Ordering my K-x tomorrow, need input

kmets · 06-03-2010, 06:58 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Alfisti

Honestly if you cannot afford the 55-300 in the kit then really, wrong hobby as it's just flat out gonna cost money to puruse this hobby with bags, lenses (even basic ones) cards, cleaning items, software ... it never bloody ends.

If the extra $100 or so is a concern, I question the wisdom of splashing out on luxury goods.

Well honestly, I am offended that you think you have the right to question my spending money on "luxury goods".

Just because I don't have the extra $100 right this minute, is only because I don't want to wait any longer and have other items I am buying now. Even if I only bought the kit with the 18-55 lens, and NEVER bought another lens I would still have better photos of my kids than I do now, and if that makes me happy it is none of your concern.

I am not buying this camera to go pro, just want better photos of my kids, not that I should have to justify that to you.

kmets · 06-03-2010, 06:59 PM

To everyone else, thank you for your input and kind words.

Aussieflicker · 06-03-2010, 08:43 PM

What a snob!!

Silly Goose · 06-03-2010, 11:52 PM - **1 Like**

As an ameuter photographer myself I bought the kx in January with the18-55mm and the 200 lens kit. I find them perfect for what I need at the moment while I'm learning about my first Dslr. I do have other lenses from my mz50 (film camera) but I don't use them often. Go with what you can afford and you will be still amazed of what you can do with your camera until you are ready or can afford the more expensive lenses. Goodluck with your purchase of the kx I'm sure you'll love it

Ira · 06-04-2010, 03:06 AM

Originally posted by kmets

To everyone else, thank you for your input and kind words.

We ALL buy what we can afford when we can afford it--it's no crime.

And we all suffer with the same dilemma of balancing our home budgets in this WONDERFUL economy with our love for the hobby.

Usually, the hobby wins out, and we wind up buying that news lens and feeding the kids toast and Cheerios for dinner for a month.

Urkeldaedalus · 06-04-2010, 06:04 AM

I agree with the others who have said to pass on the 50-200 for the eventual 55-300, primarily because that extra 100 mm really does make a difference if you're trying to capture sports action from the sidelines.

One thing I can say in favor of the 50-200, though, is it does autofocus pretty fast. I've never used the 55-300 so I can't say if it is slower or not, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was a little slower given the large zoom range it covers.

The 50-200 is useable for outdoor sports, but you will probably have to crop often like I did here (using the K-7):

This was during a scrimmage where I was allowed on the field. I still would have preferred to have the reach of the 55-300 mm.

One note on technique -- I've found that the K-x isn't necessarily the greatest camera for panning with the action and machine gunning your shots hoping for keepers (a.k.a. Spraying and Praying). I've had a lot better luck with the k-x trying to anticipate action, even focusing on the ground where I think the players will be rather than on them directly, but this can be challenging and I haven't mastered it yet.

Here's one where I focused on the track with a wide angle and let the runner run into my shot. If only i had pointed my camera a little bit lower I could have avoided cutting his foot off!

(using the K-x).

I thought these tips might help a little bit. Enjoy your K-x!

kmets · 06-04-2010, 07:01 AM

Thanks for those photos! Those are what i'm looking forward to taking!! I ordered and it should arrive Tuesday, I can't wait!!

kmets · 06-09-2010, 06:50 PM

Finally got it! Was playing around today, and I'm pretty happy with this shot. I know it does not even come close to the photos on this site, but considering I have zero knowledge and it is just the kit lens, I'm happy!

Ira · 06-10-2010, 05:29 AM

What did you wind up getting?

Also, be aware that the majority of folks with the 18-55 agree that it's best at the 18 end, but don't 100% quote me on that.

If you go to the Kit Lens club and look at all of the photos taken with the kit lenses, it will give you an idea.

kmets · 06-10-2010, 05:51 AM

I ended up getting just the kit lens. I'm still waiting for my lens hood and sd cards to arrive, so this was taken with a crappy 512mb sd card and no hood. Was taken as jpeg, no processing. I ordered two SanDisk Extreme III Class 10 16gb cards, should be here today.

Alfisti · 06-10-2010, 06:33 AM

You're ona budget and ordered Extreeme III's? I hope they were on sale as they are usually eye wateringly expensive.

kmets · 06-10-2010, 06:44 AM

My husband got a deal through work.

Alfisti · 06-10-2010, 10:13 AM

Sweet because they can be nasty expensive. They should last an age too.

kmets · 06-10-2010, 10:17 AM

Yes, too bad he can't get me a deal on lenses

Alfisti · 06-10-2010, 12:51 PM

The used market here can be OK, nice feedback system and sometimes something local pops up if you're in a big city.

I have not bought a used item in 2 yrs and that was for gourmet lenses that hold their value used. Anythign like a 55-300 consumer will drop sharply on the used market.

