Pentax k-r vs. Canon Eos 550d

risdessert · 06-09-2011, 07:37 AM

Hello. I thought that you guys can give me some good reasons why i should invest in Pentax k-r rather than than Canon Eos 550d? What are the main differences in these two cameras?

elho_cid · 06-09-2011, 08:43 AM

It is your choice only in the end. Click this link for very nice summary of main differences:
Canon 550D vs Pentax K-r

IMO the K-r is better for stills, 550D has edge in video applications. Both will be proabably good enough for a beginner and neither is good enough for me.

**Deimos** · 06-09-2011, 11:54 AM

Hold both in your hand, see which you prefer.

Hint the Canon feels like a cheap piece of plastic. That said if video is important Canon is the best choice, for stills, well I chose the K-r

The Pentax has many advantages: built in AF motor, built in stabilization, these two alone are huge, do a comparision of what features you get with both cameras and you will see what you are missing with the Canon

dmc · 06-09-2011, 11:56 AM

What do you presently have for glass?

elho_cid · 06-09-2011, 12:44 PM

Originally posted by dmc

What do you presently have for glass?

Brandy?

SteveUK · 06-09-2011, 01:15 PM

Originally posted by Deimos

The Pentax has many advantages: built in AF motor, built in stabilization, these two alone are huge, do a comparision of what features you get with both cameras and you will see what you are missing with the Canon

So do Sony, for stills outside (not in artificial light) the Pentax has it, if you are at all interested in video the Sony SLT cameras A33/A35/A55 rule and the stills are almost as good.

elho_cid · 06-09-2011, 01:52 PM

Originally posted by SteveUK

So do Sony, for stills outside (not in artificial light) the Pentax has it, if you are at all interested in video the Sony SLT cameras A33/A35/A55 rule and the stills are almost as good.

The OP question was about cameras, not about torture instruments.

risdessert · 06-09-2011, 02:23 PM

Thanks for the replies. I don't need the video feature.
I need the camera to shoot pictures of streetlife. I think i will buy a lens with 24-70 mm.
I don't know if one of the two camera is particular good for this purpose?

TOUGEFC · 06-09-2011, 02:30 PM

Originally posted by risdessert

Thanks for the replies. I don't need the video feature.
I need the camera to shoot pictures of streetlife. I think i will buy a lens with 24-70 mm.
I don't know if one of the two camera is particular good for this purpose?

Get the DA40 f/2.8 Limited (pancake lens)

K-r + DA40 would be awesome for street photography, and very small and compact (perfect for streets

) you wont find a smaller DSLR with lens than that setup.

risdessert · 06-09-2011, 02:45 PM

Originally posted by TOUGEFC

Get the DA40 f/2.8 Limited (pancake lens)

K-r + DA40 would be awesome for street photography, and very small and compact (perfect for streets

) you wont find a smaller DSLR with lens than that setup.

I have never considered a pancake lens. Are there any advantages besides they are thin?

elho_cid · 06-09-2011, 03:00 PM

The 24-70/2,8 is HUGE. Even the latest Sigma 24-70 which is the smallest of them all will be more heavy than the camera body.
For street photography you probably want to remain unnoticed. That would be best achieved with silent camera and small lens.
You may prefer another FL, but IMO the ideal street photography DSLR setup is K-5 with DA15 lens. Or DA21 if you don't want to get too close.
K-r is quite loud and Canons tend to make high frequency noise that is not too loud, but very obtrusive. So if you cannot afford K-5 look for K-7. IQ is not that bad and it is sturdy built and very silent for a DSLR.

risdessert · 06-10-2011, 06:11 AM

What is a AF motor?

GrinMode · 06-10-2011, 06:19 AM

Originally posted by risdessert

What is a AF motor?

It's some archane technology that only Pentax employs in this day and age

.

It's the built-in motor that turn your lens so that it can Auto-Focus.

I'm kidding... about my first sentence of course. Although I think Canon does not have that anymore.

elho_cid · 06-10-2011, 06:46 AM

Canon doesn't have it since thay abandoned the FD mount. They rely completely on in-lens drive. The only disadvantage of the EF mount in my opinion. It prevents them from designing really small lenses such as the limiteds from Pentax.

agsy · 06-10-2011, 02:22 PM

Originally posted by dmc

What do you presently have for glass?

Originally posted by elho_cid

Brandy?

He-he, funny.

