K 50 or K5IIs or wait??

Shanti · 01-25-2015, 09:52 PM

Hi my niece needs a starter camera,thought the K50 or K5IIs + 18-135mm lens would be good for her. Maybe the K5IIs is too heavy? teenage girl, but I know nothing of the K50,is it good? should we wait till after CIPA as new model is coming,probably same price range??
I told her either Pentax or Oly Em5 as both are in her price range,but as a beginner not sure about EVF--I prefer OVF but maybe the Oly is not soo bad
I have the K5II & at $500 its a steal for the s version,but weight may be a problem,as she will carry it everywhere
any suggestions from the K50 group?? or Em5 owners

Thanks

**jatrax** · 01-25-2015, 10:00 PM

Any new camera will be significantly higher at least for some time after. For a beginner the k-50 will be fine, the k-5IIs has some things that are nice, but essentially it's the same sensor and it is heavier.

What about the new K-S1? Seems like she would be the target market. Not much more $, 20MP and all the new ~~toys~~ features.

**arnold** · 01-25-2015, 10:06 PM

Pentax Q10 or 7 is small and capable of more than a beginner can use. She will love it.

Adam · 01-25-2015, 10:38 PM

Originally posted by Shanti

Hi my niece needs a starter camera,thought the K50 or K5IIs + 18-135mm lens would be good for her. Maybe the K5IIs is too heavy? teenage girl, but I know nothing of the K50,is it good? should we wait till after CIPA as new model is coming,probably same price range??
I told her either Pentax or Oly Em5 as both are in her price range,but as a beginner not sure about EVF--I prefer OVF but maybe the Oly is not soo bad
I have the K5II & at $500 its a steal for the s version,but weight may be a problem,as she will carry it everywhere
any suggestions from the K50 group?? or Em5 owners

Thanks

The K-50 and a 18-135mm is a good place to start.

Adam
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Yos · 01-25-2015, 10:42 PM

I also think a K-50 w/ 18-135mm will be a great start for you niece .
She will get a great camera to learn from and a good lens.
No need to wait for the next generation of cameras as the K-50 still is a great one.

**rod_grant** · 01-25-2015, 10:57 PM

I don't think the 18-135 would be her ultimate lens if she goes on with photography, but it is a great starter: probably the best starter available.
If the K50 weight suits her, that is also (possibly) the best starter.
If she gets enthused with the craft with them, she has plenty of scope to grow.

**ak_kiwi** · 01-25-2015, 11:06 PM

What the last 3 people said

Steve.Ledger · 01-25-2015, 11:08 PM

Q series or K-S1 would seem most suitable imho.

DSims · 01-26-2015, 12:25 AM

If you pick her up a lens like the A100/2.8 or F/FA135/2.8 she won't care what body you get her. Those are my teenage daughter's favorite lenses.

But she'll still need something wide to go with it, and that one should be AF for practicality's sake.

wed7 · 01-26-2015, 12:35 AM

KS-1, yep, the strawberry or the lime pie

AquaDome · 01-26-2015, 12:42 AM

Another vote for the K-50. And don't forget: it comes in several colors.

DSims · 01-26-2015, 01:07 AM

The upcoming retractible 18-50mm kit lens might be worth waiting for, however. I'm sure any old used DA18-55 would be fine in the meantime. There's no telling what the IQ of the new lens will be.

foto guy · 01-26-2015, 04:37 AM

Whatever you get (brand is not important), I'd go used. Why spend extra cash when she doesn't know if she'll stick with it and hasn't yet determined her photographic needs?
There are some good deals to be had out there, if you're discriminating. It'd be a shame to buy new and have a lens sit around after 6 months, never to be used again.

Think long-term, also. What system will suit her best? That's hard to answer right now, but still something to think about.

dakight · 01-26-2015, 05:21 AM

The K-50 is going for around $350 now for the body and there are a myriad of lenses available are reasonable prices. It's hard to beat for mid-entry level camera. I absolutely love mine and can recommend it without hestitation.

sterretje · 01-26-2015, 09:23 AM

I consider the K5/IIs (prices B&H) to be the current bargain in the Pentax range.

Weight wise, K50 and K5/IIs are the same.

