Pentax K-x with 2 lenses (300 mm) for 644$

Graystar · 01-20-2010, 03:14 PM

Originally posted by Graystar

Well that's a bummer. I ordered my on the the 12th and it still says Feb 3 as a ship date.

Woohoo! Just got an email from Amazon about shipping, and my estimated ship date is now the 25th!

$644, free shipping, wait 13 days for it to ship...I'd say that's a pretty good deal!

bulbexposure · 01-20-2010, 05:40 PM

Just a quick update: I ordered on the 15th and just now received an order update via email stating the following:

Previous estimated arrival date: February 04 2010 - March 05 2010
New estimated arrival date: January 25 2010 - January 26 2010

I was trying to be patient before, this will make it much easier!

bulbexposure · 01-20-2010, 05:44 PM

I also just noticed the amazon listing now says "In stock on January 24, 2010. Order it now." But now the price is up to $774.

Graystar · 01-20-2010, 05:57 PM

Originally posted by bulbexposure

But now the price is up to $774.

Ouch.

Guess it's time to use the money I saved to buy a Tamrac Express 6 bag and maybe a few other goodies.

bulbexposure · 01-21-2010, 03:29 PM

Mine shipped today. Six days after I ordered. Much better than the 1-2 months expected.

Graystar · 01-21-2010, 03:34 PM

Mine shipped as well. That Express 6 bag is also supposed to ship soon.

Today I received the rechargeable batteries I'm going to use...PowerGenix NiZn, 1.6v AAs. I just hope they don't burn out the camera!

vk4akp · 01-21-2010, 04:31 PM

You know these won't charge in any of the normal NiCd / NiMh chargers.

I'll be interested to hear how you go with these. They have less mAh capacity (1600mAh) but buckle under less voltage wise with heavy use. So feasibly running time could be better then say a set of Eneloops at 2100 mAh depending on use. Probably great for off camera flashes etc too.

Originally posted by Graystar

Today I received the rechargeable batteries I'm going to use...PowerGenix NiZn, 1.6v AAs. I just hope they don't burn out the camera!

Graystar · 01-21-2010, 04:56 PM

Originally posted by vk4akp

You know these won't charge in any of the normal NiCd / NiMh chargers.

Yup. Many years ago I was into competitive RC car racing, so I know all about batteries and chargers. We used to charge Sanyo SCRs NiCd cells at 9 amps!

Fortunately I haven't made a big investment in NiMH chargers...got a LaCrosse BC-900, and I also have a Lemar Mach1, which is supposed to be an 8-minute charger (when used with its NiMH AA cells.)

My Canon compacts seem to work just fine with the NiZn cells. I have the power adapter for my A710, and its output is 3.15v, so 1.6v x 2 shouldn't be a problem.

However, these cells are measuring about 1.85v off the charger. After after running some tests with continuous shooting with the flash on both my cameras, and after sitting around for several hours, they're still reading 1.73 volts.

The data sheet at PowerGenix shows that the nominal voltage is actually 1.65v...so I guess they're rounding down when they say 1.6v.

At 1.85v off the charger...that's like putting 6 NiMH cells in your camera! I sure do hope there's a good quality voltage regulator in there.

vk4akp · 01-21-2010, 05:49 PM

HUmm. Interesting.

I think I read somewhere they have less internal resistance as well?

But I wonder if the fact that they are stacked in series and that there is 4 of them helps much at all to drop the voltage to something more acceptable.

Also I've never really played with non rechargable AA's ever. I do wonder just how high the voltages are on some of the different brands fresh out of the packet? Perhaps one might get a surprise there too as specially with some of the newer higher power chemistry's?

Originally posted by Graystar

At 1.85v off the charger...that's like putting 6 NiMH cells in your camera! I sure do hope there's a good quality voltage regulator in there.

