[The Squirrel Mafia]

The K-50 is so cheap at B&H Photo right now that it's a no brainer.

From cheap to high:

Body = $397
Body + 18-55 kit: $426
Body + Pentax 50mm 1.8 = $517
Body + 18-55 kit + 50-200 kit = $527
Body + Pentax 35mm 2.4 = $544
Body + 18-55 kit + Pentax 50mm 1.8 = $547
Body + 18-55 kit + Pentax 35mm 2.4 = $574
Body + 18-55 kit + 50-200 kit + Pentax 50mm 1.8 = $647
Body + 18-55 kit + 50-200 kit + Pentax 35mm 2.4 = $674
Body + 18-55 kit + 50-200 kit + Pentax 50mm 1.8 + Pentax 35mm 2.4 = $794

I'd like to see if anyone can find a DSLR or Mirrorless camera with 2 zooms & 2 primes for less than $800 from any other manufacturer. Heck, I'd like to see a weather sealed camera with 2 control dials at that price too.

[Shanti]

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.

are they? never held a K50.. the K5IIs can be used as hammer as well!!! love mine never worry about hurting it

Her main interests are people & landscapes...she has been using a Nikon D3100 a bit,so a Q would be way off
She needs to use a viewfinder to learn , live view at arms length is only for certain shots IMHO
the 18-135 covers enough for wide angle and portraits...& I get her a 50mm 1.8 MF to learn with as well,and she can find alot of cheap K mount lenses in the states.
I had thought either EM5 or Pentax,but as budget is limited to 7-800 bucks Pentax is the best value I think





---------- Post added 01-27-15 at 05:30 AM ----------

The K-50 is so cheap at B&H Photo right now that it's a no brainer.

From cheap to high:

Body = $397
Body + 18-55 kit: $426
Body + Pentax 50mm 1.8 = $517
Body + 18-55 kit + 50-200 kit = $527
Body + Pentax 35mm 2.4 = $544
Body + 18-55 kit + Pentax 50mm 1.8 = $547
Body + 18-55 kit + Pentax 35mm 2.4 = $574
Body + 18-55 kit + 50-200 kit + Pentax 50mm 1.8 = $647
Body + 18-55 kit + 50-200 kit + Pentax 35mm 2.4 = $674
Body + 18-55 kit + 50-200 kit + Pentax 50mm 1.8 + Pentax 35mm 2.4 = $794

I'd like to see if anyone can find a DSLR or Mirrorless camera with 2 zooms & 2 primes for less than $800 from any other manufacturer. Heck, I'd like to see a weather sealed camera with 2 control dials at that price too.

Yes I know B&H has a good deals..too bad none with the 18-135...maybe next week

[Steve.Ledger]

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

Not quite
K-50 = 590 g body only (Product page of Pentax K-50 - RICOH IMAGING UK LTD.)
K-5II = 680g body only (SLR K5 - II - RICOH IMAGING UK LTD.)

[wolfiegirl]

Following on from Steve, I own a k-50 and find the weight very useable. I upgraded from a k100d to a k-50 and found the k-50 significantly lighter.

[pepperberry farm]

from the B&H page:

Compare Pentax K-5 IIs vs Pentax K-50 | B&H Photo

very similar in specs...


the K-50 is heavier than the Fuji bridge camera I moved up from, but not unusably so....

[Sandy Hancock]

K-S1 is cuter, smaller, and has better IQ than either the K-50 or K-5 IIs.
It is not as full-featured in some respects, and the shutter is louder (than the K-5 IIs at least), but the OP is asking about a camera for a younger person starting their photographic journey.

[sterretje]

Not quite
K-50 = 590 g body only (Product page of Pentax K-50 - RICOH IMAGING UK LTD.)
K-5II = 680g body only (SLR K5 - II - RICOH IMAGING UK LTD.)

in that case Adam has to update his database Pentax Cameras | Pentax K-5 II / IIs vs. Pentax K-S1 vs. Pentax K-50 - Pentax DSLR Comparison - PentaxForums.com to state inclusion / exclusion for battery for the K50

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Last edited by sterretje; 01-27-2015 at 08:21 AM.

[Shanti]

K-S1 is cuter, smaller, and has better IQ than either the K-50 or K-5 IIs.
It is not as full-featured in some respects, and the shutter is louder (than the K-5 IIs at least), but the OP is asking about a camera for a younger person starting their photographic journey.

better IQ? not sure about that more MP,but that's not IQ..bit too plasticy cheapo looking,& lights are over the top & battery life not as good & grip looks uncomfortable to me..but not had chance to see/try one yet so maybe??
for people shots loud shutter is not good,esp. candid...in the US police will probably think its a gunshot

[DSims]

Her main interests are people & landscapes...she has been using a Nikon D3100 a bit

See ... I knew it! That's why she'll love a prime with a 70-135mm focal length. My daughter's taken golden hour portraits of her friend using a $200 camera with a $200 lens (A100/2.8 on the K200D). Beautiful bokeh balls and all that. I just set the camera to around f/3.5 in Av mode, handed her the camera and told her to focus and shoot. Then I watched her produce magical photos for the next hour.

