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Pentax K-x?

D

djscoo

Charter Member
I admit that I am guilty of being a brand snob... I was started off on Rebel Xs's in high school so I always gravitated towards the Canon cameras. Recently I've been hearing a lot of really good stuff about the Pentax K-x. It's about 200 bucks cheaper than the T1i which was my other choice, and it has video, which was the major draw of the T1i. Anyone had any hands on experience with the k-x?
 
I've been eyeballing it as a replacement for my *istDL but haven't actually handled one in person yet.

The specs look very tempting and I'm still a hold-out that wants an AA powered camera for those times that I disappear out into nowhere near an outlet to recharge a battery pack.
As the new "entry-level" Pentax DSLR (it replaced the K2000), I think it's got pretty good features for the pricetag.

I'm still a Pentax brand-snob mainly because they haven't abandoned their old mount yet and I can still use all my old glass.
 
Over at Dpreview there is a review up. Might be handy ? I agree, it's a potent camera. Great value for money, just like the recently introduced Sony A550/500, it seems like the manufacturers know they have to come up with serious specifications if they want to sell anything...

Do know that Dpreview is not always that reliable as source. They complained on the A550's optical viewfinder, saying it was too cramped etc, while it's only marginally smaller that the Eos 500D/Rebel T1i :mixedsmi:.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0912/09122301pentaxkxreview.asp

The only 'bad' thing I heard about Pentax is that the autofocus seems a little tad slower than other brands, but most DSLRs are more than fast enough for most people...much depends on the lens, of course.

Wish Sony had more high-quality, fast and weather-resistant (called 'WR' at Pentax) prime lenses, like Pentax...That's something I really need, a decent, fast prime.
 
I have an istDL also and got it primarily to use the accessory lens I had for my two Pentax 35-mm cameras.

I would like something smaller, but I too like the AA lithium batteries versus rechargeable batteries. I can carry plenty AA batteries in the outback, but I cannot find a power outlet. This is a good featurte in the K-x.

That's a good review, took some time.

Caz
 
JorisVandenBerghe said:
The only 'bad' thing I heard about Pentax is that the autofocus seems a little tad slower than other brands, but most DSLRs are more than fast enough for most people...much depends on the lens, of course.
Click to expand...

Yup, the slow AF has been a strike against Pentax for a long time...even back to the last 35mm SLRs. You are correct in that a lot of it depends on the lens used.
Another thing that really kills AF performance (and also affects metering) in the Pentax is the split-prism focus screen that many Pentaxians install in their cameras.
I love a good focus screen as a manual focus assist...I got spoiled to it on my old K1000SE and had to buy one for my DL.
But I also do a lot of low-light shooting so I went back to the original focus screen.

Using AF.C mode instead of AF.S mode helps with focus speed...but it also is much harder on the batteries too.
 
Cazzie said:
I have an istDL also and got it primarily to use the accessory lens I had for my two Pentax 35-mm cameras.

I would like something smaller, but I too like the AA lithium batteries versus rechargeable batteries. I can carry plenty AA batteries in the outback, but I cannot find a power outlet. This is a good featurte in the K-x.

That's a good review, took some time.

Caz
Click to expand...

I still prefer NiMH rechargeable AAs (white label Kodak or Sanyo Eneloop) but I have ran a few sets of Lithiums through my DL too. Both work just fine for me.
I normally carry 4 sets of NiMH rechargeable batteries in my bag at all times (2 for the camera and 2 for the flash)... If I'm out in boonie-land, I'm not using the flash much anyway so I'll have 3 or all 4 sets available for the camera. Has been more than enough for week-long outings.

Plus...it's not ideal but I can always run just plain old alkaline AAs if in a real pinch.
 
Pentax have always been a great Company
over the years i have sold thousands of them
they do not have the hype of cannon and Nikon
and more bang for the buck
and there are plenty of old lenses out there
actually you can still put screw mount lenses on them
not as i would actually do mind you but its possible
RR6 was shooting a pentax film camera
made life easier for him when he switched
H
 
Moparmike said:
I still prefer NiMH rechargeable AAs (white label Kodak or Sanyo Eneloop) but I have ran a few sets of Lithiums through my DL too. Both work just fine for me.
I normally carry 4 sets of NiMH rechargeable batteries in my bag at all times (2 for the camera and 2 for the flash)... If I'm out in boonie-land, I'm not using the flash much anyway so I'll have 3 or all 4 sets available for the camera. Has been more than enough for week-long outings.

