Re: Which to Buy
I'd say the answer to your question: K-5 -> K-5IIs versus K-5 -> K-3 depends entirely on what shortcoming your K5 has that is prompting you to upgrade at all. What do you shoot while travelling: landscape? architecture? people? street? What do you do with the resulting shots: print large? Book? Post to the net? The K-3 will give you the most noticeable improvements, but if you don't need the added pixels or fine detail, then it's likely not worth the extra expenditure. The K-3 has some UI improvements over the K-5 family that I appreciate, but again, worth it? Overall I think the K-3 is the best most refined camera that Pentax has produced and I like it a great deal. I also find that the files from it need much less noise reduction than any prior camera I've used. In fact I've taken to simply not doing any noise reduction at all any more except specific cases because the noise is so film-grain-like I find it enhances the images now. As for taxing your computer, well I use a seven year-old iMac with 6 GB RAM and a flash drive. I do all my post in Lightroom and Photoshop CS5 and I don't yet find the computer's speed to be frustratingly limiting. On Sun, Aug 3, 2014 at 9:31 PM, Ralph Turner wrote: > I have been a Pentax user for over 15 years and have accumulated a good > number of lenses and accessories. Normally I an not perplexed about which > new Pentax digital body to buy, until now. > > My main use of Pentax gear is for travel photography - small and lightweight > lenses, reasonable sized bodies and accessories. Currently I am using a three > three year old K5 and I would like to buy either a new K5iis body or a new > K3. I do not need the camera for sports or kids and grandkids, just for > travel. > So, looking at dynamic range, high ISO challenges, MP, and somewhat the price > -- what body do you recommend and why? > > Ralph Turner > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- -bmw -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Which to Buy
I've found that I can shoot long sequences with the K5 or K5II using 45MB/s cards without a problem but the K3 becomes bogged down using these cards so I had to buy new 95MB/s card in order to make use of the added capability of the K3. On 4 August 2014 13:27, P.J. Alling wrote: > As a K-5 user, the only place the K-5IIs would really be an upgrade would be > in the area of auto focus. Yes, auto focus on the K-5II cameras actually > works, as opposed to frustrating the hell out of you. The dynamic range, > MP, high ISO capabilities are pretty much the same as the K-5. It has no AA > filter so images are likely to be a bit sharper bit but, I'm not sure that > it's worth the upgrade. > > The K-3 is by all accounts the K-5's better in everything except dynamic > range where it falls just a bit short, and loses out just a bit on high ISO > performance, but not by much. Auto focus is supposed to be a bit better > than the K-5IIs, but pretty still close, both it and the K-5IIs however bury > the original K-5 in that area. Oh yes and on paper at least you'll get > about 1 more FPS with the K-3 over the K-5. > > The bottom line is that unless you're biggest issue with the K-5 is auto > focus performance, I'm not sure that the K-5IIs would be that much of an > upgrade. The K-3 offers more granularity in selecting auto focus points, > (27 vs 11), has almost, equal dynamic range and high ISO capabilities as the > K-5 cameras and a much greater pixel count. > > Now the downside. The larger pixel count is going to tax any computer > you're using for image processing, unless you've got a lot of horse power to > spare, oh and you'll definitely need more SD storage unless you already have > two or three times what you think you need. The K-3 is maybe 10% larger and > 10% heavier, and has a much higher battery drain than the K-5/II/IIs > cameras. > > With the larger file size of the K-3 you get a linear resolution increase of > about 22% What that boils down to is if you want to make a 300dpi print, > the largest you can make with with the K-3 would be 13x20 vs the K-5, etc., > at 10 1/4 x 16 1/2, (those sizes in inches if you want centimeters you'll > have to do your own conversion). > > I think that you can pick up a New K-5IIs for a little as ~$650. The K-3 is > still selling for about $1,100 to $1,200 at reputable dealers. > > What would I do? I don't know. The K-5II I own is already capable of > making more than acceptable prints at 240 dpi that are larger than I can > print for myself, and much larger than I can display on any high resolution > output device that I own, or am likely to, in the near future. While the > K-3 seems to be a great camera I have a hard time justifying it to myself. > On the other hand while I love the K-5II it's just not that much of an > upgrade over the K-5 unless you really need the superior auto focusing. > > > On 8/3/2014 9:31 PM, Ralph Turner wrote: >> >> I have been a Pentax user for over 15 years and have accumulated a good >> number of lenses and accessories. Normally I an not perplexed about which >> new Pentax digital body to buy, until now. >> >> My main use of Pentax gear is for travel photography - small and >> lightweight lenses, reasonable sized bodies and accessories. Currently I am >> using a three >> three year old K5 and I would like to buy either a new K5iis body or a new >> K3. I do not need the camera for sports or kids and grandkids, just for >> travel. >> So, looking at dynamic range, high ISO challenges, MP, and somewhat the >> price -- what body do you recommend and why? >> >> Ralph Turner >> >> > > > > -- > I don't want to achieve immortality through my work; I want to achieve > immortality through not dying. > -- Woody Allen > > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and > follow the directions. -- Rob Studdert (Digital Image Studio) Tel: +61-418-166-870 UTC +10 Hours Gmail, eBay, Skype, Twitter, Facebook, Picasa: distudio -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Which to Buy
