I don't know if you folks remember me from
this thread , but I morphed from a k2000 to a k20d.
I've only purchase about 3 things from QVC, but I was aware the they have a generous return policy, and at $699 for the k20d kit with the 18-55 DA II lens, it seemed like a good opportunity to at least try it out.
I was concerned that it would feel too big and too heavy, and it's big and heavy for certain.
My father is gifting me with a slew of Canon film slr's and EOS lenses from the late 1980's. He said that I can keep or sell them. So, after my k20d arrived, I went down to the local camera store and looked at the 450D (xsi). It's $649 body only (don't want their kit lens), so it's in the same price range as the K20D.
My impression is that the K20d is much more camera for the $. I have a Panasonic FZ28 if I need a small lightweight camera that does take some decent shots, and I was planning on keeping it for just that. I thinking that I might just sell of the Canon stuff, and use the $$ to get some nice lenses and such for a pentax?
I really wish my local store carried Pentax, and I would really prefer to purchase from them, but they don't. They won't order it either. They did point out that I won't be able to get accessories for the Pentax and that it was a very noisy camera. I've been on the Adormama and B&H website, and it looks like all sorts of extras are available. I assume that they are just talking "salespeak".
Anyhow, I have been playing with and reading the manual of the K20d today, and it's not 100% familiar to me off the bat, but since I did really take the time to learn the many features of my FZ28 that I could use in the non-automatic modes, it's seems like I just need to learn where to go to access the various settings to feel comfortable with using the K20D. Lots of reading and playing should take care of that.
Now, I OFTEN read that this is a bad choice for a first time DSLR. Ok, it's NO point and shot camera, but I must be missing else something here. Why couldn't I learn to use this as my first DSLR? I am will to spend the time to read the manual, and apply what skills I remember from my film slr experiences 100 years ago. My one weak point is that I enjoying learning about photography MUCH more than I enjoy screwing with convoluted PP programs. Some PP, ok, but tons of PP, not so much.
So, am I beating my head against the wall trying to get to know this camera over the next few weeks and then evaluating whether or not to keep it? What are the odds this will be an exercise in futility? Is this just a bad choice for a first DSLR?
So far, apart from being heavy, I like it. It feels "serious". I'm hoping that it won't seem that heavy after I get usde to it.
Last edited by Sew-Classic; 07-01-2009 at 04:29 PM.