Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

View Poll Results: Now that the K2000/Km has been out for a little while, was it a smart marketing idea?
Yes, very smart to add new customers! 8870.97%
Don't know, too early still. 2318.55%
No, this is backfiring. 1310.48%
Voters: 124. You may not vote on this poll

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
02-02-2009, 12:34 PM   #16
Moderator
Site Supporter
Blue's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Florida Hill Country
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 17,377
QuoteOriginally posted by jsherman999 Quote
.

Absolutely, the only real quibble I had with the K-M was the lack of AF point confirmation. That really, really annoyed me, because I wanted to use it to shoot Taks and other MF lenses occasionally, and I hated the MF experience without that red indicator.

Other than that, it's a great little camera - handles so well, is small but very solid feeling, very fun to shoot. I adjusted the jpegs to my taste right after I turned it on the first time, and didn't have a problem with them - a bit more noise than my K20D, but overall, the jpeg engine seemed better than my Nikon D80, which IMO has bad noise reduction implementation and blows highlights like crazy.

AF speed was improved over my K100DS and K20D. I really liked that camera, except for the &^@#%)&%! focus-lock indicator! Grrr!

Example of 'crappy' jpegs straight from the K-M:

Apparently, you and I are some of the few that like that red indicator for taks and other m42 lenses. Anyway, I won't be getting a K-m anytime soon due to having the k20d and k200d already. I'd definitely consider the white version if I didn't.

Edit: While I think the K-m including the white edition is a good idea, I agree that the pricing and packaging options are somewhat of a buzz kill for it.


Last edited by Blue; 02-02-2009 at 12:45 PM.
02-02-2009, 11:52 PM   #17
Veteran Member
philbaum's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Port Townsend, Washington State, USA
Posts: 3,659
Without a top end camera, Pentax really needs a competitive entry level camera. Pentax needs to do a lot better market research before they market a new camera. I'd even consider buying one if it wasn't for the bonehead decision to leave out the focus confirmation signal. Did they even bother to check that decision with their legion of loyal customers - doubt it. It probably cost them more to remove it than to just leave that feature in.

Now for a caveat on the other side. A friend at my camera club is considering upgrading from his old Nikon D50 to the D60. Found out that his recent new 50mm lens won't autofocus on the D60 he is considering because they have moved the focus motor from the body to the lens. No backward compatibility for Nikon lenses, and the folks just keep on dishing out money.

The Pentax KM was a good decision, but they need to doublecheck their decisions with some market research before making some of the bonehead decisions which haunt their system.

Phil
02-03-2009, 12:46 AM   #18
Senior Member




Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Melbourne
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 190
Shame I missed this post

QuoteOriginally posted by nostatic Quote
stop shooting real pictures! We want spec sheets, innuendo, and focus charts! Everyone knows that is what is important!!!

Next thing you'll actually want to *use* the camera in question regularly...heresy!

Absolute genuis post LOL LOL LOL (hah ha ha)

Well said, and I love the avatar!


Stefan

Picture (RAW) taken with K-m yesterday in my backyard (pumpkin flower)

02-03-2009, 06:27 AM   #19
Veteran Member




Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Toronto (for now)
Posts: 1,748
IMHO the whole JPEG issue is a bit odd and really should not deter anyone.

WHat should deter you ...

- Absurd decision to butcher the AF system.

- AA batteries makes this camera heavier than it outta be, a bit pointless at this end of the market

- No orientation sensor, again a petty, petty thing to remove and it wrecks havoc when trying to sort images on your PC.

02-03-2009, 02:08 PM   #20
New Member




Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: France
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 18
I like my k-m

The k-m made me come back to photography.

I enjoy the RAW picture quality, love to re-use my old Pentax lenses and believe it's a wonderful light-weight tool for the next 12 to 18 months until I will have figured out what to upgrade to. It's a low-budget entry-level camera with enough features to keep me busy trying out techniques that I had forgotten.

By the way, here in Europe I had the choice to buy the camera with one or two zoom kit lenses - a little more logical packaging than what is offered in the States I guess.
02-03-2009, 05:57 PM   #21
Veteran Member




Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Sweden
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 429
Too optimistic?

It seams to be a good camera, in a test in Sweden they say at in low light K-m going on shooting then Canon 1000D and Nikon D60 needs focus light to get focus. And in another test resolution in RAW are better with Pentax K-m than Canon 1000 and Sony A200 with kit lenses. Even better than old Canon 5D if both have sharp lenses.

So i believe that K-m and itīs followers K300D and K30D is a big(or bigger) step forward then then K10D and K100D came out. Now Pentax has a chance to take more of the marked, because Canon and Nikon have maybe 80% of the marked and then it goes down they can only lose - not be bigger. But Pentax have the chance with good cameras to take more % of the marked.
02-03-2009, 06:06 PM   #22
Inactive Account




Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Dallas Texas
Posts: 319
I think Pentax has a camera for everyone's budget and that's a good thing. I can't remember the price difference between the K100d and it K110d but it must have been big enough to sway people away from paying extra for shake reduction but not enough of a following to make a K210d since sales were sluggish.

02-04-2009, 03:30 AM   #23
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Sweden
Posts: 845
QuoteOriginally posted by jsherman999 Quote
Absolutely, the only real quibble I had with the K-M was the lack of AF point confirmation. That really, really annoyed me, because I wanted to use it to shoot Taks and other MF lenses occasionally, and I hated the MF experience without that red indicator.

AF speed was improved over my K100DS and K20D. I really liked that camera, except for the &^@#%)&%! focus-lock indicator! Grrr!
Sorry, but I'm not following you here.
When you are using a manual focus lens, doesn't the AF system automatically sets to middle point? Are multiple AF sensors available when using an old manual focus lens?
I thought they were only available when focusing manually with an autofocus lens with QuickShift.

The K-m has a green hexagon that confirms focus with manual focus lenses, and other lenses too.
02-04-2009, 11:04 AM   #24
Senior Member




Join Date: May 2008
Location: Victoria, Australia
Posts: 208
QuoteOriginally posted by joele Quote
the main reason I think it is backfiring in Australia currently.

1) Exclusive to Ted's camera store???
Not anymore. DCW and JB don't have it. But Vanbar and Michaels do...

QuoteOriginally posted by joele Quote
2) Priced $200-$250 more than k200d price, which is what I would recommend to my friends/family if they asked..
... And wouldn't you know it, it's more expensive at Vanbar and Michaels than Teds

The single kit at Michaels is just as much as the twin from Teds, WTF? And yes, all far more expensive than the K200D + DA18-55 at DCW

(note: had to mention the DA as the local distributers, in their utter stupidity, generally bundle a Pentax body with the cheap and crappy Sigma 18-50 F3.5-5.6 DC lens)
02-04-2009, 01:46 PM   #25
Senior Member
wildboar's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 158
If they sold it body-only, I would have bought one already.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
pentax news, pentax rumors
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Those who own the K-7 already, K-x thoughts? LeDave Pentax DSLR Discussion 57 02-17-2010 03:44 AM
My thoughts on the K-7 Mikke Pentax DSLR Discussion 12 07-25-2009 02:50 AM
I Received My Pentax K2000 in the Mail. My Thoughts... choubacca Pentax DSLR Discussion 32 04-27-2009 12:48 PM
thoughts of beyond. distorted_vision Post Your Photos! 16 05-29-2008 03:26 AM
asking for thoughts gokenin Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras 3 11-20-2007 02:47 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 05:02 PM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top