Pentax KF thoughts, comments, opinions

[DRK-1]

I'd like to get a weather-sealed camera. Pentax keeps coming up in my searches. The KF seems to suit my needs for a smaller, lighter, rugged, weather-sealed camera. Don't need a full-frame. Any thoughts, comments, opinions from those that have one?

Thanks!

 

[smoke665]

I'd look at the K3ii, I still have and use mine as a second body. It pairs well with my K1MII. K3III or Kf? - PentaxForums.com

 

[21limited]

Another vote for a used K-3ii. All the K-moount images I’ve taken for the last ten years have been taken with the original K-3. The difference you ask. After a drop my entry level K-x was toast. My K-3 has taken 3 spills, and it never damaged the camera. However, I do apprciate the fold out back screen of the Kf. It’s a choice.

 

[Tartness9094]

Nothing wrong with the KF if you can't afford the K3ii. Have a look at the second hand market as well. I have a K5ii that I bought recently and it's performance is amazing. Here a few photos taken with the K5ii. The photo of the wood carved poppyhead was taken at 12800 ISO in a very dark church.

 

[Ysarex]

I'd like to get a weather-sealed camera. Pentax keeps coming up in my searches. The KF seems to suit my needs for a smaller, lighter, rugged, weather-sealed camera. Don't need a full-frame. Any thoughts, comments, opinions from those that have one?

Thanks!

Just one thing; the Pentax is a DSLR whereas the industry has moved to mirrorless for good reasons. I liked my old optical viewfinder and would still prefer it over an EVF but I would never consider switching back to a DSLR. The advantages I get from my mirrorless cameras are too valuable overall to lose.
I really benefit from live-view exposure aids. My method for setting an exposure has changed for the better using mirrorless cameras. I set a correct exposure more accurately and with confidence that's not possible using a DSLR -- mirrorless live-view highlight alerts -- I'll never go back and I'll never chimp again.

I can use all my lenses (leica, nikon, zeiss, voigtlander, fuji, rodenstock) on all my cameras interchangeably -- an advantage of mirrorless shorter flange distance. A DSLR is much more limited because the mirror's in the way.

I have better lenses because of the mirrorless shorter flange distance. My fuji 14mm wide angle has zero distortion; try and find a 14mm for that pentax with zero distortion.

There are lots of weather sealed options in mirrorless bodies (fuji and olympus come to mind).

Switchback Travel | Weather-Sealed Mirrorless Cameras: A Complete List

A complete list of weather-sealed mirrorless cameras for 2019, with top weather resistant and rugged mirrorless cameras from Sony, Fujifilm and more.

www.switchbacktravel.com

 

[smoke665]

Just one thing; the Pentax is a DSLR whereas the industry has moved to mirrorless for good reasons.

"Just one thing more", they aren't Pentax and they aren't what the die hard Pentax people want, (myself inlcuded). The mirrorless crowd always forgets that Pentax was on the leading edge when it released the K-01 in 2012, a 16mp mirrorless that was compatible with K mount lenses. It was discontinued after only a year, due to lackluster sales. The ""other brand guys that now think mirrorless is best" and Pentax loyal brand customers snubbed their nose at it. Pentax listened to its customer base and chose to position themselves as the last bastion of traditional SLR design, allowing them to trade on their heritage (camera and lenses) while avoiding getting tangled in the competitive, crowded and shrinking market.

Just an FYI there are still K-01 bodies out there very reasonably priced.

 

[21limited]

Me, with my K-01 around my neck. I Just avoid mirrorless when I can, like most remaining Pentax users. It’s so good one companyy on the planet cares about what I want.
Hiking in Algonquin Park, Trak and Tower trail. by Norm Head, on Flickr

But, it was an excellent camera.

My Q S-1 is also a mirrorless Pentax ILC.

 

[Ysarex]

"Just one thing more", they aren't Pentax and they aren't what the die hard Pentax people want, (myself inlcuded). The mirrorless crowd always forgets that Pentax was on the leading edge when it released the K-01 in 2012, a 16mp mirrorless that was compatible with K mount lenses. It was discontinued after only a year, due to lackluster sales. The ""other brand guys that now think mirrorless is best" and Pentax loyal brand customers snubbed their nose at it. Pentax listened to its customer base and chose to position themselves as the last bastion of traditional SLR design, allowing them to trade on their heritage (camera and lenses) while avoiding getting tangled in the competitive, crowded and shrinking market.

Just an FYI there are still K-01 bodies out there very reasonably priced.

That's fine that you want to keep using your Pentax DSLR. However the advantages of mirrorless cameras are real and the OP did not identify himself as a committed Pentax user. The OP could certainly decided a weather sealed mirrorless camera better suits his needs or that he'd be happier with one or more of a mirrorless camera's features that a DSLR doesn't provide. The industry overall has made the transition to mirrorless and that certainly begs the question; what are the reasons for that?

 

[Tartness9094]

Just one thing; the Pentax is a DSLR whereas the industry has moved to mirrorless for good reasons. I liked my old optical viewfinder and would still prefer it over an EVF but I would never consider switching back to a DSLR. The advantages I get from my mirrorless cameras are too valuable overall to lose.
I really benefit from live-view exposure aids. My method for setting an exposure has changed for the better using mirrorless cameras. I set a correct exposure more accurately and with confidence that's not possible using a DSLR -- mirrorless live-view highlight alerts -- I'll never go back and I'll never chimp again.

I can use all my lenses (leica, nikon, zeiss, voigtlander, fuji, rodenstock) on all my cameras interchangeably -- an advantage of mirrorless shorter flange distance. A DSLR is much more limited because the mirror's in the way.