Graystar · 01-21-2010, 06:24 PM

Originally posted by vk4akp

Also I've never really played with non rechargable AA's ever. I do wonder just how high the voltages are on some of the different brands fresh out of the packet? Perhaps one might get a surprise there too as specially with some of the newer higher power chemistry's?

Well, the K-x comes with Energizer Lithium batteries. Here's the data sheet...
http://data.energizer.com/PDFs/l91.pdf

They may read 1.6v when you get them, but according to the data sheet, the voltage drops to 1.4v almost instantly while in use in high-drain devices.

In another forum, someone reported that he noticed no speed difference in the AF motor between NiMH, Lithium, and NiZn cells. That would strongly suggest that there's a voltage regulator in the camera. So now the question is...what's the upper limit of the regulator?

sameagle · 01-21-2010, 10:24 PM

The sweet price is no longer available on amazon, but a quick search on price watch for pentax k-x kit shows that best buy offers the 2 lens k-x kit for $674.

PENTAX - K-x 12.4-Megapixel Digital SLR Camera 2-Lens Kit - Black - K-x with 18-55mm & 50-200mm Lenses

Seems like a pretty good deal.

- Sam

sameagle · 01-21-2010, 10:49 PM

I'm off to a bad start here on the forums ... I had posted a reply but now I do not see it, so here I am trying again.

I just saw the k-x kit with 2 lenses (300mm) on bestbuy for $674
and I see the k-x kit with 2 lenses (200mm) on TheNerds for $630 or TigerDirect for $650.

Is the 300mm zoom worth the extra $25-50 more than the 200mm? I looked at the lens database and did not find any differentiators between the 2 other than the obvious focal length.

Good deals are still possible. I found these through price grabber type sites.

Good luck ... I am dying to get one and hope I can pull the trigger soon!

- Sam (newbie)

Eruditass · 01-21-2010, 10:54 PM

Originally posted by sameagle

I'm off to a bad start here on the forums ... I had posted a reply but now I do not see it, so here I am trying again.

I just saw the k-x kit with 2 lenses (300mm) on bestbuy for $674
and I see the k-x kit with 2 lenses (200mm) on TheNerds for $630 or TigerDirect for $650.

Is the 300mm zoom worth the extra $25-50 more than the 200mm? I looked at the lens database and did not find any differentiators between the 2 other than the obvious focal length.

Good deals are still possible. I found these through price grabber type sites.

Good luck ... I am dying to get one and hope I can pull the trigger soon!

- Sam (newbie)

Differences in database:

Avg price of 55-300mm: $327.14
Avg price of 50-200mm: $171.52

Avg rating of 55-300mm: 8.8
Avg rating of 50-200mm: 7.5

Note that the 55-300mm is bigger.

Camgen · 01-22-2010, 07:56 AM

Originally posted by sameagle

I just saw the k-x kit with 2 lenses (300mm) on bestbuy for $674
- Sam (newbie)

Did you mean $764?
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/PENTAX+-+K-x+12.4-Megapixel+Digital+SLR+Camera+2...&skuId=9555803

sameagle · 01-22-2010, 08:08 AM

Originally posted by Camgen

Did you mean $764?
PENTAX - K-x 12.4-Megapixel Digital SLR Camera 2-Lens Kit - Black - K-x with 18-55mm & 55-300mm Lens Kit

Oh sorry. I'm not thinking straight. What I see on Best Buy is the k-x 2 lens kit but with the 200mm instead of 300mm for $674. That seems like a very good price, but unfortunately it's not the nicer 300mm lens.

PENTAX - K-x 12.4-Megapixel Digital SLR Camera 2-Lens Kit - Black - K-x with 18-55mm & 50-200mm Lenses

@Eruditass thanks for succinctly pointing out the lens differences.

Thanks,
Sam

01-20-2010, 05:40 PM	#32
bulbexposure Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Idaho Posts: 79	Updated arrival date! Just a quick update: I ordered on the 15th and just now received an order update via email stating the following: Previous estimated arrival date: February 04 2010 - March 05 2010 New estimated arrival date: January 25 2010 - January 26 2010 I was trying to be patient before, this will make it much easier!

