Originally posted by Rob Gravelotte Any comment would be appreciated. Is there any body that has proved it's resilience that would not break the bank?
Hi Rob, welcome to Pentax Forums!
Your question is one that is often considered by photographers -- do I keep my current brand, or make a change? Certainly, all brands of cameras offer excellent choices, and there are plenty of options. Unfortunately, all brands can suffer from component failures. The Pentax DA 17-70 lens did have a design problem with its in-lens focus motor.
Modern Pentax cameras and lenses are very good in terms of reliability, but we hear sporadic reports of some failures once in a while.
I think that it would be difficult to recommend something without knowing your photographic interests. What sort of subjects do you tend to photograph?
You mention the weight of the K200D. With the DA 17-70 lens, the mass is about 1,200 grams. If you are thinking of a lighter, smaller kit, say in the 800-g range, the Pentax DSLRs might not be an option. For example, the K-70 + general-purpose DA 18-135mm zoom lens would come in at 1,100 g.
Some brands offer smaller and lighter systems, depending, of course, on the lens(es) that you choose. Just as an example, a relatively lightweight kit could include something like a Fujifilm X-E4 + XF 18-55mm zoom (total 675 g) or X-E4/XF 18-135mm (total 850 g). There are other possibilities, depending on your budget and weight threshold. I'm not familiar with Canon gear.
Another format of camera is based on the 'micro four-thirds' sensor. Some of these systems are relatively compact and lightweight, and feature small lenses. Image quality can be quite good, although not as good generally as the larger sensor formats such as APS-C (like the Pentax K-70) or 'full frame'.
Another possibility might be a compact camera such as the Ricoh GR III, which has a fixed lens. It's small, very well-regarded, and has excellent image quality -- it's not the usual 'point and shoot'. It wouldn't serve as a wildlife or birding camera, but could work well in urban settings, landscapes, architecture, etc. To get an idea of its versatility, take a look at:
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1438439/42 https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/161-ricoh-gr/385160-gr-iii-photos-owners.html
- Craig
Last edited by c.a.m; 08-12-2022 at 03:30 PM.
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