3 Primes in the New World

So how much does it cost to build a 3-prime kit with one of those fancy new mirrorless/CSC cameras?

Now I've written a lot about the quality of the Pentax K-01 images, and you can get a nice 3 prime setup for just under $1500. But cheaper still is a Sony NEX with the 5n kit and a Micro Four-Thirds kit based on the Panasonic GX1. With the Sony you'd have to be willing to accept a thin lens lineup. But the sensor is good, and the system plays well with adapted lenses, or so I've been told. And while the Panasonic GX1 is a really nice camera (I've seen some stunning 18x24 BW prints from it), most rate it a step behind the 16MP Sony sensor found in the K-01. 90% of the time the difference won't matter. A step above the K-01 kit in costs are the Olympus OM-D E-M5 kit and the Fuji X-E1 kit. Both have EVFs which of course the K-01 lacks.

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My friend Sandy and I go out from breakfast once in a while. Our friendship started with motorcycles but has expanded into photography and other things. It's always a good time, and time that passes by too quickly. On this cold December day we sat by the windows of the Phoenix Cafe, basking in the early morning sun.



Sandy is having a torrid affair with his Fuji X-Pro1. By torrid, I mean that things are never just "fine" but rather he's either ecstatic about the thing (oh the IQ is as good as my D3!...ah the handling is sublime...it's just the right size...etc...) or one missed shot from whacking it with a Louisville Slugger (the AF!...the AF!...the AF!...etc...). This morning he's lamenting his early adopter status and how he's missing photo ops of his grandkids. We finish our eggs and linger with coffee refills. He takes the Fuji out of the bag and all it takes is a couple minutes of caressing this object d'photo, listening to the quick AF confirm beep in this well-lit care, and the storm passes. It's all roses again. Poor Sandy, we've all been there...

The New Firmware's Here! The New Firmware's Here! (aka The Continuing Adventures of the Pentax K-01)

Hey Pentax, I've got a new advertising campaign for the K-01...

"Pentax K-01 - the Pontiac Aztec of Cameras"

Funny, huh? I crack myself up sometimes.

Now I've gotta admit that the K-01 is almost universally derided by the online camera commentscenti. Most of them have never held one in their hands and are ignoring the simple fact that in the right hands it's capable of taking high quality photographs. And I do quite like the look of it. In other words, they're judging a book by its cover, but since nobody reads books anymore, let me try a new metaphor - judging a camera by its thumbnails.

It's in the Bag, Maine Lobster Edition

Recenty rode up to Maine with fellow rider/photographer Sandy Noble. This is what we brought. A Canon G11 is missing from the shot because it was used to take the photo, but there's a space for it in the lower right hand corner of the iPad. So here's what we got:

Pentax K-5 with DA* 16-50 F2.8 and DA70mm f/2.4

Nikon 1 with 10mm f/2.8 and 10-30mm/30-110mm variable aperture zooms.

Pentax Q with 01 Prime (47mm f/1.9 eq) and 03 Fish Eye

Fuji X-Pro 1 with three primes (18mm f/2.0, 35mm f/1.4, 60mm f/2.4) and flash

CamOne POV video camera

As you can see, the cup runneth over, or at least runneth the iPad. On prior trips I managed to squeeze it all on the iPad, but now we have two photogs plus the big Pentax zoom in the picture. That's ok, since we have two motorcycles to carry the gear, and my bike for the trip - a BMW R 1200 RT - had a humongous topcase that swallowed my LowePro Stealth Reporter 400 with ease.

What surprised me most of all (but on reflection should not have) is the fact that the Fuji X-Pro1 and Pentax K-5 are remarkably close in size. The only things that make the K-5 bigger are the grip and the pentaprism; the bodies are otherwise the same size.

In any case, we had a lot of fun with this kit and took plenty of photos. Get ready for a deluge of shots from the journey...

[NOTE: I'm testing Google's Affiliate Ads, thus the photo and link of the Pentax K-5 below.]

Pentax K-5 16.3 MP Black Digital SLR Body Only 14748 (Google Affiliate Ad)