Originally posted by Ole A K-70 body with a HD Pentax-A 55-300mm lens (forego the PLM version so as to stay within budget) will be about $1000. She may be equally happy with the older Pentax K-S2 over the K-70 and that would leave some $$ for the bag.
Some money left over for a bag/memory card/etc Would be nice. So thank you
---------- Post added 10-25-16 at 07:15 PM ----------
Originally posted by Adam K-70 with the 18-135mm plus the new 55-300mm PLM. Should be an awesome setup.
You can also go for the K-S2 instead of the K-70 to fit it exactly within the budget.
Thank you!
---------- Post added 10-25-16 at 07:22 PM ----------
Originally posted by Ole A K-70 body with a HD Pentax-A 55-300mm lens (forego the PLM version so as to stay within budget) will be about $1000. She may be equally happy with the older Pentax K-S2 over the K-70 and that would leave some $$ for the bag.
Originally posted by CDW It will be difficult to find anything in a DSLR with a lens with long enough reach for wildlife shooting for under $1000.00. I'm a Pentax shooter but for your friend, who sounds perhaps like a casual user, who likely won't be printing large images, the following would do the job in terms of lens reach, image stabilization, better video capabilities than any Pentax currently being made, and really affordable. $500.00: Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZS60 Camera, 18 Megapixels, 1/2.3-inch Sensor, 4K Video, WiFi, Leica DC Lens 30X F3.3-6.4 Zoom (Black)
Alternatively, if she is willing to accept less reach lens wise, isn't concerned about video capabilities, I'd say the Pentax K70 with 18-135mm lens (24-200mm equiv.) If she could stretch the budget, ask B&H to bundle the body with the 18-270. I doubt she will want to be changing lenses, especially under dusty field conditions.
Other options could be to buy a K70 with basic kit lens and rent a higher quality zoom that has some reach, for the trip.
Video wasn't something she specifically asked for so I'm going to assume she wasn't thinking that way. I'm looking at this stuff online now. Hmm