Stop my from buying a DSLR, please.

[rover]

I`m with Steve....go buy a Leica M6 🙂

Tom

I took my M6 out thinking terrible thought. I can't sell it, it is just too "right."

I have a bunch of other stuff for sale, but the M6 stays.

 

[rover]

Thanks, Kim and Al. I wasn't sure if there was an adapter made to adapt FD lenses to Pentax or not and I only have two EOS lenses. Probably the best thing to do now is go to a local camera store that has the cameras I am interested and actually see how they handle and fit my hands. Perhaps a new brand of camera would wet my appetite as well. Thanks for your thoughts!

Tom

Tom, I am in a similar place, small EOS kit wanting a DSLR. I think once I raise the funds I will be going for a Pentax. Overall I am confident with the quality of both Canon and Pentax (Sorry, can't go Nikon thought they too are very attractive, just can't, and won't go away from a real camera company so no Sony.....). However you judge the need for anti shake features, with the Pentax it is there for all lenses. I like the features of both the 40d and K10d, but the Pentax is less expensive. And the backwards lens compatibility means there are tons of less expensive excellent lenses that can be used. I am leaning Pentax right now. If I had more of an investment in Canon glass I would be thinking differently, but I am in a place I can be flexible.

 

[ampguy]

Thanks Kim

Thanks Kim

This is good info., as I recall with my DL, the pentamirror was fine and bright enough, but I could not focus manually well like a Nikon or Canon SLR. I thought it was due to the focusing screen they used.

If you think the K10 is better, even with 8x10 and smaller, maybe that's a good reason to wait although I was always pleased with 8x10 JPG prints out of the DL.

My main use would be manual focus, so if the K100D doesn't have any better screen than the old DL for manual focus, then that's a very good reason to wait.

Thanks for pointing this out.

The images from the K10 are better. However, the biggest difference, IMHO, is not the number of pixels but the finder. The IstD, DS and the K10 all have Pentaprism finders. All the others have a Pentamirror system which while OK for AF is far inferior as soon as you try to MF.

Kim

 

[greyhoundman]

Change the focus screen to a Katzeye.
I usually make my own. I like split screens. 🙂

 

[ampguy]

too much

too much

$95, for dslr stuff is pricey. G-man, you should come out with your own line at a lower price if possible.

Change the focus screen to a Katzeye.
I usually make my own. I like split screens. 🙂

 

[greyhoundman]

You take advantage of the $100.00 off rebate, then buy the Katzeye screen.
I blogged my method of doing a screen.
I won't go into the aftermath. 🙁

 

[Kim Coxon]

True, the screen would be better but you are still left with the problem of the Penta-mirror. With the K10, the view with the standard screen is probably similar to the K100 with the Katseye so you could put the $100 toward the upgrade. With the Katseye, the K10 is yet better still!. 😉

Kim

 

[Tom Harrell]

Tom, I am in a similar place, small EOS kit wanting a DSLR. I think once I raise the funds I will be going for a Pentax. Overall I am confident with the quality of both Canon and Pentax (Sorry, can't go Nikon thought they too are very attractive, just can't, and won't go away from a real camera company so no Sony.....). However you judge the need for anti shake features, with the Pentax it is there for all lenses. I like the features of both the 40d and K10d, but the Pentax is less expensive. And the backwards lens compatibility means there are tons of less expensive excellent lenses that can be used. I am leaning Pentax right now. If I had more of an investment in Canon glass I would be thinking differently, but I am in a place I can be flexible.

Very sound advice for sure! I do have some Nikon lenses but I'm not to keen on Nikon digital cameras for some reason. I bought a Nikon digital camera for my lady friend a few years ago and the thing about drove her nuts with menu options. She finally gave up and I use it now. It really takes getting used to.

As you stated the anti shake for "all" lenses, and the backwards lens compatibility would be very helpful.

Tom

 

[anandi]

Update to Thread - Finally got a K10D

Update to Thread - Finally got a K10D

Well,
This thread was started late last year, some good responses; the end of the saga was that when I got back from my big trip, no new K10Ds were to be had. The new K20D was out and at $1300+ no bargain at all. After some monitoring of the pentax forum, I got a used K10D for a reasonable amount.

Bottom line: it was worth it, I like my DS for its size and weight for sure, but the K10D is more responsive and at ISOs to 400 just amazing image quality. The shake reduction really works. I do have some focus issues, but will tackle that with a firmware fix hopefully.

M42 lenses never looked so good. Here are some samples if you're interested: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aanandi/

The few shots posted from April are from the K10D. The multiple exposure mode is fantastic. I love double exposures in camera and while not as nice as the lever on a Nikon F3, still pretty cool.

Cheers,
-Amit

 

[nrb]

A dslr plus old m42 lenses can be more fun than an expensive m8 and lenses.
But won't substitute an m6, summicron and film.

 

[Pherdinand]

antishake is GOOD... but it does not help against subject motion, therefore canNOT replace a good fast lens. It only helps shaky hands.
Do you want a bulky noisy machine that "thinks for you"? (sorry this is actually canon's commercial not pentax's) Do you want to carry batteries or chargers always, to increase bulk even further, because "just in case" will mean once per day you will lose battery power?
Do you want to end up looking through a dark tunnel and figuring out how many pixels your subject will have? Do you want the autofocus deciding which part of the scene is important? DO you want a misaligned focusing screen so you also can't use manual focus, unless you send it back for realignment?
Do you want to take 2000 shots and then spend a full weekend going through them editing out all the garbage? Do you want "card error" messages? Do you want a multisegment meter that pretends to know everything but still is less capable than a simple incident handheld meter if the situation is a bit trickier than 13% gray? Do you want to use -0.7 stop exposure conpensation constantly, because the meter would make sure your highlights are always just nice white blobs?
Do you want to realize in half a year that your camera is not "good enough
anymore, although it still works as "good" as when you bought it, and by this, get into the megapixel hunting game?

And, most important: DO you want to miss the fun of developing black and white film and/or the excitement of waiting for the lab results?

 

[Socke]

So I need talking out of it. Really.
Tell me the Shake reduction is a gimmick and that it's noisy high ISO and the 10 MP vs. 6 MP doesn't mean anything in the real world. If this forum can whip up GAS it should help those in need of support too. 🙂

I don't have shake reduction, so it must be a gimmick, but high ISO in colour is a waste of time, see here:

 

[Ken Ford]

I don't have shake reduction, so it must be a gimmick, but high ISO in colour is a waste of time, see here:

Awful. Just awful.

😉

 

[Ken Ford]

Really, the ability to boost ISO at will and chimp proper exposure in tough lighting is totally worthless.

 

[bmattock]

Really, the ability to boost ISO at will and chimp proper exposure in tough lighting is totally worthless.

I really like that photograph!