I want to report back a month long experience with Pentax K-x white with you all. It kind of surprises me in a way that has changed my CBA (camera buying addiction) and LBA (lens buying addiction) planning. I like the K-x small body so much that I get lured for the limited trio. I would probably be the same had I bought K-7 instead. But the K-x with the high ISO handling push me over the edge for the DA limited.
Initially, I was torn between which camera to get first -- Pentax K-7 or Pentax K-x white. And I like both based on the feedback from others and the features to go with each. I bought K-x first based on the intuition that I may want to wait out for the K-8 to come. Can the K-x completely replaces my K20D or a K-7? The rhetoric question, everyone ask! The answer is a definite NO. While I like the K-x white so much that I was immediately on rampage to scourge all the DA limited lenses, it is in a nutshell not a replacement for K20D or K-7. It is in a different class but it is the best entry level that I have seen. It reminds me so much of the K100D and K100D super when it first came out but you can't buy K100D to replace a K10D. It is a gem to use but unfortunately, all the dark forces in competition and marketing in Pentax is not enough to pull it up the scale. Having said all the disclaimer out of the way and with the color appeal for style, I have my highest recommendation to buy K-x as a backup body for professional work and as a traveling light body, or as an entry level with path to be serious enthusiast who defy the masses with "Be interesting" with a color choice.
The native ISO 200, the default sharpness in K-x is a touch soft for me in jpg. It excels in high ISO. I still find it a touch less not as outstanding as in K20D or outstanding samples from K-7. I can't quantify the statement but rather a general gut feel in a month long experience with K-x white. And there are many obvious features and functionality that I miss out in using K-x with my K20D staying home. It is a long list of compromises in the weather proofing, the iso button, the AF-C and AF-S selection, the red focus confirmation, the bracketing button, etc, etc but I manage to overcome the short comings and focus on what the K-x is good for in the style, high iso, small and compact and best with DA limited primes and many other good values in it.
When I take it out for events with friends and my family, it is a powerhouse that meet all of my needs and I am yet to catch up with this power house. I have not used it extensively for all the good hidden menu with filters and all other functions not exposed in the body buttons.
K-x with Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 and AF280T flash
The high ISO capability is outstanding but no matter how good it is, there is still the grain and loss in detail that kind of expected in a high ISO picture in 6400.
1/60 sec, f/2.4, 70mm, iso 6400, +0.7 Ev, Pentax K-x and DA 70mm limited
1/13 sec, f/2.4, 70mm , iso 640, +0.7 Ev, Pentax K-x with DA 70mm
Overall, I am extremely happy with my purchase. It has revived my Height again like the K100D and it really gets the best of me to be excited about my amateur love of photography. The body is outstanding especially in event and I did three event shootings with the K-x and it has not disappointed me but I do have the moments of reservation where I missed the quick access to AF-C, the MF is not as comforting without the Red dot (what is Pentax thinking) but I do get by with the shortcomings.
1/125 sec, f/4.5, 70mm, iso 320, 0 Ev with Sigma 17-70mm on K-x
And out of all of my two DA limited, the Pentax DA 40mm f/2.8 limited surprises me the most as I thought there is compromise made on the thinnest lens, was I so wrong when I start using it like a normal lens
K20D and DA 40mm limited
I will hopefully continue to update on my blogs and
tagged articles for Pentax K-x
Thanks,
Hin
Last edited by hinman; 01-22-2010 at 12:16 PM.