K20d kit lens, worth it?

Mindflux · 10-05-2008, 08:20 PM

I'm searching for my first DSLR. I'm torn between the K20d and the D90. Right now through Amazon, Cameta Camera has the K20d with the kit lens for 999+15 ship. I think this is the lowest I've seen it yet.

My question to you folk is; is the kit lens worth it? I may be able to get the body cheaper through eBay with the 30% MS Live cashback, so if I can come out under a grand with the body and a BETTER lens, lets hear what you've got to say.

Thanks!

*sewebster* · 10-05-2008, 09:42 PM

Depends a lot on what lenses you already have and which ones you plan to purchase. The kit lens can take some great pictures stopped down. Often people don't end up with a lens as wide as 18mm, so it can be helpful if you don't have that range elsewhere.

The major downsides of the kit lens are that it is slow (in the small aperture sense) and doesn't perform all that well when opened up, meaning that it is VERY slow by the time you get it stopped down to good performance. But there are a lot of good photos out there waiting to be taken at f/8 and up...

I'd say it really depends on how much you end up "paying" for it. If it ends up costing you less than $100 it's a pretty good deal unless you're never gonna use it.

SpecialK · 10-05-2008, 10:41 PM

You want an expensive body, I assume to take technically good-great pictures. The kit lens is an inexpensive limitation that you will replace probably sooner than later.

Big Dave · 10-05-2008, 11:14 PM

The kit lens is a bargin. It is the best kit lens out there. It can be had used for as little as $50 which is a real value. It isn't a $400 16-45 DA zoom, but it still does a good job. You will use it with flash indoors at f8 and outdoors, it will be stopped down as well.

Dave

Originally Posted by Mindflux

I'm searching for my first DSLR. I'm torn between the K20d and the D90. Right now through Amazon, Cameta Camera has the K20d with the kit lens for 999+15 ship. I think this is the lowest I've seen it yet.

My question to you folk is; is the kit lens worth it? I may be able to get the body cheaper through eBay with the 30% MS Live cashback, so if I can come out under a grand with the body and a BETTER lens, lets hear what you've got to say.

Thanks!

*egordon99* · 10-06-2008, 02:20 PM

Pretty much with ALL DSLR brands, the kit lens is a BARGAIN way to get 18mm coverage. Anything else that goes that wide is in the $300 and UP range. So for $80 or so, it's a no-brainer; especially if you're just starting out and don't know the difference between 18mm and 28mm (it's B-I-G difference

)

*Blue* · 10-06-2008, 02:24 PM

Some k20d kits are being packaged with the 16-45mm as the kit lens. I think BH and/or Adorama and possible Amazon are selling some that way.

drewdlephone · 10-06-2008, 02:48 PM

Depends on what you like to shoot. I've been able to coax some nice landscapes out of my kit lens, but agree with what others have said: it is slow, and not all that sharp opened up. It's a great lens to pick up to have wide-angle capability if you're not concerned about those two issues. Otherwise, there are prime lenses (the Limited series) that will have much better optical performance, or there's the DA* 16-50, which is a beautiful lens, just very expensive. (That's the one I'm pining after, along with it's matched-mate, the DA* 50-135).

offertonhatter · 10-06-2008, 02:59 PM

I agree with the above threads.

I did handle the D80 (not tried the D90), and thought the viewfinder was a lot darker than the Pentax, but maybe that has changed. The D300/D700 are a lot brighter than the D80 and equiv to the K10D/K20D. Also I felt that the D80 was very plasticky to hold in comparison to Pentax (even my *istDS) Maybe Nikon have improved on this with the D90 replacement.

However the live view on the D90 is better (I believe) than the K20D, and has better FPS.

But the thing I will say, and always say, go with the Camera you feel most comfortable with.

hotrod · 10-06-2008, 03:03 PM

Seen the k20d at amazon for U$S 879.07 Amazon.com: Pentax K20D 14.6MP Digital SLR Camera with Shake Reduction (Body Only): Camera & Photo

Mindflux · 10-06-2008, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by hotrod

Seen the k20d at amazon for U$S 879.07 Amazon.com: Pentax K20D 14.6MP Digital SLR Camera with Shake Reduction (Body Only): Camera & Photo

That vendor does not explicitly say whether or not it's a USA Warrantied camera. None the less the price has dropped yet again since I made this thread. With the kit lens it's 1015 from Amazon themselves.

hotrod · 10-06-2008, 03:45 PM

With the price dropping like it is will there be a k30d soon?

Mindflux · 10-07-2008, 06:56 AM

Under a grand through Cameta camera with the kit lens now.

hotrod · 10-07-2008, 07:16 AM

Where´s a reliable online place to buy? I've been searching and not all online places have everything for pentax like a battery grip.

*Blue* · 10-07-2008, 07:57 AM

Originally Posted by hotrod

Where´s a reliable online place to buy? I've been searching and not all online places have everything for pentax like a battery grip.

Amazon, Cameta and Willoughby's are reliable. Amazon has a very good return policy.

Mindflux · 10-07-2008, 09:20 PM

Now it's looking like buying the body and the kit lens separate is a better deal by a small margin right now.

Is the 18-55MM f/3.5-5.6 AL II seen here: Amazon.com: Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II Lens for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras: Gigabargain the same lens as the one in the kit seen here: Amazon.com: Pentax K20D 14.6MP Digital SLR Camera with Shake Reduction and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II Lens: Electronics

?