Pentax K X Kit

Which is better overall camera for the value? Video? and kit lens

Pentax K-x kit for $550

Nikon D5000 kit for $645

Nikon D5000 body for $550

Canon T1i kit for $719

Canon T1i Body for $620

The better camera for the value is Pentax K-x, which you may buy with single or double kit lenses for a very convenient price.

Image quality is similar for all three models. However, Nikon D5000 is more difficult to use for the advanced photographer, who might want to change the setup before each shot; you've got to press a lot of buttons to achieve the custom setup you want. Canon T1i is exactly the opposite of the Nikon in this respect; it has additional buttons for quick setup and also changing settings from the menu is very quick. Pentax K-x can be set up just as quick as Canon T1i, but it has a design flaw (it lacks confirmation of the focus point in the viewfinder, when setup to select the focus point automatically) which can handled with a bit of attention.
Therefore, if you are an advanced photographer (or willing to become one) and you're willing to spend a lot of cash on lenses, Canon T1i is the obvious choice. If you are an advanced photographer but you don't want to spend a lot of cash (on camera and lenses), Pentax K-x is the choice. Otherwise, if you just want to point and shoot and you don't want to worry about auto-focus confirmation, Nikon D5000 may be the answer.

2009-12-03 10:17:02 by Rick

Minor noise reduction and color grading applied in Premiere Pro.

Im looking to get another lense with my camera other then the kit lense. What would be a good lense to get next? And as of right now Im looking for one of the lenses that dont cost too much. Thanks in advance.
Oh and it can be any type of lense. I am new to photography and am unsure of what kind of lense I should have other then the prime kit lense.

Eric, since the K-x comes with the 18-55mm lens which will take care of about 90% of your photography I suggest using it for a few months before even thinking about another lens. Why? Because during that time you'll get a better idea for what type of photography you like doing the most and you'll learn the capabilities and limitations of the 18-55mm lens. You can also use that time to read this book: 'David Busch's Quick Snap Guide to Using Digital SLR Lenses'. http://www.dbusch.com

Eric, suppose someone tells you that you really "need" the Pentax 55-300mm because they have it. Over the next 3 or 4 months you may decide that you love landscape and macro photography. You may discover that you like low-light photography without a flash. The 55-300mm lens is not the lens you'll use for those types of photography. You will have wasted your money.

For landscapes the SMC Pentax DA 12-24mm f4.0 ED AL (IF) would be a good choice.

For macro photography the SMC Pentax D FA 100mm f2.8 Macro would be a good choice.

For low-light photography the SMC Pentax FA 50mm f1.4 is your lens of choice.

So buy the camera with the standard lens and don't even think about another lens for a few months. Read Busch's book.

I suggest buying a Haze/UV filter to protect the front element of your lens, a circular polarizer (used to darken a blue sky and to remove glare/reflections from water, sand, glass, snow and painted metal - but not polished metal) and a good tripod when you buy the camera.

2010-02-02 23:47:57 by Eric H

Price: $649.95 $520.00

Capture widescreen HD video in full 720p resolution (1280x720) at 24 FPS cinematic framerate, using any PENTAX 35mm lens.
Large 2.7 inch LCD features Live View with contrast, phase difference, and Face Detection autofocus (up to 16 faces).
High resolution 12.4 megapixel CMOS image sensor features sensor-shift Shake Reduction for stabilized image

As of now I have the kit lens and the aperture is 3.5-5.6. Id like to get one with something lower. Any good ones out there that arent too much money. Id like it to be under $200

You'll be able to find manual focus Pentax legacy lenses at around that price but anything auto you can expect to pay a good deal more for. If I were to only have one prime it would be a fast 50 1.4. It's a perfect focal length for portraiture, the wide aperture will give you some great selective focus, a 1.4 aperture is something you can't get on a zoom lens so it immediately has a unique advantage, they're generally very sharp and it's the most affordable fast prime you can get.

Oh...and I should add...contact this place....

http://www.donsphoto.com/

They're in Canada so it might be a bit of a headache but oddly their older used gear is often much cheaper than what you pay on e-bay. I bought a Minolta beer can (70-210) from them for half the price I've ever seen them for auction.

2010-02-06 06:50:41 by Eric H

Price: $749.95

Powered by AA lithium batteries; capture images and video to SD/SDHC memory (not included)
4.7fps capture rate with 1/6000 sec max shutter speed; 11-point wide-angle autofocus
Capture widescreen HD 720p video at 24fps; 2.7-inch LCD with autofocus and Face Detection Live View

I know is not out yet, but the specs look very good better than its rival in similar price range.

echnical Details
12.4-megapixel CMOS sensor with Pentax Shake Reduction; HDR image capture
Kit includes 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL and 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED lenses
Capture widescreen HD 720p video at 24fps; 2.7-inch LCD with autofocus and Face Detection Live View
4.7fps capture rate with 1/6000 sec max shutter speed; 11-point wide-angle autofocus

Also with 2 kits lens 18-55mm and 55-300mm for only $849.95 in full retail price sound like a great deal for first time dslr user, also since Pentax K-7 receive very high regard review, you think also make this product good?

I would think the T1i is better, the K-X and the D5000 can only go up to 720p, where the T1i can go up to 1080p (full HD)

2009-10-07 16:45:52 by Rick

I'm interested in these two cameras and I can't decide which would be better to get. Could anybody help with me? The main points of the Pentax over the Olympus are movie mode and better low light performance. However the Olympus supposedly comes with a very good kit lens and is cheaper. Does anybody have either of these cameras? If so, could you tell me what you do/don't like about them? Also, is there a cheapish adapter to use Olympus OM lenses(or other legacy lenses) on the Pentax? I'm on a rather small budget and won't be able to upgrade to new lenses very much (perhaps a fast prime if I can, but thats it.)
Thanks

While the first half of what Edwin said is true, his latter argument fails to consider that, because the Four Thirds system has the shortest flange to focal plane distance, Olympus DSLRs actually have access to the widest selection of legacy lenses—Pentax K-mount and OM included among many others. The only difference is that the FLM for Olympus is 2x compared to Pentax's 1.6x.

There is no adapter that allows focus to infinity available between OM lenses and Pentax bodies.

The Olympus E-520 does come with two of the better kit lenses in the market so this is a plus if you're on a budget. However, it's pointless if you're not comfortable with the other components of the system. While it's true that the K-x preforms better at the higher ISOs, the significance of such a slight difference is debatable. The fork in the road is really whether or not you want HD video. If you do, the choice is obvious. However, if HD video isn't important to you then the E-520 is certainly a worthy opponent. At this point, the best thing to do is to visit a shop with both the E-520 and K-x in stock and to test both in your hands. You should also view some image samples to aid your decision.

If you want my personal opinion:
I had almost the exact problem a few years ago—deciding between the E-510 and the K100D. I ultimately went with Olympus. While I certainly have been frustrated by its limitations, it continues to hang from my neck whenever time comes to shoot.

2009-12-25 13:17:20 by Jareo