I bought my first Pentax, an MX, when I was an impoverished student 30 years ago. I chose the MX because it offered the most Bang for my meagre Bucks. Later on I "upgraded" the MX to a Nikon FM2. Strangely though, the Pentax kept finding it's way into my camera bag while the supposedly superior Nikon stayed unused on the shelf. The Pentax's combination of small size/weight and terrific ergonomics had won the day. It's been Pentax ever since and the best part is I can still use my 30 year lens collection on the latest digital models.

I was 'volunteered' by my Dad to photograph my sisters wedding. I turned up reluctantly armed with my Pentax ME Super A and several rolls of XP2 film. I snapped away from morning till night wondering in the days of predigital how good my work was going to be and what do I tell them when they didn't turn out. I waited nervously for the pictures to return and everyone of them was a stormer! I put them in an album and gave it to them as a gift. Rusult? More work as a wedding photographer!

My first Pentax was the timeless classic K1000 which I bought second hand when I was still at school with hard earned pocket money. This was the best thing I have ever done with my pocket money. With the cost of developing photos that years did come the advantage over the digital era of today, every shot was planned very carefully, the luxury of taking hundreds of photos and picking the best was not there, every shot counted. That thinking before taking a photo did create an awareness of what I am doing today. Bringing that experience gained those years together with the ease of using my istD today does create a really enjoyable hobby.

I bought a K 20 about a year ago. Wow. Like nothing I've ever experienced. I took it to the Caribbean for a holoday, wanting to produce a set of documentary style photos. I was blown away by the image quality and the ease of use. I love this camera like a brother!!

I've owned Pentax since 1980, taking my wonderful ME Supers on hundreds of mountain expeditions, building a large portfolio of landscapes. The quality is unquestionable: they've been bashed on rocks, frozen, soaked in condensation and rain, and STILL they work ... When I once lost one, it was returned with great joy by a man who appreciated what it meant. People sometimes look surprised when I tell them the cameras I used, but then they acknowledge the quality. I now shoot K10, and I imagine Pentax accompanying me on expeditions for the rest of my days.

I was on my first safari with my newly acquired Pentax *ist D. As the sun went down and we returned to camp, the spotter pointed out a shape on a tree branch. The driver skillfully drove in as far as he dare so as not to scare the leopard draped over that branch. I clicked the long lens on, turned the ISO up to 800, zoomed in, braced myself, held my breath and squeezed the shutter release. Despite the low light conditions, the picture on the wall at home still looks great.

I started out in photography with the standard Polaroid. Easy to use, instant picture etc. One day I was at a much anticipated airshow in Mount Comfort IN. with the above camera. I lined up the shot and got the picture. When I pulled the film sheet out of the camera, the entire film pack came loose and fell out of the camera. All eight exposures wrecked! And no more film packs. A friend with me was using a Pentax K1000. I started out with a Pentax MX, went to a SuperProgram, a Pz1P and finally a K10D. No regrets!

I was at Windsor Horse Show, kneeling with my Pentax MX photographing carriages in the driving competition splashing through the water obstacle, and it became apparent that Prince Philip would be the next through. I then noticed that the crowd around me had started to move away. Puzzled, I looked round to find the Queen and two or three courtiers standing next to me with everyone else now moved to a respectful distance away. Not knowing the correct etiquette, and being a bit scared, I just grinned sheepishly. The Queen smiled back and I knew that I could safely stay.

A friend and I spent 2years travelling Australia. She had a SLR, I had a compact. I came home wanting a "proper" camera of my own. I bought a secondhand Pentax MV1 which I cherished. I gradually built a set of lenses and spent every spare minute snapping. I have beautiful albums of my daughters, courtesy of my Pentax MV1. For a few years I couldn't afford a DSLR, but now i am a proud owner of a Pentax K-m. And my daughter has caught my enthusiasm, if the camera is not in my hands it's in hers. Thankyou Pentax

I was frustrated trying to take night time shots of cities and countryside with a little point & shoot camera, and finally bought an *istDS for its low noise and high ISO settings (at the time it was the best there was for this). I remember rushing out to try it out one winters night when it arrived, and being blown away by the results - I took far too many photos of lit up buildings and moonlit gardens, often trespassing to get the shots. I adored that *istDS and will treasure those early photos I took!

As a keen amateur photographer I love to take my hobby to work. I am involved with several historic building renovation projects. In March I was asked to provide true scale photographs of some oak gates. Imagine my suprise a few months later to encounter prints of my pictures, a full 5 metres high, filling the inner archway. At first glance I thought that the new gates had already been made. As I walked through I realised that both faces had been printed onto hoarding to give an authentic feel to the entrance. This proves the quality of the K10D and 12-24mm lens reminding me of why I always use Pentax kit.

My first proper camera was a secondhand ME Super. Using it to combine my love of photography and horses at local gymkhanas, parents would commission shots of their children. This escalated into me becoming their official photographer. I was so devasted when the ME was damaged in a car crash my husband bought me a wonderful SFXn. Wanting another challenge I bought a 400mm lens and went to Snetterton to shoot motorcycle racing. A quick overnight stint in the darkroom then back to get the prints signed by the riders. A DSLR is on this year\'s christmas list...