropping beautiful (Limited lenses, anyone?). It is weather-sealed, not the kind that can take a light drizzle, but the kind that can a withstand a storm. I'll be honest, some lenses and body combos are not necessarily pleasant to the eye, Pentax could look a bit too bricky, with no uniform shape and looking at it from some angles it feels pretty awkward. But place a 40mm Limited pancake lens on a Pentax KP, and you own an uncommon setup that steals the gaze of many..
In the end, Pentax is and imperfect brand. But to me, imperfect is beautiful. Today, I own the combo I want and enjoy. If budget is you criteria, and you can settle for the pure joy of photography, perhaps the shutter sound of a Pentax camera might release some adrenalin out of you too.