Not sure you can do it as well with a $4000 Canon setup - maybe with the right Nikon lens ....


Oh, yeah, one more wisecrack about guns and we'll take you out to the paintball firing squad!

[Sandy Hancock]

better IQ? not sure about that more MP,but that's not IQ..bit too plasticy cheapo looking,& lights are over the top & battery life not as good & grip looks uncomfortable to me..but not had chance to see/try one yet so maybe??
for people shots loud shutter is not good,esp. candid...in the US police will probably think its a gunshot

I love it when I read opinions about a new camera from people who haven't used it. Having used mine solidly for over a month I could not disagree more.

It looks and feels great, the LED's can be turned off, and the grip works remarkably well. Battery life is not too bad at all. The shutter sound is not *that* loud - it is certainly more than the K-5 series and K-3, but I have never owned a K-30 or other "louder" DSLR's with which to compare it.

Where did I say it was just about megapickles? The IQ is spectacular. It almost has the colour rendition of the old CCD sensor of the K10D, along with the searing resolution and excellent high ISO performance of the newer cameras. I like it so much I have sold my K-5 IIs as well as my K-01.

Well I think it looks nice


Heavy crop:

[luftfluss]

Damn, that Moon Silver K-S1 looks good w/silver DA Ltd.

Good photos, too. Ricoh ought to hire you as a K-S1 ambassador.

[DSims]

The IQ is spectacular. It almost has the colour rendition of the old CCD sensor of the K10D, along with the searing resolution and excellent high ISO performance of the newer cameras. I like it so much I have sold my K-5 IIs as well as my K-01.

Is that the way the girls dress indoors around Adelaide? To think I spent all my time around the three big cities instead!

[Sandy Hancock]

Is that the way the girls dress indoors around Adelaide? To think I spent all my time around the three big cities instead!

The photo in question was taken in Sorrento, south of Melbourne, where my daughter Catherine is the leading lady in a cabaret show there. It is fairly burlesque in style. The acrobat (Rachel) and her partner in this routine (Dan) have performed with Cirque Du Soleil in Las Vegas for seven years. It is truly breathtaking.

Some photos of Catherine from the same show, also with the K-S1, this time all manual with the K135/2.5


Falling in love again


Diamonds are a girl's best friend

[Shanti]

I love it when I read opinions about a new camera from people who haven't used it. Having used mine solidly for over a month I could not disagree more.

It looks and feels great, the LED's can be turned off, and the grip works remarkably well. Battery life is not too bad at all. The shutter sound is not *that* loud - it is certainly more than the K-5 series and K-3, but I have never owned a K-30 or other "louder" DSLR's with which to compare it.

Where did I say it was just about megapickles? The IQ is spectacular. It almost has the colour rendition of the old CCD sensor of the K10D, along with the searing resolution and excellent high ISO performance of the newer cameras. I like it so much I have sold my K-5 IIs as well as my K-01.

Well I think it looks nice

So are you selling these for a living is the body only plastic or metal underneath,lens mount ? no one here even sells Pentax so chance of seeing one in real life is 000... have you tried heavy lenses on it? balance etc...
so not same sensor as K3 but with only 20MP? The E1 CCD had the best color for me,if you know that one..sold your K5IIs?? by loud shutter,will it distract for candid portaits??

---------- Post added 01-29-15 at 05:23 AM ----------

See ... I knew it! That's why she'll love a prime with a 70-135mm focal length. My daughter's taken golden hour portraits of her friend using a $200 camera with a $200 lens (A100/2.8 on the K200D). Beautiful bokeh balls and all that. I just set the camera to around f/3.5 in Av mode, handed her the camera and told her to focus and shoot. Then I watched her produce magical photos for the next hour.

what did you know? the 18-135 + 50mm prime is a good setup to start with,for the budget she has-and old K glass is easy to find cheap,so lots of possibilities

Not sure you can do it as well with a $4000 Canon setup - maybe with the right Nikon lens ....


Oh, yeah, one more wisecrack about guns and we'll take you out to the paintball firing squad!

ok your from LA?? here guns are illegal to own,except for hunting with a license..nice n quiet like I like it.. had enough of US gun mania as from Chicago mate...
so paintball duel at noon then!?? I bring my Nikon 1 at 60FPS to capture the action

[Steve.Ledger]

so not same sensor as K3 but with only 20MP?

Only 20Mp !?