01-25-2015, 09:52 PM	#1
Shanti Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Western Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 927	K 50 or K5IIs or wait?? Hi my niece needs a starter camera,thought the K50 or K5IIs + 18-135mm lens would be good for her. Maybe the K5IIs is too heavy? teenage girl, but I know nothing of the K50,is it good? should we wait till after CIPA as new model is coming,probably same price range?? I told her either Pentax or Oly Em5 as both are in her price range,but as a beginner not sure about EVF--I prefer OVF but maybe the Oly is not soo bad I have the K5II & at $500 its a steal for the s version,but weight may be a problem,as she will carry it everywhere any suggestions from the K50 group?? or Em5 owners Thanks

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01-25-2015, 10:00 PM	#2
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Any new camera will be significantly higher at least for some time after. For a beginner the k-50 will be fine, the k-5IIs has some things that are nice, but essentially it's the same sensor and it is heavier. What about the new K-S1? Seems like she would be the target market. Not much more $, 20MP and all the new ~~toys~~ features.

01-25-2015, 10:06 PM	#3
arnold Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,294	Pentax Q10 or 7 is small and capable of more than a beginner can use. She will love it.

01-25-2015, 10:38 PM	#4
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,594	Originally posted by Shanti Hi my niece needs a starter camera,thought the K50 or K5IIs + 18-135mm lens would be good for her. Maybe the K5IIs is too heavy? teenage girl, but I know nothing of the K50,is it good? should we wait till after CIPA as new model is coming,probably same price range?? I told her either Pentax or Oly Em5 as both are in her price range,but as a beginner not sure about EVF--I prefer OVF but maybe the Oly is not soo bad I have the K5II & at $500 its a steal for the s version,but weight may be a problem,as she will carry it everywhere any suggestions from the K50 group?? or Em5 owners Thanks The K-50 and a 18-135mm is a good place to start. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

01-25-2015, 10:42 PM	#5
Yos Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Stockholm Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 533	I also think a K-50 w/ 18-135mm will be a great start for you niece . She will get a great camera to learn from and a good lens. No need to wait for the next generation of cameras as the K-50 still is a great one.

01-25-2015, 10:57 PM	#6
rod_grant Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Wangaratta, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,951	I don't think the 18-135 would be her ultimate lens if she goes on with photography, but it is a great starter: probably the best starter available. If the K50 weight suits her, that is also (possibly) the best starter. If she gets enthused with the craft with them, she has plenty of scope to grow.

01-25-2015, 11:06 PM	#7
ak_kiwi Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Auckland, New Zealand. Posts: 328	What the last 3 people said

01-25-2015, 11:08 PM	#8
Steve.Ledger Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Far North Qld Posts: 3,301	Q series or K-S1 would seem most suitable imho.

01-26-2015, 12:25 AM	#9
DSims Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,236	If you pick her up a lens like the A100/2.8 or F/FA135/2.8 she won't care what body you get her. Those are my teenage daughter's favorite lenses. But she'll still need something wide to go with it, and that one should be AF for practicality's sake.

01-26-2015, 12:35 AM	#10
wed7 Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Manila, Philippines Posts: 1,421	KS-1, yep, the strawberry or the lime pie

01-26-2015, 12:42 AM	#11
AquaDome Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: New Carlisle, IN Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,475	Another vote for the K-50. And don't forget: it comes in several colors.

01-26-2015, 01:07 AM	#12
DSims Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,236	The upcoming retractible 18-50mm kit lens might be worth waiting for, however. I'm sure any old used DA18-55 would be fine in the meantime. There's no telling what the IQ of the new lens will be.

01-26-2015, 04:37 AM	#13
foto guy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Vernon, Connecticut Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 292	Whatever you get (brand is not important), I'd go used. Why spend extra cash when she doesn't know if she'll stick with it and hasn't yet determined her photographic needs? There are some good deals to be had out there, if you're discriminating. It'd be a shame to buy new and have a lens sit around after 6 months, never to be used again. Think long-term, also. What system will suit her best? That's hard to answer right now, but still something to think about.

01-26-2015, 05:21 AM	#14
dakight Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Phoenix, AZ Photos: Albums Posts: 1,216	The K-50 is going for around $350 now for the body and there are a myriad of lenses available are reasonable prices. It's hard to beat for mid-entry level camera. I absolutely love mine and can recommend it without hestitation.

01-26-2015, 09:23 AM	#15
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	I consider the K5/IIs (prices B&H) to be the current bargain in the Pentax range. Weight wise, K50 and K5/IIs are the same.