[Kerrowdown]

You didn't have my option in the poll, keep K10D, buy K20D and K30D when it comes out.

You need to feed your CBA.

[gawan]

I have drooled to get the K20D but I now plan to get the K30D and hold the K10D as a backup camera.

(Unless the CBA gets me first)

[kenyee]

How much have you used the Live View?

As mentioned above, I've only had the K20D for a few days. Played w/ Liveview a little and am glad I kept my angle finder

How do you check your focus? Maybe I'm using it wrong...or my expectations are too high? I was expecting the same thing as a P&S but the ability to zoom in and look at the pixel level...

[azcavalier]

Man, I was just thinking the same thing (i'd love to ability to tweak AF for multiple lenses), and I just Googled "Pentax K20D" and found a place selling it for under $600.

Pentax K20D , 14.6 Megapixel, SLR, Digital Camera

So, if I could sell the K10D body for $350, then it's only a $250 (ish) outlay for the upgrade.

The only things keeping me from pulling the trigger:

1. Hot pixel issue - how widespread is this? Is this a firmware thing or a sensor manufacturing issue?

2. Softer images? I've heard that even though the new sensor is 14MP, that many think that the images aren't as crisp as the images from the K10D. Is that true?

[ftpaddict]

Wait it out. An upgrade is likely to come really really soon.

[Adnan EROL]

...Softer images? .... the images aren't as crisp as the images from the K10D.
Is that true?

may be that's why K20 was sold less than K10...

[jsherman999]

Man, I was just thinking the same thing (i'd love to ability to tweak AF for multiple lenses), and I just Googled "Pentax K20D" and found a place selling it for under $600.

http://www.broadwayphoto.com/cat/DigitalCameras/9972613/K20D/

(Pentax K20D , 14.6 Megapixel, SLR, Digital Camera)

So, if I could sell the K10D body for $350, then it's only a $250 (ish) outlay for the upgrade.

The only things keeping me from pulling the trigger:

1. Hot pixel issue - how widespread is this? Is this a firmware thing or a sensor manufacturing issue?

2. Softer images? I've heard that even though the new sensor is 14MP, that many think that the images aren't as crisp as the images from the K10D. Is that true?

Stay away from Broadway Photo!!!! many of us have had bad experiences with those scammers.

Best deal might be prodigita2000 ebay store, or Adorama, B&H, etc.

Hot pixel issue is fixed by firmware update, and the Samsung CMOS sensor in the K20D is best in APS-C. K10D is a nice camera, but the new sensor is superior.


.

[Sharkonwheels]

Ditto...

Broadway has a 1.10 out of 10 lifetime rating on resellerratings.com, and somehow, only 1 review since April 2008, and it was lousy! Up until I looked them up, I had never even SEEN a lower-than-about 3.xx rating on resellerratings.com!
That $590 may mean they pulled the battery+charger out of the box, for example, and they'll want $40 for the battery, and another $40 for the charger!

Tony

[Jewelltrail]

kenyee: As mentioned above, I've only had the K20D for a few days. Played w/ Liveview a little and am glad I kept my angle finder

How do you check your focus? Maybe I'm using it wrong...or my expectations are too high? I was expecting the same thing as a P&S but the ability to zoom in and look at the pixel level...

I have never used it to compose a shot. I usually use it on a tripod, after my subject is selected. I access the live view function, then zoom in to the maximum and manually adjust focus with precision. This works great with the Tamron 90mm Macro. But you can also use it to get precise focus on older, manual lenses.

I often do this handheld, by first adjusting lens to widest aperture, then accessing maximum magnification on the LCD with Live View. Once I have the focus nailed, I keep that distance from the subject and select my aperture, shutter speed and ISO, depending on what I want to achieve.

[picatalin]

I don't think that the price of the next update Kxx will be less than 1300 USD at the begining...so it will take another one and a half year until going under 1000.
Regarding what someone said about broadway...watch out for the "gray market" - my plan was to buy from them, but luckly I found out just in time.

[kenyee]

access the live view function, then zoom in to the maximum and manually adjust focus with precision.

I guess the precision part is what I'm having a hard time with...when I zoom in with liveview on, I get down to x8 and it looks like a fuzzy jumble, so I have no idea how sharp it is

On the other hand, I used it today to compose a scene (trail in snow) so I didn't have to stick my head against the snow....it might not be useless

[DuckysDoll]

I bought the K20D, and JUST sold the K10D (had it less then a year) simply for the ISO! =)
NOT regretting it.
=)

[Jewelltrail]

Kenyee

I guess the precision part is what I'm having a hard time with...when I zoom in with liveview on, I get down to x8 and it looks like a fuzzy jumble, so I have no idea how sharp it is

The entire 8x magnification is not clear, but if you look closely, enough of the subject is visible so that you can achieve precise focus. Try using the live view, at max magnification, and moving your focus ring very slowly. It will change from very fuzzy to much less fuzzy. You will have reached proper focus when you maximize the image on your screen.
'
It is confusing because it is not at all like focusing through the viewfinder. It takes a little getting used to, but it is worth it--you'll see--just hang in there. Remember that what you see in 8x magnification on the LCD Live View is in no way what you will see in the finished shot. Any time you magnify 8x on an LCD you have to expect some fuzziness. But you can still discern when you have achieved maximum focus this way.

Here are 2 for example:

[sholtzma]

Buddha,

I was able to get a great deal on a K20D on Ebay. Just sold my K10D plus kit lens, etc, and the difference was less than $250.

Here's why it was worth it:

1) noticeable difference in high ISO image quality. 800 on the K10D was decent but little room to crop or enlarge, while 800 on the K20D is much better. At least a gain of one stop. 1600 on the K20D is decent, and you at least have 3200 if you need to get the shot no matter what.

2) larger LCD on the back is noticeably better

3) focus adjustment for lenses--invaluable

4) Live View, which for me should be useful for macro

5) larger RAW files (= more information?)

6) more choices for levels of JPEGs

7) two speeds of continuous shooting in the shooting modes

8) quasi-video using high speed shooting, though each shot is only 2Mb

9) improved menu layout

10) no learning curve, since so much is the same as or similar enough to the K10D

Lastly, do you really expect a K30D that is a wild improvement over the K20D--released and at an affordable price within the next 2 years? I don't.

[twinda1]

If you have a K10D to sell, you'd better do it soon, because a new low was reached in the marketplace today. Disclaimer: I'm in the market (sort of) for a K10D.