[Zenit B]

I finally took the plunge and bought a K20D. I'd been umming and ahhing over getting a Pentax for quite a while. I'd been without a camera after a very unfortunate purchase of a Canon 40D and Canon Canada's even more unfortunate tech support and service (it's a long sad story).

For anyone looking to buy Blacks is selling them for $1099 (CAD) with the 18-55mm kit lens. At that price I thought the time was right.

So far I have to say I think this is a great camera. It handles beautifully, and can produce amazing images even with the kit lens. I took a few test shots last night and I'm really happy with the high ISO test shots, to me the menu system is fine I can't see what people complain about it's not fiddly as some have said. I especially like the different programs available hyper program is so useful, being able to tweak just about every setting whilst in program is really useful when just wandering around town looking for interesting subjects to shoot.

The only things I am not crazy about are very low light AF (but it's not as bad as I've ben lead to believe my D70s and 40D struggled with dark subjects in low light too) and a slight tendency to underexpose in some situations. Also I'd prefer the traditional kerchunk noise of a shutter to the Star Trek shhhhttt of the Pentax but that's just nit picking. If this camera could shoot at 5-6 FPS it'd be perfect.

Time for a grip and some better glass. I'd read the 16-50mm issues with interest do they still persist? Does anyone have an opinion on the the Sigma 18-50mm 2.8 Vs the Tamron 17-50mm 2.8. I do shoot some sports, skateboarding specifically, so a wide zoom with fast AF is what I need. I'm guessing the Pentax lens will focus faster than either of the third party lenses.

[barendvl]

Welcome to the pentax club :P

The K20D's AF system is the same as the K10D's, which I have. I shot a few conferences last week where the light was very dimm in the conference rooms, only the stage was lit. Still the camera managed to get AF right without any problems. Just remember to select middle point AF and point the AF system at a high-contrast area, and the AF system will lock on very precisely.

Good luck with further purchases

[dkittle]

Congrats on your K20D purchase. I'm sure you'll love the camera :-)

From the sounds of it, the issues with the DA* 16-50mm have been resolved. About a month ago, there was a thread on another forum asking if any recent purchasers had problems and noone was chiming in. I know that Henrys here in Toronto will price match price with other authorized Pentax dealers, so find a good price, buy it there and I'm sure they'll take care of you if you get a bumb copy.

[Ben_Edict]

Time for a grip and some better glass. I'd read the 16-50mm issues with interest do they still persist? Does anyone have an opinion on the the Sigma 18-50mm 2.8 Vs the Tamron 17-50mm 2.8. I do shoot some sports, skateboarding specifically, so a wide zoom with fast AF is what I need. I'm guessing the Pentax lens will focus faster than either of the third party lenses.

Congrats on your new camera! The 16-50-issues seem to be resolved, because newer lenses give much less reason for complaints... I cannot comment on the Tamron, but am using the Sigma 18-50/2.8 for the last two years, first on the istDS, than the K10 and now the K20. It is a very good lens, sharp and contrasty, when stopped down a bit. Contrast is a little bit lower on the K20, than it is on the K10, but this is my observation with a couple of lenses. But I am shooting RAW exclusively and RAWs always need post-processing, so that this doesn't matter. I can use the Sigma fully open when necessary and the results are still very good, though I try to step down to 5.6 or 8 if possible.
AF is very good, built-quality is good and manual focusing is easy with this lens, too. It is not weather sealed, which might be the only reason for me to switch over to the Pentax 16-50 – but I am still undecided, because otherwise the Sigma delivers what I need.

regards
Ben

[Zenit B]

Thanks for your replies. It's good to hear that the 16-50mm issues are fixed. I'm stilll tempted by the Tamron just to save some $$ but I know it won't be as good as the Pentax lens. I tried the Sigma on the Canon I had but due to the Canon's AF issues (isn't it funny how the Canon Nikon brigade carp about AF performance on Pentax DSLRs. I'd rather have slower AF that actually gets the subject in focus than the hit and miss of my 40D). I had the 18-50mm 2.8 and the 50-150mm 2.8 and both produced great results when the camera actually worked which wasn't often.

If I could get Henrys to price match Pro Digital's eBay Buy It Now price that'd be great but I guess that's unlikely. Does Pentax Canada honour warranty on lenses bought in the US? The 16-50mm is available for $650 from some US retailers.

I think my tests of the AF on the K20D weren't exactly scientific, trying to focus on a black dog in low light isn't going to produce good AF with any camera. My D70s and 40D both struggled in those conditions.

[MJB DIGITAL]

My 16-50 is great.

My 16-50 is great.

Mine too !!