Someone Shrunk my d3..

[Usuqa]

So after allot of thought and with a kid on the way, i decided to downsize my equipment and go with the one camera system (well two.. i have the gf1 ).

So in gose my d3 and out pops a k5..

My new toy by usuqa, on Flickr
(shot with gf1 and pentax ka 50mm f1.7 and two 50watt house lamps).

So far i love it, its way smaller than the d3 but feels just as well built.. the button lay out is great and its nice to shoot 1080p video (stabilised even with old lens to!).

The high iso is very similar to the d3, infact its better in low light for me since i can use any lens and have it stabilised were as my Nikon kit was old lens and no VR. At its lowest iso (80) this thing has crazy dynamic range, you can boost the shadows like mad and more detail keeps appearing (more than i could with the d3).

The auto focus isnt as good, the viewfinder is smaller (tho still 100%) and there is less DoF control but i don't miss the d3 at all. The pentax k-5 is an amazing piece of kit.

[Dirt_Bike_Ryda]

Originally Posted by Usuqa

The auto focus isnt as good, the viewfinder is smaller (tho still 100%) and there is less DoF control. but i don't miss the d3 at allThe pentax k-5 is an amazing piece of kit.

How so? Isn't DoF by the lens ?

[Usuqa]

Originally Posted by Dirt_Bike_Ryda

How so? Isn't DoF by the lens ?

Yes and no, with the larger sensor in the d3 you have to get closer to the subject to fill the frame as much giving you shallower DoF.

For instance, my da* 50-135 f2.8 would be similar to using a 70-200 f2.8 @ f4 on full frame.
You would have a similar frame and perspective and DoF. But if you were to open that 70-200 to f2.8 on the full frame, you would need to use f2.0 on a crop body (1.5x crop) to get the same shallow DoF which you cant do as the lens can only goto f2.8.

Another example of this is m4/3 cameras. If you wanted to match the look of a 50mm f1.8 on full frame then you would need a 25mm f0.95 because of the 2x crop factor.

[OsmosisStudios]

I'll bite: why didnt you stick with Nikon? ANd why sell the D3 if you already have it?

[Dirt_Bike_Ryda]

Arrr. yea, sorry i didn't think of that (even though i own full frame oops)

[Usuqa]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

I'll bite: why didnt you stick with Nikon? ANd why sell the D3 if you already have it?

As much as i loved the d3, i just found it big, heavy (and sucked in dust like a hoover) when traveling with it all-day and it didn't make sense to have two different systems with the same focal lengths on the lens.

Pentax was my first system and I felt with the k5 there was no need anymore to have the d3. My nikon lens were all pretty old so upgrading them to get VR would have cost alot but with the k5 all my pentax glass is stabilized.

I never did find the nikon image quality that great, my k10d clone was sharper although i loved the high iso and dynamic range of the d3. The k5 seems to have better image quality than the d3, its just scary how far you can push the shadows if you shoot at iso 80 and the noise at high iso is comparable to the d3. The only thing I lose is some DoF but i feel the very small body and smaller lens is worth the trade off.

Also have you seen the Ltd lens? who wouldn't want them... (some day!)

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Usuqa

the noise at high iso is comparable to the d3.

Oh I'd like you to prove that to me.

But your other points make sense.

[Dirt_Bike_Ryda]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Oh I'd like you to prove that to me.

Hahahahaha. lol

[mad editor]

I do envy you. Saving my pennies here…

[Usuqa]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Oh I'd like you to prove that to me.

But your other points make sense.

Since i don't have the d3 anymore i cant take photo's of the same situation but i will get you some high iso shots if you want?, what Iso would you like to see?

I could also show you the dynamic range of the sensor to by pushing the shadows in the shot if you like?

I will even post the raw files so you can try yourself to