Returning to Pentax (used to have a K100D)

kinsale · 09-19-2015, 04:55 AM

So I used to have a K100D and still have a few lenses (kit lens and cheap zoom). I am still essentially a beginner and want to get back to learning. Which older Pentax would you recommend for me? i like landscape and portrait photography.

Thanks!

Imp · 09-19-2015, 05:05 AM

Do you mean what film slr would we recommend? If you mean Dslr, I would say the K-50, because it is really inexpensive, intuitive, great WR camera.

kinsale · 09-19-2015, 05:10 AM

I'm not sure why I gave the impression i was looking for a film slr? I had a K100D which is digital? Yes I am looking for digital. thank you for the recommendation. I will look in to the K-50.

wstruth · 09-19-2015, 05:26 AM

Originally posted by kinsale

So I used to have a K100D and still have a few lenses (kit lens and cheap zoom). I am still essentially a beginner and want to get back to learning. Which older Pentax would you recommend for me? i like landscape and portrait photography.

Thanks!

K-30 if you can find it or the K-50. But also check out Pentax's newer offerings the K-S1 and K-S2 Both really good cameras that won't break the bank.

**UncleVanya** · 09-19-2015, 05:26 AM

K100D could be glanced at and misread as k1000.

I concur with the recommendation of a k50, but would also suggest looking at used k5, k5ii or k5iis. The top lcd is not present on the k50. I upgraded to the k50 from a k100d super and did not find the loss of the lcd to be a crippling flaw but it may be an issue for some people.

One other option if there are still any left is the KS1 special deal at Samys.com $199 with the kit lens for a camera with better resolution (20mp vs 16mp) than any of those models I posted. The ks1 is not weather sealed and lacks the top lcd and the styling is a bit garish. But the images it can make are very good.

Imp · 09-19-2015, 06:11 AM

Originally posted by kinsale

I'm not sure why I gave the impression i was looking for a film slr? I had a K100D which is digital? Yes I am looking for digital. thank you for the recommendation. I will look in to the K-50.

Originally posted by UncleVanya

K100D could be glanced at and misread as k1000.

whoops, thats what i did.

If I was to buy a new DSLR today, from scratch, it would probably be the K-s2. However, I have a k-30 right now, so if I were to upgrade it would be the K-3.
The k-s2 is noticeably better than the k-30/50, with a tilt screen, no aa filter, better af. But the K-50 can't be beat for the price.

btnapa · 09-19-2015, 07:01 AM

Originally posted by kinsale

So I used to have a K100D and still have a few lenses (kit lens and cheap zoom). I am still essentially a beginner and want to get back to learning. Which older Pentax would you recommend for me? i like landscape and portrait photography.

Thanks!

If budget is tight go with K50. If you have a slightly bigger budget look in to K-S2 or K3. Although I have a K3 right now. If I were buying again today, I would get the K-S2 for its wi-if and articulating rear screen capability. I could have used both features on many occasions. Yes the K3 is a more "pro class" body but Pentax bodies are so well made that you cannot go wrong with any of them.

cantthink193 · 09-19-2015, 07:27 AM

KS2 is excellent and weather-resistant where the KS1 is not. I've not used the K30/50 - I went from K200D to KS2 - so can't comment on those, but I'm very happy with my KS2.

sfkazimierczak · 09-19-2015, 09:44 AM

There can be only one conclusion from the previous replies: Buy whatever Pentax.

I would suggest K-S2. It has acceptable video capabilties, better than K-5ii, K-50 and K-30. And if you don't have other things to occasionally capture video than the dslr than its good to have dslr that can capture video without much problem. If you want to make photos only, than I would rather spent money on 2nd hand K-5ii or K-50 and bunch of lenses.

**pasorro** · 09-20-2015, 04:00 AM

k100d is one of the best pentax cameras, I would spent my money in a good lens, pentax A 1.7 for portraits and DA 15 or 21 limited for landscapes

**UncleVanya** · 09-20-2015, 06:31 AM

Originally posted by pasorro

k100d is one of the best pentax cameras, I would spent my money in a good lens, pentax A 1.7 for portraits and DA 15 or 21 limited for landscapes

He no longer owns the k100d and is asking for advice on which inexpensive model to get as a replacement.

pentasonic49 · 09-20-2015, 12:52 PM

Any model within budget will be good, I still have my K100d it works well, although a little plasticy alongside the top models. A K20d is still a good camera and a mint one is very cheap nowadays.

**UncleVanya** · 09-20-2015, 01:29 PM

Budget is king. If we know what you want to spend we can better recommend options. Almost any used DSLR will be a good place to get back into the hobby. None of the Pentax cameras made since the k100d are garbage, they are all good. The question is more what do you want them to do and what do you want to pay?

