K-X Image Quality is INSANELY good!

geekette · 05-05-2011, 11:31 AM

Did a little research and found out that you have to spend $2499 on a canon DSLR to get better image quality, and color depth than the K-X... yet the K-X will still have better dynamic range.

The $1699 Canon EOS 7D has lesser image quality, color depth and dynamic range than the Pentax K-X kit I bought for $439!

The $2499 Canon EOS 5D mark II has better image quality and color depth (but not but leaps and bounds) yet it has .6 f stops less dynamic range!

Of course I am only comparing those three things--image quality, color depth and dynamic range; I realize the K-X is lacking in a lot of areas the High End Canons aren't

But image quality, color depth and dynamic range are the most important to me--an amateur photographer that doesn't shoot sports, doesn't need weather sealing and doesn't need all the other fancy stuff.

I'm really happy with my K-X! It demolishes the entry level Canons (for my needs).

causey · 05-05-2011, 12:40 PM

You know, it's not the camera, it's the photographer... But because I'm not a good photographer and I don't have a lot of money, I prefer to shoot a K-x!

icywindow · 05-05-2011, 01:54 PM

So far, I've had a hard time figuring out whether it's a bad thing to leave Highlight Correction on all the time on my k-x; I'm happy usually for quality (noise, focus) with level correcting the jpegs coming out of the camera. I love being able to get a photo of the sky and as well as see the landscape clearly without having to bracket or use HDR. Also, I think the stormtrooper white looks pretty cool.

Janek · 05-05-2011, 02:17 PM

Originally posted by icywindow

...the stormtrooper white looks pretty cool.

Now, that's a color!

Other than that, happy times with your new Pentax

lkjr · 05-05-2011, 02:29 PM

Yeah - the K-x is a great camera for the price...too bad its discontinued....
Check out the "Show us your best K-xshots" thread.

Cullivan · 05-05-2011, 02:47 PM

This thread is making me want a kx... For some rerason I prefer nimh to li-ion.

joe.penn · 05-05-2011, 03:21 PM

The K-X is very nice, its a no brain'r choice (well, for me) to choose a K-X over an EOS 7D (maybe its just me as I do have a Pentax fetish...).

gp1806 · 05-05-2011, 04:02 PM

Originally posted by Cullivan

This thread is making me want a kx... For some rerason I prefer nimh to li-ion.

Get Eneloops.

Zav · 05-05-2011, 04:07 PM

Originally posted by causey

You know, it's not the camera, it's the photographer...

Oh yeah! Don't rely on figures, rely on pictures.

NbyNW · 05-05-2011, 04:36 PM - **1 Like**

I had the opportunity to photograph with a few cameras from various manufacturers before I plunked down for my first dslr, a Pentax K-x. The camera I had shot with previous to the K-x was a Canon 50D.

The difference in dynamic range and color rendering between the 50D and the K-x was startling. The Canon wasn't even close unless I had it in controlled lighting or the best of outdoor conditions. I got some incredible results out of the 50D, but there was a lot of time and frustration spent in PP to get those results. With the K-x PP is very minimal at least 95% of the time. The 50D did have fantastic resolution; it was just an arduous, and sometimes impossible, task to get that out of the files.

The K-x really is an amazing camera. The only thing I feel it gives up to some of it's more expensive siblings and higher tiered cameras from other manufacturers is dedicated controls.

metalmania · 05-05-2011, 06:42 PM

Any link to support OP's statement? I find it hard to believe. What about the lens they use? Can you compare apple to orange?

rawr · 05-05-2011, 06:46 PM

I approve of this thread.

As well as the various photo threads on this forum that feature the K-x, I keep a regular eye on the flickr K-x page:
Flickr: Camera Finder: Pentax: K-x

and there are some awesome photos showing up there that would put many pro camera users to shame.

A recent flickr favorite of mine that illustrates this point is this Italian lady photog who shoots the K-x with a collection of old K and M primes, and has been producing some very high quality shots recently using the K-x of birds, landscapes etc.
Flickr: ram35783's Photostream

metalmania · 05-05-2011, 06:50 PM

Originally posted by rawr

I approve of this thread.

