Hello All (Pentax Q or m43?)

Bigolac

Regular
Hello all - just got referred here from the 4/3 forum in response to a question I have. I'm currently trying to get my 10 year old son interested in something other than his P&S, and thought the Pentax Q would be a good choice. Then I started looking at some of the 4/3 cams and like them as well.

Just curious if anyone has had experience with both systems and would care to comment...

Thanks for the forum - looks like some good people are here!
 
The man you want to talk to is John M. Flores (which is his user name here). He has both the Q and mft systems and uses them professionally photographing for a motorcycle travel magazine. If anyone can answer your question, he's definitely a guy that can.

That said: with a child you never know if they'll stay with it. Older micro four third systems are cheap these days and if he does get serious there are more avenues to expand with a huge number of lenses and bodies available.

The problem with the Q is: very few lenses. If you want to really do more with your photography you'll need to buy into a whole new system, but with mft cams you can just buy more lenses or upgrade to a later body and use your existing lenses.

The economics aren't much different since the older micro four thirds bodies are selling for like $100 to $150 dollars these days. Used kit lenses for well under $100.

Lots of good used deals at Buy & Sell New & Used Cameras – Canon, Nikon, Hasselblad, Leica & More - KEH.com if you want to poke around over there. I've bought several things from them and they are one of the better used camera dealers around.

EDIT: Oh and you said four thirds rather than micro four thirds? They appear to be dying out. Same sensor size, but the DSLR style system of four thirds is not being advanced like the mirrorless micro four thirds systems are. I don't think it's necessarily a great choice long term -- although there are some AMAZING four thirds lenses out there.
 
The man you want to talk to is John M. Flores (which is his user name here). He has both the Q and mft systems and uses them professionally photographing for a motorcycle travel magazine. If anyone can answer your question, he's definitely a guy that can.

That said: with a child you never know if they'll stay with it. Older micro four third systems are cheap these days and if he does get serious there are more avenues to expand with a huge number of lenses and bodies available.

The problem with the Q is: very few lenses. If you want to really do more with your photography you'll need to buy into a whole new system, but with mft cams you can just buy more lenses or upgrade to a later body and use your existing lenses.

The economics aren't much different since the older micro four thirds bodies are selling for like $100 to $150 dollars these days. Used kit lenses for well under $100.

Lots of good used deals at Buy & Sell New & Used Cameras – Canon, Nikon, Hasselblad, Leica & More - KEH.com if you want to poke around over there. I've bought several things from them and they are one of the better used camera dealers around.

EDIT: Oh and you said four thirds rather than micro four thirds? They appear to be dying out. Same sensor size, but the DSLR style system of four thirds is not being advanced like the mirrorless micro four thirds systems are. I don't think it's necessarily a great choice long term -- although there are some AMAZING four thirds lenses out there.

I appreciate your response - I was referring to Micro 4/3 as an alternative, not 4/3.

I can see the economics of your reply as well - I may well get a used body on the cheaper side (e-pl1 maybe?) with a kit lens and go from there. It's true - he may not take to it like I THINK he should.... ;)

- Adam
 
I've not used the Q, but if you do decide to go with m4/3 there are some great deals on older bodies. Take a look at the E-PL2 prices compared to the E-PL1, it's the same sensor but faster AF (both in the body and the revised kit lens).
 
I own both the Q and a decent micro four-thirds kit. I would say that, as an initial investment, micro four thirds would be less expensive and a better risk. You can find great deals on a Panasonic GF series camera (3 and 5) with kit zoom and Olympus's E-PM1 or E-PL3 with kit lens - and spend less money than on a new Q. This way, if your son doesn't take to the camera, you haven't spent that much money. If he does, you can slowly begin adding lenses and select from a much larger array of options than offered by the Q. Of course, you could find a deal on a used Q but I'm still not so sure how much less expensive it would be than the other cameras I mentioned.
 
