Rob, I have been happy over the years with both Pentax and Nikon gear. It has mostly been a latency issue for me. However, medium format puts a new wrinkle in the picture for me. I am finding that almost any shot that can be taken with the 67II ends up being much better than with any 35mm I have owned (Pentax, Nikon, Canon and Olympus). This tends to cloud the issue to some degree - for me at least. Digital holds a very strong future direction for me - but so does MF. So I could see a possibility of remaining "loyal" to Pentax in MF and someone else for digital/35mm. We will wait and see what Pentax does. For the time being, I will continue to use and fill out my MF kit.
Bruce Tuesday, September 24, 2002, 7:32:50 AM, you wrote: RB> In other words, Being loyal to a brand does not make sense unless the RB> brand is loyal to you. Pentax owes us nothing, and in DSLR terms gives RB> us nothing, therefore we should not feely bound to them by loyalty. It RB> is latency which holds many with good reason, the expense both in time RB> and money of changing lens mount is hard to come to terms with for me RB> and I don't really think I can be bothered. Not that I am against it in RB> principle, just that a lot of effort went into building up my current RB> kit - I don't have it in me to start all over again right now. RB> I have been thinking about a P&S digicam to get some digital capability, RB> but now the Foveon offering may comparable in price, so I might grab one RB> with a 24-70 lens for family snapshots. This could, however, set in RB> motion a chain of events... RB> So who here is with Pentax because of loyalty, and who because of RB> latency? >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Cotty [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] >> Sent: 24 September 2002 14:59 >> To: Pentax List >> Subject: Loyalties (was: Re: SMC Pentax F* Zoom 5,6/250-600) >> >> >> >> Well Gents, I have just one thing to say, whether or not >> Pentax comes >> >> up with a DSLR this year or the next or the next, you'll >> quickly find >> >> out who is truly loyal to Pentax or who is not (if one >> believes such >> >> loyalitys exist). >> >> The only thing I would add to the above would be: 'Ladies' on >> the first >> line. Don't forget we have lots of interesting and excellent women >> photographers on this list (creep creep, hubba hubba). >> >> (WARNING: long content) >> >> Regarding the subject of loyalties. I've been thinking about >> it a lot, >> mainly because I am in the process of changing (some of) them? >> >> I think that loyalty to one particular brand is borne of many >> things and >> circumstances. The only reason that I am loyal (still) to Pentax is >> because of the quality of the kit (that I enjoy using) and >> little else. >> Admittedly, that kit is (was) comprised wholly of gear that >> is simply not >> available any more. I'm referring to the venerable LX, and >> the various >> SMC lenses I own(ed). So, effectively I am loyal to Pentax in >> the 80's, >> not Pentax in the 21st century. >> >> Although I do admit that the Ltd lenses are really nice, and I am >> impressed by them, I have seen nothing in the way of new cameras from >> Pentax that I would buy in order to put them on. My opinion, based on >> what I like, what I think works. When I picked up the MZ-S at >> Duxford in >> the summer, I had no 'gut reaction' at all. I could take it >> or leave it. >> In fact, rather than take advantage of the fact that it >> wasn't being used >> and wander about burning some film with it, I instead >> replaced it after >> ten minutes, and picked up my LX again. For me there was no >> comparison at >> all. I knew then that I would never buy an MZ-S. >> >> Some of you may know that I am in the process of selling a lot of my >> Pentax gear in order to recoup enough funds for me to invest >> in a digital >> SLR setup. Odd that I am mentioning this on the evening of >> Photokina, you >> may think. Why didn't I wait to see what would be happening? >> I'm afraid I >> can't fully answer that question right now - I want to see >> what happens >> tomorrow :-) >> >> But in an effort to try and understand my motives, I'll >> explain a bit of >> what's going on in my head... >> >> First off, although I am selling some gear, I'm hardly 'switching >> loyalties'. First and foremost, I am a photographer. I happen >> to like and >> use Pentax cameras and lenses. I also happen to like and use a Leica >> camera. In the past I've owned and used Mamiya gear, more recently >> Bronica gear. As it happens, I'm picking up some Canon gear, >> and Sigma >> and Tokina gear. My loyalties are divided it would appear. Or >> are they? >> >> My number one loyalty is to photography (well - my family >> really, but you >> know what I mean) and I will use whatever I think suits me >> best. Sure, >> there are favourites, why not? But each bit of my kit has a >> specific use >> and I only ever own one suitable piece of gear for each particular >> application. For instance, street snapping I do with the >> little Leica. >> General and portraiture with the Pentax gear. Soon this will >> change and >> the Pentax gear will (is) slimmed right down to a body and a >> few lenses. >> In comes a digital SLR and that will take over as general and >> portrait, >> the Pentax as backup and other uses. My loyalties haven't changed - I >> still have the Pentax gear to prove it. Okay I also have some >> other gear, >> but it doesn't mean I'm 'disloyal'......or does it? >> >> When Pentax showed the DSLR concept a while back, I was >> really keen to >> get one, because I think it suits the sort of stuff I do. No wet >> printing, lots of computer work. My interest is in the image >> - and I'm >> more than happy with inkjet technology. I also find that >> having complete >> control is very important. I don't have a darkroom. Digital >> would appear >> to be the way forward in my case. >> >> William Robb writes very wisely when he explains that 'pro' >> is all about >> support. When Sigma announce some new lenses only available in Sigma, >> Canon, and Nikon mounts, how does that make you feel? Could >> be: 'so the >> hell what!' Who needs Sigma when you've got all that wonderful Pentax >> glass? And you would be right. But doesn't the fact that >> Sigma are not >> building those lenses in K mount tell you something else? >> Support. Not >> just from Pentax, nor even from Sigma. >> >> DSLRs are complicated little things. They need lots of >> support and not >> just in terms of customer care. They need developing and >> evolving into >> future products. Not that I am suggesting that a Pentax DSLR would be >> badly supported. Assuming a DSLR is released tomorrow (which >> I actually >> think it will be) then will it be supported in K mount in >> years to come? >> Will Pentax realise that K mount is not necessarily the best >> way to join >> lenses to digital bodies. Will there be a KAF4? Maybe some >> choices to be >> had. Who knows.... >> >> Sorry for the rambling - I'm just trying to juggle a few >> things around in >> here that may pitch up a few thoughts from others. I think at >> the end of >> the day that one has to decide what to do based on what they >> think is the >> right way forward. Perhaps if if I had a bag full of new Pentax kit, >> MZ-Ss and Ltd lenses, and an FA 80-200 2.8, and 300 2.8 etc, >> I would be >> thinking differently. As it happens, I don't. Or didn't. I >> had LX, MXs, >> some Pentax glass, Tokina and Sigma. Most of it has gone to VERY good >> homes. I've made my choice, I just hope it was the right one for me. >> >> Apologies for the length ladies and genitals ;-) >> >> I remain, >> >> Your servant, >> >> Cotty >> >> PS - you watch, this time tomorrow I will be pulling (what >> little) hair >> out and screaming blue murder... >> >> ____________________________________ >> Oh swipe me! He paints with light! >> http://www.macads.co.uk/snaps/ >> ____________________________________ >> Free UK Macintosh Classified Ads at >> http://www.macads.co.uk/ >> ____________________________________ >> >>
