My main effort for the past 3 years or so has been photography. The self-imposed mission of capturing images in nature has driven me to do more, to explore more, and push my limits in different directions. This publication and my essays on Medium have essentially resulted from these efforts with photography. So, in this edition of Field Notes I would like to introduce my main piece of equipment- the camera.
Digital photography is a ridiculously expensive endeavor. I was very fortunate to have access to a Nikon D3500 to use and learn with as I explored whether this was a path I’d like to go down. This camera was not mine, so as I pushed myself into more unruly conditions, the concern of damaging or losing it grew. It was time to get my own.
The best camera is the one you have with you. - Jay Maisel
Cost was certainly the limiting factor in what was available to me. I knew I needed more than a hobbyist camera, but was not in a position to invest several thousands of dollars in a professional level instrument. Researching the options, I learned about the Pentax K-70. Pentax is an underdog in the realm of camera brands and this resonated with me. The K-70 was released in 2016 and has been described as a mid level camera at an entry level price. I won’t get into the weeds on all of its technical specs here. I’ll just summarize by saying that it was fully capable of doing everything I knew how to do and needed out of a camera at that time, and I was not concerned of outgrowing it for a very long time to come. The strongest decision point for me, however, was not its internal specs. The K-70 was highly rated for its weather sealing. This is a feature I could not find in any other entry level cameras and would be a huge asset in the environments I intended to take it.
I’ve now spent several years working this camera like a tool. The ergonomics are perfect for my hands. I’ve had it with me in the cold, the rain, and saturating humidity. It has handled them all with aplomb. At this point I can say that I know the functioning of this camera very well, but I’m sure I haven’t explored all of its capacity.
One issue arose for me recently when I purchased a ND1000 filter for very long exposures. The photos I took had a distinct line across the bottom with some washed out exposure. After some research and I learned that this is simply from not covering the viewfinder. As an entry level camera, the K-70 did not come with a viewfinder cover, but it was very easy to devise my own workaround. A devastating problem that some have experience with this model is aperture block, but my particular camera hasn’t had this issue.
Here are a few links to photos I early on vs more recently. I’d just like to emphasize how much I’ve enjoyed learning and exploring with this camera!
I took my camera to the Dominican Republic in the summer of 2021. Hot and humid, sometimes sandy and windy conditions. Here is an old write up of the trip I have on Medium-
Thanks for reading this far! My image file numbers recently rolled over to the beginning, meaning I’ve taken more than 10,000 photos with my camera. I hope to keep using it for a long time to come, but I’ve begun thinking about what is next. As much as I love Pentax, they continue to make DSLR cameras when the technology is shifting towards mirrorless. I’m thinking my next might be a full frame mirrorless, although I am very interested in what OM Systems is doing with the micro four thirds sensor and in-camera computing.
Once again, Substack is new to me. I’d love to hear feedback, comments, and thoughts about cameras, so help me figure this out on this platform. Also, if you liked it, please share it!