Planning a dual system with Pentax

<p>@Lindy, what about Nikon? My mentor and my local film lab owner is doing wedding on a Nikon D3 and he signs up for professional service and he told me about 1 week guarantee service return and with rental service. Not that I will pay the extra but when there is such a nice option to have, it is a very welcoming thought for one's choosing.</p>

<p>I just googled</p>

<p>"Nikon service center"</p>

<p>and it seems Nikon owns two service facilites in USA:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.nikonusa.com/Service-And-Support/Nikon-Inc-Shipping-Information.page">http://www.nikonusa.com/Service-And-Support/Nikon-Inc-Shipping-Information.page</a></p>

<p>Nikon requirements for NPS memebership, Nikon Professional Services:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.nikonpro.com/AboutNPS.aspx">http://www.nikonpro.com/AboutNPS.aspx</a></p>

<p>And heres's Canon Pro Services requirements:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/professional/standard_display/CPS_Member">http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/professional/standard_display/CPS_Member</a></p>

<p>I still own both Canon and Nikon, well & Pentax too, though I've made it a goal to reduce to one or the other during or before 2012. That would be either a Canon or Nikon choice. Pentax K-5 USA launch price, lack of full "fool" frame is pretty much last nail in that coffin. Plus I'd like to recover the last of my Pentax gear investments to spend again another day.</p>

<p>I really dig the Nikon D700 and my 14-24mm 2.8, however I own more Canon kit. I am hard pressed to ever consider buying another crop format sensor dslr again. Full frame & ultrawide angle lenses give me great pleasure. Still I could dump everything Canon and go all into Nikon. My Canon or Nikon lenses all sell for more used thesedays than I paid new. Typical of anyone buying prior to 2009.</p>

<p>Then again I can use my Nikon lenses on Canon via adapters. Its quite confusing to own more than one brand. I do not recommend it.</p>

<p>Our last Grand Tetons and Yellowstone getaway two weeks ago was primarily shot with 5D classics and a bit of D700. Leaving gear behind on a major photosafari at a National Park always makes me question why I've collected more than I can possibly use.</p>

<p>What does fashion guru Tim Gunn say ?</p>

<p>"Edit"</p>

<p>I need to "edit" my kit</p>

<p>Think long and hard about owning more than one brand, unless you're a collector, then buy and own everything you can possibly afford.</p>

<p>@Lindy, thank you so much for your reply. It is never my intention to own two different systems. It is illogical, expensive, and kind of awkward to think of it. But it is my initial conservative attempt to partially leave Pentax digital and go to the dark side to explore <strong>a different AF system</strong> and <strong>a different flash system</strong>. If I do as I plan in this thread, there will be a transition phase where things will overlap until I pick and choose one single brand to go for digital. I will closely watch the test reports in <strong>Pentax K5</strong> and that with <strong>Nikon D7000</strong> as that will be an important factor that can swing my direction<strong> if K5 has AF, DR, high ISO improvements not found in K7 and K-x</strong>. The short comings with long service repair time can be circumvented with back up bodies in K10D for $300 a piece. If Pentax comes up with a new flash and a solid road-map for longer lenses in 400mm and that with a TC that will work like the 1.7x AF TC, that will be an answer to my own problems with Pentax.</p>

<p>I am a aps-c guy and I am non-professional and your full frame point of view is well taken but may not be applicable to me though I still think that the Canon 5D classic is the most valuable and cost effective way to enjoy full frame and without a big cost on the body. One of my buddies with a whole slew of range-finders including M9 have the 5D and he enjoys his landscape and wide open bokeh work on his 5D. And his 5D bought used in good condition is closer to 1.3K and probably less by now as closer to 1K.</p>

<p>Among Pentax, Nikon and Canon, I think Canon has the widest adapters to assimilate with other brands' good glasses as well as M42. I don't have the knowledge to distinguish the detail but I usually prefer the natural color in Nikon and I often see Canon pictures with too vivid color for my liking and preference. In long lenses, I like what Canon has offered and it is as crazily priced as in Nikon.</p>

<p>And Lindy, thanks for the inputs and please update us what you end up deciding and your rational behind your decisions. Your honest feedback on the 'cons' in owning multiple systems is well taken and serve me well. </p>

<p>You're welcome Hin</p>

<p>Yeah, 5D Classic can be bought under $1,000 thesedays.</p>

<p>But its rare to find minty "used" 5D, usually instead 50,000 plus on the shutters, not that they won't go 200,000 problem free shots, or more. Some have. Some haven't, but shutters cost $300 if you deal with Canon USA directly, not the hundreds of other repair shops in USA. 10 day turn around for the common man, faster for "Pro" CPS member. INSTANT Loaners for Platinum Members too. But thats $500 a year, two year minimum to be Platinum Member.</p>

