[Des]

If you can get a new KP for $749 that would be ideal

£749 Chris - ie about $US1000. (Remember too that VAT applies in the UK, so retail prices are higher than in the US.)

For only £70 more than the K-70 + 18-50 bundle (£679 at Park Cameras), it's a much better buy. Need to act quickly because they will be snapped up.

[CBM]

£749 Chris - ie about $US1000. (Remember too that VAT applies in the UK, so retail prices are higher than in the US.)

For only £70 more than the K-70 + 18-50 bundle (£679 at Park Cameras), it's a much better buy. Need to act quickly because they will be snapped up.

Still a good deal, new with a warranty is nice to have - lightly used with no guarantee is a little riskier - no doubt these will be snapped up quickly!


Not to put down the K-70, it is certainly a good value in it's own right. I'm not sure I would jump at a used KP over a new K-70 straight away, everything you do on the K-70 helps pave the way for an easy transition to the KP if and when you decide to cross that bridge.

[*Claire*]

It would be wise to leave room in the budget for a tripod, flash, spare battery and some processing software (e.g. DxO PhotoLab or Adobe Lightroom). Shooting in RAW and processing allows you to get the most from your DSLR.

Luckily I already have software and tripod so I am only like to need a spare battery. The P950 i have been using has been a great teacher about RAW and not using Auto.

[jgnfld]

Still a good deal, new with a warranty is nice to have - lightly used with no guarantee is a little riskier - no doubt these will be snapped up quickly!


Not to put down the K-70, it is certainly a good value in it's own right. I'm not sure I would jump at a used KP over a new K-70 straight away, everything you do on the K-70 helps pave the way for an easy transition to the KP if and when you decide to cross that bridge.

Sadly, the bridge has short future life.

[*Claire*]

Well i did it, i picked up a used K-70 (grade A) with an 18-50mm lens and an extra 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 ED AL from CEX, for £600.

[reh321]

For macro, landscape and astro, the K70 will be great. I don't have the 55-300 PLM (yet) so i can't really comment on the birds. I've picked up an old Sigma 70-300mm DG APO and the birds have to sit still or be dead if i want to focus on them.

The aperture block doesn't scare me. If it happens, it's not that difficult nor expensive to fix it or get it fixed.

I've got mine for a few months now and i really like it.

I got a good deal on a K-30 in June 2015 - I would guess KEH was more familiar with the “Dark Image Syndrome” than was. Well over the next two years, I became very familiar with it. In any case, I got a Pentax-FA 28-105mm and carried it with me. Eventually, I did need it to set the aperture at the lens. I did purchase a KP eventually, but I still use the K-30 on occasion - there is more than one way to get around a problem.

In any case, Pentax may have found a way around this issue.

[JellyDonut9]

Well i did it, i picked up a used K-70 (grade A) with an 18-50mm lens and an extra 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 ED AL from CEX, for £600.

Congrats! I'll be following suit shortly but I think I will be going the brand new route. Good luck with your purchase.

[jgnfld]

Well i did it, i picked up a used K-70 (grade A) with an 18-50mm lens and an extra 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 ED AL from CEX, for £600.

LOVd my K-70 and it is my backup these days that I have zero qualms pulling out.

Honestly...I'm not sure I'd just use lens #2 24/7 though at some FL's it might be a toss.

[*Claire*]

Arrived today in mint condition with a slightly scuffed box, did a shutter check and its count is 12 🤭

---------- Post added 05-25-22 at 03:42 AM ----------

CEX provide a 24 month warranty for camera and lens too.

[Des]

Well i did it, i picked up a used K-70 (grade A) with an 18-50mm lens and an extra 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 ED AL from CEX, for £600.

Arrived today in mint condition with a slightly scuffed box, did a shutter check and its count is 12 ��CEX provide a 24 month warranty for camera and lens too.

Congratulations Claire. Sounds like a good deal.

I assume the 18-250 is this one: SMC Pentax-DA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 ED AL [IF] Reviews - DA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database It's a re-badged Tamron. I had the Tamron version and it is certainly versatile and has fairly good centre sharpness. But at the long end, it's no match for even the old versions of the Pentax 55-300 (DA, DA L and DA WR 55-300 f4-5.8), let alone the current DA 55-300mm f4.5-6.3 PLM. If you are interested in birds, insects and other wildlife, I'd strongly suggest looking for one of them.

[jgnfld]

Congratulations Claire. Sounds like a good deal.

I assume the 18-250 is this one: SMC Pentax-DA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 ED AL [IF] Reviews - DA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database It's a re-badged Tamron. I had the Tamron version and it is certainly versatile and has fairly good centre sharpness. But at the long end, it's no match for even the old versions of the Pentax 55-300 (DA, DA L and DA WR 55-300 f4-5.8), let alone the current DA 55-300mm f4.5-6.3 PLM. If you are interested in birds, insects and other wildlife, I'd strongly suggest looking for one of them.

The old 55-300's while quite cheap can be a little tricky w/ birds, insects, and wildlife as they are screw drive. I've gotten diving osprey and gannet pics from time to time with my old SMC Pentax-DA L 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED but the effort was much higher than with a more modern lens, particularly the PLM version. Still, you are correct they are great lenses for the price. This was taken with the SMC DA L version which I used with both my K-50 and K-70 bodies of the day. K-70 here. Be warned, this bird was flitting around every few seconds and there were a number of, uh, non keepers.

[Des]

The old 55-300's while quite cheap can be a little tricky w/ birds, insects, and wildlife as they are screw drive. I've gotten diving osprey and gannet pics from time to time with my old SMC Pentax-DA L 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED but the effort was much higher than with a more modern lens, particularly the PLM version.

That's my experience too. Having gone from the DA L 55-300 f4-5.8 to the PLM, the AF is hugely better; the rendering is better too. The PLM is definitely the one to get, if it's within budget. But as your sample shows, the resolution on the old version was also very good, for a lens of this class. It's a big step up from the 18-250 and they are quite cheap. Here's a few of mine with the DA L





All perched birds!

[MarkJerling]

Arrived today in mint condition with a slightly scuffed box, did a shutter check and its count is 12 🤭

---------- Post added 05-25-22 at 03:42 AM ----------

CEX provide a 24 month warranty for camera and lens too.

Congrats on your "new" camera. Shutter count of 12! That's amazing.

[*Claire*]

I assume the 18-250 is this one: SMC Pentax-DA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 ED AL [IF] Reviews - DA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

Yes, thats the one, i'm impressed so far.

[Des]

Yes, thats the one, i'm impressed so far.

Good to hear Claire. You certainly got a bargain deal.

If you will bear with some more unsolicited advice, could I offer two more tips for this lens?
1. Stop down (ie narrow the aperture) wherever possible. As you can see from this review Pentax SMC DA 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 ED AL [IF] - Review / Lab Test Report - Analysis, the lens shows heavy vignetting (dark corners) below f8. Edge and corner resolution also improves as you stop down, so for landscapes particularly you should stick to f8-f11 where possible. The test doesn't show it, but stopping down also reduces purple fringing and other chromatic aberrations. You might need to push the ISO to compensate for the narrow aperture, but the K-70 will give good results at 3200 or even higher, if necessary.
2. Shoot RAW and process images if possible. Images will benefit a lot from lens correction and some discreet treatment. If you shoot jpg, turn on distortion and peripheral illumination correction and it might also pay to turn on clarity and add some fine sharpening.

Enjoy your new kit!