Originally posted by InStitches49 I am a beginning DSLR user (after years ago using Minolta 35 mm camera). I have been fluctuating between the K-x which seems to get good reviews or the newer K-r which is, of course, a lot more money. Which one would be best for a beginning again photographer? And do I need to get a kit with two lens in it or just get the standard beginner's lens to start with? Also, this may be used later by our college-age daughter who desires to learn photography with her journalism courses. Thanks for any advice you can give me!
What kit did you have with your Minolta? 35-70mm? Or 50mm? Or ...?
Try to remember what you wished for in those days. Not long enough (had to get closer), not wide enough (had to do a step back)? Not fast enough (low light situations required flash)?
If you had e.g. a 35-70 zoom, that will (roughly) translate on a Pentax dSLR camera to 24-50mm for the same field-of-view. If the 35-70 did do everything you ever wanted, the kit lens will do as well. It's wider and slightly longer so you get more compared to the 35-70 (although the 18-55 is probably a bit slower than the 35-70 at the long end).
I think you can take it from there yourself. Having said that, the 2-lens kit is usually a bargain. However the lenses are usually DA-L versions and come without lenshoods; and if I recall correctly, the original Pentax ones are quite expensive (somebody else can probably advise on that).