<p>My 5D still give me great joy, but the D700 drips with build quality & silly as it seems I like D700 pop up flash. I've been acquiring AiS mount Nikons lately, as opportunity "mint in box" but "used" cross my path, and these record full metadata on D700. Inspite of fact there is no electronic communication.</p>

<p>These are fun times we live in, great gear, digital capture, fun fun fun.</p>

<p>Well and 3 redundant back ups of everything I care about</p>

<p>;^)</p>

<p>D7000 you're considering is a fantastic value thesedays. Indeed it's A Game Changer!</p>

<p>Hopefully Canon will respond to Nikon in next 24 months and keep me, if not then Nikon makes great gear too. With good luck I continue to acquire minty 33 year old or newer thru year 2005 nikon nikkors, for either system I end up with. Nikon made TONS of glass since 1977, lots of it pro spec, so when price is right, & minty w/ box pops up time and again, & then my patience gets me the right price. Sometimes Nikon is crazy cheap, like my Nikon Micro 55mm 2.8 AiS New in the box "used" for $88. Nikon still sells this new for $459.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>I am a aps-c guy</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Hin, if that's the case, then Nikon is probably the least practical choice. Their DX lens lineup is heavily weighed towards consumer zooms. There are just a few cheap fast primes. While Canon offers a few more APS-C (EF-S)-based lens choices, when viewed as a whole system, the gravitational pull (I'm talking profit) is towards FF cameras. Really, only Pentax has more of a system solution aimed at APS-C.</p>

<p>But you know this.</p>

<p>ME</p>

<p>Hin, I don't know much about Nikon at all, but if I HAD to buy a Canon it'd be the original 5D. I'd add a cheap 50mm/1.8 and call it a day. A one body, one lens kit. Nikon's pick would probably be very similar.</p>

<p>The Pentax setup would probably be similar to yours: DA21, Sigma 30, DA40, FA77, Tamron 17-50, DA*50-135. But also those lenses have considerations as well: If I can afford all of those lenses I can afford to have backups and/or replace them as well. Until then, you can all call me Ebeneezer Scrooge: The Pentax M40/2.8 and M42 Tokina 135/2.8 have been serving me well.</p>

<p>As far as TTL flash... I have nicknames for them as well...<br>

Pointless TTL<br>

Excruciating TTL<br>

Infuriating TTL</p>

<p>As far as I'm concerned, fully manual flash with proper sync ports and an optical slave is the way to go. That also makes the aforementioned SB-600 and SB-700 really pointless and a waste of money. I shoot fully manual 90% of the time and that includes my flash. No sync port? No thank you. The 3 way balance of exposure is hard enough for cameras with TTL to handle, let alone adding a flash to the issue to make it a 5 way balance. Modern cameras are getting decent at the 3 way balance, but the 5 way balance is still awful.</p>

<p>@Michael E., I am learning something new with your reply. Thank you for the inputs. I will look further into the DX lenses. As I mention, the initial kit will be a lighter body as in D7000 that replaces my K-x in repair and with the following two lenses</p>

<ul>

<li>Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 -- currently has rebate and roughly $400, alternative choice will be the 18-105mm kit lens with VR or the Tokina 16-55mm f/2.8 used < $400</li>

<li>Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR and SWM -- around $380</li>

</ul>

<p>Given the AI lenses being usable on D7000, I think I am not too bad on what I need as the essential kit and augment with some AI cheap fixed primes later as I find the need. "Less is more" will hopefully play out in this mix as I intend to have less gear than 2 Pentax bodies.</p>

<p>And subject to transition and how I eventually phase out my Pentax gear in 15,35,10-17,28-75,50-135,100,300,1.7x,AF540, there will be overlap during the transition phase.</p>

<p>@Jeremiah, thanks for the input on SB600. How can they not have the pc sync? But I do see some strobist information on <a href="http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/12/easy-nikon-sb-600-sync-jack-mod.html">http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/12/easy-nikon-sb-600-sync-jack-mod.html</a> that seems possible with the modification. More modification pictures in this flickr set with <a href=" sync port mod</a></p>

<p>update on my Pentax K-x in CRIS and Pentax service, here are my records hoping for a safe return of my dead K-x. I called about once a week and be as polite as I can be and here is the time-line to share. If any of you are interested to know which Service rep to avoid, please PM me as I talked to 5 different reps and there is at least one rep. to avoid</p>

 