Can I make a sexist and ageist comment? Grown men can carry a Pentax Q but I'm not sure about a 10 year old boy. The Q is a really cute camera (I'd argue bordering on pretty) and it is capable of taking fantastic and fun pictures but it is so CUTE that it maybe isn't so cool for a 10 year old boy to be using it? Is it cool to say cool? I don't know, I've never been a boy (least not that I remember) and it's been a little while since I was 10 years old (heck I can't remember it). It is small and fun though, I love mine. But it's not my only camera, and to be honest, for me, it never would be.

I don't have many Q images I can share as my first one had to be returned, then my second one came with a faulty prime lens which has only just now been replaced. I'm now just waiting on good weather so I can shoot some pictures with it

8503320205_43ebb684a4_b.jpg

Aberlady by Briar34, on Flickr

My main camera (mostly used) is my Olympus e-p3. It's the most versatile for me as it has the most lenses and I am happy with the images it produces. It's bigger and heavier (obviously) than the Q. I have small hands so I prefer the smaller size of the Q to the e-p3.

The LCD screen on the Q is near on impossible to view in bright sun light. I have to shoot on instinct with it. I use a viewfinder with the e-p3.

I'm a firm believer that the right camera is the one that feels right in the hand. If he is comfortable holding it, he should be comfortable shooting with it. If you can, you should take your son to a camera shop (do these still exist?) and let him try holding different ones, then take your research from there.

Not sure if my comment is helpful, but welcome to Serious Compacts!
 
I really appreciate the opinions - it is appreciated. But I may have already been sidetracked...

I was at of all places a garage sale this morning, and lo and be-flippin-hold, someone had a e-pl1 for sale! No kit lens, but it did have a Canon fd adapter and a 50mm 1.8, and a Rokinon 80-200 f 4.5, which is not in so good shape.

$100 out the door and I was gone! I took a couple test shots to make sure it was working, though.

I may have some buyer's remorse for not getting a p-pl2 or 3 as others have suggested so far, but I've got my foot in the door....

-Adam
 
I started off with an epl1 and got some great results. I think it would be a great starter camera for your son. Keep us posted on how you both get on.
 
I really appreciate the opinions - it is appreciated. But I may have already been sidetracked...

I was at of all places a garage sale this morning, and lo and be-flippin-hold, someone had a e-pl1 for sale! No kit lens, but it did have a Canon fd adapter and a 50mm 1.8, and a Rokinon 80-200 f 4.5, which is not in so good shape.

$100 out the door and I was gone! I took a couple test shots to make sure it was working, though.

I may have some buyer's remorse for not getting a p-pl2 or 3 as others have suggested so far, but I've got my foot in the door....

-Adam

I would have recommended the Q, but it appears that I'm too late. The Q is one of the funnest cameras that I've used in quite a while, and I'd imagine that for a 10 year old fun will be more important the ultimate image quality or system scalability. On the Q, the built-in effects plus the ability to program them to the front dial contributes to that fun, as does the cheap 03 Fisheye and the other inexpensive toy lenses.

No matter, I bet that you can have a lot of fun with the Olympus as well. If he likes bugs and critters (and what 10 year old boy doesn't?) get a reversal ring for one of those lenses and shoot some bug macros. Get a cheap LED light to help set up the shots and teach him a little about lighting. Get him the Olympus body cap lens or the Pinwide fisheye to take a fun photo inches from the dog's nose. Get a cheap AF lens that he can walk around with and snap to his heart's delight. If the E-PL1 doesn't have one, get an intervalometer and do a timelapse with him. Teach him the joy of photography before anything (if he doesn't have that already) so that it seeps into his bones and infects him for the rest of his days. Finally, please, whatever you do, don't introduce him to the 100% crop view. That's the opposite of fun.
 
That sounds like a pretty decent deal, you can pick up a 14-42 mkII kit lens for pretty cheap or go with one of the inexpensive primes like the Pany 14mm (ebay) or Sigma 19mm. And +1 on the suggestion to get a reversing ring to use the Canon lens for macros!
 
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