Originally posted by photolady95 I still have my K-x and loved it when I used it for three years. I kept it because it does such a wonderful job for what I needed it for. Course with it and the K-30 I now own, I've two to play with, putting a lens on each one, I can shoot double the photos now.
My first SLR style camera was the K-x. Since then, I've gone on to the K-30 and now the K-5 mk II.
With that in mind, and my own personality, I will say I really wasn't as comfortable with the K-30 as I was with the K-x in terms of handling and straight usage. The k-x was superior to me in that aspect. I liked the faster burst, the larger photo size, and the fact that it was weather sealed (with appropriate sealed lens) but I even briefly considered selling/returning the K-30 and finding another K-x or going to Nikon. The K-30 just wasn't doing it for me.
That said, The K-5 mk II is fantastic for me.. 14-bit depth, solid feel, nicer grip, and the top LCD is very useful.. much more so than I imagined before handling the camera.
For learning I'd still take a K-x though if using Pentax.. it is such an easy to use camera.. very hand holdable and capable still for most work. Plus, there are no red focus dots in the viewfinder on the K-x, so you really learn how to focus and compose properly than allowing yourself to see the dot and let it take care of it. I think it will make you a more capable photographer in the long run... I can see it helped me.
One story.. I went to an airshow with the K-x and an 18-200 lens... about 15-20 feet down from me was a young guy with a large Canon body and a ginormous L series lens strapped to it. He saw me with my K-x and smirked. First time I've seen that attitude before and I suspect he was the airshow's promo photographer. I ended up taking some really fantastic shots that day.. some even thought I was in the air or didn't take one of the photos (B-2 tipping it's wing haha)... the promo/presentation photos by them were, imo, largely uninspiring despite the gear used.
The K-x is capable.