As well as the various photo threads on this forum that feature the K-x, I keep a regular eye on the flickr K-x page:
Flickr: Camera Finder: Pentax: K-x

and there are some awesome photos showing up there that would put many pro camera users to shame.

A recent flickr favorite of mine that illustrates this point is this Italian lady photog who shoots the K-x with a collection of old K and M primes, and has been producing some very high quality shots recently using the K-x of birds, landscapes etc.
Flickr: ram35783's Photostream

It shows the user is the key factor, not the camera. I am sure the Italian lady will get high quality photos using Canon 7D if she knows the camera.

rawr · 05-05-2011, 06:54 PM

Originally posted by metalmania

Any link to support OP's statement? I find it hard to believe. What about the lens they use? Can you compare apple to orange?

You must be new here

The DR data is from DxOMark - Welcome to DxOMark

Resolution data comparing the 12MP K-x with the 18MP 7D (from photoreview.com.au) is also interesting...

Marc Sabatella · 05-05-2011, 07:02 PM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by metalmania

Any link to support OP's statement? I find it hard to believe. What about the lens they use? Can you compare apple to orange?

There are any number of sites around that try to measure such things. Perhaps the best is DxOMark: DxOMark - Welcome to DxOMark.

Whether this site actually supports the statements made I cannot say, but if you were looking for numbers to either prove or disprove those kinds of assertions, that's where I'd look.

Personally, I tend to not be impressed by the differences between DSLR's. They are all more than good for most purposes. But then, I also don't care exactly how fast my car can accelerate from 0 to 60MPH, whether the ice cube maker in my freezer can make 8 or 10 cubes per hour, or whether my breakfast cereal has 30% of my recommendation daily intake of riboflavin or only 23%. Sometimes I can get still worked up about that kind of stuff, but not as much as I used to. And more likely about lenses than cameras.

05-05-2011, 11:31 AM	#1
geekette Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 528	K-X Image Quality is INSANELY good! Did a little research and found out that you have to spend $2499 on a canon DSLR to get better image quality, and color depth than the K-X... yet the K-X will still have better dynamic range. The $1699 Canon EOS 7D has lesser image quality, color depth and dynamic range than the Pentax K-X kit I bought for $439! The $2499 Canon EOS 5D mark II has better image quality and color depth (but not but leaps and bounds) yet it has .6 f stops less dynamic range! Of course I am only comparing those three things--image quality, color depth and dynamic range; I realize the K-X is lacking in a lot of areas the High End Canons aren't But image quality, color depth and dynamic range are the most important to me--an amateur photographer that doesn't shoot sports, doesn't need weather sealing and doesn't need all the other fancy stuff. I'm really happy with my K-X! It demolishes the entry level Canons (for my needs).

05-05-2011, 01:54 PM	#3
icywindow Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 303	Why I love and use my k-x So far, I've had a hard time figuring out whether it's a bad thing to leave Highlight Correction on all the time on my k-x; I'm happy usually for quality (noise, focus) with level correcting the jpegs coming out of the camera. I love being able to get a photo of the sky and as well as see the landscape clearly without having to bracket or use HDR. Also, I think the stormtrooper white looks pretty cool.

05-05-2011, 04:36 PM - 1 Like	#10
NbyNW Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: East of the Cascades, PNW Posts: 163	I had the opportunity to photograph with a few cameras from various manufacturers before I plunked down for my first dslr, a Pentax K-x. The camera I had shot with previous to the K-x was a Canon 50D. The difference in dynamic range and color rendering between the 50D and the K-x was startling. The Canon wasn't even close unless I had it in controlled lighting or the best of outdoor conditions. I got some incredible results out of the 50D, but there was a lot of time and frustration spent in PP to get those results. With the K-x PP is very minimal at least 95% of the time. The 50D did have fantastic resolution; it was just an arduous, and sometimes impossible, task to get that out of the files. The K-x really is an amazing camera. The only thing I feel it gives up to some of it's more expensive siblings and higher tiered cameras from other manufacturers is dedicated controls. Last edited by NbyNW; 05-05-2011 at 04:38 PM. Reason: Clarity

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05-05-2011, 12:40 PM	#2
causey Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Arlington, VA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,757	You know, it's not the camera, it's the photographer... But because I'm not a good photographer and I don't have a lot of money, I prefer to shoot a K-x!

