I'm gonna miss my pentax.

Dr David Hall · Apr 16, 2008

RoBBo said:
You'll have an F5, all I can say is...
Why not?

I have used an F5 for nearly 2 years and all metering systems are excellent. I have never lost a shot using it's meters. I own three spotmeters and use them with other cameras but don't even keep them in the bag with the F5 unless I am going to shoot a shot knowing I might need ND filters for areas of the picture and I am not sure the F% might not have a setting to read that too. It is very technically advanced.

zenrhino · Apr 16, 2008

My 35mm cameras (the ones I use, anyway) are an Asahi Spotmatic IIP and a Nikon F5, so Im right in the same boat.

I use the Spotty when I'm shooting very slowly and deliberately -- I find it hard to focus, even with a split-image viewfinder installed. But I also use it as my walking around camera on bright sunny days when it's easy to focus with the 50mm f1.4 SMC takumar.

Keep both. You'll find plenty of room for both.

phenix · Apr 16, 2008

Keep the Pentax. Only sell the 1.8/55 lens (did I guessed right from the picture?), and buy instead the SMC-Takumar 1.4/50 (or even better, a "*=star" marked Pentax lens, if available in M42 – what I know is that these are available in K-mount). You'll need nothing more after that. You might even think to sell (or return) the F5, and I guess you'll be right!

phenix · Apr 17, 2008

PS: I like the ear rings of your Pentax!

Andrey · Apr 17, 2008

Keep it, because F5 is huge. And there's always some awesome takumars floating around.

Markok765 · Apr 17, 2008

phenix said:
PS: I like the ear rings of your Pentax!

Thanks! I just got a Domke strap for it!

I have the 35mm f3.5, 55 f1.8 and 105 f2.8 for the pentax.

Uncle Bill · Apr 17, 2008

Hold onto your Pentax and use it with a handheld meter once in a while.

Bandicoot · Apr 19, 2008

Keep it because it was your first real camera and if you sell it, one day you'll wish you hadn't.

Keep it because a backup - especially something as rugged and reliable as a Spotmatic - is always worth having.

Keep it because sometimes you'll be mid roll in your F5 and really want to do a few shots on another emulsion.

Markok765 said:
I have the 35mm f3.5, 55 f1.8 and 105 f2.8 for the pentax.

Keep it because those lenses, especially the 35mm and the 105mm, both of which are really good, have a very different look from that of the Nikon glass.

Keep it for the pleasure of photographing with something that (in 35mm terms at least) takes you back to the basics.

Keep it to pass on to your grandchildren.

Just my thoughts, but I think you can see that on balance I tend to feel that you should probably keep it...

Peter

Steve Smith · Apr 21, 2008

Keep it.

I have regretted everything (usually cameras and guitars) which I have sold. At some stage in the future, you will wish you still had it.

Steve.

Andy K · Apr 21, 2008

Keep it. Because there will be times you'll want a camera around your neck that doesn't weigh the same as a telephone directory.

dustmite · Jun 21, 2008

Keep your Pentax. To be honest, if I saw someone with that Nikon coming towards me, it looks so mean and military, I might have a negative response. But someone with the Pentax, the Pentax just looks a lot friendlier and more human. For street shots, the Pentax wins.

pentaxuser · Jun 21, 2008

Keep it. Sentimental feelings make us what we are as a species and as you grow older they will nourish you. Without memories of things past we'd diminish. In some ways you're lucky at your age to feel this way about the camera. I had a Kodak folder back in the mid 60s. It had been my father's and he had taken lots of pic throughout WWII. He gave to me in the mid 50s but money was tight and the bug didn't bite enough and I sold it in the mid 60s and lost something of real sentimental value which I wasn't aware of then.

On a practical level, as others have said, there will be occasions when it will be the better tool.

pentaxuser

hansutrecht · Jun 21, 2008

Definitely keep it! Same idea as pentaxuser aove. I use/collect Zeiss Ikon equipment because of the fact my father used a ZI Contessa with very good results (both B/W and dia), he died when I was 12 and after some years I got the equipment from my mother. (I'm not sentimental but heritage is something of value to me).
Still I'm shooting with the Contessa, but today I prefer the 'modern' variants more Contarex/Icarex/Ikoflex.
Hans.

I'm gonna miss my pentax.

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