The 55-300 is a gem. Why they have not yet introduced at least a companion PLM standard zoom like a 16-70 f4 or similar is beyond me. A replacement for the dated 18-135, and the slightly less dated 16-85.
It makes no sense to create another lens very similar to already existing 16-85 for barely any customer base. And if any new lens, then 16-135/4 to be similar to excellent Olympus 12-100/4 PRO which I like much. Similar range to my DA18-135WR but image quality is another level. I would like to have similar lens for K mount. At least DA18-135WR is small. And camera capable of accurate focusing, which even K3III is not.
Can they make something with the IQ and (similar) range of the 12-100 M4/3 ? Go ahead, I'd buy it. But replacing (not adding) old designs is desirable even if you have a relatively small user base. If you want to attract new customers you need an appealing system. Imagine a new user that has the monochrome with one lens and wants to invest more in the system with a K-3 color and more lenses. He might see outdated stuff, revamped 20-30 years old design (the "new" DFA 50mm....) with annoying and inaccurate screwdrive AF and take a pass. A modern lens lineup is a must. If you don't have the resources to develop/maintain it, you are going to be pushed out of the market fast. You will only appeal to vintage lenses enthusiasts and that's it. A niche in a niche.
Agree about the 55-300. It's the best "bang for the buck" zoom in the Pentax range. I found it was weak/soft at 300 and I was coveting the photos I saw taken with the 150-450. So I also got the 150-450 like you did. Wow, that lens is so great. So great that my 55-300 is getting less use. I notice you do not have the 16-50PLM. The price made me hesitate and I was grumpy when I bought it. Not anymore. That lens has the fast focus of the PLM and is very sharp...and fast at constant f2.8. I feel it can do anything I ask. I have my bodies set up to focus and shoot where/when I tap the rear screen in live view. This works best with PLM as it is fast...I can hold it next to a subject and just tap the rear screen where I want it to focus/shoot. Furthermore if I use the electronic shutter the camera is silent when I LV shoot because the mirror is already up! Try it with your 55-300!
@@vincemokry2380 i did not know it could do electronic shutter in live view, I'll definitely be checking that out. During autumn I take a lot of low angle macro photos with slow shutter speeds, this will be invaluable! Yes the 150-450 is truly amazing, I'd say the most impressed I've been with a lens in years!
It's really pleasing to hear your unbiased relatively fresh opinions on a brand and system. So many Pentaxians are die hard fans, without the worldly experience of shooting anything other than Pentax. Here (correct me if I am wrong), it appears the K3IIIm was the bait into the system, so now you're moving through the available lenses. There's really not many that have taken that path. Usually it is preexisting Pentaxian owners buying the K3IIIm with already a mass of glass. Anyway, yeh... the lenses. I do get a little cross with Pentax for not updating their glass. You've witnessed the power of the PL Motor yet it exists in only two lenses.. The DA Ltd lenses I find a bit of hit and miss but what is most perplexing is that we have this hugely weather sealed camera yet a fair amount of glass that is not?! What is the point of the rugged rubber flaps on the body if the DA Ltds are not sealed?! And Autofocus is the sum of all its parts, so screw drive is definitely holding the system as a whole back. I would like to see all the lenses updated to having WR and PLM... but yeh that ain't gonna happen. I've done all the DA Ltds, in the end I chose the 20-40 to being the main keeper. It is not screwdrive, fairly silent AF, more accurate and weather sealed with rendering very similar to the other trio. Or you could save for the PLM 16-50, between that and the 55-300PLM you have a lot covered with the best AF it can give. For portraiture I recommend the DA70/2.4, tis quite nice indeed.
Yes the K3iiiMonchrome really pulled me into Pentax, then seeing how well rated the 150-459 was I was sold and took the risk. I'm definitely not a brand snob or die hard fan of anything. I'm pretty brutal with gear, and have no problems selling equipment on if it doesn't do what I need. And I agree there is too many reviews from brand fans, giving misleading information. I'll give you a summary of my experience with K3iiiMonchrome. 1.Excellent viewfinder and build 2. Unbelievable resolution for it's sensor 3. BUT, frustrating to tune the af system. When it works it wipes the floor with the a6400 and 7dii. But then it totally misses the mark occasionally for no apparent reason. Hopefully I can dial this in long term, I'll be sure to be transparent with my findings.
I second giving the older FA limiteds a try on the monochrome sensor. The FA 31 is one of my personal favourites on the monochrome sensor. Also definitely agree on the 55-300 PLM, amazing image quality and usability for the price! Interesting to hear about your experience with the 21mm. I've found it a very capable lens in monochrome for street photography and photojournalistic stuff and I've captured some of my favourite K3III Mono shots with it.
@@shiroganesam purhaps I had a poor variation of the lens, the samples I'd seen online seemed to have more pop. If I see another for a good price I may try another copy. I've yet to try any of the older FA limiteds, although I look forward to testing some in the future.
Given your film background, perhaps try the FA 43/1.9 if you get a chance. Quite quirky rendering up until f/2.8 or so, very small, and a gem to behold. It may not be the right focal length for you but unless you can rule it out upfront, give it a try sometime. The FA 31/1.8 is a great wide angle (pretty much a "normal" lens) with an astoundingly smooth bokeh. Not every copy is great, beware of those with loose inner barrels, but a good one is fantastic.
Im very interested also. I noticed, that you are using laptop for photo editing. Laptop screens are usually horrible. Im using Adobe RGB Benq SW display (cca 400euros)...and I know this is public channel, but could you share some of your photos with us? Dont have to be good. Just to open some raw files in my own computer to see them on my display.
@@user-xe5iy2de1k i bought the laptop for it's screen so it thankfully have a faithful colour reproduction, even so I prefer a smaller work station these days so wouldn't opt for external hardware anymore. I haven't yet use raw files so couldn't really share anything helpful as of yet, if I explore shooting in raw I could set up a file share to help the community. I'm surprised there hasn't been more coverage on this camera though, usually forums and communities have lots of great samples for everyone to view. Purhaps it's too much of a unique camera.
I am carefully watching every one of your videos,I'm currently gathering up all my random lenses and bodies to get rid of everything and leap into the monochrome,but I don't think I'll sell my Nikkor d lenses I'll keep for film sell everything else ,but I really don't know if Pentax has nice equivalents or not
The best Pentax glass they have is for full frame, the FA Ltd's (31, 43 and 77) are legendary in their own right. Go read up about them (you should find heaps of info). Whether you're happy with having to use them on APS-C is up to you, for me a lot of the magic dies when doing that. So many of us are holding out for Pentax to release a K-1mono 🤞
It really depends on shooting style, screw drive suits me fine for still life, but the 55-300 is just worlds apart and very comparable to canon usm lenses . I've not tried their standard zooms yet, so not sure how the autofocus performs on the 18-135 or 70-200. Like everything, it really helps if you can find a camera shop with samples out to try. One thing I'm finding the hardest is tuning the af system, on canon, Nikon and Sony I never had to change much. So it does require some time investment.
@@SummersSnaps legendary if you like soft edges unles stopped down to F4+, chromatic aberations, coma and inaccurate focusing.. Sad thing is that Pentax has only few modern lenses for hi-res sensors and those are not from film era. FF makes no sense at all. Obsolete camera, only few lenses. K1 mono is just your wet dream, because that sensor is no longer manufactured by Sony and K1II bodies are only being sold from stock no longer produced. Similar applies to all those Tamron OEM lenses 15-30/2.8, 24-70/2.8 and 70-210/4 which will be gone soon like penTamron 18-270 already is. What will remain can barely be considered as FF system. Ricoh really devastated Pentax.