09-19-2015, 04:55 AM	#1
kinsale Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 50	Returning to Pentax (used to have a K100D) So I used to have a K100D and still have a few lenses (kit lens and cheap zoom). I am still essentially a beginner and want to get back to learning. Which older Pentax would you recommend for me? i like landscape and portrait photography. Thanks!

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09-19-2015, 05:05 AM	#2
Imp Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Washington, DC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,749	Do you mean what film slr would we recommend? If you mean Dslr, I would say the K-50, because it is really inexpensive, intuitive, great WR camera.

09-19-2015, 05:10 AM	#3
kinsale Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 50 Original Poster	I'm not sure why I gave the impression i was looking for a film slr? I had a K100D which is digital? Yes I am looking for digital. thank you for the recommendation. I will look in to the K-50.

09-19-2015, 05:26 AM	#4
wstruth Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: at my kitchen table Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,294	Originally posted by kinsale So I used to have a K100D and still have a few lenses (kit lens and cheap zoom). I am still essentially a beginner and want to get back to learning. Which older Pentax would you recommend for me? i like landscape and portrait photography. Thanks! K-30 if you can find it or the K-50. But also check out Pentax's newer offerings the K-S1 and K-S2 Both really good cameras that won't break the bank.

09-19-2015, 05:26 AM	#5
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,472	K100D could be glanced at and misread as k1000. I concur with the recommendation of a k50, but would also suggest looking at used k5, k5ii or k5iis. The top lcd is not present on the k50. I upgraded to the k50 from a k100d super and did not find the loss of the lcd to be a crippling flaw but it may be an issue for some people. One other option if there are still any left is the KS1 special deal at Samys.com $199 with the kit lens for a camera with better resolution (20mp vs 16mp) than any of those models I posted. The ks1 is not weather sealed and lacks the top lcd and the styling is a bit garish. But the images it can make are very good.

09-19-2015, 06:11 AM	#6
Imp Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Washington, DC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,749	Originally posted by kinsale I'm not sure why I gave the impression i was looking for a film slr? I had a K100D which is digital? Yes I am looking for digital. thank you for the recommendation. I will look in to the K-50. Originally posted by UncleVanya K100D could be glanced at and misread as k1000. whoops, thats what i did. If I was to buy a new DSLR today, from scratch, it would probably be the K-s2. However, I have a k-30 right now, so if I were to upgrade it would be the K-3. The k-s2 is noticeably better than the k-30/50, with a tilt screen, no aa filter, better af. But the K-50 can't be beat for the price.

09-19-2015, 07:01 AM	#7
btnapa Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 1,621	Originally posted by kinsale So I used to have a K100D and still have a few lenses (kit lens and cheap zoom). I am still essentially a beginner and want to get back to learning. Which older Pentax would you recommend for me? i like landscape and portrait photography. Thanks! If budget is tight go with K50. If you have a slightly bigger budget look in to K-S2 or K3. Although I have a K3 right now. If I were buying again today, I would get the K-S2 for its wi-if and articulating rear screen capability. I could have used both features on many occasions. Yes the K3 is a more "pro class" body but Pentax bodies are so well made that you cannot go wrong with any of them.

09-19-2015, 07:27 AM	#8
cantthink193 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 74	KS2 is excellent and weather-resistant where the KS1 is not. I've not used the K30/50 - I went from K200D to KS2 - so can't comment on those, but I'm very happy with my KS2.

09-19-2015, 09:44 AM	#9
sfkazimierczak Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Photos: Gallery Posts: 56	There can be only one conclusion from the previous replies: Buy whatever Pentax. I would suggest K-S2. It has acceptable video capabilties, better than K-5ii, K-50 and K-30. And if you don't have other things to occasionally capture video than the dslr than its good to have dslr that can capture video without much problem. If you want to make photos only, than I would rather spent money on 2nd hand K-5ii or K-50 and bunch of lenses.

09-20-2015, 04:00 AM	#10
pasorro Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 132	k100d is one of the best pentax cameras, I would spent my money in a good lens, pentax A 1.7 for portraits and DA 15 or 21 limited for landscapes

09-20-2015, 06:31 AM	#11
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,472	Originally posted by pasorro k100d is one of the best pentax cameras, I would spent my money in a good lens, pentax A 1.7 for portraits and DA 15 or 21 limited for landscapes He no longer owns the k100d and is asking for advice on which inexpensive model to get as a replacement.

09-20-2015, 12:52 PM	#12
pentasonic49 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: weston-super-mare Posts: 395	Any model within budget will be good, I still have my K100d it works well, although a little plasticy alongside the top models. A K20d is still a good camera and a mint one is very cheap nowadays.

09-20-2015, 01:29 PM	#13
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,472	Budget is king. If we know what you want to spend we can better recommend options. Almost any used DSLR will be a good place to get back into the hobby. None of the Pentax cameras made since the k100d are garbage, they are all good. The question is more what do you want them to do and what do you want to pay?