Thinking of selling my pentax gear (second system)

[Usuqa]

Sad day for me today...

After thinking i figured it could be time for me to sell my petax/samsung stuff..

After getting my d3 i hardly use it so much, and i keep thinking i need a smaller camera like the ep1/gf1 or maby even the gh1 (for the video). As my main carry around system and ofc when i was actualy going out to take photos i could take the d3 anyway.

Currently have a gx10 (k10d clone), sigma 24-60mm f2.8, pentax DA* 50-135 f2.8 (amazing lens love it more than the 80-200 i have on the d3), Fa 50mm f1.7 (manual lens.. its great tho) and both samsung kit lens (18-55 and 50-200) and a sigma dg 530 super flash (with ringflash adaptor).

It was my first dslr and is still capable of amazing photos, and can still do some things i cant do with my nikon stuff atm (like wireless flash using the onboard flash) but i just cant seem to justify taking it out with me when (depending on lens combo) its not much smaller than the d3.

I love the idea of having something smaller.. that didnt look like a dslr (ep1 or gf1) but since ive been shooting a movie with my mates (and could be doing more) the idea of the gh1 seems great to. A smaller system that while not as good as my pentax stuff could still take nice photos and the ability to shoot video.

If i could afford a k7 i wouldnt be thinking this lol, as id love that camera and it also shoots video and would use my nice pentax gear but sadly i have other things that i have to use any income i have on atm and for a good while so hence why im thinking of selling one system to fund another.

What would you lot do?

[Usuqa]

no one?

[Quo Fan]

I'll let my wife know, she shoots Pentax.

[navcom]

I'm a Pentax guy so I'm going to be biased, but understand that I don't have a beef with Nikon. Both are good systems and have their pluses and minuses. I think both systems take excellent photos. There isn't a lot of difference between systems these days if you compare apples to apples.

I guess a lot will depend on what you are going to use your system for. If you require a huge selection of modern lenses with lots to choose from or you are concerned with full frame, invest in the Nikon system and sell the Pentax.

If you like affordable ruggedness, some of the best legacy lenses on the market, and can live with a cropped sensor for awhile, stay with Pentax. At some point Pentax will produce a full-frame sensor camera and when they do, you will be ready for it.

Ideally, if you can afford it, I would keep both systems so you can play them against each other as technology unfolds. The D3 is a nice camera, but it's expensive as is outfitting it with glass. The K7 is a nice camera and great lenses are affordable, but it's not full-frame. Keeping both will allow you to benefit from just about anything that is thrown at us technology-wise.

My two cents.

[Mr Guy]

I'm similarly biased, but these are the factors I'd personally consider. The video on ANY modern DSLR isn't a ton more than a gimmick. I've played with the K-7's video, but not extensively, and I think you'd need to be really dedicated to learning to use it to even come close to shooting any kind of real movie with it. If you are looking for youtube clips, the K-7 will blow you away, but since everything is pretty much manual during video mode, it takes real effort and no small amount of practice to focus smoothly, etc.

Sizewise, the K-7 is not small like a point and shoot, but it's noticeably smaller than my K20D and the feel of it is just "right". It's a camera body that feels "good" in your hands. Match it with pancake lenses and you've got as small of a DSLR as you're going to get without going to an EVIL system, which I don't know much about other than to say they have their own fans and critics.

The full frame vs crop body debate depends entirely on what you shoot. There's an excellent, if pretty technical, explanation of the physics of what's going on in the FF vs APS-C debate on the Pentax forums here. The executive summary is pretty straight forward: FF has benefits in very low light situations or very shallow depth of field situations for reasons regarding the lenses. Equivalent lenses for APS-C, for some focal lengths, simply don't exist. Where they DO exist, you can get the same quality from APS-C as you can from a FF. This post in specific has a great graphic showing equivalent lenses:



So with all that said, the question you asked is what we think you should do? Personally, I'd sell whichever system you don't enjoy using and use it to buy lenses for the other system. You've got maybe two or three grand resale value in that Pentax system, which is enough for a backup Nikon body AND an equivalent to the DA* lens for Nikon. I'm more familiar with Canon line ups, so I'm not sure what the top of the Nikon would be, but a DA* lens is similar to Canon L glass. Going to anything else would be a let down.

If you're absolutely in love with the D3, keep it. If you aren't, sell it, buy a K-7 and a couple limited primes and the DA*16-50mm to complete your set, and you WILL be in love with those.

[navcom]

Nice post Mr. Guy.

It's interesting how even two Pentax people can differ on opinions though. I personally LOVE the ergonomics of my K20D (and K10D). I like that it's a big meaty camera, especially with the battery grip. The K7 is almost too small for me. It's more in line with the *ist series, which while I liked, I was always wanting just a bit bigger camera.

The first time my Canon buddy held my K10D he said, "wow, that's a very heavy camera!" Of course he was saying it with a negative tone as though having a well-built, solid camera was a bad thing. I told him if I wanted a teeny toy camera, I would buy a point & shoot. I honestly think that if you breathed wrong on his little Canon, it would fall apart!

I quite easily broke my Canon a few years ago. It's one of the reasons I'm a Pentax guy now. They take a punishment.

I like a big camera that has room for all of my fingers, not just 2 or 3. I also like a solid camera, which the K10/20 definately is. You can feel the quality.

Off-topic...sorry!

[samhail]

I'm a pentax user so you'll get the same advice from me as above. If you do sell your gear pm me. I may be interested in some.

[Usuqa]

the gh1 is actualy ment to be petty good for video with silent focus (with face tracking or object tracking) while shooting video and full manual control also.

When im shooting with the canon xl2, i turn of autofocus, and use the camera in M mode to get full control. It feels abit od to me tho because its a video camera and im not used to the layout (but im getting there). The gh1 gives the option of shallower DoF (since the xl2 has a small sensor).

I love my pentax stuff, but keeping it and waiting for a FF is pointless as the DA* is a crop lens and thats probibly my most loved lens (Im not even botherd about FF or not anyway hence why im thinking of swapping a 1.5x for a 2x).

I already have 3 lens for the nikon system and they basicly covers the same focal length as i have on the pentax (all 3 lens are f2.8). The FF v Crop think dosnt bother me, they both take great photos.. its just that the d3 is so much better in every other aspect than the gx10 i dont tend to use it much.

Im not saying my gx10 suddenly got crap. i still love it as it just feels right to me but i just dont see the point in having 2 large camera systems and the new m4/3 look rather tempting as a second system.

I never thought id ever think about selling my pentax stuff as i do love it but theres not much point in having a system i dont use much.

[Mr Guy]

If that's the case, I definitely think the wisest course of action is to torment yourself internally, until roughly two weeks before Christmas, then decide to sell the DA* to me for around 85% retail...

[Usuqa]

Originally Posted by Mr Guy

If that's the case, I definitely think the wisest course of action is to torment yourself internally, until roughly two weeks before Christmas, then decide to sell the DA* to me for around 85% retail...

sounds like a good plan for you :P