Originally posted by lightbox I just pulled the trigger on a K-50 + DA 18-135 combo myself. The bundled lens seemed like a good deal, and should (with care) outlast the body.
A K-3 is what I really wanted, but I honestly can't fill those shoes at my level. I'm hoping to get some more practice in with a more friendly package like the K-50. Back to basics.
The K-S2 is enticing with its bigger sensor, WiFi, and flippy-screen... but I felt that I would just be throwing money into features that would not improve my photography. I can't treat bad photography with WiFi and flip screens, nor do more megapixels and bit depth add substance to a photo (just data).
Among these cameras weather sealing is a common denominator which really makes the K-50+ 18-135 a no-brainer for value I think. I really like that it can also run on AA's because I have a lot of AA rechargeables for my flashguns.
So... here's to getting the most out of this kit! I can't wait. I think it's going to turn out to be a great choice.
Totally agree. The K-50 + 18-135mm has been great so far. Very happy that I didn't jump straight to the K-3. As you said, none of the extra features would improve my pictures very much, especially when there is a bigger bottleneck in the way (namely, me). I will definitely step up to a better body in the future when I feel like I am outgrowing the K-50. As for when that would be, it feels like it would be a year or two at least. And even then, I doubt for me it would have anything to do with being able to do something I couldn't now.
As for people recommending the building up of a good lens collection while staying with the less expensive body at this time, in practice it turns out to be great advice, for me at least. It wasn't easy to see when I was in shopping mode but now it's apparent. Besides improving my skill, technique, and practicing in the long term, lenses are the only other major thing that would make a big difference as soon as you start using them. I picked up a DA 35mm f2.4 and for the most part, besides a minor improvement in IQ in certain situations, it's really more the mentality shift at how you approach taking pictures. I absolutely love using the prime as often as possible and it stays on my camera. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with the 18-135mm. But I only use it over the DA 35 when it comes to documenting events or I need focal length variety because its not possible to zoom with my feet. Other than that, it really is fueling my LBA/GAS for more primes. Tough choice between which one to pick up first: a 15mm or 77mm ltd!