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06-03-2010, 06:58 PM - 1 Like	#16
kmets Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Buffalo, New York Posts: 104 Original Poster	Originally posted by Alfisti Honestly if you cannot afford the 55-300 in the kit then really, wrong hobby as it's just flat out gonna cost money to puruse this hobby with bags, lenses (even basic ones) cards, cleaning items, software ... it never bloody ends. If the extra $100 or so is a concern, I question the wisdom of splashing out on luxury goods. Well honestly, I am offended that you think you have the right to question my spending money on "luxury goods". Just because I don't have the extra $100 right this minute, is only because I don't want to wait any longer and have other items I am buying now. Even if I only bought the kit with the 18-55 lens, and NEVER bought another lens I would still have better photos of my kids than I do now, and if that makes me happy it is none of your concern. I am not buying this camera to go pro, just want better photos of my kids, not that I should have to justify that to you.

06-03-2010, 06:59 PM	#17
kmets Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Buffalo, New York Posts: 104 Original Poster	To everyone else, thank you for your input and kind words.

06-03-2010, 08:43 PM	#18
Aussieflicker New Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Melbourne Posts: 16	What a snob!!

06-03-2010, 11:52 PM - 1 Like	#19
Silly Goose Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Eskdale, Australia Posts: 25	As an ameuter photographer myself I bought the kx in January with the18-55mm and the 200 lens kit. I find them perfect for what I need at the moment while I'm learning about my first Dslr. I do have other lenses from my mz50 (film camera) but I don't use them often. Go with what you can afford and you will be still amazed of what you can do with your camera until you are ready or can afford the more expensive lenses. Goodluck with your purchase of the kx I'm sure you'll love it

06-04-2010, 03:06 AM	#20
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	Originally posted by kmets To everyone else, thank you for your input and kind words. We ALL buy what we can afford when we can afford it--it's no crime. And we all suffer with the same dilemma of balancing our home budgets in this WONDERFUL economy with our love for the hobby. Usually, the hobby wins out, and we wind up buying that news lens and feeding the kids toast and Cheerios for dinner for a month.

06-04-2010, 06:04 AM	#21
Urkeldaedalus Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Iowa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,369	I agree with the others who have said to pass on the 50-200 for the eventual 55-300, primarily because that extra 100 mm really does make a difference if you're trying to capture sports action from the sidelines. One thing I can say in favor of the 50-200, though, is it does autofocus pretty fast. I've never used the 55-300 so I can't say if it is slower or not, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was a little slower given the large zoom range it covers. The 50-200 is useable for outdoor sports, but you will probably have to crop often like I did here (using the K-7): This was during a scrimmage where I was allowed on the field. I still would have preferred to have the reach of the 55-300 mm. One note on technique -- I've found that the K-x isn't necessarily the greatest camera for panning with the action and machine gunning your shots hoping for keepers (a.k.a. Spraying and Praying). I've had a lot better luck with the k-x trying to anticipate action, even focusing on the ground where I think the players will be rather than on them directly, but this can be challenging and I haven't mastered it yet. Here's one where I focused on the track with a wide angle and let the runner run into my shot. If only i had pointed my camera a little bit lower I could have avoided cutting his foot off! (using the K-x). I thought these tips might help a little bit. Enjoy your K-x!

06-04-2010, 07:01 AM	#22
kmets Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Buffalo, New York Posts: 104 Original Poster	Thanks for those photos! Those are what i'm looking forward to taking!! I ordered and it should arrive Tuesday, I can't wait!!

06-09-2010, 06:50 PM	#23
kmets Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Buffalo, New York Posts: 104 Original Poster	Finally got it! Was playing around today, and I'm pretty happy with this shot. I know it does not even come close to the photos on this site, but considering I have zero knowledge and it is just the kit lens, I'm happy!

06-10-2010, 05:29 AM	#24
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	What did you wind up getting? Also, be aware that the majority of folks with the 18-55 agree that it's best at the 18 end, but don't 100% quote me on that. If you go to the Kit Lens club and look at all of the photos taken with the kit lenses, it will give you an idea.

06-10-2010, 05:51 AM	#25
kmets Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Buffalo, New York Posts: 104 Original Poster	I ended up getting just the kit lens. I'm still waiting for my lens hood and sd cards to arrive, so this was taken with a crappy 512mb sd card and no hood. Was taken as jpeg, no processing. I ordered two SanDisk Extreme III Class 10 16gb cards, should be here today.

06-10-2010, 06:33 AM	#26
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748	You're ona budget and ordered Extreeme III's? I hope they were on sale as they are usually eye wateringly expensive.

06-10-2010, 06:44 AM	#27
kmets Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Buffalo, New York Posts: 104 Original Poster	My husband got a deal through work.

06-10-2010, 10:13 AM	#28
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748	Sweet because they can be nasty expensive. They should last an age too.

06-10-2010, 10:17 AM	#29
kmets Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Buffalo, New York Posts: 104 Original Poster	Yes, too bad he can't get me a deal on lenses

06-10-2010, 12:51 PM	#30
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748	The used market here can be OK, nice feedback system and sometimes something local pops up if you're in a big city. I have not bought a used item in 2 yrs and that was for gourmet lenses that hold their value used. Anythign like a 55-300 consumer will drop sharply on the used market.