[Mike C]

Hello

I'm a new member here, been visiting a while and signed up the other week to follow up on some cameras listed in the marketplace.

Before I make my decision between the K200 or K20 does either one work better with older manual focus lenes. Or is there another model all together I should look at.

Thanks
Mike C.

[ducdao]

K20D is definitely better because of the Pentaprism viewfinder.

[fuent104]

K20D is also equipped for you to easily change the focusing screen. I'm not sure if the k200 is.

[twilhelm]

I have a split focus screen in my K20 and it is great for manual lenses.

[JohnBee]

K20D is also equipped for you to easily change the focusing screen. I'm not sure if the k200 is.

Actually, I was quite surprised to find the K200D was pretty much the same as the K20D in terms of focusing screen installation etc. Having said that, I'd say the K20D is a far the better MF camera due to its brighter viewfinder.

[Marc Sabatella]

K20D has a reputation for not metering as accurately when doing stop-down metering (eg, non-A K-mount lenses). But aside from that, sure, the larger viewfinder is an advantage.

[pacerr]

I'd suggest that if manual focus with the more compact MF lenses is your priority, the "feel" and balance of the combined body and lens will have a lot of impact on your satisfaction with the total package than the Pentaprism VF. The older and less bulky M42, M- and A-class lenses will be a pleasure to use on the K200, K100 and *istDS bodies and, IMO, feel relatively "out of balance and proportion" on the larger K10 and K20 bodies.

The O-ME-53 magnifier and/or interchangeable focusing screens can make up the functional difference in the view finder but there's a world of difference in the "feel" of the body.

You can always add the battery grip to the K200 if needed for larger lenses but you can't shrink the larger body.

And VF screen calibration/shimming (if needed), rather than auto-focus FF/BF tweaking, is the important factor for MF lenses,

Very happy with K200 bodies, AA batteries and way too many MF lenses, although two e-dials would be nice occasionally.

H2

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Last edited by pacerr; 02-12-2012 at 11:29 PM.

[RioRico]

I won't go so far as pacerr but I do find that MF pancake lenses on my K20D are a bit difficult to manipulate. My fingers aren't fat but not petite neither. The M42 Mir-1 37/2.8 is also a bit tricky, because its aperture and distance numbers are obscured by the K20D's flash snood. But other small but non-pancake lenses are no problem on the large camera. Some silver lenses look a little strange against its black body. Big deal.

[chhayanat]

I'd suggest that if manual focus with the more compact MF lenses is your priority, the "feel" and balance of the combined body and lens will have a lot of impact on your satisfaction with the total package than the Pentaprism VF. ......
And VF screen calibration/shimming (if needed), rather than auto-focus FF/BF tweaking, is the important factor for MF lenses,
Very happy with K200 bodies, AA batteries and way too many MF lenses, although two e-dials would be nice occasionally.
H2

I use the K200D and the K20D clone, the Samsung GX20.

Overall, the K20D is the more capable camera with many more user-controllable features including the very important one of exposure compensation with manual lenses.

The K20D pentaprism is not significantly brighter than the K200D pentamirror: in my personal opinion, most APS-C DSLRs have abysmal viewfinders compared to the best film SLRs of the 1980s. Pentax was never a leader in this field.

AA batteries (Eneloops or similar design only) are certainly an advantage in the K200D as they are easily found. Other NiMh batteries give poor results with the K200D. The K20D uses a dedicated battery.

Metering with manual lenses and the LL-80 screen supplied with the K20D gives skewed and unpredictable results with each Pentax-M or similar manual lens, negating much of the advantage of setting a consistent exposure compensation value. Using the LL-60 screen from the earlier ist-D series improves the metering for manual lenses and underexposes with electronic lenses (Pentax-DA). The K200D does not permit a chosen exposure compensation value to be set in M mode and when using manual lenses, irrespective of what the camera meters. The K200D meters more consistently, if not more accurately, with manual lenses and compensation has to be applied by using the lens aperture ring or changing the shutter speed from the camera body.

The focussing screen of the K200D is not interchangeable according to received wisdom and Pentax literature, though an earlier post in this thread by John Bee, an evidently knowledgeable member, states that it is possible. This is all to the good.
Chhayanat

[Marc Sabatella]

If you you want the best of both, get a K-7, which shouldn't cost *that* much more than a K20D. You'll get the viewfinder more comparable to the K20D but a form factor more comparable to the K200D, and apparently more accurate stop down meering than the K20D as well. Of course, K-5 would be better still, but that's a different price range.

I should mention - I too use an O-ME53 viewfinder magnifier with my K200D. It puts the size of the viewfinder on par with the K20D, although the end result is a bit more noticeably dimmer, and as a glasses-wearer, I had to get used to having to scan around to see the numeric display. It doesn't make a *huge* difference in focusing, but it does help somewhat.

And yes, the K200D focus screen is replaceable. It's just a bit trickier than wth the cameras that are designed to allow it.

[pacerr]

The focussing screen of the K200D is not interchangeable

Not so. Each of my four K200's has a different focusing screen installed with no issues other than selecting an optimum shim when necessary. I personally find a plain, medium grain screen without split prism but with the O-ME53 accessory the most useful all around MF focusing aid.

Familiarity with, and selective use of, various lens/body pairings along with a tendency to use a Spotmeter when needed mitigate most of the exposure issues. Center weighted metering is generally satisfactory with the SIVF screens.

H2

[Jonathan Mac]

I haven't used a K20D, but I strongly suspect that the focusing screen is far more important than the camera. I have a Katzeye installed in mine, they're quite common & pricey. There are other options available, especially if you're willing & able to cut it to size yourself.

[chhayanat]

Not so. Each of my four K200's has a different focusing screen installed with no issues other than selecting an optimum shim when necessary. I personally find a plain, medium grain screen without split prism but with the O-ME53 accessory the most useful all around MF focusing aid.
Familiarity with, and selective use of, various lens/body pairings along with a tendency to use a Spotmeter when needed mitigate most of the exposure issues. Center weighted metering is generally satisfactory with the SIVF screens.
H2

Nice to know that K200D screens can be changed but not everyone, especially a beginner, will have the skill to change them on their own. Yes, choice of certain lenses will help the metering but it remains inconsistent overall. Secondly, using a Spotmeter on a digital camera which already has spotmetering, is an additional chore for a beginner. It also does not say a lot for the accuracy of the metering. I do use these metering methods for the K200D but I cannot say it is very convenient.

[kkoether]

All manually focused on a K200D with SR turned off. SR doesn't play well with panning. The lens is a no name 75-300mm leftover from the early 80's. Stock focus screen and 50 year old eyeballs. I do use the focus octagon in the viewfinder as an assist.

[lurchlarson]

I've got a k200d and I use my 50mm F1.7 on it all the time. Works great.