01-20-2010, 05:44 PM	#33
bulbexposure Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Idaho Posts: 79	In stock January 24th I also just noticed the amazon listing now says "In stock on January 24, 2010. Order it now." But now the price is up to $774.

01-21-2010, 03:29 PM	#35
bulbexposure Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Idaho Posts: 79	Shipped Mine shipped today. Six days after I ordered. Much better than the 1-2 months expected.

01-21-2010, 04:31 PM	#37
vk4akp Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ipswich / Qld / Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 133	NiZn.. Humm. Interesting. :) You know these won't charge in any of the normal NiCd / NiMh chargers. I'll be interested to hear how you go with these. They have less mAh capacity (1600mAh) but buckle under less voltage wise with heavy use. So feasibly running time could be better then say a set of Eneloops at 2100 mAh depending on use. Probably great for off camera flashes etc too. Originally posted by Graystar Today I received the rechargeable batteries I'm going to use...PowerGenix NiZn, 1.6v AAs. I just hope they don't burn out the camera!

01-21-2010, 10:24 PM	#41
sameagle Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 323	k-x 2 lens kit on best buy for $674 The sweet price is no longer available on amazon, but a quick search on price watch for pentax k-x kit shows that best buy offers the 2 lens k-x kit for $674. PENTAX - K-x 12.4-Megapixel Digital SLR Camera 2-Lens Kit - Black - K-x with 18-55mm & 50-200mm Lenses Seems like a pretty good deal. - Sam

01-20-2010, 03:14 PM	#31
Graystar Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 144	Originally posted by Graystar Well that's a bummer. I ordered my on the the 12th and it still says Feb 3 as a ship date. Woohoo! Just got an email from Amazon about shipping, and my estimated ship date is now the 25th! $644, free shipping, wait 13 days for it to ship...I'd say that's a pretty good deal!

01-20-2010, 05:57 PM	#34
Graystar Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 144	Originally posted by bulbexposure But now the price is up to $774. Ouch. Guess it's time to use the money I saved to buy a Tamrac Express 6 bag and maybe a few other goodies.

01-21-2010, 03:34 PM	#36
Graystar Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 144	Mine shipped as well. That Express 6 bag is also supposed to ship soon. Today I received the rechargeable batteries I'm going to use...PowerGenix NiZn, 1.6v AAs. I just hope they don't burn out the camera!

01-21-2010, 04:56 PM	#38
Graystar Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 144	Originally posted by vk4akp You know these won't charge in any of the normal NiCd / NiMh chargers. Yup. Many years ago I was into competitive RC car racing, so I know all about batteries and chargers. We used to charge Sanyo SCRs NiCd cells at 9 amps! Fortunately I haven't made a big investment in NiMH chargers...got a LaCrosse BC-900, and I also have a Lemar Mach1, which is supposed to be an 8-minute charger (when used with its NiMH AA cells.) My Canon compacts seem to work just fine with the NiZn cells. I have the power adapter for my A710, and its output is 3.15v, so 1.6v x 2 shouldn't be a problem. However, these cells are measuring about 1.85v off the charger. After after running some tests with continuous shooting with the flash on both my cameras, and after sitting around for several hours, they're still reading 1.73 volts. The data sheet at PowerGenix shows that the nominal voltage is actually 1.65v...so I guess they're rounding down when they say 1.6v. At 1.85v off the charger...that's like putting 6 NiMH cells in your camera! I sure do hope there's a good quality voltage regulator in there.

