[jct us101]

So in a few weeks I'll be able to finally upgrade from the *ist DS that I've been using all summer. I loved using this camera, but I've finally come to the conclusion that I need something that has more megapixels (as my previous cameras did) and something that I can process just a bit more (I've been having tons of gradiation issues with most of my photos, considering they're mostly of landscapes that include a lot of sky in them). I've been hoping to still go with Pentax, although I'm still holding out for a Canon (probably a 20D, XT, or XTi if I can get one for a good enough price) but I've fallen in love with Pentax enough to where I'm definitely considering one more. My budget still isn't that big though, but here's the options that I'm considering for cameras. We'll get to lenses in a minute!

K10D (I could use the weather sealing and 10 megapixels, but I've heard of lots of noise issues)

K200D (it's almost out of my budget but I bet I could find a used one for less than $350 if I looked enough. I also like the smaller grip and the fact that it is also weather sealed.

K2000 (I can get this for cheaper than both of the above two, but it is an entry level camera, and isn't weather sealed, but I do love the size of it)

Now for lenses...

The lens I want the most is the 18-250mm ($325 usually) but I don't know if I'll be able to afford that one quite yet. I'm mostly just looking at maybe getting the 18-55 WR and the 50-200mm for now, until I can upgrade. Then again, I'm also considering getting both of the new WR lenses if I get a weather sealed camera eventually when the price goes down a bit.

I know there's a lot of other brands that have some great lenses, so I'd love to hear some more suggestions, as long as it gives me good image quality then I'd love to hear what it is. Mostly I take photos of things that require either a ton of distance or landscape type photos that are incredibly wide angle. So, I'm looking forward to hearing your opinions!

[netuser]

k200d or k10d

I suggest you compare this two only

[Marc Langille]

Cody, if you don't go past ISO 800 with the K10D, it's not bad at all. The K200D is another option too.

This is even more true if you are not shooting hand held landscapes, since you would normally want a tripod for the best sharpness and low ISO. I'll try to read your criteria and comments in more depth later on and add to this post or post later on.

Regards,
Marc

[jct us101]

Between the K200D and the K10D is definitely a difficult choice for me. I guess I could list some pros of each.

K10D:

Front dial

K200D:

Smaller, less expensive and smaller grip

Right now that's all I can think of for each, since they both only go up to ISO 1600, I guess the 1/3 increments of the K10D which I don't think the K200D has would be a benefit, along with the larger buffer for RAW images.

I'm just trying to figure out if any of that justifies the up to $100 price difference between them.

[Marc Sabatella]

Between the K200D and the K10D is definitely a difficult choice for me. I guess I could list some pros of each.

K10D:

Front dial

K200D:

Smaller, less expensive and smaller grip

K10D also has a larger viewfinder - more like the DS. The K200D viewfinder is like the K100D and DL, if that means anything to you. It was the only thing I missed going from the DS to K200D, and after adding the O-ME53 magnifier, it became a non-issue. There's the battery difference too, of course, although some people find that an advantage for the K200D and some for the K10D.

Right now that's all I can think of for each, since they both only go up to ISO 1600, I guess the 1/3 increments of the K10D which I don't think the K200D has would be a benefit

These are also non-issues - ISO 3200 on the DS was nothing but ISO 1600 with a one-stop push in the firmware, and you can do the same practically as easily with the K10D or K200D in PP but with better results and more control. And the K200D *does* allow 1/3 EV increments in ISO, if you've got your aperture/shutter speed set up to also also go in 1/3 EV increments (or 1/2 EV increments if you've got your aperture/shutter speed set up to go that way. There's an option that controls where ISO follows shutter/aperture in this way or whether it goes in full steps only. I had mine set to do 1/2 steps lik my shutter/aperture until jsut a few days ago, when I realized I practically never used the half steps and all they did was slow down my ISO changes.

The real advantage of the K10D here is the ability to set ISO via OK+dial as opposed to needing to use the Fn menu. The DS is the same as the K200D here, of course, but it's the one other K10D feature I envy - just not enough to be worth the much larger (to my hands) size or the use of proprietary batteries that have now already become obsolete with the introduction of the K-7.

On the other hand, the K200D is perhaps more reliable at high ISO - it seems immune to the banding issues that have affected many K10D's to the point where it got a reputation for being worse at ISO 1600 than the DS. The K200D isn't.

along with the larger buffer for RAW images.

I could see that being an issue if you use continuous shooting a lot. I don't think I've done so once with K200D, and only did so once that I can recall with the DS before that.

BTW, I keep hearing about refurb K200D's showing up cheap somewhere or other - Walmart, maybe?

[jct us101]

Oh find me a link please!

[Marc Langille]

K200D refurb at Best Buy for $379??

PENTAX - Factory-Refurbished 10.2-Megapixel Digital SLR Camera - Black - K200D

[jct us101]

Thanks!

If I can't find anything cheaper then I'll probably get that.

Then again the K10D sells for less and has more that goes with it.

[Marc Langille]

K10D Refurb at Best Buy for $399??

PENTAX - Factory-Refurbished 10.2-Megapixel Digital SLR Camera - Black - K10D

[jct us101]

I saw that too, but I could probably find it cheaper used.

[palmor]

I'm not sure how much help I can be because I've never used the 2 of these but the K10 never let me down even at high ISOs. The thing with high ISO and the K10 is that you really had to be careful with your exposure, if you got it right you got almost no noise (at least in my experience).

I know this isn't pixel peeping level or anything but this is ISO1600 handheld with the K10 and no noise reduction:

Trish by fire light photo - palmor photos at pbase.com

A lens to think of for your ultra wide angle might be the Zenitar 16mm FE. On the cropped sensor the FE affect isn't that dramatic and can easily be correct in PP.. I think used they go for ~$150. For a zoom lens I love my Sigma 17-70 but that might be a little bit out of your budget?

Zenitar FE landscape without any correction for the FE:
Eagle Lodge photo - palmor photos at pbase.com


Hope that helps a little.. everyone has their favorite lenses so you'll probably get as many opinions as replies



John

[opiedog]

18-250 for $325 ? is this new or used?

OTOh, i got the k2000 and besides not having an orientation sensor, i haven't missed much of the features from my K10.
and i got the k2000 over the k200 because of the better AF

Are you still stuck?

[Das Boot]

This should be moved to the off-topic area and thread name changed to: Someone desperately seeking attention... please reply

[jct us101]

The wolves have returned...