I have better lenses because of the mirrorless shorter flange distance. My fuji 14mm wide angle has zero distortion; try and find a 14mm for that pentax with zero distortion.

There are lots of weather sealed options in mirrorless bodies (fuji and olympus come to mind).

Switchback Travel | Weather-Sealed Mirrorless Cameras: A Complete List

A complete list of weather-sealed mirrorless cameras for 2019, with top weather resistant and rugged mirrorless cameras from Sony, Fujifilm and more.

www.switchbacktravel.com

I have tried lots of mirrorless cameras and not really enjoyed using them as much as my DSLR. All the fuss made about being able to see your exposure changes in the EVF does not tempt me, my Pentax gets exposure spot on most of the time and I have learned through experience how much exposure comp I need to set in certain conditions, which is all part of the art of photography.

 

[Ysarex]

I have tried lots of mirrorless cameras and not really enjoyed using them as much as my DSLR. All the fuss made about being able to see your exposure changes in the EVF does not tempt me, my Pentax gets exposure spot on most of the time and I have learned through experience how much exposure comp I need to set in certain conditions, which is all part of the art of photography.

I assume then you set exposures based on the output image (JPEG) that the camera creates? I'm also not tempted by seeing exposure in the EVF. However the tools in the EVF (live highlight alert) allow me to set an optimum raw file exposure with ease and precision. Something a DSLR doesn't provide.

Got a new lens yesterday -- Olympus 12mm -- and went for a walk this morning to test it. Used my Olympus Pen Lite (mirrorless). I took this photo:

Here's the JPEG that the camera created (resized only):

Camera JPEG looks awful. It should I set a +2.3 EC when I took the photo. The raw file exposure is absolutely perfect and I knew with the +2.3 EC it would be perfect before I clicked the shutter. You can't do that with a DSLR. You've learned through experience to set an EC value and you say that's part of the art of photography. I did that too long ago. But bottom line is you're guessing, it's an educated guess, but you're still not certain beyond a doubt. When I set that +2.3 EC this morning I was certain beyond a doubt that the exposure was perfect. It's a mirrorless camera advantage and I wouldn't give it up now.

 

[smoke665]

@Ysarex Its more than presumptuous to assume that all photographers have the same wants, needs, preferences, budgets, abilities, etc as you. I, like others have posted, don't see the problems you see with nailing exposure. Experience out weighs equipment for most of us. While the OP did post in a non-pentax thread he did specifically ask for comments related to the KF/Pentx brand. The my "brand is better than yours comments" generally don't end well, might be best for all to get back on the rails.

 

[Ysarex]

@Ysarex Its more than presumptuous to assume that all photographers have the same wants, needs, preferences, budgets, abilities, etc as you.

I don't. But again mirrorless cameras do have real advantages and I think it's fair to say that's born out by most of the industry making the switch.

I, like others have posted, don't see the problems you see with nailing exposure. Experience out weighs equipment for most of us. While the OP did post in a non-pentax thread he did specifically ask for comments related to the KF/Pentx brand. The my "brand is better than yours comments" generally don't end well, might be best for all to get back on the rails.

 

[Tartness9094]

I assume then you set exposures based on the output image (JPEG) that the camera creates? I'm also not tempted by seeing exposure in the EVF. However the tools in the EVF (live highlight alert) allow me to set an optimum raw file exposure with ease and precision. Something a DSLR doesn't provide.

Got a new lens yesterday -- Olympus 12mm -- and went for a walk this morning to test it. Used my Olympus Pen Lite (mirrorless). I took this photo:

View attachment 285387

Here's the JPEG that the camera created (resized only):

View attachment 285388

Camera JPEG looks awful. It should I set a +2.3 EC when I took the photo. The raw file exposure is absolutely perfect and I knew with the +2.3 EC it would be perfect before I clicked the shutter. You can't do that with a DSLR. You've learned through experience to set an EC value and you say that's part of the art of photography. I did that too long ago. But bottom line is you're guessing, it's an educated guess, but you're still not certain beyond a doubt. When I set that +2.3 EC this morning I was certain beyond a doubt that the exposure was perfect. It's a mirrorless camera advantage and I wouldn't give it up now.

Yes I totally agree with you about the ability of a EVF to show a shadow or highlight warning but I am just an amateur not a pro, so I don't need all that to take my photos. As I have already said, I can usually get my exposures where I want them just using past experience but if I get it slightly wrong, the latitude of a RAW file usually allows me to get the image I want. At the end of the day, its s digital image and I can take as many photos as I want until I get the result I want. Yes it will be easier with a mirrorless camera but I enjoy the challenge of using a DSLR and I really don't like EVF's I'm afraid and at 66, I am too old to care anyway

 

[smoke665]

Here's a nice review of the KF and features Pentax KF Review - Exposure Modes | PentaxForums.com Reviews

 

[Ysarex]

Yes I totally agree with you about the ability of a EVF to show a shadow or highlight warning but I am just an amateur not a pro, so I don't need all that to take my photos. As I have already said, I can usually get my exposures where I want them just using past experience but if I get it slightly wrong, the latitude of a RAW file usually allows me to get the image I want. At the end of the day, its s digital image and I can take as many photos as I want until I get the result I want. Yes it will be easier with a mirrorless camera but I enjoy the challenge of using a DSLR and I really don't like EVF's I'm afraid and at 66, I am too old to care anyway

It's fine that you're satisfied using a DSLR as you do. 66 you say, I'm 72 and this has been my profession since the later half of the 1970s. I still get excited about truly substantive advances in the technology. Over the past decade I've been able to change how I determine an exposure (for the better) because of those advances in the tech. 50 years now and still learning something new.