01-21-2010, 05:49 PM	#39
vk4akp Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ipswich / Qld / Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 133	HUmm. Interesting. I think I read somewhere they have less internal resistance as well? But I wonder if the fact that they are stacked in series and that there is 4 of them helps much at all to drop the voltage to something more acceptable. Also I've never really played with non rechargable AA's ever. I do wonder just how high the voltages are on some of the different brands fresh out of the packet? Perhaps one might get a surprise there too as specially with some of the newer higher power chemistry's? Originally posted by Graystar At 1.85v off the charger...that's like putting 6 NiMH cells in your camera! I sure do hope there's a good quality voltage regulator in there.

01-21-2010, 06:24 PM	#40
Graystar Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 144	Originally posted by vk4akp Also I've never really played with non rechargable AA's ever. I do wonder just how high the voltages are on some of the different brands fresh out of the packet? Perhaps one might get a surprise there too as specially with some of the newer higher power chemistry's? Well, the K-x comes with Energizer Lithium batteries. Here's the data sheet... http://data.energizer.com/PDFs/l91.pdf They may read 1.6v when you get them, but according to the data sheet, the voltage drops to 1.4v almost instantly while in use in high-drain devices. In another forum, someone reported that he noticed no speed difference in the AF motor between NiMH, Lithium, and NiZn cells. That would strongly suggest that there's a voltage regulator in the camera. So now the question is...what's the upper limit of the regulator?

01-21-2010, 10:49 PM	#42
sameagle Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 323	674 @ BestBuy and 6630 @ TheNerds (200mm) I'm off to a bad start here on the forums ... I had posted a reply but now I do not see it, so here I am trying again. I just saw the k-x kit with 2 lenses (300mm) on bestbuy for $674 and I see the k-x kit with 2 lenses (200mm) on TheNerds for $630 or TigerDirect for $650. Is the 300mm zoom worth the extra $25-50 more than the 200mm? I looked at the lens database and did not find any differentiators between the 2 other than the obvious focal length. Good deals are still possible. I found these through price grabber type sites. Good luck ... I am dying to get one and hope I can pull the trigger soon! - Sam (newbie)

01-21-2010, 10:54 PM	#43
Eruditass Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,207	Originally posted by sameagle I'm off to a bad start here on the forums ... I had posted a reply but now I do not see it, so here I am trying again. I just saw the k-x kit with 2 lenses (300mm) on bestbuy for $674 and I see the k-x kit with 2 lenses (200mm) on TheNerds for $630 or TigerDirect for $650. Is the 300mm zoom worth the extra $25-50 more than the 200mm? I looked at the lens database and did not find any differentiators between the 2 other than the obvious focal length. Good deals are still possible. I found these through price grabber type sites. Good luck ... I am dying to get one and hope I can pull the trigger soon! - Sam (newbie) Differences in database: Avg price of 55-300mm: $327.14 Avg price of 50-200mm: $171.52 Avg rating of 55-300mm: 8.8 Avg rating of 50-200mm: 7.5 Note that the 55-300mm is bigger.

01-22-2010, 07:56 AM	#44
Camgen Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Sunny SoCal Posts: 49	Originally posted by sameagle I just saw the k-x kit with 2 lenses (300mm) on bestbuy for $674 - Sam (newbie) Did you mean $764? http://www.bestbuy.com/site/PENTAX+-+K-x+12.4-Megapixel+Digital+SLR+Camera+2...&skuId=9555803

01-22-2010, 08:08 AM	#45
sameagle Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 323	Originally posted by Camgen Did you mean $764? PENTAX - K-x 12.4-Megapixel Digital SLR Camera 2-Lens Kit - Black - K-x with 18-55mm & 55-300mm Lens Kit Oh sorry. I'm not thinking straight. What I see on Best Buy is the k-x 2 lens kit but with the 200mm instead of 300mm for $674. That seems like a very good price, but unfortunately it's not the nicer 300mm lens. PENTAX - K-x 12.4-Megapixel Digital SLR Camera 2-Lens Kit - Black - K-x with 18-55mm & 50-200mm Lenses @Eruditass thanks for succinctly pointing out the lens differences. Thanks, Sam

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