A P30t was replaced by an MZ-7 and a telephoto lens. Then ten days on safari. Standing naked in an open shower at 5.30am capturing an amazing African dawn. A female leopard at night, in the spotlight of our truck, just three metres away. The incredible ink-blue mile-wide surging Zambezi River. The old Baobab tree just outside camp for the group photo. And on return, a friend with Wimbledon tickets. Venus Williams – Court 1. It’s easy taking great pictures when you’re looking at the best. And in the space of a month my interest in photography became an obsession.
About 8 years ago I was photographing near Drumnadrochit. I had my MX with 20mm lens attached on a monopod and was reaching into my bag to change the lens. I let go of the camera, happy that the neck strap was round my neck. It wasn't! The camera described a graceful arc before striking a large boulder. The hood was destroyed, aperture and focusing rings bent such that they were immovable and the body scarred. Jessops repair people straightened the rings, checked it and found everything in the middle of tolerance Brilliant camera!
Ever since I can remember, I looked up to my grandfather and admired his passion for photography. I remember sitting quietly in his home darkroom, patiently waiting for him to create magic with the exposures he'd taken on his trusty spotmaticII. The smell of the developer fluid, the amazing sights he showed me taken through that lens. They'll always be with me. Granddad is no longer with us, but his camera still operates today in my partners expert hands. Words cannot express the pride, knowing that the camera will always be passed through generations of our family. Thankyou Pentax.
I was on a trip to Japan and had a Pentax K20D in hand. Walking around on for the markets one day, an eagle-eyed Japanese gentleman coined me from afar and stopped me. "Oh, K20D, cooool," he said in broken English. It kind of made me laugh - he must have been super-sharp to spot the body from that far away. Made me feel even more comfortable about taking photos though and I got hundreds of amazing shots of my travels around this amazing country.
Returning to photography after a fifteen year break I joined my local photo club which starred some of the best natural history photographers in the country- FRPS etc. To my complete surprise I won the natural history section of the annual exhibition judged by one of the countries most respected judges. Not with a picture of a rare bird or animal but of a common garden snail. Why was my picture chosen- because of the overall quality of detail and sharpness. The experience gleaned from my K1000, MX and LX of yesteryear helped prove that my Pentax K10 is up there with the best.
A beaten up Pentax MX, quite probably the best camera in world! Sounds a familier line. This glorious machine was presented to me by a customer who had decided to trade up to a 'more modern camera' (Pentax P30N). The MX had seen some action and it was decided, by the boss, that we could not offer a part exchange against the new model. So the guy gave it to me! Wow what a camera it worked without complaint for another 10 years before a trip to the seaside killed him! Perhaps a weatherproof K7 would survive the ocean spray.
As a student I bought a Pentax ME Super but I always lusted after an LX. Even when I was working I wanted an LX but could never justify the expense. Then one day I read a book by the Himalayan climber Doug Scott. He described his camera: a Pentax LX. It struck me, the perfect camera for the job. I now had my excuse to buy it, the next time I went to the Himalaya it was with an LX in my rucksack. Worth every penny, it is a shame my shift to digital makes it neglected now.
What I appreciate most from my trusted old friend is its freedom to capture my inspiration with ease. And whilst there’s never been a perfect camera and perhaps never will, my trusted Pentax has remained the camera of choice to this day; enabling me to capture some of the most memorable shots I’ve taken on any camera before or since. Not only has it been reliable, it remains light and easy to taken where I go. Whether it’s dealing with the ability to deal with opportunist shots or more serious intentions, my trusty Pentax will deliver every time it’s needed.
In 1989 I got a P&S Camera as a present as I was about to embark on a travels around Europe, it was great and served me well. Sadly it eventually died when I started using it when climbing, one rock collision too many! Next came an ME Super, lasting through my climbing formative years, and is still alive in spite of being dropped, covered in Ribena and various mishaps. Next came an MZ5n, which died tragically in a fall in California. It was replaced by an *istD, which serves me on my occasional climbing trips, Pentax is all I ever needed.
I went to Egypt in 1991 with a Pentax K1000 (first "proper" SLR). We met an incredibly friendly chap in our 2nd stay in Cairo (before returning). He showed us many places well off the beaten tourist track. We saved lots of money and saw a side of Cairo almost empty of Western faces. He admired the camera and dreamed of being a press photographer. He showed me photos he'd taken with a 126 camera. Because I knew I'd be upgrading at home, I gave it to him on the last night. I hope his dream came true!
I still have my K1000: It travelled with me to Switzerland in 1990 on a field trip: I dropped it over a balcony by the Matterhorn: The camera skipped down the mountain: A skier picked it up and waited for me to join him. Although the lens had seen better days the camera remained intact and the film produced splendid pictures of the trip. I still have it and it still works, despite the digital camera I now possess I return to my faithful friend on lots of times: It's a part of my personal history
I have an Optio S4. It's a few years old now and when compared with cameras now available it is at the lower end of digital camera technology and sophistication but it is ideal for living in my breast pocket. It goes everywhere I go, whether it be Paris or Seville or just a walk with the dog. Pre Optio I took few photos but now I can record all that I wish when I see it. The older I get the less I want to miss the scenes around me and my Optio enables me to miss very little.