05-05-2011, 02:17 PM	#4
Janek New Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Wrocław/PL Posts: 14	Originally posted by icywindow ...the stormtrooper white looks pretty cool. Now, that's a color! Other than that, happy times with your new Pentax

05-05-2011, 02:29 PM	#5
lkjr Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: United States Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 60	Yeah - the K-x is a great camera for the price...too bad its discontinued.... Check out the "Show us your best K-xshots" thread.

05-05-2011, 02:47 PM	#6
Cullivan New Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: New York Posts: 14	This thread is making me want a kx... For some rerason I prefer nimh to li-ion.

05-05-2011, 03:21 PM	#7
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	The K-X is very nice, its a no brain'r choice (well, for me) to choose a K-X over an EOS 7D (maybe its just me as I do have a Pentax fetish...).

05-05-2011, 04:02 PM	#8
gp1806 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chicago suburbs Photos: Albums Posts: 848	Originally posted by Cullivan This thread is making me want a kx... For some rerason I prefer nimh to li-ion. Get Eneloops.

05-05-2011, 04:07 PM	#9
Zav Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,371	Originally posted by causey You know, it's not the camera, it's the photographer... Oh yeah! Don't rely on figures, rely on pictures.

05-05-2011, 06:42 PM	#11
metalmania Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 253	Any link to support OP's statement? I find it hard to believe. What about the lens they use? Can you compare apple to orange?

05-05-2011, 06:46 PM	#12
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	I approve of this thread. As well as the various photo threads on this forum that feature the K-x, I keep a regular eye on the flickr K-x page: Flickr: Camera Finder: Pentax: K-x and there are some awesome photos showing up there that would put many pro camera users to shame. A recent flickr favorite of mine that illustrates this point is this Italian lady photog who shoots the K-x with a collection of old K and M primes, and has been producing some very high quality shots recently using the K-x of birds, landscapes etc. Flickr: ram35783's Photostream

05-05-2011, 06:50 PM	#13
metalmania Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 253	Originally posted by rawr I approve of this thread. As well as the various photo threads on this forum that feature the K-x, I keep a regular eye on the flickr K-x page: Flickr: Camera Finder: Pentax: K-x and there are some awesome photos showing up there that would put many pro camera users to shame. A recent flickr favorite of mine that illustrates this point is this Italian lady photog who shoots the K-x with a collection of old K and M primes, and has been producing some very high quality shots recently using the K-x of birds, landscapes etc. Flickr: ram35783's Photostream It shows the user is the key factor, not the camera. I am sure the Italian lady will get high quality photos using Canon 7D if she knows the camera.

05-05-2011, 06:54 PM	#14
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by metalmania Any link to support OP's statement? I find it hard to believe. What about the lens they use? Can you compare apple to orange? You must be new here The DR data is from DxOMark - Welcome to DxOMark Resolution data comparing the 12MP K-x with the 18MP 7D (from photoreview.com.au) is also interesting...

05-05-2011, 07:02 PM - 3 Likes	#15
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Originally posted by metalmania Any link to support OP's statement? I find it hard to believe. What about the lens they use? Can you compare apple to orange? There are any number of sites around that try to measure such things. Perhaps the best is DxOMark: DxOMark - Welcome to DxOMark. Whether this site actually supports the statements made I cannot say, but if you were looking for numbers to either prove or disprove those kinds of assertions, that's where I'd look. Personally, I tend to not be impressed by the differences between DSLR's. They are all more than good for most purposes. But then, I also don't care exactly how fast my car can accelerate from 0 to 60MPH, whether the ice cube maker in my freezer can make 8 or 10 cubes per hour, or whether my breakfast cereal has 30% of my recommendation daily intake of riboflavin or only 23%. Sometimes I can get still worked up about that kind of stuff, but not as much as I used to. And more likely about lenses than cameras.