DSLR advice for a friend.

Michalm said:
K5 🙂 but i'm not so enthusiastic about kit lens, second hand 16-45 lens or tamron 17-35 / 17-50 would be good match for the sensor or cheaper k30 body with the lens if funds are limited.
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I'd never given a Pentax any thought when I started this thread and to be honest there seems to be very few users here at RFF ... but I do remember seeing photos posted by Aust RFF member ChrisN that really impressed me.

Looking on line the K-5 seems to be very reasonably priced.
 
Keith said:
I'd never given a Pentax any thought when I started this thread and to be honest there seems to be very few users here at RFF ... but I do remember seeing photos posted by Aust RFF member ChrisN that really impressed me.

Looking on line the K-5 seems to be very reasonably priced.
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I don't know how many users there are and I am not a Pentax DSLR user only because I have already a huge investment in Nikon glasses plus all the triggers and lights seem to be available in full variety only for Canon or Nikon (and fast growing for Sony). However, I have both a Q and a K-01, both bought for fun when they happen to become cheap and I was deeply impressed by the IQ they produce. I have tried (only inside the shop, so not too deeply) the K5 and I think it is equally good, for myself the only problem would be that the system as a whole is not there and that they are not nearly as fast as any of the Canikons, but if this is not a problem I think they might be great value for money. Also they have several very nice small lenses in the Limited lineup which I think could be quite interesting and they are the only one to offer a chepish option without AA filter, if she happen to be in that kind of stuff.

GLF
 
Addy101 said:
He was probably talking about the 100D which is the smallest DSLR, it is even smaller then the Sony A33/A55/A35/A37 cameras.
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I was indeed missing something... However, once you get out of the pocket cathegory size alone does seem to me enough of a resason to buy a camera.

GLF
 
Keith said:
I'd never given a Pentax any thought when I started this thread and to be honest there seems to be very few users here at RFF ... but I do remember seeing photos posted by Aust RFF member ChrisN that really impressed me.

Looking on line the K-5 seems to be very reasonably priced.
Click to expand...
I have an older Pentax K200D which is a very nice little camera. I've found that Pentax go out of their way to make using "legacy" lenses (like my old SMC-M ones) remarkably straightforward in comparison to, say, my Canon DSLRs (Canon is my primary system). A single button-press will stop the lens down, meter and set the shutter speed according to the metered value at your selected aperture (which, of course, you can then vary), and stops down to the taking aperture when you release the shutter in manual mode. That's how I've used mine. I understand, though, that Pentax produce some very fine modern AF lenses as well for "normal" operation.

In-body stabilisation, weather sealing (even on their cheaper offerings) and a small-but-solid feel in the hand all add up pretty nicely, I'd say.

...Mike
 
Keith said:
I've noticed that her skills appear to lie in colour and composition and I really like the colour from that Fuji sensor. If Sigma released a zoom lens version of the DPM I'd recommend that to her in a heartbeat because I think the foveon thing would suit her perfectly.

I can't use colour to save myself and when I see someone who uses it as well as she does I feel quite envious. 😀
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Ah, I see. It sounds like almost any modern DSLR in her price range would suit her. The stiff competition means that the performance for all of them is quite good. If I was her I'd visit a camera shop, see which one "feels" right (button placement, ergonomics, etc.), then most importantly - avoid camera forums! That way she can remain happy with her purchase 😀
 
furbs said:
Ah, I see. It sounds like almost any modern DSLR in her price range would suit her. The stiff competition means that the performance for all of them is quite good. If I was her I'd visit a camera shop, see which one "feels" right (button placement, ergonomics, etc.), then most importantly - avoid camera forums! That way she can remain happy with her purchase 😀
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I sent her a link to a review of the Pentax K-5 at dpreview ... with their reviews I generally tend to go straight to the conclusions and check out the pros and cons. They really liked it and IMO gave it a better wrap than the Nikon D7000.

I may take her to a camera shop and let her handle a few like several have suggested.
 
Pentax has great bang for your buck and the great thing 'bout Pentax is that you can use old Pentax lenses! And it is a good thing if she tries (wel, feels) some of the options, that is how I got into the Minolta/Sony world......
 
Pentax is great and have loads of old K-mount lenses, but Canon is more versatile because you can find adapter for virtually any mount. Lightmeter is on with all of them and you can have focus confirmation with chipped adapters. For 1000$ its possible to hunt down 5D with 50/1.8, and FF is always better, even old one.
 
A vote here for Sony. The NEX bodies can take vintage glass of any mount and age, and they are more user-friendly compared to the Fuji X's.

Maybe a NEX-6 with kit zoom, then a few adapters for her old lenses?
 
YYV_146 said:
A vote here for Sony. The NEX bodies can take vintage glass of any mount and age, and they are more user-friendly compared to the Fuji X's.

Maybe a NEX-6 with kit zoom, then a few adapters for her old lenses?
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Her old lenses are full of mushrooms from memory! 😛

But I also quite like the idea of the NEX. 🙂
 
gavinlg said:
The k5 is a really nice camera. Id get that over any of the canon/nikon aps-c clones.
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I checked DCW and they have a couple of good deals available on the K-5 ... which makes me laugh because when I was in there a while ago the guy behind the counter was bagging Pentax stuff .... just the type of sales person every shop needs! 😀
 
Keith said:
I checked DCW and they have a couple of good deals available on the K-5 ... which makes me laugh because when I was in there a while ago the guy behind the counter was bagging Pentax stuff .... just the type of sales person every shop needs! 😀
Click to expand...

That happens a lot with sales guys - I suspect nikon and canon have certain incentives running for those who sell the most of their products.

A guy at my old work had a k5 and I got to use it overnight. Body is small, ergonomically wonderful, shutter is quiet and slick, viewfinder is nice and big. Even the kit zoom was alright.
 
gavinlg said:
That happens a lot with sales guys - I suspect nikon and canon have certain incentives running for those who sell the most of their products.

A guy at my old work had a k5 and I got to use it overnight. Body is small, ergonomically wonderful, shutter is quiet and slick, viewfinder is nice and big. Even the kit zoom was alright.
Click to expand...


The guy in question was a Canon nut ... hopefully they got wind of his bias and showed him the door! 🙂
 
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