As a K-5 user, the only place the K-5IIs would really be an upgrade would be in the area of auto focus. Yes, auto focus on the K-5II cameras actually works, as opposed to frustrating the hell out of you. The dynamic range, MP, high ISO capabilities are pretty much the same as the K-5. It has no AA filter so images are likely to be a bit sharper bit but, I'm not sure that it's worth the upgrade. The K-3 is by all accounts the K-5's better in everything except dynamic range where it falls just a bit short, and loses out just a bit on high ISO performance, but not by much. Auto focus is supposed to be a bit better than the K-5IIs, but pretty still close, both it and the K-5IIs however bury the original K-5 in that area. Oh yes and on paper at least you'll get about 1 more FPS with the K-3 over the K-5. The bottom line is that unless you're biggest issue with the K-5 is auto focus performance, I'm not sure that the K-5IIs would be that much of an upgrade. The K-3 offers more granularity in selecting auto focus points, (27 vs 11), has almost, equal dynamic range and high ISO capabilities as the K-5 cameras and a much greater pixel count. Now the downside. The larger pixel count is going to tax any computer you're using for image processing, unless you've got a lot of horse power to spare, oh and you'll definitely need more SD storage unless you already have two or three times what you think you need. The K-3 is maybe 10% larger and 10% heavier, and has a much higher battery drain than the K-5/II/IIs cameras. With the larger file size of the K-3 you get a linear resolution increase of about 22% What that boils down to is if you want to make a 300dpi print, the largest you can make with with the K-3 would be 13x20 vs the K-5, etc., at 10 1/4 x 16 1/2, (those sizes in inches if you want centimeters you'll have to do your own conversion). I think that you can pick up a New K-5IIs for a little as ~$650. The K-3 is still selling for about $1,100 to $1,200 at reputable dealers. What would I do? I don't know. The K-5II I own is already capable of making more than acceptable prints at 240 dpi that are larger than I can print for myself, and much larger than I can display on any high resolution output device that I own, or am likely to, in the near future. While the K-3 seems to be a great camera I have a hard time justifying it to myself. On the other hand while I love the K-5II it's just not that much of an upgrade over the K-5 unless you really need the superior auto focusing. On 8/3/2014 9:31 PM, Ralph Turner wrote: I have been a Pentax user for over 15 years and have accumulated a good number of lenses and accessories. Normally I an not perplexed about which new Pentax digital body to buy, until now. My main use of Pentax gear is for travel photography - small and lightweight lenses, reasonable sized bodies and accessories. Currently I am using a three three year old K5 and I would like to buy either a new K5iis body or a new K3. I do not need the camera for sports or kids and grandkids, just for travel. So, looking at dynamic range, high ISO challenges, MP, and somewhat the price -- what body do you recommend and why? Ralph Turner -- I don't want to achieve immortality through my work; I want to achieve immortality through not dying. -- Woody Allen -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Which to Buy
My impression is that my K-3 requires more noise reduction at ISO800 and higher than my K-5ii did. That is when pixel-peeping in Lightroom, and the difference is minute. Both do the job very well. If your travel photography is anything like mine, the only difference you would notice using the K-3 would be larger files, greater memory requirements in your laptop or other travel storage device(s) and possibly slower processing on your home computer when you render that large detail-packed RAW file down to a shareable jpg. The really big advantage of the larger file size IMHO is when shooting e.g. birds or other distant small objects which will call for extreme crops. Max quality: go for the K-3. General travel photography: the K-5ii will be everything you could ask for. I suppose the K-5iis is "better" in some respects than the K-5ii, it cost more to begin with, but I have not done a comparison of those. stan On Aug 3, 2014, at 10:12 PM, Bob Sullivan wrote: > I like the K-3. Better iso and rendering, but my K-5IIs is only a > half a step behind. > If price is a concern, the K-5IIs is a bit cheaper. > On a size basis, they are identical. > Regards, Bob S. > > On Sun, Aug 3, 2014 at 8:31 PM, Ralph Turner wrote: >> I have been a Pentax user for over 15 years and have accumulated a good >> number of lenses and accessories. Normally I an not perplexed about which >> new Pentax digital body to buy, until now. >> >> My main use of Pentax gear is for travel photography - small and lightweight >> lenses, reasonable sized bodies and accessories. Currently I am using a >> three >> three year old K5 and I would like to buy either a new K5iis body or a new >> K3. I do not need the camera for sports or kids and grandkids, just for >> travel. >> So, looking at dynamic range, high ISO challenges, MP, and somewhat the >> price -- what body do you recommend and why? >> >> Ralph Turner >> >> >> -- >> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >> PDML@pdml.net >> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >> follow the directions. > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: Which to Buy
I like the K-3. Better iso and rendering, but my K-5IIs is only a half a step behind. If price is a concern, the K-5IIs is a bit cheaper. On a size basis, they are identical. Regards, Bob S. On Sun, Aug 3, 2014 at 8:31 PM, Ralph Turner wrote: > I have been a Pentax user for over 15 years and have accumulated a good > number of lenses and accessories. Normally I an not perplexed about which > new Pentax digital body to buy, until now. > > My main use of Pentax gear is for travel photography - small and lightweight > lenses, reasonable sized bodies and accessories. Currently I am using a three > three year old K5 and I would like to buy either a new K5iis body or a new > K3. I do not need the camera for sports or kids and grandkids, just for > travel. > So, looking at dynamic range, high ISO challenges, MP, and somewhat the price > -- what body do you recommend and why? > > Ralph Turner > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Which to Buy
I have been a Pentax user for over 15 years and have accumulated a good number of lenses and accessories. Normally I an not perplexed about which new Pentax digital body to buy, until now. My main use of Pentax gear is for travel photography - small and lightweight lenses, reasonable sized bodies and accessories. Currently I am using a three three year old K5 and I would like to buy either a new K5iis body or a new K3. I do not need the camera for sports or kids and grandkids, just for travel. So, looking at dynamic range, high ISO challenges, MP, and somewhat the price -- what body do you recommend and why? Ralph Turner -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