Plus...it's not ideal but I can always run just plain old alkaline AAs if in a real pinch.
Click to expand...

Alkaline AAs just don't cut it, they last maybe an hour in real time. The Lithium batteries last months, but they give out all at once mike rechargables, you'd better have an extra set.

Caz
 
Cazzie said:
Alkaline AAs just don't cut it, they last maybe an hour in real time. The Lithium batteries last months, but they give out all at once mike rechargables, you'd better have an extra set.

Caz
Click to expand...

Don't "chimp" so much Caz! :d
Regular Alks will give you 3 or 4 hours out of a set if you don't use the LCD a lot. Longer if you MF.
I know they're a short lifespan in a camera. This is just for emergency use, like when you're traveling through a small town of say 10-20 people in Central Montana that's only got one gas station...and you realize that you forgot to unload the chargers and put the spares in your camera bag! DOH!
No lithiums in sight for miles.
(Been there, done that! :banghead: )
 
Henry said:
Pentax have always been a great Company
over the years i have sold thousands of them
they do not have the hype of cannon and Nikon
and more bang for the buck
and there are plenty of old lenses out there
actually you can still put screw mount lenses on them
not as i would actually do mind you but its possible
RR6 was shooting a pentax film camera
made life easier for him when he switched
H
Click to expand...

You're the one that sold me on going Pentax digital too H.
I was going to go with a K10d until I found my DL used but like new in a pawn shop.
And yes, the M2 screw mounts work on them too with an adapter.
Ya gotta stop-down meter every shot like any non-A lens, but for slow shooting that's just fine.

BTW, pawn shops are still good places to find old glass too. Cheaper than old glass on eBay and you never know what you'll find. Like a 50mm/F1.7 for $25....I still haven't scored my "holy grail" 50mm/f1.2 yet though.
 
Thanks guys! I did a little looking and am thoroughly impressed with the k-x, but then I found a factory-refurb T1i w/ spare battery, 4gig memory card and some other goodies for the same price as a new k-x kit. I think I'm going to go with the Canon... :ernae:
 
I always wonder why nobody ever dares to try something else than Canon or Nikon...in some way, most people always seem to go back to the acclaimed brands.

I have always used Sony and I'm perfectly happy with it.

*Slightly off-topic.
 
JorisVandenBerghe said:
I always wonder why nobody ever dares to try something else than Canon or Nikon...in some way, most people always seem to go back to the acclaimed brands.

I have always used Sony and I'm perfectly happy with it.

*Slightly off-topic.
Click to expand...
I would say that a lot of people go with what their friends/family already have. It sure can be convenient when you can borrow compatible accessories or need to ask questions.

I can't speak to Sony cameras, but their other non A/V stuff is a bit weird and one-off in the USA. (memory stick anyone? Mini-disc?) In a limited sample, everyone I know has bad luck with Sony products outside their TVs, amps, DVD players: the usual home A/V products. I'm sure it's different other places. Your mileage may vary.
 
Perhaps, perhaps...

I'm 18 now - 19 in February - and I have bought/used (our tv for instance) quite a lot of them, from hifi stuff (still have one at my room which still works perfectly) over DSLR's, point & shoots, to high-end telephoto lenses. No problems.

As you say, it would be a bit funny to buy an DSLR from Canon if your nephew for example has a Nikon and a whole range of lenses.

Bought a HX1 for dad yesterday. He's going to be very happy with it, I think. Tilting screen, decent stabilisation, good performing lens - no match for a DSLR or (Micro) 4/3 camera of course, but that's impossible for that price -
It uses as you say that tiny Memory Stick thingy.

I prefer CF-cards myself over SD or MS because I always loose the latter, they're too small for my liking :kilroy:.

Well, everyone makes a choice.
 
JorisVandenBerghe said:
I always wonder why nobody ever dares to try something else than Canon or Nikon...in some way, most people always seem to go back to the acclaimed brands.

I have always used Sony and I'm perfectly happy with it.

*Slightly off-topic.
Click to expand...

To add to what Cratermaker stated,
Quite a lot of folks had Canon or Nikon 35mm prior to DSLRs.......


 
Some of us might afford the Samsung in our lifetime, but that Sigma is strictly for people with more money than good taste. It is people like this that should have their head's lopped like in France during their revolution.

Caz
 
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