06-09-2011, 07:37 AM	#1
risdessert New Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 4	Pentax k-r vs. Canon Eos 550d Hello. I thought that you guys can give me some good reasons why i should invest in Pentax k-r rather than than Canon Eos 550d? What are the main differences in these two cameras?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Pentax K-x or Canon 550D?	khaz0r	Pentax DSLR Discussion	92	08-28-2010 11:11 AM
Cannon EOS 550D vs. Pentax K-7 vs. Pentax K-x	zone	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	16	08-08-2010 11:54 AM
Pentax K7 vs Canon T2i(550D)	rohit anupoju	Pentax DSLR Discussion	3	05-03-2010 05:29 PM
Pentax K20D vs. Canon 550D	cloudswimmer	Pentax DSLR Discussion	16	03-31-2010 07:17 AM
Canon EOS 550D with full manual control and 1080p 30 FPS. Firmware update time now?	netrex	Video Recording and Processing	17	02-10-2010 12:13 PM

06-09-2011, 08:43 AM	#2
elho_cid Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Prague Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,199	It is your choice only in the end. Click this link for very nice summary of main differences: Canon 550D vs Pentax K-r IMO the K-r is better for stills, 550D has edge in video applications. Both will be proabably good enough for a beginner and neither is good enough for me.

06-09-2011, 11:54 AM	#3
Deimos Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Kingdom of Wonder Posts: 1,777	Hold both in your hand, see which you prefer. Hint the Canon feels like a cheap piece of plastic. That said if video is important Canon is the best choice, for stills, well I chose the K-r The Pentax has many advantages: built in AF motor, built in stabilization, these two alone are huge, do a comparision of what features you get with both cameras and you will see what you are missing with the Canon

06-09-2011, 11:56 AM	#4
dmc Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Calgary, AB Canada Posts: 76	What do you presently have for glass?

06-09-2011, 12:44 PM	#5
elho_cid Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Prague Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,199	Originally posted by dmc What do you presently have for glass? Brandy?

06-09-2011, 01:15 PM	#6
SteveUK Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Southern UK Posts: 93	Originally posted by Deimos The Pentax has many advantages: built in AF motor, built in stabilization, these two alone are huge, do a comparision of what features you get with both cameras and you will see what you are missing with the Canon So do Sony, for stills outside (not in artificial light) the Pentax has it, if you are at all interested in video the Sony SLT cameras A33/A35/A55 rule and the stills are almost as good.

06-09-2011, 01:52 PM	#7
elho_cid Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Prague Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,199	Originally posted by SteveUK So do Sony, for stills outside (not in artificial light) the Pentax has it, if you are at all interested in video the Sony SLT cameras A33/A35/A55 rule and the stills are almost as good. The OP question was about cameras, not about torture instruments.

06-09-2011, 02:23 PM	#8
risdessert New Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 4 Original Poster	Thanks for the replies. I don't need the video feature. I need the camera to shoot pictures of streetlife. I think i will buy a lens with 24-70 mm. I don't know if one of the two camera is particular good for this purpose?

06-09-2011, 02:30 PM	#9
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561	Originally posted by risdessert Thanks for the replies. I don't need the video feature. I need the camera to shoot pictures of streetlife. I think i will buy a lens with 24-70 mm. I don't know if one of the two camera is particular good for this purpose? Get the DA40 f/2.8 Limited (pancake lens) K-r + DA40 would be awesome for street photography, and very small and compact (perfect for streets ) you wont find a smaller DSLR with lens than that setup.

06-09-2011, 02:45 PM	#10
risdessert New Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 4 Original Poster	Originally posted by TOUGEFC Get the DA40 f/2.8 Limited (pancake lens) K-r + DA40 would be awesome for street photography, and very small and compact (perfect for streets ) you wont find a smaller DSLR with lens than that setup. I have never considered a pancake lens. Are there any advantages besides they are thin?

06-09-2011, 03:00 PM	#11
elho_cid Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Prague Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,199	The 24-70/2,8 is HUGE. Even the latest Sigma 24-70 which is the smallest of them all will be more heavy than the camera body. For street photography you probably want to remain unnoticed. That would be best achieved with silent camera and small lens. You may prefer another FL, but IMO the ideal street photography DSLR setup is K-5 with DA15 lens. Or DA21 if you don't want to get too close. K-r is quite loud and Canons tend to make high frequency noise that is not too loud, but very obtrusive. So if you cannot afford K-5 look for K-7. IQ is not that bad and it is sturdy built and very silent for a DSLR.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

06-10-2011, 06:11 AM	#12
risdessert New Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 4 Original Poster	What is a AF motor?

06-10-2011, 06:19 AM	#13
GrinMode Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 249	Originally posted by risdessert What is a AF motor? It's some archane technology that only Pentax employs in this day and age . It's the built-in motor that turn your lens so that it can Auto-Focus. I'm kidding... about my first sentence of course. Although I think Canon does not have that anymore.

06-10-2011, 06:46 AM	#14
elho_cid Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Prague Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,199	Canon doesn't have it since thay abandoned the FD mount. They rely completely on in-lens drive. The only disadvantage of the EF mount in my opinion. It prevents them from designing really small lenses such as the limiteds from Pentax.

06-10-2011, 02:22 PM	#15
agsy Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 551	Originally posted by dmc What do you presently have for glass? Originally posted by elho_cid Brandy? He-he, funny.