<ul>

<li>8/31/2010 -- ship out to CRIS</li>

<li>9/2/2010 -- arrival in CRIS</li>

<li>9/8/2010 -- parts back ordered from Japan</li>

<li>10/1/2010 -- parts arrived</li>

<li>ETA unknown</li>

</ul>

<p>I call Pentax Service and see if I can extend my warranty through Adorama recent extended +2 year warranty for $29 but that won't work with Pentax as it needs to be purchased within 90 days from initial purchase. </p>

<p>I am tempted with all the possibilities in Canikon. It appears to me everyone is going FF in Nikon or Canon for a reason that I can't relate at the moment. I am staying put as a aps-c hobbyist as I prefer lighter and smaller equipment for traveling with family. If I go into single system with Nikon, I will likely plan a 2 body systems as follows:</p>

<ul>

<li>Nikon D7000 as the main body with video and pictures for both play and freelance work -- $1,200</li>

<li>A used Nikon D300 as a backup body that can do freelance work -- $1,100</li>

<li>A SB700 flash to begin with, I hope that it has the PC sync socket -- $370?</li>

</ul>

<p>and then I have the option to upgrade from D300 to something like a used D700 if I find the need. It is an expensive route but that is not the most painful parts of the move. The pain points will be losing all the primes in 15, 35, and the wonderful zooms and primes with Pentax 10-17, 28-75, 50-135, my Kiron 100mm f/2.8 1:1 macro, Kerrick Jame's copy of F* 300mm f/4.5 and the ever-more intriguing 1.7x AF TC. My 43 and 77 primes along with a red hot Pentax MX can help fund the brainless move as an option.</p>

<p><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/5037558088_44e09cf803_z.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="425" /></p>

<p>But I do find the equivalent sans the SR (VR) in 10-17, 50-135 and 35 as all are Tokina lens that can be bought both used and new. And I don't need to watch in vain for the Tokina 80-400mm. Also, the Sigma 100-300 has the equivalent in Pentax but it is what I am looking with Nikon with a 1.5x TC</p>

<p>Instead of a single Nikon system with 2 Nikon digital bodies, I initially think of this dual system as follows:</p>

<p><strong>Pentax K7</strong></p>

<ul>

<li>An upgrade from selling both of my K-x and K20D</li>

<li>Keep all small primes in 15,35,43,77 and my Cosina 55mm f/1.2</li>

<li>Serve as a traveling, freelance, and family camera with video capability</li>

<li>My k-x and K20D will swap the funds for a new K7 with hopefully some extended warranty</li>

<li>Will dump all the zoom lenses 10-17, 50-135, 300, 1.7x, battery grip, AF540 flash, May keep the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 and AF280 for freelance work as a backup body</li>

<li>My K7 is a body with primes in 15,35,43,55,77</li>

</ul>

<p>.<br /> .</p>

<ul>

</ul>

<p><strong>Nikon D7000</strong></p>

<ul>

<li>A better backup or main body that is more durable and capable than my K-x and K20D</li>

<li>An occasional video gig for my boys in school and traveling</li>

<li>Two initial zooms with Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 and Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 with VR</li>

<li>A new flash system for strobist learning and studio work, starting with SB700</li>

<li>A system with longer lens and more choices of 3rd party lenses as well as AI compatible older lens</li>

<li>A broader upgrade path to full frame and other bodies</li>

<li>Future longer lens in the range of 80-400, 100-300, 300 primes and TC.</li>

<li>My Nikon is a body with zooms and more towards the longer end needs as in 55-300 VR, and other better zooms as I progress</li>

</ul>

<p>I just took a product shot of my RolleiFlex with Zeiss Tessar 75mm f/3.5. I am going to run a roll of 120 on it with either Delta 100 or Acros 100. It will be sad that I have to trim my film to make up the cost to fund my digital. I have already cut 18 items in my digital collection. I still have too many in 10-17,28-75,50-135,100,300 that will overlap in the transition until I can sort out the critical lenses to keep for play, family and freelance work. It is the most daunting to trim the 50-135mm zoom and the F* 300mm f/4.5 from Kerrick James.</p>

<p>Rolleiflex Sychro-Compur Zeiss Tessar 75mm f/3.5<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hin_man/sets/72157625110088452/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4109/5058345862_6892e117df_z.jpg" alt="" width="425" height="640" /></a></p>

<p>The German engineer has quite a construction in this camera compared to the Yashica. It was likely built in the 50s instead of 70s for the Yashica and yet the body still amazingly look good as a 20~30 year old camera. I am fascinated with German built camera as well as the traveling lens that I sold Rose on the Schneider 135mm f/3.5 in m42 mount.</p>

<p>I bought the Yashica and Rolleiflex about the same time and I have to find which one works better for me. </p>

<p>I am packing my DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 zoom for overseas shipment tonight. It is starting to be painful from this point forward to cut down to the minimum.</p>